Early the next morning, father and son sat down together for breakfast, something they hadn't done in a long time.
Gu Zhijing was up early for morning self-study. High school morning sessions started too early, so he usually ate breakfast alone before heading to school.
Gu Junxing was resting at home recently, so he was sleeping early and waking up early to cultivate his mind and body. In the past, he wouldn't go to the office until 9 AM, missing Gu Zhijing entirely.
However, even as they sat face to face, father and son ate in silence, each to their own.
Gu Zhijing finished his last bite of steamed bun before speaking up: "Yesterday she came to school to bring me cake. I was really happy. I shared it with Zizhou and the others during dinner. Everyone said it was delicious."
"Didn't you say the mall was close to school? If you like it, go buy it yourself. How old are you now, needing someone to deliver cake to your mouth?" Nian Suian had already told Gu Junxing about yesterday's events, but he still felt that it was unnecessary to make a trip to the school just for a cake.
"It's not the same," Gu Zhijing wiped his mouth, preparing to leave for school.
"How is it different?"
Hearing his father's words, Gu Zhijing let out a laugh: "You don't even know how to be a father yourself, so don't try to teach her how to be my mother." With that, he picked up his backpack and headed out.
"Wait a moment."
"Starting today, the driver will pick you up after evening self-study. Don't take the subway by yourself anymore."
Gu Zhijing heard his father's words and paused briefly, but didn't turn around. He walked straight out, opening the front door.
Yes, he understood. This was his father's way of "giving in."
"Old-fashioned," Gu Zhijing muttered as he left the house.
Nian Suian was completely unaware of the early morning "confrontation" between father and son. She was still sound asleep at that time.
Ever since Gu Junxing mentioned that those who got up too late wouldn't get breakfast, Nian Suian had changed her routine.
That's right, she now woke up even later.
She could just get up and eat lunch directly, no need for breakfast.
"You're only harming your own body by doing this," Gu Junxing frowned deeply as he watched Nian Suian get up past eleven. He really couldn't understand this self-destructive behavior.
"It's fine, my biological clock has already adapted," Nian Suian said carelessly. Since she couldn't break the habit of staying up late, she might as well accept it. After all, every day she had in this world was a bonus. Living in the moment was now her life motto.
Hearing this, Gu Junxing let out a deep sigh, seemingly exasperated by her degrading behavior.
"I'll have dinner outside and then go watch a movie, so don't prepare dinner for me," Nian Suian said to Nanny Zhang, then turned to Gu Junxing and said, "You'll have to eat dinner alone tonight."
"A movie? By yourself?" Gu Junxing asked casually. He seemed to have never seen Nian Suian with any friends.
"Yes, just me. Don't worry, I have no intention of cheating on you," Nian Suian misunderstood Gu Junxing's question.
"You've misunderstood my meaning. I never had that kind of thought," Gu Junxing said helplessly.
"Alright, then I was being small-minded. Thank you for trusting my character," Nian Suian replied.
"I'm not trusting your character, I'm trusting that you won't jeopardize your financial interests," After all, according to their agreement, their marriage needed to last for three years.
"Haha, how clever. No wonder you're the boss," Nian Suian secretly rolled her eyes. Her moral standards were quite high, thank you very much. She would never engage in extramarital affairs.
Today, a classic movie was being re-released. Nian Suian had only watched it online before, so now that it was back in theaters, she naturally wanted to see it on the big screen. Of course, she couldn't be bothered to explain all this to Gu Junxing.
After lunch, Nian Suian went to the walk-in closet to choose her outfit for going out. This had become her favorite activity recently. The original owner had many clothes, all high-end brands, some still with tags on. She had put them all away as their aesthetics and style of dress were quite different. Now, most of the clothes were ones Nian Suian had chosen herself.
Downstairs, as the servants were clearing the dishes, Nanny Zhang said to Gu Junxing, "Boss, when Madam just said she was going to watch a movie, you should have said you'd go with her! You were too busy with work before, but now that you have time, shouldn't you two go on dates? Young ladies all like that sort of thing."
Nanny Zhang had worked for the Gu family for many years and wasn't afraid to speak her mind to Gu Junxing. She was truly concerned for these two. Living under the same roof, they were barely better than strangers. This marriage they were forced into was too fake! Watching from the sidelines, she felt that these two were actually quite compatible. Although their boss was on his second marriage and had a child, he was handsome, capable of making money, and could be considered a good catch.
"Nanny Zhang, you should go out and have some fun when you're free. There's not much work to do at home," Gu Junxing replied.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more," Both of them were so stubborn, she gave up trying to persuade them.
Thinking about the movie atmosphere, Nian Suian chose a floral spaghetti strap maxi dress for herself and braided her hair into a loose fishtail. When she was ready to leave, she noticed Gu Junxing wasn't in the living room or the garden, so she abandoned the idea of saying goodbye and left directly.
From the second-floor balcony, Gu Junxing watched Nian Suian leave. Youth was indeed a blessing; joy and excitement could be seen from the tips of her hair, even though she was just going to watch a movie.
On a weekday afternoon, even the mall had few visitors, let alone the cinema. In the darkness, Nian Suian squinted, trying to find her seat. She had slight night blindness and had to work hard to see the numbers on the seats clearly. After sitting down, she realized that all the surrounding seats were empty.
While waiting for the movie to start, she took a photo of her movie ticket and posted it on her WeChat Moments.
"The joy of being unemployed," she captioned, along with the photo of the ticket.
No sooner had Nian Suian posted it than she noticed Gu Zhijing had instantly liked her post.
That little rascal, playing with his phone in class again. Nian Suian took a screenshot of his like time, planning to settle accounts with him after the movie.
Even though she already knew the plot, watching it again was still thrilling. When the movie ended, Nian Suian still felt reluctant to leave. It wasn't until the lights came on that she got up to leave.
Walking out of the theater corridor, Nian Suian squinted her eyes. The bright lights of the mall outside were a bit uncomfortable for her eyes.
She walked while checking her WeChat messages on her phone. As expected, all the messages were from Gu Zhijing.
[Went to watch a movie?]
[With whom? With Dad?]
[What movie is it? Is it good? Take me with you next time.]
If he hadn't sent messages, Nian Suian might have almost forgotten about it.
[Gu Zhijing! You're playing with your phone in class again! You even liked my Moments post instantly. Are you even listening in class? If I catch you again, I'll let Teacher Cen confiscate your phone.] No matter what, playing with phones during class was always wrong.
The reply came instantly again.
[I just happened to see it, I'm not playing all the time.] The English class was too boring. Gu Zhijing had good English grades. Since he was young, he often traveled abroad, and his father had hired foreign tutors for him, so he was too lazy to listen in English class.
[You're playing now.] Replying instantly no matter when she messaged, if he wasn't playing all the time, she'd eat her hat.
[It's evening self-study now, I've finished all my homework.]
[If you've finished, then read a book. Try to save your poor Chinese grades.]
After sending this message, Nian Suian ran to the Xinhua Bookstore on the ground floor of the mall and angrily bought 500 yuan worth of high school practice papers. She had been caught in the rain, now it was time to tear Gu Zhijing's umbrella apart.
Gu Zhijing: [Where are you watching the movie? Can I come find you after evening self-study?]
Gu Zhijing: [Dad asked the driver to pick me up, we can go home together]
Gu Zhijing: [obedient.jpg]