Chapter 26
That afternoon, after eating, Shang Xi hurriedly went to the shop again with her son.
The pack of wolves who couldn't hear stories slumped over the sofa like wilted bean sprouts, sighing.
Black Tail and Green Tail had already gone to the shop to help, so they didn't need these brawny male wolves' brute strength.
"When will Shang Xi be done with overtime?"
"Will she work overtime tomorrow too?"
"I want to hear more stories!"
After finishing his meal, Gu Wen still had some work to do in his study. Hearing the wolves' pathetic sighs, his face darkened and he coldly said, "If you want to hear stories, can't you search online?"
There were plenty of pure humans who specialized in storytelling.
It wasn't only that woman who could do it.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Green Tail let out a grieved howl: "Master, you don't understand."
"Shang Xi really has a kind of magic when she tells stories. It feels like we're healed. The ones online aren't as nice to listen to as hers!"
"That's right, Master. Listen once next time and you'll know."
Gu Wen let out a cold laugh. Looking at these unambitious clansmen, he didn't say anything more and went upstairs to his study to work.
He hadn't been working for long when his phone rang.
He indifferently tapped it open to take a look. It was a message from Gray Tail.
He had shared a link:
【I recorded Shang Xi while she was telling stories. You're welcome.】
Seeing these words, Gu Wen scoffed and casually tossed his phone aside before starting to work.
He wasn't like those disgraceful clansmen.
He had been in this world for so long, he had seen everything. What was so special about some woman's storytelling?
When he finished working, the time approached nine o'clock. The sound of a car came from outside.
That woman had returned.
Gu Wen pressed his lips together and pricked up his ears for some reason.
He heard the sound of the woman being surrounded by wolves as she laughed and greeted them. He heard her say she would be working overtime again tomorrow. He heard her come upstairs...
Gu Wen abruptly stood up from behind the desk. After finishing his work, he was going back to his room too.
Opening the door, he appeared in the hallway.
He saw the woman leading her cub up the stairs. Seeing him, the smile on her face instantly disappeared. She just nodded slightly in greeting, her expression indifferent.
The cub's eyes lit up on the other hand as he called out, "Dad, good evening!"
Gu Wen grunted in response. Seeing the cub softened the look in his eyes.
Then the mother and son went into their room.
Gu Wen's room was on the third floor. Once inside, he pressed his lips tightly together.
Ever since the incident of Gray Tail assaulting Shang Xi that night when she thought she had made herself clear, her attitude toward him had changed a lot.
She no longer smiled at anyone other than him. She was chatty with everyone but him. She was polite yet distant with him.
Just as he had hoped, she was doing it.
If one had to speak of it, they were clearly the ones with the "closest" relationship in the residence, yet now they were the most estranged.
If one were to casually pull out a werewolf in the residence, they would have a much better relationship with Shang Xi compared to him.
She was doing rather well. This was the outcome he wanted.
Gu Wen ignored a hint of discomfort in the depths of his heart and thought this.
But the problem lay right here. Without a doubt, the cub was closest to his own mother. During the few days he was not busy with work, the cub would stick to Shang Xi the whole time. Now, he couldn't even find a chance to develop feelings with the cub.
He didn't care how his relationship was with Shang Xi, but the cub was different. He was his only cub.
The mother and son had been at Nanfeng Courtyard for over half a month, yet after the initial wariness, there was nothing else from the cub.
He beamed at the other wolves, and even stretched out his hands for Black Tail to carry him. But for his own father?
The more Gu Wen thought about it, the more unpleasant he felt.
Also, would that woman still want to leave after half a year?
She got along so well with those wolves. Would she still insist on leaving?
Last time, he swallowed his arrogance and smiled ingratiatingly for a few days, only to be left feeling extremely humiliated and angry by her mocking expression. He directly gave up on getting along amicably with her.
Let alone becoming like Black Tail, wagging his own tail until it was a blur; that was even more impossible!
In all his years, he had never fawned over anyone to that extent.
Even if he truly liked someone, he wouldn't act that way. It was simply...hard to look at, too demeaning for a wolf.
After washing up, he went down to the underground ice cellar to fetch some cold spring water.
Shang Xi's room was open for the cold spring water in his hand. This time, instead of hiding out on the balcony like she usually did, the woman was actually standing at the doorway.
The last time this happened was when she called out to him to question in accusation: What did his constant mocking expression mean?
Gu Wen glanced at her. Neither of them spoke.
When the cub came out after being fed, as expected, he was hailed.
Gu Wen didn't look back as his brows knitted slightly.
What did this woman want to say now?
He no longer put on that amiable attitude and smiled ingratiatingly at her. Was she here to question why he had a mocking expression again?
Shang Xi didn't know this wolf's internal drama was so rich. She politely and distantly said, "Mr. Gu, I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to go to the flower market to stock up. I won't have enough time. You'll probably have to take our son to kindergarten alone again. I'm telling you in advance."
Gu Wen didn't say anything.
Shang Xi knew he didn't want to hear her talk. She pressed her lips together, "I've said what I need to. Go rest."
Having finished speaking, she turned and entered her room.
Gu Wen's eyes shifted strangely. Flashing through them was an instant of oddness. This woman, had she been worked silly?
Tomorrow was Saturday.
No kindergarten.
At this moment, Black Tail and Green Tail came upstairs while conversing.
"I'm going to sleep too. Shang Xi said to get up early tomorrow to go with her to some flower market or something to stock up. She said the employee who normally handles stocking up got injured and took time off. This past month, she's been the one going."
"Hahaha, Black Tail, you and Shang Xi are pretty close! Watch out for the master...Ah! Master, you're here?" Green Tail was so scared seeing the tall, dark figure that he almost fell down the stairs. "Master, you haven't rested yet?"
But Gu Wen's gaze swept past him and landed on Black Tail.
Feeling the master's piercing eyes, Black Tail thought of what Green Tail didn't get to finish saying. A shudder went through his body. "Uh, Master, don't think too much. I..."
"You don't need to go tomorrow."
"Huh?" Black Tail was taken aback.
Gu Wen coldly glanced at him and pulled up the corners of his lips. "Stocking up at the flower market tomorrow morning. I'll go."
Black Tail hurriedly said with eyes shut, "Yes, yes! You're right, Master. I guarantee I'll keep my distance from Shang Xi... Huh? You're going to accompany Shang Xi on the stock up? Great, great! You should go, you have the most right to go!"
It looked like the master still cared about Shang Xi!
Black Tail felt quite happy that he was denied from going on the stock up trip. He hoped the master and Shang Xi would get closer. They clearly had the most intimate relationship after all.
It looked like the master had finally come around!
Black Tail and Green Tail exchanged a gleeful, gossiping look before accidentally slipping and tumbling down the stairs together.
With their thick skin and flesh, they were just fine.
"Fools." Gu Wen didn't care to keep watching them and returned to his own room.
The next morning.
Shang Xi got up at 5:10, quickly washed up and got dressed. It was already 5:30.
With her bag on her back, she hurried downstairs. The sky outside was just beginning to light up while the residence was still somewhat dark. However, with each step she took, the motion sensor lights lit up one by one, as bright as daylight.
After Gray Tail's incident, lights filled every corner of the residence.
The wolves didn't need lighting to find their way, as they were more used to the dark. But for her sake, the residence filled with stars.
Shang Xi felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in her heart. She left the residence and climbed into the black car, smiling as she greeted the figure in the driver's seat, "When did you get up? Thanks for the trouble. I'll treat you to a nice breakfast later."
As she spoke, she bowed her head to buckle her seatbelt.
She didn't notice that the man in the driver's seat had broader shoulders that were ramrod straight, and the hands grasping the steering wheel were increasingly slender and fair.
"Black Tail, let's head out. Since opening the second shop and hiring employees, I haven't gone to handle stocking up myself."
Shang Xi was most familiar with Black Tail recently and found herself chattering away uncontrollably when with someone she was familiar with.
"Business has been going pretty well lately, right? I want to stock up on more goods, so you understand, right? I called you along today as free labor. Hehe, sorry about that. I'll tell everyone stories when I have time."
After rambling on, she suddenly felt something was off. Black Tail was usually as chatty as her, so why was he so quiet now?
The next second, she heard an slightly familiar low voice tinged with a hint of chill. "Why did you stop talking?"
Shang Xi paused briefly.
Huh?