The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

The next day, after seeing Lin Shan off, Gu’er and the others accompanied Chen Fengjiao back to the Lin family home.

Besides Sun Jiaming, Li Zhi and Dingzi also came. Liu Yuan couldn’t make it because he was too busy at the shopping center and couldn’t get away.

"Gu’er, your dad’s not home and Mom isn’t used to it. Why don’t you stay with me for a couple more days before you move out?"

Chen Fengjiao asked Gu’er, her eyes red.

’Mom already promised Dad yesterday, but now that he’s gone, she’s asking me to stay for a couple more days. A couple more days, and then another couple... at this rate, I’ll never move out.’

’Indecisiveness only leads to more trouble.’ Gu’er really didn’t want to live under the same roof as Sui’er. With her father gone, Sui’er would be even more likely to pick fights with her.

"Mom, look, Brother Jia Ming, Li Zhi, and Dingzi are all here. It wouldn’t be right to trouble them again in two days to help me move. I’ll get it done today. Besides, I’ll still come back all the time when I’m free; I just won’t be sleeping here. If you’re tired, I can even take Xiao Zheng to my place. I can take him to and from school, and then bring him back to you before Brother Jia Ming and I have to go out."

Gu’er tactfully refused.

Chen Fengjiao didn’t feel good about it, but she couldn’t say much in front of everyone.

"No, that’s alright. If Xiao Zheng isn’t home either, I’ll feel even more adrift. You go handle your business. I can still manage Xiao Zheng."

Chen Fengjiao also rejected Gu’er’s proposal.

Gu’er didn’t insist.

They stayed at the Lin family home for a while longer. Gu’er looked at Chen Fengjiao, who was staring at the floor with red eyes, her mood still somber.

Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi chatted for a bit, but the atmosphere didn’t liven up.

Dingzi was a man of few words, and with the atmosphere this awkward, there really was nothing to talk about.

But Gu’er was a little worried about Chen Fengjiao’s state, so she couldn’t just leave. She could only sit there awkwardly, refilling their water.

"Alright, aren’t you supposed to be moving? Your things are all packed, so just go ahead and move. Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Chen Fengjiao finally snapped out of it and gave Gu’er the go-ahead to move.

After Sun Jiaming and the others had carried Gu’er’s things downstairs, Gu’er said her goodbyes to Chen Fengjiao.

"Don’t worry, I understand. I’m just reluctant to see you go, that’s why I can’t seem to get over it. I’ll be fine in a couple of days. Sometimes I say things without thinking, so don’t you take it to heart." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Chen Fengjiao held Gu’er’s hand.

Hearing this, Gu’er felt relieved.

Li Zhi drove the things over in his car, and then everyone helped Gu’er carry them upstairs.

Gu’er’s new place wasn’t large, but it had all the necessities. Now that her things were arranged, it was all set.

"You know, it’s tradition to have a housewarming feast when you move into a new place. I’m telling you, Gu’er, you have to treat us to a big meal."

Li Zhi said loudly. He wasn’t really after a free meal; he just wanted to dispel some of the sadness.

"Of course. Let’s all eat here tonight. I’ll go grocery shopping in a bit and treat you all properly."

Gu’er understood his intentions and was grateful.

"I’ll go with you."

Sun Jiaming had no objections.

"Hey, Jia Ming, you’re not even married yet and you’re already following your woman around everywhere. If you two get married, are you going to tie Gu’er to your belt? No way, you have to stay here with me and Dingzi. Cooking isn’t a man’s job. You can’t bring shame upon us men!"

Li Zhi teased Sun Jiaming.

"I want to."

Sun Jiaming glanced at him.

Gu’er, however, glared at Li Zhi.

"Fine, fine, you want to, you want to! You two just team up on me. But if you both go out, what are me and this quiet fellow supposed to do at home? We’ll come grocery shopping too. Let’s go, let’s go, all together."

Li Zhi stood up, and Dingzi, indifferent, got up as well.

"Brother Jia Ming, you should just stay here with them. Me, going grocery shopping with three big guys trailing behind me... anyone who doesn’t know better will think we’re robbers."

Gu’er looked at the three of them and decided not to take them. Bringing one was one thing, but bringing three was just a bit much.

"There’s nothing here. You need to buy meat, vegetables, everything. I’m worried you won’t be able to carry it all. If I come, I can help you carry things."

Sun Jiaming said in a low voice, then turned to Li Zhi. "Don’t cause trouble. Just stay here quietly. If you’re bored, you and Dingzi can play chess. I brought a set over last time."

Li Zhi looked at Dingzi and threw up his hands. "I’m not playing with him! You guys have no idea what it’s like playing chess with him. Anyway, I don’t care, I can help carry stuff too. I’m going."

Dingzi’s lips twitched into what might have been a smile.

Gu’er was out of options. Just as Sun Jiaming had said, the apartment was empty. She had to buy oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, plus meat and vegetables. She really couldn’t carry all that by herself and did need a hand.

And so, Gu’er led her three followers-slash-bodyguards downstairs and went to the nearby market to buy what she needed.

While they were shopping, the vendors all stared strangely at their group. What kind of woman goes around with three men in tow? One blunt person even asked Gu’er what she did for a living and which one was her man, leaving Gu’er speechless. She even overheard someone whisper that this woman definitely wasn’t decent, having three men like that.

’I’m a perfectly decent person, thank you very much! I’ve never had any other ideas. Three men? The thought has never even crossed my mind. When I get married, Sun Jiaming will be more than enough for me.’

But the mouths belonged to other people, and they were whispering besides. She couldn’t very well go and argue with them; it would probably just make things look worse.

Gu’er could only pretend she hadn’t heard.

Sun Jiaming, Li Zhi, and Dingzi naturally heard the gossip as well, but there was nothing they could do about it either.

"Don’t take it to heart. They’re just gossips, so don’t pay any mind to what they say. We don’t know them, and we don’t have to live with them. There’s no need to care about their words. As long as we know in our hearts that we’re doing nothing wrong, we don’t need to worry about what others say. Li Zhi and Dingzi are good friends worth having. You shouldn’t overthink things just because of a few stray comments."

Sun Jiaming said to Gu’er in a low voice, afraid she might be taking others’ words to heart.

Gu’er truly hadn’t expected Sun Jiaming to say something like that. She looked at him, her eyes shining, and said, "Brother Jia Ming, you’re a real man."

This was the first time Gu’er had been so blunt. Sun Jiaming’s face flushed red, and he smiled at her.

Li Zhi and Dingzi exchanged a look. Sun Jiaming’s voice was quiet, but their hearing was far beyond that of a normal person, so they had heard everything. For Sun Jiaming to say such a thing—just as Gu’er said, he was a real man. He didn’t doubt his woman, nor did he doubt his buddies. He wasn’t petty. A man like that was rare. A more small-minded man would probably let his imagination run wild, wondering what Gu’er was doing behind his back. Over time, that would surely lead to conflict. But Sun Jiaming wasn’t like that at all. In fact, he even comforted Gu’er. That was a real man—unconditionally trusting his woman.

Sun Jiaming was more magnanimous than either of them. This friend, this brother—they acknowledged him as their own!