Zhuangzhuang was frightened yesterday and felt a bit unwell, so Ji Ying stayed at home to help out and wasn’t surprised to see Fang Yue’s arrival.
She’s also a mother, and if her child was wandering somewhere out there, she would definitely be worried too. A child is like flesh that has fallen off your body, how could you not miss them?
According to Fang Yue’s introduction, Gu Mingcheng is Xu Nianhua’s younger brother. Gu Mingcheng’s clear gaze made Fang Yue like him a lot, so she kept offering him the snacks she had dried herself.
There were sweet and sour dried bayberries, dried bamboo shoots, and pickled vinegar ginger. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
"Delicious," Gu Mingcheng was very generous with his praise, trying everything and earnestly complimenting each one.
Fang Yue looked at Gu Mingcheng trying to please Ji Ying, and felt uncomfortable. As a mother, she’s well aware of her son’s disposition, and since she favored Gu Mingzhu, Gu Mingcheng wasn’t particularly close to her.
"Nianhua, your dad is planning to build a new pharmaceutical factory, so he doesn’t have time to come. He specifically asked me to bring you some delicious food." Fang Yue changed the topic and handed over what she’d brought, all nicely boxed and looking very high-end.
When mentioning the new pharmaceutical factory, Fang Yue instinctively glanced at Ji Ying. So what if they have a Chili Sauce Factory and a furniture factory? Their family is building a pharmaceutical factory.
"Last time, you agreed to come home during summer vacation, but you didn’t. I know school keeps you busy, so I didn’t come looking for you. Yesterday, I heard from Mingcheng that you were back, so I specifically brought Mingcheng to pick you up." Fang Yue smiled, but her words carried a hint of reproach, implying that Xu Nianhua had promised to return to the Gu Family but didn’t keep her word.
"Nianhua just came back, that day she went to visit her grandfather," Ji Ying immediately explained. "Her grandfather is getting old and wanted to see her. People are strange; the more time you spend together, the deeper the feelings."
"I was planning to settle the family matters first, then let her stay at the Gu Family for a few days. After all, you are always Nianhua’s biological parents." Ji Ying smiled warmly as she spoke, her face full of kindness.
Xu Nianhua secretly gave Ji Ying a thumbs up in her heart. The mother who used to get scolded by Liu Sanmei could now return the comments without a trace. Didn’t you see Fang Yue’s unnatural expression?
"Second Sister, why don’t you come home with us today? Mom and Dad have already prepared your room, and Big Sister heard you were coming home, so she specially had the bedding laid out in the sun." Gu Mingcheng spoke, his eyes full of anticipation.
"Yes, Nianhua, we all really want you to come home," Fang Yue said, her words sounding most sincere.
Xu Nianhua lowered her eyes. She resisted the Gu Family, but now wasn’t the time to fall out. She said, "In a few days, my dad’s birthday is coming up. I’ll celebrate it with him first, and then I’ll go to South City."
Gu Mingcheng said nothing, but the disappointment in his eyes was obvious. However, since it was her foster father’s birthday, he couldn’t exactly say she shouldn’t celebrate it.
Fang Yue’s face didn’t look good. Why did it feel like she was the daughter, and Nianhua was the mother?
Was she begging her to come back?
"Nianhua, it’s no big deal, just a small birthday. Why don’t you go to South City first? Your dad won’t be mad." Ji Ying, seeing the awkwardness, quickly tried to smooth things over.
"No, I want to celebrate dad’s birthday." Xu Nianhua slyly clung to Ji Ying’s arm.
"Second Sister, can I stay and celebrate uncle’s birthday?" Gu Mingcheng, unwilling to leave, shamelessly asked.
Fang Yue’s eyes were sharp enough to throw daggers. She had come today to take Xu Nianhua back to South City, but not only did she not take her back, her son was staying instead?
What’s so good about this lousy place?