Chapter 46: Bestowing a Title

Gu Zehuai laughed, “I hadn’t even said who it was, and you already knew it was Sister Jiuyou?”

Gu Yulin replied confidently, “Of course! The moment I saw her, I knew!”

Gu Zehuai answered with a few affirmations, coaxed Gu Yulin a bit, and then hung up the phone.

This kid had an eye for things, just like him.

What Gu Zehuai didn’t know was that, on the other end, Gu Yulin was flanked by Madam Gu and Gu’s mother as he made the call.

So, every word of their conversation was overheard.

The two women exchanged a look and couldn’t stop laughing.

Madam Gu felt gratified, “This boy finally shows some promise. He must work hard to bring me a granddaughter-in-law.”

Gu’s mother chimed in, “Exactly! I’m finally going to have a daughter-in-law!”

Between them, Gu Yulin listened to their chatter, feeling a bit speechless.

Great-grandmother, grandmother, uncle hasn’t even managed to win auntie over yet, and you’re already thinking so far ahead.

Even though Gu Zehuai didn’t know his conversation had been overheard, even if he had, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Gu Yulin lived at the old estate, always spending time with his great-grandmother and grandmother—it wasn’t hard to guess.

As soon as Wen Jiu got home, she took a shower, finally feeling the smell had faded. She couldn’t accept sitting through a whole movie reeking of hotpot, especially with Gu Zehuai.

She cared about her image!

Today she’d made a mistake. If only she hadn’t suggested hotpot.

But thinking about being together again tomorrow made her feel it wasn’t so bad.

Wen Jiu noticed Gu Zehuai had become really proactive lately—so much so that she was almost unaccustomed to it.

He used to seem indifferent to everything, as if nothing mattered.

Before bed, Wen Jiu received a goodnight text from Gu Zehuai.

She replied with a goodnight and prepared to sleep.

But she just couldn’t fall asleep, tossing and turning.

Whenever she closed her eyes, Gu Zehuai’s face filled her mind.

She couldn’t quiet her thoughts.

On the other side, Gu Zehuai was no different. Remembering how Wen Jiu touched his face last night, he longed to hold those hands tightly.

Wen Jiu decided the reason she couldn't sleep was all Gu Zehuai’s fault, so she picked up her phone and tentatively messaged: “Are you asleep?”

She thought for sure he’d be asleep, but to her surprise, he replied instantly.

“Not yet. It’s so late—why aren’t you asleep?”

“Can’t sleep,” Wen Jiu answered, adding a frustrated emoji.

She’d been tossing for so long and wasn’t even a little sleepy.

So she sent Gu Zehuai another message: “You have work tomorrow morning, so you should sleep soon.”

It was nearly two o’clock, but neither had any intention of sleeping.

“It’s fine, it won’t affect anything.”

Wen Jiu simply went along with him.

The next moment, Gu Zehuai sent another message, his tone uncertain: “Jiuyou, when will you make us official? (pitiful)”

“So soon? I haven’t seen any sincerity from you yet!”

“Alright, I understand.”

Suddenly, Wen Jiu had an idea: “Maybe if you sang me a song, I’d fall asleep!”

Gu Zehuai replied helplessly, “Jiuyou, I’m tone deaf.”

Wen Jiu said, “Alright then,” a little regretfully.

With such a pleasant voice, she’d assumed his singing would be nice, too.

They chatted, drifting from topic to topic, until sleepiness finally crept in.

At last, Wen Jiu couldn’t hold on, sent a goodnight, and fell asleep.

Gu Zehuai soon drifted off as well.

The next day, Wen Jiu, unusually, slept until ten. When she checked her phone, she found a slew of messages from Gu Zehuai.

There was a morning greeting after he’d gotten up, pictures of his breakfast, and updates before he left for work.

Wen Jiu replied with a morning sticker; Gu Zehuai must’ve been busy, as it took him a few minutes to respond.

“Jiuyou, I didn’t expect you’d get up late today. How about you come to the office and we have lunch together?”

Wen Jiu wasn’t very hungry; it was already past ten, so she decided to combine breakfast and lunch.