“Too lazy to bother with you,” Chen Mancang said with a displeased face as he continued walking.
“If you ask me, everything we have today is thanks to the second couple and their two hateful daughters. If they hadn’t refused to help, Baozhu wouldn’t have gone to steal…”
Thinking of her son, Zhang Chunhua was overwhelmed with grief and couldn’t help but shed tears.
If it weren’t for the little grandson at home, she would have followed her son.
The thought of Chen Mandun’s family made Chen Mancang’s gaze turn sinister.
As Liu Yuemin walked back, she saw Gu Xingmin had locked the door and was helping the woman in the fruit shop across the street lift some items.
They were chatting and laughing, which Liu Yuemin found very jarring, and her expression turned unpleasant.
“Sister-in-law, it’s thanks to your husband. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t know what to do with so many fruits. Here are three apples, take them home for the children to eat.”
Seeing her approach, the woman handed her a net bag containing three large apples.
“Our shops are so close, it’s just a matter of helping each other out. You’re too kind.”
Gu Xingmin was about to decline, but Liu Yuemin grabbed it, “Yes, so polite, it makes me feel embarrassed.”
Gu Xingmin had no choice but to stop.
When the couple walked back, Gu Xingmin said, “I just lent a hand, why did you have to accept their things?”
“You lent a hand? Do I not know your character? When have you ever been this diligent? Usually, getting you to do a chore is harder than passing stool. What’s wrong with me taking the apples? I was letting her know that other people’s husbands should be less flirtatious in the future.”
Gu Xingmin: “Flirtatious? Why is your mind so dirty?”
“I’m dirty?” Liu Yuemin exploded, “Aren’t you dirty when you’re exchanging flirtatious glances with her? Her smile is so broad that wrinkles could catch flies! If I hadn’t come over, who knows what you two would have been doing!”
When people are angry, they say things without thinking, but often not what they truly mean.
However, the words had been spoken. Even though Gu Xingmin looked displeased, Liu Yuemin was stubborn and had no intention of backing down.
The couple walked home in complete silence.
…
After dinner, without Chen Lishu needing to clean the kitchen, Li Xiulan stopped Gu Xingping and Chen Liyuan when they offered to help.
She and Zhao Qiuyue cleaned the kitchen in no time.
The two couples sat for a while longer before getting up to leave.
Tomorrow, besides those who had to work, Lin Qi also had to leave early for the neighboring province.
The two little ones were already asleep and had been carried upstairs.
Seeing that everyone had left, Gu Xingdong gestured for Chen Lishu to go upstairs.
After saying goodbye to Li Xiulan, Chen Lishu followed him back to the bedroom.
As soon as they entered the room, before she could speak, Gu Xingdong closed the door, turned his back, and crouched by the bedside cabinet, fiddling with something.
Guessing what it was, Chen Lishu stretched her neck and asked, “You’re not preparing a birthday gift for me, are you?”
Gu Xingdong didn’t turn around and commanded unreasonably, “It’s not out yet, don’t peek.”
Chen Lishu said, “Okay,” her voice laced with laughter, “Alright, I won’t look. I’ll see it when you take it out.”
Although this wasn’t the first time Gu Xingdong had given her something, it was the first time he had given her a birthday gift. Chen Lishu was both curious and expectant.
Not long after, Gu Xingdong stood up, holding a bouquet of bright red roses.
He cleared his throat and said nonchalantly, “I don’t know if you’ll like it, so I just picked this randomly.”
Seeing her not take them, Gu Xingdong scratched the back of his head, which was cut in a flat-top style. “If you don’t like them…”
Chen Lishu snatched the roses, and as she moved, a faint floral scent filled her nostrils.
“Who says I don’t like them? I absolutely love them.”
Gu Xingdong’s expression relaxed.
Chen Lishu looked up, “Xingdong, do you know the meaning of roses?”
Gu Xingdong’s ears turned a little red. “No.”
He hadn’t known originally. The flower seller had told him, which was why he had specifically bought roses.
Looking at Chen Lishu’s delighted expression, Gu Xingdong felt a pang of regret.
He had been too shy at the time and thought a large bouquet was too conspicuous, so he had only bought nine. If he had known she would like them so much, he would have bought ninety-nine.
“Even if you don’t admit it, I know.” Chen Lishu looked at the roses in her arms, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
“Huh?”
Just as she was about to find a vase to put the flowers in, she suddenly saw a golden glint from within the bouquet.
“There seems to be something inside.”
Gu Xingdong touched his nose, unsure if it was the room’s heat or something else, but he was sweating on his back.
Chen Lishu, holding the flowers with one hand, carefully reached in with the other, avoiding the rose thorns.
Soon, a golden ring appeared in Chen Lishu’s palm.
“That day at the wedding banquet…”
Gu Xingdong paused. Although he had rehearsed what he wanted to say many times in his mind, and thought he might feel embarrassed when the time came, looking at the person in front of him, the words flowed out naturally.
“Although I can’t give you a grand wedding, I promise I will do one thing diligently in this life: to love you, and to love our family.”
Chen Lishu looked at the ring in her palm, responding after a long pause.
For the first time in her life, she wanted to do something romantic, but there was no reply.
Gu Xingdong’s expression remained largely unchanged, but inside, his heart was churning. Every second felt like an eternity.
Just as Gu Xingdong was about to say something casual to cover the awkwardness, a hand suddenly reached out in front of him. In the slender palm lay the golden ring.
Chen Lishu’s gaze fell on his tense jawline. Knowing he was nervous, she couldn’t help but chuckle, “Aren’t you going to put it on for me?”
The corners of Gu Xingdong’s mouth instantly perked up.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it to death.”
“Don’t say ‘to death’ on your birthday.” Gu Xingdong nimbly put it on her finger. It fit perfectly.
“Okay, okay, I won’t say it.” Chen Lishu dangled her ring-wearing finger in front of Gu Xingdong. “Does it look good?”
Gu Xingdong took her hand and pulled her into his arms, gently biting her ear. “My wife looks good in anything.”
Chen Lishu felt a tickle and laughed, turning her head to dodge him. “When did your words become so sweet?”
“Want to taste?”
“No.”
“Objection overruled.”
…
“By the way, what wish did you make today?”
“I can’t say it, or it won’t come true.”
“You can tell me quietly.” No matter what, he would help her achieve it.
Chen Lishu whispered something very quietly, and Gu Xingdong didn’t hear it.
She hoped this wasn’t a dream. If it were, she wished she would never wake up.
…
The next day, Chen Lishu woke up a little late. Her whole body ached, especially her waist and legs. She felt as if she had just run a marathon.
As she went downstairs, her foot slipped. Fortunately, she held onto the handrail, or she would have landed squarely on the steps.