Chapter 72

Chapter 72

The banquet was originally planned for two days, but it ended up lasting three. Once the news broke that Gu Shenhan was taking over, some people who had originally planned to wait until his wedding also showed up.

It's hard to refuse someone who's being friendly, and in business, you never know when you might need a favor from someone. Besides, the old master wanted to pass on the reins and also wanted to see some old friends from far away, so they added another day.

After it was all over, Gu Shenhan was too tired to move, and so were the elderly couple. The whole family decided to take a few days off to rest.

At first, Rong Yuan was worried that Luo Yunna might come looking for trouble, but luckily, she didn't. It seemed Grandma had made other arrangements.

Rong Yuan didn't ask further.

Then, less than two weeks later, the third uncle slipped back alone just as expected. Luo Yunna wasn't with him. The third aunt asked him point-blank if he was there to get a divorce. The third uncle refused point-blank, and in the end, the third aunt didn't pressure him to go through with the paperwork.

Gu Shenhan said, "The third aunt is also doing it for Wenjie's sake. Plus, she has no intention of finding someone else. They're just maintaining appearances."

The biggest difference between the third aunt and Luo Yunna is this. When there's a problem, the third aunt puts the children first, while Luo Yunna puts herself first.

The third aunt's thinking is simple: as long as her children can have a good future in the Gu family in the future, she doesn't care about anything else.

Rong Yuan reached for Gu Shenhan's hand.

He didn't know if Gu Shenhan was jealous of Gu Wenjie, but he knew that at a time like this, he should give him a hug.

And he did just that. Then he heard Gu Shenhan laugh and ask, "What are you doing?"

Rong Yuan said, "I cherish you. Just let me hold you."

Gu Shenhan wrapped his arms around him tight.

Right after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Gu Chengfeng and Tao Ling held an engagement banquet, and the Gu family was bustling once again. But this time, Gu Chengzhi still didn't return from abroad.

Someone asked curiously why Gu Chengzhi hadn't come. Grandma said he was out gaining practical experience on his own and would come back when it was time.

By then, Xuan Jin and Xuan Yu were already over four months old.

The two chubby little guys were on the bed, rolling over like pros. They couldn't be left alone for a second, keeping Rong Yuan on his toes.

When Rong Yuan was around, they ate and slept well. As soon as he left, they threw fussy fits during feedings: the younger one would kick his legs and turn his head away in refusal, while the older one would just knock over the bottle.

Now, if Rong Yuan wanted to quietly work on his own things, he had to work around their moodiness or do it while they were asleep.

"Do you still want three more?" Gu Shenhan asked him. "You said before you wanted five."

"For now, I probably don't," Rong Yuan replied. He still had things he wanted to do, and the thought of being tied down in the future made him conflicted.

It was a classic trade-off. If he left everything to the nannies, the children wouldn't be close to him, which he felt wasn't right. But if he gave them more attention, it would also be very time-consuming.

For now, with two nannies and Aunt Lu helping out, he could rest well. But focusing on his own things was tough because he rarely had long stretches of time.

Gu Shenhan said, "If you plan to have more, let's do it early. That way, in eight or ten years, they'll be older and more mature, and you'll still be just over thirty, right in your prime. Then you can have time to truly do what you want. If not, then wait two more years and send them to kindergarten."

Rong Yuan had been thinking about this the past couple of days. Based on his experience and observations, Gu Shenhan was right: it's better to have children early rather than spacing them out, which takes even more effort and time.

"Hubby, do you want more?" Rong Yuan asked.

"I'm fine either way. More has its advantages, fewer has its own. Actually, if it weren't for you wanting more, I think two is enough. They'll have other cousins anyway, and given how our families get along, the next generation should have good relationships too."

"Actually, I have a selfish motive."

"Oh?"

"Xuan Jin is easy—he'll have plenty of other kids like him around. But Xuan Yu's situation is special. I want to have another child like him, so at least in the future, they won't feel too different."

"What if the next one turns out like the older one?"

"That's why I'm hesitating."

If he knew for sure the next one would be like Xuan Yu, he wouldn't hesitate for a second and would just go for it. But no one can predict these things.

Gu Shenhan said, "Actually, as long as we don't tell him, he won't know himself. Telling him when he's a bit older is fine. Besides, having children is something we can plan—it's not a certainty. If he's gay and wants his own child, he can follow his own wishes. If not, no one can force him."

Rong Yuan thought about it and realized that made sense. A moment later, he turned his head suddenly: "So you don't really want more, do you?"

Gu Shenhan: "..."

"Why? Don't you like babies?"

"Of course not. It's just that when you're pregnant, I have to go without for several months a year. Babe, I'm in my prime. Holding you every night and only sleeping is actually pretty tough. No, it's very hard. Plus, I quit smoking, which makes it even harder."

"Alright, since you quit smoking, I'll leave the matter of children up to fate from now on."

Rong Yuan glanced at the two little ones on the baby monitor. They were sleeping soundly in the nursery. Aunt Lu was nearby, having just changed their diapers.

Now they could sleep for longer stretches, usually only needing one feeding at night, rarely two.

Gu Shenhan looked too. Sometimes it felt like a dream, as if picking Rong Yuan up from the airport was just yesterday.

Back then, he really didn't want to go. Who would have thought that in just over a year, so much would change?

"Have you ever regretted it?" Rong Yuan asked.

"You want the truth?"

"Of course."

"Not really. At first, I was focused on finalizing the divorce, so there was no time to regret. Later, it became impossible to regret."

It seemed that after meeting Rong Yuan, he realized that liking someone could happen in an instant.

Before, he thought getting to know someone required looking at every aspect—family background, education, way of thinking... But meeting Rong Yuan made him realize that some people, upon just a little interaction, are different from everyone else.

Even though his first impression of Rong Yuan was "Little Antique," and he even suspected Rong Yuan had ulterior motives for marrying into the Gu family, it didn't take long for him to realize his earlier thoughts were wrong.

He had once thought he wanted to find someone on equal footing, someone he could share career ambitions with, someone who could keep up with his thinking. They would fight together, play together, and share common ideals.

They would work out, read, and be highly compatible in every way, and this person would be simple and loyal.

That was pure fantasy.

Someone on equal footing with him would inevitably have ambitions no less than his own. How could such a person be simple and loyal?

In fact, before Rong Yuan came, he had met people similar to himself, but without exception, they would reveal their ulterior motives as soon as they spoke. He was always extra cautious with people like that.

It just goes to show that everything works out for the best. Rong Yuan brought him a satisfaction and peace he'd never known before, and that was exactly what he needed most, though he hadn't realized it before.

"You've given me what I wanted most too," Rong Yuan said. "Children, family, and peace."

"Is that all? Aren't you missing something?"

"What?"

"The thing we're about to do next." Gu Shenhan leaned onto Rong Yuan and said, "I work hard to give it to you every day."

"Love?"

"Mm."

That is indeed given every day—a life he couldn't even have dreamed of in the other world.

Even if he hadn't transmigrated, even if his former husband hadn't betrayed him, they could never have had such a harmonious marriage, because that man wouldn't have cherished him exclusively like Gu Shenhan did.

Ironically, after Xiao Yu'an went to the other world, using the knowledge he had learned in modern times, he came up with many creative ideas and built a wide network, even catching the emperor's attention. The prestige of their marquis household grew higher and higher, and his former husband regretted deeply, wishing he could remarry the person he had divorced. But now Xiao Yu'an only has feelings for his cousin.

His aunt also adored Xiao Yu'an immensely, because his cousin had a peculiar personality. Since childhood, he liked things different from ordinary people, showing more interest in dogs than in humans. In his aunt's words, she wondered if he could ever get married when he grew up.

But now he not only got married but found such a wise partner—how could she not be overjoyed? On the other hand, his former husband was despondent, taking one concubine after another.

This just goes to show that people should be decent.

Like his cousin, who knew he was different from ordinary people and didn't just marry anyone, so he waited for Xiao Yu'an. Like Gu Shenhan, who took marriage seriously and didn't enter relationships casually, and he also waited for him. Otherwise, with their age and status, they would have found a partner long ago.

"Let's go to the notary office again tomorrow to have things notarized."

"Notarize what?"

"Property, of course. From now on, half of everything I have is yours," Gu Shenhan said. "Or all of it can be yours."

"That won't be necessary. What I have now is enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life and raise the baby well."

Not to mention the cash and gifts from his grandparents, just selling one of the two villas at Bishui Bay would be enough for him to use for the rest of his life. He had no extravagant hobbies and didn't squander money recklessly.

But Gu Shenhan was insistent: "If not notarized, I'll have to write a will early."

Rong Yuan covered his mouth: "Nonsense! Don't talk nonsense! Who was it that said he was in his prime?"

Gu Shenhan grabbed Rong Yuan's hand: "So let's get the notarization redone."

Originally, he hadn't thought about these things, but Luo Yunna's return was a wake-up call. Some things must be prepared in advance.

Rong Yuan vaguely understood the reason and no longer refused.

So, after a gap of more than a year, they appeared again at the notary office.

This time, Rong Yuan was no longer nervous at all and signed very confidently.

After the notarization, Gu Shenhan asked him if he wanted to eat out before going home.

Rong Yuan thought of the place where he had first eaten with Gu Shenhan after coming here.

Gu Shenhan laughed: "Want to eat geoduck?"

Rong Yuan said: "So what? I'll have two helpings today!"

He was no longer the shy person who got embarrassed just from eating.

He has a home here, a family, and very progressive ideas.

This life is definitely not a waste!

If he were given another chance to choose, he would still choose to come here, because...

Rong Yuan called out: "Hubby?"

Gu Shenhan turned: "Yeah?"

Rong Yuan hugged Gu Shenhan and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

Because here lies the person he deeply loves.