Chapter 815: Love Starting from a Breakup 04

Qiao Xu tightly gripped the stemmed glass, his fingertips turning white from the force.

Just listening to Gu He's description made him feel numb all over, and his stomach churned.

If it were before, he could never have connected the person Gu He described with the Jin Chen he usually interacted with.

But just last night, he personally saw the gunshot wound on Jin Chen's body.

That glaring blood even got on his own hand; Qiao Xu couldn't even imagine how painful it must have been.

Yet Jin Chen acted as if nothing had happened after returning home, even going to the kitchen to cook for him.

Even when he went to the hospital for wound cleaning, he asked the doctor not to use anesthesia, saying he could endure it.

How terrifying.

Seeing his grim expression, Gu He flashed a hint of a smile; after all these years of being a hypocritical good brother, he naturally knew exactly what Qiao Xu feared.

At that moment, two socialites came over to toast with Qiao Xu; their families had business ties, and they were ordered by their families to come and fulfill this task.

Since they were making small talk over drinks, they needed a topic; one of the socialites' families were in the jewelry business, and seeing the brooch on Qiao Xu's chest made her envy him deeply.

"Young Master Qiao, you don't know; I was there when this brooch was auctioned, and the pocket money my family gave me wasn't enough to buy it."

"I originally just wanted to look at it, but then I heard that person from your family bought it without hesitation, the price so high no one dared to bid further."

The other socialite chimed in, saying, "If you ask me, President Jin treats you too well—no wonder you're Young Master Qiao."

"Who knows how grand your wedding will be when the time comes."

Gu He curled his lips, never expecting these two to show up at just the right moment.

Adding fuel to the fire was far better than him performing a solo act.

Indeed, Qiao Xu immediately snorted coldly, his beautiful pupils filled with annoyance.

"Who cares? It's not like I can't afford it."

"Who would want to marry him? …It's just for fun; the Qiao Family only marries into families with clean backgrounds."

The two socialites were stunned by his remark.

Many people nearby also heard the remark, stopping their small talk and staring over in shock.

Including Shen Ling, his mouth hung open—"What! Qiao Xu actually looks down on Jin Chen? Don't give him to me! Is he good in bed? Can you introduce him?"

"What are you saying..."

The socialite who had just spoken glanced at the red wine in Qiao Xu's hand—he hadn't even taken a few sips, yet he seemed drunk.

Gu He added another log to the fire.

"Xiao Xu, are you really sure you want to break up with Jin Chen?"

The people around exchanged glances, all waiting for his answer.

There used to be a saying circulating in their circle.

"Young Master Qiao is willful and wasteful; besides Jin Chen, no one can tolerate him."

"Now the two people who are bound together are going to break up?"

Qiao Xu would never lose face in public.

Now he had been backed into this corner, and on top of that came anger, fear, and other inexplicable emotions.

"Yes, I just want to break up with him."

As ill luck would have it, Jin Chen just walked in through the door.

Today he wore a simple black suit, tall and slender, with a cold demeanor, yet he held a somewhat incongruous dessert package in his hand.

Upon hearing those words, Jin Chen's steps paused slightly, and he looked up in surprise.

The people in the middle sensibly cleared a path, then began to gossip.

Qiao Xu also didn't expect that his words would happen to be heard by Jin Chen.

Both of them froze for a few seconds.

Jin Chen reacted first, stepping toward the person in the corner; his face showed no expression, yet he looked inexplicably sorrowful.

He stopped half a meter away from Qiao Xu, his tone still gentle as he spoke to him.

"Have you decided? Want to break up?"

Qiao Xu avoided his gaze, turned his head aside and pursed his lips, "You lied to me, and you won't even let me break up?"

"You won't even listen to an explanation?"

"Every time your explanation is just an accident; if you truly cut ties with those matters, how could there still be so many accidents?"

The atmosphere fell silent again for a few seconds.

Then came Jin Chen's low sigh.

"Fine, I agree to break up."

He handed over the package he was holding, "The dessert I promised you last night is still warm; if you don't want to eat it… just throw it away."

Qiao Xu didn't want to stand there being gawked at like a monkey; he took the offered cake, turned away, and didn't want to look at him anymore.

Then he heard the sound of leather shoes stepping away.

Until Jin Chen had left, the people in the banquet hall still hadn't reacted.

So…… they just broke up like that?

How hasty.

But upon further thought, Jin Chen had persisted for three years, and he had indeed made things difficult for him.

Not easy at all.

Qiao Xu also didn't expect Jin Chen to agree so quickly.

He lowered his gaze to look at the box in his hand, bit his lip, and felt a sour tingle at the tip of his nose.

Gu He's eyes barely concealed his glee; it took great effort for him to calm down.

Xiao Xu, don't be too sad either.

You still have us, your family.

While consoling him, Shen Ling floated over.

He smirked, bending over to peek his head, 'You crying?'

How could that be.

Qiao Xu immediately straightened up and looked at him.

I'm the one who suggested the breakup; how could I cry.

Then that's good.

Shen Ling hehehed and bumped Qiao Xu's shoulder.

You've already broken up, don't mind if I go after Jin Chen?

He's been my ideal type lately!

It really came without effort—just a moment ago I was lamenting that my fate wasn't as good as Qiao Xu's, and now they've broken up on their own, no need for him to sabotage their relationship.

Qiao Xu is stubborn.

Who cares about you, I'm leaving.

He pushed Shen Ling aside and quickly left the banquet hall.

Gu He apologized embarrassedly to the other guests, putting on the act of a tolerant older brother, and also left following behind.

Outside the banquet hall, Qiao Xu was blown by the cold wind, becoming much clearer-headed, and just happened to see Jin Chen's luxury car drive off, the half-open window revealing Jin Chen's somewhat sorrowful profile.

His emotions were tangled, his lips almost bitten through by himself.

Young Master, want to go back?

The Qiao family driver came over and asked.

Go back.

Qiao Xu, seemingly sulking, threw away the cake box he was holding and got into the car.

The buzz from the drinks earlier had mostly faded; he leaned back in the rear seat and casually grabbed a bottle of milk from the table to sober up.

The stimulation of the cold milk was stronger than the cold wind.

Qiao Xu's eyes suddenly reddened.

He put down the bottle after a few sips, brows lowered, unable to say for a moment whether this complicated feeling was due to the regret after the breakup.

Or whether he felt he had been too impulsive.

Breaking up is fine too.

At least from now on he won't have to live in fear anymore.

Jin Chen also won't have to cut ties with his family because of him.

The spoiled Young Master Qiao was lost in thought, and when he came to, he found the driver had actually parked the car at Nan Yuan.

His and Jin Chen's home.

Also… the driver didn't know they had already broken up.

Qiao Xu got out of the car, told him to come pick him up tomorrow morning, didn't want to say more, and was completely unaware that his voice had become a little hoarse.