Chapter 340 Spending money as you please
He picked up the microphone: "This is Gu Xiao."
On the other end of the phone was Gu Yan. "Brother, I'll be going back to Beijing in a few days, but it won't be until after the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"I understand. Are you going back by yourself? Or..." Gu Xiao didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Gu Yan gave a wry smile on the other end of the phone, "Go back yourself... Wenjing is busy and can't get away."
He simply couldn't bring himself to tell his brother that Ruan Wenjing might have unilaterally ended the relationship, and that he felt powerless to even try to salvage it.
Gu Xiao didn't notice the slight awkwardness in his younger brother's tone, and simply followed his own train of thought to ask, "Did your sister-in-law send the holiday gift she prepared for you to your boyfriend's family?"
He felt this was a matter of courtesy, and also a responsibility his younger brother should bear.
Gu Yan choked up; his brother really knew how to bring up the most sensitive topics.
"I sent them yesterday..." Unfortunately, the gifts, along with him, were politely but firmly rejected.
His father's words echoed in his ears again: "Gu Yan, your Gu family is very good, and you are capable. But you know our family's situation. We would prefer Wenjing to marry a child from a family we have a long-standing friendship with, someone we know well, so everyone can feel at ease."
Gu Yan didn't mention being rejected; he just wanted to end the topic as soon as possible.
Gu Xiao, hearing his ambiguous tone, assumed it was just a common occurrence for young people to have disagreements and didn't delve into it further. He simply said, "Alright, let me know you're coming back in advance. Be careful on the road."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Yan leaned back on the sofa in his hotel room and rubbed his temples.
He's been feeling down these past few days. He's suffered setbacks in his relationship, and although he's still doing well in business, there's an emptiness in his heart.
It just so happens that Mr. Ma, a Hong Kong businessman, is interested in investing and building a factory in the mainland. In addition to the Pearl River Delta, he also wants to go to the Beijing-Tianjin area, which has a better industrial base, to investigate the environment and policies.
Gu Yan offered to accompany Ma Sheng north, partly to show hospitality and strengthen their relationship, and partly because he genuinely wanted to return to the capital to see his family and relax.
The capital city, evening.
Nan Zhiyi was very happy to learn that Gu Yan was returning to the capital.
She hugged Gu Xiao's neck. "Really? The rooms are all ready, we can move in after tidying up! We need to think about what he likes to eat... He's been in the south for most of the year, and he's used to Cantonese food. I wonder if he'll miss the northern flavors? How many days can he stay? Will Wenjing come back with him?"
She asked one question after another, full of anticipation.
Gu Xiao lifted her up by her hips and legs, holding her more securely in his arms to prevent her from falling.
Hearing her constantly mention Gu Yan, he raised an eyebrow: "You're so happy that Gu Yan is back?"
Nan Zhiyi wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, climbed up a little, and whispered in his ear, "I'm happy to have any relatives or friends come. But is it the same for Gu Yan? He's your younger brother, and you grew up together. Of course, I want the best for him."
As she spoke, she gently nuzzled his cheek.
Gu Xiao snorted softly, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
Both of them knew exactly what was going on.
Gu Xiao wasn't truly jealous. Nan Zhiyi's concern for Gu Yan, just like her concern for Zhang Yueran, was pure familial affection.
At this moment, one feigns dissatisfaction while the other speaks tenderly and gently; it's nothing more than a tacit understanding between husband and wife.
Just as the two were cuddling, the study door was gently pushed open a crack. Xiaoman peeked in with her fluffy little head and immediately saw her parents pressed tightly together, with her mother being held by her father.
The little guy immediately pouted so high his lips could hang an oil bottle; he was really jealous!
Upon seeing her son, Nan Zhiyi quickly got off Gu Xiao.
Xiaoman ran in and hugged her mother's leg, tilting her little face up to protest, "Mommy! Hug me!"
Nan Zhi smiled and bent down to hug her son.
Xiaoman wrapped her little arms tightly around her mother's neck, burying her face in her shoulder as if asserting her ownership, while secretly glancing at her father.
Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but chuckle and coaxed him softly, "Xiaoman, I have good news for you! Your uncle is coming back! He's the uncle who used to buy you lots and lots of toys, remember?"
Xiaoman tried hard to recall, but he hadn't met many male elders, and his impression of Gu Yan had long faded.
He raised his little face and blinked blankly.
Nan Zhiyi patiently explained, "Your uncle is your father's younger brother, and he's your only uncle. He really likes Xiaoman."
Xiaoman nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
After being repeatedly reminded by her mother for several days, Xiaoman firmly remembered an important piece of news: her uncle was coming back.
That afternoon, as soon as the kindergarten bell rang, he looked longingly towards the gate, just like always.
Unexpectedly, today I not only saw the familiar Aunt Zhang, but also a tall uncle in a stylish jacket standing next to her, smiling at him.
Sister Zhang took Xiaoman's hand, bent down and said to him, "Xiaoman, this is your uncle! Say hello to your uncle."
Gu Yan arrived home in the afternoon, had a cup of tea, and when Sister Zhang mentioned that she was going to pick up her nephew, he offered to go with her.
At that moment, looking at the little guy whose features vaguely resembled his older brother and Zhiyi, he bent down and picked Xiaoman up, even bringing his nose close to the little guy's neck for a deep breath.
"Our Xiaoman is so delicious! It's like a little sugar cake!" Gu Yan really misses this taste.
Xiaoman was suddenly picked up by her uncle, who was so close to her. Her face turned slightly red, and she instinctively wanted to dodge, but she also thought that the uncle's smile was very handsome and that his arms were very strong.
As he was carried out of the kindergarten, feeling the curious glances from the other children, he felt a surge of joy, and his little hands involuntarily wrapped around Gu Yan's neck.
He also smelled his uncle's scent, wrinkled his little nose, and said, "Uncle, it smells a little good, but it also smells a little bad."
Gu Yan laughed heartily. He was wearing cologne, but he was covered in dust from traveling around Beijing and Tianjin with Ma Sheng these past few days.
He hugged Xiaoman tightly, saying, "Your dad is the one who smells sweaty, but your uncle smells wonderful."
Seeing the uncle and nephew getting along so well, Sister Zhang said to Gu Yan, "Comrade Gu, why don't you take Xiaoman for a stroll around the neighborhood first? I'd better hurry back to prepare dinner; my sister-in-law said she'll cook a few more dishes tonight."
Gu Yan: "Okay, I'll take care of Xiaoman, no problem."
He patted the little one in his arms and said, "Come on, Xiaoman, let's go for a walk and see if there's anything good to eat or fun to do. Uncle will buy it for you."
Xiaoman hugged her uncle's neck and nodded vigorously, "Okay, Xiaoman has money, let's spend it together, Uncle."
Xiaoman gestured to his uncle to put him down.
He held it up in his little hands and presented it to Gu Yan, his sweet little voice full of pride: "This is the allowance my mom gave me! I can spend it however I want with my uncle!"
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