Chapter 566 Son Pays for Father's Debts
Meng Jinyao stepped out of his embrace, winked at him, and smiled teasingly: "I think my husband is very handsome. He should look very good dancing in a dress."
Gu Jingxi's face stiffened, and he resolutely refused: "Impossible, don't even think about it."
“Husband, didn’t you just say that you could give me what I wanted?” Meng Jinyao said, sighing softly, glancing at him with eyes full of disappointment. “I asked and you won’t give it to me. You’re just teasing me. It really makes me so sad.”
Gu Jingxi knew she was using a feigned retreat to advance, but remained unmoved and firmly refused: "Don't even think about it. If it were something else, I might be able to agree..." He paused halfway through his sentence, having learned from his previous experience, and now knew to leave himself some room for maneuver, so he continued, "If it were something else, I might consider it and try my best to satisfy you."
Meng Jinyao persisted, "But I want this one."
Gu Jingxi remained firm: "No."
Meng Jinyao sighed again, feigning surprise, and said, "That's strange. You used to like it quite a bit, so why are you so resistant to it now?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi was puzzled: "When did I ever have such a fetish?"
Meng Jinyao replied, "I heard from my mother that when you were young, you insisted on wearing your cousin's little dress and dancing like a dancer. You even went out with my mother in the dress, which captivated other young men, who said they wanted to marry you when they grew up."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his mind buzzing. His expression changed, finally revealing a look of utter despair. What a terrible mother of his, telling his wife such an embarrassing story! He couldn't remember that memory anymore, and now, hearing A Yao mention it, he tried hard to recall but could only vaguely remember that such a thing had happened. He had even forgotten who that young master was.
Meng Jinyao enjoyed his lifeless expression, suppressed a laugh, and then teased, "What a pity. I heard from my mother that the young master who once said he wanted to marry you is now your political enemy. I wonder if he still remembers his vows when he argues with you in court."
Political rival?
Gu Jingxi's face froze again. He searched his mind for a suitable candidate and quickly thought of the fat, chubby Lord Hu from the Ministry of Justice. He immediately wilted, hoping that the other party did not remember such a past incident. Otherwise, if they quarreled again, he would be too ashamed to face anyone afterward.
Seeing this, Meng Jinyao knew that he had remembered this matter, and also remembered which family's young master it was. When her mother-in-law told her the gossip before, she didn't ask for details. Now that her gossipy nature had returned, she asked curiously, "Husband, which family's young master is he? Will he be handsome when he grows up?"
For the first time, Gu Jingxi wished he had a better memory. This embarrassing incident, so many years ago, he still remembered it. And now, that person was a political enemy; he'd run into him every time he went to court. He'd probably never forget it. He closed his eyes, unwilling to answer, and refused to answer, changing the subject: "Ayao, in front of your own husband, you're focusing on whether someone else's husband is handsome or not. Aren't you afraid your husband will get jealous?"
Meng Jinyao smiled and said, "My husband wouldn't do that, because in his wife's heart, he is the most beautiful man in the world, and other men are just ordinary women."
Gu Jingxi replied, "No, he will. He's stingy and jealous, a complete jerk. So you must never mention other men in front of him, or he'll get angry with you."
Meng Jinyao snorted twice: "Fine, if you won't tell me, then I'll go home and ask my mother. She'll definitely tell me."
Upon hearing this, alarm bells rang in Gu Jingxi's mind. If she were to go back and ask her mother, what would happen? Perhaps his mother, who was always trying to trick her son, would suddenly get excited and tell A Yao a couple more embarrassing stories about him from the past. He quickly said, "No, don't go."
Meng Jinyao wouldn't let him off the hook: "You think you can just say you won't go and then you won't? I'm going anyway."
"My little darling, I'll tell you, okay?" Gu Jingxi sighed helplessly, pulled her into his arms again, met her urging gaze, and said reluctantly, "Not handsome, she's gone astray."
Meng Jinyao then asked, "Was he very good-looking when he was a child?"
Gu Jingxi replied, "I don't remember, but I don't think I was fat when I was little, but I'm fat now."
Meng Jinyao nodded and murmured softly, "Then I'll find out who among your political enemies is fat."
Gu Jingxi: "..."
The past is too painful to recall, but the two most important women in his life help him remember it all. If time could turn back, he would definitely erase some of the things he did in the past, so that these embarrassing incidents would never have happened.
Meng Jinyao cupped his handsome face in her hands, her expression full of anticipation: "Husband, will you wear a dress and dance for me tonight?"
Gu Jingxi rejected her once again: "No, impossible, don't even think about it."
"So stingy, I can't even look at it." Meng Jinyao put down her hand, pouted, and snorted.
Gu Jingxi had a sudden inspiration. He thought of his own chubby son, whom he had raised for several months. It was time to show his filial piety. With the idea of sacrificing his friend rather than himself, he gently coaxed her, "Ayao, I can't wear it for you, but you can have my son wear it for you. The son pays for the father's debts. If I owe you, you can ask my son for it back."
At first glance, Meng Jinyao felt that what he said made a lot of sense, and she was immediately drawn in. She thought about making two little dresses for Wanwan, just to look at them and enjoy the sight. Children are the easiest to coax when they are young and don't understand anything, so it's best to start early, when Wanwan's hair is long enough to be tied into two little braids.
Poor little Wanwan was sold by his father without knowing anything. Thanks to his good father, he will have a dark history from now on.
Seeing that A Yao seemed to have taken it to heart, Gu Jingxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, finally escaping a disaster. Hearing the shouts of shop assistants outside, he took the opportunity to change the subject, lest A Yao come back to her senses and keep pestering him. He was really afraid that he would give in to A Yao's coaxing and agree. So he said, "A Yao, the street is so lively. Why don't we go down and take a walk and see if there's anything we like?"
Meng Jinyao was also intrigued, so she nodded in agreement, instructed the coachman to stop the carriage, and then went out for a stroll with Gu Jingxi.
After getting off the carriage, Gu Jingxi didn't mention anything about what had happened before. He took her to browse through rouge shops, jewelry shops, pastry shops, and spice shops. Having spent so much time with A Yao, he had figured out some tricks of the trade. These were the places that were most likely to attract a woman's attention. If one shop wasn't enough, they would browse through several more and buy several items. After that, they could forget about everything else.
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