On Monday evening, Nian Suian received a phone call from Sheng Xia, who said that the issue of Jiaojiao's custody had now been resolved.
"The Wei Family suddenly agreed to an out-of-court settlement. They've agreed to give up custody of Jiaojiao and pay a one-time sum of 500,000 yuan for child support. Their conditions are that we can't contact them or publicly claim that this is the Wei Family's child."
Nian Suian couldn't help but quip, "500,000 yuan? Raising a child costs way more than that."
What a stingy tycoon. Didn't the Wei Family boast about being an elite family?
Oh! She almost forgot, the Wei Family was from out of town.
"It doesn't matter, their conditions suit me just fine. Jiaojiao has always been my child alone, and I'm more than happy not to have any connection with the Wei Family. Besides... I heard that the Wei Family has found a potential marriage partner for Wei Zongqi, and the other party is quite well-off. I guess that's why they want to settle now." If the woman's family found out that the Wei Family was still fighting a custody battle in court, they surely wouldn't be pleased.
This information came from a friend Sheng Xia had met when she was dating Wei Zongqi. This friend was originally Wei Zongqi's friend, whom she met during a dinner. Even now, years after Sheng Xia and Wei Zongqi had broken up, they still kept in touch.
"An arranged marriage? Does that girl know about all this?" Nian Suian worried, hoping the Wei Family wasn't tricking someone into marriage.
Sheng Xia had initially thought of this too and had asked her friend. The answer was that the other family knew about Wei Zongqi's situation and was aware he had a child.
"If they don't mind, what can outsiders say? I heard that Wei Zongqi's mother even assured them that Jiaojiao is just a girl and definitely won't get a penny of the family fortune in the future."
This...
Nian Suian was taken aback: "Hearing something like that, they still dare to marry their daughter into that family? These people are really..."
"I heard she's not their biological daughter, just an adopted one. They have their own biological children. Otherwise, with their family's good conditions, why would they consider the Wei Family?"
"This is really... They've raised her to adulthood, couldn't they find a better match for her?"
Of course, these were other people's affairs, and it wasn't right for outsiders to judge without knowing all the details.
The important thing was that Sheng Xia and Jiaojiao could finally shake off that persistent nuisance. Having someone constantly lurking at the bottom of their building was quite annoying.
"So, bring Jiaojiao over tomorrow. The rooms here are all ready."
Because of this incident, Sheng Xia had taken leave from her company. With her annual leave and previous overtime compensation, she had a full week off, perfect for taking Jiaojiao out for some fun.
"Alright," Sheng Xia agreed with a smile.
— The Next Day
"Jiaojiao~ Do you remember me?" Nian Suian's voice unconsciously rose in pitch when talking to the little girl.
"Jiaojiao remembers Auntie Suian," the little girl replied in her sweet, milky voice. Coupled with the cold weather that had her bundled up like a little ball, she was absolutely adorable to Nian Suian.
"Come on, let me show you to your room so you can put your things down, then we'll go have lunch." Bringing a child meant packing quite a few things, and by the time they arrived, it was almost noon.
Liu Jian had gone out on business this morning and hadn't returned yet, but Nian Suian was now quite familiar with the hotel and didn't need anyone to show her around.
"Jiaojiao~ Would you like to go to the hot springs with auntie this afternoon?"
"Yes! Jiaojiao wear dress!" At the mention of a dress, Jiaojiao looked at her mother, clearly wanting to put it on right away.
Sheng Xia explained to Nian Suian, "We bought her a little swimsuit with a skirt style. She's so vain, she wanted to wear it as soon as we left home."
Then she coaxed her daughter, "Let's eat first. After you've eaten your fill, mommy will let you wear the dress."
"Eat!" Hearing that she could wear the dress after eating, Jiaojiao immediately picked up her fork and "attacked" the noodles in her bowl with great enthusiasm.
"Jiaojiao eats so well by herself!" She hadn't spilled any soup or food on her clothes. Apart from a bit of broth at the corners of her mouth, her face and clothes were clean.
"She's always very careful when eating, afraid of getting her pretty clothes dirty," Sheng Xia said.
She then told Nian Suian, "I'm planning to buy the apartment I'm currently renting."
"Why the sudden decision to buy?"
"The original owners of the apartment, an elderly couple, rented it to me because their daughter had taken them to live with her. The apartment was just sitting empty, so they decided to rent it out. Now their daughter's family is planning to emigrate. The couple only has one daughter, and she doesn't feel comfortable leaving her parents in the country, so they're all planning to move together. Because they're in a hurry to sell, the price is very favorable."
"So, you're planning to settle down there permanently?"
Sheng Xia nodded while wiping her daughter's mouth, "Yes, I think it's a good place, and moving is such a hassle."
Sheng Xia felt that although the neighborhood wasn't considered upscale, the neighbors were very caring.
Thinking of this, she added with a smile, "When I said I wanted to buy the apartment, Sister Yun was overjoyed. She almost wanted me to sign the contract right away and even offered to lend me money if I didn't have enough."
"Oh my! You're making me want to move there too. Your neighborhood really sounds interesting." The residents there must be quite "worldly-wise"!
She had already asked Jiang Yun to keep an eye out for any apartments for sale in that area. Once bought and renovated, she could stay there whenever she wanted. A three-bedroom apartment would be perfect - one room for her, one for Gu Zhijing, and one for Tang Yuan!
Meanwhile, Mr. Gu, who was diligently working at the company, had no idea his wife was already planning to move out.
At that moment, he was reviewing the proposal submitted by the publicity department for the company's New Year's party.
[8] Employees attending the party (including all leaders) may bring family members/friends, with no limit on numbers.
"Mr. Gu, don't forget to bring the boss's wife along," someone reminded him.
Everyone in the company was very curious about this young Mrs. Gu. Previously, many had speculated that Mr. Gu was a confirmed bachelor, and some even doubted whether Mr. Gu's son was his biological child.
After listening, Gu Junxing didn't comment much, only saying, "When sending out the notice, remember to add that attendance at the party is not mandatory and can be freely chosen."
Of course, hosting such a party was also meant to foster company cohesion, but forcing everyone to attend would be counterproductive, especially right before a holiday.
That evening, Gu Zhijing returned home from his evening self-study session at school, humming a tune as he opened the door.
The school cafeteria had opened a late-night snack window for students attending evening classes.
With this, following Auntie Hong, another culinary star was born in the school cafeteria.
— Sister Niu's Fried Skewers!
Even the principal praised Sister Niu's fried skewers after tasting them.
Fortunately, the two weren't in direct competition, otherwise it would have been a tough choice for students.
"Why are you back so late?" As soon as Gu Zhijing entered, he saw his father sitting on the couch in his pajamas.
"Why aren't you asleep yet? I had a late-night snack before coming back."
"Late-night snack? You two are so carefree."
"Dad, you're staying up this late just to criticize me?"
"I have something to do, I'm not waiting for you."
"Oh, I see. Getting older and having trouble sleeping, I understand, I understand."
Gu Zhijing patted his father's shoulder and quickly withdrew his hand before his father could react, making a swift escape!
Living life on the edge!