Su Su looked at Gu Shao.
He held a glass of water in his hand, his gaze lowered, his eyelashes casting shadows beneath his eyes. His long fingers looked even paler under the light.
He never appeared fragile. Even in a moment of low mood, he still seemed elegant and pleasing to the eye.
No wonder he always left people in awe.
With such an outstanding family background and striking looks, yet he could still feel uneasy because of another man. That man could only be his younger brother, Gu Hao.
Su Su sighed. “If you forgot, then you forgot. I only mentioned it casually. Don’t talk like that.”
Fine, you’re handsome, you get away with everything.
Su Su walked into the bathroom, planning to wash the underwear she had taken off.
Gu Shao watched her leave, finished the water in his glass, set it down, and followed her in.
Su Su looked up and saw him standing behind her through the mirror.
He stood very close, silently watching her without saying a word.
Ignoring him, Su Su lowered her head and continued washing.
Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. His long, well-defined hands rested on her abdomen as he pulled her back.
Caught off guard, Su Su stumbled and fell into Gu Shao’s chest.
She immediately felt warmth behind her as he held her tightly.
Gu Shao rested his chin against her neck and looked at her in the mirror.
Su Su glanced back at him. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing. Go on.”
“Then let go of me. I can’t wash like this.”
The more she spoke, the tighter he held her.
Su Su rolled her eyes at him through the mirror. Having no choice, she simply pretended he wasn’t there.
The room fell quiet, filled only with the sound of running water.
After a while, Gu Shao said, “I’m sorry. I spoke poorly. Don’t take it to heart.”
It was not even a big deal, and Su Su had not really been angry. She had not expected him to apologize.
Only at that moment did she realize how much more he cared about it than she did.
Her heart felt a little heavy, yet warm at the same time, and the corners of her lips lifted unconsciously. She rinsed the foam off her hands, dried them casually, then turned around and placed her hands around Gu Shao’s neck.
He was more than a head taller than her, so she had to tilt her head up to look at him.
Standing on her tiptoes, she lightly pecked his lips, then lowered her hands and turned back to continue washing, saying, “It’s nothing. I don’t care about it anymore, and you’re not allowed to care either.”
Gu Shao responded with a low “Mm,” though his voice still sounded subdued.
Su Su glanced at him through the mirror and caught him licking his lips.
She had just kissed him there… this guy.
To be honest, she liked this feeling. In a spacious room, the two of them stood close together, and with just a glance up, she could see their reflection embracing in the mirror. Everything felt simple and sweet.
Gu Shao must also feel relaxed and happy in this peaceful moment. This was their ordinary life.
She had often read about peaceful years in books, but only now did she truly understand it.
If there was someone by your side that you could rely on, you would selfishly wish that time would never pass.
That night, they did not talk much. Gu Shao was unusually well-behaved. Lying on the soft bed, they could hear each other’s quiet breathing.
Still, Su Su felt a little uncomfortable. Although he did not make any moves, he clung to her tightly. Being held by this human furnace made her feel a bit too warm.
Gradually, she drifted into a deep sleep. In the middle of the night, it began to rain lightly. Summer rain could turn heavy in an instant, and the sound of raindrops hitting the ground grew clear.
Gu Shao had been tired from the day and slept deeply while holding her, not waking at all. But Su Su had slept during the day as well, so she woke more easily at night.
Feeling a little thirsty, she carefully lifted Gu Shao’s arm from her waist and sat up.
He slept soundly. Even after she moved his arm, he did not stir, his breathing still steady and long.
Just then, a flash of lightning lit up outside. In that brief moment, Su Su caught a glimpse of his sleeping face, handsome and gentle.
She realized she had never really seen him asleep before. He always went to bed later than her and woke up earlier.
Rubbing her eyes, Su Su got out of bed. The water dispenser in their room was empty, so she opened the door and went downstairs to the living room to get some water.
Inside the bedroom, the air conditioner kept things comfortable, but once she stepped out, the heavy summer humidity hit her, making her feel uneasy.
Another clap of thunder sounded. Su Su paused, then turned toward Wan Wan’s room. As soon as she reached the door, she heard loud crying.
Startled, she quickly pushed the door open and went in.
The nanny was flustered, trying to soothe Wan Wan. Seeing Su Su, she explained with a troubled expression, “The thunder woke her up just now. She’s been crying nonstop. Even after feeding her, she won’t calm down.”
Su Su quickly took Wan Wan into her arms. The baby’s face was flushed, tears clung to the corners of her eyes, and she cried in her soft baby voice.
Holding her, Su Su paced around the room, soothing her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t be scared. It’s not loud anymore.”
She felt a bit regretful and blamed herself for being careless.
It was her first time hearing thunder since coming here, so she had not expected Wan Wan to wake up in fright. Then she thought of Zai Zai, who was sleeping with her mother.
“Auntie, could you check on Zai Zai? I’m worried he might have woken up too.”
The nanny went to check on him, while Su Su stayed in Wan Wan’s room, holding her.
She was not experienced in taking care of a child this young and did not dare to sleep with Wan Wan at night. This was her first time staying with her at night.
Su Su thought of the original host and Zai Zai.
When Zai Zai was just born, the original host had only spent a short period sleeping beside him.
That was shortly after moving out of the Gu family’s old residence, before Qu Qingwei returned from abroad. Back then, she and Gu Shao would hold Gu Zai and sleep together every day.
It was different from now. Recently, when the three of them slept together, Gu Shao would always make Zai Zai sleep on one side, while he lay behind Su Su, holding her.
But back then, Gu Zai slept in the middle, with the original host and Gu Shao on either side.
Maybe it was because he had been so small at the time.
…
Perhaps she had cried herself tired, or perhaps her mother’s embrace made her feel safe, Wan Wan gradually fell asleep in Su Su’s arms.
Su Su tried to lay her down, but before her hands even reached the bed, the baby whimpered again, about to cry. Su Su quickly picked her up once more.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry, Mommy’s here.”
She sighed. Holding her worked, but she could not put her down.
The nanny returned and told Su Su that Zai Zai was sleeping soundly, so there was nothing to worry about.
“That boy,” Su Su muttered, “just like his father, sleeps like a rock.”
Worried Wan Wan might get cold, Su Su wrapped her in a blanket, covering her snugly from head to toe, leaving only her little face exposed.
The little one truly looked like her, with long, thick, curled eyelashes and a delicate face. No wonder in the book she was described as a little beauty who would pose a great threat to the female lead.
Su Su’s arms ached from holding her. She wanted to sit down, so she tried, and when she did, she found that the little ancestor in her arms did not cry. She let out a breath of relief and asked helplessly, “Why is Wan Wan afraid of thunder, but Zai Zai is completely fine?”
Was it because Zai Zai was older and therefore braver?
But in her memory, there had never been a time when Zai Zai cried upon hearing thunder.
The nanny, who understood children well, replied, “Some children are sensitive. Wan Wan is very sensitive, even a small sound can make her react.”
She really was sensitive. That could be both good and bad. Being too sensitive could make her overthink. In the book, when she was described, there were many instances of inner speculation.
When Su Su read it, she had even found those thoughts quite annoying.
But now, holding this little one in her arms, she could not help but complain, what kind of writing was that, portraying her precious baby like that.
“If she’s naturally sensitive, can she be guided later to be more easygoing? I don’t want Wan Wan to be so sensitive.”
The nanny chuckled. “It’s fine. A child goes through so many changes before becoming an adult. Wan Wan is still so young, no one can say what she’ll be like in the future.”
A child’s breathing was shallow and quick, making them look especially fragile.
Wan Wan was very smart, as if afraid her mother would put her down, she kept clutching Su Su’s collar.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Su Su did not dare to remove her little hand, afraid of waking her.
But sitting like this was not a solution…
The room had a crib and a large bed. Su Su asked the nanny to make up the big bed and decided to wait a bit before placing Wan Wan on it and holding her to sleep.
This time, she was able to lay Wan Wan down.
She lifted the blanket, placed the baby inside first, then climbed in herself. As soon as she got close to Gu Wan, the scent of milk filled her nose.
Her body was soft. Because it was summer, she was only wrapped in a sleep sack, a tiny little bundle. Su Su wanted to hold her close.
Just as she was about to sleep, the door suddenly opened. Su Su looked up and saw Gu Shao.
He was still drowsy, his eyes half-open, looking languid.
He explained, “I suddenly realized you weren’t there. I guessed you might be here, so I came to take a look.”
You’re so smart, guessed it right away.
Seeing that his eyes were about to close, Su Su said softly, “You’re so sleepy, go back and rest.”
But Gu Shao lifted a corner of the blanket and got in.
Since Wan Wan was placed in the middle, he could not squeeze in next to Su Su and had to lie on the other side of Wan Wan.
Su Su said, “Don’t sleep here, go back to the other room and rest properly, otherwise you won’t have any energy tomorrow.”
Gu Shao placed a hand over his eyes and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong with Wan Wan?”
Both the people on this bed were his princesses. His little princess was still so tiny, no matter how tired he was, how could he not worry?
“She got scared by the thunder just now.”
Gu Shao turned to look at Wan Wan and said softly, “Sigh, what are we going to do with such a timid little one?”
Su Su replied, “Then her father has to protect her well.”
Gu Shao smiled but said nothing.
Su Su smiled too. She suddenly thought that children who grow up in a loving environment develop a sense of security and become confident and cheerful.
If she could stay here, if Gu Shao would never change, then she would definitely give Wan Wan and Zai Zai a loving environment to grow up in.
If that were the case, even if Fan Jing’an moved into this neighborhood, what would it matter?
Fan Siyu and Wan Wan belonged to two completely different worlds. Unless Fan Siyu deliberately attached herself to Wan Wan, their lives would not intersect much.
Her Wan Wan should grow up in a way that reassured others, not one that made people worry for her again.
Gu Shao poked the little one’s cheek. “Daddy will definitely protect you, but you can’t be as delicate as your mom, alright?”
As he spoke, he even seriously picked up Wan Wan’s tiny hand, trying to hook pinkies with her, only to realize her hand was too small, so he gave up.
Su Su was unhappy. “Talking bad about me again? Do you dislike me? So annoying!” She kicked him under the blanket.
Gu Shao thought that kick was not light. Sigh, as if he would ever dare to dislike her.
Helplessly, he said, “Can’t you be a bit gentler to your husband, who works himself to death during the day to earn money for your bags, and then serves you diligently at night?”