Chapter 53 - First Daily Update

Gu Cheng and his brother Gu Xing returned home. Gu Xing went inside first, while Gu Cheng stayed in the yard. Separated by a low earthen wall, Gu Cheng spotted his wife Qin Yao in the neighboring yard, playing with the cat.

He then entered the neighboring yard.

Gu Xing took off his overcoat, draped it over his arm, and went upstairs. He pushed open the door to the couple's bedroom. The curtains were partially drawn, and the bed was in disarray. He hung up his coat, drew the curtains, and casually straightened the bed.

A family photo of the three of them stood on the bedside table—him, his wife, and their daughter Miaomiao.

On the small table was a water pot and a colorful hair tie left by their daughter the previous night, along with her patterned pajamas on the bed.

Gu Xing gathered all his daughter's belongings and placed them on the small table. As he turned around, a woman stood at the door.

His wife, He An, was tall and slender, with shoulder-length hair tucked behind her right ear. Her features were delicate, and her demeanor was exceptional, with an elegant swan-like neck. Her lips were naturally red, deeper in color than most.

When he first saw her, she reminded Gu Xing of the cranes described in textbooks—graceful and otherworldly.

In the daylight, being silently watched by her, Gu Xing maintained a serious expression, slightly lowering his gaze. He walked to the side and poured himself a glass of water, tilting his head back to drink it heartily.

Gu Xing wasn’t fond of seeing his wife during the day; rather, he was somewhat fearful of how this proud crane had landed beside him, never knowing what new grievance his little ancestor had.

Gu Xing preferred his wife at night, especially when the lights were off, a small bedside lamp on, as he held her down on the bed. Her eyes half-closed, her breath soft, even when he pushed her too far, her eyes red and brimming with tears, she dared not cry out too loudly.

It was endearing.

Standing at the door, He An was immediately incensed as she coldly carried a plate of egg cake into the room, her expression haughty, like a white peacock as she approached her husband.

As the eldest brother in the family, Gu Xing resembled his father more—thick eyebrows, large eyes, square features, and bright, piercing eyes, radiating a majestic presence, akin to a mighty lion.

The first time He An saw him, she felt like a little Mongolian princess, quite satisfied with the clan's warrior, admiring his formidable and robust appearance. Her admiration was mixed with a bit of fear.

The man’s strong and valiant physique thrilled her soul, and she was thus conquered by him, though she was reluctant to admit it even to herself.

He An had always been proud. She longed for a warrior, to ride across the grasslands on horseback. She didn’t like to cry, always holding her head high in front of others.

However, she couldn’t maintain her pride in front of Gu Xing. He always left her feeling humiliated. This man had seen her most private moments as a woman.

Moreover, he was a hero but also a rough man who didn’t pamper her like her grandparents or parents did.

Feeling indignant, He An resolved that she wouldn't let him underestimate her. She would become the most outstanding wife and the best mother who excelled at raising her children.

However, at this moment, Qin Yao's words came back to her. Don't treat it as a "long-married couple." Treat it as still "dating." If this man didn't satisfy her, she simply wouldn't have married him!

"Dating, oh dating—they were introduced to each other before getting married, so they barely had any time to date at all.

"Here, have this egg cake," He An said coldly, standing with her arms crossed. She lifted her chin, her expression a perfect picture of haughtiness.

She was a perfect picture of a proud white peacock.

Gu Xing glanced at her indifferently and said naturally, "I don't eat this kind of thing. You can give it to my sister-in-law and Miaomiao."

He An's eyes widened, and her chest burned with anger. She insisted, "You have to eat it!"

She rolled up her sleeves, her eyebrows furrowing in frustration. She was seething with anger, thinking, Gu Xing, you dog, if you don't eat it, I'll force it down your throat.

At that moment, all thoughts of being a good wife, a good mother, or respect for her in-laws were forgotten.

Even if it meant losing her dignity, she was determined to show her sister-in-law Qin Yao that this man meant nothing to her.

In a fierce tone, He An demanded, "Are you going to eat it or not?"

Gu Xing sat straight on a wooden stool, his arms resting on his thighs. He fixed a stern gaze on his wife, but He An, undeterred, stared back with equal ferocity.

Their eyes met, and the air grew icy cold. The cold wind outside slipped in, sending a chill through the room.

A few seconds later, Gu Xing, maintaining a serious expression, shifted his gaze to the lightly colored egg cake on the small table.

At that moment, just like his own daughter, he caved in immediately.

Unknown to the world, this man who appeared majestic and formidable to outsiders was, in front of his wife, a fragile paper tiger.

It's no big deal to eat it.

Gu Xing reached out, picked up a piece of egg cake, and stuffed it into his mouth.

He An was stunned: "!"

The harsh words, "If you don’t eat it, don’t even think about leaving this door," hadn’t even left her mouth yet.

And he just ate it??!!

Despite her fierce demeanor just now, she was actually "fierce on the outside but weak inside," and had already started to worry that "if she and Gu Xing started fighting," the entire in-law family would come to mediate, all because the wife was forcing the husband to eat egg cake—Oh heavens, how embarrassing!

But in reality, Gu Xing ate it, and they didn’t fight. He just obediently ate it!

She had thought that with his fierce look just now, he was about to lose his temper. When he got angry, he was like an enraged lion.

He An felt a bit better and sat down beside Gu Xing. She asked nonchalantly, "So? Was it delicious?"

Gu Xing glanced at her and honestly replied, "Too sweet and too greasy, not delicious."

"When did you buy this? It’s a bit hard; Miaomiao prefers softer cakes."

"This is as hard as a rock, not very fragrant, like chewing on a sponge."

At this moment, He An deeply regretted it. She wanted to strangle the man in front of her, especially seeing the stubble on his face that hadn’t been completely shaved, leaving a bluish tint. She had reminded him many times before to shave properly, as the stubble hurt her skin, but he was always stubborn.

This man was hopeless!

At that moment, Qin Yao's words echoed in her ears.

He An took a deep breath and gave a chilling smile. "I made it."

"I made this egg cake myself."

"You have to say it’s delicious. You have to praise it!" He An stood up and commanded arrogantly.

Gu Xing was taken aback. This was made by his wife? He blurted out, "It’s delicious, this egg cake is very delicious."

With that, he finished the whole cake in a couple of bites.

Comrade Gu felt his heart turn to ashes.

"That’s more like it." He An couldn’t help smiling. She found that getting things to go her way wasn’t as hard as she thought.

Although Gu Xing was completely useless as a husband and had a bad temper, he still listened to his wife.

Thinking this way, He An felt elated, and she smiled gently, even the dark stubble on his chin seemed cute.

The smile on the woman's face stunned Gu Xing for two seconds.

Snapping out of it, he awkwardly touched his nose. His wife usually smiled, her smile graceful and beautiful, with the corners of her eyes lifting, making her look very pretty.

But the smile she just gave, making her face seem a bit rounder, wasn't particularly beautiful, yet it was as sweet as a child's smile, and it reached deep into his heart.

The egg cakes he had eaten earlier weren't as overwhelmingly sweet.

A surge of desire coursed through Gu Xing, and without thinking, he picked up another egg cake from the table, eating it mechanically. He couldn't taste the sweetness anymore.

He An was surprised to see him finish all the egg cakes.

She pressed her lips together, feeling a bit awkward, but more overwhelmed by her growing happiness. Actually, this guy wasn't as stern as she thought. If she told him to do something, he would do it. If he went on a business trip and she asked him to bring a gift, he definitely would.

As long as she asked—but why couldn't this big, simple-minded man take the initiative? She always had to ask him awkwardly. Why couldn't he be more considerate? Give her the surprises she wanted and fulfill her fantasies.

Well, stuck with such an inconsiderate, insensitive man, she had to be the one to make the effort.

He An lifted her chin and declared, "I want to celebrate our wedding anniversary next year."

Gu Xing immediately refused, "Why go through the trouble?"

Gu Xing fell silent, accepting it.

"On our wedding anniversary, I want you to bake egg cakes for me."

Gu Xing was incredulous. "Me, a man? I don't know how to do that."

He An gritted her teeth and kicked him. "If you don't know, learn how. Practice ahead of time. Start practicing now!"

Saying that, she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, which happened to be a recipe for egg cakes, with all the steps and ingredients written on it.

She tossed the recipe to Gu Xing.

Holding the recipe, Gu Xing's mouth opened, revealing sharp teeth, his thick eyebrows raised, his eyes fierce, like a wild leopard ready to pounce. "Say that again. What exactly do you want me to do?"

He An was startled by his gaze, but then she regained her composure. "Was he thinking of hitting her? What's wrong? Afraid he might hit me?" She wasn’t afraid of losing face anymore; she was already beyond caring. So, she also glared coldly and fiercely at him. "Are you going to the kitchen to make the egg cake or not?"

Gu Xing glared at her. "..."

He An glared back at him. "Are you going or not?"

Gu Xing pulled his face back, put the recipe in his pocket, and rose majestically, striding out the door.

—Might as well go.

In front of his wife, he was very "submissive."

He An followed him downstairs, seeing that he obediently went to the kitchen. He studied the recipe with a blank expression, making her burst into laughter.

He An covered her mouth, laughing, her heart brimming with joy. She hurriedly ran out to find Qin Yao, who was playing with a cat in the neighbor's yard.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, hurry, come quickly."

He An called Qin Yao over, and the two returned. Liu Shuqin and Gu Cheng followed behind them.

The sisters-in-law went upstairs. Liu Shuqin followed them upstairs, but Gu Cheng didn’t join them. He stood in the hall for a moment when he suddenly heard something unusual. The nanny emerged from the kitchen and made a peculiar gesture at him.

Gu Cheng asked, confused, "Is my elder brother in the kitchen?"

Gu Cheng made his way into the kitchen and saw his elder brother, Gu Xing, in an apron. He touched his nose and couldn’t help but laugh.

When Gu Xing saw his younger brother, his face darkened like charcoal. His fierce eyes widened as he quickly formulated a plan. As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. In front of his two younger siblings, he had always been a dignified and responsible older brother.

How could he admit that he was "whipped" by his wife?

His younger brother, Gu Cheng, was handsome, with a bit of cold arrogance between his brows. Gu Xing had seen him in his youth, exuding a wild and unrestrained charm, but now, with age, his temperament had matured, making him even more handsome and captivating.

Moreover, his sister-in-law was so obedient, beautiful, and attentive, clinging to him like a little bird.

In contrast, as the elder brother, he was the one being controlled by his wife. It was embarrassing.

"I’m making the egg cake for your elder sister-in-law," Gu Xing stated casually.

"Your elder sister-in-law cares a lot about me. Even though Miaomiao is all grown up, her feelings for me are still so intense. I don’t deserve it. These past few years, I’ve been too busy with work and have neglected her... This kind of affection, younger brother, you wouldn’t understand yet."

Gu Cheng: "..."

Gu Xing couldn't help but show off, "Your sister-in-law loves to make things for me to eat on a regular basis. She insists I eat everything she makes. Our wedding anniversary is coming up soon. We celebrate it every year. I know she loves eating egg cakes, so to return the favor, this time I must make it for her with my own hands. That's what a good husband does!"

"You should learn from me. Women appreciate gestures and romance."

"Your sister-in-law is very romantic. I feel incredibly lucky to have married such a wife."

"No need to be envious of me. After so many years of marriage, we are still harmonious—"

Gu Cheng raised his eyebrows, "I don't envy you."

Gu Xing frowned, "Why don't you envy me?"

"On our wedding day, my wife wrote me a love poem and even cut our hair to keep it together forever."

Gu Xing was stunned. "??!!"

He stared at Gu Cheng, amazed that anyone would do something like that. His sister-in-law had quite an imagination.

His own wife had never written him a love poem in all these years.

Gu Xing folded his sleeves and said, looking down. "Your sister-in-law writes me a love poem every year. She has always been fond of expressing herself artistically. She prefers writing poems to speaking directly. And she’s been doing this for years."

After saying that, he looked at Gu Cheng.

"My wife and I have only known each other for less than a year, and the love poems we’ve exchanged could already fill a box this big." Gu Cheng simply made a hand gesture to indicate the size.

Gu Xing was nearly speechless.

He never thought his sister-in-law would...