B5SB -Chapter 187 Testing the Waters

After Lu Huailin returned from the bathhouse, Gu Yihan had already finished dinner and was lying on her side in the bedroom, playing with the little one.

“Wife.”

Lu Huailin smoothly lay down behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her.

He sniffed her hair and said, “Wife, you smell so good.”

Gu Yihan pushed his head away with her hand, pointing to the lunchbox on the dressing table. “Grandma made this just for you.”

Lu Huailin had been on a mission for several months, and today he returned late, so no one had prepared his dinner at home.

He didn’t move but let his breath deliberately waft over his wife’s neck.

Seeing her instinctively shrink back, he couldn’t resist kissing her.

Gu Yihan turned and hugged Lu Huailin’s waist, making it easier for him to move.

“Da~”

The little one tugged at the back of Gu Yihan’s shirt while babbling, trying to pull himself up.

Lu Huailin released his wife, sat up, and scooped up their son, smiling: “Son, say ‘Dad.’”

The little one grabbed Lu Huailin’s hair with his tiny hands and excitedly shouted, “Ba~”

“Wife, our son can say ‘Dad’ now!” Lu Huailin exclaimed with joy.

Gu Yihan laughed; at this stage, the child was just mimicking sounds and repeated only a few syllables all day.

Lu Huailin planted a barrage of kisses on their son’s face and said with a smile, “Son, smell if Daddy smells good?”

Gu Yihan said, a bit exasperated, “Hurry up and eat. You’re still holding grudges against him.”

Lu Huailin chuckled: “Wife, he has to know that no matter how ugly I am, I’m still his dad.”

He said this while holding their son in one arm and opening the lunchbox with the other.

Seeing it full of braised pork, his heart warmed.

“Wife, the braised pork you made is really delicious,” Lu Huailin praised as he ate.

Gu Yihan took their son from his arms and smiled: “Of course, don’t you see who made it?”

The Next Day, When Gu Yihan woke up, she felt like she had forgotten something important.

Seeing Lu Huailin walk in, she suddenly slapped her forehead, quickly got out of bed, and took a letter from the cabinet to hand to him.

“It’s a letter from Beijing City.”

Hearing this, Lu Huailin reached out to take it and opened it to read.

Seeing his expression grow darker and darker, Gu Yihan knew there was no need for her to intervene.

Lu Huailin folded the letter: “Wife, I’ll talk to Dad about this.”

Gu Yihan nodded.

At the Textile Factory, After the Laba Festival, when Su Yonghong’s arm had mostly healed, she returned to work.

Seeing her shocked everyone in the office.

Her face was haggard, her cheeks hollowed, and even without touching her, the loose clothes suggested she had long been underfed.

Sister Min widened her eyes: “It’s only been a short time, and your family’s already treated you like this?”

At this moment, Su Yonghong no longer had her previous sharpness. She smiled faintly: “My stomach isn’t good; I can’t eat much.”

Gu Yihan and Hu Shan exchanged a glance, saying nothing.

After all, compared to Sister Min, they hadn’t spent as much time with Su Yonghong.

At mealtime, Hu Shan linked her arm with Gu Yihan’s and whispered, “Secretary Jiang wants to see you.”

Gu Yihan, puzzled, asked, “About what?”

Hu Shan shook her head: “Don’t know, he didn’t say.”

In the Small Canteen, Secretary Jiang glanced at Gu Yihan and smiled: “Our factory is going to expand the production line.”

Gu Yihan smiled: “That’s good.”

“Brother, can you hurry and get me a new office?” Hu Shan touched her stomach and whispered.

Secretary Jiang glared at her: “There are no extra offices.”

Cheng Bo often worked with Secretary Jiang and was familiar with him, so he spoke casually: “Secretary Jiang, isn’t Xiaoshan pregnant? She wants a change of office environment.”

Gu Yihan, hearing this, was happy: “You’re pregnant?”

Hu Shan blushed slightly and nodded shyly: “Xiaoyihan, Sister Su always bullies me, so I want a new office.”

Hearing this, Secretary Jiang frowned: “She hit you? Or scolded you?”

Hu Shan pouted: “Not really, just a few words back and forth.”

Then she linked her arm with Secretary Jiang, acting coquettishly: “Cousin, for your little nephew, give me a new office, okay?”

Secretary Jiang pulled away and his expression turned cold.

He said sternly: “Nonsense.”

Hu Shan was startled by his tone, and tears immediately welled up.

Cheng Bo quickly held her and whispered comfortingly.

He looked at Secretary Jiang, annoyed: “Cousin, can’t you speak properly?”

Gu Yihan was also shocked by Secretary Jiang’s attitude.

Secretary Jiang ignored Cheng Bo and glared coldly at Hu Shan: “You’ve been spoiled by your family!”

“Wanting a new office just because of a little argument—how arrogant of you! You think you’re even more important than the factory director?”

Hu Shan yelled: “It wasn’t even my office to begin with!”

“What office? You’re just a typist, not irreplaceable!”

Hu Shan looked at Secretary Jiang in disbelief; she never imagined she was worth so little in his eyes.

“Brother, how can you say that to me!”

Secretary Jiang coldly stared at Hu Shan: “Am I wrong?”

“In this factory with so many people, one has to work a lifetime in a post. And because of a personal grudge, you want a new office? Your face is really thick.”

Hu Shan had never been belittled like this before. Furious, she shoved Cheng Bo away, covered her face, and ran out crying.

Cheng Bo, off balance, stumbled and was quickly supported by Gu Yihan.

Secretary Jiang’s face reddened with anger, veins bulging on his neck.

He scolded Cheng Bo: “So many people in the factory—doesn’t anyone quarrel? Only you two are so pretentious. Pregnant and wanting a new office—was it for the factory?”

Cheng Bo’s expression also turned cold. He didn’t expect Secretary Jiang to show no respect for them in front of Officer Gu.

“Secretary Jiang, that’s a bit too harsh.”

With a slap, Secretary Jiang’s hand hit the table heavily, rattling the dishes and utensils with a crisp clatter.

Gu Yihan, looking at the dancing dishes in front of her, felt extremely awkward.

She never expected Secretary Jiang to have such a temper; if he hadn’t said he had something to discuss, she would never have come to the small kitchen to eat.

Cheng Bo trembled with anger and grit his teeth: “Secretary Jiang, you’re amazing.”

He glanced at Gu Yihan, snorted coldly, and left.

Gu Yihan poured a glass of water for the panting Secretary Jiang.

She comforted him: “Secretary Jiang, there’s no need to be so angry.”

Secretary Jiang glanced at Gu Yihan and sneered: “They’re testing my limits.”

He took a sip of water and continued: “This time it’s a new office for Hu Shan; next time, they’ll want separate rooms.”

Gu Yihan didn’t understand. The siblings usually seemed to get along well.

Why couldn’t they just discuss matters openly? Why the constant testing and probing?