Chapter 435| Chapter 436| Chapter 437
Chapter 435: Punished to Stand
“Mommy and Daddy will be right beside you as you grow up,” Gu Tingxiao said gently. “Yiyi, always remember that we are your greatest supporters. If you ever run into any danger, you must tell us immediately. Mommy and Daddy will always protect you.”
Yiyi nodded solemnly, engraving these words into her heart. She promised herself that whenever danger arose, she would find her parents. Nestled safely in Gu Tingxiao’s strong arms, she leaned her little body against him and held Sheng Wanyan’s hand, enveloped in an absolute sense of security.
Years later, when Yiyi grew up to become a towering figure in her industry, she would never forget the profound safety her parents gave her this day. In the face of every hardship and peril, she would recall these words, knowing she had the unwavering backing of her parents behind her.
The family of three had a private sleeper carriage to themselves. Though the multi-day train journey could have been tedious, it passed surprisingly smoothly. The main reason was the combined presence of Yiyi and Maodou; between the toddler and the dog, Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao rarely had a moment to sit still.
Along the way, Yiyi transformed from a quiet, soft-spoken toddler into an endlessly curious little investigator. No matter what she saw or heard, her immediate response was to ask, “Why?” It was clear she had entered that universal childhood phase of having a hundred thousand questions a day about absolutely everything.
“Wife, let’s take Yiyi to the dining car for a look,” Gu Tingxiao suggested. They had been cooped up in the carriage for four days, and Yiyi was growing restless. Gu Tingxiao, ever the indulgent father, had no intention of stifling his daughter’s curiosity.
“Alright,” Sheng Wanyan agreed. “Eat your breakfast first, Yiyi, and then Mommy and Daddy will take you out.”
She peeled a hard-boiled egg and a small sweet potato, prepared a warm bottle of milk, and set them on the small table. Yiyi stared at the round egg, knowing exactly what her mother meant. She had to eat the dreaded egg yolk, or the outing was off. Left with no other choice, the little girl bravely choked down the entire egg, ate a few bites of the sweet potato, and chugged her milk.
Seeing that she had made a genuine effort, Sheng Wanyan didn’t force her to finish the rest of the sweet potato. The leftovers naturally ended up in Gu Tingxiao’s stomach. He washed out her bottle, refilled it with hot water, and prepared to head out.
Leaving Maodou to guard their carriage, the couple led their daughter toward the dining car to broaden her horizons. Since it wasn’t mealtime and most passengers packed their own dry rations to save money, the dining car was relatively empty.
The family found a clean table and sat down. As Yiyi curiously scanned the room, her eyes suddenly locked onto a nearby table filled with foreigners. Her eyes widened into saucers. What kind of monsters are these?! she wondered in shock. Why is their hair so yellow and their skin so pale?!
She immediately fired up her endless barrage of questions. Sheng Wanyan followed her gaze. With the nation on the cusp of opening up, international cooperation was beginning, and foreign delegations were becoming highly valued by the state. The train attendants were hovering nearby, treating the group with the utmost courtesy to help the country earn precious foreign exchange.
Recognizing that the group likely hailed from Country Y or Country E, Sheng Wanyan leaned in to explain the concept to her daughter. “Those are foreigners, Yiyi, not Chinese people. The world is very big and filled with many different countries. There are people with yellow skin, black skin, and white skin. Every place is unique. The people, the buildings, the customs, and the scenery—they are all wonderfully different.”
She tried to use the simplest terms possible, worried that the concept might be too profound for a toddler. Yiyi listened in sheer awe. Is the world really that amazing?!
Yiyi continued to stare openly at the group. Naturally, the foreigners noticed the intense scrutiny. At first, they felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at, but when they saw it was coming from such an adorable child, their expressions softened, and they smiled and waved. In many Western cultures, children were cherished and treated with immense warmth. Seeing their friendly gestures, Yiyi completely dropped her earlier apprehension and happily waved back.
“Oh my god! What an angel baby!” one of them exclaimed in English.
Yiyi was undeniably cute. Her skin was fair and rosy, and she was dressed impeccably in a pair of brown corduroy overalls sewn by Sheng Wanyan, topped with a fluffy white winter jacket. With plush snow boots on her feet and a small animal-shaped backpack strapped to her shoulders, she looked ridiculously adorable.
The foreigners couldn’t help but stare. In their preconceived notions, Chinese children were all painfully thin, dark-skinned, timid, and dressed in drab, patched-up clothes. After all, the Western world’s understanding of China was still quite limited and often biased. Coming from rapidly developing nations, they harbored a deep-seated condescension toward a country that seemingly had to borrow technology and funds for everything.
But Yiyi completely shattered their stereotypes. How could China produce such a bright, chubby, stylish, and supremely confident child? It was unbelievable. They rubbed their eyes, wondering if they had vastly underestimated the nation. Perhaps China really is a worthy partner after all?
Little did Yiyi know, her chubby cheeks and bright smile had just inadvertently won her country several future international partnerships.
After getting her fill of the excitement, Yiyi felt a wave of hunger and sleepiness wash over her. She pulled an apple from her little backpack and began to munch on it. Sheng Wanyan had washed it earlier so it would be ready whenever the girl wanted a snack. After eating half, Yiyi couldn’t manage another bite and handed the rest to her mother. In their family, Sheng Wanyan always finished Yiyi’s leftover fruit, while Gu Tingxiao generally abstained from snacks, preferring to leave all the good things for his wife and daughter.
Once snack time was over, Sheng Wanyan picked Yiyi up to head back to their carriage. But Yiyi kicked her little legs, demanding to be put down so she could walk like a big girl.
Sheng Wanyan set her down. The moment her boots hit the floor, Yiyi took off down the aisle like a bird freed from its cage, her little feet pitter-pattering against the floorboards.
Gu Tingxiao instantly snatched her up by the collar of her jacket. His face darkened into a stern, terrifying scowl. “Yiyi, didn’t Daddy explicitly tell you that the train is dangerous and you are absolutely not allowed to run off by yourself?”
“Yes,” Yiyi squeaked, shrinking back in fear. When Gu Tingxiao got genuinely angry, his commanding aura was so intimidating that even Sheng Wanyan felt a bit nervous, let alone a toddler.
“So what exactly did you just do?” he demanded.
“I ran away,” she admitted, her lower lip trembling. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Even though she apologized instantly, Gu Tingxiao was not about to let this slide. Running on a moving train was a massive safety hazard. “Go back to the carriage and stand in the corner,” he ordered coldly.
Without another word, he carried the chastised toddler back to their compartment, with Sheng Wanyan following silently behind. Yiyi threw a pleading look at her mother, begging for rescue. Sheng Wanyan immediately looked up at the ceiling. What just happened? I didn’t see anything. I have no memory of this event.
Back in their private carriage, Yiyi was ordered to face the window as punishment. Gu Tingxiao stood right behind her, his gaze locked onto her back like a hawk.
Yiyi didn’t dare move an inch. However, since the train swayed and rattled constantly, it was hard for her to keep her balance, so she reached out her little hands to grip the edge of the small table.
“Stand there for ten minutes,” Gu Tingxiao commanded.
Yiyi clung to the table, staring mournfully out the window as she served her time. Gu Tingxiao remained right behind her, ensuring she didn’t dare slack off. Meanwhile, Sheng Wanyan sat cross-legged on her bunk, casually eating a pear and staring intently at the ceiling, trying her absolute hardest not to feel sorry for the little troublemaker.
Chapter 436: A Pregnant Mrs. Gu and the Arrival in the Capital
Every now and then, Yiyi would steal a glance at her mother, her eyes locked onto the juicy pear in her hand.
Sheng Wanyan felt a fleeting pang of guilt. Was it terrible of her to enjoy a refreshing snack right in front of her disciplined daughter? She wrestled with her conscience for a whole two seconds before deciding to finish the pear first and deal with the consequences later.
“What are you looking at? Eyes forward,” Gu Tingxiao’s deep voice boomed from above.
Yiyi quickly pulled her round head back and went back to staring straight out the window at the passing scenery.
By the time Sheng Wanyan finished her fruit, Yiyi’s ten minutes were up. The little girl clambered onto the opposite bunk and sat down, glaring crossly at her mother. Sheng Wanyan, in turn, looked over at Gu Tingxiao, who was completely at a loss as to how to break the sudden tension between mother and daughter.
Did my standing punishment somehow cause a rift between them? he wondered.
“Well, it’s time for lunch,” Gu Tingxiao announced, hoping to break the ice.
The word lunch instantly worked its magic. Yiyi’s hostility vanished, replaced by an intense stare directed at the tin containers in his hands. Gu Tingxiao placed the lunchboxes into a basin of hot water, letting them soak until the food inside warmed up through the residual heat.
The family of three happily finished their meal and settled down for an afternoon nap. No one breathed a word about the morning’s incident. After all, every member of the family was currently harboring their own guilty conscience and hidden motives.
Following that day, Yiyi lost her enthusiasm for exploring the rest of the train. She stayed obediently inside their private sleeper compartment, content to play with her small toys for the remainder of the journey.
Back in the Capital, the Gu family had been tracking their travel schedule meticulously. Because this trip marked their little granddaughter’s very first visit to the capital, Father and Mother Gu took the matter incredibly seriously.
The entire estate had been thoroughly scrubbed, and the guest quarters were beautifully prepared. Father Gu had even hand-built a custom wooden crib for Yiyi. Considering that she was already two and a half years old, he had made the frame extra spacious so she could stretch out and sleep comfortably. Mother Gu had outfitted it with a plush, soft mattress and immaculate bedding. To top it all off, the family elders had bought a mountain of toys and arranged them neatly across the room.
Everything was prepared and waiting for the guests of honor.
Father Gu had even insisted on driving to the train station to pick them up himself, as his longing for his granddaughter had grown immense.
Since today was the day of the grand family reunion, the members of the fourth branch were naturally invited back to the main estate for dinner. Over the past few months, Wang Chunmei’s attitude toward Mother Gu and Eldest Brother Gu Tinghao had grown increasingly subdued. She no longer dared to nitpick or throw subtle barbs like she used to. Instead, she quietly hovered around Mother Gu and Eldest Sister-in-law, helping them prep the multi-course meal in the kitchen.
Her sudden compliance was driven by a single, terrifying thought: she was deeply afraid of angering Mother Gu, which could jeopardize her own son’s future standing within the family hierarchy. After all, Grandpa Gu had made it bluntly clear during their last dispute that the family had plenty of descendants—and more importantly, Eldest Sister-in-law was pregnant!
If Mrs. Gu gave birth to another boy, Wang Chunmei’s son would lose whatever remaining leverage he had within the lineage. If she managed to alienate the main branch again, her own son would likely grow up to resent her for ruining his prospects.
“Tinghao’s wife, you can’t handle the heavy smell of cooking fumes right now. Go sit down in the living room,” Mother Gu commanded, gently nudging her daughter-in-law out of the kitchen workflow. With a full-time domestic helper on staff, there was absolutely no need for a pregnant woman to strain herself.
Mrs. Gu was currently two and a half months along, which was why they hadn’t broadcast the news to Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao yet.
“Mom, I’m perfectly fine,” Mrs. Gu protested gently. “My brother-in-law and his wife are arriving today. As the eldest sister-in-law, I want to show them how much we welcome them.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She hurried over to the sink, retching quietly. Seeing this, Mother Gu immediately shoed her out of the kitchen with an affectionate scold.
“You’ve already bought a mountain of beautiful new clothes for Yiyi; that’s more than enough hospitality. The most important thing for you right now is to protect your health and rest. Are you going to disobey your mother?”
Mother Gu feigned an angry expression. Seeing that her mother-in-law was truly digging her heels in, Mrs. Gu didn’t dare push her luck further.
“Don’t be upset, Mom. I’ll go rest right now,” she smiled compliance.
“Xiaofang! Come over here and look after your mother,” Mother Gu called out toward the backyard.
Gu Jinfang, who had been playing with his younger cousins on the lawn, heard his grandmother’s shout and sprinted inside to help his mother to the sofa. Mrs. Gu watched her son, her heart swelling with warmth mixed with a tinge of maternal guilt.
“Mom, go ahead and lie down. I’ll help Grandma in the kitchen,” Gu Jinfang offered stoutly.
At ten years old, he was already a reliable young man, capable of looking after his parents and respecting his elders. Whenever he had free time, he would help look after the younger children or gently massage Grandpa and Grandma Gu’s hands and feet to soothe their aches. He would turn eleven right after the Lunar New Year. Ever since he learned that the college entrance examination had been officially reinstated, he had set his sights on an ironclad goal: he was going to gain admission to the National Defense University! He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an exemplary soldier, understanding from a tender age that protecting his family was his ultimate duty.
“Grandma doesn’t need your help in the kitchen, Xiaofang,” Mother Gu smiled warmly, assigning him a different post. “Your unique mission is to anchor yourself right here and ensure your mother doesn’t lift a single finger.”
Gu Jinfang immediately straightened his spine, giving a solemn nod. He promised he would guard his mother like a sentinel.
At his age, he only felt a pure, protective excitement regarding the upcoming arrival of a sibling, with zero sense of sibling rivalry or existential crisis. Brother Gu and Mrs. Gu had doted on him as their only child for a decade, giving him an unshakeable sense of emotional security.
Initially, the couple had hesitated when they discovered the pregnancy, worrying that a new baby would naturally divide the love they poured into their firstborn. They had sat down for a thorough, open discussion with Gu Jinfang before making a final decision—and the boy had enthusiastically declared that he wanted a little brother or sister! Mrs. Gu was no longer in her youth, and a late-term pregnancy carried undeniable physical risks, but seeing the genuine longing in her son’s eyes, she couldn’t bear to disappoint him.
She also understood her long-term responsibilities toward her eldest son. She knew that when she and her husband eventually grew old and departed this world, Gu Jinfang would be left entirely alone if they didn’t provide him with a sibling. Having a brother or sister meant he would have a lifelong blood relative to share his burdens and walk beside him through life’s trials.
Gu Jinfang sat on the armchair, his eyes pinned tightly on his mother to ensure she rested. Watching his hyper-vigilant expression from across the room, Grandpa and Grandma Gu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Our Xiaofang is going to make an incredible older brother,” Grandma Gu noted fondly, her heart entirely at ease.
“Grandma, I really hope it’s a little brother,” Gu Jinfang piped up, his eyes shining. He wanted a brother so he could take him out to play every afternoon, teach him how to be a real man, and groom him to be his successor as the ultimate leader of the kids in the military compound.
“A brother or a sister, it makes no difference,” Grandma Gu smiled gently, smoothing his hair. “They will both be cherished children of our Gu family line.”
Gu Jinfang grinned. While he would certainly protect a little sister with his life, his boyhood heart still yearned for a brother. After all, boys naturally loved roughhousing together.
“If it turns out to be a sister, I’ll make sure no one ever dares to bully her,” he declared fiercely.
Mrs. Gu smiled warmly at his words. The fact that her eldest son accepted the pregnancy so completely lifted a massive psychological weight from her shoulders. Of course, she and Brother Gu would ensure their primary focus and guidance remained anchored on Gu Jinfang. As the primary heir of the Gu family’s main line, he required rigorous training and careful upbringing; the heavy mantle of the family’s legacy would ultimately rest on his shoulders. He was her firstborn, and she had spent ten years carefully shaping his character; it was impossible for a new infant to displace his position in her heart.
Meanwhile, the southbound locomotive pulled into the central terminal smoothly. Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao stepped out into the Capital station courtyard at exactly 3:30 in the afternoon.
After being cooped up in a train carriage for a solid week, the family had entirely exhausted their initial high spirits. Yiyi lay listlessly over Sheng Wanyan’s shoulder, her energy completely drained, though she still tightly clutched Maodou’s leash in her chubby fist as the retriever trotted faithfully behind them.
The moment they cleared the exit gates, Father Gu spotted them through the crowd. He sprinted forward alongside his security guards, eagerly reaching out to relieve them of their heavy suitcases.
“Yiyi, look who’s here,” Sheng Wanyan murmured softly, shifting the toddler’s weight. “Grandpa came to pick us up.”
Yiyi blinked her sleepy eyes, staring down curiously at the tall man standing before her.
Chapter 437: Return to the Compound
Yiyi had absolutely no memory of Father Gu. She simply stared up at him with wide, helpless eyes, her little face a picture of utter confusion.
“Dad,” Gu Tingxiao greeted, stepping forward.
Father Gu nodded at his son, but his gaze immediately snapped over to the little bundle in Sheng Wanyan’s arms. He leaned down slightly, his voice softening. “Yiyi, call me Grandpa.”
“Grandpa~”
Though she was still dazed from the long journey, Yiyi was a thoroughly polite child. She minded her mother’s previous instructions and chirped the title obediently.
“Good girl,” Father Gu beamed, his tough exterior instantly cracking. “Are you exhausted from the trip?”
Yiyi was too wiped out to speak; she just gave a slow, listless nod. Father Gu could tell at a glance that the little girl had suffered on the grueling train ride.
“Let’s get home first. Hurry up, let’s get inside the car so Yiyi can get some proper rest.”
Although Father Gu tried to maintain his usual stoic composure, every word out of his mouth was centered on his granddaughter, and his eyes flatly refused to leave her. He turned and gruffly urged Gu Tingxiao and the security guard to load the suitcases. “What are you two hesitating for? Can’t you see my precious granddaughter is so tired she’s lost all her energy? I swear, I don’t know how you handle being a father, brat.”
Sheng Wanyan carried Yiyi into the backseat, and Maodou hopped in right after them, curling up faithfully at her feet. Father Gu and the guard climbed into the front, while Gu Tingxiao slipped into the back next to his wife. Within moments, Yiyi slumped against Sheng Wanyan, her eyelids fluttering shut.
This window was usually Yiyi’s afternoon naptime, but because of the frantic rush to get off the train, she hadn’t slept a wink at noon. She had been riding an adrenaline high knowing they were arriving, but now that the excitement had passed, her heavy exhaustion caught up with her all at once.
“Wife, let me hold her,” Gu Tingxiao whispered, reaching out. Yiyi was growing rapidly and packing on healthy baby fat, making her quite a heavy load to hold for long stretches.
“I’ll hold her! Give her to me.”
Father Gu had been twisting around in the front passenger seat, monitoring the situation in the back. The moment he heard the child was going to sleep in someone’s arms, he couldn’t restrain himself any longer. “Yiyi, can Grandpa hold you while you sleep?”
Sheng Wanyan gently patted her daughter’s back to rouse her slightly. Yiyi gave a sleepy, dazed nod and willingly reached her chubby arms across the seat toward Father Gu.
The only problem was that Yiyi was still tightly gripping Maodou’s leash. As Father Gu pulled her into the front seat, the retriever’s neck was suddenly yanked straight up.
“Woof!”
Maodou stood up in pure horror, his eyes wide as if asking who was trying to assassinate him in the vehicle. Seeing the blunder, Sheng Wanyan hastily unpried the leather strap from Yiyi’s fingers, finally rescuing the poor dog.
Safe in the front seat, Yiyi fell into a deep sleep almost instantly. Her little body curled naturally into Father Gu’s broad, muscular arms, the plush skin of her cheeks squishing together against his jacket. Father Gu sat rigid as a statue, holding the toddler as if she were an unexploded artillery shell. He barely dared to breathe, terrified that the slightest movement would wake her.
Sheng Wanyan watched the scene in quiet amazement. She hadn’t expected Yiyi and Father Gu to bond so seamlessly after being apart for so long. Father Gu was a rough, imposing military commander who naturally radiated a fierce, intimidating aura forged from decades of command. Yet Yiyi wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest—a classic example of a tiny girl with a massive amount of courage.
An hour later, the car rolled up to the iron gates of the military compound. The sentries stepped out to conduct a routine security check, but the moment the guard lowered the window and revealed Father Gu, the sentry immediately snapped into a crisp salute, waving them through without daring to delay them further. After all, if anyone tried to audit the Commander-in-Chief’s private vehicle, the military hierarchy would turn upside down.
The car glided smoothly through the clean avenues of the compound and pulled up in front of the main Gu family residence. The extended family had been gathered on the porch for hours, scanning the road. The moment they heard the engine, they hurried down the steps to greet them. It had been over two years since the third branch had set foot in the Capital.
Grandpa and Grandma Gu had spent countless nights worrying about them, especially given the dangerous battlefield missions Gu Tingxiao had survived during his deployment.
“Tingxiao! Wanyan!”
“Hurry, hurry, come inside!”
Mother Gu sprinted out from the kitchen, muttering half-frantic welcomes, her legs moving so fast she practically left an afterimage in the snow. The moment she reached the car doors, she completely bypassed her son, grabbing Sheng Wanyan’s hands and inspecting her from head to toe.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law,” Sheng Wanyan greeted everyone warmly, ticking through the family titles.
Eldest Sister-in-law stepped forward, a warm welcome on her lips, but Mother Gu’s voice cut through the air like a rapid-fire machine gun.
“You’ve lost weight!” Mother Gu cried, turning a sharp gaze onto her third son. “Tingxiao, how on earth have you been caring for Wanyan? She looks thinner than she did during her last visit!”
Gu Tingxiao didn’t even attempt to defend himself against his mother’s standard operational complaint. He simply gave a quiet grunt and turned back to the trunk to heave out the heavy suitcases.
Sheng Wanyan, who had legally gained three pounds on her rich winter diet: “……”
At nearly 5 feet 6 inches and a healthy 105 pounds, she possessed a perfectly standard, elegant figure. But in the eyes of a traditional mother-in-law, anything less than absolute plumpness was considered starvation.
“Mom, I haven’t lost weight at all,” Sheng Wanyan laughed gently, shielding her husband. “Tingxiao dotes on me and Yiyi immensely. He takes wonderful care of us.”
Hearing her daughter-in-law defend her son so fiercely, Mother Gu’s face split into a proud, satisfied smile. It was clear the young couple’s relationship was as rock-solid as ever.
“Where is our Yiyi? Let me see my grandbaby!”
Grandpa and Grandma Gu craned their necks, peering into the backseat, but found no trace of the little girl. A sudden panic gripped Grandma Gu. Did they leave her behind? Is she staying with the Sheng family?
Father Gu stepped out of the front seat with extreme care. He was swathed in a heavy military overcoat, and since Yiyi was tucked completely beneath the thick canvas flaps, it was impossible to see her from a distance.
“Right here,” Father Gu muttered, parting the coat just enough to reveal a pair of miniature, furry snow boots. “She’s deep asleep. Let’s get her into the house before we inspect her. Don’t let the cold air hit her.”
“Yes, yes, hurry inside! The child is asleep, don’t let her catch a chill,” Grandma Gu urged hastily, shooing Father Gu toward the threshold.
Although a light snow was dusting the Capital, the weather here was practically paradise compared to the brutal, bone-chilling freeze of the Bing City. At the very least, stepping outside didn’t instantly turn a person’s limbs to stone.
Father Gu carried the precious bundle across the threshold, the crowd parting like the Red Sea to give him a clear path. Mother Gu and Eldest Sister-in-law affectionately flanked Sheng Wanyan, guiding her into the warm living room.
The house was incredibly lively. With the third branch’s return, the family compound suddenly boasted four children under one roof—and with the secret infant currently growing in Eldest Sister-in-law’s womb, the total would soon rise to five.
Father Gu settled onto the main sofa, entirely unwilling to relinquish his hold on the sleeping toddler. Since Yiyi was dead to the world, the family members gathered in a hushed circle, not daring to make a sound that might disturb her.
“Third Aunt,” a polite voice whispered.
Gu Jinfang stepped forward, his eyes bright with joy at his uncle and aunt’s return.
Sheng Wanyan smiled warmly at her nephew. “Xiaofang, look how tall you’ve grown! You’re practically a young man now.”
“Third Aunt,” a smaller voice chimed in. Gu Jingjing squeezed through the crowd, her face radiant. She had spent the last two years pining for her elegant aunt, and she could barely contain her excitement now that she was finally back.
Sheng Wanyan ruffled her hair tenderly. “And our Jingjing has shot up like a bamboo sprout, too.” Both children had matured beautifully, carrying themselves with the polite, sensible demeanor expected of the main Gu lineage.
“Third Aunt, this is Cousin Jinmin,” Gu Jinfang introduced, pointing to the youngest boy in the room—Fourth Brother Gu Tinghao’s son. It was Sheng Wanyan’s first time meeting the child, but she maintained an even, gracious composure, treating all the children with equal warmth.
“Jinmin, greet your elders,” Gu Tinghao commanded sharply, casting a stern look at his son.
It was Gu Jinmin’s first time looking upon his legendary Third Uncle and Aunt. Surrounded by the overwhelming gravity of the family patriarchs, the normally spoiled boy didn’t dare display a shred of his usual tantrums. He lowered his head and mumbled, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt.”
Gu Tingxiao gave a curt, expressionless nod, his military sternness intact, while Sheng Wanyan offered a polite, diplomatic compliment. “My, Jinmin is certainly a handsome young boy.”
Gu Tinghao watched his younger brother, his lips parting as if he wanted to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Ever since Gu Tingxiao had coldly declared years ago that he no longer recognized him as blood, an icy wall had stood between the two brothers. In truth, Gu Tinghao had frequently mailed dispatches north attempting to mend the rift, but Gu Tingxiao had unilaterally severed all personal communication.
“Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law,” Gu Tinghao finally managed to greet them, his tone subdued. He turned a cautious eye toward his wife, Wang Chunmei.
Wang Chunmei’s existence within the Gu estate had become incredibly precarious. Gu Tinghao’s affection for her had completely evaporated over the years, and if it weren’t for the sake of their young son, the couple would have legally divorced long ago. To preserve her marriage and safeguard her elite status as a daughter-in-law of the Gu lineage, she had been forced to thoroughly curb her malicious tongue, behaving with absolute compliance.
