As the guest, Hu Tianyou naturally enjoyed the treatment a guest deserved.
After all the dishes were on the table, Gu Yian finally made the introduction. "This is Hu Tianyou, my good brother. You can just call him Xiao Hu."
Hu Tianyou immediately called out fawningly, "Hello, Sister-in-law."
Although he didn't know what had gotten into Gu Yian to suddenly agree to marry Jiang Shiyue, and then to have such a drastic change in attitude towards her.
But since Jiang Shiyue was now the person Gu Yian had chosen, he definitely had to straighten out his attitude.
Especially after witnessing Jiang Shiyue's cooking firsthand, his opinion of her had also changed for the better.
She was just too delicate.
What kind of experience is it to be called 'Sister-in-law' by someone older than you?
Jiang Shiyue felt a little embarrassed.
However, Jiang Shiyue still responded and took out the white liquor she had bought at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the wine glasses she had bought from the Mall.
She twisted open the cap, poured three glasses, and placed one in front of each of them. Only then did she raise her glass, her tone sincere. "Xiao Hu, thank you for taking care of our A Yan all these years. We, as a couple, toast you with this glass."
While she was cooking earlier, she had already learned about the bond between Gu Yian and Hu Tianyou through the Mall. Hu Tianyou and Gu Yian were good brothers who had grown up together. Later, when Gu Yian's family ran into trouble and was exiled, Hu Tianyou had followed him here, afraid that Gu Yian would be bullied.
It could be said that if it weren't for Hu Tianyou all these years, who knows what would have become of Gu Yian.
Hu Tianyou was a little surprised, probably not expecting Jiang Shiyue to be able to say such words.
Gu Yian also added, "Thank you."
Hu Tianyou punched Gu Yian on the shoulder. "Hey! Between the two of us, saying thanks makes us sound like strangers!"
He clinked glasses with the couple and downed the liquor in his glass in one go, making Jiang Shiyue exclaim at his high tolerance.
Although the glass wasn't large, drinking like that was still a bit hard on the stomach.
Thinking of him as Gu Yian's brother, Jiang Shiyue couldn't help but remind him, "Xiao Hu, don't just drink. Eat more food, or it'll hurt your stomach."
Gu Yian immediately chimed in, "Exactly. Listen to your sister-in-law."
After speaking, he even picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Hu Tianyou's bowl. "Try your sister-in-law's cooking."
Hu Tianyou had known Gu Yian for over twenty years, and this was the first time Gu Yian had ever served him food. He was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.
But it was also clear that Gu Yian genuinely liked Jiang Shiyue; otherwise, why would he be so protective of her?
However, Hu Tianyou was skeptical about Jiang Shiyue's culinary skills.
Even if it smelled very fragrant.
He tentatively took a bite, and then his eyes widened. "Is this flavor something a human can actually create?"
Jiang Shiyue replied, amused, "It's not as exaggerated as you make it sound. I just cooked casually."
Hu Tianyou clicked his tongue. "To be this delicious even when cooking casually… if you were to cook seriously, you could open a restaurant."
After speaking, he couldn't help but look at Gu Yian, his eyes filled with blatant envy. "Second Brother, you've completely hit the jackpot!"
So who was it that said Jiang Shiyue was lazy!
Jiang Shiyue looked at the two of them suspiciously. "Second Brother?"
As far as she knew, Gu Yian had no siblings. Why on earth would Hu Tianyou call Gu Yian 'Second Brother'?
Hu Tianyou froze, subconsciously looking at Gu Yian, not knowing if he should say anything.
Gu Yian spoke nonchalantly, "Before we were sent to the countryside, we used to live in a Siheyuan. There were many kids our age in the courtyard, but back then, no one would submit to anyone else, so we got into a fight…"
Jiang Shiyue cut in, "And you lost? So you became the second oldest?"
Hu Tianyou shook his head. "Second Brother was the final winner, but he didn't like people calling him 'Big Brother,' saying it sounded a bit like a gangster. He told us to call him 'Second Brother,' and we've been calling him that ever since."
This result was rather unexpected. Jiang Shiyue propped her chin on her hand and just looked at Gu Yian. "Then should I call you Second Brother from now on too?"
Gu Yian reached out and pinched Jiang Shiyue's fingers. "Don't mess around."
Jiang Shiyue raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so a certain someone prefers to hear me call him A Yan."
Before Gu Yian could speak, Hu Tianyou hugged his arms and shivered from the goosebumps. "I say, can you two be a little more considerate of me? There's a big living person here, you know!"
Jiang Shiyue smiled sweetly. "At a time like this, you should pretend you don't exist."
Hu Tianyou: So he came here today to be tortured?
It seemed his worries had been for nothing. He had been afraid that Jiang Shiyue was still deeply in love with Liang Zeyuan and wouldn't be willing to live a good life with Gu Yian.
But now, looking at them, they were as sweet as honey, making him want to find a wife for himself.
Gu Yian nodded, casting a disdainful glance at Hu Tianyou. "Indeed."
Hu Tianyou clutched his chest. "So I'm the third wheel."
"Good that you know."
She had originally been worried about not getting along with Hu Tianyou, but now it seemed she had overthought things. The man was a complete riot.
Jiang Shiyue spoke up at the right moment, "Alright, let's eat. If we keep fooling around, the food will get cold."
Having already tasted Jiang Shiyue's cooking, Hu Tianyou didn't hold back this time. He held his bowl and started devouring the food, looking like a reincarnated hungry ghost.
"Sister-in-law, this cooking is [chew, chew, chew] absolutely amazing. In the future, [chew, chew, chew] can I come over often [chew, chew, chew] to freeload?"
Just as Gu Yian was about to refuse, Jiang Shiyue immediately agreed, "Of course, you can!"
This made Gu Yian's face darken, even though Hu Tianyou was his brother who he'd grown up with.
Usually, it was just him and Jiang Shiyue eating at home, which was a good chance to nurture their relationship. If Hu Tianyou came over to freeload, how were they supposed to nurture it? Nurture it in bed at night?
However, Jiang Shiyue didn't notice the look on Gu Yian's face and continued on her own, "Usually it's just me and A Yan eating. If I cook too much, we can't finish it, and if I cook too little, it's not enough. It's perfect if you come."
Hu Tianyou grinned. "Then I won't be polite, Sister-in-law!"
After speaking, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and immediately pulled out the money he had on him. "This is my food money. You must take it, Sister-in-law. Otherwise, I'll be too embarrassed to come over and freeload."
Jiang Shiyue's face grew stern. "You're A Yan's brother, after all. Why take money? That makes us sound like strangers."
Seeing that Hu Tianyou freeloading was a done deal that couldn't be changed, Gu Yian pursed his lips. "Don't you have Coupons? Give her Coupons."
Jiang Shiyue glared at Gu Yian. "What Coupons? It's just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks."
Knowing that the couple wouldn't take his money, Hu Tianyou simply put it away. "Second Brother has a point. But I don't have any Coupons on me. Can I bring them over tomorrow?"
Gu Yian gritted his teeth and said, "You can."
He really had no tact at all. Couldn't he see that he wasn't welcome?