Chapter 52: Marriage First, Love Later, and a Side of Scum-Bashing 30
By the time Ning Qingqing finished packing and came out, Gu Youchen’s car had arrived.
The scent of durian wafted through the car.
For durian lovers, this was a fragrance; for Little He, the driver who disliked durian, it was a bit of a disaster. He decided that after dropping his boss off, his first priority would be to deodorize the car.
Half an hour later, Gu Youchen carried the groceries in one hand and held Ning Qingqing’s hand with the other as they went upstairs.
On the way up, Ning Qingqing had already mentally drafted N different ways to eat durian, completely forgetting about the two pounds she had recently gained.
Once home, they washed their hands and changed clothes. Gu Youchen went to the kitchen to prepare.
Ning Qingqing stood beside him, peeking over. “Youchen, do you need help?”
Even when a Musang King durian is ripe, it usually doesn’t split open on its own, so one needs to find the right spot to pry it open with a knife.
Evidently, this wasn’t Gu Youchen’s first time buying one. He skillfully found the seam, inserted the knife, and with a slight twist, the durian split open along the segment.
Ning Qingqing sniffed the aroma, her eyes lighting up.
Beside her, Gu Youchen smiled. “Qingqing, besides the durian sago soup, have you decided what else you want to eat?”
Ning Qingqing rattled off a list before concluding, “Durian pancakes are too much trouble, and I’m not very good at making durian puffs. Baked durian with cheese is simpler. How about we make baked durian and sago soup?”
Gu Youchen nodded. “Those two are fine, but I actually know how to make durian puffs.”
“Huh?” Ning Qingqing’s eyes widened. “You know how to make that?”
Gu Youchen raised an eyebrow. “Shall we try?”
“Yes, yes!” Ning Qingqing eagerly agreed. “So, what do I do?”
“You mash the durian into a paste, and I’ll knead the dough and prepare the rest,” Gu Youchen assigned the tasks.
The two of them divided the labor and got to work.
They couldn’t just eat dessert, so Gu Youchen also ordered a sashimi platter and sushi online.
On one side, the sago was boiled until crystal clear. After rinsing it in cold water, thick coconut milk and regular milk were added, and finally, Ning Qingqing topped it with a scoop of durian flesh.
On the other side, Gu Youchen added the durian paste to the prepared pastry dough. After wrapping them, he brushed a layer of egg yolk on the outside, sprinkled them with sesame seeds, and put them in the oven.
The delivery arrived, and the property management brought it up. Gu Youchen set everything out in the dining room and opened a bottle of red wine.
The time it took for the wine to breathe was just enough for the durian puffs to finish baking.
Looking at the table full of rich, delicious food, Ning Qingqing swallowed her saliva, only then belatedly realizing she might gain weight.
But as the aroma wafted from the oven, Ning Qingqing decided to eat first and worry later.
She took out her phone and snapped a photo of the food on the table. She planned to take another one when the puffs came out and post them on her WeChat Moments.
At that moment, Gu Youchen came over and said, “Qingqing, the villa blueprints are ready.”
Ning Qingqing’s eyes lit up, and she quickly said, “Let me see.”
Gu Youchen connected his phone to the projector and pulled Ning Qingqing over to the living room to watch on the big screen.
For the plot of land they bought, Gu Youchen’s architect friend had incorporated their ideas along with some of his own creativity to design the villa’s exterior and internal structure. As for the interior decoration details, they would hire a design team once the villa was built to tailor it to reality.
Currently, projected on the screen was a building filled with classical elements.
Everything from the outer columns to the small courtyard designed as an outdoor bar was carved with traditional patterns.
The eaves utilized a traditional flying cornice design, and the overall structure used mortise and tenon technology. However, a note clarified that the main body would still be reinforced concrete to ensure the house’s stability and resistance to the erosion of time.
Below, there was a basement storage room. It wasn’t particularly large because more space was reserved for the underground garage.
Ning Qingqing counted. Between the surface and underground parking, even if Gu Youchen wanted to host a family party with his childhood friends, there would be plenty of space for cars.
The villa had three floors. The first floor was a common activity area. The second floor housed the bedrooms, guest rooms, and a study. The third floor was a gym, designed with glass walls to ensure ample light and a spacious feel.
Next to the gym was an indoor swimming pool.
Gu Youchen swiped the screen, and the overall exterior became clearly visible.
Outside the gym was a circular corridor featuring carved architecture. The rendering showed flowers placed along it, making the whole thing look like a hanging garden from a distance.
Ning Qingqing watched with shining eyes. “It really looks exactly how I like it!”
Gu Youchen asked her, “Is there anything you want to improve?”
Ning Qingqing thought for a while and said, “The stairs from the pool to the second floor—could they be designed as a spiral staircase? Although it might squeeze the space on the far east side of the second floor a little, I think it would look better from the outside?”
Gu Youchen imagined Ning Qingqing walking down a spiral staircase from the third-floor pool to the second floor in a swimsuit. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Mm, we’ll listen to my wife.”
Ning Qingqing couldn’t help blushing. “Be serious, we’re discussing the design!”
Gu Youchen put his arm around her. “Okay, discussing design. So, does Qingqing have any opinions on the children’s playground downstairs?”
Hearing the word “children,” Ning Qingqing’s cheeks burned even hotter.
Looking at the outdoor playground, she mentally pictured a scene of her and Gu Youchen’s children playing there, and a wave of softness surged in her heart.
Without even realizing it, a gentle smile floated onto her lips. “I think safety comes first. Assuming there are no safety issues, the current design plan is just right.”
Gu Youchen nodded. “Okay, I’ll keep an eye on the playground facilities. However, I suggest we leave the space empty for now and only start building it when we have a baby. That way, the facilities will be brand new.”
Ning Qingqing hadn’t expected Gu Youchen to bring up this topic so suddenly. she thought about it seriously and said, “I think we are both still young. We can focus on our careers first. Wait two years…”
Gu Youchen held Ning Qingqing’s hand. “Mm, no rush. I still want to enjoy our world of two.”
As they spoke, the oven signaled that the baking was done.
Ning Qingqing immediately took her phone with excitement to take pictures.
It had to be said, Gu Youchen was indeed a dessert lover. It was obvious he had baked this before. The timing was perfect; the durian puffs had golden, flaky crusts that made one’s index finger twitch with anticipation.
Ning Qingqing posted the photos to her Moments: “Living up to today’s gourmet food. Starting tomorrow, determined to get back to 100 jin!”
That night, Ning Qingqing was a bit tired from her recent work, so she went to sleep quite early.
The next morning, after waking up, she saw a dozen messages from Qiao Xiaomian, all sent after ten o’clock last night.
After reading them from the beginning and scrolling through the screenshots, she was stunned.
Only then did she learn what kind of drama Si Luoqing and Kenny had staged online yesterday, and how Gu Youchen had handled everything cleanly without her even knowing!
He hadn’t even mentioned a word of it.
A complex feeling surged in her heart—a bit of warmth, a bit of sweetness, and an indescribable emotion.
Or perhaps it was more of an impulse, causing her to open the door directly and trot over to Gu Youchen.
The man was reheating the leftover durian puffs from last night, and the porridge in the pot was steaming. Hearing footsteps, he turned around and greeted Ning Qingqing naturally, “Qingqing, morning.”
Ning Qingqing had already run up to him. Suddenly, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
Gu Youchen froze, staring blankly at her close-up face.
This was the first time Ning Qingqing had initiated a kiss. Unlike the farewell kisses or greeting kisses he had requested before, this was a kiss she offered actively and genuinely.
After a brief moment of astonishment, it felt like fireworks exploding, accompanied by an ecstasy only he could understand!
But the girl in front of him, having stirred up the fire, tried to run away irresponsibly. She only made it two steps before Gu Youchen caught her by the waist from behind and pulled her back into his arms.
“Qingqing, don’t be a tease,” he said, moving to kiss the shell of her ear.
Ning Qingqing instantly felt immobilized. It was as if her sensitive spot had been hit, rendering her incredibly obedient.
Gu Youchen kissed her to his heart’s content before slightly loosening his grip. With one arm still around Ning Qingqing, he used the other to lift the lid of the porridge pot.
While sitting down for breakfast, Gu Youchen said, “Qingqing, I heard from Zhou Linghang that the preliminary preparations for your project are over. Once all the permits are issued, things will start getting busy?”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Mm, that’s about right. The second half of the year will be busier, fighting for market share with the Si family. We can’t let them detect us too early, so we need to be cautious a lot of the time.”
Gu Youchen said, “Then, before the permits come down, let’s make a trip to Qingtang Town?”
Hearing him mention Qingtang Town again, Ning Qingqing checked her work schedule, then nodded. “Okay. My mom and the others are moving here next week. We can go this weekend and come back before Tuesday.”
Gu Youchen nodded. “Okay, I’ll rearrange my schedule for the next few days when I get to work today.”
For the next two days, both of them were very busy. Fortunately, they managed to handle all pending matters before departing early Saturday morning.
That morning, Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing boarded a plane to Nancheng.
From Nancheng to Qingtang Town, it was another two-hour drive after getting off the plane. Hearing that her daughter was coming, although Ning Ruojun hadn’t returned from her business trip, she had arranged for someone in Nancheng to book a private dining room for them and prepare a car.
This wasn’t Gu Youchen’s first time here, but this time the significance was different.
In the past, he always returned in disappointment. But this time, the person he liked was his wife, taking him to see the place where she grew up.
When the two entered the private room, they were completely unaware that in the adjacent room, Shen Zhiqian and his driver had just finished eating and were settling the bill to leave.
An hour later, Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing also left the restaurant and drove together toward Qingtang Town.
In the summer afternoon, the cicadas buzzed incessantly in the small town.
As the sedan drove past the entrance of the town, everything from the past came rushing back.
The last time Ning Qingqing came back was during the Qingming Festival. She had returned alone to sweep the tombs of her grandmother and Elder Zhang.
Because she was still working at the Shen Corporation then, and Qingming was on a Friday, she had flown over from the Imperial City early that morning and went directly to the cemetery.
She didn’t stay the night. She returned to Nancheng that evening and flew back to the Imperial City at night.
At that time, problems had already appeared in her relationship with Shen Zhiqian, so he never knew from start to finish that she had returned to her hometown on Qingming alone to visit her closest relatives.
Time in the small town moved relatively slowly. This wasn’t a tourism development zone; Qiao Town, which was closer to Nancheng, had started developing tourism ten years ago and was now a mature tourist area.
Qingtang was a bit more remote, and indeed not as large as Qiao Town, so it retained its original appearance.
Following Ning Qingqing’s instructions, Gu Youchen parked the car in the town’s parking lot, then took their suitcases and walked beside her.
The town wasn’t big; it took less than half an hour to walk from one end to the other. Ning Qingqing led Gu Youchen through twists and turns until they arrived at her grandmother’s house.
The door had an old-fashioned lock covered in a thin layer of dust.
Gu Youchen asked, “Qingqing, did you bring the key?” He was worried she had forgotten it and they would have to stay in a hotel.
Or perhaps staying at the Xu Family Inn would feel more like revisiting old haunts.
However, Ning Qingqing gave him a mysterious smile. She took two steps to the flower bed nearby, moved the third brick on the edge, and fished out a key.
Gu Youchen watched, dumbfounded.
Ning Qingqing took the key, brushed off the dirt, and raised her eyebrows at Gu Youchen. “This is the spare one!”
She proudly turned the key to open the door and beckoned Gu Youchen inside.
Just as she stepped into the courtyard, a cat leaped down from the roof.
Caught off guard, Ning Qingqing was startled and instinctively hid in the arms of the person behind her.
Gu Youchen held her and chuckled low. “Qingqing, did that cat not recognize you?”
Ning Qingqing recovered, poked her head out of his arms, and realized it was the neighbor’s cat. She couldn’t help but sigh. “It must be almost ten years old. It was born to the neighbor’s ‘Big Flower’ before I even started high school. I can’t believe it’s still so agile at this age!”
Gu Youchen looked at her, his words carrying a double meaning. “The water and soil here nurture cats well.”
And people too. Like her—making him unable to forget her after just one look.
The two walked into the courtyard. The inner house door wasn’t locked; it opened with a gentle twist.
There was relatively little dust here, and although it had been a few months, there was only a light layer.
Ning Qingqing put down her things and took Gu Youchen on a tour first. “The first floor is the kitchen and dining area. The second floor has three bedrooms. Back then, Grandma and I each had one, and the other was left for my mom. But my mom was busy with work and rarely came, so that room became my study.”
After speaking, she led him to the stairs.
Gu Youchen followed Ning Qingqing up the wooden stairs to the second floor.
Looking out the window, one could see the winding small river. The entire town was built on both sides of this river.
His gaze shifted and suddenly stopped at a certain spot.
It was that bridge.
The place where he first saw her.
The stone arch bridge wasn’t wide; in fact, that was the narrowest part of the river.
There were steps on both ends. He remembered crossing from the opposite side of the bridge and seeing Ning Qingqing coming from this side.
She had a ponytail, and her eyes were clean and clear, reminding him of a clear lake he had seen at the top of a mountain one year.
In the local dialect, it was called ‘The Goddess’s Tear.’
“Youchen?” Seeing Gu Youchen staring blankly at something, Ning Qingqing leaned on the window sill and looked in the direction of his gaze.
But she didn’t see anything special.
She couldn’t help turning her head to ask, “What are you looking at?”
Gu Youchen looked at her with deep eyes. After a few seconds, he said in a low, slow voice, “Looking at the clearest lake water.”
“Lake water?” Ning Qingqing was confused and explained, “This small river was actually originally a weir, artificially diverted from another river a hundred years ago. We don’t have lakes here; the nearest one is dozens of kilometers away from the town…”
However, the man in front of her smiled. “There is one.”
He didn’t explain. Instead, he leaned over and placed a kiss on Ning Qingqing’s eyes.
The most beautiful lake water he had ever seen was right beside him.
Author’s Note: Revisiting the old haunt, Qingqing is about to discover the truth behind the photo in a certain someone’s wallet~ Shen Zhiqian: I didn’t know she came here alone on Qingming Festival. If I could…
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