Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Chapter 257 Taking care of her

In the darkness, Gu Juncheng closed his eyes.

After a long while, he sat down with Zhiyuan in his arms on the steps.

The soft moonlight shone down and fell upon them.

Zhiyuan wiped away his tears, "After you leave, I'll leave too."

"Where did you go?" Gu Juncheng asked, holding him in his arms.

Zhiyuan thought for a moment, "I'll go to a boarding school. When I turn eighteen, I'll join the army. I'll be like my dad, definitely not like you!"

"You're leaving? Living on your own? You have money?"

“I have,” Zhiyuan sobbed. “I have New Year’s money, I can collect garbage to sell, and I can wash dishes at a restaurant.”

"Why don't you stay with your mother? Don't you want your mother anymore?" Gu Juncheng ruffled his hair.

Zhiyuan sniffed, "I...I want to too, but you're not my dad anymore, is she still my mom? Besides, taking care of a child is tiring, and she's all alone..."

It turns out he had his own logic regarding relationships.

He was an adopted child; Gu Juncheng adopted him first, and then Lin Qingping became his mother. He didn't want to be a burden to Lin Qingping; even his own mother thought he was a burden, and Lin Qingping wasn't even his biological mother...

“Zhiyuan,” Gu Juncheng said softly, gazing at the flickering streetlights outside the courtyard, “she wants you from me.”

"Wh...what?" Zhiyuan rubbed his eyes.

"Lin Qingping wants me to give you to her."

Zhiyuan was stunned.

“Zhiyuan.” The streetlights reflected in Gu Juncheng’s eyes, and his eyes began to flicker like fireflies. “After I’m gone, you must take good care of her, grow up quickly, and protect her.”

Upon hearing this, Zhiyuan burst into tears again, shouting at him, "Why didn't you take care of her? Why didn't you protect her?"

Gu Juncheng repeated his words, wiping away his tears with his large hand, "Adult matters are none of a child's business!"

Zhiyuan brushed his hand away, looking at him with a questioning gaze, "Is that woman surnamed Chen pregnant with your child?"

Gu Juncheng: ...

Gu Juncheng almost slapped him on the butt, "What nonsense are you spouting? Who taught you all this nonsense at such a young age?"

"Then why? If you say again that adults shouldn't concern themselves with children's affairs, I'll... I won't take care of you in your old age! I won't care about you anymore!" Zhiyuan's tone was still full of childishness.

Gu Juncheng stood up and picked him up, saying, "I don't need you to take care of me in my old age. You take good care of Lin Qingping in her old age!"

"You..." Zhiyuan struggled and kicked in his hands, and it looked like he was about to fight him again, but Gu Juncheng had already opened the door.

"Stop fooling around, you'll make your mother worry." Gu Juncheng put him on the ground.

Zhiyuan snorted and ran back to his room.

Gu Juncheng glanced upstairs.

Lin Qingping was sleeping in her second sister's room, and the door was tightly closed at the moment.

He lowered his head and went upstairs to his and Lin Qingping's room.

The room was filled with his and her belongings, but she had kept everything in an orderly fashion, and everywhere there were traces of their life together.

He took off his coat and trousers, lay down in bed, and felt a faint fragrance on the pillow—the scent of her hair, the fragrance of his fingers running through her hair, each strand filling the air with his breath.

He drifted in and out of sleep in that atmosphere.

The next day was Sunday. Lin Qingping acted as if nothing had happened, even as if Gu Juncheng wasn't in the house, and got up to wash up.

There was breakfast at home, which was obviously bought by Gu Juncheng, and it was placed on the table.

She didn't even glance at him, and after telling Zhiyuan to be careful at home, she went out to the store.

Zhiyuan had already packed his schoolbag and was ready to leave.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to eat breakfast?" Gu Juncheng grabbed Zhiyuan's schoolbag.

Zhiyuan slapped his hand away, his face full of anger, "You're not family anymore, it's none of your business!"

Gu Juncheng: ...

Zhiyuan opened the door and rushed out.

Gu Juncheng chased after him and saw that he was heading towards his sister's house. He knew that he was going to play with Xiaomai, and that his sister's house must have food too.

When Lin Qingping arrived at the shop, everything was as usual. She chatted and laughed, greeted guests, and kneaded dough to make desserts.

Sister Zhao arrived early; the first batch was already in the oven. Lin Qingping kneaded the dough to prepare for the second batch.

Just as I was about to start kneading, the curtain was lifted and someone came in from outside.

Lin Qingping really didn't want to see this person, but he still walked up to her and took the basin from her hands.

She held onto the basin, refusing to let go. "What are you doing here?"

He simply said, "I'll help you."

“No need,” Lin Qingping refused. “I’ve said it before, I’ll be better off without you. I don’t need your help.”

His expression darkened slightly.

"Then consider it helping my sister." He went to wash his hands, but still forcibly pulled the bowl of dough over and started kneading it.

Lin Qingping was speechless at his words, but then she thought that he might be worried that she would not cooperate with Gu Youlian after the divorce, so she said, "Don't worry, you are you and my sister is my sister. I will open this store with her and work hard in the capital together. I will not break up with her because of your relationship. As long as she is still willing to open the store with me, I will work with her."

"Hmm." He kneaded the dough and said, "My sister is a kind-hearted person, has a clear sense of right and wrong, and is hardworking. She's better than me."

Lin Qingping sneered, showing that he was self-aware enough to admit that Gu Youlian was indeed better than him!

“She’s definitely standing on this side,” he added.

Just then, Gu Youlian lifted the curtain and called to her, "Pingzi!"

"Hmm?" Lin Qingping was puzzled, but she didn't want to stay with Gu Juncheng any longer, so she went out.

However, she ended up seeing someone she didn't want to see in the store—Chen Xia.

Gu Youlian whispered in her ear, "She said she was here to help Lao Zheng deliver goods, but when did she go to Lao Zheng's place?"

Gu Youlian was already getting annoyed. "This is terrible! How come we can't shake this person off like a snotty bug? Do you know why I called you back home when my mom was sick during summer vacation? It was because she kept causing trouble in front of my mom, and I couldn't stand it anymore. And now, she's even followed us to the capital! What's going on?!"

"What's going on? Isn't it obvious?" Lin Qingping couldn't help but ask, "Shouldn't you ask your dear younger brother?"

Gu Youlian choked, realizing what had happened. Of course! It must have been her brother! How could he be as muddle-headed as her mother?

Chen Xia dragged in a box full of fresh milk, milk powder, and cream. Seeing Lin Qingping and Gu Youlian, her face immediately showed timidity. "Sister, Lin Qingping, Mr. Zheng sent me to deliver this..."

Gu Youlian glared at her, knowing she couldn't be too irritable in the shop and scare the customers away. "You're really something! You can stick to me anywhere!"

"Sister..." Chen Xia's eyes reddened, and her voice rose, "I just want to earn a living on my own. This delivery job is hard, but I cherish it. I haven't had a chance to thank Brother Chengzi yet. Is Brother Chengzi here? Brother Chengzi?"