Volume 1, Chapter 11: Brother, Just Say It If You Have a Crush on Su Nuan!
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Song Niannian had only meant to provoke the hot-tempered Su Nuan into picking a fight with Zhang Ping, but she had never imagined that things would turn out this way. And with Su Nuan refusing to argue back, would that not make Song Niannian look like someone who enjoyed stirring up trouble?
Grandmother Gu had lived long enough to understand exactly what was going on. The amiability in her gaze toward Song Niannian faded, replaced by a trace of displeasure.
Song Niannian noticed, but knowing that the more she said, the worse things would become, she could only swallow her anger and take all the blame upon herself. “How could this be Sister Su Nuan’s fault? It’s all my fault... I shouldn’t have spoken carelessly. I’m sorry, Auntie Zhang. I’m sorry, Sister Su Nuan.”
With someone taking the initiative to admit fault, Zhang Ping’s expression improved considerably. Su Nuan, meanwhile, was positively delighted, her brows lifting high.
“All right, all right. It was just a misunderstanding. Those two girls came all this way through the floodwaters. They must not have eaten properly along the way. Second Daughter-in-Law, hurry and make them something to eat.”
Afraid that her daughter-in-law might complain about her younger son in front of outsiders, Grandmother Gu dragged Zhang Ping into the kitchen first. Worried that she had offended the Gu family because of what had just happened, Song Niannian hurried after them.
Only the Gu brothers and Su Nuan remained in the courtyard, facing one another.
“Sister Su Nuan, my mother... she’s usually a very good person. It’s just that whenever something involves my father, she gets impulsive. She truly didn’t mean anything by it today. I hope you can forgive her.”
Gu Jinghuai looked at Su Nuan, his face flushed red. In his eighteen years, he had never seen a girl as beautiful as her. He even thought she was prettier than the female stars from the Greater Bay Area who appeared on television.
The affection in the young man’s eyes was far too obvious. His stare made Su Nuan feel a little self-conscious, and she could only offer an awkward smile.
“It’s all right. My appearance does tend to cause misunderstandings. By the way, you’re Auntie Zhang’s son, aren’t you?”
“Yes! I... I’m Gu Jinghuai, the second son in the family. Sister Su Nuan, it’s very nice to meet you!”
Blushing, Gu Jinghuai extended his hand in greeting, but he had forgotten that he had spent the day kicking a ball around in the mud. His palm was blacker than coal.
“Uh... I...”
Too embarrassed for words, Gu Jinghuai tried scratching his cheek to ease the awkwardness. Instead, he turned himself into a mud-covered monkey, looking utterly ridiculous.
Su Nuan was amused by his foolish, earnest behavior and burst out laughing. Her alluring, captivating face sent Gu Jinghuai’s heart fluttering, and he began grinning foolishly along with her.
“Hehe, Sister Su Nuan, wait for me. I’ll wash my hands and come back to find you!”
As though injected with stimulants, Gu Jinghuai sprinted toward the water basin. Seeing this, Gu Hanxiao narrowed his eyes and followed.
“You and Su Nuan are not suitable for each other.”
Gu Jinghuai paused while scrubbing his hands, then said frankly, “Oh, come on, Brother. If you’ve taken a liking to Sister Su Nuan, just say so. At worst, we can compete fairly.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Gu Hanxiao’s brows drew together. Su Nuan was far too calculating; she was completely unsuitable for his simple-minded cousin.
“A woman like her isn’t someone you can handle, and she isn’t suitable to become a daughter-in-law of the Gu family.”
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“Sister Su Nuan is so beautiful. The men pursuing her could probably circle Pengcheng three times. A girl like her must have very high standards, but I have confidence in myself.” Not only had Gu Jinghuai misunderstood Gu Hanxiao, he also felt that he had lost a rival. “Don’t worry, Brother. I’ll definitely win Sister Su Nuan over and make her your younger sister-in-law!”
“...”
Looking at his cousin’s solemnly determined face, Gu Hanxiao pressed his thin lips together.
He had been eighteen once himself and knew that boys of that age were hot-blooded and rebellious. Afraid that pushing too hard would only have the opposite effect, he could only go along with him.
“You and Su Nuan are both still young. There’s no need to rush into a relationship. Your studies and career should come first. Besides, girls like boys who are ambitious.”
Gu Jinghuai had never expected to receive Gu Hanxiao’s support, and he nodded excitedly.
“You’re right, Brother. But the one who lives closest gets the first chance, so I have to let Su Nuan see how good I am as soon as possible!” As he spoke, Gu Jinghuai held out his hand. “Brother, where are the candies and the watch you promised to bring me?”
In those days, going on a business trip was practically the same as running a personal shopping service. Almost no one returned empty-handed, Gu Hanxiao included. The men in his unit were usually intimidated by him, but when they heard he was going to Shanghai on business, the list they thrust upon him was longer than a roll of toilet paper.
“My luggage was swept away by the flood when we went to provide emergency assistance in the garrison town. As for the remaining White Rabbit candies...” Gu Hanxiao stopped halfway through his sentence, suddenly remembering that he had used the entire last handful to placate Su Nuan. “They’re gone too.”
“Sigh. Looks like those scarce goods and I simply weren’t meant to be.”
Gu Jinghuai lowered his head dejectedly. When he turned and saw Su Nuan standing not far away, he quickly pulled on a smile and ran over to greet her.
“Sister Su Nuan, I passed by the kitchen just now and heard Grandma say that the cooling tea is ready. Come on, let’s go inside and have some.”
“All right.”
Su Nuan smiled, though her heart was filled with embarrassment.
She had actually heard the brothers’ conversation just now and understood that the handful of White Rabbit milk candies Gu Hanxiao had given her had originally been intended as a gift for his cousin. But she had already eaten two of them, so there were not enough left to return, and she felt too embarrassed to do so.
Besides, since Gu Hanxiao had not revealed where the candies had ultimately gone, there was no need for her to confess the truth to Gu Jinghuai. That would only spare the brothers an unnecessary misunderstanding.
Even so, Su Nuan still felt somewhat guilty. Moreover, Gu Jinghuai had just shielded her from Zhang Ping’s broom attack. He had not only injured his face but also torn his clothes. Su Nuan decided to do something for him in return.
“Second Brother Gu, would you like me to mend your clothes?” Su Nuan pointed toward the torn cuff of Gu Jinghuai’s sleeve.
Gu Jinghuai had actually wanted to say that he had plenty of clothes and that it did not matter whether the tear was mended. But how could he refuse when the girl he liked had offered so readily?
“Then I’ll trouble you, Sister Su Nuan.”
With a foolish grin, Gu Jinghuai took off his shirt, revealing a lean yet powerfully muscular physique.
“I’ll go to the kitchen and ladle some cooling tea for you.”
“All right. Thank you, Second Brother Gu.”
Su Nuan took the shirt and headed toward the room. After only a few steps, however, she ran straight into Gu Hanxiao, who had appeared from who knew where.
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The man’s tall figure loomed like a towering iceberg. Staring coldly at the shirt in her hands, he said, “Su Nuan, I warned you not to cause trouble in the Gu family, and especially not to set your sights on my younger brother.”
Su Nuan was speechless. Maintaining a polite expression, she explained, “Captain Gu, have you misunderstood something? I only want to repay your brother for helping me out of trouble just now. I don’t mean anything else.”
Gu Hanxiao spoke bluntly. “Su Nuan, you’re a clever woman. You should be able to tell that my brother has feelings for you, and you should also know what I want you to do.”
“...”
Knowing that it was difficult to reason with someone who had already formed a fixed impression of her, Su Nuan obediently nodded.
“I understand.”
Ignoring Gu Hanxiao’s icy expression, she turned and went inside. Threading a needle, she began mending Gu Jinghuai’s clothes, her slender, pale fingers flying deftly up and down.
Halfway through the sewing, Su Nuan was still so furious that she could not stop herself from grumbling.
“Hmph. That old man who does nothing but spy on me all day is so annoying!”
At that very moment, in the room opposite, Gu Hanxiao was reporting the situation to Grandmother Gu when he suddenly sneezed.
“Ah, you must have caught a chill during the rescue operation. My poor grandson. I’ll have your second aunt make you some ginger tea later.”
Grandmother Gu patted her eldest grandson sympathetically, then sighed again.
“Song Niannian may be a little worldly, but she looks quiet and refined, which isn’t bad. That Su Nuan, on the other hand, isn’t very likable. Sigh, having such a little fox in the house makes me afraid Jinghuai will learn bad habits from her.” Grandmother Gu sighed repeatedly. “And having two young women living in our home will also make it difficult for you and Jinghuai to find wives later.”
“Grandma, I have no intention of dating.”
Gu Hanxiao knew his own circumstances all too well. He did not want to drag another girl down with him.
“You must date!” Grandmother Gu slammed her palm onto the table.
Gu Hanxiao was the only son of her eldest son and daughter-in-law, both of whom had died young. So even if it meant sacrificing the entire Gu family, Grandmother Gu was determined to see him marry and establish a household.
“With the strength of our Gu family, are you really worried about not finding a wife? As for having children, you don’t need to concern yourself with that. Later, Jinghuai and his wife can give one of their children to you to raise.”
“...”
Unable to reason with his grandmother and unwilling to defy her, Gu Hanxiao could only find an excuse to leave first. As he stepped outside, he happened to run into Gu Jinghuai and Su Nuan at the doorway.
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