“Let’s go eat. My treat.”
They had been out all afternoon, so Shu Xian must have been hungry too.
“I want to eat something expensive.”
Preferably expensive enough to bankrupt Gu Tingyuan.
“Okay.”
Gu Tingyuan agreed readily.
How could he not? That watch was worth a million.
Wah-wah, his million.
Even though he was rich in this world, he usually did not spend that much.
In his previous world, that money would have been enough to retire on.
“Stop feeling sorry for it. Here, take this.”
Gu Tingyuan took out a black card.
“No limit. Spend it however you want.”
How domineering. He really liked that.
Wait, why was he giving him a black card?
That was weird.
It was not like he was his partner.
“No.”
Shu Xian shoved the bank card back.
He did not want it.
That would make it look like they were really close.
But then he thought about his million and reached out to take it back.
“Then I will use it to buy a gift, as a return gift from you, and then I will give the card back.”
He would buy himself a million-dollar gift too.
Mm, that made him feel much better.
“Suit yourself.”
Seeing that Shu Xian was in a better mood, Gu Tingyuan went along with him.
Gu Tingyuan had not expected Shu Xian, despite how much money his family had, to be such a miser.
The way he felt heartache over money was adorable beyond words.
“Let’s have hotpot.”
It had been a long time since he last had it. At home, he only ate home-cooked meals.
He really wanted something spicy.
“Not eating something expensive anymore?”
“If I want something expensive, I will go eat it myself. Let’s have hotpot first.”
Now that the money was back, of course he should eat what he wanted.
“Can you eat hotpot?” Shu Xian asked.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
Gu Tingyuan turned the car around and headed to a nearby hotpot restaurant.
“Eat up. You are not already full, are you?”
Gu Tingyuan had been sitting beside him the whole time, watching him eat.
Shu Xian felt a little embarrassed.
“Mm, I am full.”
Tsk, staying that disciplined in front of such delicious hotpot?
Besides, it looked like he had only eaten the clear broth.
Shu Xian picked up a slice of fatty beef with his chopsticks. “Can you handle spicy food?”
“Yes.”
Really can, or just saying he can?
He dipped it in the oil dish in his bowl and placed it into Gu Tingyuan’s bowl.
“Try it. It is insanely delicious.”
“Okay.”
Without hesitation, Gu Tingyuan picked up the fatty beef and put it in his mouth.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
The spiciness made him cough a few times.
Come on, if you cannot handle it, just say so. Such a stubborn mouth.
Shu Xian shook his head. Not being able to handle spice would not do; Li Wu also loved spicy food.
“The food you eat is way too spicy.”
“No, no, no. It is you who cannot handle it.”
This level of spiciness was nothing to him. In his previous life, he ate things even spicier than this.
“Do you want to try?”
“Huh? Try what?”
Shu Xian shoved the beef into his mouth and asked.
“Try me and see if I can handle it.”
“Cough, cough, cough.”
This time it was Shu Xian who choked.
What is wrong with him? Why did he have to make it sound so dirty?
Gu Tingyuan handed him a cup of tea and rubbed his back.
“Slow down. No one is fighting you for it.”
Shu Xian glared at him with red-rimmed eyes. Wasn’t it all because of him?
“Don’t get mad. Whatever you want to eat, I will cook for you.”
Gu Tingyuan still coaxed him. He was just like a little kitten, puffing up its fur and about to show its claws.
Shu Xian’s anger was instantly extinguished.
Since someone was serving him, of course he would not refuse.
“Then put in the shrimp paste, and that tripe too. Just blanch it for fifteen seconds.”
“Okay.”
Gu Tingyuan rolled up his sleeves and began putting all kinds of meat and vegetables into the pot for him.
If any of the meat was blanched too long or too briefly, Shu Xian would scold him directly.
He pointed and criticized, and Gu Tingyuan did not complain once.
Mm, very teachable.
He was learning well. When the time came to eat hotpot with Li Wu, he could serve him like this too.
Shu Xian ate happily.
He hoped Gu Tingyuan would understand his good intentions in the future.
“Phew~ So satisfying.”
Shu Xian rubbed his round belly and leaned back in his chair, not wanting to move at all.
“Next time, do not eat so much. It is bad for your health.”
“Mm.”
Shu Xian answered absently.
This kind of happiness from eating your fill was something CEOs who had every meal custom catered would never understand.
“Do you want to go anywhere? Or should I send you back?”
“Take me back.”
He was tired, and now he was sleepy too.
Ring~
His phone rang, and Shu Xian answered.
“Hello?”
“Baby boy, Mom and Dad are back. Where are you?”
Qi Yue had not seen her son in a very long time. She had heard from Li Wu that he was becoming more and more obedient.
“Mo… Mom, I am out with a friend right now. I am getting ready to go home.”
This was the first time he had ever had a mother.
Calling out that word made Shu Xian’s heart stir with a strange feeling.
“Ah, good son. Then hurry back. Your father wants to see you too.”
Shu Xian had finally been willing to call her Mom. Before, he had been angry about Li Wu coming back…
However, by the day after tomorrow, on Li Wu’s birthday, Shu Xian would understand everything.
Li Wu would inherit the inheritance left by his own father.
“Maybe forget it. I will just take a taxi myself.”
What if Li Wu saw them and misunderstood? That would not be good.
“It’s fine. Get in.”
Gu Tingyuan pulled him up, shoved him into the front passenger seat, and fastened his seat belt for him.
What a domineering CEO move.
Fine.
“Do you know where my house is?”
“Shu Mansion. I have been there before.”
Shu Xian nodded. Fine.
“Call me when we get there. I will nap for a bit.”
He was truly sleepy now.
At a red light, Gu Tingyuan took a coat from the back seat and covered him with it.
The sleeping Shu Xian hugged the coat and slept even more soundly.
His fair skin had a rosy tint, his featherlike lashes were long and curled, his small nose was cute and straight, and his red lips shone with a seductive color.
He looked very kissable.
So obedient.
Gu Tingyuan took out his phone and snapped a few photos of him.
Then, feeling it was not enough, he leaned in and took a few selfies with him before putting the phone away, satisfied.
“Baby, we are home.”
Qi Yue woke her son.
Gu Tingyuan had originally wanted to carry him inside, but as soon as they reached the gate of Shu Mansion, Shu Xian’s mother was already waiting there to greet them.
“Brother, why are you with him?”
A flicker of confusion crossed Li Wu’s eyes. Didn’t Shu Xian hate Gu Tingyuan?
“He asked me to help him buy you a gift and to attend your birthday banquet.”
“Birthday banquet?”
Li Wu thought back carefully. A lot had happened at the birthday banquet in his previous life.
It had all been Shu Xian humiliating and targeting him.
Did brother have another task?
“Is it strange?”
“He is completely different from his previous life.”
“He must know something.”
Gu Tingyuan spoke to himself, completely unconcerned with whether Li Wu was listening.
“Tingyuan, come inside and sit with us.”
Qi Yue greeted him.
The Shu family and the Gu family were on good terms and had business dealings, so Qi Yue naturally knew Gu Tingyuan.
“No need, Auntie. You all catch up. I will not intrude.”
“I will come to the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow.”
Gu Tingyuan said.
“All right, then Tingyuan, come by and visit more when you have time.”
“Okay, Auntie.”
After saying goodbye to Gu Tingyuan, the others went back inside.
Shu Zhen sat at the head seat of the sofa, imposing without anger.
“Do not mind the way your father looks. He actually misses you a lot.”
Ms. Qi whispered in Shu Xian’s ear.