189: Gu Xiaoyang's birthday

Thinking of his grandfather's actions, he probably didn't approve of him being with Xiao Yue.

Shui Lingyu's expression darkened. "I will attend my younger brother's birthday, but as for the engagement, let's put it on hold for now."

After saying this, he turned and left.

Gu Xiaoyue also breathed a sigh of relief. Even though Shui Lingyu hadn't explained it clearly, she understood that there was indeed a misunderstanding.

Although his actions were wrong, he didn't have any malicious intent.

Plus, since investigating Mu Chaohua had revealed no connection to the Gu Family, it must have been the work of the Mu Family Head.

Since Shui Lingyu's grandfather didn't support them being together, he probably wouldn't bring up the engagement again for the time being.

Gu Xiaoyue thought for a moment and added Shui Lingyu to the group chat as well.

Whether their relationship could develop was a matter for the future; at the very least, they were still friends for now.

On the day of Gu Xiaoyang's birthday, Chu Li, Ye Wanrou, and Shui Lingyu arrived early at Gu Xiaoyue's house with gifts.

Gu Xiaoyue was cutting fruit with Mu Qingning. As soon as they entered, Mu Qingning warmly invited everyone to eat some fruit.

"Handsome brother, beautiful sister!"

Gu Xiaoyang spoke to Chu Li and the others in his milky, childish voice.

Ye Wanrou was delighted by the compliment and picked up the little milk dumpling to kiss him.

"Sister, playground, playground!"

Gu Xiaoyang blinked his eyes and acted coquettishly towards Ye Wanrou, melting her heart.

"Xiao Yue, your brother wants to go to the playground! He's only one year old and already knows what a playground is; that's quite impressive!"

Mu Qingning wiped her hands and came out of the kitchen.

"He probably remembered it from watching TV. This child really knows how to act spoiled!"

Gu Xiaoyue took over the conversation. "If my little brother wants to go, we'll take him. We'll go to the best one in the Dragon Kingdom."

"That would be the Disney Playground in Jingdong City. I saw that He Zhichen's profile location is right there!"

"Then when the holidays come, we'll go to Jingdong together and invite He Zhichen to have fun at the playground!"

Since it was what Xiao Yang wanted, they would go to the playground first.

They could go explore the secret realm in Damon after having fun; a few days wouldn't make a difference.

Gu Yu and Mu Qingning began serving the dishes. Fearing they would get tired, Gu Xiaoyue had also packed a few dishes from the restaurant next door.

Just as everyone was eating happily, a knock on the door sounded. It was Gu Yongze, Gu Qi's family, and Chen Butler.

Gu Xiaoyue's expression darkened immediately, but since they hadn't completely broken ties yet, she could only let them be invited in by Gu Yu.

"Dad, younger brother, sister-in-law."

Gu Yu got them slippers. Gu Qi walked in boisterously, looking around. "This house isn't bad, but it's still far inferior to the Gu Family mansion!"

Mu Qingning ignored them and just invited everyone to continue eating.

Shen Jiajing sat on the sofa for a while before starting to find fault.

"Why isn't there even a glass of water here? Hasn't Xiao Yue been making money? Why not hire a few servants to take care of things!"

Gu Yu immediately turned to pour water, saying apologetically, "It's just us, husband and wife, taking care of the child; there's no need to hire servants. I apologize for the poor hospitality, sister-in-law."

Seeing this, Gu Xiaoyue began to radiate coldness.

Ye Wanrou took a few more bites before taking Chen Yixuan and Fang Xiaoyu to say goodbye.

Seeing that Chu Li and Shui Lingyu hadn't left yet, Shen Jiajing pulled Gu Xiaoxing to the dining table.

"Young Master Chu is here. And who is this?"

"My surname is Shui."

Shui Lingyu replied politely, but he wouldn't even give his full name, his tone filled with distance.

Shen Jiajing's eyes rolled as she thought, Could it be the Shui Family, the prominent clan from Hechuan?

The Shui Family's financial power was in no way inferior to the Chu Family's. If Xiaoxing could hook up with him...

She brought Gu Xiaoxing to the seat next to Shui Lingyu and pushed her down into it.

"Our Xiaoxing is Xiao Yue's younger sister. The sisters have been close since childhood! We're all family, get to know each other!"

Chu Li snorted coldly from the side. "Close? How close? Close like how she bullied Xiao Yue since childhood?"

Shen Jiajing's expression stiffened, and she smiled awkwardly.

"That was just young girls playing around; how can that be called bullying?"

Gu Xiaoyue didn't speak, just continued eating her food.

Upon hearing that Gu Xiaoxing had bullied Xiao Yue, Shui Lingyu picked up his tableware and changed seats to be next to Gu Xiaoyue.

Ye Wanrou had previously been sitting next to Gu Xiaoyue, but now that she had used an excuse to leave early, the seat was naturally empty.

Seeing Shui Lingyu's attitude, Shen Jiajing couldn't continue to pester him, so she went to Chu Li's side instead.

"Young Master Chu, previously the Old Master went to your house to propose marriage, but the Old Master of the Chu Family didn't express a stance.

Your Second Aunt's meaning is naturally that I hope you and Xiao Yue can settle things soon. Wouldn't it be great to get married immediately after graduation?"

Although Shui Lingyu had long known that the Gu Family had gone to the Chu Family to propose, bringing up the old matter made him feel even more displeased.

"What right do you have to propose on Xiao Yue's behalf? She left the Gu Family long ago! If there's to be a proposal, it should be my family proposing to her. What business is it of yours!"

Chu Li rolled his eyes at Shen Jiajing and retorted without any politeness.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Gu Xiaoyue said to Chu Li and Shui Lingyu,

"Have you finished eating? I'm sorry, I have some family matters to handle today. I'll treat you to a meal another time."

They were sensible; hearing Gu Xiaoyue say this, they stood up and said goodbye.

Gu Xiaoxing was so angry she could have ground her teeth to dust; she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Chu Li and Shui Lingyu wouldn't even spare her a glance for a second!

Yet Shen Jiajing still had the idea of making her hook up with them. Now she was going to be scolded for being useless when they got back!

"Mom, have you and Xiao Yang finished eating?"

Mu Qingning looked with some worry at Gu Yu, who was entertaining Gu Yongze and Gu Qi in the living room.

"Yes. How about I go back to the room first and coax Xiao Yang to sleep for a while?"

Gu Xiaoyue nodded. "I'll clean up the dishes later. You go and accompany little brother to sleep for a while."

Having said that, she stood up and went to the living room.

"Gu Family Head, I trust you have been well!"

Over the past six months, because of Xiao Mingyan's suppression of the Gu Corporation, Gu Yongze had visibly aged a lot.

"Insolent! Big brother, you've spoiled Gu Xiaoyue rotten! Ever since she returned to the Gu Family, I've never heard her call me Grandfather or Second Uncle.

With such a lack of manners, she might as well get married early, so she doesn't go out and lose face for our Gu Family!"

"Lose face? What could be more shameful than the Gu Family Head proactively going to the Chu Family to propose? Most importantly—I, the person involved, actually heard about this news from someone else. It's hilarious!"

Gu Xiaoyue's words made Gu Yongze's face turn pale and then red, but he couldn't refute her.

For one, Gu Xiaoyue was right, and for another, getting into a verbal spat with a junior was indeed a demeaning thing to do.

Gu Xiaoyue glanced at the awkwardly-faced Gu Yu.

She figured that he must have given the address to Gu Yongze. She could even guess the reason he gave the address—after all, he was Xiao Yang's grandfather!

Gu Yu always felt that blood was thicker than water, but he always forgot how Gu Yongze and the others had forced and abandoned him for the sake of profit!

Shen Jiajing pulled Gu Xiaoxing back to the living room and, hearing Gu Xiaoyue's words, tutted.

"Isn't the Old Master doing it for your own good! Marrying into the Chu Family early, not only will you enjoy blessings sooner, but you can also help the family!"

"That's right, you could cut me into eight pieces and I could marry into the Shui Family, the Duan Family, the He Family, and the Lu Family. You really know how to make me climb high branches!"

Gu Xiaoyue might as well have slapped "shameless" onto Shen Jiajing's face; she seized the opportunity to tear into her relentlessly.

"You—I think you don't know what's good for you!"

"I certainly know what's good, and I also know what's dirty and rotten! Alright, enough nonsense!

Gu Family Head, you insisted on coming on Xiao Yang's birthday; I assume you brought the equity transfer agreement, didn't you?"