SGEIRS -Chapter 129 The Former Fiancée

The moment the words left her mouth, Meng Jinyao regretted it. She wished she could take needle and thread and sew her lips shut in advance—then she wouldn’t have blurted out something so unpleasant, something that deliberately tore open old wounds. How heartless.

Gu Jingxi was momentarily stunned when he heard her. He felt her question was completely out of the blue. Casting her a strange look, he replied calmly, “I never asked.”

Never asked?

Meng Jinyao froze slightly. What did “never asked” mean? Did it mean he had wanted to ask but never acted on it, so technically he hadn’t?

Suddenly, she felt a little sorry for him.

This man was outstanding in learning and talent, handsome in appearance, and from a good family. Yet because of his hidden ailment, he didn’t even dare pursue the woman he loved, and in the end, he missed his chance.

Gu Jingxi felt extremely uncomfortable under her pitying gaze. He didn’t understand why she was suddenly sympathizing with him. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Madam, have you misunderstood something?”

Meng Jinyao hurriedly shook her head and denied it flatly. “No, I haven’t. Husband, don’t overthink it.”

Her eyes darted about, and she didn’t dare meet his gaze directly. It was obvious she was feeling guilty and hadn’t told the truth.

Gu Jingxi frowned slightly and asked again, “Madam, we are husband and wife. What can’t you tell me?”

She hesitated. “If I tell you, will you be angry?”

Raising his eyebrows, he said, “What did you do wrong?”

“I didn’t do anything,” she quickly replied.

“Then why would I be angry?”

Gu Jingxi smiled helplessly. He truly didn’t know what was going on in this girl’s head. They had been married for some time now, and he had never lost his temper with her. He felt he had indulged her quite a bit. She was young—there was no need to argue over small matters, and as for major ones, he could decide for himself.

After some deliberation, Meng Jinyao said, “Husband, I saw that set of sheep-fat white jade hair ornaments with the plum blossom design in your study this morning.”

As she spoke, she raised her eyes to observe the change in his expression.

Gu Jingxi froze. Seeing her staring at him without blinking, clearly trying to read something from his face, he was momentarily at a loss.

After a while, he suddenly remembered what had happened two nights ago. When Ningdong served him rice, she had placed the bowl down rather roughly. At the time, Meng Jinyao had smoothed things over for her, saying she was affected by memories of a deceased elder, and he had believed it.

Now, thinking about it together, Ningdong must have been dissatisfied with him.

Before dinner that evening, he had gone to the storeroom to look for a painting. Ningdong had helped him find it, and when he took the painting, he also brought along that set of hair ornaments.

It seemed that the young lady had already noticed something back then. When he had gently refused her request to wear that set, she must have sensed something. No wonder she had stayed out until midnight that night and even drank wine.

Could it be… she was jealous?

The thought startled him.

His instincts told him she wouldn’t be jealous over him. After all, their marriage had been more like being forced together, and she didn’t have feelings for him.

But then again, which wife could truly remain indifferent after learning such a thing?

Looking at the girl before him, a strange feeling flashed through his heart.

Seeing his expression change several times, Meng Jinyao vaguely guessed the answer, but still asked,

“Husband, was that set meant to be given to another girl before?”

Gu Jingxi answered honestly, “Yes.”

Her expression stiffened. Though she had already guessed it, hearing him say it himself still made her feel subtly unsettled.

Since she had already asked so much, she decided to get to the bottom of it.

“Which family’s young lady did you want to give it to?”

“The Mei family,” he replied.

The Mei family?

Meng Jinyao was only slightly surprised. Gu Jingxi’s former fiancée’s surname was Mei.

She, Ningdong, and Qingqiu had already suspected before that the ornaments were likely meant for his former fiancée. Now, she finally had confirmation.

In fact, it was obvious. Plum blossom patterns—such a clear symbol. There was hardly any need to guess. They simply hadn’t thought too deeply about it back then.

Gu Jingxi said gently, “Madam, don’t think too much. There’s nothing between her and me. She’s already married and has followed her husband to take up a post elsewhere.”

“Then… did you get this set from Mother to compensate me and give it to me?”

Lowering her head, Meng Jinyao looked at the ruby-and-gold hair ornaments lying in the box. They were dazzling and gorgeous—she really liked them. Even if it was compensation, she liked it.

Girls had little resistance to beautiful clothes and jewelry. Besides, Gu Jingxi hadn’t done anything wrong to her after marriage. Compensation wasn’t necessary, but if there was any, she certainly wasn’t losing out.

But the next moment, she heard his surprised voice above her head: “Why would I need to compensate you?”

She suddenly looked up at him, blinking in confusion.

Gu Jingxi rubbed his temples, his thoughts somewhat tangled. After a while, he spoke again: “I just thought that set of white jade ornaments was custom-made for someone else. It wouldn’t be suitable for you to wear. And our family isn’t so poor that we need to pick up cast-offs. So I went to Mother and asked for this set. Mother has no daughters. You’re her only legitimate daughter-in-law. Apart from what she gives away, all her jewelry will eventually be left to us. And if it’s left to us, it’s for you to wear. Whether she gives it to you sooner or later makes no difference. I was just borrowing flowers to present to Buddha.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao’s heart trembled. She stared at him blankly, as if she couldn’t believe he would say such things.

Didn’t that mean that, in his eyes, that white jade set was nothing more than discarded junk—and she didn’t need to wear junk?

His gaze was open and sincere. A hint of helplessness appeared on his handsome face. Looking at him, an indescribable feeling surged in her heart.

People always said Gu Jingxi had excellent character. Now she truly understood.

If it were another man, he might have simply given his wife jewelry meant for someone else. Then, if she later discovered the truth in public, it would be humiliating beyond words.

But Gu Jingxi had eliminated all such possibilities from the very start.

After a moment of silence, Meng Jinyao asked again, “Then, Husband… do you still like her?”

Without hesitation, he replied, “No.”

After that, he glanced at her. Her clear, bright eyes were fixed on him expectantly. His heart softened, and he smiled slightly.

“Madam, don’t overthink it. There’s nothing between her and me. It’s just that the ornaments were indeed prepared for her back then. If you hadn’t taken them out of the storeroom that day, I wouldn’t even have remembered them. You may deal with that set however you like. Even if you didn’t, I would have disposed of it myself.”