Chapter 381 Urging Marriage

Upon entering the living room, I indeed saw my father sitting on the sofa chatting with a couple in their fifties.

Gu Yan vaguely remembered these two men; they were his father's former subordinates, Uncle Xu and Aunt Chen.

"Uncle Xu, Aunt Chen, Happy New Year! I was looking for something upstairs and came down late. Please forgive me."

Uncle Xu put down his teacup and looked him over with a smile. "Gu Yan, you've grown into a handsome young man! I heard from your father that you're no longer in the system and are making your own way in the south? You're doing quite well? Young man, you have ideas and drive, that's great!"

Gu Yan smiled and said politely, "Uncle Xu, you flatter me. I'm just doing small things to make a living. I can't compare to the contributions that you uncles and elders have made to the country."

Aunt Chen, who was standing next to him, chimed in with a smile, "Commander, your son is truly a handsome young man!"

She abruptly changed the subject, tackling a classic topic, "Gu Yan, are you married? Do you have a girlfriend?"

Commander Gu, holding his teacup, said with exasperation, "I'm also worried about this! This kid is almost thirty and still a bachelor! He's always running around like this, never settling down!"

Gu Yan felt a little embarrassed and protested in a low voice, "Dad!" Why say this in front of the guests during the New Year?

As for... his relationship with Ruan Wenjing, only his brother and sister-in-law knew about it. They had originally planned to tell their father after things were settled, but unexpectedly...

Commander Gu glanced at him sideways.

"What? Did I say something wrong? Or did you secretly find one and keep it from your old man?"

Gu Yan was speechless at his father's words. Not wanting to lash out in front of the guests, he could only vaguely explain, "Right now...right now I don't have a girlfriend...but I really feel I'm still young, and my career is just starting out. I don't want to be in a relationship so soon..."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Chen's enthusiasm soared, and she quickly said, "Oh dear, what's with the 'young' part? A man should settle down and start a career first! It just so happens that I have a niece who is beautiful and has a steady personality. She's also coming back to Jian'an for the New Year this year! How about... I introduce you to her? Just consider it making friends. It's never a bad thing for young people to get to know each other!"

She seemed eager to arrange a meeting immediately.

Gu Yan inwardly groaned, then quickly waved his hand, "No, no, Aunt Chen, you're really troubling me! My mind is all on work right now, I really haven't thought about this, and besides, I'm often away from home, it would be a burden on you..."

Commander Gu, who hadn't made any strong statements until now, perhaps feeling a greater sense of urgency about his youngest son's marriage after his serious illness, noticed Gu Yan's continued hesitation...

"Xiao Liu, your Aunt Chen means well. There's no harm in meeting her, is there? Just consider it making a new friend. Anyway, you've been idle at home these past few days. Or... are you not even going to give face to your father, Uncle Xu, and Aunt Chen?"

That's a rather strong statement.

Gu Yan felt a chill run down his spine; his father was determined to get involved in his affairs.

If he refuses again, he'll probably have a hard time for the next few days and will be nagged about it repeatedly.

His mind raced, and he said sincerely, "Dad, Aunt Chen, it's just... it's the New Year, and young women are busy with family reunions. It would be too abrupt for me to suddenly visit or arrange a meeting. How about this, after the New Year, when I've finished dealing with things at my company, if there's still a chance, I'll ask Aunt Chen to act as matchmaker. What do you think?"

He was only half telling the truth; he just wanted to get through the immediate crisis first.

Commander Gu stared at him for a few seconds, snorted, and didn't press him any further.

Uncle Xu smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Commander, let the children figure things out for themselves. Gu Yan is so capable, why would he have trouble finding a good girl? Let's not worry about it."

Aunt Chen was a little disappointed, but she could only go along with it, saying, "Yes, yes, work is important. Well... then next time, next time for sure, Gu Yan!"

Gu Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, put on a smile, and replied with a few more perfunctory words.

"Uncle Xu, Aunt Chen, please sit down. I... I'll go check the kitchen..."

Gu Yan fled in panic, thinking that he had to sneak back to the south before his father launched an even more intense campaign to urge him to get married.

Behind them, they could still hear Aunt Chen's chuckled voice: "This child is quite shy..."

He froze, then hurriedly scurried into the kitchen.

Aunt Wu was tending the stove.

Seeing him come in, she took a plate of warm dumplings from the steamer and placed it by the stove, then quickly prepared the dipping sauce. "Gu Yan, just eat a few bites here to tide you over. Minister Gu and the others have gone out to pay New Year's visits. Before they left, they specifically told you to go to the Zhou family to pay your respects after you wake up, sit for a while, and come back before noon."

"I've prepared everything for you; it's on the cabinet in the entryway."

Gu Yan knew that the task his brother had assigned him was also an excuse for him to get some fresh air and avoid dealing with too many people coming to pay New Year's visits.

He picked up a few dumplings, dipped them in the sauce, and stuffed them into his mouth in a few bites. "Okay, I got it."

Aunt Wu straightened Gu Yan's collar and said softly, "Little Yan, you're so grown up now, it's time to find someone... I..."

“Aunt Wu…” Gu Yan pleaded, “You make it sound like I’m unwanted.”

Aunt Wu: .....

Of course no one wants him! All the girls in the compound who are the same age as Gu Yan are married, and he's busy with work in another city. If he keeps delaying like this, he'll be forty by then!

"Alright, alright, Xiao Yan, if you meet a girl you like, you'd better put in some effort, don't..."

"Okay, I've got it..."

Gu Yan took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and strode to the entrance. A gift box tied with a red ribbon was placed on the cabinet, probably containing some pastries, tea and other New Year's gifts.

He picked up the box and waved it towards the living room. "Dad, Uncle Xu, Aunt Chen, you all chat first. I'm going to visit Uncle Zhou across the street to wish him a Happy New Year."

Commander Gu responded, "Okay, go ahead, give my regards."

Having received permission, Gu Yan felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He grabbed the gift box and dashed out the door with lightning speed.

Before lunchtime, the people who had gone out to pay New Year's visits gradually returned.

The children gathered on the sofa to watch TV.

Without saying a word, the women tacitly went into the kitchen to start preparing lunch.

Gu Xiao wanted to pull Nan Zhiyi back to her room for a private chat, but Nan Zhiyi secretly pinched the back of his hand and gestured to him not to slack off while everyone was busy.

Gu Xiao had no choice but to give up and watch her go into the kitchen.

He turned and went upstairs, intending to see if Gu Yan had returned.

Pushing open the door to Gu Yan's bedroom, he immediately saw his tall and long-legged younger brother, who was lying listlessly on the bed, barely reacting when he came in.

"What's wrong?" Gu Xiao walked to the bedside and looked down at him. "You came back like this after going out for a while? Did the Zhou family give you a hard time?"

He subconsciously assumed that Zhou Zhengping or Zhou's parents had said something.

Gu Yan glanced at his brother listlessly, too embarrassed to admit that he was upset because of the pressure to get married. He turned over and buried his face in the pillow. "No... I'm just annoyed."

Gu Xiao sat down beside his bed and patted the back of his head without any politeness: "Speak like a human being. What exactly happened?"

Gu Yan looked up after being slapped, and after a long pause, he finally managed to say, "I broke up with Ruan Wenjing."

Gu Xiao frowned even more: "They broke up? She initiated it?"

In his eyes, his younger brother was a bit of a slacker, but his character, ability, appearance, and family background were all outstanding. He was the one who had to choose others, so how could any girl have dumped him?

Why...why would she dump you?

Hearing his brother's unreasonable favoritism, Gu Yan felt a little less annoyed and even wanted to laugh.

"Brother... don't ask anymore. They have their own difficulties. If it's not suitable, it's not suitable. You can't force it."