Chapter 10
After breakfast, Gu Shi prepared to go to the company. Glancing at Luo Can, who was sitting obediently eating breakfast next to Luo Zhengzheng, he asked him meaningfully, "Are you still coming to the company with me today?"
Luo Can was about to speak when Luo Zhengzheng finished her milk and said, "He finally finished the college entrance exam, let him rest for a few days and take him out to play." Even if he had to go out for a summer job, there was no need to rush.
Luo Can looked at Elder Sister, then at Elder Brother-in-law, and lowered his head to eat. He was at Elder Brother-in-law's house now and could only follow Elder Sister's arrangements.
Gu Shi breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief. Younger Brother-in-law should stay with his elder sister.
Luo Zhengzheng added, "We're planning a trip to Yunnan."
Luo Can had read Jin Yong's novels; Duan Yu came from Dali, a place he longed to visit. When Elder Sister asked where he wanted to go, Dali in Yunnan was the first place that came to his mind. Since it was rare for younger brother to make a request, Luo Zhengzheng naturally granted his wish and booked the plane tickets this morning.
"..." Gu Shi lowered his eyes. After a few seconds said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
He could have arranged his work to accompany them.
Luo Zhengzheng waved her hand: "You're busy with work, so I won't keep you any longer. Nanny Wang, Uncle Wang, and Xiao Zhang have worked hard for over a year. Let them come along and have some fun too."
Gu Shi's eyes darkened: "So I’m the only one left at home?"
Sensing his tone was off, Luo Zhengzheng finally looked up, wiping her hands with a tissue: "You...don't need anyone to keep you company, right?"
The implication was: You're an adult, still afraid of being home alone?
Gu Shi glanced at her expressionlessly: "Have fun." Then he strode away.
Luo Can watched Elder Brother-in-law's departing figure and gently tugged at her arm: "Elder Sis, is Elder Brother-in-law angry?"
Luo Zhengzheng cracked an egg and peeled it: "You're overthinking it. Your elder brother-in-law always has that expression."
Luo Can nodded knowingly. So Elder Brother-in-law's usual expression was...no expression.
Upon arriving in Dali, they naturally went to the Gu Family's hotel. Gu Shi had given her a VIP card, allowing her to check into a top-tier suite without prior reservation. After a short rest at the hotel, Luo Can excitedly tugged at her, wanting to go out and play. Luo Zhengzheng placed Xiao Jiajia in his arms, saying, "Uncle, hold me."
Luo Can let him ride on his shoulders. The little guy giggled and hugged his head. His maternal uncle loved playing games with him, and these past few days, his favorite was his maternal uncle: "Uncle, run! Uncle, run!"
Luo Can carefully carried him, smiling, "You can't run here. We'll run when we get outside."
The little guy pointed outside: "Outside! Outside!"
The hotel had a car and the group first went to Dali Old Town. Luo Can carried his little nephew on his back, then in his arms, then let him walk on the ground, while Luo Zhengzheng took many photos of them from behind.
Xiao Zhang carried the things behind, while Uncle Wang and Nanny Wang took in the scenery while keeping an eye on little Chengjia.
Before her rebirth, Ye Li was older and Chengjia was still a student. After Luo Can graduated from university, Ye Li offered him a job at the Ye Corporation. Without much hesitation, he resolutely gave up his dreams to help out at the Ye Corporation, working tirelessly day and night, without even time to find a girlfriend. Meanwhile, she not only had to care for the elderly and ailing parents, but also mother-in-law and son. If it weren't for her younger brother's support, she feared she wouldn't have been able to cope.
Although she was a wealthy wife, she didn't have much time to go out and enjoy life. Walking on the streets of the ancient city, she felt relaxed. A smile involuntarily played on her lips. In this life, Gu Shi absolutely couldn't get into trouble, and Luo Can could finally do what he wanted.
Little Chengjia was being held by Uncle Wang. The camera was in Luo Can's hands. He aimed at Elder Sister's smile and quickly pressed the shutter.
That evening, the group returned to the hotel, exhausted. After dinner, back in their room, Uncle Wang and Nanny Wang took little Chengjia to bathe. After washing up, Luo Zhengzheng exported the photos. Remembering Gu Shi's somewhat strange expression before leaving for work that morning, she sent him some beautiful landscape photos and a group photo, adding, "Even though you weren't here, seeing these photos is a feast for the eyes, as if you were here."
On the top floor of Ye's headquarters, Guo Yao kept checking his watch. He hadn't thought he'd have to work overtime tonight; he and his girlfriend had planned to go to the movies. However, President Gu, who usually took his work home, was still not leaving even at almost eight o'clock. As the president's secretary, he had no choice but to keep him company. It seemed he'd have to apologize to his girlfriend. Resigned, he went to the president's office and asked, "President Gu, would you like to order some food?" This was the third time he'd asked President Gu.
Gu Shi looked up and glanced at him. "Order if you're hungry."
Guo Yao nodded. As Gu Shi's secretary, he knew Gu Shi's eating habits better than Gu Shi himself. He went out to order.
Watching Guo Yao leave, a message popped up on his QQ. He opened it and saw it was from Luo Zhengzheng. He looked at each photo, then went back and saved them to his computer. He glanced at her message; she knew how to save face. He didn't reply, closed the chat window, and continued working.
Luo Zhengzheng waited for a long time but got no reply. She decided to give up. Traveling was tiring; she just wanted to lie in bed and sleep. She went to the next room to check on little Chengjia, who was sleeping next to Nanny Wang with a rosy face. She touched his little cheek, went back to her room, and sent Gu Shi a few more solo photos of herself before going to sleep.
Gu Shi ate the dinner Guo Yao had ordered and leisurely opened Luo Zhengzheng's chat window. He saw she had sent several more photos, and seeing the smile on her lips in them, he couldn't help but smile too. Then, thinking of how she had abandoned him without a second thought, taking their son and younger brother on a trip, his smile faded. His carefully cherished wife had so easily flown off. He saved the photos one by one, then dialed Guo Yao's number and asked him to come to his office.
Guo Yao entered the office, and Gu Shi said, "Order a car around a million yuan, for a young man around twenty years old. He should like SUVs."
Luo Can was still young. He didn't plan to give him a very expensive car.
Guo Yao was surprised, but his good manners prevented him from showing it. He calmly replied, "Okay, when do you expect it?"
He wondered who this car was for. He knew all the cars in President Gu's garage; even the cheapest one was worth several million. Who was this car for? Thinking of Luo Can who had come to the office yesterday, he knew the answer.
Gu Shi thought for a moment and said, "About twenty days."
After Guo Yao left, Gu Shi opened the photo Luo Zhengzheng had sent him again, looked at it once more, and still didn't reply. He shut down his computer and walked out, passing Guo Yao's office. "You should go home too," he said.
Guo Yao breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, it was time to go home.
Back home, he opened the door. The living room was pitch black. He turned on the light. The usually bustling living room was now empty, quiet, and cold. He loosened his tie and went upstairs to wash up without lingering. After washing up, he picked up his phone, thought for a moment, took a picture, and sent it to Luo Zhengzheng. He also wrote in the message: "The quilt is cold, the pillow is cold, the night is long. Can't sleep."
After sending the message, he laid in bed, picked up a business magazine, and slowly flipped through it, waiting for her message. The clock struck twelve, but there was still no reply on his phone. He took off his glasses, tossed the book onto the bedside table, and turned off the light. Despite the tossing and turning, he was unable to sleep.
Luo Zhengzheng slept soundly, without a single dream. After getting up, she went to the bathroom, brushing her teeth while scrolling through her phone. She came across a message from Gu Shi, and with a puff, toothpaste foam sprayed out. She put her phone on the sink, wiped the mirror clean with a tissue, quickly brushed her teeth, washed her face, and applied lotion before casually replying to Gu Shi: "Me too."
After sending the message, without waiting for his reply, she went next door. Because Nanny Wang was taking care of Chengjia, Uncle Wang had taken another room. Little Chengjia was already awake and playing with Granny Wang on the bed. Luo Zhengzheng asked, "Aren't Luo Can, Uncle Wang, and Xiao Zhang up yet?"
Nanny Wang smiled: "Your Uncle Wang got up early. He finds it too stuffy staying indoors, so he went out for a walk. Luo Can and Xiao Zhang haven't gotten up yet."
Luo Zhengzheng nodded, picked up her son, and said, "Let's go downstairs for breakfast first, we won't wait for them."
Gu Shi hadn't slept much all night, only waking up around nine o'clock. He checked his phone and found that Luo Zhengzheng had finally replied to his text message. After reading it, he couldn't help but scoff, not believing her words at all, and coldly replied, "Self-evident."
Luo Zhengzheng heard her phone ring. She opened it and saw Gu Shi's reply, speechless. She thought to herself, "This man is so annoying. He doesn't even believe her, and still says self-evident." She tossed her phone on the table, not intending to reply.
Seeing her displeased expression, Nanny Wang casually asked, "Whose message is it?"
Luo Zhengzheng fed little Jiajia a spoonful of egg custard and said, "A spam text message."
Oblivious, Nanny Wang replied, "There are so many spam text messages these days."
After finishing breakfast, Gu Shi, still without seeing Luo Zhengzheng's reply, became unusually calm and his face expressionless. He put on his shirt, did not even bother with a tie, and strode to the company.
In the morning, the group went to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, a place Luo Can had longed to visit. Luo Zhengzheng bought incense and burned it. Before her rebirth, Luo Zhengzheng didn't burn incense or pray to Buddha, but now she felt it necessary to do so. If Buddha truly existed, perhaps, seeing her sincere prayers, he would grant her wish.
Nanny Wang said to Luo Can, "You just finished your college entrance exam, you should really pray to Manjushri Bodhisattva to bless you with good results."
Luo Can thought it was better to trust himself than to believe in such things, but under Nanny Wang's gaze, he still devoutly prayed.
It was already past working hours and Luo Zhengzheng still hadn't messaged him. Gu Shi's face was frighteningly calm. Guo Yao was hesitant to bother him. He'd stood up his girlfriend yesterday, and it seemed he'd have to do it again today. If this continued, would he ever get married?
Luo Zhengzheng had been praying in the morning and going to Erhai Lake in the afternoon. Having a great time, she forgot about him. It wasn't until she returned to her hotel that evening that she remembered him. As usual, she sent him many photos and asked what he'd eaten.
Seeing that she'd finally remembered to message him, Gu Shi's expression softened slightly. After looking at the photos, he saved them and replied, "Haven't eaten yet."
Luo Zhengzheng immediately said, "Then you should go eat quickly. Not eating on time can easily cause stomach problems."
Gu Shi's eyes warmed. He replied with an "En," and then asked Guo Yao to order.
Seeing Gu Shi's expression brighten, Guo Yao secretly thought that it seemed he could leave work a little earlier than yesterday.