Chapter 527: The Rest of My Life

"When did you arrive?"

Gu Ning walked into the living room and placed her bag on the cabinet at the door.

Li Xuewu was sitting on the sofa near the door. Seeing Gu Ning enter, he extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand.

"I've been here for a while."

Gu Ning changed into her slippers and walked inside, but she saw Zhou Wang Yamei wiping her tears, trying hard to organize her emotions just as she entered.

What happened?

She looked at Li Xuewu suspiciously. Her mind was already a bit chaotic, and seeing this scene, her face instantly turned cold.

However, seeing Li Xuewu's calmness and Zhou Wang Yamei's silence, Gu Ning knew she had overthought it.

Li Xuewu didn't explain; he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued to remain silent.

It wasn't until Gu Ning walked to the sofa and sat down next to Zhou Wang Yamei that Zhou Wang Yamei covered her face and cried out loud.

Gu Ning seemed to guess something. Li Xuewu coming here, and being able to make Zhou Wang Yamei cry, could only be about one message.

She wasn't very good at comforting people, so she could only pat Zhou Wang Yamei's back lightly.

Zhou Wang Yamei just sobbed in a low voice; the string that had been stretched tight for many days suddenly snapped, and she couldn't bear it.

Emotional breakdown was uncontrollable, even if Zhou Wang Yamei didn't want Gu Ning to worry about her.

Li Xuewu didn't take the initiative to tell this news when he came; Zhou Wang Yamei had figured it out herself.

This woman was a professional; Li Xuewu knew he couldn't hide it from her, so he didn't intend to.

She had known the approximate sentence since meeting Fu Bin last time. This time, seeing Li Xuewu visit, she had some premonition.

She didn't ask a single question but just cried out, without wailing, only choking and sobbing.

Li Xuewu knew he couldn't comfort her, so he didn't speak, just sat silently on the sofa smoking and drinking tea.

Gu Ning looked at Zhou Wang Yamei and then at Li Xuewu, but Li Xuewu nodded silently.

After sitting for a while, there was movement upstairs—the sound of footsteps on the stairs, breaking the sadness in the living room. Zhou Wang Yamei gritted her teeth and held back her sobs.

"Mom~"

Perhaps still a bit dazed from sleep, Fu Zhidong came down from upstairs, stood at the corner of the stairs, and called out blankly while looking at the living room.

"Woke up?"

Li Xuewu took the initiative to stand up, walked toward Fu Zhidong, and flicked his forehead lightly. Seeing the child's gaze on him, he took him back upstairs.

Fu Zhidong looked at the living room and asked Li Xuewu after they went upstairs, "What's wrong with Mom?"

"You know."

Li Xuewu pursed his lips, showing a helpless expression, and said, "Women are sometimes like this; they can cry over a novel. They are sentimental."

Fu Zhidong had just woken up, his little brain was still slow, so he nodded along with Li Xuewu's words and said, "Sigh~ it's not the first time."

"Hehe, you have to understand."

Li Xuewu patted Fu Zhidong's little shoulder and said to this child who was like a little adult, "This is a woman's right."

"Hmm, I know."

Fu Zhidong nodded understandingly, then shuffled his little slippers and followed Li Xuewu into the study. Seeing his uncle organizing things, he sat down in the armchair behind the desk.

"Uncle, you haven't been here for several days."

"Is that so?"

Li Xuewu turned to look at Fu Zhidong. This child was swinging his little legs, and because he wasn't tall enough, he was sitting in the armchair like a "Ge You slouch."

"Hehe, work has been a bit busy. How about you?"

"Me too."

Fu Zhidong nodded understandingly, sighed, and said, "After finishing my kindergarten homework, I have to learn foreign languages with Mom, and I have to learn piano with my aunt at night. It's a bit tiring."

"Don't you like it?"

Li Xuewu stood by the bookshelf and said, "Then tell Mom to learn a little less."

Fu Zhidong yawned again, looking a bit listless, and said, "Forget it. Yanni in our class can speak Russian, so I have to learn one too."

Saying this, he looked at his uncle who was organizing the bookshelf and asked, "Uncle, do you know foreign languages?"

"A little bit."

Li Xuewu chatted with Fu Zhidong while organizing the books he had collected on the shelf.

Books nowadays weren't as rampant as in later generations; it could be said they were very precious.

There were very few pirated copies; every book was genuine.

It's just that the concept of "edition" was a bit different from later generations.

"Then what foreign languages can you speak?"

Fu Zhidong had a child's nature; when he learned new knowledge, he wanted to show off to those he was close to, or even compare.

"Russian and English."

Li Xuewu maintained a respectful attitude when talking to children; he didn't treat them as children to be brushed off, which was why Li Xuewu was popular with children.

Li Xuewu knew Zhou Wang Yamei knew foreign languages; she didn't learn four languages by going abroad, nor did she have foreigners in her family—it was a product of the era.

The education system in the city where Zhou Wang Yamei lived had undergone several reforms, from Japanese and Korean to English, and then to Russian.

Her family environment was good, and her childhood education environment was also good, so she had caught up with all these learning changes.

What was impressive was that Zhou Wang Yamei had a talent for learning. Although she couldn't say she was proficient, she had achieved something.

Plus, she got married after graduation and had been staying at home taking care of her children, so her studies hadn't fallen behind.

Li Xuewu admired people who were good at learning, so he still maintained a passion for learning.

If talent wasn't enough, hard work would make up for it.

The books on the shelf were ones he had scavenged from the market, or ones organized by Lao Biaozi and the others when they were cleaning up scrap.

It wasn't to create an academic atmosphere or to show off with a bookshelf, but because Gu Ning and Zhou Wang Yamei both liked reading.

After they got married, he also wanted to read for a while at night.

"Yanni knows Russian."

Fu Zhidong saw Li Xuewu squat down and followed him, saying, "She said Russian is hard to learn; her grandfather just taught her the pronunciation."

"How about you? Have you memorized the alphabet?"

Li Xuewu finished organizing and turned around. He didn't treat this child as a hindrance, and while talking, he collected the boxes on the floor.

"Sigh~ it's alright."

Fu Zhidong didn't know if he had learned it or not, but his sigh was very serious.

Chatting with children is like this; they might say something to you, whimsical and uninhibited.

Li Xuewu finished cleaning up the study, stood with his hands on his hips, and looked around. Several bookshelves were full, and some books he had put in the cabinets below were ones Gu Ning and the others had already read.

Fu Zhidong also mimicked Li Xuewu, put his hands on his hips, and looked at the bookshelves that were much taller than him.

Seeing Li Xuewu didn't speak, Fu Zhidong turned and asked, "Uncle, are you going to eat here today?"

"No."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "Planning to take your aunt out to eat, a romantic world for two."

"Romantic!?"

Fu Zhidong was very surprised; he hadn't paid attention to what "world for two" meant.

"Romantic, that's the English you learned, sinicized."

Li Xuewu explained with a smile and asked, "Do you know what marriage means?"

"I sort of know."

Fu Zhidong nodded and said, "It's something people have to do when they grow up."

After giving a muddled answer, Fu Zhidong seemed to think of something, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked, "Are you and my aunt getting married?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Yes."

After answering, Li Xuewu felt that downstairs was about the same, so he reached out and patted Fu Zhidong's shoulder, walking out while saying, "You should grow up quickly too, then you can marry the person you like."

"The person I like...?"

Fu Zhidong didn't know if his understanding was the same as what his uncle said, and his little brain was confused by the adults' words again.

"What are you talking about?"

Zhou Wang Yamei, having organized her emotions, was standing at the corner of the stairs. Seeing the big one and the small one discussing a serious problem, she couldn't help but smile.

Fu Zhidong looked at his mother; she seemed a bit different—her eyes were red, and her smile was a bit forced.

"Talking about marriage."

Fu Zhidong ran down the stairs and said to his mother, "Uncle said he wants to marry the person he likes."

"Is that so~"

Zhou Wang Yamei smiled and touched her son's head, but her eyes looked at Li Xuewu who was walking down the stairs.

Li Xuewu walked past this mother and son, winked at Fu Zhidong, and said, "This is a secret between men, young man; you have to learn to keep secrets."

Seeing his uncle say this, Fu Zhidong hurriedly pursed his lips, making a gesture of keeping a secret.

"Hehehehe~"

Li Xuewu laughed and walked down the stairs. Gu Ning was sitting on the sofa looking over here.

The living room wasn't far from the second-floor stairs, and Li Xuewu and Fu Zhidong's conversation could still be heard downstairs.

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu's eyes, not knowing which of his words were true and which were false.

"Application approved?"

Li Xuewu walked to Gu Ning's side and sat down, asking while picking up his teacup.

Gu Ning nodded and didn't say anything; she didn't know how to face Li Xuewu now.

She wasn't very good at pretending, and even worse at hiding her emotions.

Li Xuewu didn't pay much attention to Gu Ning's expression. They were sitting close, and with Zhou Wang Yamei at home, it wasn't appropriate for him to be too intimate with Gu Ning.

Taking a sip of tea, Li Xuewu said, "We'll go out to eat tonight; I'll take you to eat Western food."

Gu Ning looked up at Li Xuewu and said, "I don't want to go; I want to rest."

"What's wrong?"

Li Xuewu asked with concern, seeing Gu Ning's low mood.

Gu Ning just shook her head and didn't explain anything.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning and said, "A classmate from the Jinmen training class, Huang Gan, got a few tickets for a ballet performance. He's taking his wife, and he invited me to go watch it, so I thought about taking you along."

Gu Ning looked up again, stared into Li Xuewu's eyes for a good while, and then asked, "A friend?"

"A good friend."

Li Xuewu emphasized, then smiled, "But precisely because he's a good friend, if you're not feeling well, I'll return the tickets to him."

Gu Ning pursed her lips and asked again, "Is it for tonight?"

"Of course."

Li Xuewu saw that Gu Ning's eyes were a bit off, narrowed his left eye slightly, and asked, "Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Gu Ning didn't speak, just looked into Li Xuewu's eyes, then lowered her head and said, "Nothing, wait for me for a bit; I'm going to change my clothes."

Saying this, she stood up and went upstairs.

Li Xuewu's gaze followed Gu Ning's figure until she disappeared at the corner of the stairs.

As Gu Ning's figure disappeared, Li Xuewu's gaze suddenly became sharp.

He wasn't a fool, and he wasn't a novice in love; when it came to sensitivity, he had rich experience.

"Three or four days."

Zhou Wang Yamei sent her son to play in the courtyard, and seeing Gu Ning go upstairs, she walked to the side of the coffee table to tidy up the tea set and said softly.

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes, thinking in his mind.

Gu Ning was fine when he left on Wednesday night; she said she was going home to ask her parents' opinion.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday—what happened?

Li Xuewu didn't know, he hadn't paid attention, but something must have happened, otherwise Gu Ning's mood wouldn't have changed.

He didn't think Zhou Wang Yamei had said anything, nor did he think Gu Ning cared about Zhou Wang Yamei.

Because Li Xuewu knew that he and Zhou Wang Yamei didn't have any substantial crossing of the line.

But he hadn't been in contact with anyone else these past few days; could it be that she heard something?

Zhou Wang Yamei didn't know what to say or how to ask; she tidied up the tea set and was about to go out to see the child.

Li Xuewu suddenly asked, "Do you... hate me?"

Zhou Wang Yamei's footsteps were suddenly nailed to the ground, unable to move.

Just standing with her back to Li Xuewu, she couldn't say a word.

After a long while, Zhou Wang Yamei trembled and turned around, looking at Li Xuewu, her face already covered in tears.

"Don't you think asking me that is very cruel?"

"I'm sorry."

Li Xuewu nodded slightly and said, "In the game, one is not the master of one's own fate."

"No."

Zhou Wang Yamei let the tears flow, standing in the living room looking at Li Xuewu with some sadness, and said, "No one is sorry for anyone. You shouldn't have told me; wouldn't it have been better to let me forget?"

Li Xuewu nodded; he knew Zhou Wang Yamei could see that he had told her these things on purpose.

If he didn't want to express it, he wouldn't have come today.

"I don't want to lie to you."

Li Xuewu sighed and said, "I hope you can walk out of this as soon as possible and start a new life."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu for a while, then wiped away her tears and wiped her face clean with a handkerchief.

Fu Zhidong's voice came from the courtyard, and Zhou Wang Yamei said "Don't mention it again" and went out.

Li Xuewu was famous for being cautious; as long as Fu Bin didn't die, putting Zhou Wang Yamei by Gu Ning's side wouldn't cause anything.

But Li Xuewu knew that the date couldn't be hidden; he wouldn't be at ease without probing Zhou Wang Yamei's true feelings.

Just like what he said to Fu Zhidong, women are emotional; he didn't know what choices they would make.

He had been observing Zhou Wang Yamei since Gu Ning came back, until the last probe just now, which made Zhou Wang Yamei angry from embarrassment.

Li Xuewu didn't think there was anything wrong; he knew what Zhou Wang Yamei wanted and why she did that to him.

He knew Zhou Wang Yamei's purpose even better; he understood.

No one understood women better than him.

However, seeing Zhou Wang Yamei like this, he felt relieved.

He wasn't afraid of women's purposeful attachment and flattery, and he wasn't afraid of women's utilitarian throwing themselves at him.

Zhou Wang Yamei was probably a bit sad now, sad at Li Xuewu's heartlessness, never giving her trust.

Actually, she was still okay; there were too few people Li Xuewu could trust.

If he had to name a few people he could trust, he could only count them among the two hundred graves in the west of the city.

"What time is the performance?"

"Seven o'clock."

It was the same outfit she wore during the spring outing; Li Xuewu's eyes lit up—was this girl doing it on purpose?

"It's only past four now."

Gu Ning didn't pay attention to Li Xuewu's slightly aggressive gaze and looked at the clock on the wall.

"Let's eat first."

Li Xuewu stood up with a smile, walked out while saying, "I know a Western restaurant that's not bad; let's go try it today."

In the courtyard, seeing Fu Zhidong playing in the vegetable patch and Zhou Wang Yamei standing by the path in a daze, Li Xuewu took the initiative to say, "I'll pack a portion and bring it back for you tonight."

"No need."

Zhou Wang Yamei turned her head, looked at Li Xuewu and the others, and smiled, "The child and I will just make do."

"Then save it for tomorrow."

Li Xuewu didn't say much and stepped out of the gate first.

Gu Ning walked slower than Li Xuewu. Zhou Wang Yamei grabbed Gu Ning's hand and squeezed it. Gu Ning nodded understandingly and followed Li Xuewu out of the gate.

Speaking of Western food, the one talked about most in the Four Nine Cities was Russian-style Western food.

Everyone knew the reason; after all, those Russians had the best relationship with us in previous years.

And speaking of Russian-style Western food, the one talked about most was "Old Mo."

Actually, Old Mo wasn't the representative of Russian-style Western food; it was just that this place used to be the exhibition hall for the Russians.

Because of its own attributes, it used to receive many foreign guests, so it was yearned for by those children from the large courtyards.

The reason they yearned for it was also because of the brilliance revealed in their elders' mouths.

The Four Nine Cities had experienced too much and had seen too many people; these people brought their own national and ethnic delicacies.

The Four Nine Cities didn't have its own characteristic delicacies because it was inclusive and all-encompassing.

West Chang'an Street used to be called "Food Street," and the famous "Eight Great Springs" of the Four Nine Cities were all there.

In '45, a businessman from Jinmen opened a Western restaurant here.

This was the "Dadi Western Restaurant" Li Xuewu brought Gu Ning to today.

Compared to Old Mo, this side was simpler, with patterned wallpaper on the walls and a few pillars standing in the middle of the hall.

Unlike Old Mo, the service staff and chefs here were all Chinese, which was the reason Li Xuewu brought Gu Ning here.

His identity and Gu Ning's identity weren't very suitable for going to Old Mo; don't look at those children from large courtyards going there—that's because they had no identity.

Young people who didn't know anything and just liked to show off didn't have any identity; their elders had identity, the kind of identity that required studying the confidentiality manual like Li Xuewu.

There were rumors that the waiters and chefs in Old Mo were...

Because Russian foreign affairs personnel often went there, and personnel from other foreign affairs offices also went there.

Whether it was true or not, Li Xuewu wouldn't get involved in that trouble just because of a meal.

The hall had long tables and high-backed chairs, a configuration of four people per table.

Coming in, there were quite a few people. Li Xuewu brought Gu Ning to find a seat by the window.

Although it was by the window, it was covered by white curtains, so whether people outside looked in or people inside looked out, it was all hazy.

Since it was a Western restaurant, it was Western-style service. A waiter walked over and handed them a menu.

"You have quite a few people here."

"Yes."

Seeing Li Xuewu speak, the waiter replied, "It's Sunday, so there are more people."

Li Xuewu handed the menu to Gu Ning, letting her order first, while he chatted with the waiter.

"What about usually?"

"One-third, I guess."

The waiter's service attitude was still good; the restaurant's attributes had already determined that the people who came here to eat were definitely not ordinary.

A casual meal for two people would cost three or four yuan; ordinary families couldn't afford it.

"Cream-baked mandarin fish, borscht."

Gu Ning didn't order much; after ordering, she handed the menu back to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't even look at it and asked the waiter, "Which dishes are suitable for Northern tastes?"

The waiter obviously understood Li Xuewu's meaning and said with a smile, "I suggest trying the canned braised beef; it's sweet and sour, it should suit you."

"I'll listen to you."

Li Xuewu smiled at the waiter and asked, "Anything else?"

Seeing that Li Xuewu only wanted to listen to his suggestions, the waiter took the menu and continued, "Our big dishes are heavy on oil and color, mainly sweet, sour, spicy, and salty. Why don't you try the cream-baked mandarin fish this comrade ordered? The roast pork chop is also good."

While speaking, he also emphatically recommended the specialty here, garlic bread.

"Hehe, not today."

Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile, refusing such heavy-flavored staple food, and said, "I'm planning to take my partner to watch a performance with friends in a while, so please bring me the mandarin fish and roast pork chop you mentioned. Also, we want borscht, and for bread, we'll have croissants."

The waiter smiled and said, "I don't like rye bread either; it's rock hard."

After finishing, he asked, "Do you want wine?"

"Is that okay?"

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning, then said to the waiter with a smile, "Bring a bottle of fruit wine, grape is fine."

"Just a moment."

The waiter was definitely looking at people to serve; he wouldn't be petty with those who came here to eat.

Instead, because the prices here were higher, those who were petty were even more so.

They were also human; doing service, the less trouble the guests were, the better. What they liked most was Li Xuewu, who didn't ask about prices and wouldn't be petty about the difference in dishes or the high prices.

Especially since Li Xuewu took the initiative to chat a few times and was relatively respectful to them, it was easier to get a smile.

Gu Ning was already used to it; she wasn't surprised that Li Xuewu could joke with the waiter in just a few sentences.

"Have you been here before?"

"No."

Gu Ning shook her head and said, "I rarely go out to eat."

"I'm here for the first time too."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "This is something I wouldn't have dared to think about before."

While speaking, he picked up the silver knife and fork on the table and said, "This kind of aristocratic dining tool has given me a different experience."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "What were you like before?"

Seeing Li Xuewu raise his eyebrows, Gu Ning added, "I mean your life."

"Including emotional life?"

Li Xuewu asked back, looking into Gu Ning's eyes.

Gu Ning didn't speak, just looked at Li Xuewu.

"Alright."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "It's time to confess."

He raised his hands helplessly, indicating he was giving up resistance.

Gu Ning leaned back against the chair and said, "If it can be said."

"There's nothing that can't be said."

Following Gu Ning's words, without giving Gu Ning time to pause, Li Xuewu replied, "It's just that you haven't asked, and I thought you weren't interested."

After saying this, he moved his chair and let the waiter, who had brought the wine, pour wine for both of them.

He said thank you, and only after watching the waiter put down the bottle and leave did he continue, "My life before wasn't that miserable, but it wasn't wealthy either. I definitely had enough to eat, and you should know the situation."

After talking about his childhood life, Li Xuewu continued, "Maybe it's because I've experienced hunger, or maybe I hated poverty, but I'm a bit greedy."

"For example, relationships?"

Gu Ning had already guessed what Li Xuewu was going to say.

"Hehe, yes."

Li Xuewu nodded generously and admitted, "This has to be told in several stages."

While Li Xuewu and the others were talking, the relatively simple borscht and bread were served.

The other big dishes had to wait a while.

Li Xuewu clinked glasses with Gu Ning, ignored that Gu Ning didn't drink, and took a small sip himself to moisten his mouth.

"First stage, puppy love; second stage, blooming flowers; third stage, playing in the world, etc. Which one do you want to hear?"

Gu Ning stared at Li Xuewu, her nostrils breathing a bit roughly.

This bastard!

But she asked for it, and she couldn't be serious with the bad guy opposite her.

"Which stage do I belong to?"

"You?"

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning, who was a bit serious, with amusement and said, "I think it should be 'straying into enemy camp'."

"Then I should shoot you."

Gu Ning pretended to be fierce and glared at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu laughed even more happily. Seeing that Gu Ning was about to be angry from embarrassment, he said, "I'm teasing you. Who didn't have a few female classmates they played well with when they were young?"

"Besides female classmates?"

Gu Ning was obviously very concerned about what Li Xuewu said, so she couldn't help but ask.

"Of course, older girls, or those who had already graduated."

Li Xuewu paused here and raised his eyebrows, signaling that everyone understood this.

"However, you also know that teenagers, what they say and do is just like that youth—relatively naive, not worth narrating, better to keep as memories."

Gu Ning didn't care about Li Xuewu's childhood; she knew that children in the hutongs were different from them when they were young.

She wasn't a child, and she wouldn't be unreasonable about those past things. What she was struggling with was the present.

Li Xuewu naturally knew what Gu Ning cared about; he was deliberately playing the fool, talking about those past things.

Gu Ning didn't know how to ask, nor did she know what reaction she should have if she asked.

Li Xuewu didn't expect this sensitive girl to care so much about him, and couldn't help but laugh.

Gu Ning was hesitating and struggling, not expecting the bad guy opposite her to still be able to laugh!

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu laughed and picked up his wine glass to clink with Gu Ning again. Gu Ning moved the wine glass on the table away, not letting Li Xuewu clink it.

Li Xuewu laughed even more happily; he didn't even dare to drink the wine for fear of spitting it out.

Gu Ning glared at Li Xuewu angrily and said, "Am I very ridiculous?"

"Hehe, not at all."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, suppressed his laughter, and said, "Just a bit cute."

Gu Ning didn't pay attention to this bad guy's sweet talk; she knew this person always had something to say.

Li Xuewu organized his emotions and then took a sip of wine, saying, "Did someone tell you something about me?"

Gu Ning looked into Li Xuewu's eyes, paused, and asked back, "What do you have that could be told to me?"

"That's plenty."

Li Xuewu said very calmly, "I can't even remember the bad things I've done myself. Why don't you give me a hint, and I'll tell you about them?"

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu, only feeling that she was the one who had strayed into the enemy camp.

"Do you like me?"

Li Xuewu didn't expect Gu Ning to ask this question, just like the time at the villa gate.

Gu Ning stared into Li Xuewu's eyes and said, "I don't hope for eternal love, but I don't want a marriage without temperature. Compared to scarred silence, I prefer to leave some decency for each other."

Li Xuewu leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and said very seriously, "I have never lied to you, including the answer to this question last time."

Gu Ning looked into Li Xuewu's eyes seriously. The two were deadlocked for a while before Gu Ning asked, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Li Xuewu looked into Gu Ning's eyes and said, "If you want to know what I'm doing now, anything at all."

He moved the wine glass in front of him away, leaned forward again, so that Gu Ning could clearly see his eyes.

"I will tell you without reservation."

"No need."

Gu Ning shook her head firmly, stirred the borscht in the bowl with a spoon, and said, "I have my requirements, and you have your responsibilities."

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning; this was the Gu Ning he first saw on the operating table.

"Then shall we eat?"

"One last time."

Gu Ning nodded and said, "This is the last time I'll confirm your feelings for me."

Li Xuewu reached out his hand to Gu Ning and said, "For the rest of my life, please take care of me."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu, put down the spoon in her hand, and also reached out her hand, placing it in Li Xuewu's large palm.

"Since I have seen the gentleman, we shall have no doubts about each other."

"Thank you, Ms. Gu."

"Thank you, Mr. Li."

The waiter stood in the aisle with a tray, not knowing whether he should walk over to serve the dishes. What were those two doing?

Didn't they say they were a couple just now!

Why does it look like they're doing business again!

Marriage itself is a transaction; Li Xuewu is willing to pay with sincerity, and Gu Ning is willing to pay with true intent.

Li Xuewu agreed with Gu Ning's point of view—marriage and love are two different things, but marriage doesn't mean there's no emotion.

If marriage is just to maintain decency, then marriage is long-term prostitution.

The braised beef at Dadi Western Restaurant is indeed not bad, but it's a bit worse than that cream-baked mandarin fish.

It's not that the chef's skills aren't good, but the ingredients.

Beef is very scarce at this time; although Li Xuewu and the others pull it back train by train, very little actually forms a supply chain.

Li Xuewu felt that this beef seemed to be a canned product, which he didn't like.

Of course, don't be picky at this time; these five yuan are considered an experience of what the ordinary people of the Four Nine Cities consider top-tier food.

Listening to Li Xuewu nagging and commenting on the dishes just now, Gu Ning walked beside Li Xuewu, her mood having calmed down from the struggle of the past three days.

"The bread is quite delicious."

"Hehe, just because I said this Russian-style Western meal isn't good doesn't mean Russian-style Western food is really bad."

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Gu Ning and said, "If I wanted to order Caspian sturgeon caviar, he would definitely say I'm showing off."

"Pfft~"

Gu Ning couldn't help but laugh when she heard Li Xuewu's words, covered her mouth with her hand, and then glanced at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't care at all about Gu Ning's slightly reproachful gaze and continued, "Authentic Russian-style Western food is still very rich, at least more luxurious than French-style Western food."

Gu Ning pursed her lips, walked to the car with Li Xuewu, and replied, "As if you've eaten it."

"This is called 'a scholar doesn't step out of the door, yet knows everything under heaven'."

Li Xuewu jumped into the jeep and started the engine. The sky was still bright, and there were quite a few pedestrians on the road.

They were all out shopping during their Sunday leisure time; those with a bit of money would make appointments to come here to have a treat.

Only one of the Eight Great Springs remained, but the dishes were absolutely authentic.

Gu Ning lifted her skirt and got into the car, saying, "I've read the titles and tables of contents of the books on the bookshelf; why didn't I see any that wrote about these?"

"Look, strayed into the wrong path, haven't you~"

Li Xuewu teased, stepped on the gas, drove the jeep onto the road, and said with a smile, "Mencius said: 'It is better to have no books than to believe everything in books.' Only by summarizing the knowledge in books into your own mind can it be your own."

Gu Ning curled her lips; she couldn't win against Li Xuewu's mouth, so she chose to ignore his self-praise.

Li Xuewu took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu, reached out to take it, and asked, "What's this?"

"Performance tickets."

Li Xuewu said while driving, "In a while, when you see Huang Gan and his wife, just say you got these tickets."

Gu Ning looked at the four tickets in the envelope, turned to look at Li Xuewu, and asked, "Why say that?"

Li Xuewu had clearly told her just now that his classmate got the tickets; was he doing this to deceive his classmate's wife?

Gu Ning didn't want to lie, so she wanted to return the envelope to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu turned to look at Gu Ning, smiled, didn't take it back, and explained, "His name is Huang Gan; he works at the East City First Detention Center. He also has a younger sister, who is also our classmate and works in the ministry."

Gu Ning understood and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "So you snatched his sister's tickets?"

"How could that be?"

Li Xuewu complained, "He invited me himself; he wanted to invite his wife to meet you."

Gu Ning saw that Li Xuewu wouldn't take them, so she held them in her hand.

Li Xuewu continued, "I said it before, I won't lie to you, but his wife has a good relationship with his sister, and this is just to reduce embarrassment."

"I won't say it."

Gu Ning didn't want to participate in Li Xuewu and the others' mischief; men were all no good.

"Fine, fine, I'll just say I got them."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "If I say that, his wife will definitely think I did it on purpose."

Gu Ning didn't want to listen to this person's explanation; his mouth was just good at talking.

The car arrived at the theater, and there were already many people at the entrance.

In groups of three or five, they were excitedly discussing something.

Actually, is this art form of ballet elegant or not?

Li Xuewu didn't know; his understanding of art was very superficial.

He didn't understand Peking opera and didn't like it; as for movies, he had seen too many—thrilling, exciting, tortuous, and moving—he was already immune to them.

Listening to crosstalk through the little monster every night was enough to enrich his entertainment life.

This was the first time in two lifetimes he had watched ballet so formally; his impression of ballet was just the music and video of "Little Swan."

The jeep parked directly on the open space in front of the theater building. The bicycle attendant glanced over here but didn't dare to come over.

Li Xuewu jumped out of the car, raised his eyebrows to look at the young people looking over here, then turned the car head and took Gu Ning's hand.

This combination of the two was very eye-catching. Those gathered at the entrance were all young people who liked to follow trends.

To put it bluntly, entertainment was extremely scarce in this era, but as long as it was lively, whether it was elegant or vulgar, they were willing to get involved.

Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to these probing gazes and took Gu Ning inside, implicitly revealing the holster under his clothes.

Those with sharp eyes turned their heads away, and those who were still staring were reminded by their companions.

Li Xuewu looked like he wasn't to be trifled with, and he came in a jeep, and he was carrying gear—these people all understood that this was a bright iron plate, not to be kicked.

Gu Ning didn't understand why Li Xuewu did this, but she knew there must be a reason.

Just like she said, she didn't want to know what Li Xuewu was doing, as long as Li Xuewu knew how to be responsible.

This was his first time watching ballet so formally in two lifetimes; his impression of ballet was just the "ding ding ding ding" music and video of the little swans.

If they caught someone soft or a coward, they would extort a ticket.

Li Xuewu was afraid these bastards wouldn't find tickets and would take it out on his car—peeing, throwing bricks, causing damage—these grandsons would do anything.

Entering the hall, he saw Huang Gan laughing and talking with a woman with big wavy hair.

There, it must be Huang's wife; otherwise, given Huang Gan's courage, it would be impossible for him to flirt with other women today.

"Hahaha, this must be the sister-in-law!"

Seeing Li Xuewu bring Gu Ning in, Huang Gan greeted him with a smile.

Li Xuewu smiled and introduced her to Gu Ning: "This is my good friend, Huang Gan."

Gu Ning nodded with a smile.

Seeing Huang Gan's wife turn around to look over here, Li Xuewu also greeted her with a smile: "Hello, sister-in-law, I'm Huang Gan's friend, my name is Li Xuewu."

Huang Gan's wife rolled her eyes, smiled, and reached out her hand, saying, "How are you two related?"

Li Xuewu: "Each related to each!"

Huang Gan: "Each related to each!"

"Are you two children?"

Seeing the two of them not being serious, Huang Gan's wife shook hands with Li Xuewu and introduced herself: "Su Youfang, I've heard of you for a long time."

"Then Huang Gan must have been bad-mouthing me."

Li Xuewu smiled, let go of Su Youfang's hand, and introduced them to Huang Gan: "My partner, Gu Ning."

Su Youfang saw Gu Ning's personality, smiled generously, and reached out her hand, saying, "Hello, Huang Gan told me the story of how you and Li Xuewu were destined for each other and fell in love at first sight."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and said with a smile, "That story must be very exciting."

Huang Gan's wife rolled her eyes, smiled, and reached out her hand, saying: "How are you paying for this?"

Li Xuewu: "Each pays for their own!"

Huang Gan: "Each pays for their own!"

"Are you children?"

Seeing the two of them acting improperly, Huang Gan's wife shook hands with Li Xuewu and introduced herself: "Su Youfang, I've heard of you for a long time."

"That must be Huang Gan speaking ill of me."

Li Xuewu smiled, let go of Su Youfang's hand, and introduced them to Huang Gan: "My partner, Gu Ning."

Su Youfang saw Gu Ning's personality, smiled generously, and reached out her hand, saying: "Hello, I heard from Huang Gan about the story of you and Li Xuewu being destined for each other and falling in love at first sight."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and said with a smile: "That story must be very exciting."