Chapter 13
After handing out flyers for two days, Luo Can's fair face turned wheat-colored. He returned home drenched in sweat. Seeing Elder Sister and Elder brother-in-law sitting on the sofa, he plopped down next to Elder Sister and pinched his little nephew's cheek. Luo Zheng put her son in Gu Shi's arms. She got up and poured him a glass of water, which he drank in a few gulps. He put the glass on the coffee table and said, "I'll hand out flyers for two more days. I'm planning to go home. The college entrance exam results will be out soon."
Luo Zheng sat down and looked at him, saying, "I'll have someone take you home. Have you had dinner?"
Luo Can nodded: "I had beef noodles with Wang Zehao. I'm going to take a shower."
Watching his retreating figure, Luo Zhengzheng said, "He can endure this heat."
Gu Shi, holding his son's small hand and seeing her pained expression, said, "A boy must be able to enjoy happiness, but also endure hardship. A true man is one who can bend and stretch."
Luo Zhengzheng thought for a moment and said, "Although our family isn't wealthy, my parents have never made us suffer."
The village couldn't compare to the city; most children lived similar lives. But compared to the other children in the village, she and Luo Can were relatively fortunate. In her memory, her parents were always busy. She and younger brother only needed to study well. They were never asked to help with chores, including housework. They were always told to focus on their studies.
During the off-season, her dad worked on construction sites, while her mom developed the family's agricultural sideline businesses, raising pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese, cleaning the house, and taking care of her and younger brother. Her parents deserved credit for their good grades.
Gu Shi glanced at her: "No pain, no gain. Boys need to weather storms to mature and become strong."
In some matters, he considered himself rather traditional. For example, after graduation, he expected to follow the established path and enter the Ye family business; to get married, have children, and take care of his wife and children. For boys, it was a need to be independent and self-reliant.
Luo Zhengzheng said, "...So I didn't stop him from handing out flyers, but that doesn't stop me, as his elder sister, from feeling distressed for him."
Gu Shi said calmly, "When I was studying abroad, I worked as a construction worker, a waiter, and a bartender. I also handed out flyers in the sweltering summer."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him expressionlessly and said, "It's a pity I didn't know you back then, otherwise I would have felt distress for you too."
Gu Shi looked at her seriously: "I can't tell."
Luo Zhengzheng lowered her head, not wanting to talk to him, and pondered, "You're a rich young master, why do you insist on experiencing life? Do you expect me, a poor person, to feel distress for you?"
Gu Shi looked at the top of her head and said casually, "Back then I was young, curious about many things, and with the pressure of studying, I wanted to try different lives. I didn't lack money, I don't need your pity."
Luo Zhengzheng heard his calm tone, as if he didn't care, but knowing him as she did, if he didn't care, he wouldn't have said so much nonsense. Clearly, he cared a lot.
She felt like she was back in her twenties, having forgotten many things from her youth. But upon closer reflection, she could recall a few memorable, though not pleasant, events. She said, “Money is a person’s foundation. With that foundation, you have support in everything you do. I can’t understand your hardships. You go to do manual labor, waitressing, handing out flyers. People who don’t know the situation will just think you’re pretentious. Why suffer like that when you have money? The pressure of studying is immense. Who doesn’t have pressure? Naturally, they can’t empathize.”
As she spoke, she belatedly realized the eerie silence beside her. Looking up, she saw the man’s deep gaze fixed on her. She quickly changed her tune: “Of course I can’t understand your hardships, but our son will in the future.”
Gu Shi withdrew his gaze and said, “Everyone’s background and experiences are different. A mature man should understand that not everyone will understand you.”
But it was always regrettable that his wife didn’t feel distress for him.
Luo Zhengzheng picked up her son, realizing the conversation was getting increasingly risky, and cleverly but awkwardly changed the subject: "Jiajia's yawning, I'll take him to bathe."
Nanny Wang came out, glanced at the young couple, and thought to herself, "They were fine all afternoon in their room, how did they suddenly get so worked up?" She knew the children in her care very well; even though Gu Shi didn't show any emotion now, she knew he was in a bad mood. She said, "I'll take him to bathe, you work away."
The young couple always make up at bed after a fight at bed top; even the worst anger will dissipate after a good night's sleep. She picked up Chengjia and went to the bathroom.
Luo Zhengzheng watched their retreating figures, speechless for a moment. She increasingly felt that Gu Shi was being dramatic; a grown man, throwing tantrums and acting childishly at the drop of a hat. Right now, she didn't want to comfort him.
Since she didn't want to coax him, she went upstairs to wash up. Coming out of the bathroom, she noticed the light was on in the study next door. Wearing a shower cap and having finished her usual grooming routine, she took a hairdryer to the study and asked, "Are you busy?"
Gu Shi looked up at her. "What's wrong?"
Luo Zhengzheng said matter-of-factly, "If you're not busy, help me dry my hair."
Gu Shi nodded, took the hairdryer, and helped her sit in the office chair. He stood up and silently dried her hair.
After drying her hair, Luo Zhengzheng touched it and praised, "Your hair-drying skills are getting better and better."
Gu Shi smirked, "I'm glad you're satisfied."
Luo Zhengzheng asked gently, "Do you still have work to do?"
Gu Shi hummed in agreement, "I still have a few documents to process. You should rest first."
Luo Zhengzheng returned to her room, picked up her phone, and prepared to download a novel to read. She noticed a message in the group chat. She opened it and saw Liu Hanyue had said, "I just had a fight with Gu Xian."
Wang Yaning: "What happened?"
Yu Shuang: "What happened?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "What happened?"
Liu Hanyue: "That bastard is have a mistress outside."
Wang Yaning: "?"
Yu Shuang: "?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "?"
Liu Hanyue: "I've been with him for so many years, and he actually had an affair! I'm divorcing him. Bastard!"
Wang Yaning: "Is there a misunderstanding?"
Liu Hanyue: "No misunderstanding. I just came back from my parents' place, and I saw on his phone that a woman was sending him QQ messages. They were chatting so enthusiastically. One called 'darling,' and the other called 'baby.' He's never called me 'baby' before. It's so infuriating! I can't stand it!"
Luo Zhengzheng thought for a moment. In her past life, she wasn't very close to her sisters-in-law; the three of them wouldn't tell her anything. She didn't know if Gu Xian had ever had an affair, but she knew the two hadn't divorced and had even had a daughter. She couldn't comment on that, only saying, "You should find out more about Gu Xian's situation before acting impulsively."
Liu Hanyue berated a few more times in the group chat and after venting her anger a little, she said, "I've already made him sleep in the guest room. He met that woman in a game. He's so old, still playing games? And why get involved in a romantic relationship? What does he take me for? Anyway, I can't let him off."
Wang Yaning: "Have you thought it through?"
Liu Hanyue: "He only dares to flirt in the game, he wouldn't dare to actually find a mistress. Humph, I'll teach him a lesson, who told him to be detestable."
Yu Shuang: "It's good that you're alright. Pregnant women should go to bed early, goodnight!"
Luo Zhengzheng: "I'm going to sleep too. Goodnight!"
Wang Yaning: "Goodnight!"
Luo Zhengzheng didn't expect that Gu Xian, at thirty years old, would still be looking for girls in games. She hadn't noticed. Then she thought of Gu Shi. Although this man was a bit petty and calculating, he was actually good to her. She sat up, went downstairs, heated a cup of milk, brought it upstairs, and went into the study.
Gu Shi heard the sound and looked up: "Not asleep yet?"
Luo Zhengzheng smiled: "Work must be tiring, have a cup of milk." She placed the milk on the table in front of him.
Gu Shi glanced at the milk in front of him, then looked up at her: "So nice?"
Luo Zhengzheng's gaze was frank as she said, "I've always been this nice, haven't I?"
Gu Shi's eyes crinkled with amusement as he picked up the milk, took a sip, and looked at her, saying, "Yes."
Luo Zhengzheng watched him finish his milk and took the cup from him: "I'm going back to the room. You should go to sleep early too."
Gu Shi hummed in agreement, a smile playing on his lips, and watched her leave.
The next day, the weekend, Luo Can went out to hand out flyers as usual. Zhou Chen's family was coming to visit, and Uncle Wang had gone to buy groceries early. The in-laws' cook came over to help prepare the meal.
A little after eleven o'clock, Zhou Chen's family arrived, followed by Wang Maoxiu and his fiancée.
Gu Shi looked at Wang Maoxiu, as if to say, "Why are you here too?"
Wang Maoxiu pointed to the young girl beside him: "My girl is in a similar situation to your wife. She doesn't get along with those other women. I thought she might be able to connect with your wife, so I brought her over so they could meet."
Gu Shi gave Wang Maoxiu a meaningful look. Thinking of his wife's recent behavior, he said, "Not necessarily."
Wang Maoxiu was confused: "What do you mean?"
Gu Shi naturally wouldn't tell him about his wife, only saying, "Come in and sit down."
Wang Maoxiu pulled his fiancée, Su Mengrou, into the living room.
Zhou Chen and his wife, Zhang Xuan, were childhood sweethearts. They had a very good relationship, had been married for five years, and had a three-year-old daughter who was already in kindergarten.
Zhou Chen looked around: "Where's your son?"
Gu Shi said, "He was making a fuss about going out to play, so his mom took him to the backyard to look at the goldfish."
At this time, Luo Zhengzheng returned carrying Chengjia.
Zhou Chen's daughter, Zhou Xingyue, saw Chengjia and ran over, calling out, "Younger brother, younger brother!"
Luo Zhengzheng put Chengjia down and said with a smile, "Play with elder sister."
However, Chengjia wasn't interested in Elder Sister. He turned his face away, ignoring the little girl who had run over, went to the sofa, climbed on, and plopped down.
Seeing that younger brother ignored her, Zhou Xingyue chased after him to the sofa, pulling his hand and calling out to him.
Chengjia was a little unhappy, pulled his hand away, and said, "No hold."
Zhou Xingyue, however, liked him very much. She thought he was very handsome, with round, dark, and bright eyes, and hugged and gave him a kiss.
Chengjia was very angry at being kissed by an unfamiliar elder sister and burst into tears.
Gu Shi: ......
Zhou Chen and his wife stared in disbelief at the scene. Their daughter, so young, already knew how to be a hooligan? He looked at Gu Shi: "Given this situation, should we arrange a marriage between our children?"
Not to mention how good-looking Chengjia was at such a young age, even with his parents' outstanding appearance, he was bound to be a good-looking boy when he grew up. For his daughter, with her looks, to win Chengjia's favor was a bit of a stretch. Only he, as her father, could put in some effort behind the scenes.
Gu Shi ignored him, thinking to herself, "Don't even think about it."
Luo Zhengzheng was also somewhat astonished. Sitting on the sofa, she coughed and looked at her son, "Elder sister likes you, that's why she kissed you. Don't cry."
Zhou Xingyue loved pretty aunties and couldn't help but throw herself into her arms, "Auntie, I like younger brother! Younger brother is good looking, and auntie is good looking too!"
Chengjia sobbed, "I don't like..."
Zhou Xingyue: "..."
Zhou Chen's wife, Zhang Xuan, covered her face. Her daughter took after her father. Her eyes were a bit small, but she was obsessed with looks and had a rash personality, liking all good-looking people. With the Gu Family of three all being good-looking, she couldn't control herself.
Zhang Xuan nudged Zhou Chen, complaining, "Your daughter is really embarrassing me."
Zhou Chen, however, thought his daughter did the right thing. To win over a handsome man, one had to be shameless. Especially Gu Shi's son; if his daughter could trick Gu Shi's son into coming home, she would be a complete winner in life.
Thinking about how Gu Shi's son would grow up and call him "father-in-law," and how Gu Shi would be jealous, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Gu Shi glanced at him, roughly guessing his thoughts, and secretly thought Zhou Chen's daughter was too spoiled and unruly, not his ideal daughter-in-law.