“Don’t look at me like that, I actually have quite a bit of experience when it comes to romance.”
Gou Yu’s father, seeing the looks Gou Yu and Zhu Niao were giving him, got inexplicably fired up and insisted on proving himself.
He sat down on the sofa opposite Zhu Niao and Gou Yu, ready to launch into a lecture.
He suddenly felt a bit parched, just as the girl with long reddish-brown hair walked over carrying some orange juice.
She seemed to be bringing it for Zhu Niao and Gou Yu.
Then she noticed that Zhu Niao and Gou Yu already had a cup each, and it looked like the same brand as the one in her hand.
“Did you steal drinks from my room again?”
“What do you mean ‘steal’? Can taking something from your brother be called stealing? Besides, if you put it in the fridge, isn’t it meant to be drunk?” Gou Yu’s reply was utterly shameless, making even Zhu Niao, who was sipping the stolen beverage beside him, feel a little embarrassed.
The store manager lady just sighed, as if she was used to it, then handed one of the drinks she was holding to her father and kept one for herself.
She then sat down on the sofa to the side of Gou Yu and Zhu Niao.
“Don’t you believe me? Ask me anything about romance, I’ll definitely answer fluently.” Gou Yu’s father seemed to have genuinely been provoked into a competitive spirit.
“Alright, here he goes again, showing off his romantic history.” Gou Yu seemed to have anticipated this. He rolled his eyes and leaned toward the fragrant, soft Zhu Niao.
Before the unprepared Zhu Niao could react, he turned his head and lay sideways on her closed thighs.
Zhu Niao was stunned, looking down at Gou Yu lying on her lap.
It was a perfectly normal action—for a couple, of course.
Even Gou Yu’s father in front of them and the store manager lady beside them showed no reaction, as if this was a perfectly normal thing for the two of them to do.
But Zhu Niao knew this was Gou Yu, the foot and leg connoisseur, deliberately taking advantage of her.
‘This guy… did he lay the groundwork for this very move all along?’
‘Terrifying.’
And to make it worse, the head resting on her thigh wasn’t staying still. It squirmed slightly, turning a bit toward Zhu Niao’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
He was putting on a perfectly normal expression, shifting all the abnormality onto her.
Zhu Niao was genuinely grinding her teeth in frustration now.
Fortunately, Gou Yu seemed to understand some boundaries and didn’t choose to bury his face directly into Zhu Niao’s legs.
Then again, if he had really buried his face down there, everyone would probably be able to hear Gou Yu’s epic, lung-filling inhale right now.
In that case, it would be Gou Yu who looked abnormal no matter what.
“Stop moving.” Zhu Niao said softly. She knew she couldn’t resist Gou Yu too much right now, or the ‘fiancée’ act wouldn’t be convincing.
She reached out and gently pressed down on Gou Yu’s head, not even daring to use much force.
And Gou Yu really did stop moving.
“What’s wrong?”
“It tickles. Your hair is poking me.”
Zhu Niao’s voice was gentle, ethereal, the kind that would still sound pleasant even in an argument.
The softness now, mixed with obvious restraint, created an extra layer of feeling.
“Little Bird, you really do seem like a wife right now.” Gou Yu’s gaze held a hint of daze.
His head was tilted slightly toward Zhu Niao, which meant toward the ceiling.
He could see Zhu Niao’s pursed lips, could see those eyes that held only him.
There was a touch of small annoyance in them, but her words and actions were indulgent, forgiving all his current actions.
Just like some tolerant mother.
Seeming to notice his gaze, Zhu Niao cautiously glanced up at the others. After confirming no one was staring at her, she looked down at Gou Yu and bared her teeth slightly.
As if to express her ferocity, as if to tell Gou Yu they’d settle the score later when they were alone.
But Gou Yu also knew that Zhu Niao would always forgive him very easily.
Just half a pack of spicy strips, just one apology.
Zhu Niao never truly got angry with him in the real sense, always tolerant of all his actions, reasonable or unreasonable.
Zhu Niao’s anger always seemed more like coquettishness.
And he liked it when Zhu Niao acted coquettish.
He liked Zhu Niao.
He watched as Zhu Niao made a scissor gesture with her fingers, miming a cut in front of her own lips.
It meant she didn’t really like that ‘wife’ comment, and if he said it again, she’d cut his tongue out.
Understanding, Gou Yu widened his eyes, waiting for Zhu Niao to explain it again.
Zhu Niao, of course, would explain again. She even stuck out a little bit of her pink, delicate tongue, as if to demonstrate.
And then Gou Yu grabbed it.
“Mmph!”
To avoid being discovered, Zhu Niao immediately bent down, her face close to Gou Yu’s head resting on her leg, and used her hand to block the line of sight.
Of course, she didn’t seem to realize that with this combo move, the two of them looked even more like they were kissing in front of their relatives.
Zhu Niao glared fiercely at Gou Yu, baring her teeth.
Of course, she didn’t dare bite down hard, afraid of biting her own tongue.
Gou Yu was still holding the tip of her tongue.
He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small packet of wasabi sauce.
He’d snagged it from a fried chicken delivery place.
He tore it open with his teeth, then, under Zhu Niao’s horrified gaze, directly smeared it on her tongue.
Then, Gou Yu’s father and the store manager lady beside them saw Zhu Niao sit up straight, covering her mouth.
Her eyes even seemed to be welling up with tears.
The store manager lady’s eyes held surprise.
She had no idea when her dear brother had gained such skill, to be able to forcefully kiss Zhu Niao in public and get away with it completely, leaving her bashful.
Of course, she hadn’t seen what these two were secretly doing just now.
After all, she was quite polite and didn’t have the habit of staring when others were clearly about to kiss.
If it were Gou Yu and Zhu Niao, it’d be different. If a young couple, under their gaze, didn’t dare to kiss, they would stare at that couple intently.
The difference in moral standards was clear.
Zhu Niao covered her mouth, quickly took two gulps of her drink, and even her face started to turn red.
Seeing this, the store manager lady stood up and left.
She thought she was interfering with the couple’s normal interaction.
But Gou Yu’s father was different.
“You two, why aren’t you asking me yet? Hurry up and ask me.”
Gou Yu, savoring the smoothness of the skin on Zhu Niao’s thigh, looked at his old man, then looked behind his father.
He seemed to see something.
So he spoke up. “Old man, have you ever regretted anything after getting married?”
“Hmm, there are quite a few of those. Let me think which one I regret the most.” He pinched his chin. “Probably when the officiant asked me ‘Do you?’ at the wedding.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a hand landed on his shoulder.
He turned his head. “That last sentence didn’t taste right. Can I take it back?”
Gou Yu’s mother, a smile on her face, said, “Of course. And while you’re at it, come to my room and tell me about the rest of those ‘quite a few’ things you regret.”