SGEIRS -Chapter 37 That Old Undying Man

“……”

Gu Jingxi was left speechless.

What happened the night before last was really just a misunderstanding. Who would’ve thought that little girl would even tell her close friend that he was lustful?

As for being called an “old geezer,” he felt he was still young. It would be decades before he became one.

Seeing him silent, Qi Yunwen looked him up and down in surprise. Dressed neatly, dignified and upright, he didn’t look lustful at all. Unable to believe it, Qi Yunwen asked curiously,n“Yaoling, you’re not really lustful, are you? You look so proper—I really can’t tell.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him. “What do you think?”

Qi Yunwen pondered for a moment, then laughed.

“Your little wife is best friends with my niece and often visits the Song family. I’ve seen her a few times—she’s a rare beauty. When such a beauty insists on marrying you, it’s hard not to be tempted. It’s not impossible that you fell for her looks.”

Gu Jingxi replied calmly, “No.”

She was indeed beautiful, but he definitely hadn’t married her because of her looks. As for why he agreed in the first place, even he couldn’t explain it. He had simply gone along with it, as if bewitched.

Suppressing his laughter, Qi Yunwen teased, “No what? Not lustful, or not tempted by her looks?”

“Neither,” Gu Jingxi answered.

Seeing how serious he was, Qi Yunwen suddenly remembered his former fiancée—the most beautiful woman in the capital, talented in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose. She had been admired by countless nobles.

Compared to her, the Meng girl was still slightly inferior.

He had never behaved improperly toward his former fiancée, so how could he be swayed by looks now? There must have been some misunderstanding.

Qi Yunwen hesitated and asked, “Could it be that you felt ‘the father bears the blame for the son, and the father repays the son’s debts,’ so you married her?”

“You’ve already married her. Why bother digging into the reason?” Gu Jingxi avoided answering directly. He looked at Qi Yunwen and said lightly, “Your niece’s eyesight has serious problems. As her uncle, you should take her to see a doctor, in case it gets worse.”

Qi Yunwen was stunned. “What’s wrong with A-Ning’s eyesight?”

Gu Jingxi pressed his lips into a faint smile and asked quietly, “You’re one year older than me. If I’m an old geezer, then what are you? An old undying man about to be buried?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Yunwen’s expression changed drastically. The words ‘old undying man about to be buried’ echoed in his head, making him feel utterly miserable.

With a stiff face, he said, “My sister still needs to improve her children’s education. I’ll talk to her next time.”

Gu Jingxi nodded lightly. “Mhm.”

After a moment, Qi Yunwen’s gossiping nature resurfaced.

“Yaoling, you’ve been single for so many years. What does it feel like to suddenly have a little wife?”

Gu Jingxi paused, then replied with just two words: “Chaotic.”

And together with that rebellious son of his, there would be plenty of quarrels in the future.

Qi Yunwen was stunned. On second thought, it seemed normal. Birds of a feather flock together—how could a girl who mixed around with his niece not be troublesome?

He coughed and said seriously, “She’s still young—young even compared to your son. It’s normal for a girl to be lively. Be more tolerant. In a few years, she’ll calm down.”

Gu Jingxi remained silent. He felt she would still be just as troublesome in a few years.

Seeing his friend’s eager expression, he didn’t want to continue the topic. He stood up and said lightly, “You handle this case yourself. Close it within half a month. Don’t bring me this kind of false information again.”

“Huh?”

Qi Yunwen froze, then laughed awkwardly.

“Yaoling, this was an accident. It’s all because my subordinates are unreliable.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him.

“I’m going back. You carry on. I’m still on my marriage leave—don’t look for me unless it’s something serious.”

Qi Yunwen nodded, silently cursing his incompetent subordinates for making them waste a trip.

Just as he opened the door of the private room, he saw the door to the right open as well. A man walked out.

Qi Yunwen froze when he saw him, but the man didn’t notice and headed toward the staircase.

Gu Jingxi noticed too. He quickly walked to the right private room and glanced inside—it was empty. That man had been the last to leave.

Qi Yunwen followed behind and peeked inside. Seeing no one, his expression changed.

Gu Jingxi turned to look at his friend’s subtle expression and said flatly, “Very good.”

“Yaoling, this…”

Qi Yunwen stared at the empty room, at a loss for words.

The information wasn’t wrong—they were meeting at Tearan Pavilion. But it wasn’t the left room; it was the right one.

They had overheard the wrong room—his niece and the Meng girl.

Gu Jingxi asked calmly, “Was it your people who were incompetent, or do you not know left from right?”

“That’s… a good question.”

Qi Yunwen rubbed his nose awkwardly and recalled yesterday.

“I’ll go verify it. Maybe I drank with colleagues yesterday and got a bit drunk, so I misheard.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi’s face darkened immediately.

“Mobai, drinking easily leads to mistakes—especially for people like us. If you’re tricked into talking, you could ruin everything. Losing your position is minor; losing your life is serious.”

Qi Yunwen knew the gravity of it and nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, just this once. It won’t happen again.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him and continued, “Clean up the rest yourself.”

Qi Yunwen responded bitterly, then asked, “Yaoling, it’s almost noon. How about we have lunch together?”

“Seems you’re very free?” Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow.

“Since you’re so idle, go study those unsolved cases and see if you can find a breakthrough.”

Qi Yunwen was speechless.

At that moment, the door of the left private room also opened.

Song Xinning and Meng Jinyao came out.

Song Xinning stepped out first. When she saw Gu Jingxi, she was startled. Instinctively, she pulled her leg back and turned to Meng Jinyao.

“Oh no, A-Yao,” she whispered, “your family’s old man is here too.”