Chapter 123
The next week, Xiao Peiyin handed the coffee shop over to the newly hired girl, and took Gu Cunxi to visit all the fun places in Nan'an City. Fang Lan didn't call during these days, and everything returned to normal.
For more than half a month, Gu Cunxi almost put work behind her. She thought it was time to focus after indulging herself. Those things that had not been resolved were always like a huge rock blocking her heart!
After discussing with Pei Yin yesterday, the two decided to set off to return to Jiang Huai today. Gu Cunxi was busy packing their things in the morning, while Xiao Peiyin explained the big and small things of the coffee shop to the newly recruited girl.
After lunch, the two left the coffee shop. Gu Cunxi followed Pei Yin home and planned to say goodbye to the two elders before leaving. Since the last time he took Pei Yin away from here, they have not come back in the past few days. Gu Cunxi was still nervous when he visited them again.
The door was opened, and Fang Lan stood at the door with a calm expression. She looked at her daughter, then shifted her gaze to Gu Cunxi and said lightly, "Come in!"
Gu Cunxi looked down and saw a pair of brand new slippers placed at the door. She was slightly stunned. Xiao Ping came out of the kitchen upon hearing the sound. Seeing Gu Cunxi standing at the door staring at the slippers in a daze, he smiled and said, "We didn't have time to prepare them before. We only have old guest slippers at home. Her mother bought this pair specially for us two days ago! You should wear this pair when you come home from now on!"
After saying this, Xiao Ping winked at his daughter. Gu Cunxi turned to look at Fang Lan, smiled, and nodded, "Thank you! I like the style very much!"
"I just bought it on the way to the supermarket!" Fang Lan looked away and walked towards the living room as if nothing had happened.
Sharp tongue, but kind heart... Xiao Ping looked at Fang Lan's stubborn expression, shook his head, and asked Gu Cunxi, "Have you had lunch?"
"I have eaten, uncle!"
"Are you going back to Jianghuai City this afternoon?" Fang Lan sat aside and asked Pei Yin lightly.
"Um!"
Fang Lan was silent for a while, then waved his hand and sighed, "Let's go! Let's go..."
"Aunt, Jianghuai is not far from here. Pei Yin and I will come back often. If you and uncle are willing, why not go to Jianghuai with Pei Yin to live for a while!" Gu Cunxi could understand Fang Lan's mood at the moment. Fearing that she would be upset, he opened his mouth and intentionally invited them to go to Jianghuai together.
"Forget it! I appreciate your kindness, but I'm old... I still feel comfortable living here!"
"It would be fine if you could come back often!" Fang Lan picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said lightly.
Xiao Ping was walking over with some fruit, and he heard their conversation clearly. He echoed Fang Lan's words, and Gu Cunxi stopped insisting and said nothing.
The four of them sat on the sofa, the noon news playing on TV. In the sunny afternoon, everything was so harmonious. After a while, Fang Lan suddenly looked at Gu Cunxi and said, "Come in with me!"
Gu Cunxi and Pei Yin were both stunned. Seeing Fang Lan walking towards the bedroom, Pei Yin couldn't help but ask, "Mom! What are you doing in the bedroom?"
Fang Lan didn't answer, turned around and glanced at Gu Cunxi and walked into the bedroom. Gu Cunxi patted Pei Yin's arm, got up and followed her in.
The bedroom door was closed. Fang Lan took out a thick photo album and a piece of red cloth from the drawer under the wardrobe. There seemed to be something wrapped inside.
Gu Cunxi took the photo album, looked at Fang Lan, and opened it. A cute little baby came into view. The date was in the lower right corner of the photo. Gu Cunxi recognized it immediately: it was Xiao Peiyin! In the photo, her eyes were big and round, and she was holding a bunch of fake grapes. Her cheeks were a little chubby, making her look adorable. Gu Cunxi raised the corner of his mouth and chubbyly smiled!
She carefully looked at every photo in the album over and over again before she was willing to turn the page. From birth to learning to roll over, walk, and go to kindergarten, there are photos recording every period.
"This was taken on her seventh birthday!" Fang Lan pointed at the photo with a deep look in her eyes, as if the photo album could take her back more than 20 years.
"Very cute!" Gu Cunxi kept smiling, rubbing his fingertips gently on the photo.
Looking through the album, it seemed as if she had participated in Xiao Peiyin's entire life.
born!
The last photo in the album was taken at the school gate, Pei Yin in her bachelor's gown, throwing her bachelor's cap into the air! You can tell she was very happy when this photo was taken, her eyes were full of stars, bright and dazzling!
There was no such photo anymore... Gu Cunxi remembered what Xiao Ping had told her, that not long after Pei Yin graduated, she married Chen Feng!
Gu Cunxi gently closed the album, stroking it with her right hand. After a moment of silence, she raised her head and said to Fang Lan, "Auntie! The photos in here...can I..."
"Okay!" Fang Lan understood what Gu Cunxi meant and nodded in agreement before she finished speaking.
"Thank you, auntie!" Gu Cunxi smiled back, opened the photo album and took out the last photo of Pei Yin graduating from university!
She thought, if the beautiful memories were stuck before this photo, then she hoped she could take over everything after this photo and support Xiao Peiyin's life again! ! And support it to the end!
"This... is for you!" Fang Lan handed over the red cloth in her hand.
Gu Cunxi took it with a puzzled look and slowly opened it.
“!”
Inside is a gold-inlaid jade necklace... The jade inlaid on the pendant is transparent and has a light green hue.
"Aunt! This..." Gu Cunxi held the necklace in his hand in the air, his eyes filled with surprise.
"I don't know... should this be called a dowry... or a betrothal gift..." Fang Lan shook her head and sighed, looking helpless and chuckling as she said, "Whatever it is, this is for you, take it!"
Gu Cunxi wanted to refuse, but then she realized that this was a sign of Fang Lan's genuine approval! She absolutely couldn't refuse! Looking at the delicate gold and jade necklace in her hand, Gu Cunxi's heart leaped with joy, her expression overflowing with emotion. Words couldn't express even a fraction of the joy of finally being recognized after so many experiences...
"I've said everything I need to say. Let's take Pei Yin back home early while it's still light. It's dangerous to drive after dark!" Fang Lan said as she put away the photo album. After a pause, she choked up and said solemnly, "You...be good! I recognize you! I hope you won't make me regret this day someday in my lifetime!"
Gu Cunxi stood by the bed, her eyes filled with sincerity and determination. She bowed to Fang Lan and said, "I won't swear to you, nor will I promise you anything, but time will surely give you the answer. I won't give you any chance to regret it!"
…
Pei Yin didn't know what her mother said to Gu Cunxi in the bedroom, but seeing the expressions of the two when they came out, she felt relieved, especially Gu Cunxi, whose eyes were full of joy. Pei Yin saw this and felt very happy.
The two sat in the living room for a while, looked at the time and decided to go back to Jiang Huai earlier. Before leaving, Pei Yin left her car to Xiao Ping.
Fang Lan and Xiao Ping sent the two downstairs. Like most parents, Xiao Ping prepared a lot of specialties from Nan'an City and put them in the trunk of Gu Cunxi's car.
Gu Cunxi left her contact information to Xiao Ping. After starting the car, she saw Fang Lan standing outside the car through the car window with red eyes. Pei Yin didn't say anything, but just hugged the two of them with her lips tightly pursed, then lowered her head and sat in Gu Cunxi's passenger seat.
The car started slowly, and Gu Cunxi saw through the rearview mirror that the two people behind the car stood in the autumn wind for a long time, until the car turned at the intersection and their figures disappeared from sight...
Gu Cunxi felt a suffocating reluctance in her heart, just like every time she said goodbye to her parents when she left home!
Pei Yin sat in the passenger seat with her head down, quietly. Gu Cunxi drove the car very slowly. From time to time, she turned her head to look at Pei Yin, reached out and gently pulled her hand to her waist, gently stroking her.
A warm sensation in her palm brought Xiao Peiyin back to her senses. She turned around and stared at Gu Cunxi blankly. She curled her lips and asked with a chuckle, "My mom just pulled you into the bedroom...what did she say?"
"Hmm..." Gu Cunxi pretended to be hesitant and was silent for a while before saying, "Aunt didn't say anything...it's just..."
"Just what?" Pei Yin frowned and asked anxiously
"Just gave me something!"
"!" Xiao Peiyin was stunned for a moment and asked again: "What is it?"
"Here!" Gu Cunxi lowered his head and pursed his lips, indicating that Pei Yin's things were in his pocket.
Xiao Peiyin couldn't help being curious, so she leaned over and reached into Gu Cunxi's pocket, and touched a thin piece of paper.
“!”
"You!!" Xiao Peiyin looked at the photo in her hand, curled her lips and said, "This photo... is so stupid!"
"No way! It's obviously very cute, I like this one! In fact, I asked your mother for it!" Gu Cunxi drove the car, freed one hand to snatch the photo back, put it in the lining pocket close to his chest, and smiled mischievously.
Xiao Peiyin thought of the photo album at home. She carefully recalled the photos in it. There seemed to be many silly photos in her memory! They were all seen by Gu Cunxi...
"Pei Pei!" Gu Cunxi suddenly changed his tone and said seriously
"Um?"
"From now on... let's record all the beautiful things we experience with a camera, okay?" Gu Cunxi asked
"I remember you didn't like taking pictures," Pei Yin said in surprise.
"That's because there wasn't anyone I wanted to take a photo with! But now there is one!" Gu Cunxi smiled dotingly, turned his head to look at Pei Yin, blinked, and asked, "Is it okay?"
"Okay!" Pei Yin nodded heavily and replied, "Let's keep all the beautiful moments!"
…
When they arrived in Jianghuai City, it was almost six o'clock in the evening. Gu Cunxi drove the car directly to the door of the coffee shop, intending to give Cheng Sheng a surprise. In the more than half a month in Nan'an, Cheng Sheng had been sending messages from time to time, asking about the progress between him and Pei Yin... just like the gossip four years ago.
After parking the car, Gu Cunxi pulled Pei Yin across the street and looked in through the French windows. The coffee shop seemed to be doing very well, with people sitting by the windows.
The two stood at the door of the coffee shop. Gu Cunxi looked at Pei Yin, put his index finger on his lips and made a "hush" gesture, then gently pushed the door open and walked inside.
The wind chimes rang, and Cheng Sheng put down his work and looked up. Just as he was about to speak, he froze in his tracks. The two people standing at the door were tall and graceful, their fingers intertwined, standing together, a perfect match...
This should have been something to be happy about, but Cheng Sheng couldn't laugh at all because there was someone sitting in the cafe that all three of them knew well...
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