Xiuzhu had grown accustomed to giving him a kiss every time they parted, and she assumed this time would be no different. She had just risen onto her tiptoes when—  

Gu Yu did not act as he usually did. Instead, he pulled the girl tightly into his embrace, leaving her no chance to react.  

……  

……  

*(A hundred words omitted here.)*  

A long while later, Gu Yu finally loosened his hold on Xiuzhu.  

The girl took a moment to steady herself before shooting him a reproachful glare.  

This old man was truly wicked—how dare he act without her permission…  

And yet, she didn’t exactly dislike the feeling.  

With her face flushed like peach blossoms, the glare she directed at him held no real fierceness. If anything, it resembled more of a coy, flirtatious glance.  

Suppressing the renewed urge rising within him, Gu Yu unconsciously curved his lips into a faint smile and said in a gentle voice, “Don’t be angry. I’ll take you home.”

Xiuzhu was also in a hurry to return, worried that staying out too long might arouse her family’s suspicions, so she didn’t press the issue further.  

……  

*  

Outside the window, birds had begun their busy day, their cheerful chirping weaving together into a lively morning melody.  

Seated at the dining table, Xiuzhu sipped her malted milk with small, deliberate sips, her face radiant with a pleased and confident smile.  

Gu Yu had told her the day before that he would be away on a mission today and couldn’t come to see her.  

At the time, she had been *thrilled.*  

Gu Yu was just too clingy—sneaking over to see her every single day. After a while, it really became too much to handle.  

Lin Yaoyu and Lin Yaowen, sitting across the table, watched her with curiosity. Lately, Xiuzhu’s moods had been… unpredictable.  

One moment, she looked as if she bore some deep-seated grudge against the world, and the next—like today—she was as giddy as a mouse that had stolen grain.  

Now, only the three of them remained at the table. Xiuli and their mother had left for work, their grandfather had moved to the rear sanatorium (where he had more old friends to keep him company), and Ling Luochuan had returned to the Ling family a few days prior.  

Feeling nostalgic for the days before he enlisted, Lin Yaoyu spoke up, “How about I take you two fishing today? I’ll call Luochuan, and we can head out to the countryside. I’ve been to Hongshan Village before—there are plenty of fish there.” 

Back then, he had loved going fishing and bird hunting with his friends from the compound. Those had been carefree days.  

Lin Yaowen waved his arms excitedly, nearly bouncing in his seat. “Yes, yes! I haven’t had a chance to try out my new fishing rod yet!”  

Under normal circumstances, Xiuzhu would never willingly go out in such sweltering heat – afraid of tanning, afraid of sweating. Today, with Gu Yu finally not coming to bother her, she’d planned to laze in bed all day.  

But since Ling Luochuan was going too, of course she needed to make her presence known and butter him up a little.  

The longer she spent with Gu Yu, the more she realized that while he was perfect in every other way, his possessiveness and controlling nature were simply too much. She worried that one day she might not be able to take it anymore and they’d have a falling out.  

Wouldn’t that leave her without anyone to rely on? When it came to powerful connections, you could never have too many.  

So she chimed in: “Alright then, let’s go.”  

Seeing both of them agree, Lin Yaoyu stood up to contact Ling Luochuan.  

Before leaving, Ling Luochuan had left him the phone number and address of a guesthouse.  

As for why it wasn’t the Ling family’s contact information – he didn’t ask too many questions. Men were like that; they’d share if they wanted to, and wouldn’t pry if they didn’t.  

Lin Yaowen hadn’t expected Xiuzhu to tag along and was somewhat deflated.  

Wherever she went, there would inevitably be endless demands – too hot at one moment, too thirsty the next. He’d be the one running around serving her, poor unfortunate him.  

He made one last attempt: “Xiuzhu, it’s going to be scorching hot out there, and we’ll have to take long bus and carriage rides. Are you sure you want to go?”  

Hearing how exhausting it would be, Xiuzhu immediately wavered. After all, this flattery session didn’t necessarily have to happen today.  

Just as she saw her eldest brother returning from his phone call and was about to speak…  

Lin Yaoyu’s energetic voice came through first: “Heh, you’re in luck. Luochuan was worried the long journey would be uncomfortable for you two, so he borrowed a jeep to take us to Hongshan Village.”  

Xiuzhu swallowed her words. Seeing the capabilities of the Gu and Ling families – arranging a car just like that!  

With transportation settled, all she needed was proper sun protection!  

Lin Yaowen wasn’t particularly thrilled: “Ah, Brother Luochuan is really something.”  

Truth be told, if it meant Xiuzhu wouldn’t come, he’d have been willing to run all the way to Hongshan Village. He’d had more than enough of this princess!  

*  

“Brother Luochuan, you’re so considerate,” Xiuzhu immediately began buttering him up as soon as she got in the car.  

After boarding, Lin Yaowen had a change of heart too – this was a brand-new military jeep he’d never ridden in before.  

He quickly added: “Brother Luochuan, you’re amazing! Being able to drive such a great car – today you’re my real brother!”  

Ling Luochuan’s mood lifted upon hearing Xiuzhu’s words, the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably.  

He didn’t particularly care for these recreational activities, but when he heard Lin Xiuzhu would be going, he’d agreed without hesitation.  

Remembering that day at the compound entrance when he saw Gu Yu driving Xiuzhu home, he’d specifically requested to borrow this newly assigned family vehicle.  

For some inexplicable reason, he didn’t want to appear inferior to Gu Yu.