Chapter Twenty-Five Long Time No See

It was Yu Sheng’s father.

“No, I’m staying downstairs at Gu Yan’s place. Gu Yan’s aunt’s child is here.”

As soon as he heard Yu Sheng was staying at Gu Yan’s home, Yu Dong became instantly alert. “A girl staying at his house? What kind of nonsense is that!”

“No, his aunt’s child is a little girl. It’s a bit inconvenient for Gu Yan to look after her alone.”

Yu Dong said nothing, his expression dark as thunder.

That Gu Yan kid, if he dares touch my daughter, I’ll skin him alive.

“What happened to your face? Did you go out running?” Yu Dong asked, sipping from his glass.

“Uh, yes.” Yu Sheng mumbled, then retreated to her room.

Once inside, she quickly shut the door, leaned her back against it, took a deep breath, and forced her wildly beating heart to calm.

At Gu Yan’s place.

After tidying up the little one, Gu Yan carried her to the sofa to watch TV.

“Yi Yi, what cartoon do you want to watch?”

Yi Yi sat on the sofa, one hand clutching the lollipop Gu Yan had bought for her, the other wrapped around his arm, afraid he’d leave.

“Yi Yi wants to watch Little Chick.”

Gu Yan put it on for her, then planned to bring his homework to the living room so he could work while keeping her company.

Just as he gently pried her hand away, Yi Yi pounced on him.

“Brother, don’t go!”

Looking at this clingy little thing, Gu Yan saw tears welling up again and quickly soothed her, “Yi Yi, what’s wrong? Brother’s just going to the bedroom to get his backpack.”

The little one wrapped her arms around Gu Yan’s neck, her breaths uneven.

“Boo hoo, brother, I miss Mommy.”

Ah.

Gu Yan patted her back, held her with one arm, and fetched his backpack from the bedroom.

His aunt would have words for her when she returned—so irresponsible. It wasn’t good for the child’s development; she seemed to lack a sense of security.

Gu Yan had been just like Yi Yi as a child. His parents were always busy, and they’d hired a nanny for him early on. Every day when he came home, he was alone. After years of loneliness, he became emotionally distant, even resistant to hugs and touch. In his previous life, after his parents sent him abroad, the only person he spoke to was Song He. Even his aunt and Yi Yi existed only in the family group chat videos.

Seeing Yi Yi stop crying, Gu Yan set her down. “Yi Yi, I’m not going anywhere, so don’t be afraid. Mommy will be back in a few days. If you’re good, she’ll bring you a present when she returns.”

Yi Yi nodded and obediently sat herself on the sofa.

If he hadn’t transferred schools in his last life, he might never have learned to love or be loved. It was through his gradual interactions with Yu Sheng that he felt his heart begin to open. He started to care about her every move, wanted to see her every day, wanted to talk to her, wanted to see her smile.

Thinking of the person he used to be before transferring, Gu Yan chuckled. Looking back, he was just a cold-faced poser, only good at acting cool. Luckily, he didn’t have any peculiar habits, or else he might’ve really gotten into trouble.

After lunch, when Yi Yi was sleepy, Gu Yan simply let her nap on Yu Sheng’s sofa.

When Yi Yi had fallen asleep, Gu Yan finally relaxed, leaning gently against the sofa and murmuring, “Taking care of kids is exhausting!”

Yu Sheng squatted down to look at Yi Yi, her face breaking into a soft, maternal smile.

Gu Yan glanced at Yu Sheng, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Do you really like kids that much?”

Yu Sheng nodded, then shook her head. “I like well-behaved kids like Yi Yi. I can’t handle the rowdy ones.”

“Let’s buy her some clothes this afternoon!”

Yu Sheng stood and looked down at Gu Yan slouched against the sofa, nodding.

“Can I ask you something?” Gu Yan looked at Yu Sheng.

At noon, Yu Chen and Wei Yabai had already gone to their rooms to nap. Yu Sheng had been about to leave, but stopped in her tracks when Gu Yan spoke. “What is it?”

“Besides not wanting a relationship too early, is there any other reason you rejected me?”

Yu Sheng hadn’t expected Gu Yan to be so blunt and was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Um… It’s just…”

“Is it something about me?” Gu Yan pressed.

Yu Sheng quickly shook her head. “No, it’s my own issue. You’re great, really, really great.”

Gu Yan was so moved he jumped to his feet. “Is it because you feel insecure?”

“No, it’s… it’s that I’m not good enough.” Yu Sheng lowered her head, partly out of shyness, partly out of insecurity.

Gu Yan stepped forward and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Yu Sheng, you’re wonderful, truly wonderful. Don’t think that way. I like you.”

Gu Yan stared at Yu Sheng with deep seriousness, and for a moment, a wicked thought crossed his mind.

Yu Sheng was so nervous from Gu Yan’s hand on her chin that she didn’t react, just stared at him, wide-eyed.

Gu Yan leaned in so close that Yu Sheng could feel his breath, his warmth.

“Gu… Gu Yan…”

“Hmm?” Gu Yan seemed lost in the moment, not wanting to leave her, only wanting to get closer, his hand slowly wrapping around her waist, his head lowering.

“Sis! Did you take my game console?” Yu Chen suddenly burst out of his room. Yu Sheng pushed Gu Yan away in a flash.

“Huh? What? I haven’t seen it.”

Yu Chen looked at Gu Yan and Yu Sheng standing in the middle of the living room and scratched his backside out of habit.

“Alright then!” Yu Chen turned and closed the door.

What was that? Why does Gu Yan look at me so strangely? Maybe I imagined it.

Gu Yan sneaked a glance at Yu Sheng, reluctant to let go.

Yu Sheng, meanwhile, avoided his gaze, ran to her room, closed the door, and tried to calm her pounding heart.

Damn! Almost lost control. Yu Sheng was still shaken.

Gu Yan watched Yu Sheng’s flustered retreat, amused.

Turns out shamelessness at the right moment is effective—you get to see Yu Sheng’s shy side.

But then… Gu Yan looked at his hand, still tinged with Yu Sheng’s warmth. He hadn’t succeeded.

He glanced at the little one behind him. A plan formed.

Little one, whether I can win your sister over depends on you.

That afternoon, when they took Yi Yi to buy clothes, Yu Sheng was still too embarrassed to look at Gu Yan because of what had happened at lunch.

Yi Yi, holding the hands of both her brother and sister, felt something was off. Why did sister keep glancing away, while brother kept sneaking peeks at her?

Yi Yi was puzzled. “Sister, why aren’t you talking to brother? Did brother do something bad to make you angry?”

Yu Sheng hadn’t expected her feelings to be exposed by a kindergarten child and her face flushed hot.

“Sister, don’t be angry, okay? Otherwise brother will be sad too.”

Gu Yan was quietly delighted. Good job, Yi Yi. I’ll buy you a big lollipop later.

Yu Sheng glanced at Gu Yan, who was smiling at her. “Yu Sheng, are you mad?”

“No, I’m not.”

Seeing Yu Sheng finally speak that afternoon, Gu Yan picked Yi Yi up, removing the barrier between himself and Yu Sheng, and moved closer.

“Let’s take Yi Yi to Happy Valley!”

Yu Sheng thought Gu Yan was about to try something again and quickly shifted aside.

“Sure… Sure.”

There were children’s amusements at Happy Valley, but Yi Yi was so little that there weren’t many suitable activities. It didn’t take long before she had nothing left to play.

“Brother, I want a sausage!” During a break, Yi Yi pointed to the grilled sausage a little boy ahead was holding.

The boy seemed to hear Yi Yi and quickly hid his sausage behind his back, running to his mother.

“Alright, brother will buy you one. You and sister stay here and be good.”

Why do I have to be good too? Yu Sheng wondered.

“Mm-hmm.” Yi Yi nodded.

Once Gu Yan left, Yu Sheng played with Yi Yi’s chubby little hands.

Yi Yi had completely inherited her aunt’s beauty. Though still little, her large eyes, fringed with fan-like lashes, sparkled as if she wore colored lenses. Dressed in the new clothes and boots Gu Yan and Yu Sheng had just bought her, she was adorable, making Yu Sheng reluctant to let go.

“Sister!” The little one suddenly called out, soft and sweet.

“Hm? What is it, Yi Yi? Did I hurt you?”

Yi Yi shook her head. “Sister didn’t hurt me. Yi Yi likes sister!” She showed a sweet smile, melting Yu Sheng’s heart.

“Sister likes Yi Yi too. You must come play here often!”

Yi Yi nodded. “Sister, brother likes you too!”

“…”

I wonder if Gu Yan told her to say that, Yu Sheng thought, rubbing her forehead.

“Sister knows. Brother told me.”

Yi Yi blinked her innocent, big eyes at Yu Sheng. “But brother said sister doesn’t like him, is that true?”

Yu Sheng didn’t know how to answer. If she told Yi Yi she liked Gu Yan, would Yi Yi run and tell him? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

Seeing Yu Sheng silent, Yi Yi got anxious. “Sister, brother is really good. Don’t dislike him, okay? I’ll tell him not to bully you anymore, alright?”

Yu Sheng rubbed her cheek. “Sister doesn’t dislike brother.”

Yi Yi’s eyes lit up. “Then sister likes brother?”

“Um… a little, I suppose.”

Yi Yi clapped her hands happily.

“Right, don’t tell brother that sister likes him, okay? Let’s pinky swear.”

“Okay, Yi Yi won’t tell. But why doesn’t sister want brother to know? Brother would be happy!”

Yu Sheng pondered. Why not let Gu Yan know? It was just that she’d just forced herself to reject him last time, and if he found out she actually liked him, wouldn’t he rush right in?

“Um…” Yu Sheng had just started to speak when Gu Yan returned with the sausages. Yi Yi’s attention immediately shifted to the food.

“Here, this is for you!” Gu Yan handed her a sausage.

“I get one too?” Yu Sheng took it. “How much? I’ll send you the money.”

Gu Yan glanced at her, about to say something, then changed his tone and raised an eyebrow. “This sausage is priceless. As for how you’ll repay me, I’ll tell you when we get home.”

Yu Sheng felt something was off. She looked at the sausage she’d already bitten and suddenly wanted to spit it out.

Sensing her thought, Gu Yan said quickly, “It’s too late for regrets—you’ve already eaten it. Even if you spit it out, it doesn’t count.”

Yu Sheng sighed and swallowed the sausage. If Gu Yan made her do something weird, I’ll… well, I guess there’s nothing I can do.

Gu Yan and Yu Sheng were just about to leave with the little one when someone behind tapped Yu Sheng’s shoulder.

“Yu… Yu Sheng? Is that you?”

Yu Sheng turned around, froze for a moment, feeling a bit helpless.

“Um… um, long time no see.”