The grandmother looked at Lin Qianqing, then turned to Gu Youyou with concern and said, "You fell ill during the day, and I truly can’t rest easy. Let Daya accompany you tonight."
How could this be? Gu Youyou’s face registered alarm; she was waiting for Jin Zijin.
"Grandmother, there’s no need, I’m used to sleeping alone."
Lin Qianqing pouted and said, "Didn’t even consider it, huh? That’s so hurtful. I volunteered to come and keep you company."
Gu Youyou looked distressed, Jin Zijin would come over at night; it was fine to hang out with her during the day, but not at night.
"I’ll take you to see my new clinic tomorrow during the day, but really, there’s no need for tonight. I won’t be able to sleep."
Lin Qianqing’s eyes lit up, she glanced at her grandmother and then her face fell.
She thought to herself: It’s up to you to find a way, Grandmother is not easy to persuade.
The old lady looked at Gu Youyou and then sighed, saying, "I heard that you’ve been living in a dark room for ten years, unable to see the light?"
Gu Youyou was startled for a moment, not sure why she was bringing this up again.
"You have to get used to having people around you; you’ll need to get married someday," she added.
Gu Youyou was exasperated, seeing that her grandmother’s words were getting more and more outrageous, she quickly said, "Grandmother, my grandpa was deceived by a quack doctor he met on the road, I’m perfectly fine now."
"Ah, your grandpa was also a confused one," she sighed, then seemed somewhat indignant, "I told your mother from the start that your father was not the right man for her, but she wouldn’t listen. Not that I’m saying your father was bad, but in that whole Gu Family, there’s not a single person who brings peace of mind. Ah well, it’s been so many years since they died, and the Gu Family has ended up in such a state; there’s no point talking about it anymore."
Gu Youyou sat in silence, the affairs of the Gu Family might have been settled, but the deep wounds would not vanish just because everything was over.
The young Gu Youyou was gone long ago, and had she not come back to take her place, the wounds would have never healed.
"Since that’s the case, let’s leave it be. I’ll take Daya back, and have Xiang Chun sleep outside to keep watch through the night."
Lin Qianqing was surprised at how easily the old lady gave in.
"Should I sleep outside?" she asked, eager to stay with Gu Youyou, finally having found a sister to talk to into the night.
"No way!" the old lady flatly refused, "You are a legitimate daughter of the Lin Family, how could you sleep in a place meant for maids to keep watch? If your mother finds out, she’ll make a scene again. I want some peace and quiet for my ears, so you better follow me."
Lin Qianqing was still dragged away by the old lady, and Gu Youyou felt more and more that her grandmother was no ordinary person. If Lin Qianqing stayed there, why would her aunt be the one to fuss?
Hmm, alright then, her aunt came from a lineage of noble ladies, while she was born to a rural old lady, untroubled by trivial formalities.
After sending off her grandmother and Lin Qianqing, and before she could even extinguish the light, she saw Jin Zijin.
Gu Youyou hurriedly put out the light and said anxiously, "Why did you come so early today? I haven’t turned off the light yet, aren’t you afraid of being seen?"
Jin Zijin said, "I came earlier and didn’t come in because I saw there were people here."
After putting out the oil lamp, the burning charcoal in the stove still illuminated the room brightly, and Gu Youyou then pulled him into the inner room.
"My cousin is such a gossip; if she saw you, it would be terrible. I’d need to plug my ears with cotton."
Jin Zijin chuckled and said, "It seems you’re having quite a good time at the Lin Family."
"As long as no one gives me trouble, I can make the best of any place."
Jin Zijin nodded and then they began to talk about the daytime ancestral worship ceremony.
"During the day... were you alright?"