Chapter 19 (Part 1)
At noon, Gan Ling was cooking in the kitchen. After several twists and turns, the house was back to normal, and once again, it was just her and her father, relying on each other for survival. The lost money and the jade bracelet Cheng Zhao had returned, but Gan Wenkang was not particularly happy. Gan Ling naturally understood his feelings. He had finally gotten along well with Wu Juan, but Wu Juan quit her job. Then came Liu Cui, and after only a week together, she packed up and ran away. Gan Wenkang was not the kind of person to be approachable, and it was rare for him to trust anyone outside his family. After these two misfortunes, he became even more depressed. Gan Ling comforted her father, saying that this was the nature of having a nanny: you would meet all kinds of people, and after all, if you were not satisfied, you could find another one until you were satisfied. "No more, just live like this! Let's die." Of course, angry words don't count, but Gan Ling couldn't bring it up again, so she could only secretly keep an eye out for the right candidate. Her time at the bookstore was cut in half, arriving half an hour later in the morning and returning home an hour earlier to cook at noon and in the evening. One morning, Gan Ling was awakened by the sound of ping-pong balls in the kitchen. She put on her clothes and went outside to find her father busy at work. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd try to make you breakfast. Who knows, oh..." Gan Wenkang's tone was filled with shame. The rice basket had fallen to the ground, and the rice was scattered all over the floor. He couldn't even squat down to clean it up. Gan Ling quickly leaned over to clean it up, comforting her father, "It's okay. Next time I'll prepare the rice in the evening, and you can just get up and plug in the rice cooker and make porridge." Gan Wenkang stood by and watched his daughter clean up without saying a word, but Gan Ling could sense the meaning in her father's silence: he didn't want to be a burden to his daughter. This incident lingered in Gan Ling's mind for a long time, making her sad, and she couldn't help but tell Cheng Zhao about it. "How about this? Next time you find a nanny, try her out with my mom for a while. If she's okay with her, then introduce her to your dad." Cheng Zhao suggested to Gan Ling. "But your mom and my dad are different people. Maybe your mom thinks she's okay, but he doesn't." "Then put her in your bookstore." "My store can't afford a new hire." "I'll pay her." "How does that work?" "I'm trying to help you solve your problem! It's not like that. I caused this problem, so it's my responsibility to fix it." The two of them lay on the large bed in bedroom 402, covered in fresh sheets. Gan Ling rested her head on Cheng Zhao's arm. Although Cheng Zhao had returned the money and the jade bracelet, he didn't dare take credit for it. After all, he had been the one who had let the wolf into the house in the first place. Gan Wenkang was still furious, so he couldn't...
At noon, Gan Ling was cooking in the kitchen. After some trouble, the house returned to normal, and once again it was just her and her father relying on each other.
The lost money and jade bracelet were returned to Cheng Zhao, but Gan Wenkang wasn't particularly happy. Gan Ling naturally understood his feelings. He had finally gotten along well with Wu Juan, but then she quit. Then there was Liu Cui, who, after just a week together, packed up and ran away. Gan Wenkang wasn't the easygoing type, rarely trusting anyone outside his family. After these two setbacks, he became even more depressed.
Gan Ling comforted her father, saying that this is what it’s like to have a nanny, you will meet all kinds of people, and if you’re not satisfied, you can always find another one until you are.
"I won't look for it anymore. I'll just live like this! I'll die if I want to."
Of course, words spoken in anger don't count, but Gan Ling couldn't bring it up again. She could only keep an eye out for suitable candidates. She cut her time at the bookstore in half, arriving half an hour later in the morning and returning home an hour earlier to cook at noon and in the evening.
One morning, Gan Ling was awakened by the sound of ping-pong in the kitchen. She put on her clothes and went out, and found that it was her father who was busy.
"I couldn't sleep, so I wanted to try and see if I could make you breakfast. Who knows, ah..."
There was shame in Gan Wenkang's tone. The rice washing basket fell to the ground and the rice was scattered all over the floor. He couldn't squat down to clean it up.
Gan Ling quickly bent over to clean up, comforting her father, "It's okay. Next time I'll prepare the rice in advance, and you can get up and plug in the rice cooker to make porridge."
Gan Wenkang stood by and watched his daughter clean up without saying a word, but Gan Ling sensed the meaning in her father's silence. He didn't want to be a burden to his daughter.
This matter lingered in Gan Ling's mind for a long time, making her sad, and she couldn't help but tell Cheng Zhao about it.
"How about this, when you find a nanny in the future, try her out with my mom for a while. If she thinks she's good, then introduce her to your dad." Cheng Zhao suggested to Gan Ling.
"But your mom and my dad are not the same people. Maybe your mom thinks it's good, but my dad thinks it's not."
"Then use it in your bookstore."
"I can't afford to hire a new person in my shop."
"I'll pay you."
"What's going on?"
"I'm trying to help you solve the problem! That's not the case. I caused this problem, so I'm responsible for solving it."
The two of them lay on the big bed in bedroom 402, which was covered with new sheets, with Gan Ling's head resting on Cheng Zhao's arm.
Although Cheng Zhao returned the money and the jade bracelet, he didn't dare take credit for it. After all, he was the one who let the wolf into the house in the first place. Gan Wenkang was still furious, so he naturally couldn't bring up the matter of meeting his parents again. The relationship stalled, and Gan Ling could only sneak upstairs to meet him. Cheng Zhao was very depressed.
"I can't be impatient about this matter with my dad. The more anxious I am, the more he'll think I despise him. So, I can only slowly waste time with him. I have to be calmer than he is. After a while, his anger will naturally subside."
"Yeah." Cheng Zhao pulled her hair. "You're quite good at dealing with your dad. What about me?"
Gan Ling turned to look at him.
"I'm worried, what will you do?"
Gan Ling burst out laughing, "Why are you in such a hurry? Am I not by your side?"
"But I want to hold your hand and wander around this building freely. I also want to enter your house openly without having to be so sneaky."
In short, he longed to be a part of the Gan family, and he wanted to help Gan Ling solve her problems.
Gan Ling said, "When you have time, let's go to the small park and run openly at night."
Cheng Zhao turned around and pressed her down, put his hands under Gan Ling's armpits, and whispered through gritted teeth, "You just fool me."
Gan Ling was ticklish and didn't dare to scream out loud, so she could only giggle, "Cheng Zhao, stop it! If you keep making trouble, I'll leave!"
After laughing and playing, they still snuggled together.
Cheng Zhao said, "Come to my house sometime! My mom wants to invite you to dinner."
"Did you tell her?"
"Yeah. There's nothing wrong with her. You know my mother has always liked you."
Gan Ling's eyes flashed to Cheng's mother's wrinkled face, a pair of shrewd and powerful eyes. She didn't get to spend much time with Cheng's mother. Whenever she came to visit, she always had a bright smile on her face. When she spoke to Gan Wenkang or Liu Xiao, her expression was filled with admiration. She was a completely different person from when she was fighting with her husband upstairs.
Cheng's mother was very polite to Gan Ling. Even if they met by chance on the road, she would run up to her and say a few words. But Gan Ling felt that Cheng's mother was a very realistic person, and her politeness did not mean 100% tolerance.
"Let's talk about it later." Gan Ling said with a hint of apology, "I don't have the heart to think about anything else right now. Let's talk about other things after my dad is done with his situation, okay?"
Although Cheng Zhao was disappointed, he also understood that compared to his mother, Gan Wenkang's attitude was the most important. If he didn't take him down, everything else would be in vain.
"Okay, you have the final say."
Tian Miao finally returned to work, looking a bit listless. Not long after he started, Ju Ming from next door came chasing him like a hound on the scent.
"Sanshui! How's your aunt? Why isn't her company open yet?"
Tian Miao just gave him one word: "Get lost!"
Ju Ming came in excitedly and left cursing, not even ordering the usual milk tea. Gan Ling wanted to ask about it, but seeing his attitude, she thought it was better to forget it.
When the store was empty, Tian Miao walked to Gan Ling's table and said, "Sister Ling, I haven't been here these few days. I'm sorry to have caused you trouble."
He was so polite that Gan Ling was a little confused. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Did your aunt ask you to say that?"
Tian Miao nodded.
"How is she...?"
Tian Miao was tall, and he stood in front of Gan Ling. Gan Ling had to look up at him, which was not only tiring but also felt particularly oppressive. She waved her hand and said, "If you don't want to talk, then don't talk."
"We're still talking."
Gan Ling heard his calm tone and said, "Sit down and talk."
According to Tian Miao's explanation, he has been helping Tian Meiling sort out things at her house these days. The couple decided to divorce by agreement, with each getting half of the property. The daughter will stay with her father, and the house will belong to Zhou Zhenchuan. After the divorce, Tian Meiling will move out and live elsewhere.
"What about your aunt's company?"
Tian Miao shook his head. "I don't know. From what I see from her, she might not want to continue."
Gan Ling sighed. Another family was about to break up, and it was a couple she had once envied. But Tian Meiling was definitely stronger and more independent than herself, otherwise she wouldn't have remembered to remind Tian Miao to say hello to her in her busy schedule.
Han Xi interrupted from another table.
"Sanshui, I've almost prepared the materials for our live broadcast. I'm just waiting for you to come."
"Sure! I'm available anytime." Tian Miao remained seated opposite Gan Ling, his words addressed to both sides. "But I also discussed this with my aunt at home. She thinks live streaming is great, but the book business isn't likely to be very good because not many people read books anymore, especially antique books like this."
Han Xi asked, "So are we still going to do the live broadcast?"
"Do it! You can sell other things."
"Anything else? What to sell?" "Like stationery. Customize some nice pens and notebooks. You can even sell your handmade items together! Let's create a brand, and once we're famous, we can promote books as well. That's safer. That's what my aunt said!"
Han Xi said, "I think it's good! Sister Ling, do you think it's okay?"
Gan Ling listened for a long time and suddenly realized that these two were performing for him. They must have communicated with each other privately long ago.
She sucked her lips as if she had a toothache, "Well, you guys can do it as you see fit. If it works, that's great. If not, that's okay too. It's just for fun anyway."
Glancing at the time, it was already half past ten. She packed up her things and stood up, "I'm going back to cook—you two take care of the store."
As she walked out, she heard Tian Miao asking Han Xi, "Why do you have to go back to cook?"
"Her nanny ran away..."
Gan Ling sighed in her heart and suddenly felt confused about opening a bookstore. How long will this store, which she opened with her courage, survive, and where will it go?
Late at night, Gan Ling was awakened by a loud noise. She opened her eyes in the darkness, unable to tell whether the noise was a dream or reality. Out of caution, she turned on the desk lamp, got out of bed, and opened the door to check.
The living room was dark and silent. Gan Wenkang's door was closed. He was a light sleeper and preferred to sleep with the door closed, fearing disturbances from all kinds of noise. Gan Ling listened at her father's door, but there was no movement. She waited a moment, then turned to leave. Suddenly, there was another noise, as if someone had tripped. It was definitely coming from her father's room. She hurriedly pressed the doorknob and rushed in.
There was no light in the room, and Gan Ling called softly, "Dad!"
There was a muffled response from the ground.
Gan Ling flipped on the overhead light, revealing the scene in the room. Gan Wenkang lay on his side on the floor, his face flushed, his hand on his chest, unable to speak. A bottle of heart pills was scattered everywhere, along with a cup, a desk lamp, and other items scattered on the floor, likely pulled over by Gan Wenkang when he fell.
Gan Ling was so frightened that she rushed to her father's side, held up his head, stuffed two heart-saving pills into his mouth, and then pulled a pillow over to put under his father's head.
"Dad, hold on, I'm calling 120 right now!"
Gan Ling rushed into her room and grabbed her phone to make a call. While waiting, she stayed by her father's side, feeling a chill in her heart. At first, Gan Wenkang could still hum and ah a few times when Gan Ling started talking, though she couldn't hear what he was saying clearly. But soon he lost consciousness, his eyes closed, his face still purple, and he no longer responded to anything Gan Ling said.
Gan Ling was terrified. She couldn't imagine what life would be like without her father. The feeling of dependence she'd had since childhood was now stronger than ever. Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and she could clearly feel the cold water rising to her ankles, the surface of the water rising slowly, patiently waiting to swallow her completely, just like the darkest moment she'd experienced when her mother passed away.
In extreme fear and helplessness, Gan Ling suddenly thought of Cheng Zhao. He was sleeping upstairs tonight. With him by her side, perhaps she would not be lost again. She didn't care what time it was and opened her phone to dial Cheng Zhao's number.
The wait was so long that Cheng Zhao must have set his phone to vibrate before going to bed. He was a good sleeper, so it might be impossible to wake him up.
Gan Ling was lost in her thoughts, when suddenly she heard Cheng Zhao's voice.
"Gan Ling? What's wrong?"
"My dad, I..." Gan Ling's teeth were chattering, and the symptoms were getting worse faster than she expected.
Cheng Zhao's voice changed from confused to clear, "Did something happen to him? Don't worry, I'll be down right away!"
Hearing his voice, Gan Ling's heart suddenly felt at peace, like a drowning person grabbing a piece of driftwood. The cool tide receded from her heart, and soon her waist, abdomen, and feet were freed and restored to their normal temperature. She returned to the world of the living.
Gan Ling secretly adjusted her breathing, lowered her head to look at her father again, and suddenly she was not so scared anymore, because she knew that with Cheng Zhao there, she would no longer have to face these difficult times alone.
In less than two minutes, there was a bang on the door. Gan Ling gently let go of her father and ran over to open the door for Cheng Zhao.
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