Transmigrated Female Official

146. A bizarre combination

Chu Qingluo was disappointed and frowned, saying, "Gongsun Yu!"

Upon hearing his name called, Gongsun Yu immediately released his grip on Yan Lü, but still managed to give him a meaningful look.

"What did he say?" Chu Qinglu asked Yan Lü again.

Yan Lu stammered, "It's just... praising your noble character."

This answer was clearly fabricated after being intimidated by Gongsun Yu. Chu Qinglu rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction: "Fine, I'll let you off for now. We'll interrogate you again when we have the chance."

At this moment, Luo Lifei also came out from the inner room and asked, "So it turns out you all know each other?" She had heard Shaoyao mention Yan Lu before, but she had never met him.

Peony said, "Yes, we're all on the same side."

Seeing them exchange knowing smiles, Chu Qingluo suddenly had an idea. "Since we're so lucky, I suggest we all have a barbecue in my backyard tomorrow night, what do you say?"

"Are we going to roast wild game at the Chu residence?" August asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Who cares about wild game or not? If you cook it my way, even poultry will taste delicious!" Chu Qingluo's mouth was already watering just thinking about roasted meat.

Seeing Chu Qingluo's warm invitation, everyone responded enthusiastically. The most eager of all was, of course, Shaoyao; her new friend was actually Gongsun Yu's younger brother—a truly celebratory event.

……

Having a barbecue in winter is absolutely perfect.

That day, Chu Qingluo had the small kitchen help her marinate all the ingredients early in the morning, and also put out the sauces, prepared a lot of bamboo skewers, and most importantly, specially prepared honey.

Today's BBQ will be held in the courtyard of Ningxiangyuan. Once everyone arrives, we can start grilling by lighting the charcoal.

Chu Qingluo was full of anticipation and specially went to the lobby to wait for her friends.

Unexpectedly, the first person to arrive at the Chu family's residence was... Ji Qiran?!

Although his previous words foreshadowed his visit to the Chu family, she was completely taken aback by his appearance today. It seemed she could see him anywhere.

"You're here... waiting for me?" Ji Qiran looked at Chu Qingluo, who was completely bewildered, in disbelief.

"Ahem." She gave an awkward tug at the corner of her mouth and said, "It's obviously not."

He suddenly leaned closer and asked, "So, who are you waiting for?"

His approach made her lean back involuntarily, gasping for breath, and say, "Anyway, it's not you."

"Sigh—" Ji Qiran deliberately sighed heavily, stopped teasing her, and turned to walk towards the backyard. "I'd better go find Yilin."

Seeing him leave, Chu Qingluo breathed a sigh of relief, but then she thought about today's dinner party... Could it be ruined again by him and Chu Yilin? Why is everything always so unlucky?!

About half an hour later, all the invited people arrived at the Chu family home. While Chu Qingluo organized them to start a fire and roast meat, she was secretly worried that Ji Qiran and Chu Yilin might suddenly show up and cause trouble.

But often, the things we worry about are the ones that are most likely to happen.

The sounds of laughter and chatter from Ningxiang Courtyard, along with the sizzling of roasting meat, had already drifted to all the courtyards of the Chu family. Meanwhile, the two people in Zhuqing Courtyard couldn't contain themselves any longer and appeared uninvited in Ningxiang Courtyard.

How could a foodie like Chu Yilin possibly miss such a delicacy?

"It smells so good! Third sister, you're so stingy! You have such good food but you don't even want to call us over." Chu Yilin complained as he headed straight for the barbecue, looking like he was drooling.

Chu Qingluo glanced at Chu Yilin and said, "Was Second Brother a hungry cat reincarnated in his past life?"

"Tsk, what kind of talk is that?" Chu Yilin raised his chin unhappily: "Be careful, or I'll go tell Mother on you."

"Go ahead and go. Your mother is so angry with you, she won't protect you." Chu Qingluo looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation, and added, "Anyone who doesn't go is a dog."

"That's not fun anymore." Chu Yilin ignored her and walked straight to the side, picking up a skewer of beef and preparing to grill it. "Qi Ran, come on, see what you want to eat?"

Ji Qiran, who had originally been just standing in the corridor watching, smiled and walked over after hearing Chu Yilin's call.

Their arrival caused Luo Lifei's expression to stiffen slightly, and after seeing the encouraging look Chu Qingluo gave her, she pursed her lips even tighter. She told herself to pretend Chu Yilin was invisible!

This time, Chu Qingluo would never suggest playing any games again!

The people present here together... if this were in modern times, it would be a very strange combination. Peony and Yan Lu are together, and Ji Qiran appears; Luo Lifei and Ling Nan are together, and Chu Yilin appears. Such a complex web of relationships is enough to give you a headache just by looking at it from afar.

It seems she's really not suited to organizing events...

"What are you thinking about, Qingluo? The meat is all burnt." Gongsun Yu nudged her arm and reminded her.

"Huh?" By the time Chu Qingluo realized what was happening, a large part of the chicken wing in her hand had already burned. "Oh my god—!"

Without a word, Gongsun Yu took the dark, charred chicken wing from her hand and handed her the golden-brown chicken wing he had in his own, saying with a smile, "You can have this."

"Ahem—Gongsun is indeed very considerate." Chu Yilin ate the freshly grilled beef, deliberately teasing them, and didn't forget to give Ji Qiran a provocative look.

Ji Qiran had a dark expression and didn't intend to pay him any attention.

Chu Qinglu glared at Chu Yilin unhappily, thinking to herself, Luo Lifei and Ling Nan are both sitting in front of him, how can he still be in the mood to gossip about her?!

At this moment, Yan Lu laughed: "I just mistook this young master for talking about me."

Chu Yilin then noticed the unfamiliar face and said, "This young master looks unfamiliar..."

"My name is Gongsun Yanlu, and Gongsun Yu is my second elder brother," he introduced himself politely.

"Oh, nice to meet you. I am Chu Yilin, and this is the Seventh Prince." While introducing himself to Yan Lu, Chu Yilin also introduced Ji Qiran to him.

"Seventh Prince." Yan Lu bowed respectfully to Ji Qiran.

Peony glanced at Yan Lu beside her, then at Ji Qiran who was sitting relatively far away, and felt a surge of joy in her heart, her little face flushing slightly.

"Luo Lifei, could you do me a favor and pass me that ear of corn?" Chu Yilin said.

Upon hearing Chu Yilin speak to her, Luo Lifei was taken aback at first, then turned to Ling Nan beside her and said, "Could you help me pass this? I'm holding something in my hand and I don't have time."

Upon hearing this, Ling Nan tactfully handed the corn to Chu Yilin.

Chu Yilin glanced at Luo Lifei, who hadn't even looked at him, then at the corn that had been handed to him, and pursed his lips as he took it: "...Thanks."