Chapter 382 Countable
Gu Xiao wasn't the type to pry into other people's private thoughts, especially his own brother who was always opinionated and concerned about his image.
He paused for a moment, then patted Gu Yan on the shoulder, "You know what you're doing."
He stood up, walked towards the door, glanced back at his brother's dejected look, and said, "There's plenty of room outside, don't let this place hold you back."
Gu Yan lay back down on the pillow, casually smoothing his hair. "I know. I'm not the kind of person who can't let go..."
Just keep putting on a brave face!
Gu Xiao turned and left the room, closing the door and leaving Gu Yan with space to process his emotions alone.
Gu Yan turned his gaze to the window, where the midday sun shone directly into the courtyard, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Actually, he wasn't just being stubborn. Over the past six months, he and Ruan Wenjing had gone through repeated tug-of-wars and cooling-offs. He knew in his heart that this day would come sooner or later, and he believed he had mentally prepared himself.
But when the ending is finally settled, the sense of loss, like the chill outside the window, seeps silently into the bones and lingers in the heart.
As for blind dates?
He twitched the corner of his mouth.
I simply don't have that in mind right now.
He put matters of the heart aside for the time being, wanting to seize the opportunity before him.
Nowadays, the policy direction from above is becoming increasingly clear. Newspapers are starting to mention encouraging economic revitalization and market development. In the south, things are getting warmer, and individual businesses and private companies are springing up like mushrooms after rain.
He sensed that an unprecedented era was about to begin.
He plans to further expand the company's business scope after the New Year, not only engaging in trade but also venturing into light manufacturing, and even starting to keep an eye on real estate information permitted by policy...
Gu Yan took a deep breath, rallied his spirits, and took out several preliminary feasibility reports and plans for establishing a branch company in mainland China and introducing a new electronic product production line from his briefcase by the bedside. He then focused intently on reading them.
He only put away his documents and went downstairs when he heard people calling him to lunch.
At the lunch table, his brother and sister-in-law were chatting about everyday things, and he tried his best to act as usual.
He had just stood up when Xiaoman from the other table put down her chopsticks, ran over, and mysteriously grabbed Gu Yan's finger: "Uncle, wait for me!"
Gu Yan bent down, picked him up, and carried him upstairs. "Tired?"
Xiaoman shook her head and pointed upstairs.
Gu Yan carried him into his brother and sister-in-law's bedroom.
As soon as Xiaoman landed, she ran to her little bed, tiptoed, and rummaged under her pillow for a few crumpled red envelopes. She then presented them to Gu Yan with both hands, saying, "Uncle, these are all for you to spend. Don't be sad."
Gu Yan stared blankly at the pile of red envelopes in his hand for a moment, a surge of heat flowing from his heart to his limbs.
He placed the red envelope by the bed, knelt down, and hugged Xiaoman tightly. "Xiaoman, Xiaoman! You are truly your uncle's precious darling! Your uncle loves you to death!"
As he spoke, he kissed the little guy's cheeks forcefully, back and forth.
Xiaoman giggled, twisting her little body to dodge, "Uncle...it tickles..."
Gu Yanping calmed his turbulent emotions, cupped Xiaoman's face in his hands, and asked earnestly, "Xiaoman, tell your uncle what you want to buy? Your uncle will buy you anything, okay?"
He was eager to repay this pure sentiment with material things.
Xiaoman reached out her little hand and touched Gu Yan's hair, her eyes filled with pure innocence: "I don't want anything. Mom said she wants everyone to be happy. I want Uncle to be happy too."
The little guy brought out what he thought was precious, just hoping to make himself happy.
Gu Yan suddenly realized that the hardest people to coax in this world are those who lack nothing but your smile.
Gu Yan picked Xiaoman up again, letting him rest his head on his shoulder, and gently patted his back. His voice was gentler than ever before: "Okay, Uncle knows. Uncle is very happy, especially happy. Our Xiaoman is the best... Sleep now, Uncle will pat you, and when you wake up, Uncle will take you out to play."
It was nap time, and Xiaoman felt comfortable from being patted, so her eyelids soon started to droop. She mumbled sleepily, "Daddy said we're going to the temple fair this afternoon..."
Gu Yan continued to pat him gently, "Okay, once you wake up, we'll go to the temple fair."
He lowered his head and rubbed his chin against Xiaoman's forehead.
When Xiaoman was born, she was such a tiny, soft little thing that I didn't dare to touch her hard.
But now, it feels so heavy in my arms, almost up to my thigh. Time really flies.
Gu Yan felt a pang of reluctance; he truly didn't want the little guy to grow up so quickly.
However… looking at Xiaoman’s obedient sleeping face, Gu Yan thought, if Xiaoman could be like her brother and sister-in-law, then… she should be alright, right? At least she wouldn’t be as worrisome as him.
Just as I was lost in thought, my brother and sister-in-law walked in hand in hand.
Gu Xiao saw Gu Yan holding the sleeping Xiao Man, so he walked over quietly and helped his son take off his shoes and trousers.
Gu Yan cooperated by putting Xiaoman into the crib and pulling the blanket over her.
"She fell asleep for a while, and even said she wanted to go to the temple fair this afternoon."
Nan Zhiyi stood by the bed, tidying the stray hairs from her son's forehead, and asked Gu Yan, "Why don't you come along too? To clear your head?"
Gu Yan wasn't particularly interested, but he nodded nonetheless: "Okay, go ahead. I'm just killing time anyway."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiao assigned the task without any hesitation, "That's perfect. You'll be Xiaoman's driver when she wakes up."
Gu Yan was already used to his brother's blatant "exploitation." "I know, I know, a driver is fine. I'm going back to lie down for a while. Xiaoman will wake me up when she wakes up."
He waved his hand and turned to leave.
Gu Xiao closed the door, then came back and embraced her from behind.
"Want to sleep for a while?" he said softly, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
"I'm not going to sleep. I need to hurry up and finish some manuscripts. Once the holiday is over and I return to Beijing, Editor-in-Chief Lin will probably be calling me every day to urge me to finish."
Nan Zhiyi felt a chill run down her spine when she thought of Lin Yuan's persistent spirit.
Gu Xiao's arm remained around her waist as he conceded, "Alright. Then you can focus on writing one section now, and don't stay up late tonight, it's bad for your health."
Nan Zhiyi smiled guiltily, not daring to make any promises.
When it comes to writing, inspiration strikes like a torrent, regardless of day or night.
She sat down at her desk and spread out her manuscript paper.
Gu Xiao pulled up a chair, sat down next to her, and started looking at the documents as well.
Sunlight streamed in through the window at an angle, and the sound of pages turning was soft and gentle.
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