Chapter 25

Qiuqiu recently noticed that her two parents were acting very strangely.

Something is very, very wrong.

This "uncomfortable" feeling isn't from an argument or a cold war, but rather a subtle atmosphere that would make even a five-year-old shake their head and sigh.

Gu Qingyue still leaves early and returns late every day, acting mysteriously.

Qiuqiu overheard his phone call with his assistant, and it seemed they were busy preparing for the new movie. But every time he came home, he would bring back some small gifts.

For example, a bunch of white bellflowers with dew on them (Jiang Xueru's favorite flower).

Or a box of almond shortbread from a time-honored pastry shop (which Jiang Xueru often ate when she was a child).

It's even a rare, out-of-print movie album (the one missing from Jiang Xueru's collection).

Things are quietly placed in the entryway or on the dining table, without any deliberate explanation.

When Jiang Xueru saw the gifts, she would pause for a moment, then blush slightly as she put the flowers in the vase, the pastries in the cupboard, and the picture books on the bookshelf.

Her movements were so natural, as if they were meant to be, but Qiuqiu clearly saw that her fingertips lingered on the album cover for three seconds longer.

The situation with Jiang Xueru is even stranger.

Jiang Xueru appeared calm on the surface, but her mind was already reeling from an eight-hundred-episode drama.

She was indeed preparing seriously for the audition for "Hello, Mom," as evidenced by the dense notes on the script.

But Qiuqiu keenly sensed that her mother was only truly studying the script half the time.

At other times, Jiang Xueru would suddenly put down her script, rest her chin on her hand, stare blankly out the window, and her ears would quietly turn red.

Or unconsciously drawing circles on paper with a pen, eventually turning into a pattern of two little people holding hands.

Qiuqiu was really curious, so she secretly listened to her voice and quickly pieced together the truth—

Mom is thinking about how to win Dad's heart!

This realization shocked Qiuqiu so much that she almost spat out the milk in her mouth.

That morning at breakfast, she was happily drinking her milk when she suddenly overheard Jiang Xueru's complete plan.

"The first step is that we absolutely cannot get a divorce. We agreed on a contractual agreement that we would divorce after three years, and there is still one year left... Otherwise, I can hide the marriage certificate and say that I can't find it, and then we can't get a divorce."

"The second step is to pursue Gu Qingyue. I have no experience with this... I'll ask Leng Yu and the others when I have time; she seems to know a lot about it."

"The third step... I haven't thought of the third step yet, let's focus on the first two steps first."

Qiuqiu's eyes widened in surprise, and she almost spat out her drink.

Jiang Xueru snapped out of her daze, took out a tissue, and gently wiped her clean. "What's wrong? Drink slowly."

"N-nothing!"

Qiuqiu quickly shook her head, but her heart was in turmoil.

Why is the plot moving so fast?

Did she miss some crucial step?

Qiuqiu frowned and tried to recall.

It must have been while she was asleep that Gu's father secretly did something to her mother!

Otherwise, how could Mom suddenly realize that she likes Dad?

To verify this hypothesis, Qiuqiu fought off sleep for the next few nights, straining her little ears to listen for any sounds outside.

If she heard any unusual noises, she would quietly climb out of bed and peek through the crack in the door.

I didn't find anything the previous few nights.

Because Jiang Xueru needed to get into the right mindset to prepare for her upcoming audition for "Hello, Mom," she went to bed very early every day.

Qiuqiu stayed up until her eyelids were drooping, but in the end she couldn't resist the sleepiness and fell asleep on the small rug by the door.

The next morning, I found myself being carried back to bed, covered with a small blanket.

Just when Qiuqiu thought she wouldn't get any juicy gossip and was about to give up on her nighttime raid, a turning point came.

It was Friday night. Qiuqiu was too tired from playing all day and was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open by 8 p.m. As usual, Jiang Xueru coaxed her to bed early and went back to her room to rest as well.

Around 11 p.m., Qiuqiu was awakened by the urge to urinate. She groggily got up to go to the bathroom, and after relieving herself, she was about to go back to her room when she suddenly heard a faint sound coming from the living room.

Qiuqiu instantly woke up.

She tiptoed to the living room door and cautiously peeked out half of her head.

The scene before her left her stunned.

Only one floor lamp was on in the living room, casting a dim yellow light on Gu Qingyue.

He sat on the sofa with a pile of colorful materials spread out in front of him.

Colorful cotton thread, small beads, and various tools.

He kept his head down, his fingers deftly weaving through the silk threads, his expression focused as if he were completing some important task.

Qiuqiu squinted and looked closely.

—Gu Qingyue is weaving a bracelet.

It wasn't an ordinary bracelet; it was an intricately woven design with several small, delicate pale pink pearls strung in the middle, gleaming with a warm luster under the light.

Qiuqiu pricked up her ears.

[Just a little bit more... Her birthday is at the end of the month, I need to finish it before then.]

Qiuqiu's little head immediately started turning.

A birthday? Mom's birthday is coming up!

She watched Gu Qingyue clumsily but earnestly braiding the bracelet, and the more she watched, the funnier it became.

The hands, which are known as "God's Hands" by fans, appear somewhat clumsy at this moment because they are not good at handicrafts, and the fingertips even have red marks from being cut by thin threads.

But he didn't stop; he took it apart and wove it again, wove it and took it apart again, until he was satisfied.

Qiuqiu's heart suddenly softened.

This strange uncle... no, this father, is actually quite nice.

She was about to quietly retreat back to her room when she heard Gu Qingyue murmur again.

I wonder if she'll like it... She doesn't seem to wear jewelry much, but this is something I made myself, so it should be... different, right?

His tone carried an uncertain unease.

In the words of the comments on the show she was watching, it was like a young boy preparing a gift for his crush.

Qiuqiu almost burst out laughing, then quickly covered her mouth.

She tiptoed back to her room, slipped under the covers, her eyes sparkling in the darkness.

It turns out Dad was secretly preparing a birthday present for Mom!

It was made by hand!

Qiuqiu rolled around on the bed twice and had an idea in mind.

Since one of the two adults is figuring out how to woo someone, and the other is secretly preparing a surprise, how could she not lend a hand?

You should give, but not too much.

Adults' own feelings are more meaningful when they develop them on their own.

......

Over the next few days, Qiuqiu became a little observer.

On the surface, she eats, plays, and watches cartoons obediently, but in reality, she is always paying attention to the interaction between the two adults.

Jiang Xueru still stares blankly at the script, but the time she spends staring blankly has obviously increased.

Once, Qiuqiu passed by her and overheard her rehearsing her lines in her mind:

"Gu Qingyue, I... I think our contract can be extended."

"No, that's too abrupt. Qingyue, don't you think we're actually quite compatible?"

"It's still not right... Ugh, this is so hard!"

Qiuqiu's stomach hurt from trying so hard to hold back her laughter, so she quickly ran away.

When Gu Qingyue came home early that day, Qiuqiu squeezed between the two of them with a picture book in her arms after dinner: "Daddy, Mommy, Qiuqiu wants to hear a story."

Jiang Xueru put down the script and patted her head: "What story does Qiuqiu want to hear?"

Qiuqiu's big eyes darted around: "Qiuqiu wants to hear... how Mom and Dad met!"

Crack—it seems like something has solidified.

Gu Qingyue was drinking tea when she heard this and choked slightly.

Jiang Xueru, on the other hand, was like a frightened little rabbit, blinking her eyes repeatedly, but she didn't dare to look at the person next to her.

The air suddenly became quiet, with only the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Even the comments in the live stream started scrolling wildly.

【Ahhh, Qiuqiu is so talented!】

[A deadly question! A suicide question!]

[Teacher Gu choked! Jiang Jiang blushed! I took a screenshot!]

I want to hear it too! I want to hear it too!

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Gu Qingyue put down her teacup, her voice softer than usual.

"Because all the kindergarten kids say that their parents have a super romantic story of how they met!"

Qiuqiu spread her arms wide, making a huge gesture, "Like a fairy tale! Qiuqiu wants one too!"

Jiang Xueru glanced at Gu Qingyue furtively, and seeing that he was looking at her, she quickly looked away and whispered, "Mom and Dad... have known each other for a long time."

"How long?" Qiuqiu leaned forward, her little face full of curiosity.

Jiang Xueru's voice softened, "When Mom was still a little girl."

"And what about Dad?"

Gu Qingyue turned his head and looked at the soft lines of Jiang Xueru's profile. The corners of his lips unconsciously turned up: "Back then, Dad was a clumsy boy who was very good at climbing trees, but not very good at coaxing people."

Jiang Xueru couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her smile was like a flower blooming in the spring breeze, bright and gentle.

Gu Qingyue looked at her and smiled, his eyes softening into a pool of water.

[awsl!!! This eye contact!!!]

[This clumsy boy is really good at climbing trees, hahaha, how hilarious!]

[Jiang Jiang's smile is so beautiful! Teacher Gu's eyes were practically glued to her!]

【Qiuqiu: Plan Achieved √】

The little devil in Qiuqiu's heart is already spinning in circles!

Yes, yes, yes, that's the atmosphere! Sticky, sweet, and bubbly with pink bubbles!

She decided to add fuel to the fire: "Has Dad ever given Mom a birthday present? Like Wang Xiaoming's dad gave Mom a necklace!"

Thump—the second straight ball!

Jiang Xueru's birthday is actually at the end of the month, but she has never mentioned it.

But when Qiuqiu asked her this, her heart fluttered like a little sparrow.

I'm actually kind of... looking forward to it?

Gu Qingyue remained silent for a few seconds.

The moonlight outside the window was just right, falling on his sharply defined face.

He spoke softly, as if revealing a long-treasured secret:

"It has been delivered."

"What is it? What is it?" Qiuqiu's eyes sparkled.

“I’m giving away a lot,” Gu Qingyue boasted.

"So what's the first gift?"

"firefly."

Gu Qingyue raised an eyebrow, her gaze gently fixed on Jiang Xueru, "It was in a glass bottle, sparkling and shimmering. Your mother loved it back then."

Jiang Xueru was stunned.

Those faded fragments of memory suddenly became clear.

A dark park, a crying little girl, a boy awkwardly jumping down from a tree to comfort her, and that bottle... of fireflies, like a dream.

So he remembered.

It turns out I hadn't forgotten all along.

Something is quietly fermenting in the air, sweet and warm.

Fireflies!!! I knew it!!!

[Help! This is so romantic!!!]

[Jiang Jiang's eyes are glistening with tears!]

[Is this a contract marriage? If this is a contract, I'll eat my phone!]

[Qiuqiu, my little darling, is a super wingman! Auntie will kiss you bald!]

Watching the silent tenderness flowing between the two adults, Qiuqiu yawned contentedly, "Qiuqiu's sleepy, goodnight, Mom and Dad~"

After saying that, she picked up the picture book, ran back to her room, and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.

—The rest of the time is for the adults to do on their own!

Inside the room, Qiuqiu was eavesdropping through the crack in the door.

It was quiet outside for a while, then very light footsteps were heard, along with Gu Qingyue's gentle voice: "Good night."

Jiang Xueru's voice was even softer, like a feather: "...Goodnight."

Qiuqiu covered her mouth and giggled, rolling around on the bed. Oh dear, tonight's dream is sure to be strawberry-flavored!

......

After saying goodbye, Gu Qingyue turned off the live stream.

Then he took the small dark blue velvet box out of his pocket.

When opened, the silver bracelet gleamed delicately in the moonlight, with a small, round, and gentle pearl in the center.

He looked at it for a long time, gently stroking the edge of the box with his fingertips, and finally closed it.

—Let's wait a little longer.

He wanted to give her the best confession at the best time.

It wasn't a test, it wasn't ambiguity, but a clear and unambiguous statement: Jiang Xueru, I've liked you for a very, very long time.

......

Meanwhile, back in her room, Jiang Xueru couldn't sleep.

She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying the conversation she had just had.

Gu Qingyue's voice, his eyes, and that phrase "firefly" gently tickled her heart like a feather.

The sun rose as usual the next day.

Gu Qingyue still got up early and quietly prepared breakfast before leaving the house.

When Jiang Xueru woke up, there was warm milk and a golden-brown sunny-side-up egg on the dining table, with a small daisy next to it.

She picked up the flower, lowered her head to smell it, and a small smile curved her lips.

Qiuqiu munched on her bread while watching her mother hum a song as she put flowers into a vase, feeling quite pleased with herself.

See? See? We're one step closer to success!

Good morning! Your sugar intake is ready for today!

Teacher Gu is gone, but the flowers remain, and so does her heart.

Jiang Jiang seems to be in a great mood today!

Seeing the flowers my husband left made me feel better!

Three days later, the audition for "Hello, Mom" ​​arrived.

Jiang Xueru specially chose a smart yet gentle beige suit, with her long hair loosely tied up.

She took a deep breath in front of the mirror, encouraging herself—today's audition was crucial for her, not only for the role, but also to prove herself to everyone—

Jiang Xueru is back.

Before leaving home, Gu Qingyue was unusually still at home.

He stood in the entryway, watching Jiang Xueru put on her shoes, and suddenly said, "Good luck."

Jiang Xueru looked up.

"Good luck with the audition," Gu Qingyue said again, her eyes serious.

"You will be the best Song Yun."

Jiang Xueru felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, "Thank you."

Qiuqiu, carrying her little schoolbag, looked at her mother and then at her father, and suddenly thought—this is not bad at all.

Take it slow, walk it slowly, what's meant to come will come.

She took Jiang Xueru's hand: "Mom, let's go!"

After the mother and daughter left, Gu Qingyue stood in the entryway for a while, then turned around and picked up her car keys.

It's time for him to set off.

......

The audition was held in an office building in the city center.

When Jiang Xueru arrived with Qiuqiu, there were already many actors sitting in the waiting area.

Some people nodded to her, while others cast inquiring glances, after all, Jiang Xueru was currently enjoying great popularity and was one of the strong contenders for the role.

Qiuqiu sat obediently next to Jiang Xueru, curiously looking around.

Suddenly, her little ears twitched.

"Why is Teacher Gu here?"

"Isn't he preparing for a new movie?"

"Is he here for an audition? But wait, the male lead doesn't have many scenes in Director Chen's film."

"......"

Qiuqiu looked up abruptly and saw Gu Qingyue walking out of the elevator.

He was dressed simply today, in a white shirt and black trousers, but his height and demeanor made him stand out in the crowd.

Jiang Xueru saw it too.

She was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, Gu Qingyue had already walked straight up to her.

"Teacher Gu?" Jiang Xueru was somewhat surprised.

Gu Qingyue looked at her, a slight smile playing on her lips: "I'll audition too."

"An audition?" Jiang Xueru was even more surprised. "You're auditioning for Song Yun too?"

Someone nearby couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Gu Qingyue smiled too, her eyes curving into a gentle arc: "When I test the process."

—Song Yun's husband in the script, the deeply affectionate and forbearing man.

Jiang Xueru's eyes widened: "But Cheng Shi's scenes..."

“I know,” Gu Qingyue said softly, “but I want to try.”

...

Because that's your Song Yun.

He didn't say it aloud, but Jiang Xueru seemed to understand.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes and nodded.

At that moment, the audition room door opened, and a staff member poked their head out: "Next, Ms. Jiang Xueru, please get ready."

Jiang Xueru took a deep breath, stood up, and Gu Qingyue beside her nodded, his eyes saying, "You can do it."

As Qiuqiu watched her mother walk into the audition room, and then looked at Gu Qingyue standing by the window in the corridor, she suddenly felt that the sunshine today was really nice.