Don’t Call Me Your Wife (GL)

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Chapter 91: Title

The courtyard was lively. Even Madam Dou, who usually preferred peace and quiet, went out to greet the guests. Gu Hengbo had a little drink and retreated to the room with the child, leaning over the crib, struggling to keep her eyes open. Little Hong’er lay in the cradle, playing alone. She had named him Hong’er. At first, he was called Zou Hong, but Zou Yuan absolutely refused. Later, a Taoist priest was consulted, who said that name was good, so it was decided.

Gu Hengbo rested one hand on Hong’er’s belly, scratching lightly over the blanket with little enthusiasm. "Hong’er, your aunt feels like she might die soon. You should take a nap."

"How can he sleep when you scratch him like that?" Lian Rong’s calm voice came from the window.

Gu Hengbo woke up and looked towards the window. "Why climb through the window when there’s a door?"

Lian Rong stepped out from the shadows. "There’s someone outside."

Gu Hengbo shook the cradle. "I thought you were gone."

"I left at the beginning of March; I had some matters in the court to handle," Lian Rong said as she sat down on the other side of the cradle. "Take care of yourself."

Gu Hengbo paused, then smiled. "That’s right, one should have self-awareness."

Lian Rong also smiled and playfully poked Little Hong’er near his mouth. "This child looks quite a bit like Lord Zou."

Gu Hengbo frowned. "How can you tell who a newborn baby looks like?"

Even though Little Hong’er couldn’t recognize people yet, Lian Rong was quite happy teasing. "Just look carefully at those brows and eyes."

Gu Hengbo straightened up and leaned down to get closer to the baby, nearly kissing him. "Hey, I must say, he really does resemble him, especially those eyes. Wow, I didn’t notice before."

Little Hong’er grabbed and then released Lian Rong’s index finger. In a good mood, she offered her fingertip to the baby’s mouth. "Looks like he’s hungry."

Gu Hengbo stared at her in surprise. "How do you know he’s hungry?"

"Lian Chen and the others accompanied me back then. I was young and thought children were quite fun. Now I can’t quite handle it," Lian Rong said with a hint of nostalgia.

Gu Hengbo looked at her disdainfully. "You’re talking as if you’re so old. At our place, your age is just the right time to build a career. Getting married in your thirties is completely normal."

Lian Rong laughed. "Oh? So you were over thirty back then too?"

Gu Hengbo playfully patted her arm. "What are you talking about? At that time, I was young, only twenty-five, even younger than you."

Lian Rong tucked Little Hong’er’s chubby legs back under the blanket, joking, "Well, that’s still not too young; you’re already a mother here."

Gu Hengbo’s expression turned serious. "We can’t be compared to you guys here. What male supremacy? Where I’m from, men and women are equal. Even if they are married, a woman can still kick the man out."

Lian Rong became interested. "Have you kicked a man before?"

"No, you forgot what I told you—I caught that scumbag cheating; he ended up with my sister," she said honestly.

Lian Rong looked at her with a hint of sympathy. "Actually, you’re quite good; it’s that man who lacks vision."

Gu Hengbo vigorously nodded, excitedly grabbing hold of her hand. "You’re absolutely right! I feel the same way. Even if he came begging me to take him back, I wouldn’t even look at him. How about that? I have ambitions!"

Lian Rong replied with a smile, "You have ambitions; a woman like you is truly rare." What a heartless comment!

Gu Hengbo released her hand, a bit embarrassed, and waved it away. "Not at all; I can be rather foolish."

Lian Rong shifted her gaze back to Little Hong’er before speaking slowly, "Ah Heng, is there still a chance for us?"

Gu Hengbo’s smile froze; she chuckled awkwardly. "You can’t possibly be taking what I said the other day seriously, right?"

Lian Rong returned her gaze, looking at her seriously. "What do you think?"

Gu Hengbo stared down at the patterns on the cradle. "How would I know? That’s your own affair."

"Relationships are between two people, Ah Heng. If my earlier words were like a test, then now I’m being serious. If it were in the past, you wouldn’t be so nervous and you certainly wouldn’t be sitting here talking to me so honestly," Lian Rong carefully grasped her hand. "Can you honestly say you don’t have feelings for me?"

Gu Hengbo tried to pull her hand away, but it was no use. She rarely became serious. "We aren’t suited for each other. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be looking for ways to leave. I admit I come from a very open time, but I still can’t accept spending my life with a woman. I just want to find a man and live the simple life I desire. Do you understand?"

Lian Rong stared at her unwaveringly. "Do you really think there’s any man out there who would want you now?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Lian Rong stepped around the cradle and pulled her closer. "Ah Heng, I don’t want to argue with you."

Gu Hengbo raised her eyebrows and looked at her with a smile, "Did you think I wanted to argue with you? Lian Rong, I thought you had given up. What makes you think you have the right to do this? Don’t you find that strange?"

Lian Rong lowered her voice, "I find it strange that I want you, and you say I’m strange. Ah Heng, you protect yourself so well that you see everyone’s feelings for you as deceit. What do you really think of me?"

Gu Hengbo acted as if she didn’t know her, "From the very beginning, I never believed you. You want me, but isn’t having my body enough? Do you still want my heart? Lian Rong, what are you really after? I don’t understand why Gu Hengbo holds any value for you that makes you cling to me over and over again. If Gu Meisheng had Gu Yuanqing as her father, maybe he would help you to some extent. So why didn’t you marry Gu Ran instead of choosing me? Perhaps she would have benefited you more."

"You’re right, you got your wish. During this time, I did think about you—wondering how someone with such power could forget that I and my mother are still alive, wondering how you and your secondary princess are having fun. You probably forgot I ever existed. Yan Chufeng treated me so badly in my past life, yet I wasn’t as heartbroken. I was the one who chose to leave; it had nothing to do with you. I just had too much knowledge about things. The emperor kept sending people to kill you, and he didn’t know you had another identity. Lian Rong, you’re someone who won’t stay in a lower position; how could I not see that? But this isn’t the life I want. I’m a normal person. I’m timid, weak, and afraid of death. I fear that others will gossip behind my back, saying I go against morals. Yet, even though I understand everything, I can’t help but think of you." Tears kept streaming down Gu Hengbo’s face. She raised her hand and wiped her face chaotically. "Sometimes I feel so foolish, knowing you like the queen and still treating me this way. I ran away, hoping you would care. Everyone says I’m heartless, but did they ever care for me? Why does it seem like every time happiness is near, fate has to treat me this way?"

Lian Rong stared at the person who was covering her face and crying loudly. She stood in shock for a long time, forgetting to speak.

Little Hong’er suddenly cried out loud, likely frightened. Gu Hengbo wiped her tears and quickly took him out of the cradle, showering him with kisses and words of comfort. Seeing Lian Rong standing there without saying anything, she glared at her with red eyes, "What are you still doing standing there? Come here and comfort the child. When his mother arrives, you’ll be exposed!"

As Lian Rong approached, Gu Hengbo tossed Little Hong’er into her arms, "You hold him first, I need a break." Just as she was about to turn away, Lian Rong grabbed her tightly.

Little Hong’er stopped crying and stared wide-eyed at the two people kissing. He swung his little arms between them and puckered his lips.