"You're welcome, I just couldn't bear to see you stuck in this place," Uncle said, taking a sip of water. "When you reach my age, you'll see things more clearly."
"When I was young, I was just like you, confining myself, always feeling I wasn't good enough for this or that."
"But it's all wrong. Only when you believe you are worthy can others possibly believe it too. If you look down on yourself first, others will look down on you even more."
Seeing Uncle's eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness, Gu Yi couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Uncle, you..."
"I was originally from the village. By chance, I fell in love with someone of a much higher status than mine. Later, I became pregnant, and she abandoned me. Fortunately, my daughter is promising, she—"
Uncle stared blankly into the distance, his thoughts drifting to the past. He stopped abruptly, as if waking from a trance.
"Never mind, no need to talk about it, it only adds to the sorrow. I'm telling you this so you know not to think too little of yourself. If you like someone, you must pursue them bravely, strive to hold on, and don't have regrets."
Zheng Chen only realized these truths after contracting tuberculosis and thinking he was about to die. After being saved, he became much more cheerful, as if making up for all the happy times he missed in the previous twenty years.
Gu Yi sat quietly opposite Uncle, his eyes moist. "Uncle, you are so good to me, thank you so much. I understand now, I won't think so little of myself anymore."
"Stop calling me 'Uncle' all the time, it sounds too generic. My surname is Zheng, just call me Uncle Zheng," Zheng Chen said with a smile.
"Uncle Zheng, thank you," Gu Yi replied obediently.
"No need for so many thanks. I've already considered you my son-in-law," Zheng Chen blurted out in a moment of happiness.
Seeing Gu Yi frozen, he realized his mistake, regretting speaking his mind.
"You, you don't misunderstand. Uncle Zheng means, I have a daughter, and I like you very much. I want you to meet my daughter."
"Uncle Zheng, I'm truly sorry, but I already have someone I like and cannot accept your kind offer." Gu Yi's face turned slightly red. He lowered his head, and despite his shyness, he bravely spoke his true feelings.
"Ah? You already have someone?" Zheng Chen's voice was low, and he lowered his head in disappointment.
Gu Yi couldn't bear to see the elder who cared for him so wholeheartedly upset, so he tried to comfort him, "Uncle Zheng, I will definitely come to keep you company often from now on."
"Then, may I ask who the person you like is? If I know her, I can also help you with some ideas." Zheng Chen had a vague premonition and just wanted to confirm it first.
"You know this person." Gu Yi lowered his head, his face flushed, and said softly, "It's, it's Mayor Zheng."
"It really is her!" Zheng Chen exclaimed, his voice rising in excitement.
"Uncle Zheng, you?"
"Ah, I was just too sad. I guessed you might like him, and I didn't expect my guess to be right."
Zheng Chen realized his reaction was a bit too intense and quickly found an excuse, changing to a sad expression to cover it up.
Gu Yi, however, believed him, thinking he was sad that he couldn't be his son-in-law. He thought for a moment, bit his lip, and said, "Uncle Zheng, if you don't mind, I'd like to recognize you as my godfather, and I'll come to accompany you often."
"No! I do mind. No! I don't mind, that's not right, oh dear!" Zheng Chen was flustered by Gu Yi's words.
He still wanted to be his father-in-law, how could he accept him as a godson? No, no, wouldn't that make Yu'er and him like siblings? No, no!
"Yi'er, it's not that I don't want you to be my godson, I just want to wait a little longer." Zheng Chen pushed the tea towards Gu Yi. "Have some tea first."
...
"That person seems to be Zheng Yu's father," Gu Yitong said from the doorway, looking at the retreating figures of Gu Yi and Zheng Chen, with some doubt.
However, she couldn't be sure. After all, she wasn't nearby when Lu Yu was treating Zheng Yu's father, so she couldn't confirm if this was Zheng Yu's father.
...
"Xuan'er, it's time to go home."
At Shenshi, they walked hand in hand on the street. At first, Shen Xuan was a bit shy and wanted to refuse, but he couldn't resist Lu Yu's clinginess. After a few times, Shen Xuan had become completely immune to holding hands on the street.
In Lu Yu's words, "You're wearing a veil, they can't see who you are anyway. Besides, why can't husband and wife hold hands?"
"In a few days, I'll take you to buy some servants. Since we've moved into the mansion, we should get some servants. Otherwise, no one will do the chores, and it's too desolate."
"You, you won't have to be so tired every day from now on." Lu Yu squeezed Shen Xuan's hand.
"There was too much going on a few days ago. It feels so good to finally have some free time. I'll accompany you out more often from now on."
Shen Xuan listened quietly inside his veil, very content with their current life. It was simple yet filled with different flavors, his days were regular and sweet.
"Isn't that Doctor Lu?"
"It is her."
"Then the one wearing a veil beside her must be her husband—Mr. Xuan, right?"
"..."
Although the discussions around them were not loud, as more people joined in, they became quite clear.
The fragmented discussions reached Shen Xuan and Lu Yu's ears. Shen Xuan became a little nervous, his hand instinctively tightened, and his body leaned closer to Lu Yu.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here. Hold on to me tightly."
Lu Yu said this and then tightened her grip on Shen Xuan's hand, quickening her pace. Shen Xuan was startled by the pull and couldn't keep up with Lu Yu's stride, so he also started running with her.
This was the most outrageous thing Shen Xuan had done since he was a child. He had never run so freely at home, let alone in public.
Yet, Shen Xuan felt no fear or embarrassment. Instead, he felt very happy. The veil in front of his face was blown open by the wind, revealing Shen Xuan's fair and slightly rosy cheeks.
Letting go of the rules that confined him, doing the most outrageous thing with the person he loved, Shen Xuan looked at their clasped hands through the path cleared by the wind. Shen Xuan was truly excited and happy.
"Xuan'er, are you tired?" After a few quick steps back to the mansion, Lu Yu turned and removed the veil from Shen Xuan's head. Looking at Shen Xuan's flushed cheeks from the exercise, she asked with a smile.
"Not tired. I'm not tired when I'm with my wife."
Oh my, how could her little husband be so good at sweet talk? Lu Yu pulled Shen Xuan's hand and quickly entered the bedroom, "Is nothing tiring when you're with me?"
This question was filled with unspoken innuendo, and Shen Xuan instantly understood Lu Yu's meaning.
Blushing, he didn't reply.