"Sleep, how to sleep?"
Gu Tong’s heart was beating faster, and even the air felt a bit thin.
Why was she feeling a little nervous...
They had been in the car for a good half day, so they must be tired and need a good rest.
What did she hope it meant?
"Oh..." Gu Tong gave Li Yan a resentful glance.
She ’almost’ overthought it...
’Creak――――’ The old brown wooden door was pushed open a crack.
Li’s mother stood at the doorway, her eyebrows knitted together and looking displeased.
"How come as soon as you get home, you go straight to your room and don’t even know to come talk with mom?" She glanced at Gu Tong with some reproach, like a fox spirit only good at seducing men.
Li Yan returned to his usual aloofness, "We left at six." He didn’t answer her question, instead indirectly telling her they were tired and needed a nap.
Isn’t that reasonable?
Li’s mother was almost exploding with anger, usually, Li Yan ’would never’ talk back to her like that, and now Gu Tong had just come in and was already inciting him to go against her.
"Relatives are coming for dinner tonight, and I’m all alone prepping meals for so many people, can I manage it all? Do you want to wear your mom out?"
Ordinarily, when guests visit in the countryside, it’s the wife who bustles about, not lying in the room like a lord waiting for meals.
"You’re using me as an excuse again?" Li Yan raised an eyebrow.
Li’s mother had always liked to show off, and of course, she’d seize the chance when Li Yan was home.
Li Yan vaguely remembered that when he joined the military, Li’s mother hosted a grand feast, almost inviting the entire village over, though there were too many freeloaders, and even his travel expenses were used up.
If it hadn’t been for Li Yan’s strong will, forcing himself to walk to the Academy, there might not be a Devil King at the Academy now.
Li’s mother also recalled the past events, but she didn’t care; she straightened her back and said with righteous indignation, "And you say... You didn’t even have a wedding banquet, didn’t hold a thank-you dinner... Relatives and friends kept asking me, thinking you weren’t even married yet. I’m just calling relatives over for a meal, where are all these issues coming from..."
Is she afraid she won’t have a reason to pick a fight?
She wanted to let others see how capable her precious son was, what’s the problem, really not giving her face at all.
Li Yan’s brows furrowed deeper, his heart even more repressed.
Originally, he thought after all these years of not coming home, Li’s mother could come to her senses, but he hadn’t expected no matter what, she couldn’t change these bad habits.
Mother and son were at a stalemate, neither willing to take a step back, tensions running high, a world war on the verge of breaking out...
"Um... mom, don’t worry, I’ll help you cook... how can mom manage on her own..." Gu Tong blurted out unexpectedly.
Things were bad enough after they just got back.
No one expected... Gu Tong to choose to back down at this moment.
They were somewhat surprised.
"Can you cook? Don’t let it be an embarrassment when the time comes, that’s not humiliating enough."
Li’s mother’s expression softened a little, but her tone was still very forceful, clearly not appreciating Gu Tong’s gesture.
"Mom, don’t worry, I know how."
These words to Li’s mother’s ears were just bragging nonsense, but she didn’t immediately give her a negative response, and said, "If you’re brave enough to take it on, mom will believe you this once. But let me say this upfront, if you can’t tell the difference between rice and flour, and make us lose face in front of relatives, don’t blame mom for being unreasonable."