Chapter 25 part 1
Before returning to his parents’ house, Gu Lin went to the company.
Yan Yang went too.
The two handled their affairs together. Yan Yang was about to go straight home when he heard Gu Lin was going to choose a gift, and excitedly followed him.
He originally thought Gu Lin was going to choose a gift for his boyfriend, but when they entered the jade shop, Yan Yang realized Gu Lin was buying a gift for his mother.
Hearing that Gu Lin was going back to his parents’ place tonight, Yan Yang leaned back against the counter and said, “You’re going back alone? Why didn’t you bring Little Chick back too?”
Gu Lin had several pieces of jade brought out from the dazzling array of display cases, then replied to Yan Yang, “It’s not the right time yet.”
Yan Yang thought about it, and it seemed reasonable.
Although Gu Lin’s relationship with his father couldn’t be described as having deep hatred, because of something that happened during Gu Lin’s high school years, their relationship wasn’t very good. And since Gu Lin graduated and returned without following his father’s arrangements to work for the Gu family’s company, their relationship became even more strained, and Gu Lin rarely went home.
Before Gu Lin had resolved his relationship with his father, bringing Lin Zheng back rashly would only cause trouble for Lin Zheng.
Yan Yang thought that given Gu Lin’s personality, if his mother hadn’t been staying at the Gu family’s mansion, he probably wouldn’t have gone back even once a year.
Yan Yang thought carefully. Gu Lin couldn’t be called heartless, but he couldn’t be called sentimental either.
Back in school, Gu Lin was known as a notorious heartbreaker. Although the name was a bit cliché, it was very accurate.
During their school days, Gu Lin’s looks, if not number one in their school, no one dared to claim the top spot. At that time, Gu Lin wasn’t as composed as he was now; he always had a bit of a rebellious air about him. The love letters he received throughout the year could almost fill several overflowing drawers, but no matter how many love letters were stuffed in, filling his drawers to the brim, Young Master Gu acted as if he hadn’t seen them, letting them pile up.
That must have broken the hearts of countless boys and girls; he was quite heartless.
Throughout high school, Young Master Gu excelled in both studies and leisure activities, but he never got involved in anything related to relationships.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t; he just wasn’t willing.
Even though he had countless opportunities, he walked through a peach blossom forest without looking up.
Yan Yang even once thought there was a problem with Gu Lin’s emotional system.
So, when he initially discovered that Gu Lin’s feelings for Lin Zheng weren’t just a fling, but serious, he was genuinely surprised, and also truly admired Lin Zheng for actually managing to win Gu Lin over.
Thinking about it, their Little Chick was really amazing.
If he told Little Chick about these things, what would he say?
He would probably proudly say with his hands on his hips, “You only just realized how amazing I am?”
Just imagining that scene, Yan Yang found it incredibly funny and cute.
Thinking about it, Yan Yang couldn’t help but sigh, “Without Little Chick around, it feels like there’s less fun.”
Hearing this, Gu Lin, who was choosing jade, looked up at him.
Yan Yang quickly explained, “Don’t misunderstand, I was just sighing.”
Gu Lin withdrew his gaze and continued looking at the jade.
His mother liked jewelry, but mostly for collecting. Compared to those glamorous diamonds and jewelry worn on the body, his mother preferred jade. In his mother’s words, life is like jade; the better the jade, the more transparent it is, and life is the same. Over these twenty years, his mother has indeed lived a transparent life, like jade.
Gu Lin finally chose a bright green piece of jade and asked the staff to wrap it up.
Just as he was about to look away, he was suddenly attracted to another piece of jade deeper in the cabinet.
The staff member noticed Gu Lin’s gaze and introduced it, “Mr. Gu, this is a ‘xiangsi kou’ (literally ‘mutual love clasp’), also made of top-grade jade. It’s similar in shape to a ‘ping’an kou’ (peace clasp), signifying both peace and expressing affection. It’s very suitable for giving to a lover. Would you like to take a look?”
The jade’s color was much lighter than the one Gu Lin had prepared for his mother, appearing smooth and transparent. The jade was round, with a hollow center, and a thin string passed through the middle to wrap it, allowing it to be worn as a pendant or ornament.
Gu Lin was about to speak when Yan Yang said, “Take this out and let Mr. Gu see it.”
Then, he whispered in Gu Lin’s ear, “A ‘xiangsi kou’. Mutual love is easy to begin, but hard to end. Giving it to someone is like firmly tying them to your side. Are you really not considering buying one for Little Chick?”
Gu Lin picked up the ‘xiangsi kou’. The jade was slightly smaller than his two fingers, and it felt refreshingly cool to the touch.
Although Gu Lin didn’t need to use such things to forcefully tie someone to his side, the meaning of peace and good fortune was indeed good.
“Wrap this one up too.”
By the time they walked out of the store, it was already dark.
Yan Yang didn’t get in the same car as Gu Lin; he didn’t intend to go to the Gu family with Gu Lin. Given Gu Lin’s father’s personality, even he would be afraid.
Yan Yang hailed a taxi by the roadside. Before getting in the car, he joked with Gu Lin, “You better hurry back. Don’t let your boyfriend be alone for too long, otherwise, before the ‘xiangsi kou’ is given, Little Chick will have already flown away.”
“Yan Yang, if you don’t want your mouth, you can throw it away.”
“Haha, just kidding, just kidding.”
Yan Yang waved to Gu Lin and got into the car.
Half an hour later, Gu Lin got out of the car in front of a traditional Chinese-style building.
It had been almost two months since his last visit.
Upon seeing the person who had been waiting for a long time at the entrance, a smile appeared on Gu Lin’s face, “It’s so cold outside, you didn’t need to come out.”
He walked over and hugged the woman.
The woman looked elegant and refined. Although she was in her fifties, she looked no older than thirty.
She was Gu Lin’s mother.
His mother smiled and hugged him back, “I’ve only been out for less than five minutes. Thinking that I was waiting for my son to come back, I didn’t feel the cold at all.”
Gu Lin’s appearance largely resembled his mother’s, especially those naturally alluring peach blossom eyes. When they smiled, they were almost identical, as if molded from the same mold.
The wind was strong outside, so Gu Lin went inside with his mother.
Gu Lin returned late and missed dinner. As soon as he entered, his mother instructed the chef to prepare a meal for him.
Gu Lin was called back this time because of his grandfather.
Earlier, his grandfather had fallen and injured his foot. Although he had hired a housekeeper, Mrs. Wu, Gu Lin’s mother, was still worried and decided to bring his grandfather over today. But unexpectedly, the old man was stubborn, accustomed to tranquility, and refused to stay in the noisy city, saying that even if he did stay, he would only stay until tomorrow. Thinking that Gu Lin had always been the most beloved by his grandfather, she wanted Gu Lin to come and persuade him.
They say that people return to childhood in old age; this is absolutely true.
Gu Lin found his grandfather on the balcony.
His grandfather was sitting in a rocking chair, wrapped in thick clothes, reading a book. Seeing him, he adjusted his reading glasses slightly, guessing correctly, “It must be your mother who called you here.”
Gu Lin smiled and sat down next to his grandfather on a stool, “Let’s not beat around the bush. Tell me, what do you need to do to stay here?”
His grandfather waved his hand, “I’ve said it; I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Gu Lin asked, “Isn’t there any room for negotiation?”
Hearing this, the old man looked at him, then sighed, “Keep me company for a chat first. If I’m happy enough, maybe I won’t leave tomorrow.”
Gu Lin was more than willing.
Although the grandfather and grandson didn’t often see each other, they still had many things to talk about.
The old man loved to tell Gu Lin about his time as a soldier when he was young, and every time Gu Lin listened, he couldn’t help but feel respect from the bottom of his heart.
They also talked about geography and the current economic situation.
Halfway through their conversation, the old man seemed to suddenly remember something and asked Gu Lin, “By the way, you didn’t bring that kid who came with you last time to my place?”
The topic changed too quickly, and Gu Lin didn’t immediately understand.
After a few seconds, he realized who the old man was referring to.
Gu Lin looked at the starry sky and smiled, then deliberately said, “Yeah, I didn’t bring him. My original plan for tonight was to watch a movie with him. Tsk, it’s all because you refused to cooperate, so I had to leave him alone at home.”
The old man clicked his tongue, “You little rascal, you’re blaming me, are you?”