Chapter 12 – A Visit

◎ I don’t agree with you becoming my sister-in-law ◎

The surroundings fell into a quiet stillness, with only the silent wind brushing across their cheeks.

Zhang Kuo moved his lips. He wanted to explain himself, to say something in his defense, but when the words reached his mouth, not a single one came out. In the end, he mumbled, “She said she likes me.”

Ming Xue had indeed said those words—this wasn’t a lie Zhang Kuo made up.

Zhang Kuo still remembered the moment when Ming Xue stood in front of him and sincerely expressed her feelings. That scene was strange, confusing, yet unforgettable.

Back then, he hadn’t had much interaction with Ming Xue. Even when they bumped into each other in the compound, they passed like strangers. Ming Xue was dazzling and popular, always surrounded by admirers, while he was always alone, a solitary figure. He felt that he and Ming Xue didn’t belong in the same world.

Later, he met Gu Ying, and that belief became even more certain—he truly didn’t belong in Ming Xue’s world. He and Gu Ying did.

Being with Gu Ying was harmonious, relaxed, and pleasant. But encounters with Ming Xue always felt stiff and awkward. They were simply not suited for each other.

But one day, Ming Xue—someone from that different world—suddenly ran up to him and confessed. Her cautious demeanor and sincere, passionate eyes nearly drowned him in a sea of illusion.

So he agreed.

His rational mind told him there was no reason to say no.

But the moment he heard rumors in the compound that Gui Xiwen was going to marry Gu Ying, his rationality suddenly hinted that perhaps there was a reason to object—just one he had buried deep inside.

That was why he came to find Gu Ying in such a confused and roundabout way—and said all those things.

Gu Ying had made many guesses and assumptions in her heart, but she never expected this—that Ming Xue had actually confessed to Zhang Kuo.

Gu Ying lowered her eyes, but a faint smile slowly curled on her lips. She opened her mouth, seemingly mocking herself: “Ming Xue said she likes you? Oh, then maybe Gui Xiwen likes me too.”

Zhang Kuo stood still, his eyes fixed intently on Gu Ying.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Gu Ying chuckled coldly. “What? You think it’s possible for Ming Xue to like you, but not possible for Gui Xiwen to like me?”

Zhang Kuo remained silent, staring at the starlight glimmering in Gu Ying’s eyes. Then he suddenly asked, “Then do you like him?”

Gu Ying didn’t answer.

She raised her eyes and looked straight at Zhang Kuo, returning with a question: “And you? Do you like Ming Xue?”

Silence. Endless silence.

But in the world of adults, silence is also an answer.

A gentle breeze swept the loose strands of hair from her forehead. Gu Ying tucked the hair behind her ear, then stretched out her hand toward Zhang Kuo. “Since Ming Xue likes you, and you like her, you two like each other. It’s not appropriate for you to keep someone else’s things. Return the Chinese knot I gave you last time.”

Her hand was outstretched, openly and plainly hanging in the air. Zhang Kuo looked at the thin layer of callus on her index finger and was speechless for a long while.

After a long pause, he finally opened his tightly pressed lips and said emotionlessly, “I threw it away.”

Gu Ying’s hand froze, then awkwardly withdrew.

“Really? Well, I threw away the thing you gave me last time too. Alright then, we’re even. Anything else? If not, I’ll be heading back. Goodbye.”

She rattled off the words and turned to leave without giving Zhang Kuo a chance to respond.

Zhang Kuo stood in place, watching Gu Ying’s small figure walk farther and farther away, until his vision blurred with mist.

After a long while, he carefully took out the Chinese knot from his pocket and gently rubbed it in his palm, wordless.

He shouldn’t have come today. Between Gu Ying and Ming Xue, he had already made his choice.

Hopefully, it wasn’t the wrong one.

After parting ways with Zhang Kuo, Gu Ying walked home with her head down. She hadn’t gone far when a chubby little boy suddenly blocked her path, glaring at her furiously.

The boy looked about ten years old, with thick black eyebrows and big round eyes like bronze bells. If he were thinner, his fierce expression might’ve looked intimidating.

But with his pudgy, round face paired with such a grim look, it wasn’t scary at all—actually kind of funny.

Gu Ying didn’t recognize him. Thinking she had accidentally blocked the boy’s path while walking with her head down, she stepped aside to let him pass.

But just as she lifted her foot, the boy also lifted his. She moved left, he moved left; she moved right, he followed.

Gu Ying stopped and stared at the chubby boy’s face for a moment. Just as she was about to ask something, he beat her to it.

“I saw it! I saw everything!” he declared angrily.

Gu Ying swallowed back her words and looked at the strange kid in confusion. “You saw what?”

“I saw you talking to another man! You two were standing very close!” the little boy accused furiously.

Another man? He must mean Zhang Kuo.

Gu Ying instinctively glanced behind her but saw no sign of Zhang Kuo. She turned back to the boy, bent down, and asked with curiosity, “Oh? And what about it?”

“So I don’t agree,” the chubby boy clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, “I don’t agree to you becoming my sister-in-law!”

Gu Ying paused and looked the chubby boy up and down again.

It was said that Gui Xiwen had a younger brother named Gui Xiwu, around ten years old—a mischievous troublemaker.

Gu Ying had moved here over a month ago and had never seen Gui Xiwu. He never came straight home after school, more like a wild horse off its reins, roaming around until nightfall before returning.

Now that she thought about it, this chubby boy in front of her could only be Gui Xiwu.

After solemnly expressing his opinion, Gui Xiwu saw Gu Ying staring at him up and down, and immediately exploded, “What are you looking at? Don’t think I’ll change my mind just because of that! I’m telling you, I absolutely won’t change my mind!”

Gu Ying shrugged and said helplessly, “Okay, don’t change it. But can you move aside? I want to go home.”

Gui Xiwu had come fully prepared today. He was determined to make Gu Ying give up on the idea of becoming his sister-in-law. But to his surprise, the person in front of him didn’t seem to care at all.

He stood there dumbfounded, unsure how to respond for a moment.

This wasn’t how he imagined things at all. In his mind, Gu Ying would cling desperately to his brother and become furious at his opposition. But now, she didn’t react at all and only wanted to go home?

Realizing things were different from what he had imagined, Gui Xiwu grew anxious. He spread out his arms, completely blocking the path, and threatened, “I won’t let you pass unless you promise not to become my sister-in-law.”

Gu Ying crossed her arms and looked at him, smiling. “Then I can’t make that promise.”

“You… you’re so annoying!”

Gui Xiwu puffed up his cheeks like an angry little pufferfish. His whole body seemed to be rejecting Gu Ying, as if he held a deep grudge against her.

But in reality, Gui Xiwu had no real issue with Gu Ying. He was just too young to accept his big brother marrying someone like her.

After all, his original future sister-in-law was supposed to be Ming Xue. In Gui Xiwu’s eyes, his big brother should be marrying the prettiest girl in the compound.

He never expected his brother to give up Ming Xue and instead want to marry such an unremarkable woman. Gui Xiwu simply couldn’t accept it.

His brother’s old college classmate, Wu Yujing, was tall and graceful, gentle and soft-spoken. Even that pretty sister at the textile factory looked like a movie star. Even Li Qing from the compound looked better than Gu Ying.

Gui Xiwu just didn’t get it. Why did his brother insist on marrying Gu Ying? She wasn’t pretty at all—and not gentle, either.

Glaring at Gu Ying, he growled, “Hmph! Don’t get too smug. None of us in the family agree. My aunt has already gone to your house—you can forget about marrying my big brother!”

Gu Ying’s brows furrowed. “Your aunt went to my house?”

Gui Xiwen had a famously fierce aunt named Gui Caihong. It was said that the last time Gui Xiwen’s engagement with Ming Xue was broken off, his parents hadn’t even stepped in yet when his aunt, Gui Caihong, stormed into the Ming family on her own and caused a huge scene.

The Ming family was in the wrong and could only let her scold them harshly, unable to retaliate. Everyone in the compound was used to her tough style by now.

Gu Ying’s heart sank. She was worried her mother might be bullied and ran home quickly.

When she arrived, sure enough, there was an unexpected visitor in the house.

Gui Caihong was sitting upright in a chair, gracefully accepting the tea offered by Sun Lan.

Gui Caihong had a pleasant appearance, delicate features, and didn’t look like a woman nearing fifty. Only the fine lines at the corners of her eyes hinted at her age.

After accepting the tea, she thanked Sun Lan with a soft smile, looking very gentle—nothing like the fierce woman of the rumors.

Seeing this, Gu Ying felt slightly relieved and stood at the door, panting.

Sun Lan had just finished serving tea. When she saw Gu Ying appear so suddenly, she walked over, gently patted her back, and whispered, “This is Gui Xiwen’s aunt. Quick, greet her.”

Gu Ying looked at the woman in the center of the room and greeted her with a smile, “Hello, Auntie.”

Gui Caihong returned a faint smile, showing little emotion.

Taking advantage of the moment when Gui Caihong sipped her tea, Gu Ying quickly pulled Sun Lan into the room and asked in a low voice, “Mom, why is she here? Did she say anything unpleasant to you?”

Sun Lan tapped Gu Ying’s forehead. “What are you thinking? Why would she say anything unpleasant to me for no reason? Look at how polite she is—she even brought a bag of fruit candies.”

She pointed to the bag of fruit candies on the table and smiled. “I don’t think she means any harm. She probably just came to take a look.”

Gu Ying’s eyes fell on the bag of fruit candies, and her gaze darkened.

Not sesame candy, not malt candy, not peanut candy—of all things, she brought fruit candy.

Gu Ying’s expression turned cold, and she whispered, “I don’t think it’s that simple.”