Chapter 190: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 190: Years of Devotion Still Lost to Youthful Frivolity

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"His good conditions are his own business."

Lin Xiyu frowned, a hint of impatience rising: "I've said it once more, I have no relationship with your son. Please stop bothering me."

"You're trying to chase me away?"

The middle-aged woman's face turned iron-green: "How could there be someone as ill-mannered as you, speaking impolitely, disrespecting elders? I really don't know what my son saw in you."

"You can leave."

Lin Xiyu completely lost her patience and slammed the door shut with a bang.

The middle-aged woman failed to dodge in time and almost bumped her nose.

"You ill-mannered woman, my son is truly blind to have taken a liking to you."

She was furious and kept knocking on the door while cursing.

"What's going on?"

"What's the commotion?"

"It's high noon, can't people rest?"

"My grandson is small, you scared my grandson."

The noise outside disturbed the neighbors, and the door next door opened as an old lady with white hair and temples stepped out displeased.

"Grandma Liu, sorry, we disturbed your grandson's sleep......."

Lin Xiyu had no choice but to open the door again and apologize to the old lady.

"Who is she?"

Grandma Liu glared at the middle-aged woman with displeasure.

"She's my colleague's mother."

Lin Xiyu explained somewhat embarrassedly.

"I came to tell her......"

The middle-aged woman distorted the facts and maliciously slandered: "Don't rely on your looks to cling to my son like a fox spirit."

"Xiao Lin, is what she says true?"

Grandma Liu looked at Lin Xiyu with doubtful eyes, not quite believing.

"No."

Lin Xiyu denied decisively: "I'm already engaged and have a fiancé. It's his son who won't accept it and keeps clinging to me."

"She's lying."

The middle-aged woman didn't believe it: "She's always been single and doesn't have a fiancé at all. My son is her colleague; how could he not know?"

"Who says she doesn't have a fiancé?"

The bathroom door opened, and Guben walked out in casual home wear, looking fresh and clean.

His hair was still wet, half-dried with a towel, with soft, loose bangs hanging over his forehead, looking a bit childish, like a college student still in school.

"You, who are you?"

Seeing Guben, the middle-aged woman was visibly stunned, with contempt and scrutiny flashing in her eyes.

"I'm her fiancé."

Guben put his arm around Lin Xiyu's shoulder, asserting his claim.

"Eh, young man, it's you?"

Grandma Liu's eyes lit up, she walked two steps forward and examined him closely.

"Hello, Grandma."

Guben greeted Grandma Liu very familiarly.

"You know each other?"

Lin Xiyu was stunned by this sudden turn of events, obviously bewildered for a moment.

"We met once during morning exercise."

Guben explained with a smile: "Grandma Liu's grandson is very cute, fair and chubby, a very likable child."

"I should thank you for that."

Grandma Liu thanked sincerely: "That little rascal of mine is too naughty. If you hadn't caught him, he would have fallen out of the baby carriage."

"It's nothing......"

Guben smiled humbly: "Anyone who happened to see it would do the same."

"Xiao Lin......"

Grandma Liu looked at the two with full of affection: "Your partner is not bad, a person worth entrusting. Grandma is optimistic about you. When you get married, be sure to tell Grandma."

"Uh."

Lin Xiyu didn't expect Grandma Liu's thoughts to turn so fast, thinking of marriage upon first meeting, her smile a bit stiff.

"Of course."

Guben answered for her: "We're getting our certificate soon. After we get the certificate, we'll send you wedding candy."

"Getting the certificate is good, so people won't gossip."

Grandma Liu beamed: "Grandma is waiting for your wedding candy."

「This auntie, you saw it too. 」

After exchanging pleasantries with Liu Nainai, Guben turned to look at Ge Jie's mother, his expression changing instantly, his eyes icy cold to the bone: "Xiyu and I are deeply in love and will be married soon. Please do not harass her anymore. As for your son, I advise you once: do not harbor ulterior motives or covet my wife."

"My son would never like a woman of such poor character."

Hearing the word "auntie," the middle-aged woman was so angry she nearly had a heart attack: "Living together before marriage—this kind of low-class slut isn't even worthy of lacing our Ge Jie's shoes."

"Who are you calling a slut?!"

Guben's eyes were cold and sharp, his right fist clenched until it cracked.

"You, you you..."

The middle-aged woman trembled from his intimidating aura, fearfully shrinking her neck: "Do you still want to hit a woman?"

"Don't interfere. Let me handle it."

Lin Xiyu domineeringly pushed Guben behind her.

"Alright, I'll listen to my wife."

Guben looked at her deeply, the corner of his mouth slightly curving up, and all the killing intent around him vanished in an instant.

"This auntie, I think you still haven't understood one thing."

Lin Xiyu gave him a sweet smile, then turned back to face the middle-aged woman, going all out: "You came here today just to humiliate yourself. I don't care what your purpose is......."

"Whether you wanted to show off your superiority as a Shanghai local or give me a taste of my own medicine, your purpose has been achieved. My son and I will never have anything to do with each other again in this lifetime."

"Whether he will be heartbroken, sad, seek death, drink himself into a stupor, or be completely defeated, none of it has anything to do with me. The stairs are over there. Take your time leaving; I won't see you out."

"Bang!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she waved her hand gracefully and closed the door again, giving the middle-aged woman no chance to retort.

The middle-aged woman was so angry she nearly had a heart attack and almost fainted.

Lin Xiyu clapped her hands contentedly, pretending not to have seen it.

"It's been a few years, and your wife's glibness is getting better and better."

Guben looked at her slightly childish behavior with great amusement, his eyes filled with extreme pampering.

"Who is your wife?"

Lin Xiyu smiled and shot him a coquettish glance.

"What my wife said is correct; there are indeed many people pursuing her."

Guben didn't mind, and joked with a smile: "In that case, I have to work even harder and go to the school more often to make certain people retreat."

"You still want to go to the school?"

Lin Xiyu's heart fluttered.

"I have to go; so many people are coveting my wife's beauty."

Guben said meaningfully: "As a legitimate fiancé, I must go assert my sovereignty."

Lin Xiyu was speechless: "When did you become legitimate?"

"Come back to the hotel with me this afternoon first."

Guben gave her no chance to retort: "Sign the prenuptial agreement first, then go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to handle the procedures."

"Go to the Civil Affairs Bureau today?"

Lin Xiyu was a bit reluctant and looked down at her ankle.

She didn't want the people at the Civil Affairs Bureau to laugh at her, making it seem like she was so desperate to marry that she was limping on one leg and couldn't wait to get the certificate.

Guben smiled and coaxed her: "Grandma Liu is waiting for us to send her wedding candy."

"She was just saying it casually."

Lin Xiyu rolled her eyes: "You actually took it seriously?"

"Aren't you anxious to get a house?"

Guben changed his strategy and hit her weak point again: "The last batch of welfare housing allocated by the school—if you don't apply quickly, someone else will take it first."

"Fine, ba......"

Lin Xiyu gave up struggling and was completely defeated.

——

Guben had just returned from the United States and hadn't yet rented an apartment; his luggage was temporarily stored at the hotel.

Lin Xiyu went back to the hotel with him in the afternoon to change her clothes, signed the prenuptial agreement, and then rushed to the Civil Affairs Bureau to handle the marriage registration procedures.

Both were very handsome and beautiful; the combination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman was eye-catching.

The staff member in charge of taking photos, perhaps because they hadn't seen such a pleasing couple of newlyweds in a long time, strove for perfection during the photo session, pressing the shutter non-stop.

After the photos were taken out, the effect was surprisingly good.

The man was refined and elegant, the woman gentle and charming; whoever saw them would exclaim that they were a match made in heaven.

The staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau were obviously very satisfied as well, handing the stamped marriage certificate to the two of them and offering heartfelt blessings.

——

"Xiyu, I've finally married you."

The moment they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Guben was overwhelmed with emotion and gently reached out his hand, wanting to embrace his beloved woman.

A Ferrari roared as it sped over and stopped in front of them.

"I've only been abroad for a few days, and you've already married someone else. In your eyes, what the hell am I? Not even as good as one of Wu Meng's male cousins?"

A figure got out of the car in a rage, reached out, and pulled Lin Xiyu to the side.

"Let go of her!"

Guben's expression changed, his eyes cold and sharp.

"What the hell do you think you are?"

Wang Fan cursed loudly, and the moment he turned around and saw who it was, he froze, staring in astonishment with wide eyes.

"Wang Fan, long time no see."

Guben met his gaze, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.

"I guarded her for five years; by what right do you come back and snatch her away?"

Wang Fan felt bitter inside, his anger undiminished, and he rushed over to punch him in the face.

"Wang Fan, stop!"

Lin Xiyu's breath caught, and she instinctively stepped forward, placing herself between the two of them.

"Haven't I been good to you these past years?"

Wang Fan gripped her shoulders tightly and demanded in a stern voice: "Why can he, but I can't?"

"You've been very good to me, I admit..."

Lin Xiyu's shoulder ached sharply, tears blurring her eyes: "People's hearts are made of flesh; I don't want to deceive you. I did waver, wanting to give myself a chance, to try to accept you..."

"But when I saw Li Qing standing before me with a child, do you know how bone-piercing and heart-rending that feeling of being deceived is?"

"It was only then that I learned that before we broke up back then, she was already pregnant, gave birth to the child alone in Germany, you already had a child, and what else do you want from me?"

—

Wang Fan's face turned ashen: "When did she come to find you?"

"Half a month ago, the week before you went abroad."

Lin Xiyu gave him no chance to retort: "This time you went to Germany, was it also for that child? Have you already confirmed that he is your biological son?"

"She kept it from me..."

A flicker of panic crossed Wang Fan's eyes: "I had no idea that child even existed before."

"Even if you didn't know, the child has been born."

Lin Xiyu smiled bitterly: "I've seen that child; he looks very much like you, it's obvious at a glance that they're father and son, and he's already four years old, sensible, and very attached to his mother. You wouldn't want me to be that child's stepmother and tear them apart, would you?"

"I never thought of making you a stepmother..."

Wang Fan instinctively explained: "I won't acknowledge that child, and I certainly won't marry Li Qing for him."

"Let go."

Lin Xiyu spoke with a choked voice: "If it weren't for that child, perhaps everything would be different, but I cannot deceive myself. As long as that child exists, he is like a thorn stuck in my heart, constantly mocking my stupidity for actually believing you would change for me..."

"Li Qing and I were together before I pursued you..."

Wang Fan was unwilling to accept it: "Since I confessed to you, I haven't touched another woman. These years, don't you know how I've treated you? For you, I've been chaste and abstinent like a monk, and you're still not satisfied? Just for mistakes I made in the past, you're so quick to pass a death sentence on me?"

"Stop talking, I don't want to hear..."

Lin Xiyu was agitated, forcefully slapped his hand away, and broke free from his restraint.

"Why? Must you be so cruel to me?"

Wang Fan found it hard to accept, his eyes reddening, and he lowered his eyelids in pain.

"I still say the same thing..."

Lin Xiyu forced herself to harden her heart, pretending not to see: "I cannot pretend that child doesn't exist. You go now, don't pester me anymore. We're over."

"Damn it!"

Wang Fan, anxious and with nowhere to vent, kicked his sports car.

The sports car was innocently hit, its alarm blaring shrilly without stopping.

"I'm tired, I want to go home."

Lin Xiyu didn't want outsiders to see a joke; she wearily rubbed her brow and turned to leave.

"I'll take you..."

Guben wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, waved his hand, and hailed a taxi.

The two got in the car, the window glass slowly rose, shutting out the view of outsiders.

Wang Fan closed his eyes in despair; years of devotion were ultimately defeated by youthful frivolity.

—

Five years ago, after the Gu Family met with misfortune, Guben, not wanting to betray Grandfather's trust, chose the most difficult path, gave up his studies, and accompanied his mother to the United States for treatment.

His departure once plunged Lin Xiyu into great difficulty, and it also gave Wang Fan hope, stirring his desire to pursue her.

When the school grass senior who had once been tyrannized by Guben took advantage of the situation to intrude, and after being rejected flew into a rage, mocking Lin Xiyu as the withered flower and willow left over from Guben's play, he arrived in time, punched him to the ground, and spoke out for her in public.

When Lin Xiyu went home for the New Year and had to deal with her mother and a blind date, and was similarly mocked by those who knew the situation, he also appeared in time, using the identity of a suitor to help her out of the predicament.

He thought he would have a chance to move her heart.

But he overlooked the most important point: that Guben had loved Lin Xiyu from beginning to end and had never thought of giving up.

The unannounced departure five years ago was not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't dare.

He feared that seeing her would make him lose his reason, and he would never be able to ruthlessly leave again.

His mother was being treated abroad; after she recovered as wished, Heaven played another cruel joke on him.

After his mother woke up and learned that Grandfather had innocently suffered misfortune and died of a heart attack, she was overwhelmed with guilt, unwilling to burden her son further, and slit her wrists to commit suicide.

Guben felt he had betrayed Grandfather's trust and failed to care for his mother well; for a time he also fell into despair, listless and depressed in confusion and decadence.

It was a letter Lin Xiyu sent to the United States that saved him.

The letter was sent to the nursing home not long after they arrived in the United States. Lin Xiyu vomited blood and fainted, woke up in the hospital, and begged Wang Fan to help her find out the whereabouts of the mother and son.

Wang Fan had no choice but to use various connections to inquire about the address of the nursing home.

The letter was sent to the nursing home, but Guben didn't know; his mother, out of her mind, threw it aside carelessly, and it fell into a gap in the bed.

Guben only discovered when sorting through his mother's belongings that Lin Xiyu had once written him a letter, in which she clearly stated that she did not accept a one-sided breakup and would always wait for him to return.

This letter rekindled his hope, and he pulled himself together again.

To return to her side as soon as possible, he did black work while studying day and night.

He completed all his studies within five years, earning dual PhDs in computer science and law, becoming an internationally renowned lawyer; the hardships involved were unimaginable to ordinary people.

While striving in his career, he also secretly laid plans, quietly paying attention to her.

It was precisely for this reason that he could return in time when she wanted to enter a contract marriage with someone else, appearing before her.

Li Qing suddenly returned to China, disrupting Wang Fan's proposal plans, and it was his doing.

——

"Five years, so much has happened; I can't pretend nothing happened and trust you without reservation like before."

"I'm tired, you go; I want to stay alone quietly for a while."

The taxi stopped below the Company Dormitory Building; this time Lin Xiyu's attitude was very firm, refusing to let Guben escort her upstairs again.

"Alright, you rest first."

Guben smiled bitterly helplessly, could only comply with her, watching her limp into the corridor, up the stairs, until the sound of a door closing came from the fifth floor, before turning to leave.

——

Pudong, Lujiashui Cafe.

"Tsk tsk, that punch was quite fierce......"

Wu Meng looked at Guben's bruised mouth corner, laughing very carefree: "I knew you'd definitely get beaten up after returning, just didn't expect retribution to come so quickly."

"Thank you these years for taking care of Xiyu for me."

Guben smiled with a good temper, not minding her provocation.

"Thank for what?"

Wu Meng glared at him discontentedly: "I'm not doing it for you; even if you didn't say anything, I would do my best to help her. Otherwise, she's really too pitiful alone, let down by you, and still deceived by that big-tailed wolf Wang Fan......"

"No matter what, I still need to thank you."

Guben's attitude was very sincere: "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to learn the inside story and return in time."

"We have to agree on this......"

Wu Meng felt a bit guilty: "Absolutely cannot tell anyone that these years I've been tipping you off, especially Wang Fan; if he finds out, he might strangle me to death......"

"And Xiyu also cannot be allowed to know, making her feel I didn't tell her the truth, betrayed her, causing our two good sisters to fall out; I won't let you off. If you ever want me to help you again, it's absolutely impossible."

——

"Won't."

Guben guaranteed with a solemn vow: "This matter I'll keep in my stomach; no one will say it."

"Fine, with your word I'm relieved."

Wu Meng breathed a sigh of relief, not staying long: "You just returned, surely have many things to be busy with, so I won't disturb you. If we need to contact each other again, as long as it's good for Xiyu, I'll spare no effort, ready at your call."

"I've arranged a job for your cousin."

Guben felt it necessary to explain clearly to Wu Meng first: "Let him come to my law firm to be my personal assistant."

"Ah?"

Wu Meng looked utterly incredulous: "You want him to be your personal assistant? He's a legal illiterate; what can he do? He probably doesn't even understand the profession of lawyer, right?"

"Personal assistant doesn't require knowing the law."

Guben had his own plans: "I just returned to China and don't have a domestic driver's license; I need a driver. Let him drive for me first. Other business isn't urgent; take it slow. As long as he's not too stupid, he'll learn sooner or later."

"This guy really had dog-shit luck."

Wu Meng spat out sarcasm: "He's only fit to be a driver, run errands, do odd jobs. Even so, he can get an annual salary of one hundred thousand. Do you have too much money and nowhere to spend it? How about this: give me the money, and I'll be your secretary, so I don't have to work myself to death at a foreign company, looking at foreigners' faces all day."

"I dare not ask you to be my secretary."

Guben joked with a smile: "I'm afraid Li Liang will beat me up, and even more afraid Xiyu will misunderstand."

"What's there for them to misunderstand......"

Wu Meng didn't care: "Others might have crooked intestines and have an affair with a secretary, but you definitely won't. You're a rare great romantic. Others may not know, but I know you too well. For Xiyu, you can do anything. I don't trust others, but I trust you."

"Thank you for your trust."

Guben smiled faintly, then said: "As thanks, I'll take good care of your cousin, so he can have a proper job and not be unable to get by in Shanghai."

"Tsk~~"

Wu Meng looked indignant: "Let that kid get the benefit. Why should I do the work while he benefits? The gift should go to me. If it weren't for Xiyu needing help, he'd be a nobody. I don't care about him at all."

"The gift is......."

Guben was prepared, taking out an envelope and handing it to her: "Yours. I definitely won't leave you out."

"Really?"

Wu Meng picked up the envelope and saw it was a bank card, somewhat startled: "Is this really for me? Is there a lot of money? I dare not take it......."

"Not much, just fifty thousand."

Guben spoke concisely but shockingly: "You've helped me a lot these years. This is what you deserve."

"Fifty thousand?"

Wu Meng's hand trembled, the envelope almost fell to the ground.

"Right now, I have another matter I want to ask for your help......"

Guben pretended not to see, giving her a little time to buffer and digest the indescribable shock.

"What matter?"

Wu Meng holding the envelope felt it was hot in her hand; hearing there was a matter, she became spirited again.

"Xiyu sprained her foot last night and is alone at home with no one to take care of her. I'm not at ease......."

Guben had not yet clearly expressed his request when Wu Meng promptly interrupted him.

"Understood, no need to say more. I'll go to her home now to take care of her for you. Rest assured. I'll definitely convey your words, tell her it was you who sent me, so she'll be grateful to you. Next time you go, she won't give you the cold shoulder......"

"Cough, cough."

Guben heard the three words "shut door soup," and coughed embarrassedly twice.

"Hahaha."

Wu Meng raised her eyebrows a bit smugly: "Did I guess right? You got beaten and then hit a wall, shut out by Xiyu?"

Guben said nothing, tacitly admitting her words.