Chapter 1072: Three Days Without a Beating, and They'll Tear Down the Roof

The twins also crowded around, chirping with questions.

"Mom and Dad, where did you come back from? Did you fall from the sky? Why didn't you tell us and just suddenly come back?"

"Are there gifts? I want a gift."

Litian was sensible and pulled his two younger brothers away: "It's almost time for kindergarten, you two hurry up and get ready for school. Mom and Dad have been on a plane for over ten hours, let them rest."

Shi Youxuan noticed one child was missing.

"Where is Zichen? Why didn't Zichen come down?"

Zihan was quick-tongued: "Big brother has been staying at Auntie's house for the past few days, he has to prepare for next month's Chef Conference..." Halfway through the sentence, he was tugged by his two brothers and stopped.

Seeing his parents' expressions, he realized he had said too much.

But Sheng Hanyu said nothing and turned to go upstairs.

Leaving the matter of disciplining the children to his wife—at least on the surface—the two could not discuss how they should discipline them in front of the children.

"Alright, you all go to school. I put the gifts in your rooms, you can see them when you get back."

"Goodbye, Mom."

"Goodbye, Mom."

"Goodbye, Mom."

The children waved goodbye to their mother and went to school.

Shi Youxuan carried the gifts and went to the Shi Family.

Litian's words had been an understatement; Sheng Zichen wasn't staying at the Shi Family for a few days, but had basically been living at Shi Yuke's house for over a month.

Having lived at Shi Yuke's house for over a month and following Gu Zhihao, his academic performance could be imagined—it plummeted.

But one couldn't blame Gu Zhihao for their own child's declining grades; Zichen's love for culinary arts wasn't a matter of a day or two.

Having lived in someone else's home for over a month, she had to show some appreciation.

Gu Zhihao was skilled in culinary arts, but he was stingy and petty about everything, specifically calculating the gains and losses of trivial matters.

If it were anyone else, let alone staying at his house for over a month, he would have been beating around the bush to ask for living expenses if they stayed for even three days.

But Sheng Zichen had stayed at his house for over a month, and he hadn't even let a word slip; everyone had kept it from her, which was why Zichen had been allowed to grow wild like a sheep!

"Second sister is here?"

Seeing her, Gu Zhihao's expression was a bit unnatural, somewhat like a primary school student caught doing something wrong by a teacher.

Although he wore a smile, he was at a loss, and his hands and feet were nervously unsure of where to be placed.

"Brother-in-law, this is for you."

"Thank you, you're too polite. Why bring gifts when you're just coming over?"

That was what he said, but Gu Zhihao's little eyes kept darting toward the gift's packaging, secretly calculating the price in his heart.

It was like this every time; Shi Youxuan was used to it and didn't bother to argue with him.

"It's only right. Zichen has been bothering you for over a month, this is for living expenses." She handed over a large red envelope.

"No, no, I won't take this money."

This time it wasn't a fake refusal; he really wouldn't take it.

"If you give me living expenses, you're scolding me. Zichen is not just your son, he's also my nephew, and even more so my apprentice. If I took his living expenses, would I still be human?"

Fine, if he wouldn't take it, he wouldn't take it.

She didn't insist further, and Gu Zhihao was very happy, starting to praise Zichen incessantly.

He praised Zichen for being smart, sensible, and polite.

Much better than many young masters and playboys.

If people hit it off, then everything about that person seems good.

That was the case with Gu Zhihao now; he praised Zichen to the heavens, and even said that he and his wife would rely on Zichen to support them in their old age, that this child was the most promising...

Although they were kind words, the comparison was still unpleasant.

The matter of old-age support was still quite distant for Shi Youxuan and Sheng Hanyu.

Besides, even for old-age support, the two didn't need to rely on their children.

When the conversation doesn't click, half a sentence is too much; Gu Zhihao was still enthusiastically rambling on, but she was already annoyed.

So she changed the subject: "Where is my sister?"

"She went to the company and gets off work at five in the afternoon," Gu Zhihao said happily.

Shi Yuke's livestreaming sales hadn't stopped, but had instead grown larger.

The livestreaming room had become a company, and the workplace had moved from home to a nearby office building.

Without all sorts of handsome men coming and going from the Shi Family, the gossip among the neighbors had gradually faded away.

The company business was very good, and Shi Yuke contributed a fixed amount to household expenses, so Gu Zhihao was responsible for everything at home, including the children.

It wasn't necessary for the man to go out and earn money in every family; if the woman earned money to support the family and the man did the laundry, cooked, and took care of the children, they could live happily, as long as neither of them complained.

Shi Youxuan didn't like gossip, and was even less willing to meddle in other people's family affairs.

But out of necessary concern, she still had to ask: "You and my sister, you're doing pretty well lately, right?"

The smile on Gu Zhihao's face disappeared: "It's passable. Isn't that how living life is? Over a long time, even a stone can be warmed up. I don't believe I can't warm her heart."

In a word, it meant things weren't that great.

If one spoke of morality, Shi Yuke had been taken in by Gu Zhihao when she was at her most embarrassing; now that she had returned to normal, it wouldn't be right for her to abandon him.

But that was only morality, and had nothing to do with feelings.

Feelings can be restrained, but they cannot be controlled.

But it was very clear that Gu Zhihao didn't realize this yet; he was still hoping to use the spirit of the Foolish Old Man removing the mountains to make Shi Yuke fall in love with him—this idea was far too wishful.

Shi Youxuan decided to have a talk with Yuke.

"Brother-in-law, where is my sister's company? I'll go over and take a look."

"It's just ahead at Xingfuli Mansion."

"Alright."

Shi Youxuan said goodbye and left the Shi Family; it was indeed not far, and she arrived after walking for five minutes out of the residential compound.

Arriving in front of the company entrance, she saw a car that looked very familiar; where had she seen it before?

She couldn't recall.

It wasn't until she saw Liu Jun come out of Yuke's company that she remembered—it was Liu Jun's car!

"What a coincidence, Mr. Liu. I didn't expect to see you here. Does your securities firm have dealings with my sister's company? Is my sister's company going public?"

Liu Jun's face turned red, then white.

Shi Youxuan's mouth was like a knife, the kind that kills without drawing blood; every word could give a person internal injuries.

She knew perfectly well that wasn't the case, but she deliberately refused to suggest anything else.

Liu Jun stammered, "I... I was just passing by."

"Oh, take your time. When you go back, please give a message to Mrs. Liu for me. I brought her some gifts when I returned from L Country, and I'll give them to her when I pick up the children this afternoon."

Liu Jun panicked and blurted out, "She isn't at home; she took the children out on a trip."

"That's alright, I can wait for her to come back."

Liu Jun:...

He wanted to say something, his lips moved a few times, but he still didn't say anything.

"Do you have other business?"

"No."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Liu Jun left unwillingly; Shi Youxuan pulled a long face and grabbed her sister, "Come with me."

Her company was too small, the kind you could see from one end to the other at a glance; although there was a tiny office, it wasn't soundproof at all and was no place for a conversation.