The reason Gu’er and her companions didn’t notice they were being followed wasn’t a lack of vigilance. In reality, being tailed isn’t like on TV, where you spot them right away. Plenty of people could be walking behind you; how would you know where any of them are headed? There’s no rule saying you’re the only one allowed on the street. Besides, it was so cold that they wouldn’t have turned around for no reason.
Once Gu’er went upstairs and Sun Jiaming and the others headed back to the village, the person who had been following them took a look at the building she entered, then left.
Gu’er opened the door, and the sound of laughter from inside made her pause. She rarely heard such laughter in this house, and it seed to be coming from Lin Sui’er. ’Why is she so happy?’
As Gu’er stood there, stunned, she heard Chen Fengjiao say, "Gu’er’s back."
Gu’er nodded in acknowledgnt, only then noticing it wasn’t just the Lin Family in the living room. There was a guest.
"Li Zhi, what are you doing here?"
Gu’er was puzzled. Although she was fairly familiar with Li Zhi, she had never told him her address. ’How did he find his way here?’
Then Gu’er saw her father, Lin Shan. ’Oh, that’s right. Li Zhi knows Dad. His father used to work with Dad, so all he had to do was ask around to find out where we live.’
"With the New Year just around the corner, I ca to visit Uncle Lin and Auntie."
Li Zhi gave a bright smile, a sparkle in his eyes. In truth, he was here to see Gu’er. He hadn’t seen her since the holiday started, and after a few boring days at ho, he had grabbed a gift and co knocking on the Lin family’s door. To his surprise, Gu’er wasn’t ho. He had already been waiting for a long while and had even agreed to stay for dinner. It wasn’t that he was being shaless, inviting himself to a al on his first visit; he just couldn’t bring himself to leave without seeing Gu’er.
"Oh."
Gu’er nodded, not giving it much thought. ’Whatever Li Zhi’s intentions are, I just need to be clear about my own.’
"Brother Li, you should co over more often when you’re free! My mom is a great cook, and I love listening to your stories."
Lin Sui’er shot Gu’er a look as she spoke to Li Zhi.
It was her first ti eting Li Zhi. Although he was handso, she hadn’t paid him much mind at first. But when she learned he was a police officer, her interest was piqued. Of course, being in her teens, she didn’t really understand much about love and romance. She just thought being a cop was incredible. Then, hearing that Li Zhi’s father was with the city bureau, she beca even more star-struck, and had proceeded to pepper Li Zhi with questions and beg him for stories.
Eager to win over the elder Lins, Li Zhi acted with great modesty. His conversation was witty and humorous, and he knew how to act appropriately. Over the course of the afternoon, he had, at the very least, completely won over Chen Fengjiao and Lin Sui’er.
"Great! As long as Uncle Lin and Auntie don’t mind, I might just have to co freeload for als more often."
Li Zhi laughed and glanced at Gu’er. He wasn’t doing any of this for Lin Sui’er; the one he was really interested in was Gu’er.
"Listen to you! I’d be thrilled to have you. As long as you don’t mind my humble cooking, you’re welco here every day."
After spending the afternoon with him, Chen Fengjiao had grown quite fond of Li Zhi. In fact, her mind was already racing. ’He’s handso, seems like a decent young man, and he’s from the city with a good job and a good family. His father is with the city bureau! If Gu’er marries him, not only will she have a good family to marry into and a secure future, but she won’t have to marry so boy from the village. I’d be able to see her often, too. Besides, having in-laws like that would be so prestigious. And Li Zhi’s father and Lin Shan could look out for each other and offer help when needed. Now *that* would be an excellent match.’
’What does that Sun Jiaming have to offer? All he did was lend a hand when Gu’er was in trouble. If it cos down to it, I can just give the Sun Family so sort of compensation. I can’t be expected to marry my daughter off to them just to repay a debt.’
Chen Fengjiao didn’t voice any of this, keeping her plans to herself.
Watching Li Zhi chat and laugh so easily with her mother, Gu’er sighed to herself. ’Li Zhi is a bit selfish and calculating, but he’s not a bad person. If he were, I would have cut ties with him long ago.’
’What’s more, Li Zhi is ambitious. He knows what he wants, and he’s adaptable—he knows when to push forward and when to hold back. A person like that is bound to be successful.’
’In her past life, Gu’er had almost no contact with people like him, but she didn’t find his nature repulsive. Selfishness is human nature; everyone wants what’s best for themselves. If you don’t even wish the best for yourself, who else will? As long as it wasn’t an extre, all-consuming selfishness, she could accept it. Of course, while a person like that might be selfish and calculating, if they consider you a friend, they’ll help you when you’re in trouble. But if it puts them at a major disadvantage, they’ll back away. Gu’er understood that. When faced with danger, never mind others, she herself would hesitate and retreat. It’s only natural.’
Once they sat down at the dinner table, Li Zhi repeatedly praised Chen Fengjiao’s delicious cooking. An even wider smile spread across her face as she continuously urged him to have more.
Lin Shan was perfectly cordial, but Gu’er knew it was just a facade. ’In reality, Dad hasn’t accepted Li Zhi. For a man like him, who clawed his way up step by step, it’s difficult to trust or accept anyone new. Unless Li Zhi actually becos his son-in-law and earns his approval, Dad might never truly trust him.’
Gu’er ate quietly. She barely spoke, only responding when Li Zhi occasionally asked her a question. Otherwise, she didn’t interject, simply putting so food on Lin Zheng’s plate and eating her own al.
Listening to Lin Sui’er call out "Brother Li" again and again, and seeing the adoring look in her sister’s eyes, Gu’er felt a sense of resignation. ’Does Sui’er have a crush on Li Zhi? It’s so rare for her to smile this much, and she’s almost never this friendly. She hasn’t even tried to give a hard ti in front of him.’
But then Gu’er shook her head. ’Sui’er is too young; there’s no way Li Zhi would be interested in her. Still, are girls really this precocious nowadays? When I was fifteen, I didn’t understand any of this at all.’
Although Li Zhi kept up the conversation with Chen Fengjiao and Sui’er, his attention was actually on Gu’er the whole ti. He noticed she barely spoke and frowned slightly. ’Is Gu’er not the favorite in this family?’
’Earlier in the afternoon, Lin Sui’er had given him a tour of the house. Lin Sui’er had her own room, as did Lin Zheng. Only Gu’er was in a small room. And Chen Fengjiao... her affection for Lin Sui’er and Lin Zheng was so genuine, it seed to co from the depths of her soul. While she was nice enough to Gu’er, he always sensed an awkwardness there, as if they weren’t truly mother and daughter. Is it because Gu’er grew up in the village instead of with the Lin Family? Is that why she can’t seem to fit in here?’
’As for Lin Shan, he couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary. But then again, Lin Shan was a reserved man; he wouldn’t let his true feelings show anyway.’
After dinner, Li Zhi stayed for a little while longer before saying his goodbyes. Chen Fengjiao and Gu’er walked him out, but Lin Sui’er was especially enthusiastic. She hurried to the front, chattering to Li Zhi nonstop and insisting he visit again soon.
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Thank you to Ning Zhihai for the praise, and thank you all for your support. The conflict is about to erupt. If I get back early today, I’ll write the bonus Chapter for the He Shi Bi.
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