For the next period of time, Gu Zhiyuan spent his days going back and forth between Sun Zhou's house and Lin's house, living and studying in a very simple routine.
During this time, Xu Ningyan also took advantage of the opportunity to thoroughly search all the scrap metal collection stations, big and small, in Jingshan County.
Every few days, he would go to the warehouse to chat with Lin Hong and ask about Gu Zhiyuan's situation these past two days.
Lin Hong looked on with envy, jealousy, and resentment: "My dad treats your boyfriend like his own son now! He practically wants to carry him around in his pocket and take him to work! He doesn't even like my brother anymore, not even Lu Kai. He's always complaining about how unfair the world is!"
“Every day you and your partner are at home, I don’t know what you’re talking about. One minute you’re slamming your fist on the table, the next you’re laughing out loud.”
“My mom has been sleeping with me lately! She says there’s no room for her to even step in their room! If it’s too late at night, your boyfriend just sleeps in the same room as my dad! The two of them stay up half the night and still wake up the next day full of energy!”
"If your partner weren't a man, I'd suspect my dad was having an affair and starting a new relationship!"
Xu Ningyan almost died laughing at Lin Hong's teasing. She was indeed quite resentful and even suspected that her own father was having an affair.
"Then I'll go take a look tonight?"
Lin Hong nodded repeatedly: "Go and try to persuade them! They've been staying up late these past few days and have lost weight! Your boyfriend is young and healthy, but my dad is old, I'm really worried something might happen to him—"
Xu Ningyan knew that Lin Hong felt sorry for her father, but she couldn't guarantee anything: "I'll give it a try! My boyfriend might not listen to me anyway!"
She guessed that Gu Zhiyuan had probably seen the book she had fabricated, which was why he had gone so far as to become obsessed.
If I had known, I shouldn't have taken it out.
A pang of regret welled up in my heart.
This time, I went to the Lin family probably because I felt guilty. I took out two pounds of braised beef from my storage space and a few sliced braised pig's trotters, and carried them into the Lin family's house.
When Lin's mother saw Xu Ningyan arrive, she was quite welcoming, especially when she saw what Xu Ningyan was carrying, she raised her eyebrows.
Such a good thing is hard to find in county towns!
She wasn't one to feign politeness, and since Gu Zhiyuan had already been staying at the Lin family's house for several days, she accepted the gifts Xu Ningyan brought, saying it was to add some dishes for dinner.
Old Lin and Comrade Gu have both lost weight these past few days; they really need to eat more.
Lin's father and Gu Zhiyuan were in the inner room; even with the door closed, their voices could be heard discussing or arguing.
Xu Ningyan didn't disturb them, but stayed with Lin's mother, helping to pick vegetables and prepare dinner.
The two were talking animatedly when they heard a startled cry from Lin's father in the inner room, followed by a loud thud, as if something had fallen to the ground.
Xu Ningyan and Lin's mother exchanged a glance, then walked nervously to the door: "What happened? Did something fall?"
After a long while, a sound of slamming the table came from inside. Lin's father spoke up: "Just as I thought! You were right! This is the problem! After this modification, there shouldn't be any issues! Let's go, let's test it right away!"
Then the door was suddenly pulled open, and Lin's father rushed out in a flurry, clutching a blueprint.
Gu Zhiyuan followed behind.
Lin's father didn't even notice Lin's mother and Xu Ningyan before rushing out.
Gu Zhiyuan, however, did not follow Lin's father. He walked out slowly and nodded to Lin's mother, saying, "Auntie, I'm afraid Uncle won't be having dinner at home."
Lin's mother was still not quite clear: "What happened? Did something happen at the factory?"
Gu Zhiyuan smiled slightly: "It's a major breakthrough in design."
Lin's mother immediately understood, and a smile appeared on her face: "That's great news! No wonder he ran so fast! Alright, if he won't eat, we will! Comrade Xu brought braised beef and braised pig's trotters today, so we can take advantage of them and have a treat."
Gu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Auntie, let's go back first! After so many days, we've finally solved the problem. I want to go back and rest first."
Seeing Gu Zhiyuan's sunken eyes and unsteady figure, Lin's mother decided not to keep him any longer.
He took half of what Xu Ningyan had brought and gave it to her, saying, "Take this back and eat! After you eat, get some rest, and you'll feel better after a good night's sleep!"
Xu Ningyan felt a pang of heartache seeing that Gu Zhiyuan, who had gained some weight from her, had lost it all in just a few days and returned to the way he looked when they first met.
So much meat, so much food, fed to him bite by bite! All wasted!
Nodding, he helped Gu Zhiyuan out of the Lin family home.
The bicycle was in the Lin family's courtyard, but Gu Zhiyuan, looking like this, didn't dare let him ride it.
Xu Ningyan pushed the bike out, tried riding it for a bit, adjusted the seat height, sat down, and gestured for Gu Zhiyuan to sit on the back.
Gu Zhiyuan rubbed his nose. Actually, he wasn't that tired and could still ride his bike.
However, Xu Ningyan flatly refused.
In front of Lin Hong, Gu Zhiyuan couldn't say that he wasn't tired at all, so he could only silently sit on the back of the bicycle.
Ever since he took Xu Ningyan on the back seat that day, he had someone sew a sponge pad and tied it to the back seat, in preparation for when he would take Xu Ningyan on the bike again someday.
I really didn't expect that I would be the first to use this sponge pad.
Sitting back in the back seat, Gu Zhiyuan's legs were so long that they were bent over in a somewhat aggrieved manner, with his feet still on the ground.
Once Xu Ningyan saw that Gu Zhiyuan was seated firmly, she pushed off with her feet, and the car moved forward while her legs and body remained in place.
Fortunately, Gu Zhiyuan had strong core strength, which allowed him to stabilize his half-sitting position in mid-air.
Xu Ningyan, however, couldn't help but mutter after the car had driven quite a distance: "Brother Gu, you've lost so much weight, carrying you is like not having any at all—"
When I turned around, it was as if I hadn't brought it at all!
That's because they didn't bring it at all!
Gu Zhiyuan remained where he was, silently watching this side.
Xu Ningyan was so startled that she almost rode her bike into the ditch. She managed to get back on track, turned a corner, and rode right in front of Gu Zhiyuan.
After a moment of silence, he jumped off the bike and said, "You ride it!"
Lin's mother in the yard laughed so hard she almost fell over!
Seeing the usually expressionless and taciturn Gu Zhiyuan with a rare look of amusement and exasperation, one could only feel that this young comrade Gu had finally shown some humanity.
Seeing Xu Ningyan's dejected look, Gu Zhiyuan went over and said something to comfort her, and Xu Ningyan finally smiled.
Gu Zhiyuan looked at Xu Ningyan with gentle and indulgent eyes, which made this old aunt feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I can't help but sigh. When I first heard about their situation, I was worried that they wouldn't get along and would become a miserable couple.
Now it seems that the young couple has a very good relationship, and they are both in love with each other. It's even sweeter than when she was with Lao Lin!
In the end, Gu Zhiyuan took Xu Ningyan and rode away on their bikes. Lin's mother also put away her shipping mood and went back to her room to prepare dinner, making two portions to send to Lin's father and Lin Feng, who were going to work overtime that night.
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