Chapter 33 Defend

Chapter 33: Defending

A steady stream of people passed in front of the department store. Shang Fushun and the girl stood facing each other in a corner, easily missed if one wasn't looking closely.

Shang Fushun tilted his head slightly, and the girl stood on tiptoes, just reaching his lips. A pink handkerchief gently brushed against his mouth, and Shang Fushun blushed.

Xie Xinyi and Ms. Liu exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.

Ms. Liu gave a start. “Is that really Xiao Jiang’s husband?” she asked, as if unable to believe that someone who usually struggled to speak clearly would do something so openly affectionate in secret.

Xie Xinyi nodded firmly.

This wasn’t the first time she had seen Shang Fushun do something unfaithful to Xiao Jiang. Last time, it was sending a package; this time, it was an intimate gesture. Xie Xinyi had a feeling that the shy girl helping Shang Fushun wipe his mouth was the same Xiaofang from last time, the recipient of the package.

She quietly pulled Ms. Liu a few steps closer. As the distance narrowed, she heard the girl say in a soft, sweet voice to Shang Fushun, “Brother Fushun, I received the things you sent me last time. They were delicious, especially the canned shrimp paste. It’s even better with rice than the scallion pork stir-fry from the state-run restaurant.”

With a sweet and demure appearance and playful tone, it was clear these weren’t words Xiao Jiang would say. Shang Fushun’s ego was thoroughly stroked, and his smile widened. “I’m glad you liked it. I bought those specifically to build up your health.”

So it really was Xiaofang. Xie Xinyi had never heard of using canned shrimp paste to build up someone's health. She looked at the affectionate pair, feeling a wave of disgust.

“Brother Fushun, you’re the only one who cares about me. Unlike others who only know how to bully me.”

The girl continued with sweet talk while playing the victim, making Shang Fushun alternate between smiling and frowning. Unaware that he was being led by the nose, he overconfidently promised, “...Now that you’re in Beijing, as long as I’m here, no one will dare bully you.”

As the man suddenly felt a sense of responsibility, the girl followed up, “Since I’ve come to Beijing, does Sister Tiantian... know yet?”

At the mention of Xiao Jiang, Shang Fushun’s expression froze. He avoided answering directly, only telling her not to worry.

Their conversation, as if no one else was around, made Xie Xinyi's skin crawl. She turned to Ms. Liu and saw her frozen in place, looking shocked—just like her own reaction when she first saw Xiaofang’s name.

“Aren’t you surprised?” Ms. Liu asked her, puzzled.

“I am!” Xie Xinyi replied honestly.

Sending things to another woman behind his wife’s back, dating her, and the other party knowingly being the other woman despite Xiao Jiang’s existence—even though she had mentally prepared herself, Xie Xinyi was still deeply shocked.

She mimicked Ms. Liu by opening her mouth in surprise, and then both asked in unison, “Should we tell Xiao Jiang about this?”

They exchanged glances, hesitated, and fell silent...

When Shang Fushun glanced their way, they both decided to wait and see.

After going their separate ways home, Xie Xinyi began her first holiday in this era.

Gu Yu’s military unit didn’t get off as early as her factory. Unaccustomed to lazing in bed after her husband left, Xie Xinyi still got up early every day.

Unlike in later times, holidays in this era were truly holidays—no sudden overtime messages, no one pushing you to work on non-urgent project plans.

Xie Xinyi peacefully enjoyed her holiday. On the first day, she fulfilled her promise to help Grandma Gu set up the vegetable rack. On the second day, she learned to make her favorite pickled cabbage with Aunt Wang. On the third day, she accompanied Gu Ying to her workplace. On the fourth day, she went to the department store with Wen Shuhua to buy gifts to bring home after the New Year.

According to local customs in Beijing, a bride would return to her parents' home with her husband and children during the first year of marriage.

Xie Xinyi and Gu Yu married late, and they had no children yet, but she still had to bring her husband back.

When in Rome, she bought a heap of gifts for her mother, Mrs. Xie, and younger sister based on Wen Shuhua’s list.

Loaded down with packages, they were heading home when they ran into Luo Jinxia at the entrance of the compound, who was on her way back to her parents' home.

“Buying gifts for the in-laws?”

The familiar jealous tone was unmistakable. Xie Xinyi stood sweet and demure nearby, watching Wen Shuhua deal with her.

“...It’s the first year, so of course we have to go back to Xinyi’s family. Her home is far away, unlike yours, where you can go back whenever you want without even telling your Old Zhang.”

Luo Jinxia’s parents' home was just behind the military compound, just a few turns away.

As the eldest daughter with two younger brothers—one married for years without children, and the other who got his girlfriend pregnant before marriage—she had never gotten along with them. Even as adults, they had constant bickering and fighting, and living close by only intensified their conflicts.

Though Luo Jinxia’s parents didn’t play favorites, they couldn’t control their sons. Whenever the brothers fought, Luo’s parents would call their eldest daughter, who had raised them, to come back and play referee.

Being the referee was tough—it often took hours, and many times Luo Jinxia had to dip into her own pocket to resolve issues.

Since marrying Old Zhang, she hadn’t worked at the cultural troupe, and the household relied solely on his income. She secretly used family funds to support her brothers, leading to countless arguments with Old Zhang—once even nearing divorce, which shocked their military leaders and became known throughout the compound.

Her frequent visits to her parents' home became a laughingstock, and she hated anyone bringing it up. Feeling Wen Shuhua was stabbing her in the back, Luo Jinxia angrily changed the subject, needling her where it hurt instead.

“...My mom recently asked someone to introduce Juan to a match—said to be an expert hired by the military factory. I’m meeting the matchmaker today...”

Instead of getting angry at the sarcasm, she openly stated her purpose and casually asked about the Gu family’s most troublesome daughter, Gu Ying, mentioning she’d seen a man escorting her home last time. “He looked cultured and polite—who in the family introduced him?”

Leaning in curiously, Luo Jinxia asked pointedly of Wen Shuhua.

Slightly at a disadvantage, Wen Shuhua didn’t answer directly, only smiling evasively. “You even saw that.”

Neither admitting nor denying, she deliberately led curious people to speculate, leaving them guessing.

Xie Xinyi stood by, marveling at her mother-in-law’s masterful acting, thinking that if she didn’t know the truth, she’d have been fooled like Luo Jinxia.

“She’s really dating?” Luo Jinxia’s face fell in shock and confusion. “How come Zhang Xin hasn’t mentioned it?”

She muttered to herself, glancing from Wen Shuhua to Xie Xinyi.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both smiled, not seeming to be fooling her.

Gu Ying was dating, but her own hapless son didn’t know?

Half-convinced, Luo Jinxia pressed for details about the man’s background, only to be told, “You’ll find out when we invite you to the wedding banquet,” before they walked off, leaving her standing in the cold wind.

Returning from her parents' home, Luo Jinxia sneezed repeatedly. Old Zhang, upset about her visit, practiced calligraphy upstairs, ignoring whether she had dinner.

The couple sulked. Zhang Xin, returning from a military mission, was the first to bear the brunt upon stepping inside.

“You finally remember to come back?” Luo Jinxia scolded with a dark face. “All you do is fool around in the military. Gu Yu married a fairy, and you? Don't even have a prospect!”

Confused, Zhang Xin quickly withdrew his foot from the doorway, standing obediently outside without speaking or rebutting.

“...Your elementary school classmate, the one from your grandpa’s alley—I went back today, and he already has two kids. And here you are, acting all mother-son affection.”

Luo Jinxia glared at her son pretending innocence outside the door, her anger rising.

She grabbed a feather duster from the table, swishing it dramatically. Zhang Xin immediately scurried over.

“Who upset our great beauty?” he yelled at the air, trying to joke away the embarrassment of being beaten at his age. “Who was it? Point them out, I’ll knock their teeth out!”

“Don’t change the subject,” the beauty retorted, unmoved, grabbing his ear. “Just tell me—when are you bringing a girlfriend home?”

"I'm not seeing anyone."

Zhang Xin covered his reddened, pinched ear, quick to deny he was hiding a girlfriend. "I don’t have anyone at all. Who exactly am I supposed to bring home?"

Dealing with his mom's nagging about marriage, Zhang Xin was used to it. Skillfully avoiding the sorest part of his ear, he dropped his earlier joking demeanor and put on a pitiful expression, whining about his situation. "The military keeps me so busy every day, I don’t even have time to rest. I can't even get time off. How could I possibly have time to date? Who would even be waiting for me?"

It was true that military life was strict, with a small social circle and little free time—an excuse Zhang Xin had used for years, always effectively. He thought this time would be no different, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he received a good smack on the butt with the duster.

"No time? Huh?" Luo Jinxia didn't hold back, following the duster strike with a tighter grip on his ear. "Is it really that you have no one, or are you still hung up on her?"

Again?

Failing to evoke any maternal sympathy, Zhang Xin hopped around rubbing his stinging backside, didn't dare answer Luo Jinxia’s remark.

He knew how his mother was and understood exactly who she meant by "her."

Having had a crush on the girl next door for over a decade, not only did Luo Jinxia feel frustrated, but Zhang Xin also suffered in silence.

He and Gu Ying had grown up together, childhood sweethearts in the eyes of everyone in the compound. When he was younger, he dismissed it as adults’ teasing and paid no mind. But as he grew older, whether it was hearing the jokes so often that he started to believe them or a teenage crush starting to bloom, ever since he could remember, he found Gu Ying increasingly adorable—even entertaining the dangerous idea of marrying her and cherishing her forever.

He couldn’t stand to see Gu Ying bullied and had resolved to stay by her side for life.

If Gu Ying didn’t marry, he wouldn’t either.

If Gu Ying remained single forever, he would stay single alongside her.

No matter how much his family pressured him or what others said, for over a decade, he had played the supporting role to Gu Ying’s leading lady, carefully guarding and silently watching over her, too afraid to confess for fear of ruining their friendship.

Content to maintain the status quo, he remained stagnant, yet the emotions he inadvertently revealed when looking at Gu Ying couldn't be hidden from anyone.

His army comrades mocked him for not being manly enough, his own mother scorned him for his lack of guts, and even Gu Yu, who rarely meddled in others’ affairs, called him a coward.

But so what? He just didn’t dare!

Every time he saw Gu Ying’s expressive eyes, his heart would race uncontrollably. Even making small talk required immense effort, let alone confessing his feelings.

He had feelings for someone he didn't dare name, and refusing any matchmaking arrangements from his family, Luo Jinxia grew anxious. When alone, she would taunt her son about it, just like now.

She looked at him with exasperation, unable to comprehend his cowardice. "Why aren’t you saying anything? Weren’t you quite the talker before?"

She wondered if she had some unresolved grudge with the Gu family from a past life. Not only did they live close by, seeing each other constantly, but both of her children were also entangled with the Gu siblings.

What should have been a perfect opportunity for both—proximity favoring the bold—was blown by her two children, allowing others to seize the advantage. Fuming, Luo Jinxia thought that since Gu Yu was already out of reach, she couldn’t let her son follow in his sister’s footsteps. Fueled by anger, she blurted out everything she’d just heard from Wen Shuhua.

"...She’s already seeing someone, and here you are, wallowing in self-pity. I don’t know who you inherited this spinelessness from."

Luo Jinxia shot her son a disdainful glance, then set down the feather duster and went to pour herself a glass of water, completely missing how her words left Zhang Xin frozen in place, unable to process what he’d heard.

Gu Ying was seeing someone?

Zhang Xin glanced repeatedly at his mother, disbelieving. She sat calmly on the sofa drinking water, showing no signs of lying.

"Gu Ying is really seeing someone!"

The belated realization hit him, and he blurted out in shock, startling Luo Jinxia so much she choked on her water, coughing violently. "You... *cough*... what are you... *cough*... shouting for?"

She grabbed the feather duster from the table and advanced toward him. Zhang Xin hastily retreated toward the door, his attention solely on avoiding Luo Jinxia, unaware of his sister Zhang Juan returning from work behind him.

One sibling backing up without looking, the other walking without paying attention—just as Luo Jinxia chased him, the two collided.

"Bro, you..."

Zhang Juan rubbed her sore forehead. Looking up and seeing her mother’s dark expression in the doorway, she swallowed the rest of her sentence.

"Mom," she greeted Luo Jinxia with a forced smile, slowly sidestepping. "My unit gave me some things. I’ll take them inside first."

Knowing better than to get involved in the conflict, Zhang Juan waved the items in her hand as an excuse to escape, but the fighting spirit still swept her, the innocent bystander, into the fray.

"Stop!" Luo Jinxia blocked her path. "You’re off work tomorrow, right?"

Zhang Juan nodded obediently.

"Your grandfather arranged a match for you—an expert from the military factory. You’re coming with me tomorrow to meet him."

She eyed her plainly dressed daughter, issuing the order before adding, "Wear something nice tomorrow. That coat I bought you last time."

Another blind date!

Extremely reluctant, Zhang Juan shot a resentful glare at Zhang Xin, wondering what he had done to anger Luo Jinxia and drag her into it.

"Mom..."

She approached Luo Jinxia with a soft voice, hoping to smooth things over, but before she could speak, her mother cut her off.

"Stop clinging to unrealistic fantasies. You are going with me tomorrow, no excuses!"

"I wasn’t..."

Zhang Juan tried to defend herself, but Luo Jinxia wasn’t listening. Without letting her finish, she turned her attention to Zhang Xin, who hadn’t managed to escape yet.

"And you," she brandished the feather duster, pointing angrily at Zhang Xin. "If you don’t bring a wife home by next year, don’t bother coming back either!"

Having delivered her ultimatum to the two "hopeless" siblings in the yard, Luo Jinxia tossed the feather duster aside and went upstairs to settle scores with another person.

Zhang Xin, still reeling from the news about Gu Ying, suddenly felt his sister stomp hard on his foot with her heel.

Wincing in pain, his foot throbbing, he could barely form a sentence. Meanwhile, next door, Gu Ying, forced by her mother to visit Gao He’s house, was equally frustrated.

"...Last time was to thank him. What’s the reason this time?"

She looked puzzled at Wen Shuhua, saying she didn't want to go again.

"He did save you, after all," Wen Shuhua reasoned patiently. "I heard from Gu Kai that Regimental Commander Gao isn’t returning to Shanghai this year. He’s alone here."

"So?" Gu Ying asked impatiently.

"So, go invite him to spend New Year’s with us," Wen Shuhua pressed on. "Your brother and sister-in-law will be at her parents’ place for the holiday. If you invite Regimental Commander Gao, it’ll be livelier."

She issued the order with a smile, and even Gu’s father, who rarely sided with her, chimed in. "You’re around the same age; it’s easier for you to talk. It wouldn’t be appropriate for your mother and me to go."

Just because it’s inappropriate, they send her? She thought it was improper for an unmarried woman and man to spend so much time together anyway.

Gu Ying didn't commit either way, making up several excuses that were all shot down by the couple with various excuses. She was completely exasperated. Making things worse, Grandma Gu had gone to her eldest aunt’s house, and her brother and sister-in-law weren’t around, with nobody to back her up.

Seeing she couldn't win this argument, she grudgingly said she'd "see when the time comes."

"See when the time comes" was noncommittal, but at least she hadn’t outright refused.

Wen Shuhua knew when to quit while she was ahead. When Gu Yu returned with Xie Xinyi, who had gone out to buy materials, she couldn't wait to share the "good news" with them.

“You two will be back on the second day of the Lunar New Year. I was thinking that on New Year’s Eve, Gu Ying could invite Regimental Commander Gao over to celebrate with us. What do you think?”

She excitedly sought their opinions, but Xie Xinyi’s alarm bells started ringing.

Why were they still pushing Gu Ying with Regimental Commander Gao?

Didn't Gu Ying make it clear last time that she had no intention of getting married?

Xie Xinyi was puzzled but didn't let it show. She pretended to be unsure and glanced at Gu Yu, standing beside her, to see what he thought.

“No way!”

Sure enough, after hearing Wen Shuhua’s suggestion, Gu Yu’s expression turned cold, just like when he saw Gao He seeing Gu Ying home last time. His brows furrowed slightly, clearly displeased.

“We should keep New Year's just for family.”

He spoke coldly, regardless of whether Wen Shuhua took his words to heart. Then, he shot a look at his sister, who was smugly sitting on the sofa, and added, “Don’t believe everything you hear. Not everything people say is true.”

Although his words were directed at Gu Ying, he was clearly implying something.

Gu Haoyi immediately looked up from his newspaper, not surprised by his son’s words but by his way of thinking.

Gu Kai had just happened to mention that Gao He wouldn’t be returning home for the New Year. It was Wen Shuhua, worried about their daughter’s marriage prospects, who was reading too much into it. What did it have to do with Gu Kai?

Gu Yu had always had it in for Gu Kai due to past conflicts within the family. Gu Haoyi thought it was understandable since Gu Yu wasn't married and couldn’t comprehend such complexities. That’s why he had never held Gu Yu’s previous remarks against him.

He had assumed that once Gu Yu grew older and got married, he would naturally understand the difficulties and even relate to the guilt Gu Haoyi had always felt toward his eldest son. But instead, even after being married for over half a year, Gu Yu had not learned understanding. Instead, he had become really good at twisting things around and making digs, even daring to imply things in front of him.

Without directly mentioning his elder brother, Gu Yu’s words were clearly aimed at him.

What did he mean by “believe everything you hear”? What did he mean by “not everything people say is true”?

Who was spreading rumors? Who were “people”?

Did Gu Yu think no one would notice if he didn’t say it outright?

Gu Kai was, after all, Gu Haoyi’s legitimate son. For Gu Yu to casually refer to him as “people” was downright disrespectful toward his father.

Suppressing his anger, Gu Haoyi took a deep breath and scolded his rebellious son, “If you have any grievances, speak plainly. Don’t talk in circles.”

He had been sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper ever since Gu Yu and Xie Xinyi returned. His sudden outburst startled Xie Xinyi, who had been focused solely on Gu Yu’s reaction.

She glanced sideways at Gu Haoyi, sitting imposingly on the sofa, surprised that he would get so angry over such a trivial matter.

It was clear that Gu Haoyi favored his eldest son, something Xie Xinyi had noticed during her first encounter with Gu Kai.

Although she didn’t fully understand the family’s past conflicts, Gu Haoyi’s biased favoritism still shocked her.

In Gu Haoyi’s eyes, no matter what Gu Kai did or said, it was always right and justified. Meanwhile, no matter how capable or outstanding Gu Yu was, in his father’s eyes, he was always seen as unambitious and irresponsible.

It's understandable that he loves his eldest son and protects his own, but you can't defend Gu Kai by stepping on Gu Yu.

Both sons are your own flesh and blood. With such blatant favoritism, Xie Xinyi even suspected that the previous false rumors about Gu Yu were spread by Gu Haoyi himself.

He dismissed Gu Kai's calculated actions as unintentional, while interpreting Gu Yu's casual remarks as making insinuations.

If Gu Kai hadn’t caused a scene in the middle of the night, Wen Shuhua wouldn’t have connected Gu Ying and Gao He so quickly.

Besides, Aunt Wen just mentioned that it was Gu Kai who brought up Regimental Commander Gao not returning to Shanghai for the New Year. If he hadn’t said it, who would have thought of inviting a stranger to celebrate the New Year at home?

He didn’t question his eldest son’s intentions, only focusing on harping on his younger son’s trivial faults. There’s really nothing more to say about Gu Haoyi as a father.

Xie Xinyi couldn’t stand it, and the smile gradually faded from her face. Seeing that Gu Yu remained silent while Gu Haoyi was about to speak again, she immediately stepped forward and replied softly, "Dad, you’ve wronged our Gu Yu. How could he have any dissatisfaction? He’s just worried that his sister might be deceived and just giving a well-meaning heads-up."

Unlike you, who is quick to judge based on stereotypes.

Her voice was gentle, and her appearance was non-confrontational. As she spoke, her almond-shaped eyes glistened, and what could have been a complaint came out like a lighthearted remark. Not only was Gu Yu taken aback, but even Gu Haoyi was at a loss for how to respond.

Without directly accusing him of favoritism, she skillfully reframed Gu Yu’s aggressiveness as concern for his sister. Her approach was perfectly measured, making it difficult for him to feel embarrassed or criticize Gu Yu further.

Gu Haoyi hadn’t expected his seemingly mild-mannered daughter-in-law to be so assertive when defending someone. Even he, who was used to giving orders, was momentarily stunned, let alone Gu Yu, who had never seen this side of Xie Xinyi.

Gu Yu was still observing his sister’s reaction when the girl stepped out right beside him.

Xie Xinyi was naturally beautiful—fair-skinned with long, black hair that carried a faint fragrance. As her silky hair brushed lightly against his arm, giving him a tingling feeling, Gu Yu’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to her. Then he saw her slender figure standing protectively in front of him.

Beneath the delicate strands of hair was a petite face. When she spoke, she appeared gentle yet firm. Gu Yu watched as she effortlessly called him out for his bias, then turned back and smiled at him.

That smile was like the warm sunlight of early spring, and Gu Yu suddenly felt his heart skip a beat.