Murong Qinxue, sitting across from Gu Jingchuan, noticed her uncle seemed to be lost in thought. She immediately puffed out her cheeks and couldn’t help raising her voice. “Uncle, what are you looking at? Are you even listening to me?”
Gu Jingchuan withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip. Seeing his niece puffing up like an angry little pufferfish, he composed his expression and lied unhurriedly, “Sorry, I was just thinking about work.”
Murong Qinxue: “…”
She couldn’t help but complain inwardly about her uncle—what a workaholic.
“Uncle, I came here this time on Grandma’s orders. She wants you to stop working so much and make time to find a girlfriend.”
After saying this, she blinked playfully, her smugness plain to see.
“Cut the nonsense. Let’s talk about the real matter.”
Gu Jingchuan avoided answering the “girlfriend” topic, but Murong Qinxue was already used to his attitude.
“Did your parents know you came here this time?”
Murong Qinxue furrowed her brows. “I came here with classmates for a couple of days. Don’t tell them.”
Her tone suggested she didn’t want to bring up those neglectful parents of hers.
“Your mother called me yesterday specifically to ask about you.”
Murong Qinxue gave a light snort, casually stirring the drink in her cup with a spoon, watching the liquid swirl into tiny whirlpools.
Suddenly, a crisp clink sounded from the cup, breaking the brief silence.
“Then she definitely didn’t tell you that she’s been wanting to divorce my dad recently!” Murong Qinxue lifted her head, staring straight at Gu Jingchuan across from her.
However, Gu Jingchuan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, still as calm as still water, as if he were long accustomed to such matters.
“Do you want them to divorce?”
He asked in a flat tone, as if discussing something completely unrelated to himself.
Hearing this, the stubborn look on Murong Qinxue’s face instantly vanished, replaced by dejection and sorrow.
She lowered her eyes and said softly, “Uncle, I don’t want them to divorce at all. The reason I came to find you is actually hoping you could help talk some sense into my mom. You’re the only one at home she actually listens to.”
As she spoke, tears began to well up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
“I’ve always felt that there’s still love between my parents. It’s just that they’re both too busy and never have time to sit down and properly communicate. Plus, my mom has that cold, proud temperament—whatever my dad does, she’s never satisfied with it.”
At this point, Murong Qinxue couldn’t help but start sobbing.
Seeing this, Gu Jingchuan frowned slightly, pulled out two tissues and handed them over, comforting her softly, “Stop crying. Wipe your tears first. Tell me in detail—what exactly was the conflict this time that made your mom want a divorce?”
Murong Qinxue wiped her tears and nose haphazardly, speaking with a nasal tone, “Because my dad was on a business trip for almost a week and missed their wedding anniversary. After he came back, my mom gave him the cold shoulder, and within two days she brought up divorce.”
Gu Jingchuan felt there was more to it than that. His sister, though somewhat sentimental, wasn’t the type to make unreasonable scenes.
But these complicated matters didn’t need to be shared with Xiaoxue.
“Don’t worry, with your uncle here, your parents won’t be able to do anything.”
“Really?” Murong Qinxue exclaimed in delight. When she saw her uncle nod firmly, she immediately broke into a smile through her tears. “Uncle, with you saying that, I feel relieved.”
“Call your mom when you get back. Don’t get into a conflict with her. And after playing here for two days, go straight back to the capital.”
Gu Jingchuan said with a serious expression.
“Mm-hmm, Uncle, I’ll listen to you.”
“I’ve transferred you ten thousand yuan. Have fun with your classmates.”
Hearing this, Murong Qinxue quickly picked up her phone. When she saw the transfer notification, she grinned widely. “Uncle’s generous! Thanks, Uncle!”
Hehe! Her little savings stash just got another boost.
Su Ningyue and her companion ate to their heart’s content, finishing with full bellies.
Lin Xiyan chuckled happily. “So satisfying. Ningning, let’s come back to this hotpot place next time.”
“Sure!”
Just as Su Ningyue turned around, she met Gu Jingchuan’s inscrutable gaze. She froze in place, staring at him blankly.
He… he was the man from that night?
What a small world—and not in a good way. Su Ningyue could only pray that he hadn’t recognized her, but judging by the look in his eyes, he clearly had.
Oh no. Did he just hear her and Yanyan complaining about their boss earlier? How could things be so coincidental?
Su Ningyue wished she could hit herself with a block of tofu.
“Ningning, what are you looking at?”
Lin Xiyan followed her gaze and immediately spotted the distinguished-looking Gu Jingchuan. Curiosity piqued, she wondered if Ningning knew this man.
Su Ningyue awkwardly averted her eyes. “Yanyan, let’s go.”
Lin Xiyan knew this wasn’t the time for questions. The two picked up their bags and left the hotpot restaurant together.
Gu Jingchuan watched Su Ningyue’s retreating figure. He knew the young woman had recognized him too—it seemed that night had left an impression on her after all.
Recalling what she’d just said, she must be a public servant as well, though he wasn’t sure which department. It was truly a case of “searching high and low with no luck, only to find it with no effort at all.” It seemed fate was on his side.
Things were getting more and more interesting!
“Are you full?”
Gu Jingchuan asked in a rare good-natured tone. Murong Qinxue looked up and quickly swallowed the food in her mouth. “Let me eat a bit more. Once I’m back in the capital, I won’t get to have this.”
“Aren’t there hotpot restaurants in the capital too?”
Gu Jingchuan knew his niece was a total foodie who had already sampled every delicacy the capital had to offer.
Murong Qinxue shook her head. “Uncle, this hotpot place is especially good. Looks like the reviews aren’t fake.”
She mustered up her courage and asked, “How about… you try a bite?”
He’d been sitting here for half an hour, only sipping tea and eating nothing. What a waste of good food.
In the past, Gu Jingchuan would have flat-out refused. But thinking of the young woman eating with such satisfaction just moments ago, he found himself wanting to taste the food she enjoyed.
With that thought, Gu Jingchuan picked up his chopsticks, a hint of uncertainty on his face as he looked at his niece across the table. “How do I eat this?”
Murong Qinxue nearly choked. She asked in disbelief, “Uncle, you’re actually going to eat?”
Was the sun rising from the west today? Her uncle was actually abandoning his health-conscious ways?
Seeing her uncle’s expression shift, Murong Qinxue quickly snapped back to attention and enthusiastically taught him how to cook the sliced beef.
She asked eagerly, “Isn’t it delicious?”
Gu Jingchuan leisurely swallowed the beef in his mouth and gave a fair assessment. “Not bad.”
So this was the kind of food the young lady liked.
Gu Jingchuan suddenly asked, “Do all girls like eating this kind of stuff?”
“Of course.” Murong Qinxue nodded. “Girls love shopping and eating the most, especially hotpot restaurants, barbecue places…”
At that point, Murong Qinxue paused and asked in a low voice, “Uncle, if my future aunt-in-law likes this kind of food too, would you accommodate her?”
Gu Jingchuan already had an answer in his heart, but he didn’t show it on his face. “Kids shouldn’t be so nosy. Hurry up and eat. I have a meeting later.”
Murong Qinxue let out an “oh” and had no choice but to curb her curiosity, lowering her head to focus on her food.