Jiangsu nodded. "I overheard what my grandfather said. Hush, don't tell anyone. I'm telling you because you're his wife."
Gu Nuannuan nodded. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this."
The two whispered to each other with their heads close together. The man behind them stood in the scorching sun, hands in his pockets, watching the two.
"...By the way, Gu Nuannuan, don't tell my family that you knocked me down three times."
"Don't worry, I'll save your face. Besides, if I told your family, your mother would kill me."
Gu Nuannuan stood on her toes and patted Jiangsu's shoulder. "I didn't expect your uncle to be Jiang Chenyu. I thought you were just the second generation of officials, not the second generation of rich people."
"You still haven't told me why you married my uncle."
"Good question. Honestly, I'd like to know that too."
Only Jiang Lao knew the real reason behind this ridiculous marriage.
But he didn't say it.
A small dark room in the backyard caught Gu Nuannuan's attention. "Hey, look at that small wooden room. Have you been inside?"
"Yes, I've been in there. That room was specially designed for me by my uncle."
Gu Nuannuan: "...So you drew those vertical lines on the wall?"
"You've been in there too?"
They were both surprised.
"Yeah."
"Same here."
The two immediately felt a strong sense of camaraderie. Gu Nuannuan shook hands with Jiangsu. "We've endured the same hardships."
"By the way, Gu Nuannuan, you're a new bride. Why did you end up in there?" Jiangsu asked, curious.
He was usually sent there after making some unforgivable mistake, but how could a new bride be punished?
"You don't know, your mother and I have had countless fights, and we even had a physical one."
Jiangsu: "...Sister, thanks for showing mercy to my mother."
"You're welcome, but I didn't realize she was your mother. I'm moving out this afternoon, so I won't have any more conflicts with her."
Jiangsu asked curiously, "Why did you and my mother fight? I know her well. She values face and wouldn't pick a fight with you."
"It's a long story. I only figured out the root of the problem last night."
Jiangsu looked over at his uncle standing in the sun. He couldn't believe it. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was really his uncle. "Gu Nuannuan, why is my uncle standing in the sun staring at us?"
Gu Nuannuan turned around, shielding her eyes from the sun. She squinted at her husband and said, "I guess he's out here soaking up some sunlight to get more calcium."
"That makes sense."
Jiang Chenyu couldn't stand it anymore. He took his hands out of his pockets and walked over to the two of them.
Seeing the aggressive Jiang Chenyu approaching, it was obviously a hot summer day, yet the two of them felt a chill.
They immediately stood straight, like new recruits awaiting their instructor's scolding.
Jiang Chenyu walked up to them, frowning, and in a harsh tone asked, "You didn't get enough sun overseas, and now you're back here sunbathing?"
"Uncle, aren't you sunbathing for calcium too?"
Jiang Chenyu looked at Gu Nuannuan. "And you, remember, he's your nephew."
The two of them: "..."
After saying that, Jiang Chenyu grabbed Gu Nuannuan's hand and pulled her out of the backyard.
Gu Nuannuan staggered and almost fell. Jiang Chenyu caught her and said, "Use your eyes to see where you're walking."
"Oh~" Gu Nuannuan was dragged away. She turned her head and mouthed to Jiangsu, "Your uncle is angry."
Jiangsu mouthed back, "I know."
Jiang Chenyu sensed the silent exchange between his nephew and wife and gave her hand another sharp tug.
"Ouch!" Gu Nuannuan stumbled again, and Jiang Chenyu finally picked her up by the waist, swiftly carrying her away.
At the restaurant, it was time for lunch. Jiang Chenyu didn't want to stay any longer. It wasn't good for his wife to become too familiar with his mischievous nephew.
"We're not eating at home. Let's go straight to where we live," Jiang Chenyu said.
Jiang Lao interjected, "Why the rush? Xiao Su just came back. Let's have a family reunion meal. You're not leaving at noon today."
Gu Nuannuan, close to Jiang Chenyu, noticed the man wasn't his usual self and seemed too weak to argue. After a while, Jiangsu casually wandered into the restaurant and took his seat. He didn't say anything to try and stop Jiang Chenyu because, even if he did, everyone knew it was a futile attempt.
Jiangsu picked up his chopsticks, preparing to eat. The tattoo on his right thumb caught his mother's attention. Wei Aihua pointed at her son's hand and asked, "Xiao Su, what's going on? How could you get a tattoo?"
"Mom, tattoos don't make you a bad person. It's a cultural thing," Jiangsu replied.
Wei Aihua turned to Jiang Chenyu. "Chenyu, talk to Jiangsu. We can't control him."
This was how it was in the Jiang family. Jiang Chenyu often took it upon himself to discipline his nephew whenever he visited.
When Jiangsu saw Jiang Chenyu's gaze, he quickly hid his hands behind his back. "Uncle, I'm older now. You said I was free at eighteen..."
"Don't let me see that tattoo on your hand. Either get rid of it or cut off the hand."
Jiangsu looked dejected. He glanced at Gu Nuannuan, hoping his new aunt and desk-mate might help him.
Gu Nuannuan was confused. "Why are you looking at me? Your uncle said to chop off your hand, not mine."
Jiang Chenyu added, "Three minutes. If you don't get rid of it, I'll find someone to help you."
"No need, one minute is enough." Jiangsu reluctantly went to the bathroom, and when he returned, his hands were clean, no sign of the tattoo.
Gu Nuannuan suddenly realized, "So it was fake?"
Jiangsu hadn't dared to put real ink on his skin. To satisfy his urge, he had bought an expensive realistic temporary tattoo.
Jiang Lao began criticizing his grandson's appearance, "Are you a sissy wearing earrings? Take them off."
"Grandpa, it's called fashion. It's trendy among young people." Jiangsu tried to defend himself.
Jiang Lao insisted, "Chenyu, you deal with him."
Jiang Chenyu looked at Jiangsu with disdain. "Do I need to say it twice?"
Jiangsu didn't dare argue any further and took off his earrings.
Jiang Lao nodded approvingly. "Much better. Now you look like a proper student."
Mayor Jiang, however, was bothered by his son's colorful hair. "Dye your hair black."
Jiangsu instinctively glanced at Jiang Chenyu.
Gu Nuannuan also turned her head to look at her husband.
She thought to herself, "This husband of mine is pretty impressive. He can make Jiangsu obedient with just a few words, without any need for action. I admire him a little."
Jiang Chenyu asked, "Do I need to say it three times?"
Jiangsu grabbed his hair in frustration. "Uncle, this is my real hair. If I dye it black, I'll need to go to the salon. Can I go after lunch?"