Chapter 471| Chapter 472| Chapter 473
Chapter 471: Entertaining Guests
Gu Tong’s eyes welled with tears as she hugged Grandma Gu tightly, finally letting herself cry. She knew her illness was anything but minor; her hair had been falling out in clumps, and her last fainting spell had been caused by severe abdominal pain, not mere exhaustion. But she had forced herself to hide her panic in front of her family, terrified of causing her elderly parents any undue worry.
The mother and daughter remained in the bedroom for a long time, only emerging when dinner was ready. Both women’s eyes were red and swollen.
Grandpa Gu frowned at the sight, but none of the younger family members dared to ask what had happened. Knowing the Gu family’s immense resources and connections, they reasoned that even if there were a serious problem, the family would surely find a way to solve it.
Second Sister Gu, Gu Tingting, returned home with her family later that afternoon, carrying a massive haul of gifts. These were all sent by her mother-in-law, primarily consisting of wild game and mushrooms carefully foraged by their relatives in the countryside. With her formidable family background and exceptionally cheerful, outgoing personality, Gu Tingting was deeply cherished by her husband’s family. Even if there were any disgruntled sisters-in-law, none of them dared cross her; she wasn’t above settling disputes with her fists if she was unhappy. Her mother-in-law fully supported her, even occasionally handing her a stick during arguments—after all, the older woman had been quite the fighter in her youth as well.
“Aunt! It’s been far too long,” Gu Tingting greeted brightly, pulling Gu Tong aside to catch up.
Gu Tong smiled, equally delighted to see her lively niece. “Look at you, what a good girl. I had to come back and see you, didn’t I? Just promise me you won’t take your old aunt to the military base to watch you skydive again. I nearly had a heart attack just looking at you.”
Gu Tong’s greatest fear was still her niece’s fearless antics. She clearly remembered the time Gu Tingting had first joined the military and insisted on jumping out of an airplane right in front of her. Gu Tong had nearly fainted on the spot, utterly convinced the girl was plunging to her death.
“Aunt, what are you talking about? How could I possibly scare you?” Gu Tingting waved her hands defensively. Ever since that incident—which had resulted in her entire family stringing her up for a thorough thrashing—she hadn’t dared to pull a stunt like that again.
“You have the nerve to deny it?” Mother Gu chimed in, ruthlessly exposing her daughter. “I remember when you first enlisted. You absolutely insisted on showing off your new skills to your aunt. You fell out of the sky and flashed past her like a shooting star! She had never seen anything like that before, and watching her own flesh and blood do it gave her nightmares for days.”
Gu Tingting flushed with anger and embarrassment under her mother’s stern gaze. “Mom, that was years ago! Why do you keep bringing it up?”
“I’m your mother. Why can’t I bring it up?” Mother Gu retorted sharply.
Faced with her mother’s absolute authority, Gu Tingting didn’t dare say another word. In the Gu household, Mother Gu was the undisputed empress dowager, and her word was law.
Sitting quietly on a stool nearby, Yi Yi watched Second Sister Gu closely, her little mind whirring. What kind of special talent can I show Second Aunt to give her nightmares?
“Auntie!” Yi Yi called out, slipping off her stool.
Gu Tingting turned to look at her. “What is it, little one?”
Without missing a beat, Yi Yi dropped gracefully into a perfect split right there on the floor.
Gu Tingting’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. How is she so flexible? Even with all her rigorous military training, Gu Tingting still couldn’t manage a full split.
“Isn’t she tired?” Gu Tingting asked, staring at the little girl in bewilderment.
Sheng Wanyan pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting the urge to pretend this strange child wasn’t hers. But the family elders were thoroughly entertained. They burst into applause, praising Yi Yi for her magnificent performance. Children were naturally flexible, and stretching often only improved it further.
“Amazing!”
“My little cousin is incredible.”
“Come on, brother, you do one!” Ning Dongliang, Ning Junlin’s eight-year-old eldest son, nudged his three-year-old brother, Ning Donghua.
Little Ning Donghua shook his head frantically. I can’t do it! Please don’t make me!
“You’re half a year older than our cousin. How can you be so useless?” Ning Dongliang teased.
“You’re eight years old, so why don’t you do it?” the little boy muttered, lowering his head. He didn’t dare say anything more; his older brother hit hard, and he didn’t want to get punched.
After dinner, Gu Tong’s family prepared to retire early to rest after their long journey. Naturally, before they left, the children were showered with red envelopes. Sheng Wanyan prepared red envelopes for each of Gu Tong’s grandchildren, even making sure to set aside two extra envelopes for the grandchildren who hadn’t made the trip. She also handed two fresh red envelopes to Gu Tingting’s children. Although she had already given them gifts during the reunion dinner, it was the second day of the New Year, and a small token of appreciation was customary. Gu Tingting’s family reciprocated in kind, keeping the festive atmosphere lively.
Gu Tong’s family then moved into the cozy small courtyard Mother Gu had prepared for them. Later that night, Grandma Gu privately informed Grandpa Gu and Father Gu about Gu Tong’s condition.
Grandpa Gu’s expression immediately grew tense. After a moment of heavy thought, he made a decision. “We will go to the military hospital for a thorough examination tomorrow. If she needs treatment, she will get it, no matter the cost. We cannot afford to delay this.”
“Dad, I’ll accompany my sister tomorrow,” Father Gu offered. “You don’t need to run around.”
Tomorrow was the third day of the Chinese New Year, meaning the Gu household would be flooded with visitors—subordinates and old friends of Grandpa Gu and Father Gu coming to pay their respects. Either Grandma Gu or Mother Gu needed to stay behind to manage the household. Since Eldest Sister-in-law Gu was thirty-four and pregnant, she couldn’t be expected to handle the strenuous task of entertaining guests.
“No, I have to go myself,” Grandma Gu said firmly. Her daughter was severely ill; how could she possibly stay behind?
With Grandma Gu insisting on going, Mother Gu decided she had to accompany her, leaving Sheng Wanyan responsible for entertaining the houseguests.
“Yan’er, I’m leaving the house in your capable hands for the next two days,” Mother Gu instructed gently, squeezing her daughter-in-law’s hand.
Sheng Wanyan nodded. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take care of everything.”
“I know you will. I have complete faith in you.” Mother Gu knew perfectly well that her third daughter-in-law possessed the grace and social acumen required of a matriarch. Though Sheng Wanyan generally preferred a more casual, unrestricted lifestyle compared to Eldest Sister-in-law Gu, she always rose to the occasion when needed.
The next morning, Grandma Gu and Mother Gu headed out for the hospital right after breakfast. Aware that his wife would be incredibly busy, Gu Tingxiao took charge of watching the children.
As expected, a steady stream of Grandpa and Father Gu’s subordinates and old friends began arriving to pay their respects. Eldest Sister-in-law Gu managed to help entertain the first few guests, but as the morning wore on, her energy clearly began to flag.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, please go rest,” Sheng Wanyan said, gently taking the tea set from her hands. “I can handle this.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu nodded gratefully. Her lower back was aching, and a wave of exhaustion was washing over her; she truly couldn’t stay on her feet much longer. “Thank you for your hard work, Third Sister-in-law.”
“Don’t mention it, Sister-in-law. We are both daughters-in-law of the Gu family. It’s no trouble at all.”
Hearing this, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu felt a rush of warmth and relief, shedding her guilt over being unable to help.
“Xiao Fang, help your mother upstairs to rest,” Sheng Wanyan called out softly.
“Coming, Third Aunt!” Gu Jinfang hurried over and carefully helped his mother up the stairs.
With Eldest Sister-in-law resting, Sheng Wanyan carried the fresh tea set into the living room and gracefully began serving the visiting officials.
“Old Gu,” one of the guests asked, looking at Sheng Wanyan with an appreciative smile, “is this your third grandson’s wife?”
Chapter 472: Early Gastric Cancer
Many of the elderly guests were instantly drawn to Sheng Wanyan’s elegant and meticulous tea-making technique.
“Yes, she’s our third daughter-in-law,” Grandpa Gu replied, beams of pride practically radiating from his face.
“Quick, bring her over so I can get a proper look! I don’t think I’ve met her before.”
“Exactly. When you get to our age, your memory is the first thing to go.”
“I think I caught a glimpse of her two years ago, but it’s completely slipped my mind.”
Several elderly women took Sheng Wanyan’s hands and began chatting with her warmly. Sheng Wanyan accepted their attention with poise and a comfortable smile.
“You elders have all sacrificed so much for our nation and are always occupied with important affairs,” she said gracefully. “It’s our duty as the younger generation to visit more often and show our faces. If anything, it’s we who have been inconsiderate.”
The old ladies beamed at her words. Listen to that, they thought. The girl truly knows how to speak. It makes a person feel appreciated just listening to her.
“Look at how sweet her tongue is!”
“Old Gu, you really are a lucky man.”
“Exactly. Your little owl of a grandson has fantastic luck. His taste in picking a wife is truly remarkable.”
Grandpa Gu raised his chin high, soaking in the flattery and envy of his old comrades. He felt immensely satisfied. “Naturally!” he huffed, puffing out his chest.
Sheng Wanyan poured the fresh tea for the visiting officials, masking a slight smile. This particular tea was a personal gift she had given to Grandpa Gu, and it was a rare event for him to be willing to share it with his old friends.
“This tea was given to me by my third grandson’s wife,” Grandpa Gu announced grandly. “Go ahead and try it.”
The guests had been waiting for this exact moment for a very long time. Over the past couple of years, every time Sheng Wanyan sent a batch of tea back, Grandpa Gu would display it prominently to show it off, yet he was always far too stingy to let anyone else have a drop. The elderly men had smelled the rich, soothing fragrance of the leaves and were practically salivating.
The old man was notoriously boastful and possessive with his treasures. Because he would let them smell the tea but never taste it, they had deliberately invented excuses to visit today just to bargain for a single sip.
“It smells absolutely divine!” one of the old men praised. They were overjoyed to finally taste the tea they had been coveting for months.
Some of them began secretly wondering if the Gu family’s third daughter-in-law had any extra stock left over. They wouldn’t mind paying a steep price to buy some to take home!
Unbeknownst to them, the tea Sheng Wanyan gave to Grandpa Gu and Father Gu was nourished with water from her private spiritual spring, making it completely impossible to sell. Besides, she wasn’t strapped for cash and had plenty of other ways to build her fortune; there was no need to turn her personal spring into a commercial business.
“You possess a remarkable talent for brewing tea, young lady. Where did you learn it?” the old men asked curiously, moving the conversation out under the shade of the courtyard trees as their gossiping instincts flared.
“I simply learned it all from books,” Sheng Wanyan replied smoothly. “If you seniors find it to your liking, it’s quite easy to figure out the steps at home.”
The old men exchanged skeptical glances. Books? Self-taught to this degree? Who would believe that? She’d have to be a genius.
Seeing the disbelief on his friends’ faces, Grandpa Gu immediately whipped out his ultimate trump card. “My third grandson’s wife happens to be a top-tier scholar! She scored the absolute highest rank in all of Bing City during the college entrance examinations!” He eyed them critically. “Do any of your households have a scholar like that?”
The guests stared at Sheng Wanyan with wide eyes. While the news of her admission to the university had circulated slightly, very few people knew she had actually been the top scorer of her region. Sheng Wanyan was naturally low-key, and the Gu family hadn’t gone out of their way to publicize it.
“What did you say? The top scorer?”
“Indeed! The overall number one!” Grandpa Gu gloated, looking thoroughly vindicated. “My granddaughter-in-law is a brilliant academic. You lot shouldn’t underestimate her.”
He leaned back, his eyes dancing with malicious glee as he looked at his old friends. “Though, I suppose it’s only natural that if your own families haven’t achieved such a feat, you wouldn’t understand the sheer joy of it. I understand. I truly do.”
Grandpa Gu adopted an air of supreme magnanimity, but his words made the other old men seethe with irritation. Did smoke practically rise from the Gu family’s ancestral graves to grant them this much luck? The top scorer of the entrance exams! An achievement like that would be celebrated as a monumental honor in any household. Furthermore, the nation was heavily prioritizing education and intellectual talent nowadays. The future belonged to academics. The Gu family was traditionally a pack of rough, reckless soldiers, yet the wives they married seemed to outshine each other at every turn.
“Haha… you’re acting as if you were the one who sat the exams and took the top spot,” one of the men grumbled sourly.
Grandpa Gu didn’t mind the barb in the slightest. He knew his old comrades were dying of jealousy. “Alas… there’s really no difference between my granddaughter-in-law passing the exam and me passing it myself. At the end of the day, isn’t she a member of our Gu family?”
He took a slow, agonizingly calm sip of his tea. For the first time all morning, the old guests found that the tea had lost its flavor, and they suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to pack up and go home.
Sheng Wanyan sat quietly to the side, watching the elders battle each other with sharp wit and historical rivalries. She didn’t dare interject, terrified that the crossfire might accidentally swing toward her. Even after the guests finally took their leave, Grandpa Gu kept his chin held high, a victorious smirk firmly plastered across his face.
However, the moment the courtyard was empty, his smirk vanished. He marched straight over to the telephone and dialed the office of the director of the military hospital. It was impossible for him to ignore his daughter’s condition all day; he had simply forced himself to maintain a stoic front to save face before his old peers.
The hospital staff informed him that the tests were still being processed and the final diagnosis wouldn’t be ready until later that afternoon.
Sheng Wanyan went to the kitchen to begin preparing lunch. With a house full of children and a pregnant eldest sister-in-law waiting to be fed, delaying the meal wasn’t an option.
“Grandpa, Dad, let’s have our lunch first,” she suggested softly as she brought out the dishes. “Once we’re finished, Tingxiao can head over to the hospital to deliver some food to Grandma and Mom and check on the results.”
Grandpa Gu nodded silently. Gu Tingxiao quickly swallowed a few bites, packed the hot meals into containers, and hurried out the door to the hospital.
Sheng Wanyan then took Yi Yi up to their room to rest. It was time for the younger children to take their afternoon naps anyway. Sensing the thick, heavy tension gripping the household, the children stayed unusually quiet and didn’t dare cause any trouble for Father or Grandpa Gu downstairs. Sheng Wanyan spent the rest of the afternoon keeping the older kids quietly occupied with drawing and painting in her room.
It was nearly dinner time when Grandma Gu, Mother Gu, and the rest of the group finally returned.
“How is she?” Grandpa Gu demanded immediately, stepping forward. Grandma Gu’s eyes were heavily bloodshot, a clear sign that she had been weeping.
Mother Gu stepped in to explain the situation to the family, her voice carrying a trace of profound relief that Gu Tong had caught the symptoms when she did. “It is stomach cancer.”
Grandpa Gu’s breath caught sharply in his throat. He stared at Gu Tong in utter disbelief, his knuckles turning white as his grip tightened around his walking stick.
“But thankfully, it is in its early stages,” Mother Gu clarified quickly. “The director assured us that it can be treated. He recommends a conservative approach combining modern medicine with traditional Chinese herbal therapy, and he’s even offered to bring in a national expert to oversee her case. However, the timeline is long, the specialized herbs are incredibly rare and expensive, and the financial cost will be significant. The treatment will take at least a year, and she will need to remain hospitalized here in the Capital.”
As Mother Gu laid out the details, the phrase ‘it can be treated’ finally allowed the heavy stone weighing on Grandpa Gu’s heart to drop.
“So, what are your plans?” Grandpa Gu asked, shifting his gaze directly onto Father Ning.
Ning Weiguo stepped forward, his expression resolute as he laid out their decision. “Dad, we are staying here for the treatment. We will cover the expenses, no matter how high they run. Although our savings aren’t vast, we have enough to cover Xiaotong’s medical bills for now. Besides, I receive my military salary every month, and our sons are old enough to support themselves. If any of them have an issue with supporting their mother, then we can simply split the household assets and they can leave.”
Before making the journey to the Capital, Ning Weiguo had already resolved that his wife was his partner for life; they would face whatever trials came their way together. If his sons or daughters-in-law raised even a single objection to funding her recovery, he would happily cut them loose to live on their own. Even if it meant losing every cent he owned, risking starvation, and going hungry every day, he was determined to cure his wife’s illness.
“Dad, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?” a voice interrupted firmly from the doorway.
Chapter 473: A Family Outing, Vomiting
“We will shoulder the responsibility together as a family,” the eldest son of the Ning family chimed in firmly. “If we have to live a bit more frugally, we’ll get through it.”
“That’s right,” his wife agreed. “We both have stable jobs. It’s just a matter of tightening our belts for the next two years to pull through together.”
The eldest son and daughter-in-law were quick to voice their loyalty. They had mentally prepared themselves for the worst before coming to the Capital. If they lost their savings, they could always earn it back. It wasn’t as if they were pouring money into a hopeless cause; why on earth would they give up on an illness that could actually be cured? At worst, the family would just live simply for a couple of years.
“Good. As long as you work together as a family, you can get through anything,” Grandpa Gu said, waving a hand dismissively.
All he had wanted was to see the attitude of his son-in-law’s family. Seeing how caring and unified they were brought a deep sense of relief; he knew he hadn’t chosen the wrong man for his daughter all those years ago.
“Your eldest brother and I have some savings as well,” Mother Gu spoke up. “Though it isn’t an immense fortune, it’s more than enough for an emergency. Just ask if you need anything, don’t be strangers.” She and Father Gu had earned quite a bit over the last two years, and while they had their own expenses, they still kept a solid emergency fund.
“Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Brother, Sister-in-law.”
“Thank you so much, everyone.”
Gu Tong’s eyes welled with tears. She felt incredibly grateful to have such wonderful parents and siblings; otherwise, she had no idea what kind of overwhelming crisis her household would be facing right now.
“Xiaotong will check into the hospital tomorrow, so don’t worry about a thing,” Grandma Gu comforted her gently, patting her arm. “Your father and I are right here. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
Gu Tong nodded, finally letting go of the tension in her chest. No matter how old a person got, they always found a unique sense of peace when they were wrapped in the care of their parents.
Sheng Wanyan remained quiet throughout the entire discussion. As a member of the younger generation, her role was simply to listen respectfully to the decisions of the family elders.
Gu Tong was officially admitted to the hospital the following day. According to their plan, Father Ning would stay to look after her for the first three months. Once his leave ended, the eldest daughter-in-law would take over the primary caregiving duties, while the younger daughter-in-law remained in Rong City to work and manage their home. If the eldest daughter-in-law grew too exhausted, the two of them would take turns to share the burden.
With Gu Tong settled into her hospital room, the frantic air of panic that had gripped the household over the past few days finally began to dissipate. Out of respect for Grandpa Gu, the traditional Chinese medicine expert took great care with the case. After a comprehensive evaluation, the physician recommended a conservative approach: first stabilizing her baseline health, then introducing acupuncture alongside premium medicinal herbs to nourish her body and spark a gradual recovery.
The expert assured them that as long as they strictly followed the medical advice, there was an 80% chance she would make a full recovery. Hearing such a high probability, Grandpa and Grandma Gu finally breathed a true sigh of relief.
“The medicinal herbs must be administered consistently without interruption; you must always keep a fresh supply on hand,” the master of traditional Chinese medicine explained, delivering a string of precise instructions that Father Ning and the eldest daughter-in-law quickly scribbled down. “Her body has been severely overworked, leaving her internal systems depleted. However, remember not to overdo the dosages. Take it slow and steady.”
“You can procure the specific herbs at this pharmacy,” the physician added, handing them a slip of paper with an address. “It’s run by an old colleague of mine who deals exclusively in top-tier ingredients. Just tell them you are a patient of mine.” Because many of the rare, specialized herbs weren’t kept in the standard hospital inventory, they would need to source them privately.
“Understood. Thank you so much, Doctor.” Father Ning wasted no time, rushing out immediately to purchase every single herb required for Gu Tong’s regimen.
Sheng Wanyan also paid a visit to the hospital to check on her aunt, bringing along several premium nutritional supplements. Seeing that the medical care and daily logistics were perfectly arranged, she quietly accompanied Mother Gu back home.
Naturally, a serious illness like Gu Tong’s couldn’t stay a secret for long, and the entire military compound was soon gossiping about it. But since illness is just a part of life, the neighbors chatted about it for a day or two before moving on to focus on their own affairs.
When the news reached Wang Chunmei, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Her father-in-law was notoriously proud and loathed calling in personal favors—he had flatly refused to pull any strings when her own husband was up for a promotion. Yet, for a daughter who had married out of the family, the old man was perfectly willing to swallow his pride and beg a national medical expert to intervene.
The blatant discrimination made her blood boil. It was clear as day that the fourth branch was viewed as lesser.
The moment Gu Tinghao walked through the front door that evening, Wang Chunmei began bitterly complaining to him. Her nagging instantly grated on Gu Tinghao’s last nerve. That was his aunt they were talking about, and it was a matter of life and death! How could she be this petty and small-minded at a time like this?
“That’s enough!” he snapped, cutting her off. “It is not your place to tell Grandpa how to handle his affairs. Just mind your own business and focus on not causing any more trouble!”
Hearing him turn the blame on her, Wang Chunmei erupted in anger, lunging into a full-blown argument. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m just a nosy outsider meddling in things that don’t concern me? Gu Tinghao, listen to yourself! Am I not a member of this Gu family? Why does everyone look at me like I’m some kind of criminal the moment I speak up? No matter what you think of me, I gave this family a great-grandson! Even if you don’t give me credit, you can’t deny my hard work!”
She grabbed Gu Tinghao’s arm tightly, blocking him from walking away. Gu Tinghao took a deep, exhausting breath, staring at her. Why is she so utterly blind?
It was she who had never treated the Gu family as her own in the first place! The only family she truly carried in her heart was the Wang family. He had given her countless opportunities and spent years waiting for her to change, yet she remained exactly the same—entirely consumed by her own narrow self-interest. There was only room for herself in her world; not him, and certainly not the children.
Even the fierce affection she showered on Gu Jinmin was entirely conditional; she only prized him because he was a boy who could secure her status in the household and help her climb to a position where everyone would envy her. If Jinmin’s surname weren’t Gu, would she still dote on him this much?
From the very beginning, she had only ever loved herself.
Once the rush of the New Year celebrations settled, Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao finally found themselves with some free time. By now, it was already mid-February, and she was eager to take Yi Yi out for some fun before the upcoming school semester began.
“You three go on ahead and enjoy yourselves as a family,” Mother Gu encouraged warmly. “Poor Yi Yi hasn’t had a proper chance to play yet.” Since Gu Tong had her husband, son, and daughter-in-law managing her hospital care, Mother Gu wasn’t needed at the bedside, giving her a rare opportunity to enjoy a few quiet days of rest at home.
The moment Yi Yi caught wind of the outing, she scrambled to put on her favorite outfit, slung her little schoolbag over her shoulders, and stood squarely by the door, waiting.
“Let’s go. We’ll take her to the Forbidden City first,” Sheng Wanyan said, looking at her daughter’s wide, expectant eyes.
She knew the little girl had been cooping up her energy for ages. It dawned on her that the three of them had never actually gone out on a proper family excursion before, and she was determined to give Yi Yi a beautiful childhood memory.
Over the next few days, Gu Tingxiao escorted them through the Capital’s most iconic landmarks: the sprawling courtyards of the Forbidden City, the breathtaking heights of the Great Wall, the historic ruins of the Old Summer Palace, the winding ancient alleyways of the Hutongs, and the picturesque lakes of the Summer Palace. They fully immersed themselves in the city, feasting on authentic Peking roast duck and stopping by local stalls to try the traditional fermented mung bean milk, known as douzhi.
The very first time the cup of douzhi was placed in front of Yi Yi, the pungent, sour aroma hit her nose so hard her head practically buzzed, leaving her completely stunned.
“Here, give it to your dad,” Sheng Wanyan choked out, coughing slightly. She couldn’t stomach the intense flavor either; after forcing down half a cup, she absolutely couldn’t take another sip.
Gu Tingxiao, however, was a born-and-bred the Capital native who genuinely loved the traditional drink. Without a hint of hesitation, he reached over and casually drained the remaining portions from both his wife and daughter.
Watching him gulp it down with such relish, Yi Yi stared at him in utter disbelief, clearly convinced there was something fundamentally wrong with her father’s tastebuds. Driven by a sudden spike of toddler curiosity, she leaned over, picked up the cup, and tentatively took two more big gulps.
The next second, her tiny face contorted, and she vomited instantly—splattering the thick liquid entirely across Gu Tingxiao’s trousers.
Gu Tingxiao’s face turned black in an instant. Realizing what she had done, the little girl quickly offered a panicked, apologetic whimper to her father. Sheng Wanyan, meanwhile, had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. It was a rare treasure to see her usually unflappable husband completely defeated by his own daughter; she was going to enjoy every second of it.
“I’m sorry, Daddy…”
“…Fine, I forgive you,” Gu Tingxiao muttered, taking a deep, calming breath before heading to the restroom to clean his pants. The fermented milk was a thick, milky off-white, and clinging to his trousers like that, it looked incredibly suspicious.
The little family spent five full days exploring the city until they were thoroughly exhausted and deeply satisfied, feeling as though they had unlocked a completely new world together.
