However, he wasn't one to give up easily. "Eat!"

“Okay! You said it!” Su Nianxue immediately took the jar from his hand.

Then she scooped out a small bowl of something and handed it to him, saying, "Here, have a taste! See how it tastes?"

Gu Yanbai didn't really want to eat it just by looking at it. It was so bland and watery, with not a trace of oil in it. It was just too bland!

Moreover, the bowl emitted a faint medicinal aroma.

"Honey, let's save this for Xiaxia! How can I, as her father, take food from my daughter?"

As he spoke, he poured the food from the bowl into the jar.

"Don't be like that! You've been working hard lately, this soup is nourishing, you should drink some too."

"If... you think it tastes alright, I'll stew it for you every day from now on, so you won't say I'm not putting in the effort for you." Su Nianxue took out a spoon, scooped up a big spoonful, and put it to his lips.

Gu Yanbai: "Wife, can I... not drink it?"

"No!" Su Nianxue interrupted him decisively.

Her eyes held a hint of hostility; she thought, "Try not to drink it!"

Gu Yanbai had no choice but to reluctantly open his mouth and accept the feeding from his wife.

Hmm, the taste is really hard to describe.

It was not only bland, but also had almost no salt, which didn't suit his taste at all.

"How does it taste? How about I stew another pot for you tonight?"

"No need, give it to Xiaxia! I'm a grown man, why would I need to drink something nourishing?"

If word got out, people would think I'm crazy, and I'd be laughed at to death! He smacked his lips twice, looking resistant.

Su Nianxue rolled her eyes. "It's just making some soup, what's the big deal?"

As long as I don't tell anyone, who will know about our family's affairs?

So, you mean you like to drink it.

"That makes things easier. I'll just stew more every day from now on. It's no big deal."

"No, honey, it's too much trouble to make soup every day. You don't need to go through all that trouble." He tried to brush it off.

"It's no trouble at all. You're the pillar of our family."

"How can I feel at ease if I don't take good care of you?" Su Nianxue said with a half-smile.

Little brat, still trying to make excuses? Don't you know who she is, that she let him escape so quickly?

"I'm still your pillar of support, aren't I?" His smile was as bright as ever.

“It has always been that way, and I have never denied it.” Su Nianxue raised her head, her starry eyes smiling brightly.

"Alright, the pillar of the family will go deliver the soup to you now." He walked away with cheerful steps.

Watching his retreating figure, Su Nianxue smiled.

This person is still as easy to coax as ever.

...

It's graduation season again, and Gu Yuchu has graduated as well.

Gu Yanbai looked at his son, who was strong and tall with a handsome and refined appearance, and for a moment he could hardly recognize him.

There's no other reason than that Gu Yusu always says he's busy and doesn't come home often, and the couple hasn't seen him for quite some time.

"Wow, you actually know how to come home, huh? I thought you'd forgotten about your parents!" Gu Yanbai teased.

"Dad, how could I? No matter when or where I go, I will never forget you!" Gu Yusu pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her face showing a refined and modest demeanor.

Gu Yanbai patted him on the shoulder, "You rascal, you're quite sturdy."

You don't even come back to visit often. Did your father not give you any money? Why should I ask you to save on those two yuan for transportation?

Let me tell you, your mom misses you terribly every day. The other day, she kept nagging me about you.

Now that you're back, I can finally have some peace and quiet.

Su Nianxue...

She clearly missed her son, but she brought up her name instead.

"When did I start nagging you every day?"

All I did was say a few more words while you were talking, how did that make me nagging?

"Fine, since you don't like listening to me talk, I won't talk at all from now on, so you can have some peace and quiet."

Gu Yanbai: "Well... there's no need! You should talk more, otherwise it'll be rather lonely with just the two of us at home."

If you keep saying it every day, over and over again, just like before, I'll listen attentively.

After all, your voice is so beautiful, and I'm getting old now; who knows, my hearing might not be so good one day.

"If I go deaf, how will I hear you speak?"

Su Nianxue's face flushed. "What are you saying? Grandpa is still in good health. With him keeping things in order, how can you call yourself old?"

"That's true. As long as he's doing well, even if I'm eighty, I'll still only be considered a junior. Hahaha."

Gu Yuchu ate her food while watching her parents bicker with a smile.

The house hasn't changed much; it's pretty much the same as it was before he left.

The only change is that Dad has more gray hair.

Seeing that the two had finished chatting, Gu Yuchu said, "Mom and Dad, you're not old, you're still young."

The world has changed a lot; you should go out and see it for yourselves.

Gu Yanbai: "You make it sound so easy. Do you think we don't want to? But wouldn't we be unable to get away?"

"Or, you could come back and take over our work, and I'll take your mother around to see the world."

Su Nianxue's mind stirred slightly, and the light in her eyes brightened a bit. "Yu Chu, you're not leaving this time you're back, are you?"

Gu Yuchu pursed her lips, a hint of guilt in her eyes, "Mom and Dad, I mainly came back this time to spend with you. And then..."

Gu Yanbai pursed his lips slightly, the smile on his face fading a little. "You mean, you just came back to see us, and then you're leaving again?"

"Yes, I'm about to leave for the US to study."

“Studying in the US? That’s so far away! Son, can’t you not go?” Su Nianxue looked at him, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

This child is different from Xiaxia. He has been sensible since he was a child, and he has never caused them any worry, whether in his studies or in his life.

Now that graduation is almost here, and I've finally been looking forward to his return, I can't believe he's leaving again before I've even had a chance to settle in.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I...I have to go!" Gu Yuchu's tone was unusually firm.

"Have you thought it all through?" Gu Yanbai asked.

He looked at his son, his heart filled with complex emotions; he could now particularly empathize with the old man's feelings.

Children are like fledgling eagles; once they grow up and their wings are strong enough, it's time for them to fly away!

Gu Yuchu nodded, then said seriously, "Yes, everything is ready. Mom and Dad, I hope you can support me."

“Yu Chu…” Su Nianxue’s throat tightened slightly.

Gu Yanbai sighed slightly. It's not good if the child is too capable; it makes him, as the father, feel like he has no presence at all.

They got everything done quietly and without making a sound, without giving them a single worry.

"Okay, if the child has a dream, we parents should support him."

He patted her hand reassuringly, even though he himself was also very reluctant to let her go.

Su Nianxue swallowed the bitterness in her heart; this child was a woman of her own mind.

She couldn't stop her, and she couldn't stop her anyway.