Qu Qingwei was well-liked among people her age.
She was also warm and friendly to the younger generation. Even though Ning Ke was more than twenty years younger, they felt an instant connection, as if they had met too late. Whenever something interesting happened, Ning Ke would message her.
As for those even younger, she was even more enthusiastic.
When she saw Bai Ningyue, it was like a grandmother seeing her own grandson. She went up and hugged him, “Ningyue, has it been a few days since you saw grandma? Did you miss grandma?”
This kind of elderly enthusiasm made the homebody Su Su feel she could not compare.
Bai Ningyue let her hold him. He probably did not understand what she said, so he did not respond, but he appeared quite affectionate in her arms.
This time, Bai Ningyue was not as wary of Su Su as during their first meeting. His big eyes glanced at her several times, though he did not dare approach or speak.
When Ning Ke asked him to greet her, he spoke more fluently than before, calling out “Auntie” in a soft baby voice.
Su Su smiled at him, and he smiled back shyly, his little face flushed.
Bai Xinyan did not interact much with Qu Qingwei, but politely greeted her, “Hello, Auntie.”
Qu Qingwei smiled, “What perfect timing. I was just saying, if we women take the children out, Gu Shao might be bored going along. Better to let him stay home since he finally has a day off. Luckily you are coming too. We will do our own thing, the kids will play, and the two of you can chat.”
Bai Xinyan nodded, thinking he had originally not planned to take a day off, but his wife insisted, so he had no choice.
If she had insisted on him spending time with her, that would have been nice. Ever since Bai Ningyue was born, they had not had much time alone together. He thought they might take the chance to reconnect, but instead she dragged him here to keep another man company.
Bai Xinyan looked up at Gu Shao.
He had heard a lot about this junior. Back in school, he was already a standout figure. Many large companies overseas had tried to recruit him, offering all sorts of conditions, yet he refused and returned home to build his own business. It had been nearly ten years, and he had done quite well.
Bai Xinyan liked dealing with capable people, yet despite Gu Shao’s rise, they had never truly crossed paths.
However…
This junior’s gaze also seemed cold and sharp.
Earlier, Ning Ke had said he gave off a distant and unfriendly impression. It seemed his junior was no less so.
They were the same kind of person.
…
But it was not quite as Bai Xinyan thought. Gu Shao usually maintained a friendly attitude toward potential business partners, just like how he treated Manager Liu, who had shaken his hand before Su Su that day. He avoided making enemies and kept options open.
He simply did not have a good attitude toward Bai Xinyan.
No man would feel friendly toward someone who showed interest in his wife, and Gu Shao was no exception. Besides, was this guy really better-looking than him?
Su Su peeked out from behind Gu Shao to look at Bai Xinyan.
Even after being used to Gu Shao’s striking looks, she had to admit that the man in front of her was equally impressive, a mature version of the novel’s male lead.
His high, straight nose gave him a resolute look, paired with those deep, unfathomable eyes, he looked like someone not to be messed with.
It was hard to imagine such a man being the ultimate devoted type. To Su Su, he seemed rather cold and detached, like someone experienced with women.
Hmm… Gu Shao was still better. Gu Shao’s gaze was focused, his lips very attractive. When he looked at her and kissed her, it felt as if her whole being was set on fire.
Su Su poked Gu Shao’s back, “So he really is your senior. He looks more mature than you, and even better-looking.”
Of course, she did not truly think he was better-looking. She was just saying it casually.
Gu Shao took her hand and pulled her to stand in front of him, wrapping an arm around her waist, “No matter how good-looking he is, you are still mine. Just now you told your mom you were embarrassed about having children so quickly. It is fine, I can support it. Do you want to have another one?”
Su Su froze.
She shook her head with a flushed face, but inwardly cursed, her legs went weak. Her body was the most unreliable traitor in the world.
Qu Qingwei called out from the front, “Su Su, Gu Shao, what are you two doing? Why are you not moving?”
“Coming now, Mom,” Gu Shao replied, bringing Su Su along.
Su Su removed his hand from her waist. Seeing Ning Ke and Bai Xinyan walking properly ahead, she felt embarrassed to act so intimate with Gu Shao.
…
The newly opened children’s amusement park was not far. In fact, it was a project undertaken by Gu Shao’s father. After Gu Zai was born, he began working on it. It was completed some time ago, and after a period of renovation and airing out, it gradually opened around the time Wan Wan was born.
Gu Shao’s father had mentioned it to him, saying he could take his grandchildren there when he had time.
It was only about a ten-minute walk.
Ning Ke walked on Qu Qingwei’s left so they could chat, while Bai Xinyan carried Bai Ningyue behind them, his back looking very handsome.
Gu Shao strode forward and took the chubby boy from Qu Qingwei, “Mom, let me carry him. You should rest.”
Su Su greeted her son, then walked to Qu Qingwei’s right and linked arms with her.
The nanny pushed the stroller ahead.
Zai Zai and Ningyue were still too young, at most they could play with sand. Gu Shao and Bai Xinyan watched them, while Ning Ke pulled Su Su aside to chat.
There was a row of arcade machines. After inserting coins, they played while talking.
“Your husband is not bad.”
“Huh?” Su Su did not expect Ning Ke to be so direct, praising her husband right away.
“But my husband is not bad either, right? Haha, he looks more experienced than your husband.”
That remark did not sit well with Su Su. She did not think Gu Shao was inferior to anyone. She leaned closer to Ning Ke and said, “Stop it. My husband has eight-pack abs, they feel amazing to the touch, and his stamina is incredible. No one can compare.”
Ning Ke had been eager to praise her own husband, but Su Su’s bold comment cut her off. Not wanting to lose, she replied, “Bai Xinyan too, and he can go several times a night, never seems to get enough.”
“Gu Shao too,” Su Su shot back. But continuing would be too embarrassing, so she called a truce. Still, seeing Ning Ke unconvinced made her mutter, “Anyway, Gu Shao is the best.”
Ning Ke also felt a bit annoyed.
Hmph, not talking to her anymore.
After a while, the two made up again. Ning Ke asked for Su Su’s Weibo account and wanted to follow her.
Not just Weibo, they exchanged other contact information as well.
After following each other, Su Su stared at the two little arrows on the screen, momentarily dazed.
What was she doing? Had she not decided to keep her distance from this “protagonist” family?
Was she crazy? Why did she follow Ning Ke? Why add her as a friend?
Meanwhile, Ning Ke was already scrolling through Su Su’s previous posts.
“Oh, you drew this?”
Su Su leaned over to take a look. It was the chibi drawing of Zai Zai and Wan Wan she had uploaded a few days ago. Still recovering from the mental blow, she nodded listlessly.
“Not bad, your technique looks quite professional.”
“I have practiced, though I did not expect you could tell.”
Ning Ke chuckled, “Same field.”
Su Su thought, not exactly… even if they were both illustrators, she had her own specialty… and someone as elegant as Ning Ke, with not a trace of vulgarity, surely had never ventured into her particular niche…
Ning Ke said, “After getting married, I have been busy taking care of Ningyue, so I put aside the things I used to enjoy. Recently I suddenly feel like creating a children’s fairy tale. Are you interested in working together?”
It was just something to pass the time. Neither of them lacked money, so there was no need to consider profit, and it was something they were both good at.
Su Su, who had been idle at home for days, felt a little tempted.
She glanced at Zai Zai and Ningyue playing happily in the sandpit. If she grew closer to Ning Ke, these two little ones would inevitably grow closer too.
“I will think about it,” Su Su said.
“What is there to think about? We can discuss ideas first, then turn it into a short animation. Even if it does not become popular, we can post it on video platforms. It has to be cute. Even if kids do not like it, it should at least charm a bunch of young moms.”
She was already imagining everyone being won over by the cuteness.
Su Su could not help adding, “Then you might as well make it romance-themed.”
“Sure, sure. You seem even more interested than I am. Go clear out a studio at your mom’s place, I will come find you tomorrow!” Ning Ke was always quick to act.
Poor Su Su kept a calm face but cried inwardly. Since when was she more interested? She had just made an offhand comment.
…
Compared to their lively conversation, the men seemed rather reserved.
Because of what Su Su had said earlier, Gu Shao had no desire to talk to Bai Xinyan. And judging from his son, Bai Xinyan was not the type to start a conversation either.
So the two handsome young fathers stood by the railing. One rested his hand on it, watching his son play with sand, while the other stood with a hand in his pocket, also watching his son.
The scene looked like a magazine cover of successful men, making passing young mothers and single girls’ hearts race.
However, only one person dared to approach.
“Gu Shao, you are here too!”
…
Ning Ke nudged Su Su, who was catching toy fish, “Hey, it looks like a woman is greeting your husband.”
Su Su turned to look.
“Oh, that woman is not ordinary,” she said to Ning Ke.
Of course she was not, she was Ning Ke’s future in-law.
Su Su added, “Look at the little girl she is holding, is she cute? Her name is Fan Siyu. Do not you think she and your son look like a perfect match?”
Ning Ke snorted, “You are unbelievable, Su Su. My child is still so young, and you are already making such outrageous jokes. Be honest, does she have some kind of relationship with Gu Shao?”
The way that woman looked at Gu Shao was almost glowing.
Su Su shook her head, “She dares? As if I would allow that. But the child she is holding really might have something to do with your son, I think.”
“If you keep saying that about my Ningyue, then I will let him steal your precious daughter,” Ning Ke retorted.
Su Su was stunned. Ning Ke, who knew nothing about the plot, had almost hit the truth with one sentence.
“Let’s go, let’s see what is going on,” Su Su said.