Chapter 14: Let's celebrate having a real mother!
With the marriage certificate in hand, the matter was finally settled, and Gu Zhiyuan didn't know why he felt a sense of relief.
The two women stared blankly at their marriage certificates, neglecting Lulu who had come with them. The little girl squeezed between them, peeking out and saying, "Mommy, I want to see too."
Her words amused the two of them, and Ji Wei directly handed her the marriage certificate: "Here, take a look."
"This is Mommy, and this is Uncle Gu," the little guy said seriously, pointing to the photos on the marriage certificate.
“Yes, it’s us. With this, you can call him Dad.” Ji Wei pointed to Gu Zhiyuan next to her.
"Really?" Lulu was overjoyed. Although she was not yet three years old, she vaguely knew that everyone else had a father, but she did not. So when Ji Wei told her that she could call Gu Zhiyuan "Dad," she was very happy.
"Of course it's true, I'll be Lulu's dad from now on." Gu Zhiyuan squatted down to speak to Lulu at eye level.
"I have a dad now." Lulu said this very softly. She glanced at Gu Zhiyuan again, but still couldn't quite bring herself to say "dad." The little girl opened her mouth, somewhat confused about what was going on.
“Yes, you have a dad now. Come on, let Dad take you to buy candy.” Ji Wei finished speaking and then looked at the person next to her: “Do the people at your workplace know you’re here to get your marriage certificate today?”
"I know." Gu Zhiyuan nodded.
"We won't have a banquet, let's just buy some wedding candy and give it to everyone." She didn't tell her colleagues at school about getting her marriage certificate; she planned to just give out wedding candy and let everyone know she was getting married in this way.
"Okay." Gu Zhiyuan nodded, showing through his actions that his words to Ji Jia, "Listen to her," were not just empty words.
Children can't resist the temptation of candy. On the way to buy candy, Lulu's face was full of smiles until she saw that they had bought two big bags of candy. The little girl was very confused: "Buying so much?"
“Yes, we’ll buy them and share them with my mom and her colleagues at school,” Ji Wei explained.
The excitement in Lulu's eyes slowly faded. She had thought it was bought for her and her brother Chen'an. She wrinkled her little nose and asked, "Why are you sharing it with others?"
"Because they gave Mom candy for her wedding too, do you remember the wedding candy Mom brought you back last month?" Ji Wei patiently guided her.
Lulu nodded as if she understood, then quickly asked, "What about me and Chen'an?" She pointed to the two bags, one for each of them, so there weren't any for her and Chen'an.
"I'll share them with you when we get back. Eating too much candy will cause cavities. You can only have two a day, understand?" Ji Wei instructed.
"Okay." Lulu nodded emphatically. Seeing that her eyes were fixed on the bag, Ji Wei smiled and peeled a milk candy for her and put it in her mouth. She reminded her again, "Don't talk while eating candy. Let's go, we should go back."
The two bought candy and then went to buy a photo album. They also inquired about enlarging photos and getting frames. Fortunately, the photo studio could handle both. Thirty minutes later, the three of them boarded the bus back home.
"When are you and Lulu planning to move here?" Gu Zhiyuan asked on the way back.
"Let's move our things over the weekend. We'll stay at school for the next couple of days," Ji Wei said after thinking for a moment.
"Shall we go check out my room later?" Gu Zhiyuan guessed that the mother and daughter were probably still sleeping in the same room. His decision to remarry was originally for Gu Chen'an. His previous marriage with Fang Qing had left him wondering how normal couples should get along.
"Okay, don't you have to go to work today?" Ji Wei asked casually.
"We don't need to go to the countryside today. Just stay in the office and organize this month's documents," Gu Zhiyuan explained to her.
"I only have class in the afternoon, so how about we pick up Chen'an at noon and go out to eat to celebrate?" Ji Wei thought for a moment, thinking that it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to celebrate their marriage registration themselves.
“Okay, you’re more familiar with this area, so you can decide where to eat.” Gu Zhiyuan nodded.
"Let's go to that restaurant on the back street of the school. It's clean and hygienic, and the food is pretty good too." Ji Wei said, glancing at Lulu. She recalled that since she took Lulu back to her parents' home, she hadn't eaten out at a restaurant like this in a long time because she wanted to save money.
The bus arrived in Wu'an Town at just 11 a.m. Ji Wei and Lulu went to Gu Zhiyuan's house together. He took the marriage certificate and they went upstairs. There were four rooms on the second floor, with the living room in the middle. Gu Zhiyuan pointed to the two outer rooms: "Chen'an and I will be staying in these two rooms now. The two inner rooms are empty."
Although they were said to have two rooms, he and Gu Chen'an actually slept in the same room every night. He knew this was a sign that Chen'an lacked a sense of security, so he never refused when Chen'an brought his pillow and wanted to sleep with him every night.
The two rooms were quite similar and both were very clean. Ji Wei casually pointed to one: "This one will do." It was then that she noticed the beds in both rooms seemed to be new. Pointing to the beds, she asked, "Were these just bought?"
“Yes, I just bought it. You can stay in this room. I’ll move your old cabinets in for you.” Gu Zhiyuan said as he went to move the cabinets, and asked Ji Wei to tell him where to put them.
After all that fuss, it was almost midnight. Gu Zhiyuan drew water from the well in the yard, washed his face, and then said to the mother and daughter, "I'll go to school to pick up Chen'an first."
"I want to pick up Brother Chen'an too." In the past few days, the little guy and Gu Chen'an have developed a deep bond.
“Okay, I’ll take you there.” Gu Zhiyuan said, reaching out his hand to her.
Lulu hesitated for a moment, then handed her hand to Gu Zhiyuan. The little girl's hand was soft and squishy. Only when she put her little hand into his palm did Gu Zhiyuan realize how small a three-year-old's hand was. He was afraid that if he squeezed it too hard, he would crush it into a ball. So he became very careful and even slowed down his pace.
Not being able to be by Gu Chen'an's side as he grew up has always been Gu Zhiyuan's biggest regret, and the same goes for Fang Qing. So he has been trying to make up for it, but he didn't know that his efforts were taken as indulgence by Fang Qing, which caused Chen'an to suffer so much from a young age.
Lulu observed the people around her along the way. She secretly glanced at the person next to her. He was so tall, taller than her uncle and grandfather. Although his hands were big, they were also rough, but he held her hand very gently. This was something she had never felt with her uncle and grandfather. At that moment, Lulu felt that it was really good to have a father.
The short distance took the two of them twice as long as usual. With school about to let out, Gu Zhiyuan turned around and squatted down: "Lulu, school is about to let out, we need to hurry. Can I carry you there?"
“Sure,” Lulu said, extending her hands to him.
Gu Zhiyuan picked up Lulu and strode towards the school. His carrying style was awkward, and the long strides made Lulu feel bumpy, but she didn't feel uncomfortable at all. So this is what it feels like to be held by your father! The little girl's face was full of satisfaction. Before, she had always envied her uncle when she saw him carrying Ji Cong on his shoulders. She had once asked to sit like him too, but Ji Cong pushed her away, telling her that he was his father and could only carry him, not her. The little girl was sad for a long time then, but now she wasn't sad at all. She was someone who had a father to carry her now.
Just as Gu Chen'an stepped out of the classroom to get his lunch from the steamer room, he saw two people outside the classroom. He excitedly went up to them and asked, "Dad, what brings you here?"
"I'm here to pick you up for dinner. Go get your food first, Lulu and I will wait for you at the school gate," Gu Zhiyuan instructed.
"Okay, I'll be right there." Gu Chen'an said and ran off.
“Brother isn’t upset,” Lulu whispered, still being held in his arms.
"What did Lulu say? I didn't hear you clearly. Can you say it again?" Gu Zhiyuan looked at the little guy apologetically. It was after school, and the surroundings were too noisy, which made it impossible for him to hear what the little guy in his arms said.
Lulu shook her head, refusing to say anything more. She was happy inside. Just now, when her brother Chen'an saw his father hug her, he wasn't upset. She knew then that he was better than Ji Cong. Thinking of this, Lulu smiled happily.
Gu Chen'an moved quickly, running to the two of them with the lunchbox in hand, and asked, "Dad, where's Teacher Ji? Can I call her Mom today?"
“She’s waiting for us at the restaurant.” Gu Zhiyuan glanced at him after saying that before answering his next question: “Okay.”
"Yay, Teacher Ji is my mom now!" Gu Chen'an said, only then noticing that Lulu in Gu Zhiyuan's arms was staring at him. He then added, "Lulu, from now on I'm your real brother. Are you happy?"
Lulu thought for a moment, then nodded: "Happy."
"Hehe, I'm so happy too." Gu Chen'an was very excited the whole way, and Lulu clapped her hands along with him. Gu Zhiyuan unconsciously raised the corners of his lips.
Ji Wei was still studying the menu when she heard a voice from outside: "Mom!"
The voice sounded familiar, but Ji Wei didn't turn around. Unexpectedly, a figure quickly ran over. Gu Chen'an looked at Ji Wei with a wronged expression: "Mom, why didn't you answer me when I called you?"
Ji Wei was surprised that he changed his tune so smoothly. Seeing the accusation in his eyes, she smiled and apologized, "Sorry, I didn't realize it just now."
"Then if I call you now, can you answer me, Mom?" Gu Chen'an's eyes were full of expectation.
"Hey, good boy." Ji Wei reached out and ruffled his hair. She didn't really understand where Gu Chen'an's dependence on her came from, just as she didn't understand why he would risk his life to save her.
"Hey, I finally have a real mom." Gu Chen'an smiled happily. There were several families in the courtyard that Fang Qing had rented for him. Other mothers would gently help their children up when they fell and would also gently comfort them. But she was different. She would only ever scold herself. The first time he was gently helped up was when he fell while running in first grade. Teacher Ji gently helped him up. That was the first time Gu Chen'an felt the feeling of a mother he wanted in her.
"I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I ordered these two first. What do you think?" Ji Wei asked the father and son, pointing to the dishes on the menu.
“It’s up to you. We’re not picky eaters,” Gu Zhiyuan said. Gu Chen’an, who was standing next to him, nodded in agreement: “Dad is right. We’re not picky eaters.”
"Okay." Ji Wei smiled helplessly. She knew Gu Zhiyuan had a big appetite, so she ordered two meat dishes and one vegetable dish. They could take the leftovers home and cook noodles for dinner.
This was their first meal together after becoming a family, and everyone enjoyed it. After the meal, Ji Wei took Lulu home to get some candy, which she planned to share with her colleagues in the afternoon.
When Gu Chen'an heard that they were planning to distribute candy, he hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Mom, can I tell the other classmates that you are my mom now?"
A note from the author:
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[Stand-up rabbit head] Continuing with a random 20-red-envelope celebration for our newlyweds! [Heart]
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