Chapter 9: Makes Some Sense, But Not Much

“Do you have something to tell me?”

Lin Moran turned and asked proactively.

“I’ll walk you home.”

Gu Jingyao replied.

Lin Moran didn’t say anything more.

She had walked this route home countless times; she didn’t need anyone to escort her.

“I’m home. What did you want to say? Tell me.”

Lin Moran opened the door and turned to Gu Jingyao.

“To walk you home.”

Gu Jingyao walked into the house.

Lin Moran’s brows furrowed slightly, then she laughed unexpectedly.

He had just helped her get rid of Gu Aihua and the others, and now he was walking her home. What was he up to?

“About what I told you last time, have you submitted the application?”

Lin Moran asked.

Gu Jingyao paused slightly, his brows furrowing, “I’ve been busy lately.”

So he hadn’t written it yet.

“Our relationship is quite awkward.  Perhaps you’d be more comfortable sitting by the door?”

Lin Moran tied on her apron, taking out the groceries she had bought that morning.

Raising a child alone was busy and time-consuming.

Before leaving in the morning, she had to buy groceries, prepare breakfast, and feed the child. After breakfast, she had to take him to Old Chen’s house next door for childcare before going to work.  In the afternoon, she had to cook dinner, then feed and care for Gu Quanzhe, and finally put him to bed.

Gu Jingyao didn’t object.  Lin Moran told him to sit by the door, and he moved a stool there.

Lin Moran couldn’t figure out what he wanted, but she knew she couldn’t let his presence disrupt her routine.

The more she was affected by him, the worse her life would become.

“The child eats bland food, I don’t usually entertain guests.”

Lin Moran took out the carrots she had bought that morning, washing them as she spoke.

Gu Jingyao felt a little choked.

When she wanted to marry him, she had been all “Brother this, brother that, brother, are you in pain? Brother, what do you want to eat?”

After he became the tool for her child’s household registration, she said she didn’t entertain guests.

“Moran, you’ve got me figured out.” Gu Jingyao smiled faintly.

Lin Moran glanced at him indifferently, “I want to live a long life, so I have to be clear-headed.”

“Since things have been made clear, there’s no need for unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“I’m doing this for your own good.”

Lin Moran added meaningfully.

She just wanted to work hard, earn money, treat Gu Quanzhe’s illness, and take good care of her child.

She didn’t want to touch any other emotional issues.

She had been hurt once, and she almost died.

Now, she lived for her child and herself.

Gu Jingyao’s eyes darkened. This girl was not only stubborn but also insincere.

She was the one who wanted a divorce, yet she claimed it was for his own good.

“Do you do all this every day, alone?”

Gu Jingyao watched Lin Moran washing rice, cooking, chopping vegetables, changing the stove, and boiling water, his gaze fixed on her, his voice low.

“It’s not exactly non-stop, it’s just my daily routine.”

Lin Moran replied.

Gu Jingyao felt a little annoyed. Was it worth it?

To divorce a man who didn’t care about her?

They didn’t raise the child together.

They didn’t live together.

They didn’t do housework together.

She worked tirelessly, while the man was absent.

Gu Jingyao sighed, turning his gaze to the window.  Outside, the trees were lush, and the setting sun bathed the earth. “Does it have to be this way? Is it worth it?”

Lin Moran paused her chopping, turning her clear eyes to him.

Was it worth it?

Who wants a divorce after having a child?

But what could she do?

Watching him with another woman in his heart, watching him raise another woman outside, and pretending to live a normal life with her child?

She couldn’t do it!

Lin Moran was domineering. She wanted to possess everything she desired.

The same went for the people she loved; it had to be pure.

She didn’t want to compromise herself.

“At our age, having experienced life and death, what’s worth it or not? Living is the most important thing, living comfortably is the most important thing, isn’t it?”

Gu Jingyao agreed, “That’s somewhat true, but not entirely.”

“Mom… Quanbao is back!”

A childish, excited voice came from outside.

Lin Moran looked up and saw Gu Quanzhe bouncing back from Old Chen’s house.

Seeing his smiling face, all her fatigue disappeared. “What good thing happened today? Why is my son so happy?”

Gu Quanzhe smiled at Lin Moran, his eyes quickly scanning the room. When he saw Gu Jingyao, his face fell.  He glanced at Gu Jingyao impatiently and asked, “Why is this man here?”

This disgusted expression gave Lin Moran a headache.

“Why can’t I be here?”

Before Lin Moran could speak, Gu Jingyao spoke.

Gu Quanzhe’s childish voice was firm, “I don’t welcome you. This is my home!”

“Oh? Then I’ll ask you a question. Are you a child of Motherland?”

“Of course!”

Gu Quanzhe answered crisply. Although he was young, he was very aware.

Old Chen said that our motherland is great, it nurtures and protects everyone; the motherland is everyone’s mother.

“We are too. Everyone is a child of Motherland. Since everyone is a child of Motherland, aren’t we all family?”

Gu Quanzhe’s brows furrowed, “That’s true…”

“Since we’re family, why should we care about whose home it is?”

Gu Jingyao asked seriously.

Gu Quanzhe’s brows furrowed deeper, looking up at Lin Moran.

Lin Moran glared at Gu Jingyao. Was this how you coaxed a child?

“I saw your slingshot and toy gun on the window. Can you hit the small square in the yard with the slingshot? Can you hit the grapes on the grapevine with the gun?”

Gu Quanzhe was stumped.

His slingshot shots always missed.

He had never aimed with his gun.

“I can.”

Gu Jingyao puffed out his chest, his posture straight, his imposing presence radiating.

Gu Quanzhe looked at him incredulously, running over.

After a while, he ran back, looking at Gu Jingyao with admiration and envy, exclaiming, “You’re amazing! You didn’t hit the grapes, you hit the grapevine!”

The thick grapevine was actually pierced by the “bullet,” and a whole bunch fell down.

This was the most accurate shot he had ever seen.

His posture, his eyesight, his stance, were far more professional than Fat Tiger’s father!

“So far! How did you do it?”

“Can you teach me?”

Gu Jingyao clapped for him, and Gu Quanzhe, whose small hands clapped loudly, nodded, “I can teach you, provided you study hard.”

Gu Quanzhe nodded vigorously, “I will definitely study hard.”

Lin Moran, cooking in the kitchen, watched the two playing excitedly outside, her heart aching.

If only Gu Jingyao didn’t have that so-called white moonlight!

Her son had never been so happy, jumping and bouncing, his happiness evident in his eyes.

She couldn’t imagine how happy and excited he would be if Gu Jingyao could play with him like this every day.