Time flew by, and Friday arrived. Nian Suian and Sheng Xia were both planning to return home. Butler Su called the family driver to pick them up, conveniently giving Sheng Xia a ride home as well.
Liu Jian said pitifully, "With you all leaving, I'll be alone again."
With the official opening on January 1st, Liu Jian had been quite busy lately, unable to relax even if he wanted to.
"Jiaojiao, do you want to stay here and keep uncle company? Uncle has lots and lots of chicken wings here."
Ever since learning that Jiaojiao loved chicken wings, Liu Jian had the kitchen make various flavors for her every day. He was close to stealing the title of "Chicken Wing Uncle" from Chen Shu.
"Mommy..." Jiaojiao looked up at Sheng Xia, her little face clearly torn.
So many chicken wings - it was too much for a child to resist.
Sheng Xia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You little glutton. Say goodbye to Uncle Liu and tell him we'll come back another time."
"Uncle Liu, I'll come back for chicken wings next time."
"Alright~ Uncle will be waiting for Jiaojiao here."
After they finished talking, Liu Jian helped them load their luggage into the car. "Drive safely, and come visit again when you can."
The driver first dropped off Sheng Xia and her daughter at home before taking Nian Suian back.
"Madam, you're finally back!" Butler Su's excitement startled Nian Suian.
"Oh my! Did you miss me that much?"
Butler Su said nothing, just grinning somewhat oddly.
It wasn't until Gu Junxing returned home that evening that Nian Suian finally understood why Butler Su had looked so guilty.
"Gu Zhijing! Have you been out thieving every day?!" Gu Zhijing's dark eye circles were frightening at this point. "Can you explain to me what happened?"
"Ah... Sister-in-law, you're back! Well... this... this is because I missed you so much, I couldn't sleep! I couldn't eat or rest!"
Nian Suian didn't believe his nonsense. "Tell the truth!"
"You won't talk? If you don't, I'll have your dad ask you."
"No, no, no! Don't tell my dad. I was wrong, sister-in-law. I shouldn't have stayed up late playing games every night." Gu Zhijing dropped to his knees at lightning speed.
Before Gu Junxing left on his business trip, Gu Zhijing had used the excuse that he didn't know when his father would return to get him to give the key to the gaming room to Butler Su. Butler Su then handed the key over to Gu Zhijing after his persistent pleading.
"You didn't dare?! It looks to me like you dared plenty!" With such dark circles, he probably hadn't slept properly for days.
"I really regret it now. I'll do anything as long as you don't tell my dad."
Nian Suian was about to speak when she saw Butler Su giving her a look. So the words on the tip of her tongue became:
"Go upstairs and wait for me. I need to think about how to deal with you!"
Hearing this, Gu Zhijing quickly snuck upstairs with his backpack.
"Madam, actually, the master already knows. He didn't say anything the other day because Young Master's friend was still here. He said he'd give Young Master some face for now and deal with it when he returns. It's my fault for not watching Young Master properly."
When Gu Junxing called home to ask about the situation, Butler Su hesitated for a few seconds between telling the truth and helping Gu Zhijing keep his secret. Gu Junxing sensed something was off and eventually got the truth out of him.
Nian Suian asked curiously, "How will he handle it? He won't hit the child, will he?"
"Don't worry about that, Madam. He won't use physical punishment."
After their conversation, Nian Suian asked Butler Su to go upstairs with her. She had Butler Su go to Gu Zhijing's room to call him out, as she had thought of a plan.
"Madam, Young Master is already asleep," Butler Su said after opening the door, taking a few steps in, looking around, and then closing the door as he stepped out.
Gu Zhijing was already lying on the bed asleep, not even having taken off his backpack.
"Well, never mind then. I'll deal with him tomorrow," Nian Suian said.
"Very well, Madam." Butler Su didn't ask how she planned to handle it.
Young people have abundant energy. After a good night's sleep, Gu Zhijing was full of vitality again the next day.
At eight in the morning, just as Gu Zhijing came downstairs ready to eat breakfast, Butler Su stopped him.
"Young Master, no need to rush for breakfast. Madam is waiting for you in the gaming room."
Young Gu was still unaware of what awaited him and went without any suspicion.
"Awake now? Come sit down," Nian Suian said with a smile, beckoning to him.
"Uh... I think I'd rather stand."
Gu Zhijing suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
"Sit down. How can you play games standing up?"
"Play games?"
Nian Suian nodded, saying matter-of-factly, "Yes, show me which game you've been playing."
Gu Zhijing was so scared he dared not move. "Sister-in-law, I really won't stay up late playing games anymore, I promise!"
"I'm not criticizing you. What are you afraid of? I just suddenly got interested. Play and let me watch."
...
Having someone sit next to you watching while you play games felt very different indeed.
"Ah... you died again? Are you nervous? Relax a bit."
"Grumble~"
"Hungry? I haven't watched enough yet. I'll let you eat when I've had my fill. Keep playing. This is the tenth round, right?"
Gu Zhijing finally understood. This was Nian Suian's way of dealing with him.
Nian Suian's table was piled high with various snacks and drinks. Midway through, she even had Nanny Zhang bring up some fried chicken. Gu Zhijing looked at Nanny Zhang pitifully, but she pretended not to see, placing the fried chicken in front of Nian Suian and leaving without looking back.
"Sister-in-law~ I was wrong~ Let me have a bite." Gu Zhijing tried his best to act cute, sneakily reaching for the chips on the table.
Slap! —
Nian Suian smacked his hand away. "Don't touch. I said you can eat when I've had enough of watching."
Wuwuwuwuwuwu, he didn't like games at all anymore.
Gu Zhijing was about to get sick from playing so much. In fact, Nian Suian was also getting sick of watching, struggling to stay awake while sitting there. It wasn't clear who was being punished anymore.
At three in the afternoon, Gu Zhijing's hands were about to cramp from playing so much. He turned his head to find Nian Suian had fallen asleep leaning against the chair.
Faced with this situation, Gu Zhijing's first thought wasn't to escape, but to steal her chips!
Gu Junxing had just arrived home from his business trip when Butler Su told him about the situation. He opened the door to the gaming room to find his dear son frantically stuffing chips into his mouth, while Nian Suian was asleep, leaning sideways in her chair.
Shh—
Gu Zhijing nearly choked when he saw his father suddenly appear at the door. He was about to speak when he saw his dad gesture for him to be quiet.
Gu Zhijing didn't hesitate. He tiptoed out of the room quickly, ran downstairs, and gulped down three glasses of water, stretching his neck out to finally swallow that big mouthful of chips.
Gu Junxing approached quietly. Nian Suian was completely unaware, breathing deeply, her face flushed - clearly sound asleep.
When Butler Su came back upstairs, he saw the master carefully carrying Madam down. Being a perceptive butler, he silently went ahead to open the door to Madam's room, then quietly went back downstairs.
The soporific effect of the games was so strong that even after being moved to a different place to sleep, Nian Suian didn't wake up.
Gu Junxing tucked her in, then closed the door and came out to settle accounts with his son.