The sudden downpour beat against the windows, splashes on the sill spattering into the room and onto the floor. The swift transition from light to dark outside startled Gu Nuan, who had been absorbed in reading on her bed. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚫𝙣𝙚𝙩
She was so engrossed that she hadn’t even heard the loud thunder.
Gu Nuan put down her book and went to close the windows.
Looking out at the oppressive dark sky made her feel somewhat uneasy.
She wondered if she should give her family a call to ask about them, despite her mother thinking she couldn’t hear. They could communicate through video calls, as they usually did, with her mother writing things down while they talked. Relying solely on listening, with her level of hearing, she had to guess.
As she was thinking this, her fingers dialed her mother’s number at home.
After what seemed like ages, probably because her family was busy, her mother didn’t answer right away. She called a second time, and her father picked up.
"Dad, is it just you at home?" Gu Nuan asked.
In the video, her father gestured, telling her, "Your mom’s gone to the balcony to collect the laundry. It’s going to rain."
Ironically, it was about to rain there too.
A sudden thought flashed through Gu Nuan’s mind like lightning.
On the other end, her father hurriedly tried to hang up the call.
Gu Nuan carefully scanned the area within the camera’s view, seemingly catching a glimpse of something and asked, "Dad, did Auntie Qiu come by?"
Her father wasn’t good at lying and responded, "Yes, your Auntie Qiu brought the money she owed you for your help. Your mom will transfer it to you later."
"It’s okay. Keep the money with mom for now. I don’t need it at the moment," Gu Nuan said.
"Alright, I’ll have your mom save it for you. Let us know when you need it," her father said.
"Did Auntie Qiu only talk about this?"
Gu Nuan was a sharp girl, and her father, licking his lips and feeling that his relatives genuinely wanted the best for Gu Nuan, revealed Auntie Qiu’s matchmaking intentions, "Your Auntie Qiu, fearing you’re getting older, especially having just broken up with your boyfriend, has suggested that if you’re looking to date again, she has a few candidates. There’s a range of ages, and some come from good families, even better than your ex."
What good matches could Auntie Qiu possibly introduce? Gu Nuan thought and knew exactly what Auntie Qiu had in mind.
Most likely, Auntie Qiu, considering how useful Gu Nuan was, thought that if she successfully matched Gu Nuan up, any future favors would fall down to her as the matchmaker. Then, Gu Nuan would inevitably have to look after Auntie Qiu.
In familial relations, such matters were taboo, especially with a relative who changed their tune with the wind.
Gu Nuan flatly refused, "Dad, I haven’t settled on a job yet—I’m not in the right mindset for this."
"Gu Nuan, you’re a girl. A job isn’t as important as lifelong matters. A man can afford to wait, but a woman’s age absolutely cannot," her father retorted.
Gu Nuan scoffed, "I’ll just live alone if it comes to that."
She would never fall into someone else’s trap.
Auntie Qiu must have overheard their conversation, and Gu Nuan’s words undoubtedly frustrated her. Coming closer, she said, "How can you speak like that? Gu Nuan, your parents only have you now. If you don’t give them grandchildren in the future, aren’t you being unfilial?"
"I have my plans for that. All these years, I’ve made my own decisions without ever troubling my parents, Auntie Qiu, so rest assured. I can support myself, and my parents too," Gu Nuan asserted.
Seeing that the two were on the verge of an argument, her father quickly hung up the phone. Turning to the displeased Auntie Qiu, he said, "Hey, she just broke up with her boyfriend and isn’t in a good mood, which is why she doesn’t want to talk about this. Let’s leave it for now."