The night after a recent rain.
The air carried a damp scent, and the weather had turned somewhat cold.
Jiang Wan had only eaten a milk and bread that Zhang Qian gave her today.
She hadn’t eaten anything else since.
Now she was both hungry and cold.
Feeling her skirt pocket, she found only a few yuan in loose change.
She planned to stay at a friend’s house for the night, then finish the agreed-upon illustration tomorrow so she could almost gather enough money for the abortion.
Just as she was about to reach the corner, a Maybach unexpectedly drove toward her from the other side.
Jiang Wan was startled by this sudden situation, her steps slowing slightly.
At that moment, a hand suddenly reached out from beside her, pulling her away from danger.
Followed by a pair of strong arms firmly holding her in an embrace.
The reckless Maybach drove past them.
“Be careful.” Gu Shilan’s concerned voice sounded from above.
Jiang Wan’s still unsettled heartbeat suddenly quickened again.
She raised her eyes and met a pair of concerned eyes.
Jiang Wan instinctively wanted to run away.
Her still unresponsive abdomen also sent nerve signals pounding against her brain.
“Jiang Wan, let’s talk.” Gu Shilan seemed to sense Jiang Wan’s intention, cutting off her escape route: “And about the child.”
Hearing the word “child,” Jiang Wan’s fingertips hanging at her side trembled slightly.
She wasn’t at all surprised by Gu Shilan’s words.
As the head of Huacheng’s top wealthy family, there was nothing in this world Gu Shilan couldn’t investigate.
“Mm…”
It was clear Gu Shilan had come specifically to find her, and he already knew about the child’s existence. Avoiding it was meaningless.
The two returned to the car.
Gu Shilan silently turned up the temperature in the car, then started the engine and drove away from the villa area.
Jiang Wan originally thought Gu Shilan wanted to talk about the child, but after getting in the car, Gu Shilan didn’t say a word.
The atmosphere in the car was somewhat quiet, making her feel uneasy.
Jiang Wan carefully considered her words, but unexpectedly met Gu Shilan’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
“You…” Jiang Wan’s tongue tied in fright, and her unorganized words spilled out to ease the awkwardness: “What are you doing?”
Gu Shilan chuckled softly, amused: “Wanwan, you’re the one sneaking glances at me.”
Hearing this, Jiang Wan’s fair cheeks immediately flushed red. She softly retorted: “I, I wasn’t sneaking glances.”
Gu Shilan resisted the urge to pinch Jiang Wan’s slightly puffed cheeks from shyness, his expression returning to its usual reserved demeanor: “I misunderstood Wanwan.”
Jiang Wan fell silent. Being addressed so intimately by Gu Shilan still made her somewhat uncomfortable.
The Cullinan left the quiet suburbs, its sleek body cutting through the night as it drove all the way to the bustling city center.
Jiang Wan looked at the private restaurant, the sign reading “Jiangnan Xiaozhu” in four characters.
Gu Shilan unfastened his seatbelt while saying: “This afternoon’s meeting lasted until evening, and I haven’t had dinner yet. Wanwan, first accompany me for dinner, and we can talk about our matters later, okay?”
Jiang Wan looked at Gu Shilan’s back and nodded.
Then realizing Gu Shilan couldn’t see her, she spoke: “Okay.”
Gu Shilan opened the door and got out, walking around to the back seat to open the car door for Jiang Wan, carefully placing his hand on the roof.
“Thank you.” Jiang Wan had never been treated so thoughtfully before, feeling somewhat uneasy.
From Gu Shilan’s perspective, what he saw was a small, fluffy head, carrying a hint of restraint.
He smiled gently and simply said, “No need to thank me. Let’s go.”
Jiang Wan walked silently behind Gu Shilan, her mind elsewhere.
Gu Shilan, standing at 190 centimeters tall, could easily leave Jiang Wan far behind with just a few long strides.
Yet Jiang Wan had no trouble keeping up with him.
Upon entering the classically decorated interior, a waitress in a cheongsam approached them.
“Good evening, Mr. Gu,” the beautiful waitress greeted with a timely smile. “The owner happens to be in the store today. Let me call him to say hello.”
“Next time,” Gu Shilan politely declined. “I’m here with a friend for dinner today. Please find us a quiet private room.”
The waitress had noticed the girl following Gu Shilan as soon as they entered, and now she understood. “Of course, Mr. Gu. This way, please.”
They walked through the corridor and were seated in the innermost private room.
Knowing that Gu Shilan enjoyed tea, the waitress asked, “Mr. Gu, would you prefer Da Hong Pao or Longjing tea today?”
Gu Shilan replied, “Just bring us a pot of hot water, and also a cup of warm milk.”
The waitress nodded and left after they had ordered.
The air suddenly grew quiet. Jiang Wan wanted to break the silence but struggled with how to address him.
In the past, she could have called him “Little Uncle,” but now that felt inappropriate.
After a moment of hesitation, she tentatively said, “Mr. Gu…”
Gu Shilan focused his gaze on Jiang Wan, watching her struggle before finally settling on the awkward formality of “Mr. Gu.” He couldn’t help but feel amused inside.
Leaning back comfortably in his chair with his legs crossed, he joked, “Why so formal? I almost thought we were here to discuss business.”
Jiang Wan fell silent, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“How about,” Gu Shilan observed her expression, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips as he offered a considerate suggestion, “you call me Uncle Gu?”
Jiang Wan’s tense body immediately relaxed. She had been afraid Gu Shilan would ask her to call him something strange.
“Uncle… Uncle Gu,” Jiang Wan sighed inwardly, trying to make it sound as natural as possible. “You already know.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement.
Gu Shilan nodded noncommittally. “Mm.”
Just as Jiang Wan was about to speak, the waitress returned with the hot water and milk.
So she swallowed her unspoken words.
The waitress poured hot water into their cups and, with keen awareness, placed the milk on the table in front of Jiang Wan.
The milk was, of course, for this young lady.
There was no way Mr. Gu had come here specifically to drink milk.
Gu Shilan glanced at the servers bringing the dishes and said, “Let’s eat first. We can talk about our matters later.”
Then, he slightly lifted his chin and gestured. “Wanwan, have some warm milk to soothe your stomach.”
Jiang Wan hadn’t felt cold since getting into the car, but her empty stomach was still protesting.
In the past, when Meng Fenyu was in a bad mood, she would punish Jiang Wan by making her go hungry.
But starting last year, for reasons unknown to Jiang Wan, Meng Fenyu suddenly changed. She no longer deliberately punished her with hunger or chores. Aside from the occasional sarcastic remarks, Jiang Wan’s life had improved significantly compared to before.
She thought she had grown accustomed to the feeling of hunger.
But recently, for some reason, she found it unbearable. Perhaps it was because she was carrying a baby.
Jiang Wan no longer stood on ceremony with Gu Shilan. She picked up the milk and took small sips, her fair face finally gaining a hint of color.
Gu Shilan knew that severe morning sickness often occurred in early pregnancy, so he had ordered light, low-oil dishes.
“Try this and see how it tastes.”
Gu Shilan used serving chopsticks to place some stir-fried Longjing shrimp into Jiang Wan’s dish.
“Thank you.” Jiang Wan lowered her small head, almost burying it in her bowl.
Gu Shilan found it somewhat amusing. “Wanwan, you don’t need to be so reserved around me.”
“Uncle Gu, I understand.”