Gu Wuji had been returning home early every day after finishing his work, just so he could have meals with Gu Wuyou. This time, he had just returned home not long ago and had changed into his regular attire when he heard Changshan announce, “The County Princess has returned.”
He immediately lifted the curtain and walked out.
From a distance, seeing Gu Wuyou return, a smile spread across Gu Wuji’s mature and refined face. He said joyfully, “Manman is back.”
As he spoke, he reached out to take the things in her hands, just like an ordinary father from a regular household, and gently asked, “How was your day at the academy? What did the teacher teach?”
Having grown used to interacting with him over the past two days, Gu Wuyou was no longer as distant as before. She smiled and replied, “Today, we learned needlework. Teacher Liu had us trace floral patterns to make things. I drew a camellia flower, and Teacher Liu even praised me in class.”
Gu Wuji recalled how she used to look so impatient when learning embroidery with the other girls in the family, making him somewhat skeptical about this so-called “praise.”
But no matter what—
In his heart, whatever his daughter said or did was always right! So he simply smiled and praised her, “Our Manman is truly amazing!”
Being praised like this made Gu Wuyou’s small face flush slightly, but she said no more and let the maids help her wash her hands.
Gu Wuji then ordered the servants to bring out the meal and did not forget to mention, “The kitchen prepared lion’s head meatballs today, seasoned to your taste. Try them later and see if you like them.”
“Mm.”
Gu Wuyou took the handkerchief handed to her by the maid and wiped her hands clean. After thinking for a moment, she added, “I just saw Ninth Brother. Why don’t we have him join us for dinner?”
“Ninth Fei?”
Gu Wuji was momentarily stunned, as if he hadn’t expected Gu Wuyou to bring him up. Gu Jiufei had actually been around yesterday, but the two had only run into each other on the road, and neither sibling had exchanged many words during the meal.
Gu Wuyou smiled again and said, “I just heard that Ninth Brother took an exam at the Yu family today and came in first place.”
Gu Wuji had always known that his son was good at studying since childhood, but he had never really taken the time to oversee his progress. So upon hearing this news from Manman, he was stunned for a long moment before hesitantly saying, “He… is indeed impressive.”
Changshan, who was standing nearby, chimed in, “Young Master Jiu securing first place is a great achievement. And since you already instructed the kitchen to prepare extra dishes today, you and the County Princess probably won’t be able to finish everything. Why not have Young Master Jiu join you?”
With both his daughter and trusted aide speaking up, Gu Wuji had no objections and nodded, instructing someone to send the message.
At this moment, Gu Jiufei was already at Fu Jiang’s residence.
Even though he was only ten years old, he had been independent since childhood. At the age of seven, he had moved into the outer courtyard by himself. However, he still made sure to visit his mother every day to pay his respects.
Mother and son now sat together, with Fu Jiang holding Gu Jiufei’s test paper, a smile she couldn’t hide on her face as she endlessly praised him, “Our Jiufei is truly remarkable. I was worried before that you wouldn’t be able to enter Luming Academy, but now I don’t have to worry at all.”
Gu Jiufei only smiled. He had always been intelligent since childhood, and he no longer thought much of such things.
But since his mother was happy, he was happy to go along with her. While peeling an orange for her, he smiled and said, “The teacher also said that my grades are good enough to enter the academy without issue. But I still shouldn’t become too conceited—there’s always someone better out there. If one becomes too full of oneself, it’s easy to stumble.”
How could Fu Jiang not be delighted with such a bright and level-headed son? She was not the strict type of mother. On the contrary, as someone from a military family, she was more inclined to get along with her son like a friend.
At this moment—
She raised her hand to stroke Gu Jiufei’s head and said with a smile, “You know, it’s fine to be a little proud. Stop being so restrained all the time—you’re acting like a little old man.”
“Mother—”
Gu Jiufei glanced at her helplessly, though there was always a smile at the corner of his lips.
Fu Jiang was about to say more.
Outside, Qing Dai lifted the curtain and entered. She was the most capable maid by Fu Jiang’s side, usually calm and composed in her actions. However, at this moment, she seemed somewhat agitated.
Fu Jiang found her reaction curious. Withdrawing her hand from Gu Jiufei’s head, she asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Madam!”
Qing Dai said excitedly, “The Duke has sent Changshan over. He—he said he’s inviting Young Master Jiu to join him for a meal!”
The orange in Gu Jiufei’s hand slipped onto the table, rolled for a moment, and then fell to the ground. He did not speak, but his expression was dazed as he stared blankly at Qing Dai.
Fu Jiang, however, was far less composed than he was. As soon as she heard those words, she stood up abruptly, as if afraid she had misheard or still could not quite believe it. She dumbly repeated, “What did you say? The Master… the Master is inviting Jiufei to dinner?”
“Yes!” Qing Dai replied crisply.
She then turned to Gu Jiufei, who was still sitting in a daze, and hurriedly urged him with a smile, “Oh, my dear young master, quickly tidy yourself up and go. Changshan is still waiting outside for you.”
Fu Jiang also became anxious upon hearing this. She immediately pulled Gu Jiufei up, carefully inspecting his attire, and reminded him with concern, “When you see your father later, speak properly. Whatever he asks, just answer honestly.”
“Don’t make him angry.”
Although this was not the first time they had eaten together, it was the first time the Master had personally invited Jiufei over… Fu Jiang was both excited and worried, fearing that father and son might argue again.
“…Yes.”
Even though Gu Jiufei was naturally steady-minded, he was still just a child. While he could remain indifferent toward other matters, when it came to his father… he still found it difficult to be calm and composed. At this moment, he could only respond dazedly.
When he stepped outside and saw Changshan, he quickly gathered his emotions and politely greeted him, “Uncle Changshan.”
Changshan smiled at him and said, “Young Master Jiu, let’s go quickly. The Duke and the County Princess are still waiting for you.”
“Alright.” Gu Jiufei nodded in response.
As the two walked forward, Gu Jiufei hesitated for a long time before finally voicing his thoughts in a low voice, “Uncle Changshan, why did my father suddenly invite me to dinner today?”
Changshan had watched Gu Jiufei grow up. Seeing the usually composed boy finally unable to hold back, he chuckled and answered, “It was the County Princess who mentioned it. She said that you took an exam at the Yu family today and placed first.”
“What?”
Gu Jiufei was stunned. How did Gu Wuyou know? He recalled the carriage he had seen on his way home—could it be that when he was speaking with the servant earlier, Gu Wuyou had overheard?
But why…
Why did Gu Wuyou bring him up in front of their father?
Gu Jiufei had always been intelligent, but ever since Gu Wuyou returned this time, everything she did had been unfathomable to him.
“The County Princess seems different from before…” Changshan had served Gu Wuji since childhood and had also watched Gu Wuyou and Gu Jiufei grow up. He genuinely wished for this family to be well. At this moment, he gently advised Gu Jiufei, “No matter what, you are siblings by blood.”
Changshan did not spell it out completely, but Gu Jiufei understood.
He nodded, and no matter what he was thinking internally, his expression remained unshaken. “I understand.”
By the time they arrived, all the dishes had already been served. Before Gu Jiufei could even pay his respects, Gu Wuji waved him over and said, “Come here. Your sister has been waiting for you for a long time. The food is getting cold.”
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and personally peeled shrimp for Gu Wuyou, without letting anyone else help.
Gu Jiufei saw this but said nothing. He simply greeted, “Father, Fifth Sister,” then silently sat at his place and began eating.
His table manners were impeccable—not only did he refrain from speaking, but he also only picked food from the dishes directly in front of him.
Gu Wuyou glanced at him and sighed inwardly. She first placed a pearl meatball in his bowl. Under his astonished gaze, she then picked up another serving of stir-fried Chinese yam and placed it into Gu Wuji’s bowl.
Gu Wuji had been peeling shrimp when he suddenly noticed an extra serving of stir-fried Chinese yam in his bowl. He was momentarily stunned.
Father and son both stared blankly at Gu Wuyou, while Changshan, standing to the side, chuckled and said, “Miss has a good memory. Pearl meatballs and yam just happen to be Young Master Jiu’s and the Master’s favorites.”
Hearing this, Gu Wuji snapped out of his daze. His eyebrows nearly soared to the sky with joy, and his smile widened high on his face. He quickly wiped his hands clean and ate the yam, repeatedly praising, “Delicious.”
Gu Jiufei remained silent.
He merely gazed at Gu Wuyou for a long time before withdrawing his gaze and taking a bite of the pearl meatball… He didn’t believe for a second that this woman remembered their preferences.
She had never cared about them before.
However—
What exactly was she trying to do? Gu Jiufei couldn’t help but furrow his brows, unable to decipher her intentions no matter how much he thought about it.
Perhaps because he was in a good mood, Gu Wuji’s smile never faded. Even when facing Gu Jiufei, he was uncharacteristically pleasant. “I heard from Manman that you placed first this time?”
“…Yes.”
“Then next year, entering the academy shouldn’t be an issue?” Gu Wuji, though never involved in Gu Jiufei’s affairs, was at least aware of the necessary procedures.
When facing Gu Wuji, Gu Jiufei was much more restrained and formal compared to when he was with Fu Jiang. He put down his chopsticks and replied respectfully, “My teacher said there should be no problem, but I still want to study more to ensure absolute certainty.”
“Mm.”
Whenever Gu Wuji spoke with Gu Jiufei, he couldn’t help but maintain a stern expression. “Since you’re studying, do it properly. Your third brother entered the academy ranked second in his year. If there’s anything you don’t understand, go ask him.”
“Yes.”
Watching them speak like this exhausted Gu Wuyou. She picked up her chopsticks and added more food to both of their bowls. Under Gu Wuji’s gaze, she helplessly said, “Father, we’re having a meal at home. Do you think you’re instructing a subordinate?”
She had called him “Father” more than once now, and this time, she no longer hesitated as she had before.
But Gu Wuji, on the other hand, was obviously stunned. He stared blankly at Gu Wuyou, his chopsticks slipping from his fingers onto the table. The last time at the academy, he hadn’t heard clearly, and afterward, he never found the right opportunity to ask.
But this time—
He heard it loud and clear!
Manman had really called him that…
She called him “Father”!
Ever since Manman had become old enough to remember things, she had never called him “Father” again… He had thought he would never hear it again in this lifetime. Staring at Gu Wuyou in a daze, Gu Wuji’s eyes welled up with tears from the overwhelming emotions in his heart.
Even Changshan, standing beside them, was visibly moved.