Night Fire Lingering

Wen Yan: "..."

They're pressuring us to have children as soon as we get back—that's terrifying!

She subconsciously looked at Gu Yanci.

They're getting a divorce anyway, why would they want children!

Gu Yanci happened to turn his head to look elsewhere, as if he hadn't received Wen Yan's distress signal.

"Grandma, we don't have that plan for the time being..." Wen Yan's awkward smile was almost impossible to maintain.

Madam Gu's face immediately fell sadly: "Yan Yan, you know that I'm not in good health. I'm afraid that one day I'll close my eyes and never open them again. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to see the great-grandchild that you and Yan Ci gave me!"

"Grandma, don't talk nonsense, you'll definitely live to be a hundred!"

Wen Yan wanted to say, if you're hoping that Gu Yanci and I will have a child for you, then you really might not have that chance!

It might be possible with someone else.

Grandma Gu held Wen Yan's hand, looking extremely pitiful, and gazed at Wen Yan with pleading eyes: "Yan Yan, Grandma's birthday wish this year is to hold a great-grandson or great-granddaughter. Can't you have some pity on this old woman?"

"Grandma..." Wen Yan was a little overwhelmed.

"Alright, stop acting." Gu Yanci had watched the show long enough before slowly interrupting Old Madam Gu, "Wen Yan is still young, we won't have children."

Old Madam Gu's pitiful look vanished instantly, and she glared at her grandson with annoyance: "Third son!"

It's unclear whether she was scolding Gu Yanci for the first half of his sentence, "Stop acting," or for the second half, "Don't give birth."

Madam Gu leaned close to Wen Yan's ear, pointed at Gu Yanci, and whispered, "Xiao Yan, tell Grandma honestly, is he too busy with work and doesn't have time? I'll ask him to take more time off and come home more often to spend time with you!"

Wen Yan almost couldn't catch her breath, and couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at Gu Yanci.

How long?

Gu Yanci had already been diligent enough!

He can easily do the work of two nights in one, and five times a night is no problem!

Besides, it doesn't necessarily have to be at night!

A faint smile flickered in Gu Yanci's eyes. He was used to wearing a slight smile, and this extra smile made it hard to see clearly, yet it also seemed to make him seem more human.

For some reason, Wen Yan felt that Gu Yanci, that bastard, was a little... smug right now?

She immediately looked away; the inappropriate images made her ears burn.

Wen Yan tried to find an excuse: "Grandma, I'm still in school, it's not appropriate for me to have a baby now."

Madam Gu grumbled discontentedly, "After three years of marriage and still no children, gossipy people will surely spread rumors that there's something wrong with your health."

Gu Yanci is the future head of the Gu family. Countless eyes inside and outside the Gu family are watching him. Not having children could become a point of criticism on his path to power.

In fact, during the first two years of their marriage, Wen Yan was completely in love with Gu Yanci and even thought that if she got pregnant, she would have the baby.

But who knew that for those two years, Gu Yanci almost never gave them a chance to meet. And every time after that, Gu Yanci would take precautions.

They acted as if they were afraid she would get pregnant.

Wen Yan understood that Gu Yanci did not love her and did not want her to give birth to their baby.

Gu Yanci said nonchalantly, "Just tell me I'm sick and can't have children."

Wen Yan: "..."

"You little rascal!" Old Madam Gu raised her cane to glare at him.

Before he could finish speaking, someone came to call Gu Yanci, saying that the old man was looking for him.

"Get out! Get out! Xiao Yan, stay here with me!" Old Madam Gu grabbed Wen Yan and said, "My dear, you must discipline your man when you get back! He's so disobedient!"

Before leaving, Gu Yan glanced quickly at Wen Yan. The latter's attention was entirely focused on Old Madam Gu, and she paid him no attention whatsoever.

"Madam is joking. How could Xiao Yan care about Yan Ci?" a lady said with a smile. "Look, she's not even wearing her wedding ring. I'm afraid those divorce rumors are true."

The speaker was Gu Yanci's aunt. She had brought her grandson back today to please the old lady, but as soon as Wen Yan returned, her grandson was no longer well received!

Everyone looked at Wen Yan's fingers; both hands were bare, without any rings. Their gazes towards Wen Yan held a newfound suspicion and conjecture.

Old Madam Gu's face turned cold, and she glared at Aunt Gu.

"Xiao Yan, is there something wrong with your relationship with Yan Ci?" Old Madam Gu held Wen Yan's hands tightly with anxiety. "Tell Grandma the truth!"

"Grandma, that ring is too eye-catching. I took it off when I went to work a few days ago and forgot to wear it." Wen Yan raised her left hand, shook her wrist, and answered irrelevantly, changing the subject, "I'm wearing the bracelet that Gu Yanci gave me, aren't I? Don't overthink it."

"Okay, sweetie, if Yanci bullies you, just tell Grandma, and Grandma will stand up for you!"

Wen Yan felt a pang of sadness in her heart, but nodded and agreed.

After Wen Yan arrived, Old Madam Gu spent most of her time talking to her and specially asked the servants to serve Wen Yan's favorite snacks.

The better Madam Gu treated her, the more guilty Wen Yan felt.

Midway through, Wen Yan made an excuse to go out for some fresh air, and she heard people whispering around the corner:

"Didn't our family give her any great-grandchildren? It's as if only Gu Yanci gave birth to their great-grandchildren!"

"What's so good about Gu Yanci and Wen Yan? One is cold and unapproachable, and the other is pretentious, yet the old man and the old woman both favor them!"

"If Gu Yanci hadn't been raised by the old man himself, he might not have gotten to where he is today! He's the one who has won him over!"

"Second Aunt, Auntie."

Wen Yan's words startled the two of them, and they clutched their chests, panting heavily.

"Ah, Xiao Yan..." Aunt Gu looked at Wen Yan awkwardly, "When did you arrive?"

Wen Yan smiled and said, "When you all said that the old lady favored me and Gu Yanci."

Aunt Gu and Aunt Gu looked at each other awkwardly.

"Second Aunt, Aunt, including your two families, how many people in the Gu family have enjoyed the family's benefits thanks to Gu Yanci's tireless work? If you don't acknowledge Gu Yanci's contributions and are dissatisfied with his position, who among you can do better than Gu Yanci? Who dares to say they can do better than Gu Yanci?"

Divorcing Gu Yanci is one thing, but it doesn't mean Wen Yan can let these people criticize Gu Yanci at will!

Aunt Gu had liked Wen Yan for a long time. She chuckled and looked Wen Yan up and down, saying disdainfully:

"Wen Yan, you're so protective of Yan Ci. Does Yan Ci even like you? After all these years, you're still shamelessly chasing after him!"