Chapter 337 Loneliness
Halfway through the meal.
Seeing that his wife was only half-heartedly picking at the food in her bowl, Gu Weiguo took the initiative to break off half a steamed bun and hand it to her, saying, "Eat something, you've had a long day, how can you just go hungry?"
Li Xiuqin gave a soft "humph" through her nose, a smile playing on her lips. She took the half-eaten steamed bun, took a small bite, and said, "That's more like it. At least you're acting like the head of the household now."
She took a couple of bites, then glanced at her youngest son, who was wolfing down his food, and frowned. "Gu Meng! Stop just eating! You've been playing all summer, and you've become too wild! School starts tomorrow, have you finished your summer homework?"
Gu Meng froze, mumbling, "Mom, I'm... I'm done writing... almost done..."
Li Xiuqin could tell from his guilty expression that he definitely hadn't finished writing.
She was too exhausted to lash out, and waved her hand irritably: "Get out of here! Finish your meal and hurry up and pack your schoolbag properly! If you dare to stay in bed tomorrow morning, I'll give you a good beating!"
Gu Weiguo dared not speak up for his son at this moment, so he could only bury his head and eat silently.
Until bedtime that night, Li Xiuqin had her back to him and seemed to have fallen asleep.
Gu Weiguo cautiously asked, "Is the baby's mother... asleep?"
Seeing no response, he tentatively added, "Actually... you know our Xiaomeng, he's just not cut out for studying, he can't sit still. I think, after he graduates high school, why not just send him to the army for a few years of training? Why force him to cram? As for his studies, Xiaoyong can handle it..."
Li Xiuqin wasn't actually asleep. She was already angry because of her son's disappointment, and hearing her husband's words only fueled her anger.
But she was too lazy to argue anymore, and still kept her back turned. "Xiao Meng is only in his first year of high school, and you've already judged him? Study hard, and even if he joins the army in the future, he'll understand more principles than others, and he'll have a chance to get into military academy and become an officer! Look at our fifth brother, isn't it because he's highly educated and capable that he's risen so quickly?"
Gu Weiguo sighed in the darkness: "This... how can this compare to Fifth Brother..."
Li Xiuqin turned over and glared at him in the dim light: "Why can't we compare? Is Xiao Meng born dumber than others? I think he's just unambitious and only knows how to play around! He's just like Gu Jianjun!"
Gu Weiguo looked helpless: "How did this bring up Jianjun again? Jianjun is a proper vocational school graduate with a stable job... The one in the family who really doesn't like studying is Gu Yan, why don't you mention him at all?"
Li Xiuqin was too lazy to argue with him anymore. She turned her back to him angrily, and after a while, she could be heard snoring softly. She was obviously exhausted.
Gu Weiguo shook his head, reached out to tuck the blanket over her shoulder, and silently listened to the familiar sound of wind and sand that had been blowing outside the window for more than twenty years.
Gu Yan, who had been the subject of the couple's late-night conversation, was now staring at the English book laid out before him, his handsome face contorted in agony. He groaned to Chen Jun beside him, "...Damn it! This gibberish is so hard to understand! It's much harder than negotiating prices in business!"
Chen Jun suppressed a laugh and advised, "Boss, you'll definitely need a translator in a critical moment. You can just learn simple greetings, how to negotiate prices over meals, etc. Why force yourself to work so hard? Keep it up, you'll get the hang of it quickly."
Gu Yan sat up straight, defiantly, cleared his throat, and stammered out a few words in English.
"Listen! Isn't it much more fluent than last month?"
Chen Jun couldn't help but laugh out loud, but quickly suppressed it and nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, the boss is improving rapidly! But..."
He pointed to the clock on the wall that showed ten o'clock, his tone mournful, "It's already the middle of the night, fine, you don't have to sleep, but can you at least let me go to sleep first? What a terrible boss, he drags others down with him when he's fighting..."
Gu Yan then noticed the time, and feeling somewhat guilty, he touched his nose. "Alright, alright, you can go back now! I'll drive back myself later."
Chen Jun felt like he had been granted a pardon and quickly packed his things and left.
Gu Yan was left alone in the office. He stared at the English book for another half hour before closing it in frustration, rubbing his tired eyes, turning off the lights, and leaving the company.
It was late at night, and there were few pedestrians on the street.
He drove the Santana back to his apartment building, but didn't go upstairs immediately.
He turned off the car, leaned back in the driver's seat, took out his cigarette case, and lit a cigarette.
The crimson flames flickered in the darkness.
He sat in the car until his cigarette burned out before finally opening the car door and walking heavily upstairs.
The room was pitch black and completely silent.
Ruan Wenjing moved out just last month.
There were problems between them at some point.
He was busy expanding his business, constantly entertaining clients, and it was common for him to return home late at night.
She was also busy with factory work and dealing with constant urging from her family.
He came home late that night after a business dinner, and Ruan Wenjing cried and complained, "My parents absolutely refuse to agree! They only want me to marry Uncle Lin's son, whom they know well..."
He was also confused at the time and said some very hurtful things without thinking.
She slammed the door and left.
Later, they made up.
He held her in his arms, apologizing repeatedly. She nestled in his embrace, her tears soaking his shirt.
They agreed to persevere a little longer. She would slowly persuade her parents, proving his abilities and sincerity. He, on the other hand, would focus on developing his career, determined to leave her parents with no room for criticism.
However, perseverance seems to be harder than imagined.
Finally, she said, "I'll move back home for a while... to let everyone calm down, and also to let me have a proper talk with my parents."
He did not insist on keeping him.
At this moment, Gu Yan walked to the sofa and sat down, his body sinking into the soft cushions, but he felt no relaxation at all.
He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
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