Chapter 119: Is... He Going to Kiss Her?

At the first glimmer of dawn, Gu Yunci woke.

Meng Shutang was still nestled softly and fragrantly against his chest. Listening to her even breathing, for the first time he wished the long night would never end.

He suddenly remembered that Meng Shutang was always reliable — she might have set an alarm for today's hospital discharge. He took her phone and canceled the alarm.

After getting up, he began tidying up. Afraid of disturbing Meng Shutang and Xin Xin's sleep, he didn't let Qin Zheng and the others in.

The discharge was originally set for eight o'clock, but they waited until Meng Shutang woke naturally.

Only when Li Xiuyun and Lu Shenyang heard she was awake did they come in carrying breakfast.

As soon as she entered, Grandma sharp-eyed noticed the half of the bed beside Meng Shutang — the covers turned back, the empty space with a visible depression and lingering body heat.

She glanced at Lu Shenyang with complicated eyes.

Lu Shenyang's gaze also fell on that empty space, and the smile on his face faded.

Grandma walked over, gently smoothed out the wrinkles on that side, and looked at Meng Shutang sitting drowsily on the bed. "Hurry and wash up. We brought breakfast. Eat and then we'll go home."

Meng Shutang gave a small nod and went into the bathroom.

The sounds of Gu Yunci's attentive care kept coming from inside. Lu Shenyang listened, his fingertips turning slightly white.

At breakfast, almost simultaneously, Lu Shenyang held out a bun and Gu Yunci held out a peeled egg, both offering them to Meng Shutang.

"Shutang, your favorite crab roe bun."

"Tangtang, egg."

For a moment the table fell silent, and the atmosphere turned subtle.

Meng Shutang looked at them, her hand pausing, hesitating for barely a second.

Her gaze settled on Gu Yunci's hand. These past few days, Gu Yunci had bought crab roe buns many times — she was tired of them and wanted the egg.

But before she could reach out, Grandma beside her nudged her.

"The crab roe bun is something Shenyang went out of his way to buy, getting up early and taking a long detour. Don't waste your brother's thoughtfulness."

Meng Shutang stiffened, then gently took the crab roe bun from Lu Shenyang's hand. "Thank you, Brother Shenyang."

Gu Yunci's long fingers hung in midair, then slowly withdrew. Midway, Xin Xin intercepted. "I love eggs. I'll eat it."

Grandma looked at Xin Xin and gave a faint smile.

She turned to look at Lu Shenyang again and noticed he wasn't very happy either.

After breakfast, Lu Shenyang and Meng Shutang left with Xin Xin, while Grandma and Gu Yunci walked behind in tacit understanding.

"Grandma, I'd like to talk with you."

"I had the same intention."

"Four years ago, I was a bastard. I broke your heart and Tangtang's. I know now that I was wrong, and I hope you and she will give me a chance to make amends.

For the rest of my life, let me take care of you both."

Grandma gave a faint smile. "You know about our family's affairs, so you should be well aware that in this life, what I hate most are cheaters.

Meng Zhibang betrayed my daughter, cheated with my goddaughter. I was afraid Tangtang would follow her mother's path.

You and Bai Cixian have an unclear relationship. I was afraid you'd hurt her again."

Gu Yunci's footsteps paused. He stood facing the elderly woman, his words earnest. "I don't remember having anything with Bai Cixian. I've been sending people to investigate her pregnancy, but that mother and daughter are too cunning — even now, nothing has turned up.

But rest assured, a lie is a lie. There will come a day when the truth comes to light."

Li Xiuyun's knuckles paused slightly, her tone flat. "I've heard plenty of men's words."

"You don't need to believe me now. I only ask you to give me a chance to prove it with the rest of my life.

I am not someone who is fickle and heartless, who loves and then abandons.

The suffering Tangtang endured, I will make up for bit by bit.

If she doesn't trust me, I'll wait until she dares to."

Li Xiuyun's footsteps paused. She looked at him and said nothing.

The group reached the parking lot. Xin Xin grabbed Meng Shutang's hand. "Mama, let's ride in Papa's car."

Gu Yunci's thin lips curved into a shallow arc without his realizing. He bent down and gently pinched her little cheek, warmth he couldn't hide in his eyes. "Oh, giving Papa so much face!"

He scooped Xin Xin up and swung her in the crook of his arm like a swing, making her giggle.

Gu Yunci turned to look at Meng Shutang. "Did you hear that? Our daughter specifically asked to ride in my car.

You get in first, then I'll put Xin Xin in the child seat."

"Child seat? When did you buy that?"

Meng Shutang's brows shifted slightly as she bent to look inside the car.

Gu Yunci said, "I had Qin Zheng install it a few days ago."

Xin Xin also spotted the pink safety seat in the car and gripped Gu Yunci tighter. "I love this seat! Xin Xin loves Papa!"

Gu Yunci lowered his head and kissed the top of Xin Xin's hair, smiling with deep contentment. "Papa... loves Xin Xin too."

He wasn't good at expressing himself, and the words came out haltingly.

The family of three chatted warmly, while Grandma and Lu Shenyang had been reduced to background figures.

Grandma didn't mind — as long as Meng Shutang and Xin Xin were doing well, she was perfectly content.

Only Lu Shenyang...

She turned to look at Lu Shenyang with a pang of heartache, seeing his hand still resting on the car door.

Remembering what he'd been through as a child, her heart ached slightly. She walked over to Xin Xin. "The Rolls-Royce is so big and comfortable. How about Grandma and Xin Xin ride in Papa's car together?"

Grandma's voice was gentle, but in an instant, apart from Xin Xin who was still smiling, no one else was pleased.

Gu Yunci especially — he glanced at Meng Shutang and Lu Shenyang.

Xin Xin said, "Okay! I'll ride with Grandma. Let's hold hands, okay?"

Li Xiuyun rubbed foreheads with Xin Xin. "Xin Xin is so good."

After saying that, she turned to look at Meng Shutang, "You're riding in Lu Shenyang's car; he has something to say to you."

Just before getting into the car, Li Xiuyun walked past Lu Shenyang and patted his shoulder lightly.

Lu Shenyang's hand, hanging at his side, tightened imperceptibly.

This scene was fully captured in the eyes of Gu Yunci not far away.

He bent over to securely place Xin Xin in the child safety seat, fastened the buckle, and when he straightened up, he saw his grandmother's meaningful pat.

He understood his grandmother's intention in arranging this: to give Meng Shutang and Lu Shenyang some time alone.

He also knew that Meng Shutang's feelings toward him were slightly loosening; if Lu Shenyang suddenly confessed now…

Lu Shenyang is warm and smooth like jade; for so many years he has silently accompanied, asking for nothing in return.

If he confessed, Meng Shutang would very likely agree.

In an instant, his mind was in a tangled mess.

"President Gu, let's go!"

Grandmother seemed not to notice his hidden anxiety and gloom; she walked straight to the rear seat, opened the car door, got into the Rolls-Royce, and lightly instructed.

"Mm, grandmother," after getting in the car and fastening the seat belt, he glanced slightly, "Just call me Yunci."

"Grandmother nodded, "Yunci, let's go."

The Rolls-Royce started; Li Xiuyun saw he was somewhat absent-minded, "What comes, don't refuse; what goes, don't chase. What is yours, time will give you."

The hand on the steering wheel paused slightly; he lifted his gaze to look at the old man in the rear-view mirror, "Thank you, grandmother."

The Rolls-Royce disappeared at the intersection, and the surrounding air suddenly fell silent.

Meng Shutang stood there, her slender fingertips slightly curled, her heart lightly lifted.

Grandmother's arrangement with such clear intention was like a string pulled tight between the two of them.

Lu Shenyang didn't speak, just as usual, walked to the car side and opened the door for her.

She walked over tacitly and directly got in.

He also turned halfway and got into the car; at the moment the door closed, the silence grew even tighter.

After settling in, he didn't rush to start the car, but turned his body, his gaze falling on her lips.

His fingertip lifted lightly, as if to touch her cheek—

Is… he going to kiss her?

Meng Shutang instinctively held her breath, even… slightly closed her eyes.