The Slacker Stepmother and the Non-Domineering CEO

Chapter 161

"President Liu, who was that girl just now?"

"She's an employee of the hotel."

"But she looks quite young, doesn't she?"

Liu Jian found it strange that Mrs. Sun would be concerned about this, but he still answered, "She's from a nearby village. Her family's not well-off, so working here is close to home and helps supplement their income." This wasn't a lie, but he also didn't reveal any information about Xin Yuchun.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Sun immediately smiled and said, "I see, President Liu is so kind-hearted." However, she thought to herself that she must have been overthinking it. If she were really from that family, even if she were a relative, she wouldn't be in this remote mountain village, still needing to work to supplement the family income.

Faced with the praise, Liu Jian naturally smiled and made a few modest remarks. Not a single person in this group was simple. Take Mrs. Sun, for example. Her family had been in politics since her grandfather's generation, and they had never stood on the wrong side all these years. This was no small feat. Although now her family members didn't hold particularly eye-catching positions, it was precisely this that made it all the more valuable.

The encounter with Xin Yuchun was just a small interlude, and no one paid much attention to it. Mrs. Sun, after hearing Liu Jian's reply, no longer had any doubts and soon forgot about it.

Yuchun had no idea about what had happened. She went to the kitchen to ask Master Wang, the head chef, if she could borrow a place to stew some pear soup. Yuchun was young, and everyone in the kitchen took good care of her. When they heard it was for the boss's friend, Miss Nian, they had even less reason to object.

After Nian Suian and Gu Junxing went out, they walked along the small river in front of the hotel. But the weather was too cold, and within ten minutes, they obediently returned indoors.

Nian Suian suggested, "Let's go back to soak in the hot spring, then we can have dinner after a while." She also remembered Yuchun's pear soup; soaking in the hot spring for a bit would probably be just the right amount of time.

After all, isn't soaking in the hot spring the most important activity when visiting a hot spring hotel?

As luck would have it, just as they reached the door of their room, they encountered Gu Zhijing returning.

He didn't bother going back to his own room and naturally followed the two back to the suite.

Nian Suian went back to her room to change clothes, while Gu Zhijing followed Gu Junxing to his room.

He didn't behave himself upon entering, instead rummaging through Gu Junxing's suitcase.

"Dad, I'm too lazy to go back. I'll just wear your swim trunks." Gu Zhijing picked up a pair of shorts from Gu Junxing's suitcase. Without any shame, he sat on the bed and was about to start taking off his pants.

Gu Junxing couldn't bear it anymore and snatched them back, saying, "Go back and wear your own."

"How stingy, I'm your own son, and you won't even let me wear a pair of your shorts?"

"Mm-hmm, I am stingy. You'll see how much stingier I can be when it's time to give you next month's allowance."

Young Mr. Gu stomped out angrily. The allowance tactic - old-fashioned but effective.

Nian Suian came out after changing clothes, just in time to bump into Gu Zhijing storming out of Gu Junxing's room.

"Little Mom Sis, don't you think my dad is stingy? I was too lazy to go back to my room and just wanted to borrow a pair of his swim trunks, but he wouldn't even allow that."

"Keep complaining and next month's allowance will be completely deducted. Or are you saying you actually enjoyed your previous work at the factory? I can arrange for someone to take you back there." Gu Junxing's voice came eerily from behind.

Nian Suian watched as Gu Zhijing left, furious but not daring to speak up, and couldn't help but say to Gu Junxing, "Can't you be a bit more loving towards him? Be careful, when you're old, he might pull out your oxygen tube."

Gu Junxing said nonchalantly, "When I'm old, won't I have you? Surely you wouldn't just watch him pull out my oxygen tube?"

Nian Suian deliberately said, "Oh my, by then I'll be counting on Zhijing to take care of me. You know, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head..."

People have a remarkable ability to adapt. After a day, Nian Suian seemed to have adjusted to her throat discomfort and could speak, although her voice was still hoarse and her intonation strange.

Gu Zhijing, who had returned after changing clothes, was still angry and didn't sit next to his father while soaking in the hot spring.

Gu Junxing ignored him, not knowing what was wrong with this kid, full of hot air like a tire.

It was Nian Suian who patted Gu Zhijing and said, "Don't be angry anymore. Getting angry easily makes you old and ugly. You're going to be the face of our family in the future, so you can't become ugly."

Gu Zhijing, feeling he had found a way to save face, snorted and said, "It's only for Little Mom Sis's sake that I'm not angry anymore."

During dinner, Nian Suian also got to drink Yuchun's heartfelt pear soup, which was indeed sweet and delicious. She held onto Yuchun's hand, thanking her over and over.

Nian Suian's voice made Yuchun feel uneasy. "Sister Suian, you need to rest well. Don't worry about thanking me."

"I must thank you. The pear soup you made is very tasty." After saying this, she began to show concern for Yuchun, "How have you been here lately? Is your grandmother's leg better?"

Xin Yuchun smiled and replied, "I'm doing very well here. Sister Yue has helped me a lot and even teaches me high school knowledge. Grandmother's leg is also much better. She can now walk to the front door with a cane."

When Yuchun talked about these things, it still felt like a dream. Now, every night before bed, besides thanking Sister Yue, Sister Suian, and the boss in her heart, she also thanked Aunt Wang every day. If it weren't for Aunt Wang introducing her to this job, she didn't know where she would be now.

Gu Zhijing, sitting opposite, watched as Nian Suian intimately held a girl's hand while talking. He felt extremely displeased.

Xin Yuchun had long noticed the boy across from her looking at her with squinted eyes. As she left, she couldn't help but feel pity - such a good-looking boy, what a shame he had a squint.

If Yuchun had noticed, Nian Suian naturally had as well.

"Why do you keep looking at her with squinted eyes?"

"I didn't, I didn't, you must have seen wrong!" Gu Zhijing immediately denied it three times in a row.

Knowing his son all too well, Gu Junxing chuckled and told Nian Suian, "He's not just full of hot air like a tire, he's also a jar of vinegar. He's unhappy seeing you talk to that young girl."

"Dad, don't make things up! How could I be jealous of a girl!" Gu Zhijing denied it verbally, but his eyes wandered and his face turned red, clearly showing that Gu Junxing had hit the nail on the head.

Nian Suian found it amusing, thinking that Gu Zhijing was really different from other boys. Usually, when boys see a pretty girl, they'd be shy or steal a few glances. How come he was getting jealous and giving her the side-eye instead?

Nian Suian smiled and comforted him like a child, "Don't worry, your position in my heart is unrivaled."

"Not even my dad?"

Nian Suian nodded without hesitation, "Of course not." After all, Gu Junxing couldn't be her son, and she had no interest in having Gu Junxing as her son either.

As for sons, Gu Zhijing was definitely the more adorable type.

Satisfied, Gu Zhijing gave Gu Junxing a smug smile.

Gu Junxing didn't say anything, but instead picked up some fish with his chopsticks for him, "Eat more." Fish was good for the brain. Since he hadn't given his son a good brain to begin with, he could only see if there was any hope for improvement through nurture.