Chapter 106: Meng Shutang, You and Gu Yunci… Are You Back Together?

Meng Shutang refused.

She inadvertently looked up and saw the two children's round eyes staring at her; with no way to retreat, she could only slightly open her mouth and keep it closed.

The sweet juice of the fruit spread, spilling from Meng Shutang's mouth corner.

Xin Xin saw it, raised her mud‑covered little hand, and said, "Uncle, could you wipe Mom's mouth for me."

Meng Shutang said, "No need."

She tried to turn her head to wipe it on her sleeve, but Xin Xin immediately stopped her, "Mom can't do that; it would dirty the clothes."

Meng Shutang paused there; she has always taught the children that she won't change her mind when they're with her.

Gu Yunci saw it, hesitated, and carefully reached out to wipe it for her.

His fingertip brushed her mouth corner, then wiped her lower lip, light as a test yet as a lingering caress that would not let go.

She chewed quickly, turned her head away and didn't look at him.

Xin Xin said, "Mom, you're impolite and you didn't thank Uncle."

After speaking, her small body rose, went to Gu Yunci's side, hugged his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek, "Uncle Gu, thank you."

The onlookers saw the scene, and Meng Shutang was stunned for a moment.

Is this the subtle attraction of blood‑related kin?

Even if she didn't want to see it, Xin Xin still liked Gu Yunci.

When Gu Yunci was kissed, his heart softened like a puddle.

He lifted Xin Xin, wishing he could give her the whole world.

At noon, the sun was a bit scorching, and a few people went to a mall to eat.

The two children wanted KFC, but they had eaten there not long ago; Song Yilin was just ill, and fearing it would cause him heat, Gu Yunci declined.

He took them to a restaurant that specialized in children's meals.

The restaurant had both a children's area and an adult area; knowing Meng Shutang liked spicy food, Gu Yunci ordered spicy beef and blood curd and Spicy Crayfish.

Meng Shutang asked, "Don't you avoid spicy food?"

Gu Yunci replied, "I can change."

Meng Shutang's hand paused slightly, and she watched him quietly.

When the dishes arrived, Xin Xin glanced at theirs, then at her own, wanting to eat but not daring, comforting herself: "Your food looks truly delicious, but I'm still little and can't have spicy."

"Eating spicy gives you pimples, which isn't pretty."

Song Yilin looked at the spicy beef and blood curd and said, "I want to eat it."

Gu Yunci picked up his chopsticks, dipped a bit of broth, and shoved it into his mouth.

"Ah, it's so hot, I don't want to eat it," Song Yilin stuck out his tongue wildly, then gulped a mouthful of juice, and the spiciness finally passed.

After the two children sat down and ate their children's meals properly, Gu Yunci and Meng Shutang also began to eat.

The spicy beef and blood curd was generously portioned and very flavorful; Meng Shutang slightly furrowed her brows, ate in small bites, her cheeks tinged with a flush, the corners of her eyes bearing a hint of moist, vivid color.

The slight fiery heat from the spice didn't make her look disheveled at all.

Contrastingly, she was restrained yet vibrant, more alluring than a carefully made‑up look.

Gu Yunci stared, actually stunned.

Meng Shutang saw this, absentmindedly picked up a piece of greens and set it down, "Why aren't you eating?"

Gu Yunci recovered, lifted the leaf and put it in his mouth, "Eat."

Meng Shutang's heart fluttered; he had already eaten something she'd unintentionally touched more than once.

After the meal, Song Yilin invited Xin Xin to go to Qian Shui Wan, "Xin Xin, come with me to Uncle's house; Qian Shui Wan is huge, it has a pool and a garden, we can keep playing with soil inside."

Xin Xin cheered excitedly, "Wow, great! I can be with Uncle Gu and Yilin again."

When she heard Qian Shui Wan was again for Xin Xin, Meng Shutang subconsciously resisted.

"Xin Xin, Uncle Lu Shenyang is back, Mom has to pick him up; would you go with Mom?" she bent down and asked Xin Xin patiently.

Xin Xin also missed Lu Shenyang, but she wanted to stay with Gu Yunci even more, "Mom, can you go alone to pick up Uncle? I'll stay with Uncle Gu and them.

Bring Uncle back, then come get me."

Meng Shutang's brows slightly furrowed, and she began to feel conflicted.

Gu Yunci saw this and said, "The garden flowers have bloomed; last time you left in a hurry, you didn't have time to see them."

"I'll watch Xin Xin first; when you return, we'll go admire the flowers."

Meng Shutang straightened up, looked at him, "Gu Yunci, you know what I mean!"

The man, hearing her call Lu Shenyang so gently, felt a sour sting inside, but he tried to control himself, his face remaining composed.

To outsiders, it seemed a bit aggrieved.

Xin Xin saw this, gently shook Meng Shutang's hand, "Mom, be nicer to Uncle Gu."

That little heartless one, in an instant, Meng Shutang lost her temper again.

She knew she shouldn't project her opinion of Gu Yunci onto Xin Xin, so she crouched again and looked at her, "Xin Xin, will you go with Mom to pick up Uncle?"

Xin Xin looked at her and shook her head lightly, "I want to stay with Uncle Gu."

Meng Shutang's clear eyes gradually dimmed; she rose slowly, didn't look at Gu Yunci, turned and left, "Please take good care of her."

After she left, Gu Yunci took the two of them to Qian Shui Wan.

The moment they entered the villa, Xin Xin's round eyes lit up; her short legs roamed the spacious living room, sometimes patting the sofa, sometimes pulling the curtains.

"Uncle, it's so soft here… Xin Xin seems to have been here before!"

Gu Yunci walked over, "Really, do you like it?"

Xin Xin nodded, "It's fragrant here, like Mom's scent."

After speaking, she grabbed Gu Yunci's hand, looked at the spiral staircase, "May I… go upstairs and have a look?"

She looked up and politely smiled at him, her pleading look soft and cute.

Gu Yunci nodded, took her small hand and walked upward; they went to the bedroom.

Song Yilin had been playing outside for a while, came to the villa, saw no one, and said, "You two only care about yourselves, ignoring me?"

Xin Xin looked left and right in the bedroom and said, "This place is so comfortable, Xin Xin likes it here."

Song Yilin also entered the master bedroom; the two children fussed for a while, then began to nod off, and Gu Yunci scooped each with one hand and carried them to the bed.

He gently placed Xin Xin down, set her safely, then rose to leave.

In a drowsy haze, Xin Xin suddenly grabbed his hand and said, "Dad, don't go."

Gu Yunci's heart tightened, and he lay down beside her, "Alright, I won't go."

The two shared one pillow; Gu Yunci quietly gazed at her, looking at her delicately carved little face, a smile lifting his lips.

But when he saw a small black mole behind her ear, he slowly got up.

He had one in the same spot behind his ear.

Meng Shutang went to the airport to pick up Lu Shenyang; on the way back, the car was driven by Lu Shenyang.

"Xin Xin? At home?"

Meng Shutang shook her head, "At Qian Shui Wan."

Lu Shenyang's hand tightened slightly on the steering wheel, he glanced at Meng Shutang and asked, "How could she have gone?"

Meng Shutang then told him about how they had played together today and later ate together; she spoke lightly, and when she reached the happy part she couldn't control her laughter.

Lu Shenyang's heart sank slightly.

In the past, even if Gu Yunci got within a step, she would flinch and dodge; but today, when mentioning Gu Yunci, her tone had no trace of coldness.

Lu Shenyang looked at her and asked, "Shutang, you and Gu Yunci… got back together?"

Meng Shutang's fingertips paused slightly; she hadn't expected Lu Shenyang to ask that suddenly.