Chapter 90

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Chapter 90: Title

Gu Hengbo watched Lian Rong eat slowly, forgetting to chew, and she unconsciously slowed her own eating pace as well. Her chopsticks moved back and forth in her bowl, and her eyes kept darting around. If one could say she was being mischievous, it was true. When she was near, where did Lian Rong go? Now, even she didn’t know what was happening, she couldn’t help feeling playful about the ambiguous tension.

"Ahem, Lian Rong～" someone propped her chin with one hand while using chopsticks to poke at her rice.

"Hmm?"

"You traveled such a long way to come out. What will you do if anything happens at your place?"

Lian Rong looked up at the person winking at her and smiled. "I have Ning Yu and Qian Yue at home. What do I have to worry about?"

Gu Hengbo looked puzzled. "Who is Ning Yu?"

"My secondary princess."

Gu Hengbo tightened her grip on her chopsticks and then gave a dry laugh. She had forgotten all about that woman. Speaking of, she had to thank that secondary princess she had never met; if it weren’t for her, she wouldn’t have been able to escape so easily.

"You don’t remember Ning Yu?" Lian Rong asked.

Gu Hengbo straightened up. "I know her, of course. She’s very beautiful, and she’s someone close to the emperor. It’s good for you to have her around, hmm."

Lian Rong looked at her. "You said she’s close to the emperor. How is it good for her to be with me?"

Gu Hengbo shot her a glare. "What’s wrong with you today? A few days ago, I just complimented you, and now you’re being so sharp-tongued."

Lian Rong’s gaze was calm. "Ah Heng, if one day you wake up and suddenly realize that everyone has been lying to you, what will you do?"

Gu Hengbo frowned, tapping her chin. "To be honest, in my past life, I had no parents. I relied on my only sister to survive. I found a man, thinking that’s how life would be, but who knew they were secretly getting together. My sister even got pregnant with his child. I only found out the truth when I died. Can you believe it?"

Lian Rong stared at her for a long moment without speaking.

"I know no one will believe me. Sometimes I just feel so unlucky, betrayed by my own family and lover. I didn’t even have time to react before a car hit me and brought me here. You know what happened after I woke up." Gu Hengbo sniffled, smiling indifferently. "I felt like a fool, forced to accept everything that wasn’t meant for me, becoming the Second Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence, and then marrying into Prince Rong’s residence. Lian Rong, it’s a miracle that I’m still alive today."

Lian Rong’s eyes remained calm, but her heart was already in a storm. She replied in a flat tone, "You are very strong."

Gu Hengbo chuckled. "Strong? Lian Rong, if it weren’t for you, how could I have survived until today?"

"……"

"I’m not a fool. It’s impossible for me to have the comfortable life I do now with only my brother’s support. I admit that every day spent with you made me feel humiliated. But what can a person from the 21st century like me do? I had to endure. But now, I have to rely on this person I hated so much for protection. Lianyang got married last month. Why didn’t you let them tell me? Afraid I’d be sad? Ha! What does it matter? It’s not the first time I’ve experienced this. I was never liked to begin with."

"That’s nonsense!"

Gu Hengbo was startled by Lian Rong’s suddenly raised voice. She tightly closed her mouth and looked at Lian Rong’s suddenly gloomy face in panic.

Lian Rong didn’t say a word; she stood up, grabbed Gu Hengbo, and started walking outside.

Gu Hengbo, looking confused, said, "Hey, I finally found someone to confide in. I’ve been talking non-stop like a crazy person, and you don’t have any sympathy at all?"

"You are not the kind of person who deserves sympathy; you only speak lies," Lian Rong said quickly as she continued to move. They were just a few steps away from the horse, so without stopping, she simply picked her up and jumped on.

Gu Hengbo was stunned, looking at her like she was crazy. "Lian Rong, you have a serious problem!"

"You do have feelings for the second royal nephew," Lian Rong stated confidently.

Gu Hengbo looked up at her, "I don’t!"

"You do!"

"I don’t!"

"You… uh," Lian Rong’s hand holding the reins froze.

Gu Hengbo shook her soft, white chin. "I have nothing to do with him. If I really had something with someone like your second royal nephew, would he still marry Gu Ran?"

Lian Rong: "…" Did she miscalculate somewhere?

Seeing Lian Rong fall silent, Gu Hengbo could hardly contain her anger. "Whether I am foolish or not, just stop and let me down!"

Lian Rong frowned at her, "What do you mean?"

"It means nothing!"

"Ah Heng…"

"Shut up!"

"Don’t you think it’s a bit strange?" Gu Hengbo had desperately escaped from her side. When she finally landed, she thought she was free, but then…

"Ah Heng, I really don’t understand how there can be someone like you in this world." You are the first person who could surprise me like this.

Could she say she wasn’t ready?

Gu Hengbo shook her head. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me down!"

Lian Rong was almost at a loss. She held onto Gu Hengbo’s waist tightly. "Don’t make a fuss. This is my first time going far with this horse. If it gets upset, we both might fall off."

Gu Hengbo froze. "You’re lying!"

"I’m not lying. Come on, if we don’t leave, the boss will catch up with us," Lian Rong said as she pulled the reins tighter. Sure enough, they soon heard the boss and the waiter shouting in surprise behind them.

Gu Hengbo looked back and quietly muttered, "They shouldn’t catch up so quickly. Hey, slow down; my waist hurts."

*

When they arrived in the capital, it was earlier than expected. The sun had not yet set. Gu Hengbo rubbed her waist and complained, "You walked too slowly. We could have arrived much earlier."

Lian Rong stopped at the entrance of an inn, holding the horse. "In a bit, I’ll take you to Lord Zou’s residence. I’ll just stay here tonight."

Gu Hengbo glanced at the inn; it was crowded at this time. She frowned. "There’s a restaurant ahead. Are you sure you want to stay here?"

"I have no money," Lian Rong said sincerely, looking at her.

Gu Hengbo patted her shoulder. "You have no money, but I do, my dear. Let’s walk ahead."

Lian Rong stifled a laugh as she followed her forward. "If I ever fall into hard times, would you take me in?"

Gu Hengbo turned her head to look at her. "I am already taking you in, thank you."

Lian Rong finally couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Gu Hengbo laughed along, "Lian Rong, I like you."

"……"

The two of them walked to the entrance of the restaurant without saying a word. Gu Hengbo stuffed a banknote into Lian Rong’s hand, cheerfully preparing to leave when Lian Rong suddenly called her from behind.

"Ah Heng."

"I was just joking," Gu Hengbo said with a carefree laugh.

Lian Rong stared at her, as if she didn’t recognize her at all.

Gu Hengbo walked up to her with a smile, "You are quite easy to fool. When you teased me every day, I probably had the same silly expression."

Lian Rong "……"

"Ah… my mood suddenly improved a lot," Gu Hengbo stretched lazily. "You should go up and rest early. If you want to leave tomorrow, you can go; if you want to stay, play for a few days. I probably won’t come out in the next couple of days." With that, she turned and left without looking back.

Lian Rong stood there, unmoving, until she heard someone calling her, snapping her back to reality. Her eyes were cold, lacking any warmth, which almost scared the waiter who came to greet her into falling down.

"Sir… sir, are you… are you staying at the inn?"

Lian Rong glanced at him expressionlessly, then turned and took her horse away.

Gu Hengbo knew the way to Lord Zou’s residence very well. She walked quickly, her mind blank. Soon, she reached her destination, tugging at her hair in frustration. "Gu Hengbo, you fool!"

What nonsense was she playing with that confession? Had she been kicked in the head by a donkey? "Anything you can’t have is the best. You only realize how to treasure it after losing it? Do you really believe that? Ah… just go die!"

"Hey, isn’t that Miss Gu? Why are you back and not coming inside?" The butler, having just sent away a group of people, heard strange sounds outside and came out, surprised.

Gu Hengbo, with her messy hair, followed the butler inside, looking very dejected. "Where is Zou Yuan?"

The butler wiped his forehead. "Lord Zou is inside."

When Gu Hengbo entered the room, Madam Dou was startled by her exaggerated appearance. "Meisheng, what happened? Who bullied you?"

"No one bullied me. Where is the child? Let me see."

Zou Yuan lay half-reclined on the bed in a pink piece of inner clothing. Seeing Gu Hengbo come in, he couldn’t help but snicker, "You actually came."

Gu Hengbo glared at him. "What tone is that? I’m not your son’s father."

Zou Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Gu Meisheng, you’re asking for a beating!"

Gu Hengbo ignored her and walked over to the bed, uncovering a red blanket to reveal a tiny bundle. Her mouth formed an O shape as she hardly dared to breathe, staring at the little one with a frown. "Really ugly."

"Go away!" Lord Zou was unhappy!

Gu Hengbo poked the little one’s chubby face, and an imprint instantly appeared. She gasped, "Wow, the skin is really soft, like water."

Zou Yuan slapped her hand. "Who told you to touch my son?"

Gu Hengbo looked at her impatiently. "If it weren’t for this treasure, I wouldn’t have come."

"You!"

"Shut up. You’re already a mother, yet you argue with me like a teenager. Just so you know, I will name your son."

"Why should I?"

"Because I am the child’s father."

"Meisheng, don’t talk nonsense. The child just fell asleep. You two, do not wake him up," Madam Dou said helplessly from the side.

Gu Hengbo pulled Madam Dou down to sit. "Mother, did you miss me?"

Madam Dou tapped her forehead. "This child just can’t speak properly. I plan to stay over there for a while longer. Who rushed to send the New Year back?"

Gu Hengbo’s smile froze for a moment. "Hehe, Mother, I was just worried you would suffer over there. It’s much warmer here in the winter."

Zou Yuan, lying in bed, snorted coldly. "You can only fool Madam Dou with that. We all know what good deeds you’re up to behind our backs."

Gu Hengbo’s little secret was suddenly exposed, and she bit her lip in silence.

Zou Yuan wasn’t going to let it go. "That boy Sanlang is pretty good, right? He has a good background and looks nice too. I say, just compromise and settle down with him, okay?"

Gu Hengbo sat next to Madam Dou, shaking her arms and puffing out her cheeks. "Mother, he just got out of a marriage; please give him two more years."

Madam Dou patted her hand. "I’ve said before, I won’t force you. You can stay by my side for as long as you want." She would never let her child suffer again.

Gu Hengbo’s eyes turned red. Just as she was about to vent her emotions, Zou Yuan’s irritating voice came over. "Madam Dou, spoiling her like this isn’t good. If there’s no one around her, she’ll suffer. Look at me now; I need you both around while giving birth. Sigh, what a hard life."

Gu Hengbo glared at him. "I think you’re doing well now, having a wonderful son. Don’t encourage my mother; she loves me the most, right, Mother?"

Madam Dou shook her head. "If you two keep arguing, I might just take the child away."

Zou Yuan immediately shut up, not forgetting to glare at Gu Hengbo.

*

Generally, a feast is held a hundred days after a child is born, but our Lord Zou, youthful and energetic, insisted on having a feast right away. If the courtyard wasn’t filled with guests, she felt uneasy.

Just a few days after giving birth, she was already bouncing around.

"Gu Meisheng, you’ve been eating and living in my house these past few days. Why are you just lazing around in front of my Hong’er?"

Zou Yuan stood in the courtyard with his hands on his hips, pointing at Gu Hengbo, who was holding the baby and not moving.

Gu Hengbo cautiously brought the child close to her lips and gave a gentle kiss, the scent of milk surrounding her. She squinted her eyes. "Lord Zou, this child really looks like you, especially those beautiful eyes."

Zou Yuan walked over to take a look. "If he doesn’t look like me, who else would he resemble?"

"Like me!" Gu Hengbo laughed.

Zou Yuan shot her a glare. "I am not like that Lian; I am not interested in your type."

Gu Hengbo was taken aback. "What did you say?"

Zou Yuan waved his hand, ignoring the child, and turned to leave.

Gu Hengbo looked at the little one lying obediently in her arms. She tightened the blanket and went inside. It seemed she might never have a child of her own. With someone like her, no one besides Lian Rong could tolerate her.

Lian Rong! Lian Rong! Lian Rong! She accidentally revealed her identity!