Meng Lanqing looked at Gong Juese actually eating only "rice," a vein throbbing on her forehead, but she couldn’t help herself and used her chopsticks to add quite a few dishes into Gong Juese’s bowl.
Gong Juese was pleasantly surprised and reverted to fan-girl mode, "Husband, you’re so good to me~"
Meng Lanqing had only one word for her: "Eat."
For some reason, even though Gong Juese was clearly very happy, An Jing felt somewhat uncomfortable and a bit sad watching.
Sometimes, Gong Juese really did resemble An Jing’s own disciple, who would be delighted with even the smallest bit of affection from the person she adored. Now, Gong Juese was in that state.
However, An Jing didn’t think Meng Lanqing completely disliked Gong Juese, his wife.
Sometimes, Meng Lanqing’s small gestures still betrayed his truest feelings.
Like the way Meng Lanqing had just added food to Gong Juese’s bowl.
Although he might have done it with a grumble, it was also quite heartwarming.
Probably spoiled by Gong Juese, Meng Lanqing wasn’t as cold as before, but he still liked to maintain a facade. Especially when it came to Gong Juese, Meng Lanqing particularly enjoyed holding himself in high regard.
One willing to hit, the other willing to suffer – why should she worry unnecessarily? There was no need. Thus, An Jing decided not to meddle.
Still, what Gong Juese said about her size kept An Jing up all night.
The four kids were too young to stay up through the long night of New Year vigil and had all fallen asleep early.
Following the local custom, An Jing stayed up with her husband to welcome the New Year.
Only after they had seen through the New Year and dawn had broken, and after Meng Zhuqing and the rest had left, did she and her husband go to bed for some sleep.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Wang Youbao was invited over to An Jing’s for a meal. They frequently visited each other anyway, but during the New Year, it was even more customary to do so.
The New Year is about visiting friends and relatives. Wang Youbao had many relatives, but only An Jing and Xiao Changyi were his real friends, so he naturally enjoyed spending time with An Jing and Xiao Changyi.
And that day, Gong Juechen came along to freeload a meal again.
"Jingjing, I’ve come to your place to eat again—haha!"
As soon as Gong Juechen entered, he waved boldly at An Jing, who was sitting there talking to Wang Youbao, not noticing a short wooden stick on the ground. He stepped on it, slipped, executed a forward fall, ended up with a mouthful of dirt, and still managed to finish his sentence.
An Jing was momentarily stunned, followed by unreserved laughter, "I know you’ve come to eat at our place, but you didn’t have to give such a big formal greeting. I don’t have a red envelope for you. Youbao, do you have one? Give him one quickly, he’s shown such great respect."
Wang Youbao didn’t expect An Jing to turn to him, first stunned, then hurriedly got up: "I have."
As Wang Youbao spoke, he took a red envelope out of his sleeve and handed it to Gong Juechen, who was trying to get up: "Gentleman, a red envelope is all this is, no need for such grand gestures."
Gong Juechen, long used to having no shame, quietly accepted the red envelope from Wang Youbao, then while getting up, spoke irreverently, "The gentleman giving red envelopes is really handsome, such a pity, he’s a man. If you were a woman, how wonderful that would be, I’d definitely cling to you and never let go."
An Jing found it amusing again: "Haven’t you learned your lesson from when Meng Lanqing deceived you by cross-dressing? And yet you’re still thinking about clinging to someone? You should know, not all the good-looking people in this world are women."
Hearing this, Gong Juechen’s peach blossom eyes instantly lit up, "Does this mean I can interpret that the gentleman giving me the red envelope is a girl in disguise?"
An Jing: "..." Your train of thought is truly unique, when I was clearly telling you not to mistake a man for a woman again.
Wang Youbao: "..." I am indeed a man! A proper man!
Xiao Changyi, as if Gong Juechen did not exist, continued with his work, helping his youngest son practice sitting.
But Gong Juechen ignored their reactions and turned, eyes shining, to look at Wang Youbao: "Miss? You are a miss, right? You’re a woman in disguise, aren’t you?"
An Jing couldn’t help but laugh: "Gong Juechen, have you gone mad with the desire for a wife? His name is Wang Youbao, and he is indeed a man. He even has a fiancée and is merely waiting for his mourning period to end to get married."
Gong Juechen, disappointed, glanced at Wang Youbao and then sighed to An Jing, "My sister has her husband and forgotten her brother; now I’m left alone. I truly am mad for a wife, to the point where I want to marry any beautiful woman I see."