Chapter 97: Mom, be a little nicer to Uncle Gu

"Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose."

The floor was slick, and when the waiter brought over a steaming bowl of noodle soup, he slipped; he instinctively grabbed the nearby table to stay upright, but the broth in the tray swayed and was about to spill onto Meng Shutang.

Gu Yunci's pupils trembled, and with quick eyes and faster hands he shielded Meng Shutang in his arms.

Meng Shutang understood what had happened and slowly turned to face the man.

The man froze there, maintaining his protective stance, but his face… burned with a hot pain.

Even the facial pain was nothing compared to the one‑ten‑thousandth of a dull ache in Meng Shutang's chest at the moment she flung her hand away.

He could feel how much she despised him and how unwilling she was to let him touch her.

Meng Shutang slowly pushed him away, "Thank you for today… and from now on, don't touch me."

After speaking, she grabbed her bag and hurried off, while Gu Yunci stood there as numerous phones pointed at him, recording video and taking photos.

The richest man in Hua Guo was slapped by a woman, and she was a very beautiful woman.

If this gets posted, it'll generate solid traffic!

Gu Yunci glanced around, then got up and left.

But in the following days, across the entire internet and all social platforms, there was not a single trace of that night's slap.

The Public Opinion Monitoring Department of Gu Group monitors 24/7 in real time every mention of "Gu Clan", "Gu Yunci", "Gu Yeheng", or "Gu Yenan".

For that night's incident, whether photo or video, it gets deleted or throttled within seconds of being posted.

Aside from the handful of people present, there will be no ripple online.

These past few days, Gu Yunci hasn't seen Meng Shutang again.

She seems to be deliberately avoiding him; he is self‑aware and makes no effort to engineer chance encounters.

His routine has been just home, the company, and the kindergarten—a three‑point line.

One day after work, he went to pick up Song Yilin, who grabbed his hand and said, "Uncle, I want KFC."

Gu Yunci knit his brows, "They're all fried foods, not healthy."

Song Yilin pouted, "Xin Xin and I made a promise; if she eats and I don't, won't it be embarrassing when we meet tomorrow?"

Gu Yunci's eyes flicked, and seeing Meng Shutang leading Xin Xin to the car, he said, "Alright, I'll take you."

As the uncle and nephew walked to the car, Song Yilin shook his hand, "Uncle, you just said KFC is unhealthy and kids shouldn't eat it.

How come you agreed as soon as I mentioned Xin Xin? Yesterday you told me you wanted to be a man of principle so I could learn from you, and now you have no principle at all!"

Gu Yunci replied, "Principles are set for others; I don't need any when it comes to Xin Xin and her mother."

The two got into the car, and Song Yilin said they should go to Wanda; the food there is good.

Gu Yunci drove, following Meng Shutang, "Don't talk, it's too noisy."

Song Yilin got angry, "Uncle, if you keep this up, you won't be able to father a son later."

Gu Yunci turned his gaze, "Of course I can't; let your aunt have one."

Gu Yunci followed Meng Shutang to Wu Yue Guangchang, then to the same KFC, and upon seeing her said, "What a coincidence!"

Song Yilin bluntly exposed, "Beautiful sister, we came following you."

Meng Shutang lifted her eyes to glance at Gu Yunci, meeting his deep, pool‑like gaze; she slowly withdrew her stare and looked away.

Xin Xin chose a seat by the window and called to Song Yilin, "Yilin, Uncle Gu, you both sit here in a moment."

Meng Shutang carried the food and greeted Song Yilin, "Auntie will go over there and wait for you."

Song Yilin replied, "Mm-hmm."

After Meng Shutang left, Song Yilin looked at her and said, "Uncle, the beautiful sister is gorgeous and gentle; when I grow up, I won't marry Mom, I'll marry her."

Gu Yunci knit his brows, lifted his foot and kicked him, "I told you, aren't you eating the fried chicken?"

Although Song Yilin is only three, he's tall and sturdy, looking about four or five.

He walked to the counter, tiptoed, and handed the order to the short‑statured server, who said, "Beautiful sister, here you go."

The two took the food, and Gu Yunci lowered his head, "Song Yilin, your little mouth really looks like your dad's."

Song Yilin replied, "You should say it looks like your cousin‑in‑law."

Gu Yunci placed the dishes on the table, first lifted Song Yilin onto a chair, then sat down opposite Meng Shutang.

When he sat, his foot accidentally brushed the tip of Meng Shutang's leather shoe.

He saw Meng Shutang step back cautiously.

He remained indifferent, watching Meng Shutang eat a spicy chicken thigh burger, "Teacher Meng, when did you start liking spicy food?"

Meng Shutang didn't want to talk to him; their relationship had remained at the level of parents getting to know each other's children—polite and decent, and she wouldn't pry into any personal matters.

Xin Xin knew Meng Shutang didn't like Gu Yunci.

Don't be fooled by her small size; her mind is as clear as a mirror.

"My mom never ate spicy food before; she only started after I was born."

Gu Yunci nodded, "Oh, what other changes has your mother undergone?"

Xin Xin's long, curled eyelashes fluttered, and a smile revealed two cute dimples, "My mom sometimes gets headaches; my mother‑in‑law says my mom never did before."

Meng Shutang handed her an egg tart, "Alright, Xin Xin, eat your meal properly."

Xin Xin obediently took it, "Thank you, Mom, I love you."

The two kids started talking about kindergarten anecdotes, and Song Yilin, lost in the moment, got his mouth full of oil.

Meng Shutang got up, took a napkin, and wiped his mouth.

When she sat back down, she accidentally brushed Gu Yunci's leg.

She lifted her gaze at the man, "Sorry."

The man stared at her blankly, his gaze focused and burning, the kind that had been looking for a long time and would keep looking.

Meng Shutang felt a sudden sharp sting in her chest.

Four years ago, what she looked forward to most was that he could quietly and earnestly look at her like this.

Now he has done it, but everything is too late.

She lowered her eyes and, subconsciously, bit her lip.

She suddenly recalled what Gu Yunci had said to her before the divorce, "Don't bite, I'll do it."

She then let go forcefully.

The two children were still chatting animatedly, and in the time it took to finish a meal, Meng Shutang already knew who got along best in the class and who was at odds with whom.

She propped her chin with one hand, turned her gaze to the two children, and smiled faintly.

Gu Yunci pushed a cup of warm juice toward Meng Shutang and asked, "Would you like a sip?"

Meng Shutang declined, "No, thank you."

He suggested, "I know a fun place; shall we go take a look later?"

Meng Shutang refused more abruptly this time, "I'm not going."

The two lively little ones suddenly stopped; especially Xin Xin leaned over, looking pitifully at her, "Mom, be nicer to Uncle Gu."

Meng Shutang was startled.

Is she… really that… unkind to Gu Yunci?

No way, they're already divorced; her cold, distant attitude toward him is the most normal distance!

Xin Xin saw her freeze, her expression still rather serious, thinking she was angry, and her two grape‑sized apricot eyes filled with tears, "Mom, don't you love me anymore?"