Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Su Shuochi’s Decision
Mu Ziquan was lost in thought when a displeased voice cut in. "The food is all on the table. Don’t you want to eat?"
Seeing Mu Ziquan staring dazedly at Gu Jiaojiao’s back, Su Shuochi strode over and blocked his line of sight.
"I can’t push this wheelchair myself." Mu Ziquan lowered his head, his fists clenched tightly. He was panicking inside, terrified his private feelings would be exposed.
He glanced up at Su Shuochi, only to see him glaring with a cold, sinister gaze.
If looks could kill, he knew he would have already died countless times over under Su Shuochi’s glare.
In truth, Mu Ziquan felt deeply insecure. In his twenty-five years, he had never experienced anything romantic.
’He’d never fallen for anyone before, but the first time it happens, it’s with *his* wife. What kind of rotten luck is this?!’
"After we eat, I’ll let you use my automatic wheelchair," Su Shuochi said, his face devoid of expression.
Still, he walked behind Mu Ziquan’s wheelchair and began pushing him toward the dining table.
"Thank you, Grand-uncle. In truth, I only admire Grand-aunt," Mu Ziquan lied.
’The main thing was, when he started to fall for her, he had no idea she was already married! By the time he found out, he had already fallen in love with her!’
"I understand how you feel. You’re just desperate for Jiaojiao to heal your leg, that’s all.
She’s your elder, so it’s normal to feel this kind of dependence. You’re not stupid enough to confess to her, are you?!"
It was a rare moment of "kindness" for Su Shuochi to say so much to Mu Ziquan. His Jiaojiao had always been slow when it came to romance.
Since Mu Ziquan was showing signs of admiring her, he decided to nip it in the bud to keep Jiaojiao from being troubled.
When he first met her, he, too, had been desperate for her to heal his leg, with no feelings of love at the time.
Besides, she was already his wife at that point. As they spent more time together, he gradually found himself falling hopelessly in love with her.
And she was oblivious at first. It was only under his passionate guidance that she slowly came to understand his affection.
"I haven’t said anything," Mu Ziquan said in a low voice. ’How could I dare say anything?!’
At this thought, Mu Ziquan’s face turned ashen.
"She is your Grand-aunt. You can admire her, you can depend on her, but you cannot have any other ideas. Understand?"
After saying this, Su Shuochi leaned forward, looking down at Mu Ziquan from a position of dominance.
Mu Ziquan looked up at Su Shuochi and was about to say something when he heard Gu Jiaojiao’s clear, pleasant voice.
"Shu Ci, Mu Ziquan, hurry up and come eat! What are you two whispering about over there?"
"Honey, your grand-nephew here doesn’t like his wheelchair. I was thinking of giving him my automatic one."
Su Shuochi’s voice was mellow and magnetic, a world of difference from when he was speaking to Mu Ziquan.
"Sure, you can walk normally now anyway." As she spoke, Gu Jiaojiao walked to Su Shuochi’s side.
It was only a few steps, but having two people push his wheelchair made Mu Ziquan feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Gu Jiaojiao had made several dishes for lunch today, all served in large bowls and platters with generous portions.
The food was incredibly delicious. After everyone had a bite, the old gentlemen couldn’t stop lavishing it with praise.
Han Jingyi and Xiao Rui, in particular, were wolfing down their food like they hadn’t eaten in an eternity.
Xiao Jiyan and Fu Guoguo were a little reserved at first, but in the face of such delicious food, all else was forgotten.
Even Mu Ziquan ate with great relish, with no time to dwell on his tangled mess of thoughts.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Han Jingyi, Xiao Rui, and Fu Guoguo volunteered to clear the table and wash the dishes.
Two bodyguards took the initiative to clean the living room, while the old gentlemen, stuffed from the meal, sat on the sofa.
Su Shuochi went to the car to get his wheelchair for Mu Ziquan and showed him how to use it.
Gu Jiaojiao and Xiao Jiyan stood nearby, watching—each watching her own man, of course.
The two men were equally handsome, both with short-cropped hair. Su Shuochi, in particular, had the collar of his white shirt slightly unbuttoned.
Because he was busy, his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his mid-forearms, revealing tan skin.
His eyes were deep and sharp, his nose high-bridged. The combination was like a masterpiece skillfully crafted by God himself.
Gu Jiaojiao found him more and more attractive. She then looked at the equally handsome Mu Ziquan and teased in a loud voice.
"Xiao Jiyan, you’re really something else! I heard that Mu Ziquan is the most handsome man in the entire compound.
All the socialites and debutantes in the Imperial City were lining up for a chance to win over this ’flower on a high peak,’ but every one of them returned in failure.
And yet you plucked him so easily. You’re truly amazing. Your Grand-aunt here is quite impressed."
Xiao Jiyan was speechless. ’I wish I had plucked him! But I haven’t yet!’
She looked at Mu Ziquan. Seeing that he didn’t object, she gathered her courage and confessed again, "I’ve been in love with him for ten years. I’ve wanted to marry him ever since I was old enough to understand."
Gu Jiaojiao had never considered that Mu Ziquan might not like Xiao Jiyan, because she had witnessed with her own eyes how coldly he treated his adopted cousin.
In comparison, Mu Ziquan treated Xiao Jiyan countless times better, so she had assumed he liked her.
As for why they weren’t married yet, Gu Jiaojiao automatically assumed it was because of Mu Ziquan’s leg condition that they hadn’t held a wedding.
She patted her chest, full of confidence, and said, "You two can rest easy. In one week, Xia Qiuming and I will operate on Mu Ziquan. With some rehabilitation exercises, he’ll be walking in two months."
"Really? He can walk normally in just over two months?" Mu Ziquan and Xiao Jiyan said in unison.
"Your Grand-aunt would never lie to you, haha! You two can go ahead and start preparing the betrothal gifts and the dowry."
Mu Ziquan and Xiao Jiyan were both left speechless.
Though they were happy for different reasons, both were overjoyed. Mu Ziquan was happy that he would be able to walk normally, just like Su Shuochi.
He could see that Su Shuochi was perfectly healthy, without the slightest sign of any disability.
Xiao Jiyan was happy that Mu Ziquan hadn’t refuted their Grand-aunt’s words. ’Could he really have been moved by my sincerity?!’
She clasped her hands together, bowed toward the sky countless times, and muttered under her breath, "Thank you, heaven. Thank you, heaven and earth. Thank you, all you passing Immortals..."
At some point, the three old gentlemen and the teenagers who had been washing dishes had all come out into the courtyard.
The old gentlemen were grinning from ear to ear in a particularly exaggerated fashion, and the two young men were laughing so hard they were doubled over.
The courtyard was instantly filled with joyous laughter.
After the laughter died down, Su Shuochi whispered to Gu Jiaojiao that he didn’t want to work at the research institute.
When Gu Jiaojiao heard how strict the work at the research institute was, and that he wouldn’t even be free to come home, she agreed with Su Shuochi’s idea.
Mr. Han immediately stated his opinion. "Since Shuo Ci’s leg is healed, he should go back to the army and continue his training."
But Elder Xiao stressed, "Shuo Ci’s leg still needs some time to recover. He should take this opportunity to develop another piece of medical equipment."
Gu Jiaojiao made the final decision. "Shu Ci will listen to both of the old gentlemen. He’ll develop a few more new devices, and then he’ll return to the army to train."
