Chapter 97
◎ The rotation of the earth will not stop because of human will. The days are getting longer and longer. The riverside...◎
The rotation of the earth will not stop because of human will. The days are getting longer and longer. The green grass by the river is beginning to sprout. The temperature is slowly rising. The atmosphere of the Spring Festival is gone. The city has resumed its usual high-speed operation. The rumbling sound of infrastructure comes from all directions. The whole city seems to be reviving.
That evening, Gu Wangxi received a family assignment to pick up his nephew from kindergarten.
His sister and brother-in-law were going to celebrate their wedding anniversary and wanted to spend some time alone together, but they were worried about the nanny coming to pick up the child alone, so they asked their brother to do it.
The villa complex with red walls and gray tiles is surrounded by neatly arranged big trees. In front of the grand gate, there is a constant stream of cars coming to pick up their children, and traffic police are directing traffic.
It wasn't the first time that Gu Wangxi came to pick up his nephew, but it had indeed been a long time since he last came. He drove around several times before finding an open space to park.
After getting off the bus, I walked to the kindergarten gate and waited for my nephew to finish school.
Gu Wangxi looked at the iron fence in front of him, feeling a little emotional and disappointed, thinking that his sister was unreliable, and the reliable brother-in-law always listened to his wife. Fortunately, they both cared about their child's education and chose such a kindergarten.
Those who can afford it will use their connections to find ways to get their children into this kindergarten.
If my sister and brother-in-law had not chosen this school for their son, he would have intervened. Not only that, he would have been involved in his nephew's education in the future.
The school bell rang, and then a piano piece of music was transmitted from the campus to the street.
Gu Wangxi raised his head slightly and looked inside. After a while, the fence opened and everyone else gathered around.
Two teachers, one at the head and one at the tail, led the children in British school uniforms and lined up in their classes to the door.
Li Shanfu spotted the tall, elegant Gu Wangxi at a glance. He stood on tiptoe, waved vigorously at Gu Wangxi, and shouted excitedly, "Uncle!"
Gu Wangxi smiled at him.
Picking up his nephew's schoolbag and hugging him, Gu Wangxi walked towards the parking space.
"uncle……"
Li Shanfu hugged Gu Wangxi's neck, chattering non-stop and gesticulating.
Gu Wangxi finally found a chance and asked with a smile, "Where do you want to eat?"
Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Gu Xiangnan were on a date, and Ms. Gu Qinghua also had a dinner date, leaving the uncle and nephew with no dinner.
Li Shanfu's eyes rolled around, and he said coquettishly, "Uncle, I want to eat curry fish balls."
The curry fish balls that Li Shanfu wants to eat are nearby. They are authentic and the hygiene environment is also good.
Gu Wangxi nodded, pushed him up, and said cheerfully, "Okay, uncle will buy you some curry fish balls!"
The two walked to the snack shop, bought a bowl of steaming hot curry fish balls, and then walked towards the car.
At this time, most of the people who had left school had already dispersed, and this small garden-like place suddenly became much quieter, with the grass and trees silently sprouting green buds.
A black Audi stopped on the side of the street, the door opened, and a tall and slender woman walked out. She was wearing a suit-style waistcoat and a pair of bright blue eye-catching high heels.
She looked anxious and even took her large Kelly bag out of the car. The black bag was stuffed with a large stack of documents that almost popped out.
She turned her head to look at the roads on both sides, then trotted across the road, her long hair flying in the air, bringing with it a hint of the early spring warmth and chill.
Bei Bitang hurried to the kindergarten gate, ran straight to her daughter, bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
Then I greeted my daughter's two teachers, took my daughter's hand from the teacher, and waved goodbye to the teachers with my daughter.
Anna raised her fair and tender little face and asked curiously, "Mom, why did you come to pick me up today? Aren't Grandma and Grandma Hu here?"
The kindergarten ends at 4:30, which conflicts with Bei Bitang's working hours. Anna is very much favored by Miao Xiuxiu, who comes to pick Anna up from school from time to time.
On weekdays, unless there are unexpected circumstances, Hu Fener takes a taxi to pick up Anna from school.
Bei Bitang shook her daughter's hand slightly and said with a gentle smile, "Mom is in a meeting outside and can leave work early, so I told Grandma Hu that Mom will come to pick you up from school by herself, and then we'll go to the revolving restaurant for dinner."
Anna immediately jumped for joy and said excitedly, "I also want glow sticks and balloons to be tied to my seat."
Bei Bitang said without hesitation: "Mom will buy it for you later and ask the restaurant staff to put it on your seat."
Anna stopped, blushed, and whispered, "Mom, I want to kiss you."
The smile in Bei Bitang's eyes was about to overflow. She said with a smile: "Mommy will hold you, so you can kiss mommy whenever you want."
Anna pointed at the bag in Bei Bitang's other hand and pouted, "But mom, you're still carrying the bag."
Bei Bitang tilted her head and burst out laughing. Only then did she realize that she was in such a hurry to pick up her daughter from school that she even held her daughter's bag in her hand.
She shook her head, released her daughter's hand, then squatted down, opened her arms to her daughter, and said confidently and calmly: "It's okay, Anna, Mom is very strong."
Anna cheered and ran into Bei Bitang's arms.
"Uncle, why don't you leave?" Li Shanfu saw his uncle standing still and quickly grabbed his collar and asked.
Gu Wangxi could not hear anything. Even Bei Bitang could not attract his attention at this moment.
The little girl in Bei Bitang's arms was like a whirlpool, attracting his attention.
She was wearing an indigo coat, black and red stockings, a skirt, black leather shoes with buckles, and a lavender bow on her head. Her round little head swayed from side to side, and she was indescribably cute.
She looked 80% similar to Bei Bitang, and they were obviously related by blood, but Gu Wangxi saw his own shadow in the slight traces on that little face.
This child was obviously raised very well by Bei Bitang. Gu Wangxi quickly estimated his age in his mind, four years old, and the time was right.
Bei Bitang felt that someone was looking at them, and she couldn't help but look around. When she looked, she met Gu Wangxi's dark eyes.
Bei Bitang hurriedly turned her head away and tightened her arms around her daughter.
Anna felt her mother's breathing was a little unstable. She rubbed Bei Bitang's chin and asked, "Mom, what's wrong with you?"
Bei Bitang forced a smile and said, "It's nothing. Mom just remembered some troubles at work. Honey, Mom is hungry. Let's go eat quickly."
After saying that, Bei Bitang hugged her daughter tightly, not letting Gu Wangxi see anything, put her daughter in the child seat in the back, walked quickly to the driver's seat, and drove away.
Although he had no intention of catching up, Gu Wangxi still gritted his teeth and thought, Miss Bei, you are really great!
Gu Wangxi patted his nephew on the back and coaxed him, "Be good, I'll take you home and order you some food, okay?"
Li Shanfu ate the fragrant curry fish balls and said, "Okay, but uncle, I still want to have an ice cream."
Gu Wangxi glanced at him and said calmly, "Li Shanfu, don't push your luck."
Li Shanfu didn't know the four words "get an inch and push a foot", but he knew his uncle often said these four words to his mother, so he became as cowardly as his mother and shook his head and said, "Uncle, I don't want to eat ice cream."
I sent my nephew home and watched him finish his dinner and do his homework. During this time, the pager in his pocket kept sending him messages.
Only after Gu Xiangnan and his wife returned home did the diligent and responsible Gu Wangxi leave his sister's house.
Gu Wangxi's heart seemed to be burning with fire. He drove around the Bund several times with the windows wide open. The car was not tired, but he was.
After stopping the car, he looked at the dark night outside the window, took out a cigarette, and then crushed it with a frown.
The wind from the river blew on his face, causing pain, but it was not even one percent of the pain in his heart.
He actually had a daughter, and Bei Bitang actually gave birth to a daughter with him. She was four years old and went to the same kindergarten as her nephew, but one was in the senior class and the other was in the junior class.
At night, Gu Wangxi stayed by the Huangpu River all night, and Bei Bitang, who slept with her daughter, also stayed awake all night.
The next morning, Bei Bitang put some powder under her eyes to cover her dark circles before going out to work.
As expected, at the end of the working day, Bei Bitang walked out of the company gate and saw Gu Wangxi.
Bei Bitang couldn't pretend that she didn't see this person.
Gu Wangxi was too ostentatious. He bent his right foot slightly, turned it to the side, stood on tiptoe, and supported the front of the big red Ferrari sports car with his hands behind him.
If he drove a car of another brand to a car company, people who didn't know him would think he was there to demonstrate.
On this bright spring afternoon, the setting sun was so bright that it hurt Bei Bitang's eyes.
Bei Bitang looked around and walked towards Gu Wangxi with a serious face. Without saying a word or even looking at Gu Wangxi, she directly opened the passenger door and sat in.
I fastened my seat belt in silence, and the sports car erupted forward like a red flame, with the top-of-the-line engine emitting a crisp roar.
Gu Wangxi stared straight at the road and said in a hoarse voice, "Boss Bei, do you have anything to say to me?"
Bei Bitang sensed the extremely suppressed emotions emanating from Gu Wangxi. She remained calm and said, "That's my sister's child."
Gu Wangxi snorted coldly, and he wanted to say sarcastically, "In order to deceive me, Miss Bei even doesn't recognize her own child?"
But he was also raised by his mother alone, and he knew how hurtful such words could be to a single mother.
Gu Wangxi turned slightly and said with a half-smile, "Oh, what a coincidence! That child looks a bit like me. So, you sisters both like men with the same appearance. So, I'm destined to become part of your family."
By the end, Gu Wangxi's tone was clearly teasing.
But Bei Bitang didn't buy it. Her face didn't turn red, but turned colder. She looked at Gu Wangxi coldly and said impatiently, "What do you want?"
Gu Wangxi sneered, raised his eyebrows, and said firmly: "How is it? Of course it's a father-daughter reunion."
Bei Bitang crossed her arms in a gesture of resistance. She whispered, "Mr. Gu, is it necessary? Just pretend you haven't seen Anna, just like before."
Gu Wangxi deliberately changed the focus and said, "Anna? What a nice name."
Bei Bitang sighed slightly and said, "Not changing the status quo is good for you, Anna, and me."
What's good about that?! His wife and daughter are already calling another man "husband" and "dad." He was just being stubborn before. If he keeps hesitating, what will become of a happy family of three?
Gu Wangxi complained bitterly in his heart.
Observing Gu Wangxi's expression, Bei Bitang knew that he would definitely not give up.
She turned her head to the window and refused to communicate with Gu Wangxi.
Gu Wangxi had no choice but to break the silence and said, "Didn't you break up with that guy? Anna and I recognize each other, and it won't affect you."
Bei Bitang still maintained this posture. She was not surprised at all when she heard Gu Wangxi's words. She said softly, "I'm talking about you."
Gu Wangxi frowned and asked doubtfully, "Me?"
In a flash, he suddenly understood something and chuckled softly. Then, with a mixture of laughter and tears, he said, "Bitang, have you misunderstood something? Although many people say that my sister's son looks more like his uncle than his father, the little boy I held that day was indeed my nephew."
After listening to Gu Wangxi's explanation, Bei Bitang blushed and subconsciously bit her lip.
Gu Wangxi jokingly said, "Do you want me to call my sister and let her tell you?"
Bei Bitang quickly turned around and said hastily, "Don't!"
That's really a joke.
Facing Gu Wangxi's teasing expression, Bei Bitang's shoulders relaxed, she leaned back, and complained softly, "Gu Wangxi, is this fun for you?"
Gu Wangxi answered nonchalantly, "Yes, it's very interesting."
Bei Bitang's expression turned cold. Gu Wangxi cleared his throat and said, "There's a Cantonese restaurant nearby. Let's go in and eat while we talk."
Bei Bitang said, "You can talk, but you can eat by yourself."
Gu Wangxi said: "Then I won't eat it either."
Bei Bitang felt depressed because of Gu Wangxi and didn't want to talk to him.
After that, no matter how Gu Wangxi tried to find topics to talk about, Bei Bitang really stopped talking.
Fortunately, the Cantonese teahouse was not far away, only about ten minutes' drive away.
The two men walked in one after the other. It was obvious that Gu Wangxi had been here many times. As soon as he appeared in the lobby, the lobby manager came over, greeted him warmly, and led the two to a private seat.
It was dinner time and there were many people in the restaurant, but the dining atmosphere was still quiet.
Although he said he didn't want to eat, Gu Wangxi still ordered a bunch of food because he felt embarrassed to sit there for nothing.
Roast goose, squab, fried dace with fermented black beans and lettuce, half a Qingyuan chicken, steamed water fish in lotus leaves, boiled ginger and chives, steamed spare ribs, and snow pear and pig lung soup.
Bei Bitang pretended not to hear and just let him order without stopping him.
The dishes were served one after another, steam rising from the pot. Neither of them moved their chopsticks, sitting face to face. Gu Wangxi had a smile on his face, while Bei Bitang had a cold expression and was very alert in her heart.
At this moment, in her heart, Gu Wangxi was the enemy who was trying to steal her daughter.
Gu Wangxi leaned forward slightly, approached Bei Bitang, stopped smiling, and said softly, "You must have had a hard time these years, right?"
Bei Bitang shook her head, unmoved, and said, "It's not hard."
Gu Wangxi smiled and said, "Anna looks very well behaved, but what child doesn't make noise?"
Bei Bitang said nothing, and her expression didn't show any emotion at all.
Gu Wangxi sighed, then said, "Since you're single now, it's okay for me to get involved in your relationship with Anna, right? Once you find a new lover, I'll leave your world without a second thought."
Bei Bitang said with an unpredictable expression: "Are you afraid that Anna will be sad?"
Gu Wangxi shrugged his shoulders and said with a hurt look on his face, "What can I do? It's her mother who didn't accept me. I don't want to make her sad, nor do I want to embarrass you."
Bei Bitang smiled, raised her eyebrows and said confidently: "Anna is sad, but she will definitely choose me."
Gu Wangxi laughed and found it amusing. He and Bei Bitang acted like they were competing for the child's favor and asking the child who he liked more, mom or dad?
Bei Bitang said angrily, "Why, you don't believe it?"
Gu Wangxi suppressed the smile on his face, nodded repeatedly and said, "I believe it."
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment. A passionate young couple was sitting next to each other, eating side by side, and both of them hugged each other.
The two of them whispered intimate words to each other in low voices, but the words still trickled into Bei Bitang and Gu Wangxi's ears.
The man said, "Baby, when we get married, let's have a baby right away."
The woman said, "Oh, you are so annoying. Why are you talking about this so nicely? I don't want to give birth. I'm afraid of the pain."
The man said, "Okay then, baby, if you're afraid of pain, then we won't give birth. We'll live our whole lives as just two people."
The woman smiled foolishly, then said angrily, "When did I say I didn't want to have a child?! Give birth to a child of us, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"
The man replied, "A girl, a sweet and sweet girl, she is my treasure just like her mother."
The woman said shyly, "Then I hope her eyes are like mine, her nose is like yours, her face shape is like mine, and her forehead is like yours."
The man also said excitedly: "Let me think of a name, let's call it..."
Bei Bitang listened, exchanged glances with Gu Wangxi, and then looked away.
The two of them didn't speak. After the man and woman talked about their daughter's nickname and her future university across the street when she grew up, Bei Bitang looked down at her watch and said calmly, "It's getting late. I should go home."
Gu Wangxi asked knowingly, "Are you going back to accompany Anna?"
Bei Bitang glared at him. What else?
Gu Wangxi smiled, called the waiter, and packed up the food on the table. The two walked out of the restaurant, and Gu Wangxi sent Bei Bitang home.
The sports car started and spun into the city lights. Passersby pointed and exclaimed.
The export apartment arrived soon. Bei Bitang lowered her head to unbuckle her seat belt and said lightly, "Thank you for taking me back. Goodbye."
Gu Wangxi asked: "Will you allow me to get close to Anna?"
Bei Bitang asked back, "If I say no, will you give up?"
That would definitely not be acceptable.
Bei Bitang turned around and tried to push open the car door, but her arm was grabbed by a warm hand. Before she could look up, she heard Gu Wangxi's deep voice confess, "Bei Bitang, I like you."
Bei Bitang was stunned, her face blank.
Taking this opportunity, Gu Wangxi smiled secretly and bent down to kiss the corner of Bei Bitang's mouth.
Feeling warmth between her lips, Bei Bitang quickly came to her senses and pushed Gu Wangxi away.
Gu Wangxi retreated to a safe distance and said with a smile, "Bitang should know what I'm thinking right now, right?"
Bei Bitang's ears turned red with embarrassment. She pushed open the car door and got out. As she turned around to close the door, Gu Wangxi handed her a box with a gentle smile and said, "This is a gift from me to Anna."
Bei Bitang hesitated for a moment, but still reached out to take it without saying thank you.
A palm-sized sandalwood carved box, when opened, was found to be padded with a blue cloth, on which were placed two strings of white magnolia flowers, one large and one small, coiled like necklaces. The elegant fragrance lingered at Bei Bitang's nose.
Bei Bitang closed the box, turned around and left indifferently.
When she reached the turning point, she suddenly looked back and saw Gu Wangxi still there. Seeing her look back, he smiled at her.
Bei Bitang turned around hurriedly and quickened her pace back home.
In the spacious and warm living room, Anna was sitting on the carpet, wearing a small cloak, hugging a goose down pillow, and watching "Tom and Jerry".
Bei Bitang handed the bag to Hu Fen'er, washed her hands, came back and sat next to her daughter, and asked quietly, "Anna, are you still not tired of looking at it?"
Anna let go of the soft pillow, hugged Bei Bitang's waist, and said coquettishly: "It's not annoying. Mom is back? Have you eaten? If not, Anna can accompany you to eat."
Bei Bitang reached out and brushed away the long hair from her forehead, and said gently, "Mom has eaten. Mom will watch a cartoon with Anna."
She was in no mood to eat. Gu Wangxi's words were like landmines, turning her heart into ruins. She was in a state of confusion and the aftermath of the sound was still reverberating.
On the screen, the cat and the mouse were chasing each other and making jokes all the time, but Bei Bitang's expression remained unchanged.
After hesitating for a long time, Bei Bitang waited until the cartoon was over before taking out the magnolia flower that Gu Wangxi had given her from her trouser pocket, handed it to Anna, and said, "Mom brought back a small gift."
Anna covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide open, then took the box, opened it, took out the magnolia necklace, and said cleverly: "Mom, is this the magnolia necklace that your mother-in-law in Shanghai bought?"
Bei Bitang nodded and said, "Do you like it?"
Anna shook her head and said, "I like it. I like everything my mother gives me."
Bei Bitang opened her mouth, hesitantly without explaining, and then she changed the subject and said, "Since Anna likes it, then Mommy will put it on you. You can wear it to sleep tonight, and tomorrow you will be a sweet-smelling little Anna."
Anna excitedly handed the magnolia flower to Bei Bitang and urged, "Mom, put it on me quickly!"
Hu Fen'er, who was knitting a small dress, interjected, "Magnolia flowers are hard to come by at this time."
Bei Bitang smiled and put the big necklace on her daughter's head. A white bud fell off and hit Anna right between the eyebrows.
Bei Bitang thought about it and tied the smaller string to the top button of her daughter's pajamas.
It was tight for a moment, with a faint scent of magnolia. Anna was like a little goddess, noble and exuding divinity.
Bei Bitang looked at her daughter, her eyes almost filled with honey. She couldn't help but say, "Baby, you are so beautiful. Mommy will get the camera and take a few photos of you."
After Bei Bitang had taken enough photos of her daughter, she stopped and put the camera aside.
She said hesitantly, "Anna, can mom introduce someone to you?"
Anna said quickly: "Is it the new uncle?"
She knew that her mother was like a flower with bees always buzzing around her.
Hearing her daughter say this, Bei Bitang said yes and no, yes and no. She thought for a moment and said cleverly, "This gift is from him. He thinks Anna is so cute and likes you, so he wants to get to know you and make friends with you. It's not because of mom that he wants to meet Anna."
Anna's eyes, big as black grapes, rolled around and she nodded and said, "Okay, it's okay to make an older friend."
Bei Bitang burst out laughing.
After coaxing her daughter to sleep, Bei Bitang returned to her bedroom, wrapped herself in a woolen scarf, and stood by the window, looking at the lights of the tall buildings in the distance.
The colorful neon lights of the building changed back and forth. Bei Bitang suddenly felt dizzy and Gu Wangxi's handsome face flashed through her mind. She raised her hand uncontrollably and touched the corner of her mouth, where Gu Wangxi had kissed her.
The lights in the distance dimmed and Bei Bitang woke up suddenly. Her face turned red and she thought with a smile, how much time has passed and she took a shower, there is nothing left.
Putting her hand down, Bei Bitang sighed. It was fine to let Gu Wangxi and Anna get in touch, since both she and Gu Wangxi were unmarried anyway.
People are selfish. After Xie Weiran's experience, she found that it was difficult to settle down with a man without children. She didn't want one with children either. So what about Gu Wangxi? A perfect candidate, she might as well choose him.
However, there are some things that need to be discussed with Gu Wangxi in advance. It is too late today, so Bei Bitang plans to communicate with him by phone tomorrow.
In a villa on Shaanxi North Road, Gu Wangxi put down his mobile phone and paced back and forth in surprise.
In the living room on the first floor, Li Shanfu was driving his car recklessly. From the second floor came the sound of a piano; Gu Qinghua was playing in the piano room.
Gu Wangxi looked up and down the stairs, then walked up to his nephew with his arms folded. He lowered his head and said to him, "Li Shanfu, uncle wants to discuss something with you."
Li Shanfu looked up and asked in confusion, "What's the matter?"
Gu Wangxi said solemnly: "This is a secret between you and me. You can't tell anyone else, otherwise you will be captured by bad guys."
Li Shanfu covered his mouth and said in a muffled voice, "Uncle, I will never tell anyone."
Gu Wangxi put his hand on his little shoulder and said, "Is there a little girl named Anna in your kindergarten? If someone bullies her, you have to help her fight back, understand?"
Li Shanpu frowned, thought for a moment, and said in surprise, "Uncle, you know Anna. She's very good at sports and she's also really good at playing games."
Gu Wangxi nodded proudly and said, "Anna, of course I know her."
Li Shanfu hesitated and said, "But, uncle, Anna is in the senior class, and I am in the junior class."
Gu Wangxi said dissatisfiedly: "What's wrong with Xiaoban? You are a little man!"
Li Shanfu retorted angrily, "Uncle, you're wrong! The teacher said that girls can be brave too!"
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