Chapter 77: Mom!

The girl with reddish-brown long hair smiled gently.

After a moment, she sensed something was off.

Right now, her soon-to-be sister-in-law—or rather, her sister-in-law already—Zhu Niao was almost moved to tears because of the gift.

She looked like she was trying hard not to let the small pearls fall, holding back the tears in front of the two of them.

She was wondering if stepping forward to comfort her would make her sister-in-law seem weak.

After all, she had come to understand over this time that the girl in front of her was incredibly strong-willed.

Would it hurt her to be comforted like that?

She didn’t know; maybe she was overthinking it.

Her biological brother, Gou Yu, wasn’t so complicated—this was one of the few ways his younger sister didn’t measure up to her older brother.

“Little bird,” Gou Yu called out to Zhu Niao, then put a hand on her shoulder. “Why did you wipe your snot on your face? That’s disgusting.”

“I seriously want to twist your head off right now.” Zhu Niao took a deep breath, completely ruining the emotional mood the moment before.

In that atmosphere, if the store manager and Gou Yu, or even just one of them, had come to comfort her a little, her tear ducts might have really given in.

But Gou Yu didn’t disappoint; his first words turned all her feelings into furious laughter.

“Long trip, rest first. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”

Her good younger brother gave a faint smile and left the spot.

Zhu Niao shot Gou Yu a glare before walking to her own room.

This was her room.

Though it was true, and the smooth wooden nameplate she touched was no illusion,

there was a surreal feeling about it all.

And this dreamlike feeling was brought on by Gou Yu.

She paused for a moment and pushed open the door.

Cleanliness and tidiness were the basics here; whether the furniture or the bed, the room’s pinkish tone made Zhu Niao feel at home the moment she glanced inside.

It was like returning to the little nest she shared with Gou Yu, a nest that belonged only to the two of them.

Only, compared to that little room in their nest, the bed was noticeably more mature in size,

and the room was larger and more grown-up.

It even came with its own bathroom and toilet.

There was clearly more free space left; the store manager hadn’t taken the liberty to arrange everything but left enough room for Zhu Niao to decorate as she liked.

Two steps inside the door stood her small suitcase and backpack.

The servants who placed her luggage inside would never touch anything without permission.

At the door, Gou Yu watched Zhu Niao walk into her room, hugging a cat, then headed toward his own room next door.

Knock.

The wooden door was tapped once.

Zhu Niao stood at the doorway, looking at Gou Yu.

“You don’t think you can hide things from me and just let it go, do you?” Zhu Niao crossed her arms. “Come in, bring the cat too.”

Gou Yu’s whole body stiffened; with a pitiful expression, he followed Zhu Niao into the room.

Then he saw her sit in the only chair inside, pointing at the bed.

“I know you have some issues with my hiding things from you, but if we’re talking about ‘paying back in kind,’ I think we should consider this carefully.”

Gou Yu put down the cat he was holding and let it roam freely around the room.

As for himself, he raised his hands in front of his chest, forming an X with his arms, wearing an expression of stubborn refusal.

Though if it came down to “paying back in kind,” he wouldn’t necessarily be the one losing out.

“Who said I want your useless body?” Zhu Niao rolled her eyes.

“Hey, that’s a bit harsh.” Gou Yu’s tone shifted as if a trigger was pulled; he puffed out his chest and looked down at Zhu Niao seated in the chair.

Zhu Niao just glanced at him, crossed her legs beneath her light blue dress, and crossed her ankles. “Sit.”

“Alright, bro.”

Gou Yu obediently sat down on the edge of the bed.

“First, I want to ask—why did you hide things from me?” Zhu Niao got straight to the point.

“Because you’re different from me.” Gou Yu’s usual teasing demeanor faded. “I have a fallback. If I really can’t live alone, even if I’m sold abroad, my family will find a way to get me back.”

Zhu Niao was different—she was completely alone.

“Then why did you ask your little sister—the store manager—to hide it with you?” Zhu Niao asked her second question.

“Same answer as before.” Gou Yu said, “Because our situations are different. At the time, I thought I could keep it hidden and didn’t explain. I was afraid you’d leave me once you found out I wasn’t as desperate as you.”

They weren’t the same kind of person; they couldn’t be called comrades who could huddle together for warmth in a cave.

He paused, then said, “I was afraid of losing you.”

Zhu Niao fell silent.

“Do you think I care about those things?” After a long moment, the lavender-scented girl spoke, “Right now, I really want to punch you in the kidney.”

And she did, punching Gou Yu’s lower back hard enough to make the burly boy fall onto the bed, wincing in pain.

“Do you think I care whether you were living in luxury before meeting me, or after leaving me?” Zhu Niao said. “All I remember is how you’d share half of your steamed bun with me when I was so hungry I cramped up.”

“Whoever gives me a fist also gives me a bun, I can tell them apart.” Zhu Niao said, “You were good to me. How you were before, and how you’ll be after—that has nothing to do with me.”

The girl raised her fist high. “I just want to be with you now. The two of us, eating a bag of spicy strips we’ve frozen in the fridge, gleefully checking how many pages of domestic updates the website put out after Valentine’s Day—that’s all I want. Don’t make it so complicated.”

Then that fist landed on Gou Yu’s chest.

It didn’t hurt—Gou Yu knew Zhu Niao had used some force, but it still felt like a little tease.

Then Gou Yu reached out, holding the back of Zhu Niao’s head, pulling the little bird into his arms.

“I’ll always be good to you.”

Zhu Niao didn’t mind that he’d hidden things from her; it was he who had been overthinking it.

The little bird pressed against Gou Yu’s chest, straightening up. Now the two of them were lying on the bed together.

“Next time the family has money, remember to tell me earlier. You don’t have to wait until you’re living under a bridge to bring out the life-saving cash, okay?” Zhu Niao said fiercely. “If I starve in the future, it’s on you.”

“That’s not fair! Just because my family has money doesn’t mean I do.” Gou Yu frowned. “When I left home, I bet my dad that I could live on my own and be happy even away from home.”

“Only someone well-fed and bored would do that.” Zhu Niao rolled her eyes. “If it were me, I’d never do such a thing. You’re asking for trouble—regret it yet?”

Gou Yu glanced at the little bird leaning on him.

He wasn’t regretful.

If he hadn’t done something so reckless, he wouldn’t have met Zhu Niao.

And Zhu Niao wouldn’t have met him.

“Little Sister Zhu, do you prefer salty or sweet?”

The store manager, smiling, pushed open the door and walked in.

She saw Gou Yu lying on the bed—her own brother—

and Zhu Niao straddling him—her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

“Ah, sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

The store manager smiled again, grabbed the door handle, and closed the door as she left.

The room fell silent.

Zhu Niao and Gou Yu looked at the door, then at their overly intimate posture.

Then, Gou Yu belatedly raised his hand and began to explain.

“Hey, it’s not like that!”

On the other side of the door, the store manager clearly didn’t hear, because both Zhu Niao and Gou Yu distinctly heard a voice calling out.

“Mom! Come quick, I’ve got something great to show you.”