Just as Gu's father was about to speak, Gu Nuannuan called out, "Dad, Jiang Chenyu, come and eat."
...
After dinner, Jiang Chenyu gave Gu Nuannuan some time to chat with her parents. In the afternoon, he gently took her away.
As they left, Gu Nuannuan sat in the passenger seat, lowering the window to look at her parents standing at the doorway through the rearview mirror. They were getting farther and farther away.
Her eyes grew misty, and she frequently raised her hands to rub them. Jiang Chenyu noticed her emotions as he sat beside her, his eyes softening. He accelerated the car until the milky white building disappeared from view, and then Gu Nuannuan closed the window. Jiang Chenyu slowed down.
Breaking the silence, Jiang Chenyu asked, "Do you always talk that much at home?"
"Not usually. But this was your first time at my house, and it was also the first time my parents met their son-in-law. As both a wife and a daughter, if I didn't keep the conversation going, both of you would've felt awkward."
It was the first time Jiang Chenyu had heard her refer to herself as "wife." Hearing it in her voice, it almost sounded like a child trying to act like an adult, while the real adult watched on.
Still, she wasn't wrong. After all, she *was* the wife he had married.
"But thank you for today." It was the first time in their three days of marriage that they'd had such a calm conversation.
Gu Nuannuan knew when to be polite and respectful, but her courtesy was reserved only for those she felt deserved it. Today, Jiang Chenyu had earned it.
"I thought you didn't pay attention to what I said last night," she added.
Jiang Chenyu's throat tightened as he replied, "I looked into it myself."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? I could have gone to bed sooner instead of bothering you for two hours and being sent away."
Jiang Chenyu glanced at her again while driving. Was she really blaming him for disrupting her sleep schedule?
They soon arrived back at the Jiang family's old house. The two were still maintaining polite interaction, but as they walked through the door, they encountered an unexpected guest.
Gao Rouer was there again.
Jiang Chenyu's expression darkened at the sight.
Gu Nuannuan and Jiang Chenyu stood side by side. She leaned slightly toward him and whispered, "Don't worry. You helped me today, so I'll help you now. I've got your back."
Jiang Chenyu tilted his head to look at his petite wife, who was looking up at him. She blinked playfully and said, "Trust me."
With that, she confidently walked over to the living room sofa. "Dad, we're back."
Jiang Lao, Jiang Chenyu's father, pretended to yawn. "I'm feeling a bit tired. Nuannuan, you're the hostess of this house. Entertain the guest."
At the mention of *"hostess"*, Gao Rouer's expression changed. Jiang Lao's words were a clear reminder to Gao Rouer that she had no place dreaming about a future with Jiang Chenyu.
Gu Nuannuan caught the shift in Gao Rouer's demeanor and nodded. "Alright, Dad. I'll take you to rest first."
"No need. I can walk by myself," Jiang Lao responded, heading upstairs with the help of the housekeeper.
Once Jiang Lao had left, Gu Nuannuan turned around and faced Gao Rouer. She studied her openly, noticing that while she was attractive, her makeup was too gaudy, and the scent of her perfume was overpowering.
*So this is what Jiang Chenyu likes?* Gu Nuannuan thought with mild amusement.
Her scrutiny felt like a needle pricking Gao Rouer, filling her with discomfort and shame.
Gao Rouer stood up abruptly, her tone sharp. "Gu Nuannuan, Chenyu doesn't love you."
"I know," Gu Nuannuan replied calmly, before turning to Jiang Chenyu and pointing at Gao Rouer. "Dad is gone, so you can take her away now."
With that, she waved her hand dismissively and happily started walking toward the stairs.
But suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and turned back around. Her eyes locked with Jiang Chenyu's deep, unreadable gaze.