SGEIRS -Chapter 206 He Felt Heartache for Her

Gu Jingxi saw that she remained silent and couldn’t tell whether she liked the pastries or not. He felt inexplicably uneasy and once again sighed inwardly—raising a young girl was truly not easy. There were always so many things to worry about.

He broke the silence. “If you don’t like them, I’ll buy pastries from another shop next time?”

His voice was gentle and soft, carrying a hint of coaxing, like he was comforting a child.

Meng Jinyao came back to her senses. She glanced at the pastry in her hand, then looked up at Gu Jingxi. He still wore that gentle, calm expression. She stared straight into his eyes, but she didn’t see the deep, lingering affection described in romance stories—there was no intense, lingering love in his gaze.

She quietly withdrew her gaze, feeling that she had been overthinking things again. She was being too sentimental. A vague sense of disappointment rose in her heart.

Seeing her expression change several times without responding, Gu Jingxi asked again, “Do you not like it, Madam?”

Meng Jinyao gently shook her head. “No. I quite like Yipin Pavilion’s lotus pastries. Among all the pastry shops in the capital, I think theirs taste the best.”

“Then why do you look so unhappy?” he asked.

She casually found an excuse. “It’s nothing. I just thought of my grandfather. When he was still alive, he would sometimes buy me pastries from Yipin Pavilion after work.”

Although it was just an excuse, when she said it, memories surfaced uncontrollably—her grandfather buying her pastries, rushing home after work to coax and play with her.

Before she knew it, her eyes turned red and moist.

Gu Jingxi was slightly stunned. He had little experience comforting others and didn’t know what to do for a moment.

He was the only legitimate son in his family and had grown up pampered by his parents. In his youth, he had once been proud and spirited. Yet even so, he had his unhappy times. As for this young girl—she had lost her mother at birth and had only her grandfather to dote on her. Before long, even her grandfather passed away. Without elders to protect her, it was hard to imagine how many hardships she had endured growing up.

Looking at her tear-filled eyes, his heart tightened. Choosing his words carefully, he said softly,
“Don’t cry. I’ll buy them for you in the future, alright?”

She sniffed and asked through sobs, “Why are you so good to me?”

He smiled. “You’re my wife. Isn’t it only right that I treat you well?”

She glanced at him and murmured, “Is it only out of a husband’s responsibility?”

He paused slightly, not quite understanding her meaning, but still thought it over carefully. “Not entirely.”

At first, it had been out of responsibility. Later, he gradually realized how difficult her life had been. Her experiences made him feel sorry for her, and he subconsciously wanted to treat this unfortunate girl better.

Of course, a husband treating his wife well was only natural. He was much older than her and should take better care of her.

Those five words made Meng Jinyao think even more. Ever since Ningdong had raised this issue before, she couldn’t help linking his words and actions together, wondering if that was really the case. She must have been too idle, to think about such things.

But she would never ask directly. Unless he made his feelings clear, asking now and finding out it meant nothing would only make her seem embarrassingly self-infatuated.

Gu Jingxi spoke gently, “Alright, don’t cry anymore. I’ll buy them for you in the future. As long as I have time and the shop isn’t sold out, I’ll bring you some back after work every day, okay?”

A warm current flowed through her heart. She lowered her head slightly and replied softly,
“That’s not necessary every day. If you buy them so often, I’ll get tired of them in less than a month. Just once in a while is fine.”

He replied warmly, “Alright, as you wish.” After thinking for a moment, he added, “While they’re still fresh, have some first?”

She nodded.

He summoned a maid and asked her to bring a clean plate and arrange the pastries on it.

Meng Jinyao picked one up and tasted it. It was crisp, fragrant, and sweet—the same flavor she remembered. After so many years, it never changed. That modest little shop had stayed prosperous for so long precisely because of this consistent taste, which also proved how skilled the pastry chef was.

Perhaps because she hadn’t eaten them in a long time, she ended up eating five or six pieces in a row.

Gu Jingxi said, “Madam, don’t eat too much, or you won’t be able to eat dinner later.”

Her hand paused midair. Hearing this, she withdrew it and picked up the damp cloth prepared by the maid to wipe her hands.

He continued, “Later, come with me to Shou’an Hall and have dinner with Mother.”

She answered without hesitation, “Alright.”

Then she asked, “Will the others go?”

“No.” He glanced at her. “Xiuming won’t go either. Just the two of us.”

With no annoying people around, her mood brightened again.

Shou’an Hall

After marrying into the Gu family for several months, this was the first time Meng Jinyao accompanied Gu Jingxi to dine with Old Madam Gu. The old madam liked peace and quiet and disliked being disturbed by younger generations, so she usually ate alone.

Old Madam Gu not only looked kind and benevolent, but also had a gentle and loving temperament. When Meng Jinyao was with her, she felt little pressure, and their relationship had always been harmonious.

The old madam glanced at her silent son and felt a bit exasperated. Fine, he didn’t talk much—but he didn’t even know to pick food for his wife. The older he got, the quieter he became. Wouldn’t it be worse in a few years? What young girl would like facing a dull, silent man every day?

She turned to her daughter-in-law and asked gently, “A-Yao, Yaoling doesn’t talk much and doesn’t know how to get along with young ladies. Is it tiring for you to be with him?”

At this, Gu Jingxi instinctively turned to look at the girl beside him.

Meng Jinyao paused while picking up food, then answered honestly, “Mother, my husband does take the initiative to start conversations, and he’s not that quiet. Being with him isn’t tiring.”

“Is that so?” The old madam sounded doubtful, then smiled. “As long as you can talk, that’s good. I was afraid this dull fellow wouldn’t know how to treat a young lady properly and would make you suffer.”

Warmth rose in Meng Jinyao’s heart. “Rest assured, Mother. My husband treats me very well. He’s never wronged me.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “He even bought me lotus pastries after work today.”

Old Madam Gu looked at her son in astonishment, almost in disbelief. Then she quickly broke into a relieved smile. She hadn’t expected him to understand such things—it was truly rare.

After a while, she said gently, “As long as you two get along well, I can rest at ease.”