Nanny Wu smiled awkwardly. She pretended to remain calm and replied, "Duke, what are you talking about? I cannot understand!"
"Oh? You cannot understand? Do you really need me to say it? Nanny Wu, I grew up under your care, so you are like my mother. I really do not want to punish you."
Gong Yu"s words were neither cold nor warm. One could not see the true emotions in his heart. Thus, Nanny Wu was even more unsure.
She scanned everyone before her gaze eventually landed on Murong Yunxi"s face. She knew that Murong Yunxi held an important position in Gong Yu"s heart. If Murong Yunxi was willing to help her, then Gong Yu would definitely not do anything.
Gong Yu, who seemed to have read Nanny Wu"s thoughts, looked up at her. "Nanny Wu, do not look at Xiao Xi. It is useless to look at her."
When her thoughts were exposed, Nanny Wu looked down helplessly. She was extremely conflicted. Did she really have to speak?
Although no one knew what kind of guessing games Nanny Wu and Gong Yu were playing, they were very surprised. Gong Yu had never reprimanded Nanny Wu over anything. What was different this time?
It seemed that Kuang Youzhi was the only one who fully understood what was going on between the two of them. He smiled slightly without speaking, but the ambiguous glimmer of light in his eyes made Nanny Wu feel even guiltier.
Eventually, it seemed that Nanny Wu could no longer withstand this pressure. She simply stood up abruptly as if she intended to smash the pot to pieces just because it had cracked.
"Duke, punish me if you wish to. I have nothing to say."
Gong Yu could not feel angry when he saw Nanny Wu like this. Instead, he sighed softly. "Nanny Wu, why do you have to do this?"
Nanny Wu Ma looked up and stared at Gong Yu. Her eyes gradually grew moist and turned red. "Duke, I watched you grow up from a young age and endured all sorts of hardships while I took care of you. I already treat you like my own son. I could not bear to see you go. In the past, I used to take care of you daily and come up with different delicious dishes for you every day. I felt like there was something to do every day. During the past few years that you were not here, I did not know what to do. I could only sit there day by day, look forward to the night time, and hope that you would be back the next day. The days pa.s.sed, but you did not return. At the very least, I could still look forward to your return. However, when you leave again this time, I will not even have something to look forward to anymore. I know that this time, you will never return again..."
Nanny Wu became increasingly sad. Finally, she burst into tears and choked up while she sobbed.
Everyone"s eyes became slightly red. Even Gong Yu"s eyes were wet. A single tear trickled down silently from the corner of his eye.
No matter how sad everyone was, all feasts had to come to an end. Separation was inevitable.
A week later...
Murong Yunxi was sitting with Gu Yuxuan in a greenhouse, drinking tea. The surrounding flowers and plants exuded a fragrant floral scent and the afternoon sun shone down from the gla.s.s roof, making the entire greenhouse extremely warm and comfortable.
It was most comfortable and pleasant during winters like this.
"Xuanxuan, you really know how to have fun. I did not see you in the past few days, but you managed to create a big commotion." Murong Yunxi took a sip of tea and the fragrance filled her mouth. When it went down her throat, she felt yet another warm sensation that made one feel completely refreshed.
Gu Yuxuan chuckled. She was obviously in a good mood lately and she seemed to look slightly mellower and fuller. "This was all done by Xu. I casually mentioned that day building a gla.s.s greenhouse to plant flowers and greenery, and he actually found someone to do it. I merely came home to stay for a few days and it turned out like this."
"It seems that the crisis between the two of you has been resolved?" Murong Yunxi looked sideways at Gu Yuxuan with the hint of a smile in the corners of her eyes.
"It"s not completely resolved. His parents still refuse to accept it. He is currently in a deadlock with them." Gu Yuxuan"s eyes dimmed down, but she added, "Anyway, I don"t think too much about it now. I"ll just concentrate on taking care of the foetus and slowly talk about the rest later."
Murong Yunxi suddenly realized that Gu Yuxuan"s eyes were now filled with the soft glow of maternal love that made her entire being appear different. She had always known that Gu Yuxuan liked children. Based on her att.i.tude towards Niannian, it was clear at first glance. At that point in time, it also crossed her mind that Gu Yuxuan would definitely perform better than her if Gu Yuxuan became a mother one day. Now, it seemed that she was certainly right.
"By the way, it"s New Year"s Eve the day after tomorrow. Are you all going to spend New Year"s at the old house?" Gu Yuxuan suddenly turned to look at Murong Yunxi. She could not help but think about Murong Xu"s current awkward situation.
Murong Yunxi was slightly afraid when Gu Yuxuan brought this up. To be honest, she had only gotten used to being a part of Murong Qingtian and Murong Ye"s family recently. Beyond being slightly closer to Murong Xu, she had hardly ever met anyone else, so she was very unfamiliar with them. She was certainly at a loss as to how she would face them if she had to spend New Year"s with this group of people.
"Yes, my brother said that they have to spend every New Near"s together. This is the first time that I"m spending New Year"s with the Murong Family, so I will certainly have to attend."
"Oh, in that case, it seems that we will not be able to spend this New Year"s together. We"ve always spent New Year"s together ever since we were children. I did not expect that the day of our separation would come so quickly." Gu Yuxi was slightly melancholic. This New Year"s Eve was destined to be different.
When she heard Gu Yuxuan"s words, Murong Yunxi, who felt also slightly depressed in her heart, pulled a long face. "Yes! This is the first New Year"s that we will not be spending together. However, when your affairs are resolved, perhaps we will be able to spend the next New Year"s together." As she said this, Murong Yunxi suddenly recalled something and changed the subject, "Will cousin return for this New Year"s?"
"Probably not. Now that he fell out with the family like this, I dare not ask too much." Gu Yuxuan looked down. In her heart, she felt slightly reproachful, as she was largely responsible for the fact that Murong Xu had fallen out with the family.
Murong Yunxi could not bear to see Gu Yuxuan like this, so she reached out with her hand and clasped the back of Gu Yuxuan"s hand before she consoled her. "Hey, it"s almost New Year"s. Let"s not think about these unhappy things now. Perhaps everything will change after New Year"s!"
When she said this, Murong Yunxi gently pinched Gu Yuxuan"s small face and Gu Yuxuan gave her a faint, brief smile.
"However, I heard from my eldest brother that n.o.body can be absent from New Year"s Eve dinner. Thus, I think that even though cousin fell out with Second Uncle and Second Aunt, he will likely still attend!"
Gu Yuxuan chuckled slightly and temporarily pushed these unpleasant thoughts to the back of her mind. The two of them continued to talk about other topics.
There seemed to be a lot for the sisters to talk about. They could even talk for half a day about a piece of clothing. Their endless discussion was finally interrupted when the sky gradually darkened and Gong Yu came to take Murong Yunxi home for dinner.
"Xuanxuan, do you want to go to my brother"s place to have a meal together?" Murong Yunxi held onto Gu Yuxuan"s hand as she casually invited her.
"It"s alright, I will wait for Xu to return! He should be back soon. It is already really late!"
"Alright then. In that case, I will leave some food for the two of you so that you will not have to prepare it yourself when you come over to eat after cousin returns."
"Yes. Hurry on home. Don"t keep Niannian waiting."
Murong Yunxi hooked herself onto Gong Yu"s arm and the two of them returned home. Gu Yuxuan lived in the villa that Murong Ye had given them, which was conveniently close to Murong Ye"s villa. Thus, they reached home within just two to three minutes.
When the door opened, Niannian"s little figure rushed over. "Mommy, you actually played with Mommy Xuanxuan for an entire afternoon. You did not fetch me from school. Fortunately, Daddy has a conscience. Otherwise, I would have wondered if I had been abandoned by both of you."
Niannian underwent a great change this time after Murong Yunxi and Gong Yu returned. She was no longer as inseparable from Murong Yunxi as she had been in the past. Instead, she clinged to Murong Ye.
After Niannian reprimanded Murong Yunxi, she had a moment of simple intimacy with her before she turned and ran over to Murong Night. "Uncle, I want you to model for me after dinner."
Murong Ye looked up at Murong Yunxi and Gong Yu. He could not help but complain, "I really don"t know if Niannian is my child or yours. Now, I actually have to accompany the child on your behalf every night."
Murong Yunxi could not help but pretend to be indifferent as she said, "Yes, you are right. I think that it might actually be a good option to file for a direct adoption and hand Niannian over to you."
Murong Ye could not help but tease. "Direct adoption? I have no problem with this, but could you bear to? If you could bear it, then I"ll proceed with the formalities tomorrow."
Before Murong Yunxi and Gong Yu could speak, Niannian answered with a serious look on her face, "I think that this is a good suggestion. After all, all the children said that Uncle looked like my dad when I took the drawing that Uncle modelled for to my nursery. They even said that Uncle looked beautiful."
Murong Ye laughed rather excitedly, "Really? The children really said that you resemble Uncle? They even said that Uncle looked good? Do I look better than your father?"
Niannian turned to take a glance at Gong Yu. Then, she c.o.c.ked her little head to think for a moment before she replied, "The children said that Daddy is very handsome and Uncle is very beautiful."
Murong Yunxi instantly burst into laughter. She stepped forward, embraced Niannian and sat down on the sofa. "Children never lie. Brother, you are indeed beautiful."
"Beautiful? I am a grown man, yet you describe me by using the term "beautiful"?" Murong Ye"s face darkened instantly.
"Haha, that"s what the children said! A child"s evaluation is usually the most genuine. Brother, I am really curious about what you would look like in women"s clothes."
Murong Yunxi could not help but picture him in her mind. Murong Ye definitely looked similar to her. Both of them resembled their mother. Thus, people would describe him as beautiful. The more Murong Yunxi thought about it, the more she wanted to laugh. Instant fury rose within Murong Ye when he saw that idiotic look on her face.
Murong Ye raised his hand and flicked Murong Yunxi"s forehead. "Alright. Hurry up and go eat! The food will be cold soon."
The few of them walked up to the table and sat down. After they ate a few mouthfuls of food, Murong Ye suddenly said, "Xiao Xi, it is New Year"s Eve the day after tomorrow and the entire family will be present. You will have to be mentally prepared by that point in time!"
Murong Yunxi was slightly shocked. She looked up at Murong Ye and asked in confusion, "Mentally prepared? What do I need to be mentally prepared for?"