After Gu Changqing returned to the new room, he told Yuan Baolin about Gu Chengfeng’s situation.
Upon hearing that he’s already in love with someone, Yuan Baolin knew her sister’s affections were destined to be misplaced.
She never suspected that the person he loves might be Yuan Tong, because if it were Yuan Tong, there wouldn’t be an issue with speaking of it openly.
The experience of a seasoned reader of romantics told Yuan Baolin that Gu Chengfeng must have fallen for someone he shouldn’t have.
She’s quite curious, yet she doesn’t pry into her brother-in-law’s privacy.
That night, Gu Xiaobao came over.
He’s still young and clings to his mother, and while the Yao Family was staying at the mansion these few days, she brought him along.
Normally, he’d already be in bed by this time, but today he had napped too much during the day, and couldn’t sleep at the moment, so he came to find his big brother and sister-in-law.
"Big sis, I want to see the magic tricks."
Two-and-a-half-year-old Gu Xiaobao said clearly.
On the wedding day, Yuan Baolin had shown Gu Xiaobao a few little tricks, and he liked them a lot. He felt that his big sis has magical powers, even better than his big bro.
"Alright." Yuan Baolin gladly agreed, took out some small props from her tiny dressing box, and began performing magic tricks for Gu Xiaobao.
One big and one small, they sat cross-legged on the bed. First, she showed Gu Xiaobao her hands: "There’s nothing, right?"
"Yes." Gu Xiaobao nodded.
She snapped her fingers behind Gu Xiaobao’s ear, then brought her hand before him with a coin pinched at her fingertips.
Gu Xiaobao: "Wow!"
Gu Changqing, with nothing else to do, also watched from the side to pass the time.
The interaction between sister-in-law and brother-in-law was harmonious, like a true family.
Gu Chenglin and Gu Chengfeng shared a courtyard, always roughhousing with sounds of laughter echoing out.
He’s been living alone all along, with the courtyard inside and outside excessively quiet; only in Bishui Alley could he feel a trace of familial warmth.
Yet right now, somehow, he suddenly felt a sense of belonging to a home.
Yuan Baolin performed another trick for Gu Xiaobao, conjuring flowers out of thin air. Though the box in his hand was empty, when he shook it and opened it again, a vibrant and delicate flower had appeared inside.
Yuan Baolin laughed: "This flower was conjured by Xiaobao using magic!"
Gu Xiaobao was so excited that he regressed somewhat, clapping his small hands on his little chest: "Wow, Xiaobao’s amazing!"
For half a year, he hadn’t done this childish action.
He was very happy playing.
Little children can fall asleep suddenly, and after a burst of laughter, Gu Xiaobao fell backward, sprawling out as he slept.
Yuan Baolin, who had never raised a child, was shocked, fearing she’d played Gu Changqing’s little brother into a faint!
Gu Changqing found her thunderstruck look amusing: "It’s okay, he’s just sleeping, I’ll carry him back."
"Ah, alright." Yuan Baolin wiped some cold sweat from her brow.
Scared Xiaobao silly!
Gu Changqing carried the sleeping Gu Xiaobao back to the Yao Family’s courtyard, and when he returned, Yuan Baolin wasn’t asleep yet. She sat by the table, holding a document, looking vexed.
He walked over and recognized it as their prenuptial agreement.
He glanced at the agreement on the table, furrowing his brows involuntarily.
Yuan Baolin saw the shadow on the ground, turned her head, and said: "You’re back, do you have some time? I have something I’d like to discuss."
"I have time." Gu Changqing sat down opposite her.
Yuan Baolin looked at the document on the table and said: "It’s this agreement. I just reviewed it thoroughly and felt that we drafted too hastily back then, without considering many aspects. Of course, it’s neither your fault nor mine—we haven’t been married before and couldn’t anticipate various post-marriage sudden situations."
Once sudden situations were mentioned, Gu Changqing thought of that indescribable wedding night.
Enticing scenes flashed through his mind, and his whole body’s blood surged.
He mustn’t think about it.
They’re only pretend spouses; thinking about it would be disrespectful to Yuan Baolin.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Prime Minister's Darling