Gu Xinzhou was catching up on sleep, slumbering from morning until three in the afternoon when a burst of her cellphone's ringtone awoke her.
She reached out for her phone, took a quick look, and hurriedly answered, "Dad? What's going on?"
"Zhouzhou! Zhouzhou, you've got to help Dad out here. Your grandma is angry, and no amount of coaxing from me is working. I'm truly exhausted, I haven't had a good night's sleep in two days and nights, Zhouzhou, please talk to your grandma, tell her to stop being angry and to forgive me quickly!"
Gu Xinzhou rubbed her aching head, her thoughts slowly coming back online.
She remembered that Lan Baozhen was angry because Gu Yibo had taken off after Gu Xinfei.
But Lan Baozhen wasn't an unreasonable old lady, nor would she ever do anything to disrupt family harmony.
Gu Xinzhou asked, "What on earth did you do? Not long ago, when Song Zhen and I hadn't reconciled, Grandma was still advising us not to dwell on the past and to look forward. She wouldn't ignore you without good reason."
Moreover, Gu Yibo had been pleading up until now and Lan Baozhen still hadn't forgiven him, which was extremely abnormal.
Gu Yibo promptly told his daughter the whole story.
Gu Xinzhou's face instantly turned cold, "So, you paid over six million in taxes and fines for Gu Xinfei?"
Gu Yibo: "Yes, if I hadn't, she would've ended up in jail!"
Gu Xinzhou ended the call.
When Gu Yibo called again, the phone was turned off.
Gu Xinzhou silently threw off the covers and went to the bathroom.
When she came out, she noticed the whole house seemed to be spinning slightly.
She steadied herself against the wall, feeling dizzy, her mind preoccupied with George's issues. She pinched her thigh hard to regain her composure before opening the door to leave.
The maid saw her and immediately caught up, "Madam, you've slept till the afternoon."
Gu Xinzhou asked, "Where's Song Zhen? And George?"
The maid: "Doctor Shen, Doctor Li, and Mr. Song, they're all in the young master's room, chatting with him. Mr. Song came out to check on you twice, saying you were exhausted and to keep the bird's nest soup ready for when you wake up, not to disturb you."
"They're all in George's room, huh?" Gu Xinzhou was clearly envious but helpless, not knowing when she'd be able to appear before George without hesitation, "Has George eaten yet?"
The maid brought over the bird's nest soup and handed it to Gu Xinzhou, "The young master ate millet porridge that you made for breakfast and lunch. There's still some left in the pot. Mr. Song didn't dare to touch it because the young master said he wants to eat it again for dinner."
Gu Xinzhou, who was also hungry, finished a bowl of bird's nest soup and placed the empty bowl back on the tray, "I'm going to the kitchen to make something else for George, and none of you are allowed to come in."
The maid: "Yes."
Gu Xinzhou had only taken a few steps when the door to George's room opened.
She turned around and saw Song Zhen, in a change of casual clothes, standing elegantly at the door watching her.
Gu Xinzhou's heart leaped.
How she wished to see George through that open door!
Song Zhen spoke softly, "George really likes the millet porridge you cooked, won't you come in and talk to him?"
Gu Xinzhou stood rigidly, her eyes trembling lightly, "Can I?"
Seeing her like this, Song Zhen's heart ached, and he softly reassured, "Just a couple of words, it's alright."
After all, they had to let the child gradually get accustomed to her. It wasn't right for her to keep hiding like this.
Gu Xinzhou took a deep breath to calm her emotions and stepped towards the room.
She stood by the door and peered cautiously inside.