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That single word, “also,” carried a subtle but significant implication.
The little face that bore an uncanny resemblance to Gu Weicheng was now ice-cold, looking like a miniature version of him.
His dark, piercing eyes locked onto Su Wenyen—this bad aunt had stolen his mommy’s job!
He wouldn’t let her bully his mommy!
Watching An An, who looked like a little leopard ready to pounce, Li Xia felt a warm sensation rise in her heart.
How could she not understand? This child was standing up for her.
He knew that the person before him had bullied his mommy, so he used his own way to fight back on her behalf.
Even though Su Wenyen could tell that An An had done it on purpose, she couldn’t say anything about it.
So, what if An An had done it intentionally? Hadn’t she done the same?
Staring at An An, Su Wenyen was furious inside, but she couldn’t afford to lose her temper. She could only suppress her anger and say, “It’s fine. I’ll just wash the dress later.”
Su Wenbin glanced at An An, then at Gu Weicheng, sighed, and walked out.
Why did he feel like Gu Weicheng had become so petty ever since bringing his wife and child to the army base?
In the past, Gu Weicheng would never have gotten angry over such a minor misunderstanding.
…
Once the courtyard gate was shut, leaving only the three of them, An An immediately admitted his mistake.
“Daddy, Mommy, I’m sorry. I poured the water on that auntie on purpose, and I apologize for lying about it.”
He apologized for lying, but he would not apologize for pouring water on Su Wenyen.
She bullied his mommy, and he stood up for her. He had done nothing wrong, so there was no need to apologize.
Gu Weicheng said, “Knowing your mistake and correcting it—An An, you’re more open and courageous than some adults. Daddy doesn’t blame you. In fact, I want to praise you for protecting Mommy in your own way. Tell me, what kind of reward do you want? Daddy will grant it.”
A reward?
An An scratched his chin, then said, “I want Mommy to tell me a bedtime story tonight.”
Mommy had said that Daddy was improving, so for the past few nights, Daddy had insisted on reading him bedtime stories.
But no matter how much Daddy read, it wasn’t as good as when Mommy did it.
He still wanted Mommy to read with him.
Gu Weicheng: “……”
Once again, his son was looking down on him.
Meeting his father’s gaze, An An thought for a moment and said, “Then I’ll change my request. Daddy, make me a wooden gun!”
“Alright!” Gu Weicheng agreed without hesitation.
Watching the interaction between father and son, Li Xia couldn’t help but smile.
Once An An went inside, Li Xia asked, “Weicheng, will what happened today affect your relationship with Commander Su?”
Gu Weicheng dismissed it outright. “You don’t need to worry about that. If anything, you were already being lenient on my behalf today. A coincidence? Only Su Wenbin would believe his sister—I certainly don’t. If Su Wenbin chooses to distance himself from me because of this, I’d be more than happy. A friend like that? I don’t need one.”
Li Xia actually felt the same way, but hearing Gu Weicheng say it out loud still made her happy.
Some men, when faced with situations like this, would clearly see their wives being wronged but would still ask them to endure it for the sake of so-called brotherhood.
Especially soldiers—they valued their camaraderie on the battlefield above all else.
Thankfully, Gu Weicheng wasn’t like that. He wouldn’t sacrifice his wife’s dignity for the sake of brotherhood. In her heart, Li Xia silently gave Gu Weicheng another point.
…
After plucking the chicken, Gu Weicheng cut it into pieces while Li Xia took charge of cooking.
The sound of chopping, the sizzle of oil, and the rich aroma of seasonings filled the air, bringing a sense of warmth and home.
Before long, the kitchen was filled with the mouthwatering fragrance of freshly cooked food.
…
Next door, Commander Ma’s family were having dinner.
Hearing that Su Wenbin and Su Wenyen had come over, Commander Ma asked Sister-in-law Tao, “What’s going on next door? I thought I heard Old Su’s voice.”
Sister-in-law Tao explained what had happened at the broadcasting station. “Tell me, where in the world does such a coincidence happen? I’d bet anything that Commander Su’s sister did it on purpose.”
“No wonder Old Gu was so angry. Commander Su’s sister really doesn’t know how to handle things properly.” Commander Ma shook his head.
As the couple talked, a rich aroma drifted into their home.
Commander Ma took a deep breath and asked, “That smells amazing! What else are you cooking?”
But when he stepped outside, he realized the fragrance wasn’t coming from their own kitchen.
“It’s from next door. Li’s family is cooking chicken,” Sister-in-law Tao said.
These words immediately triggered protests from the three children.
“Mom, didn’t we just have chicken a few days ago? How come your cooking never smells this good?”
“I’m starving just smelling it!”
Sister-in-law Tao sighed. “How would I know…”
It wasn’t like she hadn’t tried learning Li Xia’s cooking techniques. The problem was that no matter how closely she followed along, her dishes never turned out as good as Li Xia’s. What could she do about it?
And so, the Ma family simply made do, taking deep breaths of the delicious aroma from next door and savoring it along with their own meal.
Ma Aimin took two long sniffs in a row before Ma Aidang pointed at him and accused, “Aimin! You took an extra sniff! Spit it out! You’re hogging all the fragrance!”
…
Meanwhile, Li Xia had no idea that her chicken and mushroom stew had left the Ma family drooling with envy.
The three of them sat down to eat together.
Since the chicken she had chosen wasn’t too big, the meat was especially tender. Li Xia had specifically asked Gu Weicheng to chop the pieces smaller, ensuring that every bite was full of flavor. The rich aroma of the chicken blended perfectly with the umami freshness of the matsutake mushrooms, creating an undeniably delicious dish.
An An mixed the broth with his rice and ate heartily.
He especially loved the tender matsutake mushrooms—each bite was smooth and flavorful.
Gu Weicheng was also full of praise for the chicken and mushroom stew, eating more than usual. He even dipped the leftover half of a steamed bun from lunch into the broth, savoring the extra burst of flavor.
As the cook, Li Xia had long grown used to her own cooking after so many years. Unlike the father and son, she didn’t find the meal particularly astonishing—but seeing their satisfied faces still made her feel content.
Without saying much more, after they finished eating, Gu Weicheng went to wash the pots and clean the dishes.
…
Before bed, Gu Weicheng switched off the bedside lamp, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t fall asleep.
The moment he closed his eyes; his mind was filled with thoughts of Li Xia. He recalled the way she had licked that finger—one that might have had his saliva on it.
He felt a growing heat between his legs, a tightening sensation that only intensified. It was as if a wild beast was roaring inside his chest, desperately seeking relief.
Beside him, Li Xia’s slow and steady breathing reached his ears—she seemed to have already fallen asleep.
Gu Weicheng let out a quiet sigh. When had his self-control become this weak?
Gu Weicheng, hold yourself together. Until Li Xia willingly says yes, you cannot take a forceful approach with her. You’ll only scare her.
There’s still a long road ahead—no rush. He could wait. He was willing to wait.