When children are teething, they always like to put things in their mouths and drool.
Zai Zai was no different.
So, Qiao Shu and the nannies often found that Zai Zai would have something stuffed in his mouth if they weren’t paying attention.
They had to change several bibs a day.
Aside from this trouble, Zai Zai, who had started eating solid food, became interested in all kinds of foods. Every time Qiao Shu ate snacks or had a meal, Zai Zai would call out, “Ah, ah,” strongly indicating that he wanted to eat too.
Thus, Qiao Shu began a “challenging” life of “outsmarting” and “sneaking food.”
The August heat felt like it was going to roast people alive. Even in an air-conditioned room, you could still feel the intense summer heat. In times like this, you need to gnaw on a milk popsicle to feel comfortable and refreshed.
Qiao Shu happily took a homemade milk and grape popsicle from the fridge, licked it once, and instantly squinted his eyes in delight from the coolness.
Summer really pairs perfectly with popsicles.
Biting off a piece of the popsicle, Qiao Shu hummed a little tune as he planned to go to the living room to play games. Halfway there, he saw the nanny carrying Zai Zai, who had just woken up, out of the room.
“Ah ah.”
As soon as Zai Zai saw Qiao Shu, he stretched out his hands towards him energetically.
Just as the nanny was about to remind him, Qiao Shu cheerfully walked over to pick up Zai Zai.
But as soon as Qiao Shu got close, Zai Zai changed targets, his chubby hands reaching for the popsicle in Qiao Shu’s hand. Only then did Qiao Shu remember he was holding a popsicle.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Nanny: “…”
“Mr. Qiao, I was just about to remind you…”
Qiao Shu could only make a last-minute save, quickly hiding the popsicle behind his back and blinking innocently at Zai Zai.
Zai Zai was smart. Seeing his dad’s action, he knew the treat he wanted was hidden behind his dad. He leaned his body forward to try to find it.
Qiao Shu took a few steps back, “Sweetie, Dad has something to do. I’ll come play with you later.”
Saying this, he retreated upstairs, determined not to let the little glutton see the popsicle behind him.
But Zai Zai had his tricks.
After taking just a few steps back, Zai Zai showed a pitiful expression.
Qiao Shu: “…”
He couldn’t handle Zai Zai’s sad face!
Qiao Shu’s heart softened, and he came back, still tightly hiding the popsicle behind his back, “How about Daddy plays with you?”
Zai Zai lunged into Qiao Shu’s arms, and Qiao Shu held him with one hand.
The nanny gestured to see if Qiao Shu wanted her to quietly take the popsicle away, but Qiao Shu hesitated and declined.
Gu Chenyan had set a rule that he could only have one popsicle a day. If this one was thrown away, he wouldn’t get another today. He had only taken one bite and hadn’t even tasted it properly.
He couldn’t throw it away!
Qiao Shu’s eyes flickered as he kissed Zai Zai in his arms, “How about Daddy plays games with you?”
Zai Zai didn’t find the popsicle but was happy being held by his dad and getting a kiss, so he forgot about the popsicle.
Qiao Shu carried Zai Zai to the playroom, set him down, and surrounded him with Transformers and various toys.
Seeing that Zai Zai’s attention was caught, Qiao Shu quickly turned around and licked the bit of melted popsicle juice, savoring the cool milky taste in his mouth, then took a satisfying bite of the popsicle.
Delicious!
So refreshing!
“Ah.”
Just as he was about to enjoy the refreshing taste of the milk popsicle, he heard Zai Zai’s voice behind him. Startled, Qiao Shu turned to see that Zai Zai had somehow abandoned the toys and crawled over.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu quickly swallowed the popsicle in his mouth and turned around innocently, still hiding the popsicle behind his back so Zai Zai wouldn’t see it. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Zai Zai babbled and crawled onto Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu supported him with one hand, “Are you bored all by yourself? Daddy will play with you.”
After playing with Zai Zai for a while, Qiao Shu felt the melted popsicle juice running down his hand, which made him feel incredibly distressed.
He racked his brain for a solution.
But today’s Zai Zai was especially clingy, always hanging onto him.
A sweet kind of trouble.
Luckily, Qiao Shu quickly came up with an idea. He bent down and coaxed Zai Zai, “How about Daddy plays hide and seek with you?”
Zai Zai looked puzzled.
Also regardless of whether Zai Zai wants it or not, Qiao Shu stretched out his hand and covered Zai Zai’s eyes, then quickly took out the popsicle to lick the melted juice and took a bite.
Zai Zai, whose eyes were covered, reached out and grabbed Qiao Shu’s hand covering his eyes.
“Ah ah.”
The popsicle in Qiao Shu’s mouth hadn’t been finished yet, and Zai Zai became impatient. Qiao Shu could only gulp it down hastily, hide the popsicle again, and reveal a comforting smile to Zai Zai, releasing the hand covering his eyes. “Look, Daddy is here.”
Zai Zai paused for a moment, then giggled and revealed his tiny white teeth.
Obviously, Zai Zai enjoyed this game.
Qiao Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
He indulged Zai Zai’s preference for sneaking popsicles, but Zai Zai lacked patience; he couldn’t keep his eyes covered for too long. Each time Qiao Shu took a bite of the popsicle, he had to swallow it hurriedly.
He didn’t taste anything, but his stomach was chilled.
After playing for a while, Qiao Shu finally finished the popsicle without wasting any. The nanny also prepared Zai Zai’s milk and egg custard and brought it over. Qiao Shu took the custard and fed Zai Zai.
Zai Zai ate happily, even clapping on the floor.
After feeding Zai Zai, he wanted to go out and play. Looking at the scorching sun outside that could bake a person, Qiao Shu hesitated for a moment, then decisively left Zai Zai to the nanny and asked her to take Zai Zai to play in the glasshouse in the courtyard.
As Zai Zai was taken away, Qiao Shu patted his stomach and went to the kitchen to get a small cake.
He hadn’t eaten his cake today.
While getting the cake, Qiao Shu saw the popsicle mold placed aside, and his hand hesitated for a moment.
Then he quietly took a few steps back, peeked his head out of the kitchen, and glanced into the room.
Great!
No one!
Today, Aunt Lan and Uncle Zhou went out with friends to watch a traditional opera, the nanny took Zai Zai to play in the glasshouse, and Aunt Sun took the afternoon off.
Now he was alone at home.
Qiao Shu’s eyes darted around. He first felt delighted, then stealthily walked back to the refrigerator, opened the freezer, and took out the milk popsicles inside.
The popsicles were made by Gu Chenyan himself.
Because Qiao Shu liked eating these things in the summer, Gu Chenyan studied them and found them not difficult. After learning, he would make a few popsicles every two or three days and put them in the fridge for Qiao Shu.
But for the sake of Qiao Shu’s body, Gu Chenyan stipulated that Qiao Shu could only eat one popsicle a day.
Qiao Shu felt wronged.
Qiao Shu was very greedy.
Looking at the popsicles in the freezer, Qiao Shu thought about the one he had just barely tasted. He licked his lips with longing and guiltily reached out with greedy hands.
“I’ll just eat one more.”
Qiao Shu murmured to comfort himself. He cautiously glanced outside again to make sure no one was there, then daringly took out the popsicle from the freezer and removed it from the mold.
Seeing the snow-white milk popsicle adorned with fruits on top, Qiao Shu’s eyes lit up with greed, unable to resist any longer, he took a bite.
“Mmm! Delicious!”
“This is what summer is all about!”
With the popsicle in his mouth, Qiao Shu became much bolder. He enjoyed it blissfully while taking out the mold and, following his memory, retrieved milk from the fridge.
“Is this how it’s done?”
Qiao Shu frowned in distress. He had never made popsicles himself. When Gu Chenyan learned to make them, he was too busy playing around like a man. Every time afterward, Gu Chenyan would make them for him after getting up in the morning while he stayed in bed, refusing to get up.
“It should be mostly milk and mixed fruits.” Qiao Shu muttered. He couldn’t be bothered to go out and look up tutorials on his phone, so he relied on his own intuition to experiment. While licking the popsicle, he cut up some fruits from the fridge, poured them into the milk, stirred, and finally poured the mixture into the molds.
“Done!”
The whole process took about a minute. Qiao Shu glanced at it and satisfactorily returned the molds to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
This way, Gu Chenyan wouldn’t find out that he had sneaked a bite.
So clever!
Qiao Shu felt smug.
After finishing everything sneakily, Qiao Shu squatted beside the refrigerator and slowly savored the deliciousness of the popsicle.
He also took out his portion of cake for the day, taking a bite of cake on the left and a bite of popsicle on the right, feeling so blissful that he felt like he was about to ascend.
“Mmm~”
“So happy.”
However, even the most delicious food eventually gets eaten up. Qiao Shu extended his tongue to lick the lingering taste of milk popsicle and the sweetness of cake on his lips, feeling unsatisfied.
Still wanted to eat.
As Qiao Shu squatted beside the refrigerator, his eyes uncontrollably slid toward it again.
Have another one?
Anyway, he could still disguise it.
And… this was just sneaking a bite this once, he definitely wouldn’t do it again in the future!
Gu Chenyan would be furious if he found out!
Eating one secretly was still eating secretly.
All are stealing. Being caught will be punished. Anyway, all will be punished, so why not eat another one? Being punished is not a loss!
…
Various thoughts flashed through, but the thought of eating another one firmly occupied Qiao Shu’s entire mind, ultimately prompting Qiao Shu to once again extend his sinful hand.
Gu Chenyan didn’t do much, only made three popsicles for Qiao Shu, Qiao Shu had already eaten two, leaving only the last one. This time, he took out the remaining last one, then, just like stealing the last one, he casually stirred it with milk and fruit and poured it into the mold.
At night.
When Gu Chenyan returned home, Aunt Lan had already come back and was preparing dinner in the kitchen. Uncle Zhou was sitting in the living room watching TV and drinking tea.
Gu Chenyan looked around, then walked towards the toy room where Zai Zai was playing. The nanny was playing with Zai Zai in the toy room.
Zai Zai was sensitive. As soon as Gu Chenyan entered the room, Zai Zai raised his head and happily crawled towards the door, wanting Father to hold him.
Gu Chenyan didn’t see Qiao Shu’s figure, so he withdrew his gaze, walked over, and picked up Zai Zai.
After playing with Zai Zai for a while, Gu Chenyan handed him back to the nanny and then went upstairs.
In the room, in the bathroom.
Qiao Shu sat on the toilet, pale, weak, and in pain, clutching his stomach.
Qiao Shu never expected that he would have diarrhea because he ate three popsicles.
And not just once.
When his stomach started hurting and he had diarrhea for the first time, Qiao Shu promptly took medicine, but the medicine didn’t seem to work well. Even after taking it, Qiao Shu’s stomach still hurt.
He has already gone in and out of the bathroom seven or eight times by now.
Stomachache was still considered a minor issue. After all, Qiao Shu had experienced this kind of pain from eating too much cold stuff in childhood, and it would pass after enduring it.
But—
This afternoon, he stole the popsicle!
Qiao Shu endured the pain in his stomach while guiltily thinking about how he would conceal the fact that his stomach hurt when Gu Chenyan returned later.
Absolutely cannot be discovered!
If his stomach ache from the cold was discovered, the next step would be discovering that he stole the popsicle. And if caught stealing the popsicle, the next step might be getting spanked.
Yes!
Spanked!
Mr. Gu punished his Little Mr. Qiao just like teaching a child, directly pulling down his pants to spank him. This was super embarrassing for Qiao Shu, an adult!
Qiao Shu anxiously bit his lip.
Enduring a spanking would actually pass, although shameful, but getting spanked in the room where no one saw wasn’t too hard to accept.
But after the spanking—
Given Gu Chenyan’s temper, he probably wouldn’t have any more popsicles for the rest of the summer.
This punishment was too dreadful!
No way!
Absolutely not!
“Ugh!”
“It hurts so much!”
Qiao Shu twisted his face and bent over, clutching his writhing stomach. Why was it still hurting so much?
Knock knock
“Qiao Shu?”
Gu Chenyan returned to the room, puzzled to see it empty. He walked towards the bathroom, where light seeped from under the door.
The sudden sound startled Qiao Shu, almost causing him to jump up directly from the toilet.
Qiao Shu: “Here!”
Gu Chenyan chuckled softly upon hearing Qiao Shu’s voice. “I’m back.”
Qiao Shu, feeling guilty and nervous, stammered, “I-I’ll come out right away.”
Gu Chenyan: “…”
Gu Chenyan: “No rush.”
When Qiao Shu came out, he deliberately glanced at the mirror, adjusted his expression, and rubbed his somewhat lackluster face with his hand.
“Bless me!”
“Bless me!”
Qiao Shu murmured.
As soon as he came out, Qiao Shu saw a man sitting on the sofa, already changed into casual clothes and reading a book.
The man leaned lazily against the back of the sofa, his slender fingers gripping a corner of the book page, leisurely flipping through it. Seemingly hearing the sound, he lifted his head, and with a gentle gaze tinged with a slight smile, he looked at Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu: “!!!”
Direct hit!
A beauty like a painting! Handsome and playful!
The soul of an LSP instantly stirred, and Qiao Shu couldn’t resist. He exclaimed and pounced towards Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan set the book down and securely embraced his suddenly excited little sir.
He chuckled, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu, completely enchanted by this smile, lost his composure even more, “Why are you so handsome!”
Gu Chenyan raised an eyebrow.
Qiao Shu took a deep breath.
Finally, in a defeated and self-abandoned declaration, he announced, “No, Little Mr. Qiao can’t hold back.”
“I can’t hold back anymore!”
Qiao Shu said, then excitedly cupped Gu Chenyan’s head and bit the man’s lips.
His movements were eager, like a child snatching snacks.
Gu Chenyan’s chest vibrated, emitting a low, slightly tingling laugh that made Qiao Shu even more excited, “Don’t rush, I can’t escape.”
Qiao Shu: “Stop laughing!”
Gu Chenyan: “Alright, I won’t laugh.”
Qiao Shu grumbled and bit Gu Chenyan again, then, all sticky and clingy, cooed, “Kiss me.”
His eyes lit up, making a request, “I want a sofa ‘dong’, Mr. Gu.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
Originally, he was lying on top of Gu Chenyan. But now, after making the request, Gu Chenyan held his waist and flipped him over.
In an instant, their positions swapped, with Qiao Shu below and Gu Chenyan above, one hand holding his waist, the other propped on the sofa.
The two were very close.
Their breaths mingled together.
A perfect sofa ‘dong’.
Ba-dump, Ba-dump, Ba-dump
Qiao Shu’s heart skipped a beat. He licked his lips and lifted both legs to hook around the man’s waist, “Want more kisses.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
With just a movement, their lips pressed together. Qiao Shu, excited, playfully opened the slightly closed door of the man’s lips with his tongue and then plunged in.
Their breathing became rapid.
Qiao Shu was getting into it. He was about to do something naughty when suddenly a wave of cramps hit his stomach.
“Ugh!”
He cried out in pain without realizing it.
Only then did Qiao Shu remember that he was halfway between being a patient and doing something naughty.
And his judge was right here.
Panic!
Gu Chenyan naturally heard the cry of pain. He withdrew from Qiao Shu’s mouth, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu’s guilty eyes darted around, “N-nothing…” Before he could finish speaking, another wave of cramps hit his stomach, making his expression uncontrollable.
Gu Chenyan frowned, “Where does it hurt?”
Qiao Shu still wanted to lie, “N-no, not hurting.”
“Little Mr.,” Gu Chenyan’s brow furrowed sternly, “No lying.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu instantly lost his nerve.
His guilty heart made him turn his head.
But the next moment, his chin was grabbed, and it was the same fingers that had just excited and captivated him.
Gu Chenyan adjusted Qiao Shu’s head, his eyes staring straight at Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Gu Chenyan: “Speak.”
Qiao Shu pouted, feeling both aggrieved and guilty, as he placed his hand on his stomach, “It’s just… my stomach…”
His stomach cramped again.
Qiao Shu instinctively curled up, then suddenly pushed Gu Chenyan away and ran to the bathroom.
Watching the door close, Gu Chenyan frowned. He picked up his phone to call the family doctor.
When Qiao Shu came out of the bathroom again, there was already another person in the room.
Gu Chenyan: “Come here.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Looking at Gu Chenyan’s outstretched hand, Qiao Shu felt extremely guilty, but still obediently walked over, hesitatingly placing his hand in Gu Chenyan’s palm.
The next moment, his hand was held, and then he was lifted and placed on the nearby sofa. Then, his wrist was held and handed over to the family doctor.
Gu Chenyan: “Help him.”
After the family doctor left, Qiao Shu felt so guilty that his head almost dropped to the floor.
Gu Chenyan: “Little Mr. Qiao…”
“I’m sorry!” Qiao Shu confessed pitifully, “I shouldn’t have stolen all the popsicles from the fridge.”
Qiao Shu: “Don’t be angry, okay?”
Qiao Shu held Gu Chenyan’s hand, acting spoiled and cute, “I really made a mistake.”
Gu Chenyan remained expressionless.
Qiao Shu pouted, then slowly climbed down from Gu Chenyan’s body. He stood on the ground, bit his lip, and gathered up the courage to take off his own pants.
“You can hit me.”
Qiao Shu closed his eyes, bravely raised his buttocks, and lay flat across Gu Chenyan’s lap, “Just hit me!”
Smack
Smack
…
Several crisp sounds in succession made Qiao Shu blush and tear up.
Gu Chenyan: “Are you feeling wronged?”
Qiao Shu shook his head.
Gu Chenyan: “Will you steal again next time?”
Qiao Shu: “I won’t steal again.”
Gu Chenyan: “What else did you do wrong?”
Qiao Shu: “Ah?”
Gu Chenyan slapped Qiao Shu’s tender, now red-marked buttocks again heavily, “You knew your stomach was hurting from the cold, why didn’t you call the doctor?”
Gu Chenyan: “Do you understand your mistake?”
Qiao Shu, crestfallen: “Yes, I understand.”
Gu Chenyan: “Louder.”
Qiao Shu: “I understand my mistake!”
Gu Chenyan issued the punishment decree: “Starting from tomorrow, no more popsicles.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
“Um…”
Heartache!
Although he anticipated this outcome, when it actually arrived, it was still incredibly heart-wrenching.
Eating popsicles was enjoyable for a moment, but the aftermath was truly a nightmare. Qiao Shu felt utterly miserable inside.
Gu Chenyan: “And…”
Qiao Shu was shocked: “And?!”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu hesitated for a moment, then said timidly, “You, you say.”
Gu Chenyan cruelly continued, “Similarly, starting tomorrow, your dessert portions will be halved.”
Qiao Shu: “!!!”
“Why?”
He couldn’t help raising his voice. This was about popsicles, so why involve innocent and delicious desserts?
Gu Chenyan: “Because Little Mr. Qiao made a mistake.”
Qiao Shu still wanted to salvage his desserts: “But I didn’t steal any desserts today.”
Gu Chenyan had a logical argument: “Then did your buttocks make a mistake?”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu felt even more pitiful and aggrieved. His buttocks were spanked, the popsicles were gone, and now even his desserts would be halved!!! This was beyond cruel.
“Mr. Gu~”
Qiao Shu lay on Gu Chenyan’s lap, pitifully looking up, his eyes teary, and his lips pouting.
Gu Chenyan: “No negotiation.”
Qiao Shu: “Husband~”
Gu Chenyan: “No.”
Qiao Shu: “Big brother.”
Gu Chenyan: “No dinner tonight.”
Gu Chenyan lifted Qiao Shu up, coldly and mercilessly dressed him, and then placed him on the ground, “Reflect properly.”
Qiao Shu: “Waa…”
Gu Chenyan: “No crying.”
Qiao Shu pouted.
Gu Chenyan: “Stay here quietly, no tears.” With that, he walked out, leaving Qiao Shu alone and miserable in the room.
Qiao Shu hurriedly followed.
Gu Chenyan didn’t even look back, “Stay in the room.”
Qiao Shu stopped pitifully, feeling at a loss.
Now he was really in trouble.
Feeling both aggrieved and anxious, Qiao Shu spun around in circles. How could he make Mr. Gu forgive him and calm down?
Before Qiao Shu could come up with a solution, the familiar sound of footsteps approached again. Qiao Shu quickly looked towards the door, and it was his Mr. Gu.
“Husband!”
Qiao Shu walked over quickly, looking all cute and pleasantly surprised.
Gu Chenyan: “Sit over there.”
He nodded towards a small sofa not far away. Qiao Shu followed his gaze and obediently went over to sit down.
Gu Chenyan also walked over.
But he didn’t sit down; instead, he bent over and placed something on Qiao Shu’s abdomen.
Feeling the comforting warmth spreading from his abdomen, Qiao Shu was momentarily stunned. He lowered his head and saw the beloved hand leaving the warm water bag on his abdomen.
The gloominess in Qiao Shu’s heart instantly dissipated. He happily hugged the warm water bag, his eyes twinkling with joy, and grinned, “Thank you, husband.”
Gu Chenyan glanced at him.
Qiao Shu grinned happily, but his smile quickly faded when he saw that Gu Chenyan’s other hand also held something – a pen and paper.
Gu Chenyan placed the pen and paper on the small round table next to the sofa and tapped his finger on the paper, “Write a five hundred-word self-criticism.”
Qiao Shu: “Huh?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu’s lips drooped, looking up at the stern Mr. Gu, he cautiously negotiated, “Can I write a little less? Like three hundred words?”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
Qiao Shu was delighted.
Gu Chenyan: “Then write six hundred.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu: “Fine, five hundred it is.”
Reluctantly, Qiao Shu took the pen and paper, glancing up at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan: “Be good.”
Qiao Shu felt a bit relieved.
Gu Chenyan added, “Write it here properly. I’ll come back to check later.”
Qiao Shu was puzzled, “Where are you going?”
Gu Chenyan: “To have dinner.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Was he really not going to get dinner?
With a cold expression, Gu Chenyan pinched Qiao Shu’s cheek and then heartlessly walked away.
Walked away…
Qiao Shu was left alone in the room, looking at the paper on the table and the pen in his hand, feeling desolate.
Why did he have to be so greedy!
Thinking about the five hundred-word self-criticism, the disappearing popsicles starting tomorrow, the halved dessert, and tonight’s dinner…
Not only that.
He also received an injection and suffered from stomach pain all afternoon.
He seemed to have angered Gu Chenyan.
Thinking of this, Qiao Shu wished he could go back to the afternoon and give his greedy self a good beating.
But there was no going back.
Qiao Shu could only pout and console himself with the only comfort he had – the warm water bag on his abdomen.
The loss outweighed the gain.
Compensation for losses.
Miserable!
Too miserable!
Qiao Shu whimpered softly, then obediently lowered his head to earnestly write his self-criticism.
Meanwhile, Gu Chenyan hurriedly went downstairs to eat a bowl of food and then entered the kitchen. When he came out again, he held a bowl of simple-looking vegetable noodle soup.
Aunt Lan: “Is this enough for Madam for dinner?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm, he’ll start with this soup and take his medicine. I also made some millet porridge in the kitchen. Aunt Lan, could you please check on it?”
Aunt Lan smiled, “Of course.”
Gu Chenyan carried the bowl of noodles upstairs, where Qiao Shu was still chewing on his pen, wracking his brain for reflective sentences and words.
He was never good at Chinese literature during his school days. And now, trying to write a moving and heartfelt self-criticism to gain Gu Chenyan’s forgiveness, his brain cells were just not enough.
“So difficult.”
Qiao Shu scratched his head and sighed in frustration. But the next moment, he started to think of vocabulary again, determined to write well.
“Stop for now.” Gu Chenyan watched Qiao Shu scratching his head and cheeks in frustration, suppressing a smile. He walked over expressionlessly, placed the bowl of noodles in front of Qiao Shu, and said, “Eat the noodles.”
Qiao Shu blinked at the bowl of noodles in front of him, then looked up at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu, feeling guilty, whispered, “Can I really eat this?”
He muttered softly, “You just said I couldn’t have dinner.”
Gu Chenyan lightly flicked Qiao Shu’s forehead without patience. “I didn’t say you couldn’t have noodles.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
You can do that?
Qiao Shu looked at Gu Chenyan and suddenly chuckled.
The proud Mr. Gu.
Gu Chenyan: “Hurry and eat. After eating, take your medicine.”
Qiao Shu obediently put down his pen and smiled at Gu Chenyan, showing a sweet smile. “Okay.”
Qiao Shu: “Thank you, husband~”
“I love my husband the most.” Saying that, he happily picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of noodles.
Qiao Shu: “Delicious!”
Qiao Shu: “I love the noodles cooked by my husband the most.”
Gu Chenyan didn’t say anything. He picked up the half-written self-criticism from Qiao Shu and started reading.
Qiao Shu was no longer feeling guilty at this point.
He was feeling a bit spoiled.
So he didn’t care about the soup residue still on his lips and put down his chopsticks. He hugged Gu Chenyan, who was reading the self-criticism.
Smooch!
A greasy kiss landed on Gu Chenyan’s face.
Gu Chenyan: “…”
Qiao Shu hugged him triumphantly. “I knew my husband loves me the most.”
Preparing a hot water bottle for him, saying no dinner for him but then personally cooking noodles for him to eat, just because he had a stomach ache and couldn’t eat dinner tonight.
How could Mr. Gu be so good?
Qiao Shu felt so blissful.
But the blissful Qiao Shu was mercilessly pushed away by Gu Chenyan. “I don’t love you the most.”
Qiao Shu pouted. “Liar.”
Qiao Shu: “You even cooked noodles for me.”
He was exceedingly smug.
Gu Chenyan looked at the self-criticism in his hand and said coldly, “Not lying.”
The arms around his waist suddenly and silently withdrew, and the room became quiet. Gu Chenyan turned his head in confusion, only to see his little husband, who had been happy just a moment ago, now pouting and looking at him with a sad expression, silently shedding tears.
Each drop of those tears seemed to hit his heart, causing it to ache.
Gu Chenyan hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu turned his head and quietly wiped his tears, his voice small and heartbreakingly sad, “Mr. Gu doesn’t love Little Mr. Qiao anymore.”
Gu Chenyan frowned.
Qiao Shu continued, “You don’t love me.”
Qiao Shu: “I’m just an unloved and uncared-for little cabbage.”
Qiao Shu: “Waah~”
In that instant, Gu Chenyan felt as if his heart was being pricked with needles. He hugged Qiao Shu tightly, leaning down to kiss his tear-stained eyes, “Don’t cry.”
Being comforted only made Qiao Shu feel more aggrieved, “You don’t love me.”
Gu Chenyan said, “No, Mr. Gu loves Little Mr. Qiao.”
Qiao Shu insisted, “You just said you don’t love me the most.”
Qiao Shu: “The books were right.”
He sniffled, “Love will eventually disappear.”
As he spoke, Qiao Shu’s tears fell even more fiercely.
“It won’t,” Gu Chenyan said, heart aching as he comforted his little husband, kissing Qiao Shu’s eyes. “It won’t disappear.”
Gu Chenyan: “The reason I’m not saying you’re my most beloved is because Mr. Gu only loves Little Mr. Qiao.”
Gu Chenyan: “Gu Chenyan only loves Qiao Shu.”
Qiao Shu froze.
The tears on his face stopped falling as he stared, and after a moment, he couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile. “Really?”
Gu Chenyan nodded, “Mm-hmm.”
Gu Chenyan: “Don’t cry.”
Gu Chenyan: “Be good.”
In that instant, Qiao Shu’s eyes lit up again, as if the dark curtain had been pulled back to reveal a beautiful universe of stars.
Overjoyed, Qiao Shu hugged Gu Chenyan’s waist again, nuzzling his head affectionately.
He looked up, “Then can you feed me the noodles?”
Qiao Shu: “I’m hungry.”
Seeing his little husband’s red eyes and nose, Gu Chenyan’s heart softened as he moved the bowl and chopsticks closer.
Eating the noodles Gu Chenyan fed him, Qiao Shu felt immensely satisfied. After a few bites, he rolled his eyes playfully and said with a pout, “I was really upset just now.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu cautiously suggested, “So, can Little Mr. Qiao’s cake not be halved tomorrow?”
He looked at Gu Chenyan with hopeful eyes.
Gu Chenyan remained silent.
Qiao Shu clung to Gu Chenyan’s arm, swaying it as he whined, “Husband~”
Gu Chenyan sighed, “I really can’t do anything with you.”
Qiao Shu instantly cheered, his eyes sparkling brightly, looking extremely pretty.
Seeing Qiao Shu so happy, Gu Chenyan couldn’t help but smile too.
He realized that half of Qiao Shu’s earlier display was probably an act. Even if it was, it still pained him.
“You,” Gu Chenyan said, picking up another bite of noodles and feeding it to Qiao Shu. “Don’t even think about the ice pops.”
Qiao Shu laughed smugly, “I wasn’t even thinking about them.” Getting one concession was good enough.
As for the ice pops, he was willing to accept the punishment because he knew how much Gu Chenyan loved him.
Swallowing the noodles, Qiao Shu looked at the man before him, eyes shining. “Mr. Gu.”
“My heart is going to explode.”
