Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Chapter 503 Statement

"Li Zhiyuan!" Lin Qingping called his name, enunciating each word clearly, "You keep talking about life and death, you think you're so capable!"

Lin Qingping was both angry that Xiaomai was being targeted like this and worried about Zhiyuan's words "I don't want to live." She would think of Zhiyuan's imprisonment in her previous life whenever there was a conflict.

Zhiyuan scoffed, "I know, just don't kill him!"

Lin Qingping: ...

"Where did you learn that?" Lin Qingping temporarily let Zhiyuan off the hook, as the most important thing right now was Xiaomai.

Gu Youlian and her daughter Xiaomai were still crying in each other's arms when Lin Qingping hugged Gu Youlian and also pulled Xiaomai into her arms. "Don't be afraid, I'm here! Even if I'm not here, no one can bully you!"

Regardless of the era, even back when she passed away in her previous life, women always had to work harder than men to establish themselves. She knew this all too well. Moreover, in this era, Gu Youlian was a divorced woman struggling to make a living in a big city with her daughter...

Xiaomai had always admired her aunt, thinking she was omnipotent. Hearing this, she burst into tears again, "Aunt, I won't marry that Qian Sheng..."

Lin Qingping felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this. "No, absolutely not! Just focus on your studies and grow up happily. Your aunt will always have your back!"

She spends most of her time on the island, but Wu Tianjiao is still in the capital. Can't the Wu family protect Xiaomai?

Gu Youlian, who was originally full of courage, listened to her words and thought of the confidence and courage that her younger brother and sister-in-law had given her over the years. She couldn't help but lean on her shoulder and uttered "bottle..." before choking up and being unable to speak.

"Don't cry, I'm here." Lin Qingping patted her shoulder, but did not comment on He Qiancheng and Qian Ping.

Song Qiuyun was the first to speak up, "Sister Gu, don't worry. I've disliked Qian Ping for a long time. Anyway, I've said it before, I don't like her. I've never associated with her before, and I certainly won't in the future. Actually, Wei Zhonghua has a lot to say, but he just doesn't want to say it..."

“Sister…” Wei Zhonghua also looked troubled, but he had to speak up now. “Don’t worry, Brother He and we are indeed sworn brothers. No matter what he becomes in this life, we will never sever our bond with him. However, we are not people who cannot distinguish right from wrong. We understand some things in our hearts. We will not allow anyone to bully Xiaomai.”

Shen Hai was a man of few words and didn't say as much as Wei Zhonghua, but his attitude was clear. He looked at what Xiaomai was saying and learned from Lin Qingping's words: "Don't be afraid, just grow up well."

Wang Ping'an already needed a hearing aid to hear, so he spoke even less, only nodding vigorously in agreement with Shen Hai, meaning that what they were saying was exactly what he wanted to say!

Zhong Xiaoxiao and Sister Zhao sat down next to Gu Youlian. Although they didn't speak, their eyes were firm: We've come this far together, and we'll stay with you. Our stance is unwavering, and nothing can shake it!

Even Zhong Xiaoxiao's daughter, standing close to Xiaomai, gently took Xiaomai's hand and said in a childish voice, "Sister Xiaomai, I'll protect you!"

Wheat felt a warmth in her heart as she was amused by the little girl's words. She found it both cute and funny that such a tiny person wanted to protect her. Amidst the firm and warm words of so many people, she finally smiled, hugged her little sister, and said, "Yes, thank you, Xiaobao."

Zhong Xiaoxiao's daughter now also has the surname Zhong. Zhong Xiaoxiao named her Baozhu, but everyone calls her Xiaobao.

The atmosphere relaxed again.

Lin Qingping gave Xiaomai a final hug. "Alright! Stop looking so down! It's Xiaomai's birthday today, so none of us are allowed to be discouraged. We have to be happy! It's okay if the cake decorating is ruined, but we can't let our mood be bad. You guys eat first. Gu Juncheng, now you go out right now and buy another cake. We can blow out the candles after we finish eating!"

"I'll go right away." Gu Juncheng stood up without saying another word.

Gu Youlian suggested they finish eating first, but Lin Qingping retorted, "Let him go! Who told him to be the uncle? Isn't it said that maternal uncles are the most powerful in the world? He can't even help with this little thing, what use is he! You, as the older sister, shouldn't spoil your younger brother!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Youlian said, "Alright, go ahead."

As soon as Gu Juncheng left, Lin Qingping started preparing dinner for everyone.

Each person had a bottle of beverage, and the sounds of clinking glasses and joyful laughter wishing Xiaomai a happy birthday rang out once again.

Gu Juncheng was quick; he returned with a beautiful cake in half an hour. Gu Youlian happily re-inserted and lit the candles.

Lin Qingping led the way in clapping and singing her a birthday song. As the song played, Xiaomai smiled, closed her eyes, made a wish, blew out the candles, and cut the cake...

This birthday celebration has come to a perfect end, if nothing else has happened.

Gu Youlian made lunch. Around 2 PM, Wei Zhonghua and the others left, leaving only Lin Qingping's family of three, Gu Youlian, and Sister Zhao.

It was a rare opportunity for the family to reunite, and besides, there were matters concerning the dessert shop to discuss, so Lin Qingping didn't go home and stayed here all afternoon.

But the baby can't stay like that for long. Ever since her father sang to her, she can let him hold her and play with her anytime, but when it's time to "eat," she still wants to find her mother.

Lin Qingping fed him once before dinner, around 11 o'clock. Now he seemed hungry again, so he started whimpering. It was also time for him to go to sleep.

Lin Qingping went to the inner room, where she fed her daughter and coaxed her to sleep.

Gu Juncheng brought her a clean, hot towel to clean herself, and Lin Qingping even asked him, "Isn't Zhangzhu hungry this morning? Didn't you eat anything?"

Gu Juncheng's eyes gleamed with smugness as he held up two fingers at her.

"What do you mean?" Lin Qingping didn't understand why he was so smug.

“You didn’t even know you ate there twice!” he said.

"Huh?" She's sleeping so soundly?

“She woke up at five o’clock. I carried her to your side, and I gave her a feeding while she was leaning against you. You didn’t know that at eight o’clock, she ate again. You still didn’t know that…” Gu Juncheng said.

Lin Qingping couldn't believe it. Ever since giving birth to Zhangzhu, she had been a light sleeper. Last night, she heard him bring Zhangzhu in and even heard the door open...

"So, do you still think I'm old?" He sat down next to her and watched his daughter eat.

So that's what he was so proud of!

Lin Qingping glared at him fiercely.

However, it's true that if he hadn't exhausted her, she wouldn't have been able to sleep so soundly!

As the two were talking, Zhangzhu suddenly stopped eating, looked left and right, and made two "oh oh" sounds.

Lin Qingping burst out laughing, pinching her daughter's chin. "Who's talking to you?"

Zhangzhu thought she was being played with, and burst into laughter, kicking her feet repeatedly.

"Now you're awake!" Lin Qingping chuckled, handing the child to Gu Juncheng. "You can continue playing with him!"

Gu Juncheng was overjoyed and even wanted to take her out to play.

"Go ahead, just don't take too long." Lin Qingping was going to make some new desserts that afternoon to refresh the menu for the shop, so that Wu wouldn't be overwhelmed by Liu Yan.

Gu Youlian and Sister Zhao now live together, and because of running a shop, they have all the necessary tools at home. Lin Qingping plunged into the kitchen and began to study them.

Milk tea became a very popular category later on. Actually, Lin Qingping didn't know if launching it now was a bit too early, but she decided to give it a try! In fact, the shop sold some drinks that were quite popular, but they hadn't systematically included milk tea. Today, she simply enriched the milk tea category by picking a few from several popular categories such as fruit tea, milk tea, and Chinese tea, and made them for the two of them to try first.

They were busy until dinner time, and they hadn't finished making all the dishes yet, but the few they did make were both said to be delicious by Gu Youlian and Sister Zhao, so they were sure to be popular.

Lin Qingping chuckled to herself, "It must taste delicious! Doesn't it realize that this will be the most popular drink thirty years from now?"

"Even if it tastes good, we still have to cook! I'm starving! You guys are exploiting me as soon as I got back, it's too cruel!" Lin Qingping yawned.

"You're still hungry after eating so much at noon!" Gu Youlian laughed at her, but she immediately started cooking.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Lin Qingping thought it was Gu Juncheng returning, so she washed her hands and said, "I'll go open the door."

I was thinking to myself, "Don't go for so long, he always goes out for an entire afternoon!" But the fact that he hasn't come back yet proves that my daughter hasn't been making a fuss.

As she opened the door, a big smile spread across her face, eager to get close to her daughter, but the smile froze the moment the door opened.

The person standing outside was... Dugen.

"You're back? Weren't you crying, making a fuss, or hungry outside?" Gu Youlian thought it was her younger brother who had returned, so she came out to greet him. Gu Juncheng not only took Zhangzhu out, but also Xiaomai and Zhiyuan to play together.

Thus, Gu Youlian and Du Gen's gazes met past Lin Qingping.

“Lotus… lotus seeds…” Dugen said with a smile.

Gu Youlian's smile vanished instantly. After a moment of stunned silence, she coldly asked, "What are you doing here?"

Dugan stood at the door, smiling awkwardly, "Today... is Xiaomai's birthday, I came to see her and bought her a gift..."

"No need, Xiaomai's surname is Gu," Gu Youlian said coldly.

Lin Qingping didn't stand between them to block their conversation. Du Gen came to find Gu Youlian, and she believed that Gu Youlian had her own attitude, so she didn't need to interfere.

Dugan chuckled, "I know, but no matter what her last name is, I'm still her father."

Gu Youlian laughed, a mocking laugh. "You're her father? Have you asked her? Does she even acknowledge you?"

Dugan's smile froze for a moment, and his expression became somewhat dejected. "Whether she acknowledges it or not, I am still her. Even if she doesn't, I am still her."

"No, Du Gen," Gu Youlian said impatiently. "I just don't understand you. Don't you have a wife and son? Why are you still bothering me?"

Seeing her say this, Dugen's eyes lit up with joy. "Lianzi, I knew you'd say that... You've always held a grudge about that incident. I know I was wrong, but I also know that you still remember our relationship. Otherwise, you wouldn't keep bringing it up..."

"What utter nonsense are you spouting!" Gu Youlian couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted him directly. "What am I holding onto? Xiaomai and I are doing just fine! If it weren't for your persistent haunting, we would have forgotten about you long ago!"

Dugen's face paled. "Lianzi, how...how could this be..."

"What's impossible? You, Du Gen, can have a son outside, so what's impossible for me?" Gu Youlian started to shoo him away, "Get out of here! Today is Xiaomai's birthday, a joyous occasion, don't come and bring bad luck!"

Dugan's face paled even more, and he was somewhat angry. "I'm her father. I came here to give her a gift. How is that bad luck?"

"Having a father like you is the worst thing that has ever happened to her! Hurry up and leave!" Gu Youlian was about to close the door when she saw Gu Juncheng carrying Zhangzhu, with Zhiyuan and Xiaomai on either side, heading home at the courtyard gate.

Dugen also heard Zhiyuan and Xiaomai talking. He turned around and exclaimed happily, "Xiaomai!"

Xiaomai was playing a harmonica and making a "whoosh whoosh" sound. Upon hearing the sound, the music stopped abruptly. Zhiyuan instinctively stood next to Xiaomai and looked at Dugen with vigilance.

Xiaomai didn't say a word, silently walked to the front door, silently walked past her father, completely ignoring him, but Dugen stopped her, "Xiaomai, happy birthday."

As he spoke, he reached for the two pieces of clothing he was holding and handed them to her, saying, "These are from your father, take them."

Xiaomai dodged his hand. "No need, I have my own clothes."

After saying that, he went inside.

Gu Juncheng and Zhiyuan followed them into the house. Gu Juncheng was about to close the door when Du Gen pressed the door shut with his elbow. "Wait."

If Gu Juncheng uses brute force, Du Gen's hand will be ruined.

"What exactly do you want?" Gu Juncheng had no kind expression towards this person who had hurt his sister in the past.

“Chengzi, I know you hate me, I… I just want to say a few words to Xiaomai.” Dugen pressed hard on the door.

"No need, I have nothing to say, Uncle, you can close the door." Xiaomai's eyes revealed a determination beyond her years.

How could she not be resolute?

I suffered both physical and emotional abuse, and the pain still feels like it happened yesterday when I dream about it in the middle of the night.

Dugen never managed to deliver the two pieces of clothing to Xiaomai, nor could he say the rest of his words. He could never walk through the door that Gu Juncheng had closed.

"What's going on?" Gu Juncheng was confused. Hadn't they gotten divorced? Why were they entangled again?

Lin Qingping took the pearl and looked at Gu Youlian.

"Who knows!" Gu Youlian exclaimed, speechless. "He came to the capital this spring, saying he was doing clothing business. Wasn't he doing clothing business in the south? How would he come to the capital! How would I know!"

"Why did he come to you when he's in the clothing business? Does he want to get back together? What about him and that woman? What about his son?" Gu Juncheng asked a whole string of questions.

Gu Youlian shook her head, claiming she knew nothing. "I feel like throwing up just looking at him, like I'd become malnourished. Why would I bother asking him why? I'd have too much free time!"

"That's fine then." Gu Juncheng nodded slightly. "I was just worried that you'd be too soft-hearted. You can't rely on a man like that."

"That whole Du family almost killed my wheat! Do you think I'd be soft-hearted? I just hate that God hasn't punished them yet!" Gu Youlian said angrily.