Chapter 490 Spare Ribs

Nan Zhiyi smiled and waved her hand: "Honghong, the most precious thing between good friends is being able to play happily together, share interesting things, and care for each other. Gifts are the thought that counts, and a little surprise now and then is great, but they shouldn't become a burden, much less a standard for measuring friendship. Your aunt and Gu Zhao are already very happy that you've come to our house to play, so let's not be so particular about these things, okay?"

Shen Hong nodded as if she understood, "Okay, Auntie, I understand."

She glanced at Gu Zhao beside her again.

Gu Zhao was focused on a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs when he noticed her gaze. He used serving chopsticks to pick up a larger piece of ribs, covered in sauce, and put it into the dark red bowl. "Eat up, this is delicious. Aunt Zhang makes the best."

Shen Hong smiled even more sweetly: "Yes, thank you, Gu Zhao."

Nan Zhiyi was watching her son and Shen Hong's interaction, somewhat lost in thought. Suddenly, a piece of pork rib appeared in her own bowl.

Turning her head, she saw Gu Zhao put down her chopsticks: "Mom, you eat too."

Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "Thank you, son." She picked up the piece of pork rib, and it tasted especially sweet.

After the meal, Gu Zhao stood up and began to clear the dishes from the table.

Shen Hong, sitting a little lost, looked around and saw Nan Zhiyi get up to help. So Shen Hong followed Gu Zhao's example, picked up her soup bowl and another empty plate, and followed him, walking slowly towards the kitchen.

Nan Zhiyi gently stopped her, "Honghong, put it down quickly, you don't need to clean it up. You're a little guest, just sit and play." There's no reason to make a child who's a guest do chores.

Gu Zhao turned around and said to Shen Hong, "Honghong, I can do it myself, it will be done soon."

Shen Hong shook her head. "I...I'll just bring it over. It's fine." She insisted on putting the dishes by the kitchen sink and didn't leave. She stood by the kitchen door frame, watching Gu Zhao turn on the tap and start washing the dishes carefully.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door outside the courtyard.

Nan Zhiyi went over to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a woman in her forties, Aunt Sun, the maid of Shen Hong's family. Nan Zhiyi had seen her before when she picked up Gu Zhao from kindergarten.

"Mrs. Gu, I'm sorry to bother you." Aunt Sun said politely, "I've come to pick up Honghong from school. I'm so sorry that the child has troubled you."

Nan Zhiyi: "Honghong is very well-behaved and gets along well with Gu Zhao. She's not a troublesome person at all." She stepped aside and said, "Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Aunt Sun didn't go inside, but just looked around.

Shen Hong and Gu Zhao, who were standing at the kitchen door, had already heard the commotion. Shen Hong, wrapped in her coat, ran to Aunt Sun and asked anxiously, "Aunt Sun, you're here! Have my dad...mom come back?"

Aunt Sun bent down and helped Chen Hong fasten her buttons, saying something in a very low voice.

Nan Zhiyi didn't hear the specifics clearly, but she saw Shen Hong's bright eyes dim instantly, her lips purse slightly, and her eyes quickly filled with tears.

Aunt Sun looked troubled, but she comforted her in a low voice and straightened her clothes.

Shen Hong sniffed, turned around, forced a smile at Nan Zhiyi and Gu Zhao, whose hands were still covered in detergent foam, and waved her little hand: "Auntie, Gu Zhao, thank you for dinner, I'll come again next time!"

Nan Zhiyi said softly, "Okay, welcome to come again next time. Be careful on your way."

Gu Zhao waved his foam-covered hand and said, "Goodbye, Honghong!"

Aunt Sun thanked her politely again, and led Shen Hong, who kept turning back to look at her, slowly into the night.

Nan Zhiyi walked over and closed the door.

Gu Zhao silently walked back to the kitchen, turned on the tap, and continued rinsing the dishes. Nan Zhiyi followed her in, picked up a dry cloth, and prepared to wipe them.

"Mom will help you," she said, picking up a washed plate.

"No need, Mom, I can do it myself." Gu Zhao shook his head, his movements continuing, the water flowing over the foam on his hands.

Without waiting for her mother to ask, Gu Zhao explained directly: "When it got dark, Honghong's aunt came to pick her up from school. Her parents had an engagement that evening and couldn't come back. Honghong was very sad when she found out... and didn't want to be home alone. So I invited her to our house for dinner."

Nan Zhiyi paused in wiping the dishes. "It's okay, son. You can invite your friends over anytime you want. Mom is happy that you care about your friends."

Gu Zhao hummed in agreement and focused on washing the dishes.

Nan Zhiyi also became a little curious, "You really like little Honghong?"

Gu Zhao was a little puzzled as to why her mother would ask such a question: "Yes, I like her. Honghong is very generous and listens to me very well."

He answered frankly, "I also like Hu Zi, Jun Jun, Xiao Bin... and many other kids."

She said "Oh," her eyes crinkling with a smile, "That's good. Play with your friends more; having fun is the most important thing." She didn't continue the discussion with her son, after all, he was still too young and only needed to enjoy a carefree childhood.

"Okay!"

Gu Zhao answered crisply and handed her the last washed bowl. The mother and son worked together and quickly tidied up the kitchen.

It was late at night when Gu Xiao returned home.

Nan Zhiyi was rushing to finish her manuscript when she heard the sound of a jeep outside the courtyard. She quickly slipped on her soft-soled slippers and went downstairs.

I watched him take off his coat in the entryway.

"Gu Xiao, you're back!"

She took a few steps closer, about to throw herself into his arms.

Gu Xiao was already used to it, and even looked forward to her undisguised intimacy. He stretched out his arm, caught her steadily, and lifted her up.

"I feel a little cold," he whispered, but he couldn't bear to put her down.

Nan Zhiyi snuggled closer, pressing her cheek against his collar and rubbing against him.

"It's not cold."

Gu Xiao looked down at her in the dim light of the stairwell. "My Mrs. Gu, you seem unusually enthusiastic tonight."

"Yes, I miss you so much." Nan Zhiyi made no attempt to hide it, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

"I'm not eating. There's a work meal tonight, so I'll eat late." Gu Xiao shook his head and asked her again, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Are you rushing to finish your manuscript again?"

"Hmm, I can't sleep, so I'll just write a few lines."

Nan Zhiyi gazed at him; his brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked weary.

She struggled to get out of his arms: "You're so tired, I..."

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Xiao tightened his grip on her arm, preventing her from getting down. "Your weight won't tire you out."

"Don't move."

He carried her up the stairs.

Nan Zhiyi obediently nestled on his shoulder, recalling what had happened that evening. She first recounted everything in detail, then felt a little annoyed: "...Now that I think about it, did I ask too many complicated questions?"

Gu Xiao didn't stop walking, his voice steady as it came from his chest: "He's still young, and his thoughts are straightforward. He probably didn't even take it to heart and forgot about it as soon as he turned around. Right now, he probably only remembers that the ribs were delicious and that his friends were happy to come over. Don't overthink it."

His comforting words were always direct and effective, instantly dispelling her unnecessary worries.

Nan Zhiyi felt a sense of relief, but then another feeling arose: "...But I just feel that in the blink of an eye, he will be inviting young girls home for dinner, and in the next blink of an eye, they may be dating, getting married, and having children...Time flies so fast."

Gu Xiao had already carried her to the bedroom door. Hearing this, he turned his head and touched her forehead with his chin: "Alright, Mrs. Gu. Our son is still a long way from getting married. It's too early for you to start sighing like this."

He kicked open the half-closed door, carried her into the bedroom, and said, "Besides, I'm here with you, always with you."

"Mmm." She took a deep breath in the crook of his neck, tightening her arms around him.

A few steps later, I was back at the bedside.

Gu Xiao placed her on the carpet, his arm still around her. Only after confirming that she was steady did he step back slightly and look down at her face, which looked exceptionally soft under the light.

Nan Zhiyi was captivated by his gaze, and she stood on tiptoe to bite his lip. "What are you looking at?!"

Gu Xiao raised an eyebrow and gently stroked her lower lip with the slightly calloused pad of his thumb. His eyes appeared particularly deep under the warm yellow light. "I'm going to wash up. Wait for me a moment. Okay?"

Nan Zhiyi's face flushed slightly, and she said softly, "I've put away the change of clothes and towels."