Chapter 155: Gu Yan × Shen Yanhui: Daily Life Raising Kids

The two little ones were growing up day by day.

The older sister is named Gu Nian, and the younger brother is named Shen Zhi.

Gu Nian perfectly inherited Shen Yanhui's business mind, yet she happened to have Gu Yan's face. At three years old, she could already organize the children at kindergarten to divide up the work.

She was responsible for directing, and others were responsible for doing the work.

The teacher was amused and helpless, saying she was born to be a boss.

Shen Zhi was the exact opposite.

He was like a little artist, forever immersed in his own world. Give him a pen, and he could draw for an entire day. Give him a lump of clay, and he could mold a little animal.

Sometimes when Gu Nian was chirping away beside him, arranging for him to do this or that, he would lift his head to look at her once, then continue to lower his head to do his own thing, saying blandly, "Sister, you are bothering me."

Gu Nian was so angry she stomped her feet: "I am your sister."

Shen Zhi didn't even lift his head: "Mm, the sister who is bothering me."

That afternoon, Gu Yan was spacing out in the art studio when she suddenly heard a noisy commotion coming from outside.

She walked out to take a look, and in the living room, Gu Nian was standing in front of the coffee table with her hands on her hips, a pile of colorful things spread out before her.

Shen Zhi was sitting on the sofa, quietly flipping through a picture book.

"Little brother, look!" Gu Nian pointed at the pile of things, "I bought these with my lucky money. These little trinkets can be sold to the kids at kindergarten; I can make double the profit!"

Shen Zhi lifted his eyes to look.

In that pile of things were stickers, little toys, and colorful candies, all piled together in a mess.

He withdrew his gaze and said with disdain: "Ugly."

Gu Nian widened her eyes: "Where is it ugly?"

Shen Zhi flipped a page of the picture book: "The color scheme is ugly, the design is ugly, and the packaging is also ugly."

Gu Nian was so angry her face turned red: "What do you know!"

Shen Zhi finally lifted his head and looked at her, his gaze bland, exactly the same as Shen Yanhui's: "I know more than you."

Gu Nian was choked up, and she turned her head to complain to Gu Yan: "Mom! He is bullying me!"

Gu Yan leaned against the doorframe, inexplicably feeling that this scene was a bit familiar. When she used to complain to Yang Bing about Gu Lin, it seemed it was just like this.

"Niannian, what your little brother said... seems to have a bit of logic to it."

Gu Nian found it hard to believe; even the mother who loved her most was not on her side.

Gu Yan walked over and rummaged through that pile of things.

Indeed, the color scheme was an eyesore, and the designs were also hard to describe.

She squatted down and looked at her daughter: "Niannian, if you want to do business, Mom supports you. But, the items have to look good for people to be willing to buy them."

Gu Nian pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Shen Zhi stood up from the sofa, walked over to the pile of things, and squatted down. He picked up a sticker, looked at it, and then put it back down.

"Sister, I will draw them for you."

Gu Nian was stunned for a moment: "What?"

Shen Zhi pointed at the pile of things: "I will draw good-looking ones for you, and you can take them to sell."

Gu Nian immediately stopped pouting, and her mood was no longer low: "Then draw them now!"

Shen Zhi stood up and walked toward his little art studio.

Gu Nian followed behind him, chirping away: "You have to draw little rabbits! The kids like little rabbits!"

Shen Zhi didn't even look back: "Got it."

"And draw little bears too!"

"Mm!"

"And princesses!"

"……Mm."

Gu Yan stood where she was, watching the backs of the two little ones, her heart feeling soft as a puddle.

——

In the evening, when Shen Yanhui returned from the company, he saw a pile of newly drawn stickers laid out in the living room.

Little rabbits, little bears, little princesses—the lines were fluid and the colors were gentle; one look and it was clearly Shen Zhi's handiwork.

Gu Nian was beside them, organizing them one by one, muttering to herself: "This one sells for two yuan, this one for three yuan, this one is a bit more expensive..."

Shen Yanhui walked over and squatted down beside her: "What are you doing?"

Gu Nian lifted her head, her eyes bright: "Dad! I want to earn money!"

Shen Yanhui looked at her gently: "What will you do with the money you earn?"

Gu Nian thought for a moment: "Buy paints for Mom, buy brushes for little brother, and buy for Dad..."

She paused: "What does Dad want?"

Shen Yanhui curved his lips: "You decide what to buy."

Gu Nian nodded seriously: "Okay."

Shen Yanhui stood up, walked to Gu Yan's side, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He looked at the pile of stickers on the coffee table, then looked at his daughter who was seriously sorting them, and suddenly spoke: "The company has someone to inherit it in the future."

Gu Yan couldn't stop laughing.

She leaned on his shoulder, watching Gu Nian's busy little figure, and suddenly remembered something: "Shen Yanhui, when I was pregnant, I suddenly wanted to work very much; do you remember?"

"I remember."

"So, was it actually Niannian in my belly urging me to pursue a career?"

Shen Yanhui chuckled softly: "It's possible."

She continued, "There's a reason she's always bossing this person and that person around after she comes out."

He nodded: "Heredity."

Gu Yan glared at him: "Inherited from whom?"

Shen Yanhui kissed her on the lips: "Inherited from me."

The two were being lovey-dovey when they saw Shen Zhi come out of the room, holding a pen in his hand with a bit of paint on his face.

He saw Shen Yanhui and Gu Yan and called out obediently: "Dad, Mom."

Afterward, he also crouched down beside Gu Nian. After watching for a moment, he reached out his hand and straightened a crooked sticker on the very edge.

Gu Nian: "Little brother."

Shen Zhi: "Mm."

Gu Nian: "Thank you."

Shen Zhi didn't look up: "Mm."

Gu Nian simply leaned over and kissed him on the face.

Shen Zhi's movements paused; he looked up, and there was now a lip print on the spot with the paint on his face.

When Gu Nian saw it, she laughed until she was doubled over.

Shen Zhi wasn't annoyed either; he stood up, walked toward the bathroom, and said in a low voice: "Childish."

Gu Nian shouted from behind: "Little brother! You are the best little brother!"

Shen Zhi didn't look back, but the corners of his lips curled up.

——

On Mother's Day, Gu Yan was woken up by a rustling sound.

She opened her eyes; the bedside was empty, and she didn't know when Shen Yanhui had already gotten up. She was just about to turn over and continue sleeping when she suddenly felt something poking her face.

"Mom."

It was Gu Nian's voice, kept very low, as if she were doing something secret.

Gu Yan kept her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep.

Gu Nian poked her again: "Mom, wake up."

Gu Yan moved a little but didn't open her eyes.

Gu Nian grew anxious and turned her head to whisper: "Little brother, what should we do if Mom won't wake up?"

Shen Zhi's voice came from the side, very steady for his young age: "Wait a moment."

Gu Yan almost laughed out loud, but she held it in.

Gu Nian waited for three seconds, then couldn't help it again: "Mom, the sun is shining on your butt!"

Gu Yan finally opened her eyes.

The two little ones were standing side by side by the bed; Gu Nian was wearing a pink princess dress, but her hair was a mess, clearly having taken out her braids in secret.

Shen Zhi was wearing a neat little shirt and shorts, his hair combed meticulously, and he was holding something in his hand.

"What's wrong?" Gu Yan asked, knowing the answer.

Gu Nian immediately climbed onto the bed and threw herself into her arms: "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!"

Then, she took a drawing from behind her back and handed it to her: "This is what I drew!"

Gu Yan took it and looked; the woman in the drawing was wearing a dress and had long hair. It was just that the face was a bit eerie, pink, with one eye larger than the other.

Her daughter really hadn't inherited her painting talent at all; she mourned for her.

Gu Nian was still asking expectantly from the side: "Is it pretty?"

Gu Yan found it hard to say, but for the sake of the child's self-esteem, she responded vaguely: "Mm, mm, mm..."

Gu Nian smiled with satisfaction and turned to look at Shen Zhi: "Little brother, it's your turn."

Shen Zhi stepped forward and handed the thing in his hand to Gu Yan; it was a neatly folded card with a pressed dried flower stuck to the cover.

Gu Yan opened it; inside was writing by Shen Zhi. Every stroke was neat and tidy:

"Mom, Happy Mother's Day. I will be good. —— Shen Zhi"

Gu Yan's heart softened completely, and she reached out to pull both children into her arms: "Thank you, my darlings."

Gu Nian squirmed in her arms and said in a milky voice: "Mom, Dad has a gift for you too."

"Where is Dad?" Gu Yan asked with a smile.

Gu Nian pointed outside the door: "Downstairs, he said for you to go see for yourself."

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow; he was being so mysterious that she couldn't help but feel curious.

She threw on a coat and led the two little ones downstairs.

Shen Yanhui was standing in the center of the living room, wearing a dark gray suit, as handsome as ever.

The two looked at each other and smiled; the man stepped forward and handed her the small velvet box in his hand.

"What good thing is this?" Gu Yan said slyly while opening it.

Inside was a brooch, a rose set with diamonds, the petals layered, and in the center was a rare pink diamond, fully the size of a pigeon egg. Under the sunlight, the brilliance stung the eyes.

She recognized it at a glance.

This was the final auction item at the Christie's auction last month, with an eight-figure transaction price; she had been wondering who had such deep pockets at the time.

It turned out to be him.

She pursed her lips and smiled: "Shen Yanhui, today is Mother's Day, not Valentine's Day."

"I know."

"Then why did you give me this—"

He raised his hand and, just like before, stroked Gu Yan's head: "This is for you, not for 'Mom'."

Gu Yan was stunned.

He continued, "You are Gu Yan first, and only then are you the mother of Niannian and Shen Zhi."

Gu Yan's eyes suddenly felt a little warm.

Gu Nian, standing to the side, grew anxious: "Daddy, say that line quickly!"

Shen Yanhui looked down at his daughter: "What line?"

Gu Nian was so anxious she stomped her feet: "That one! The one they show on TV! The line you say when giving a gift!"

Shen Yanhui thought for a moment: "I love you?"

Gu Nian nodded repeatedly: "Yes!"

Shen Yanhui let out a low laugh, looked up, gazed at the young girl he loved deeply, and said word by word: "I love you."

Gu Yan threw herself into his arms, tilting her head up to kiss his chin.

With a smile in her eyes, she said, "I love you too, Mr. Shen."

Shen Yanhui looked down at her, his eyes filled with a smile: "There's more."

Gu Yan blinked: "More?"

He took her hand and walked out the villa's front door; what met their eyes was a brand-new helicopter, with a pearl-white fuselage, parked right on the lawn in front of the door.

"This is..."

"A gift." His tone was casual, as if he were saying the weather was nice today, "A helicopter."

Gu Yan opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Gu Nian had already started screaming: "Airplane! Daddy! I want to ride the airplane!"

She let go of Gu Yan's hand and ran toward the door with her short legs. Auntie Li was quick-witted and agile, scooping her up in one go.

"Niannian, be good. Daddy is taking Mommy to do something; we'll play later."

Shen Zhi stood to the side, looking up at Shen Yanhui with his little face, saying nothing, but there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Shen Yanhui looked down at him: "Next time."

Shen Zhi nodded: "Okay."

Seeing that her younger brother wasn't crying or making a fuss, Gu Nian felt a bit embarrassed, so she followed suit and said, "Then Niannian will wait for next time too."

Shen Yanhui's heart softened uncontrollably, and he kissed his daughter's cheek.

Gu Nian was coaxed immediately: "Then it's a deal, pinky swear."

Watching the scene of the father and daughter pinky swearing, Gu Yan found it incredibly amusing. This Shen Yanhui, he even hoodwinks his own daughter.

Shen Yanhui took Gu Yan's hand and walked toward the helicopter.

From behind came Gu Nian's loud voice: "Mommy! Remember to take pictures!"

Gu Yan turned back and waved her hand.

Shen Yanhui didn't look back the whole time; he walked to the side of the helicopter, pulled open the cabin door, and gestured for her to get in.

Gu Yan sat inside, watched him skillfully check the instrument panel, and couldn't help but ask: "When did you learn to fly this?"

Shen Yanhui: "A long time ago."

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow: "Why didn't you tell me?"

He curled his lips: "I was saving it as a surprise."

Gu Yan laughed: "It's certainly a big surprise."

The engine started, the propellers spun faster and faster, and the helicopter slowly rose into the air.

Gu Yan looked down from the porthole; the villa grew smaller and smaller, and the two little figures in the garden were still looking up. Gu Nian was waving vigorously in Auntie Li's arms, while Shen Zhi stood to the side, quietly looking up.

She waved back, even though she knew they couldn't see her.

Shen Yanhui's voice came through the headset: "Sit tight."

She turned to look at him, watching him focus on controlling the aircraft, his profile gilded with a layer of gold by the sunlight.

She suddenly remembered the way he looked when she first met him.

On a rainy night in Paris, he stood across the street, soaked through, his whole being filled with dejection.

At that time, she didn't know that one day, he would take her flying into the sky.

The helicopter passed through the clouds, and beneath them was a sea of snow-white clouds.

She spoke softly: "Shen Yanhui, it's a good thing it rained that day in Paris."

It's a good thing I met you.

Ding ding ding! The side stories for Yanyan and Old Shen are over! In the future, our Sister Nian successfully takes over Old Shen's mantle and becomes the undisputed leader of Shen Corporation. And our younger brother inherits Yanyan's artistic talent and becomes a world-renowned painter!