For some reason, after Gu Junxing returned home, Nian Suian felt that the house wasn't as comfortable as before. Even though Gu Junxing went to the company during the day and wasn't at home, Nian Suian just felt that something was off everywhere.
Now, her evening gossip sessions with Gu Zhijing had been forcibly interrupted. Their late-night snacks had also been canceled, with the reason being that eating too late was unhealthy.
One night, with her stomach growling, Nian Suian went downstairs intending to forage for some food in the kitchen. At the staircase, she encountered Gu Zhijing, who had also just left his room.
"Are you hungry too?" Nian Suian whispered.
Gu Zhijing nodded vigorously. How could they not let him eat late-night snacks when he was still growing? If word got out, who could tell the difference between a biological father and a stepfather?
Nian Suian pointed to the kitchen, turned on her phone's flashlight, and slowly went downstairs, with Gu Zhijing following behind.
"Damn! How come there are no leftovers in your fridge?" Everything was raw, how could they eat it?
"My dad doesn't allow leftovers, says it's unhealthy."
"Your dad is so fussy." Nian Suian was exasperated. It seemed she had encountered a health fanatic.
"I think so too. Can you cook?"
"Even if I could, we can't! Wouldn't the sound of cooking alert your dad that we're sneaking food?" Goodness, she had searched every cabinet and couldn't even find instant noodles.
"What should we do? I'm so hungry."
"Phone! I can order takeout!" She had been eating so well at home lately that she'd forgotten about food delivery!
"Delivery can't come in here."
"No problem, we'll go to the community gate to pick it up." Nian Suian had already opened the food delivery app and started selecting what to eat. Well, in the middle of the night, most places still open were barbecue shops.
"Want to eat barbecue?"
"Yes!" Gu Zhijing swallowed, thinking that going to the community gate was better than sleeping on an empty stomach.
"Pick what you want." Nian Suian quickly ordered what she wanted and passed the phone to Gu Zhijing.
"Let's eat outside after we get the food, so we won't get caught," Nian Suian suggested.
"Great idea. There's a pavilion near our house with tables. It's perfect!"
The two agreed readily, giving each other a silent high-five in the darkness.
After ordering, Nian Suian carefully noted: No cilantro, and send a message instead of calling when you arrive!
"Let's go back to our rooms, change clothes, and then head to the community gate to wait." The community was quite large, and it would take a while to walk to the gate.
"Okay!"
Ten minutes later, guided by the dim light of the solar-powered lamps in the yard, the two snuck out stealthily. The temptation of barbecue was too great; they didn't notice that Gu Junxing was standing on the balcony watching them.
"Here, here!" Seeing the familiar yellow uniform, Nian Suian quickly waved. "Thank you."
Nian Suian and Gu Zhijing each took a bag and started heading towards the "perfect secret eating spot" Gu Zhijing had mentioned.
The security guard at the gate initially thought thieves had snuck in when he saw two people crouching at the community entrance. He only realized they were residents when he saw their faces.
Watching them leave with takeout, he understood. It must be kids secretly ordering food behind their parents' backs. Even rich kids love junk food!
Unaware of the guard's thoughts, Nian Suian and Gu Zhijing had already sat down and were ready to eat.
"This place is really nice! We can come here again next time."
"Definitely!"
"Eat slowly, we still have cola."
"Cheers."
Food tastes better when eaten in secret. They had ordered nearly 200 yuan worth of skewers and finished it all. Nian Suian had brought wet wipes when she left the house. Now, after eating, they threw away the trash and wiped their mouths. The secret feast would remain known only to heaven, earth, and themselves.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, they prepared to head back home, patting their full bellies in the moonlight.
"Let's go home!"
"This barbecue was really delicious!" Gu Zhijing still seemed unsatisfied.
"When you're hungry, everything tastes good. We'll try something else next time."
"I'll listen to you. I've never eaten these things before."
"Wow, that's a pity. Such delicious food and you've never had it. Sis will take you to eat more good stuff in the future."
"Thanks, sis." Gu Zhijing was very happy. This wasn't a stepmother at all; she was like a sister born to different parents. "If you ever divorce my dad, I'm going with you."
"Alright, I'll take you and the cook auntie with me then."
The two chatted as they walked, grinning widely as they returned home. As soon as they opened the front door, they were caught in a beam of bright light.
"Where have you been?" Gu Junxing sat in the center of the living room directly facing the main door, holding a flashlight, looking like a sinister and ruthless judge from hell.
"Went for a walk to digest after eating too much."
"Couldn't sleep, so went out for a stroll."
They spoke simultaneously, realizing how absurd it sounded, and promptly shut their mouths.
"Burp~" Having drunk too much cola, Gu Zhijing couldn't hold it in.
Nian Suian silently lowered her head. Well, now there was no need to explain where they'd been; the burp reeked of cumin.
"Gu Zhijing, no allowance next month either."
"Dad, are you trying to starve me?"
"The house has plenty of food for you to eat."
"I'm a man, don't I need to socialize outside?"
"Pfft..." Nian Suian couldn't help but laugh, earning a glare from Gu Zhijing.
Gu Junxing didn't give his son a chance to argue further, making his final decision. "You still need to wake up at six tomorrow, so I won't settle accounts with you tonight. Go to bed."
"You must have picked me up from somewhere! I'm going to tell grandma you're not letting me eat enough!"
"Then no allowance for the month after next either."
"Hmph!" Gu Zhijing stomped upstairs angrily. Nian Suian prepared to sneak upstairs behind him; disciplining the son had nothing to do with her, right?
"Nian Suian, you stay."
Just her luck. That was Nian Suian's only thought now.
"Take care, sis. I'm off." Better you than me, Gu Zhijing slipped away.
Gu Junxing looked at the girl in front of him, head lowered and fidgeting with her fingers. He rubbed his brow, thinking he shouldn't have agreed to marry so carelessly in the first place. She was young, with an even younger mindset. How could she be his wife? Even he found the idea laughable.
"Miss Nian, I don't want tonight's incident to happen again. If you want to eat, feel free to do so on your own, but don't involve Zhijing." Gu Junxing knew his words might be harsh, but lately, he had noticed that Gu Zhijing was very fond of following Nian Suian around. With a child's impressionable nature, he could easily be influenced, indulging in eating, drinking, and playing around, which wasn't appropriate. So, as a father, he had to say these words.
"I understand. It won't happen again," Nian Suian said calmly, despite being furious. She then went straight upstairs to her room.
Once in her room, she angrily punched her bed. What was Gu Junxing thinking, treating her like she was corrupting his son! Next time, she'd order takeout and keep a stash of snacks in her room just for herself. After all, it wouldn't be his son going hungry.
Before bed, Nian Suian thought to herself: This won't do. She must get a divorce. Gu Junxing was nothing but a feudal dictator, always forbidding this and that. What was the point of living like this?
She had already lain down but sat up again in anger, giving her pillow two solid punches. "And your son even mentioned divorce to me! When the time comes, I'll take your son with me, along with the housekeeper and the nanny. You can stay here and live your healthy lifestyle all alone, you old man!"
After venting, Nian Suian felt refreshed and slept until ten o'clock.
As soon as she opened her phone, she saw a message from Gu Zhijing:
[What did Dad say? Did he scold you?]
At least this kid had some conscience, better than his father.
[He told me not to hang out with you anymore, and not to take you for late-night snacks either.]
[That's unacceptable! Don't listen to him. He's just an old-fashioned fogey. Don't forget about me when you're having late-night snacks, sis.]
[He's him, and I'm me. I call you sis, so we're family! Don't mind him.]
[No playing with your phone in class. If you're caught, he'll accuse me of corrupting you again.] Nian Suian realized she was starting to act a bit manipulative, but she felt no guilt about playing Gu Junxing like this.
When Nian Suian went downstairs today, Gu Junxing hadn't gone to work, which made her secretly roll her eyes... Just her luck!
"Madam, what would you like to eat?"
Before Nian Suian could respond, Gu Junxing spoke up. "Nanny Zhang, from now on, anyone who gets up after 9:30 doesn't get breakfast."
What's wrong with him?! Nian Suian was about to explode with anger.
"As an adult, you should be self-disciplined. It's already 10:30, and Nanny Zhang has started preparing lunch, yet she still has to make a separate breakfast for you. Do you think that's appropriate?"
"Fine, I won't eat then!" Nian Suian decided she wouldn't take this nonsense anymore.
"I want a divorce!"
