B5SB -Chapter 45 The Shen Family

Jinyang City

Gu Yihan was preparing to visit the Shen family. She didn’t know at all that her background had already been exposed.

At the supply and marketing cooperative, Gu Yihan bought two cans of food and a pound of brown sugar. Not too much, not too little—just the right amount. Too much, and people might think she was trying to show off or overstep her bounds.

Following the address given by Teacher Shen, she arrived at the staff housing of the Machinery Factory.

At the door of No. 302, she raised her hand and knocked: “Knock, knock, knock.”

She heard Teacher Shen call out, “Zixin, go open the door!”

In her mind, Gu Yihan repeated quietly: “Zixin…”

Zixin opened the door and politely addressed the girl standing outside: “Comrade Gu.”

Teacher Shen, seeing his younger brother at a loss for words, pushed him aside and said, “You really don’t know how to speak. Come on in, Xiaohan. My mother has been wanting to meet you for a long time.”

Teacher Shen took Gu Yihan’s hand and led her into the living room. “Mom, Xiaohan you’ve been thinking about so much, I’ve finally brought her to you.”

Gu Yihan carried her items, feeling slightly uncomfortable as Teacher Shen warmly held her hand. This was completely different from her school persona.

Mrs. Shen came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands, and her eyes lit up when she saw Gu Yihan.

“Oh, so this is the Xiaohan Zihan mentioned. What a coincidence! Look, the names are even so similar.” She quickly took Gu Yihan from Teacher Shen’s hand and guided her to sit on the sofa.

Gu Yihan smiled awkwardly. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming. She handed the items she brought to Mrs. Shen, saying, “Aunt, this is my first time visiting, and I wasn’t sure what you liked.”

Mrs. Shen accepted the items casually and placed them on the table, smiling warmly: “No need to bring anything. From now on, just treat this as your home. Come by anytime you’re free.”

Teacher Shen went to the kitchen with Zixin to pour some water. “So, how is she? Your future wife is beautiful. You’re lucky to marry someone like her.”

Zixin looked helplessly at his sister. “Sis, I already like someone else. You know that.”

Teacher Shen looked at him seriously. “Let’s not talk about whether I approve or not. Our parents certainly wouldn’t approve either. Do you even know the background of the girl you like?”

Zixin hurriedly explained: “Sis, her family isn’t poor either. Her father is a Grade 8 worker at the steel plant; his salary isn’t lower than Dad’s.”

Teacher Shen laughed in exasperation. “Salary isn’t low? Then why didn’t she go to school? It was you who paid the tuition for her to even get a chance to attend high school.”

“She hasn’t even married yet, and you’re already supporting her.”

“What kind of family is that? What help could they give you in the future? They would only hold you back.”

Zixin frowned in disagreement: “Sis, love isn’t measured by other people or external circumstances. I like her—even if she holds me back, I’m happy.”

Seeing her brother, Teacher Shen realized he was still a hopeless romantic. She didn’t shatter his fantasy and pushed him gently: “Go pour some water for Xiaohan first. Keep in touch by letter for now—she’s only sixteen.”

Zixin opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. He turned to the living room, set a cup of water in front of Gu Yihan, and stiffly said, “Comrade Gu, have some water.”

Gu Yihan looked up at him. He was about 1.8 meters tall, wearing a white shirt and military trousers, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face.

She smiled at him politely: “Thank you.”

After pouring the water, Zixin went back to the kitchen efficiently.

Mrs. Shen noticed Gu Yihan scrutinizing her son and said happily, “My son has been a soldier in another city. He hasn’t interacted much with young girls and doesn’t know how to speak. A man like him isn’t flirtatious and has a sense of responsibility.”

She then patted Gu Yihan’s hand gently: “Xiaohan, you can come over during holidays. I’m often home alone and get bored, so I like having pretty young girls around.”

Mrs. Shen chatted kindly with Gu Yihan, asking about her family. Although a bit curious, she had nothing to hide.

“Creak.”

Hearing the sound, Gu Yihan looked toward the door.

Mrs. Shen immediately stood up and called to Teacher Shen in the kitchen: “Zihan, bring the food to the table. Your father is home.”

Teacher Shen responded from the kitchen: “Got it, Mom.”

Gu Yihan saw the person entering was Deputy Director Shen, wearing a Zhongshan suit. She immediately stood and said, “Director Shen.”

Deputy Director Shen looked at Gu Yihan: “Xiaohan, sit down. Consider this your own home—no need to be so formal.”

Teacher Shen placed the dishes on the table and said to Gu Yihan with a smile, “Don’t be misled by my father’s expression—he’s very easygoing at home.”

Deputy Director Shen noticed Gu Yihan still standing and smiled: “Xiaohan, sit and eat with us. You’re Zihan’s classmate. Just call me Uncle.”

Gu Yihan had no choice but to sit and politely say, “Uncle.”

When all the dishes were served, Gu Yihan looked at the spread—fish, meat—yet she found the meal tasteless.

Under the table, Mrs. Shen nudged her son with her foot. Zixin looked up and, seeing his mother’s signal, reluctantly picked up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks and put it in Gu Yihan’s bowl: “Comrade Gu, don’t be shy. Have some.”

Gu Yihan felt as if struck by lightning. Look at the meat in the bowl—eat it? It’s already touched his mouth. The thought made her feel nauseous.

Awkwardly, she picked it up and handed it back: “Thanks, I can’t eat fatty meat, haha.”

She quickly finished the rice in her bowl, put down her chopsticks, and said, “You all eat slowly. I’m done.”

After a while, once everyone had finished, Gu Yihan found an excuse to leave.

Hearing this, Mrs. Shen said, “Zixin, come out and see Xiaohan off.”

Gu Yihan hurriedly refused: “Aunt, it’s fine. I’ll go home myself…”

Before she could finish, Zixin interrupted: “Come on, I’ll take you.”

Zixin walked Gu Yihan to her door. Just then, the neighbor Lin Fang came out.

“Brother Zixin, what are you doing here?” Lin Fang’s eyes shone as she looked at Shen’s younger brother.

Gu Yihan glanced at them both and said to Zixin, “That’s enough. I’m home now.”

She quickly closed the door and pressed her ear against it to listen to what was happening outside.

Lin Fang looked at Zixin in disbelief: “Why are you with her?”

Worried about a misunderstanding, Zixin hugged her: “She’s my sister’s student. She came to visit today, and my mom didn’t feel comfortable letting her go alone, so I escorted her.”

Lin Fang finally relaxed, burying her head in his chest: “Brother Zixin, I only have you. If you don’t want me, I won’t live.”

Gu Yihan snorted at this, thinking that kind of line only fools idiots. “Not live?” She looked down and saw Maomao staring at her with big round eyes.

Startled, she immediately put a finger to her lips and whispered a shush—no random shouting allowed.

Zixin hugged Lin Fang tenderly and kissed her hair: “Don’t worry, I want no one but you.”

Gu Yihan, having listened to this meaningless romantic talk for a while, shook her head as she walked off. Teen love—hopeless.

Maomao followed her, shaking his head in imitation. Gu Yihan laughed and scolded: “Silly dog.”