"Of course not! I was just making an analogy!"
"Alright, even though it's a strange analogy... If I knew, I would tell her."
Nian Suian scratched her head, embarrassed, and said, "I'm sorry, it's mainly because I don't know many people who are in relationships. I was just confessing to Qin Wei... So if both people were strangers to you, and you just happened to overhear this, would you try to tell the other person?"
Gu Junxing finally understood what Nian Suian was struggling with. After thinking for a moment, he said to her, "If it were me, I probably wouldn't get involved. Because the other person is a stranger, it would be difficult to gain their trust, and there are too many unknown factors. Even if you really wanted to tell her, it's best not to approach her directly yourself."
"Alright, the food is getting cold. Let's eat first. Don't think too much about it. After all, it's someone else's business. Even if you can't solve it, you shouldn't worry yourself sick over it, right?"
"You're right... Okay, food comes first." Nian Suian thought to herself that worrying wouldn't help anyway. No matter how much she fretted at home, the people involved wouldn't know.
"Oh, by the way, Liu Jian's hotel is opening. Should we send a gift or something when we go?" Nian Suian suddenly remembered that they were going to the hot springs this Friday!
"I've already arranged everything. We don't need to bring a gift this time. Let's wait until the official opening to send something. We'll have to go then too."
Nian Suian nodded without saying anything, but another thought crossed her mind.
Just talking about gift-giving reminded Nian Suian that Gu Junxing had mentioned his birthday before, which was coming up soon. She wondered if she should do something for him.
But obviously, Gu Junxing didn't lack anything...
Gu Junxing saw Nian Suian's expression and thought she was still worrying about that issue. He sighed and ladled her a bowl of soup.
That evening, Nian Suian caught Gu Zhijing in the living room just as he got home, intending to get some inspiration from him.
"Your dad's birthday is coming up soon. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I do."
"So what are you planning to give him? Have you prepared anything?"
This time it was Gu Zhijing's turn to scratch his head in confusion. He threw his backpack on the sofa, sat down, and pondered for a while.
Gu Zhijing honestly said, "I haven't thought of anything yet."
Nian Suian persisted, "What about last year? What did you give him?"
Mentioning this, Gu Zhijing looked embarrassed. To be honest, he really wanted to forget about that incident.
Seeing his step-mom's inquiring gaze, he slowly began, "Last year... last year I cooked a meal for him, and then..." Gu Zhijing trailed off, too embarrassed to continue.
"You cooked? That's a great idea! Then what happened?"
Nian Suian thought cooking was a good approach. After all, Gu Junxing didn't lack money or possessions, so cooking would show thoughtfulness!
"Then I sent my dad to the hospital," Gu Zhijing said quickly, closing his eyes.
"What? What happened?" Nian Suian didn't catch what Gu Zhijing said because he spoke too fast.
"I don't know if the meat wasn't cooked properly, but it gave my dad acute gastroenteritis..."
Gu Zhijing scratched his head, truly embarrassed. He had nearly sent his own father to the grave with a single meal. He had tasted the food himself after cooking, and while it wasn't particularly delicious, it seemed normal enough. He didn't know if it was because he only ate a small piece, or if the piece he ate was fully cooked, but he himself had no issues at all.
It wasn't until he woke up the next day that he found out his dad had been rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night. The doctor said it might have been caused by eating something unsanitary, and his dad had only eaten the food he cooked that night.
"..."
Nian Suian was also silent for a while before saying, "You should be grateful you're his biological son..."
"It was just an accident. I have given proper gifts before," Gu Zhijing decided to defend himself.
"Like what?"
"Fountain pens, wallets, electric shavers, things like that."
What Gu Zhijing didn't mention was that when he bought the electric shaver, he was short on money and bought a cheap one... He didn't expect his dad to actually use it, resulting in an electric shock that angered his father so much he didn't speak to him for three days.
Nian Suian had thought of these items too. When searching online for gifts for men, seven out of ten results included these items.
"Ah, forget it. I'll go to the mall tomorrow and look around," she said.
"Sigh, I need to think hard about this too," Gu Zhijing replied.
Both of them rested their chins on their hands, lost in thought. Nian Suian had initially hoped to get some inspiration from Gu Zhijing, but now they were both stuck worrying about it together.
The next day, Nian Suian left early in the morning and didn't even come back for dinner.
When she returned, she said nothing and went straight to bed. After a full day of intense shopping, she had nearly visited every store in the mall, not even skipping the baby stores.
At least she had made some progress...
On Friday, Nian Suian stayed at home all day. In the afternoon, estimating that the father and son would be home soon, she finally got up to pack.
Gu Junxing arrived home first. After Gu Zhijing returned from school, the family immediately set off for Liu Jian's newly opened hotel. Their belongings had been packed by the capable Butler Su.
"Dad, can't I really have a room to myself?" Gu Zhijing tried to negotiate one last time on the way there.
"Of course you can."
"Really?" Gu Zhijing immediately sat up straight, asking excitedly.
"Sure. You can get out of the car now, take a taxi home, and you'll have a room all to yourself."
"You... you're too much!" Gu Zhijing raged helplessly. "Who still sleeps with their dad at sixteen?"
Gu Zhijing considered himself a man now, and sleeping with his father would damage his masculinity.
Nian Suian could understand Gu Zhijing's feelings. She thought for a moment and said to Gu Junxing, "Why don't we... let Zhijing sleep by himself?"
Gu Junxing was driving but turned his head slightly to look at her when he heard this.
"Don't look at me, watch the road. I mean, the bed is probably huge anyway. Even three people could fit, so it doesn't matter."
Nian Suian thought to herself: Whether in TV dramas or novels, there's always a plot where the male and female leads have to sleep in the same bed due to some accident... This time, she might as well indulge in the fantasy of being the female lead.
Gu Zhijing sat in the back, looking from one to the other.
"Never mind, I'll sleep with my dad. It'll be like reliving my childhood," he said.
Gu Zhijing was well aware of their situation. How could a fake married couple sleep in the same bed? He didn't want to make them feel conflicted or awkward. When they truly fall in love someday, then they can share a bed.
"Oh my! Sister-in-law, Old Gu, and Zhijing! I'm so sorry I couldn't greet you earlier!" Liu Jian exclaimed as they arrived.
"Come on, cut the act," Gu Junxing replied.
"Alright, alright. We'll talk more later. Let me have someone show you to your room first. I've reserved the best suite for you," Liu Jian called over a staff member to lead them to their room. "After you've seen the room and dropped off your things, come over for dinner. Old Chen is already here. Sister-in-law, you must try the food tonight and see how good the chef I've hired at great expense is!"
Nian Suian smiled and nodded, "Certainly."