Chapter 418: Chapter 418: Little Friend, Explanation

"I missed you too. This time, I’ve come as part of your maiden family, especially to wish you a happy wedding," Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. Although it was Little Red Carp’s idea at first, Zhao Nuanyue also genuinely considered Li Qiong a dear friend.

"This is wonderful, truly wonderful." Li Qiong was so emotional her words were a jumble as tears streamed down her face.

Without her family’s blessing, Li Qiong didn’t regret marrying Li Jianjun, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of sorrow. Now, Zhao Nuanyue’s arrival filled Li Qiong’s heart with warmth. She would forever remember that Zhao Nuanyue came to her wedding.

As they were approaching the Dragon King Temple, they saw a little boy peeking around the village, peering into the temple.

Little Red Carp skipped ahead and was the first to see the boy. ’Well, look who it is. An old acquaintance.’

"Zhao Xiaohai!" Little Red Carp’s clear, crisp voice rang out. She and Zhao Xiaohai had once gone through thick and thin together!

Hearing Little Red Carp’s voice, Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang looked over as well.

Zhao Xiaohai jumped, startled. He turned around and saw Little Red Carp, his face lighting up with joy, yet tinged with shyness. Still, he mustered his courage and said with a blush, "Little Red Carp! Little Red Carp, you’re back!"

Little Red Carp skipped over, happy to see Zhao Xiaohai too. "Were you looking for me?" she asked.

"Mhm, mhm!" Zhao Xiaohai nodded repeatedly. "I was playing outside the other day and heard Director Li say you guys were coming back today, so I’ve been coming by often to see if it was true. I can’t believe you’re really here. Here... My mom roasted these peanuts for me. They’re for you."

With that, Zhao Xiaohai pulled two handfuls of peanuts from his pocket.

Little Red Carp didn’t refuse Zhao Xiaohai’s kind gesture. She opened her own pocket and said with a grin, "Thanks, Xiao Hai!"

Such a practical little foodie. A moment ago, she was calling him plainly by his full name, Zhao Xiaohai. Now that he’d given her two handfuls of peanuts, it was "Xiao Hai."

Seeing that Little Red Carp hadn’t gone to the city and grown to look down on him as a friend, Zhao Xiaohai was overjoyed. He grinned sheepishly and scratched his head.

Yang Guanghui was surprised. He recalled seeing Zhao Xiaohai wandering around here often for the past two days. ’So he was waiting for his friend.’ He chuckled and called out to Zhao Xiaohai, "Xiao Hai, it’s cold out here. Come on in and warm up by the fire!"

"Thanks, Yang." Zhao Xiaohai was very polite and much more cheerful than before.

Ever since Wang Dadan’s death, Widow Zhao had kept to herself, living a quiet life at home with her son. She had also been learning how to raise a child from Li Guihua, and as a result, Zhao Xiaohai was gradually becoming a well-mannered boy.

Inside the Dragon King Temple, Yang Guanghui lit a brazier so everyone could warm themselves by the fire.

Li Qiong, for her part, bustled off to cook. She had already rolled out the noodles that afternoon, and with fish balls and cabbage on hand, she quickly prepared a bowl of fish ball noodles for everyone. Li Qiong had also made chili sauce ahead of time, so anyone who liked it spicy could add it themselves.

After warming themselves by the fire and shaking off the chill, they began to eat.

Zhao Xiaohai had originally intended to go home for dinner, but Li Qiong insisted he stay and eat with them.

After the meal, it was Yang Guanghui who walked Zhao Xiaohai home.

Since he was Little Red Carp’s friend, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t let Zhao Xiaohai leave empty-handed, giving him a handful of candy. Little Red Carp and Zhao Xiaohai made plans to go ice skating on the river tomorrow!

Because she hadn’t expected two extra people, Li Qiong arranged for the two security guards to share a room with Yang Guanghui. Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang stayed in their usual room.

Figuring they must be exhausted from their journey, Li Qiong boiled some water for Zhao Nuanyue to wash up and rest, suggesting they could talk more tomorrow.

Seeing how Li Qiong had arranged everything so orderly, Zhao Nuanyue was touched. Every time she tried to help, Li Qiong would stop her.

"Nuanyue, you came all this way for my wedding. I can’t let you tire yourself out with these chores," Li Qiong refused. "You just get some proper rest. Let me handle everything."

"Haha, Li Qiong, you’re being too formal. I used to do these things all the time; it’s not tiring," Zhao Nuanyue said with a laugh. "I came this time for a few reasons. One, to see you and attend your wedding. Two, because Little Red Carp wanted to come—she said she missed this place. And finally, I also wanted to explain to you why I haven’t contacted Wang Yuan since I returned to Jincheng City."

A while ago, Zhao Nuanyue had met with Gu Qingyu and asked if she could talk about the poisoning incident.

Gu Qingyu had nodded, saying it was fine. That was why Zhao Nuanyue had come this time, to tell Li Qiong in person.

Zhao Nuanyue didn’t want the straightforward Li Qiong to become cannon fodder for Wang Yuan. With their diligent studying, Li Qiong and Li Jianjun were sure to get into a good university. If that happened, they would inevitably cross paths with Wang Yuan in Jincheng City.

Many things had proven that Wang Yuan was an incredibly selfish person. If it benefited her, she would sacrifice and betray anyone, including her own family and friends.

If poisoning Gu Qingyu was just about Wang Yuan wanting to escape Nianqiao Village and live somewhere else, Zhao Nuanyue, while not condoning it, could perhaps understand her desperation. But after Wang Yuan made it to Jincheng City and was safe, she once again collaborated with Guo Dongmei to poison her out of pure greed.

All of this deeply disgusted Zhao Nuanyue.

Therefore, when the opportunity arose to use Little Red Carp’s words as a pretext to give Wang Yuan a taste of her own medicine, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t hesitate. She made sure Wang Yuan ingested the potion that would render her unable to have children.

Li Qiong was Zhao Nuanyue’s only close female friend, so she didn’t want to see her be used by Wang Yuan.

This might come as a blow to Li Qiong, but it was far better than her learning the truth only after being hurt by Wang Yuan.

After listening to Zhao Nuanyue, Li Qiong also smiled, her expression brightening. "Whatever the reason, I’m just happy you could come. As for what’s between you and Wang Yuan, there must be a reason for it. If you want to tell me, I’ll listen. If you don’t, I won’t make wild guesses."

She had, in fact, been making wild guesses before, but Yang Guanghui had advised her to just mind her own business. As for everyone else, she should just let things be.

Zhao Nuanyue was relieved to hear Li Qiong’s words. It was precisely because Li Qiong was so broad-minded and didn’t fuss over things that she could always figure things out instead of getting hung up on trivialities and taking the wrong path.

"About Wang Yuan... you might be very disappointed when I tell you this, but I have to tell you," Zhao Nuanyue said softly. "Did you know? Elder Gu’s illness wasn’t an illness at all. Someone poisoned him."

"What?" Li Qiong, who was helping Zhao Nuanyue make the bed, stumbled and nearly fell off. "Poison? How is that possible? I suspected Uncle Gu was no ordinary person, but I never imagined someone would poison him to try and kill him!"

Suddenly, Li Qiong froze. She and Zhao Nuanyue had been talking about Wang Yuan, but then Zhao Nuanyue brought up Gu Qingyu being poisoned. ’Could this have something to do with Wang Yuan?’

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