Chapter 369: Chapter 369: The Bootlicker
Gu Shiting felt very settled living at the Sheng Family.
Mrs. Gu was worried and called Sheng Tang to ask how Gu Shiting was doing. Sheng Tang said everything was fine.
The only thing he couldn’t get used to was not exercising at night.
He dared not go to the gym outside; it was too crowded.
Sheng Tang would take him jogging around the neighborhood.
Although their neighborhood was in a bustling old city area, most residents went to bed early. By nine in the evening, the streets were deserted.
She and Gu Shiting would run a few laps around the neighborhood, which counted as their daily exercise.
Sheng Tang was also very busy during the day.
Before the New Year, her parents liked to visit friends and relatives, sometimes taking Sheng Tang along. They also needed to prepare New Year’s goods, and Sheng Tang enjoyed joining in the excitement.
Gu Shiting was home alone during the day.
He didn’t feel bored because he anticipated waiting for Sheng Tang to come back. So he waited obediently.
Sometimes he self-reflected and felt like a pet dog—quietly at home alone during the day, and jubilantly greeting his master when she came home in the evening.
"Was I Tangtang’s pet dog in a past life?" Gu Shiting mused.
He didn’t share this thought with Sheng Tang; otherwise, she would laugh herself to tears.
On the 28th day of the lunar month, Sheng Tang had to go out again.
This time, she specifically asked Gu Shiting, "Do you want to come along?"
She was going to meet Jiang Baocu.
During the winter break, Jiang Baocu had called her several times to invite her to a meal.
Sheng Tang had always declined.
With just a little time left before the New Year and no major matters at home, Sheng Tang didn’t want to keep refusing a friend’s invitation.
Friendship also needs maintenance. It’s hurtful to always turn down invitations.
"Just the two of us. We’ll choose a relatively quiet restaurant," Sheng Tang said.
S City is at its quietest and most spacious before the New Year.
Many people went back to their hometowns for the holiday, which took away 90% of the city’s population. The usually crowded city suddenly became so quiet that it felt particularly odd.
Grandma said many shops in the mall had closed, and it was desolate everywhere.
"I’m not going. Grandma said she would teach me how to make dumplings at noon," Gu Shiting replied.
He noticed how the Gu Family loved eating dumplings, especially Sheng Tang.
Every time Grandma made dumplings, Sheng Tang always praised them and ate a lot.
Gu Shiting wanted to secretly learn Grandma’s cooking skills.
One day, he could replace everyone in Sheng Tang’s life and be her one and only.
Besides dumplings, Grandma also promised to teach him how to cook home-style dishes.
Grandma said, "Sister Tang and her brother don’t like to go into the kitchen. Their mother doesn’t learn properly either. My skills are going to be lost soon."
Gu Shiting’s eagerness to learn made Grandma very happy.
"Tang wants to go out?" Grandma heard from outside, "Ting wants to learn how to make dumplings. Aren’t you going to join us?"
"I really have something to do," Sheng Tang replied.
Then she mentioned that Gu Shiting was always hovering around Grandma, vying for her affection, "You little flatterer."
Gu Shiting laughed. At that moment, Sheng Tang’s childish jealousy was adorable.
When Sheng Tang was with him or others, she had a very strong presence. She was the big sister, the one in charge, and everyone had to listen to her. She was capable and astute.
But at home, she was like an innocent child.
She would act spoiled around Grandma and her parents, fight with her brother over the TV remote, be lazy, and then listen to scolding from her parents or Grandma, but feel pleased being nagged.
Gu Shiting loved this side of her - soft, cute, and wanting to hold her in the palm of his hand.
Sheng Tang went out alone.
It wasn’t easy to hail a cab before the New Year; she waited for twenty minutes before one arrived.
Meeting Jiang Baocu at the restaurant, Jiang Baocu happily hugged her and then said, "We’re going to play Werewolf later this afternoon. You can’t run away this time; I’ve finally managed to get you out!"
Sheng Tang: "..."