At Qingcheng Airport, two cars were waiting. Feng Mian drove one back to the hospital’s laboratory building, while Bo Xichen took Gu Anxi and Wang Keru directly to the Gu family’s villa.
The villa was the same, but the people and circumstances were not; a palpable difference hung in the air.
The moment Wang Keru got out of the car, her lips quivered, and she hardly dared to enter.
"Anxi, I don’t think I should go in. I... I’ve let your father down," Wang Keru said, somewhat lost in thought.
Gu Anxi put an arm around her shoulder. "Didn’t I tell you? Mom, you’ll always be the enviable Mrs. Gu."
Her voice softened. "Dad’s not here, but the Gu family still has me."
Wang Keru was at a loss for words, her nose tingling as she held back tears.
Gu Anxi switched to a lighter tone. "I know what Mom likes best. Come on, let’s go see."
Wang Keru was still uncertain, but Gu Anxi gently pushed her inside.
Once inside, she froze. Two neat rows of servants stood there, greeting in unison, "Welcome, Madam." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Although this display couldn’t compare to the Bo family’s, it was by no means less impressive than the Gu family’s in its heyday. Wang Keru covered her mouth, utterly speechless.
She never knew Anxi understood her so well... understood this little streak of vanity she had.
Covering her mouth, she shook her head. "Anxi, Mom doesn’t care about these things, really. I can wash my own clothes, go grocery shopping, and cook. I can do everything myself. All this... it costs money."
Gu Anxi smiled faintly.
Just then, a sharp, energetic voice piped up, "Easy for you to say! Can you even wash clothes? Cook a meal? A single trip to the wet market would probably be the death of you!"
This tart remark came from Grandma Chen. She had arrived two days earlier and, seeing Wang Keru now, couldn’t resist making a couple of pointed comments—after all, Wang Keru hadn’t treated Anxi well in the past! Humph!
Gu Anxi quickly tried to smooth things over. "Grandma Chen can teach Mom, then she’ll learn!"
Grandma Chen huffed again. "Some people are just hopelessly clumsy. Maybe they can’t be taught."
"Grandma Chen," Gu Anxi wheedled, her voice turning exceptionally sweet.
Grandma Chen was weakest to this tactic. "All right, all right," she grumbled good-naturedly. "I know your mom is the only one in your heart. Where does that leave me, huh?"
The old woman sighed to herself. Wang Keru had raised Anxi, after all. Even if they hadn’t always been close, Anxi had called her ’Mom’ for many years. Besides, although Anxi and her mother often bickered since Anxi returned, Wang Keru was far better than that woman from Beicheng. That one was truly heartless!
Lost in these thoughts, Grandma Chen let out a cold laugh.
Seeing Grandma Chen’s expression, practically gritting her teeth, Wang Keru asked cautiously, "Grandma Chen, do you also have little secrets, like Anxi?"
"What secrets?" Grandma Chen bristled. "I haven’t been chasing after any old men all these years, I’ll have you know!"
With that, she swept off majestically with two servants to buy groceries, leaving Wang Keru fuming. Wang Keru turned to Gu Anxi to complain, "Anxi, look! Grandma Chen even dares to talk back to me now."
Gu Anxi said with a grin, "I think Grandma Chen actually likes you a lot."
"As if!" Wang Keru muttered.
Gu Anxi soothed her with a few words, then gave a subtle look to the servants. Instantly, Wang Keru was surrounded by attentive staff, leaving her no time to dwell on anything else.
Once Gu Anxi had finished with that, she turned around. Bo Xichen was leaning against the car, a thoroughly pleasing sight.
She approached him. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
He looked down at her. "And then what?"
She let out a confused "Ah?" "What ’and then’?"
Before she could finish speaking, the professor gently pressed her against the car door...