Chapter 124: Shen Yanhui, You Are Really Thick-Skinned

From that night on, Shen Yanhui took up residence at the Gu Family.

Moreover, Yang Bing had already completely defected during their time together, and the more she saw of this son-in-law, the more she liked him.

Gu Fanglin dared to be angry but dared not speak, so he could only continue to put on airs and pick at Shen Yanhui in a lukewarm manner.

However, in most cases, it had no effect and was easily defused.

As time went on, he could be considered to have seen it clearly. The wood was already carved into a boat; he had to accept it whether he wanted to or not, as he simply had no choice.

Today, Gu Yan woke up a bit late.

Her period had come suddenly last night, and her lower abdomen was heavy and aching, making her quite uncomfortable; she had pestered Shen Yanhui for a long time. She wanted him to hold her, and she wanted him to rub her stomach, tossing and turning until she fell asleep in the middle of the night.

She sat up, and the space beside her was already empty. The bed was slightly cool, so it seemed Shen Yanhui must have gotten up very early.

After washing up, she went downstairs while yawning.

The living room was very quiet, and she looked around but didn't see anyone.

Yang Bing was arranging flowers, and seeing her come down, she pointed toward the backyard and said, "In the tea room, playing chess with your dad."

Gu Yan blinked: "Shen Yanhui?"

Yang Bing curled her lips: "Who else?"

Gu Yan pushed open the glass door and walked toward the backyard along the stone path.

The door to the tea room was half-open; she walked over and stood at the entrance, looking inside.

Gu Fanglin was sitting on one side of the chessboard, holding a black piece in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed as he stared at the board, wondering about something.

Shen Yanhui sat opposite him, his posture relaxed, holding a cup of tea in his hand as if waiting for him to make a move.

Neither of them spoke; only the water on the tea stove was boiling slightly, making a soft bubbling sound.

Gu Yan leaned against the door frame watching the two of them, her heart feeling soft.

Just then, Shen Yanhui suddenly looked up.

It was as if they shared a telepathic connection.

He curled his lips and beckoned to her: "Come here."

Gu Fanglin also looked up and saw his daughter standing at the door, her face still carrying the laziness of having just woken up.

"You're up?" he asked gently.

Gu Yan stepped over in her slippers, stood still beside the two of them, and answered obediently: "Mm."

Gu Fanglin looked at her just-woken-up appearance and asked again: "Have you had breakfast?"

Gu Yan shook her head.

Gu Fanglin's brows furrowed, and he pressed the intercom by his hand.

"Bring the bird's nest over, and get a few snacks as well."

Gu Yan sat down nearby, but feeling it was too far from Shen Yanhui, she shifted and sat right next to him.

Shen Yanhui tilted his head to look at her, his eyes filled with a smile.

Gu Fanglin hung up the phone, saw his daughter's clingy behavior, and said nothing, only shaking his head.

Soon, a servant brought over a bowl of bird's nest and a few plates of snacks, placing them on the small table in front of Gu Yan.

Gu Yan picked up the bird's nest and scooped a spoonful into her mouth.

After drinking a few mouthfuls, she remembered something and leaned into his ear, lowering her voice: "Shen Yanhui, you are really thick-skinned."

Shen Yanhui turned his head to look at her: "Hm?"

Her eyes held a mischievous smile as she continued to whisper: "You're just going to mooch off my family and not leave, right?"

Shen Yanhui: "I'm mooching."

She was amused by his words, but fearing Gu Fanglin would hear, she could only hold it in, her shoulders shaking.

Gu Fanglin looked up from the chessboard and glanced at his daughter.

Gu Yan immediately sat up straight.

She drank the bird's nest in small sips, but her eyes fell on the chessboard; with the dense array of pieces, she didn't understand it at all.

"You can play chess too?" she asked curiously.

Shen Yanhui said: "I know a little."

"My dad is super amazing at chess; can you handle it?"

Hearing this, Gu Fanglin's hand holding the chess piece paused, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

His daughter still said the nicest things.

Shen Yanhui remained as calm as ever: "I'll give it a try."

Gu Yan nodded and continued eating her bird's nest.

Gu Fanglin suppressed his secret pleasure and placed the black piece on the board.

Shen Yanhui took a look, picked up a white piece, and just as he was about to place it, Gu Yan suddenly spoke: "Play here."

She reached out and pointed to a corner of the board, still holding the bird's nest in her hand.

Shen Yanhui's hand paused.

Gu Fanglin looked up and glanced at her, clearly suspicious: "You understand Go?"

Gu Yan blinked: "No."

"If you don't understand, why are you giving random directions?"

"I'm just saying," she said righteously, scooping another spoonful of bird's nest into her mouth, "what if I'm right?"

Gu Fanglin was so amused by her words that he laughed: "What if? If you're right, the two of us will have to start all over."

Gu Yan shrank her neck and hid behind Shen Yanhui, though she held the bird's nest steadily.

Shen Yanhui curled his lips and placed the piece exactly where she had pointed.

Gu Fanglin looked at that white piece, stunned for a moment: "You listen to her?"

Shen Yanhui said: "Listening to her doesn't hurt."

Gu Fanglin glanced at him, then glanced at his daughter, and finally let his gaze fall back onto the chessboard.

Silence for a few seconds.

"This move is actually alright."

Gu Yan's eyes lit up: "I told you!"

Gu Fanglin glared at her: "You're just a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse."

Gu Yan stuck her tongue out at him, leaned closer to Shen Yanhui, and continued eating her bird's nest.

The chess game continued.

Not long after, Gu Yan couldn't help herself again: "Here, here, play here."

She pointed her finger at another spot.

Shen Yanhui glanced at her and placed a piece as instructed.

Gu Fanglin frowned slightly, placed a black piece, and captured a small section of the white pieces.

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment, but quickly perked up again: "It's fine, it's fine, play here."

Shen Yanhui continued to listen to her.

After a few more moves, the situation on the chessboard gradually became clear; the white pieces had already lost in a complete mess.

Gu Fanglin placed the final piece, looked up, and glanced at his daughter.

Gu Yan held the now-empty bird's nest bowl, looking innocent: "I told you I didn't know how to play, why did you still listen to me?"

Shen Yanhui looked at her and curled the corners of his lips: "Whatever you point at, I naturally have to listen."

Gu Fanglin snorted softly, picked up his teacup, let his gaze circle between the two of them, and finally landed on his daughter's face.

"Yanyan."

Gu Yan blinked: "Huh?"

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Gu Yan's eyelashes trembled: "On purpose for what?"

"On purpose to cause trouble and let him lose to me." Gu Fanglin paused, "To curry favor with me for him?"

Gu Yan was exposed, and the tips of her ears turned red in a flash.

But she quickly steadied herself and asked back with an innocent face: "How could I? I really don't know how to play."

Gu Fanglin looked at her like this, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"That you don't know how to play is true, and that you were causing trouble is also true." He snorted again, "Am I such a petty person? Do you two need to curry favor with me?"

Gu Yan lowered her head and muttered in a low voice: "How are you not..."

Gu Fanglin didn't hear clearly: "What did you say?"

Gu Yan immediately raised her head, smiling with her eyes curved: "Nothing, nothing, I said Dad, you are the most magnanimous."

Gu Fanglin looked at her suspiciously.

Shen Yanhui curled the corners of his lips at the side and raised his hand to tuck a strand of loose hair by Gu Yan's cheek behind her ear.

Gu Fanglin watched this scene and shook his head.

He turned to Shen Yanhui: "Let's play another round."

Shen Yanhui nodded slightly: "Alright."

Gu Fanglin added another sentence: "You are not allowed to listen to her nonsense, play properly."

He warned Gu Yan in passing: "Your father here won't eat your husband, rest assured."

Gu Yan made a gesture of zipping her lips.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Her father currently seems to be accepting Shen Yanhui very well; how joyous and congratulatory.