SGEIRS -Chapter 587 A Scheming Man

The night was deep and silent, with a bright moon and sparse stars.

Gu Jingxi couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. He glanced at the son lying between him and A-Yao. The little thing was adorable, fair and delicate, yet the more he looked, the more irritating he found him. Now that A-Yao had this child, she no longer seemed to care about him.

He couldn’t sleep, and neither could Meng Jinyao. She glanced at him and asked with concern, “Husband, it’s so late—can’t sleep? Did some tricky case trouble you so much that you can’t rest?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “No.”

Meng Jinyao asked again, “Then why are you tossing and turning?”

He turned to her, his gaze heavy with grievance, and asked back, “Do you still not know why I can’t sleep?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head blankly. How could she know? She wasn’t a mind reader inside his head. How could she know why he had suddenly become melancholic? She just felt that this man had gotten oddly sentimental, not saying what was on his mind and expecting her to guess. Isn’t that exactly the unreasonable behavior of a little wife?

She thought this, yet still asked patiently, “Husband, if you don’t tell me, how would I know? How about a little hint?”

Gu Jingxi, like a wronged lady in a secluded chamber, spoke with a plaintive tone: “A-Yao, you’ve been neglecting me for three days. Last night you promised me you wouldn’t sleep with Gu Xiuheng tonight, yet you brought him here and laid him between us. Tell me, was that on purpose?”

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao’s face stiffened. She suddenly remembered the promise she made last night and glanced at their son sleeping soundly. She knew the consequences would be serious if she didn’t calm him tonight. She laughed awkwardly: “Husband, it’s just that Wanwan is clingy. I’ll take him back to the nurse now. Once he grows up, he’ll sleep on his own. Boys shouldn’t be too pampered; they need to learn independence early. Isn’t that right, Husband?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Gu Jingxi sat up, got off the bed, and picked up the sleeping child to leave the room.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao instinctively moved toward the inner side of the bed, stopping only when there was nowhere left to retreat.

Before long, Gu Jingxi returned to the room and saw his little wife tightly wrapped in blankets at the far end of the bed. He smiled meaningfully: “A-Yao, what are you hiding in there for? I’m not going to eat you.”

Saying this, he climbed onto the bed and pulled the little wife from the far end into his arms.

Meng Jinyao swallowed hard, feeling a dangerous glint in his eyes, and mumbled, “Husband, I’m sleepy.”

Gu Jingxi, unusually unsentimental, hardened his heart: “You sleep, I’ll do my business.”

With that, he pulled the blanket from around Meng Jinyao and got busy, putting actions behind his words.

Originally, Meng Jinyao hadn’t been sleepy, but after Gu Jingxi’s antics, she was exhausted and drowsy. Yet the man didn’t stop; he demanded she coax him with sweet words. She repeated the embarrassing phrases over and over until, unknowingly, she fell asleep.

By noon the next day, Meng Jinyao slowly woke. Seeing the room bright, she realized it was late. She wanted to get up but felt completely drained—her waist ached, her legs weak, and she had no desire to move.

She called out hoarsely, “Ningdong,” secretly cursing Gu Jingxi for overdoing it and leaving her so fatigued.

Ningdong and Chunliu, waiting outside, hurried in to attend her upon hearing her voice.

Inside, they saw their mistress lying with a face full of grievance. Just as they were about to ask what happened, Meng Jinyao asked, “What time is it now?”

Ningdong replied, “Mistress, it’s almost noon. After washing up, it’ll be just in time for lunch.”

Meng Jinyao asked again, “Today seems to be a day off. Where is the Marquis?”

Ningdong replied, “The Marquis is in the study. Would Mistress like me to fetch him?”

Before Meng Jinyao could respond, Gu Jingxi’s voice sounded, “A-Yao, are you looking for me?”

Meng Jinyao scowled at him and huffed, ignoring him.

Chunliu and Ningdong exchanged glances, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Gu Jingxi waved his hand. “Go ahead, bring water in to help Mistress wash up.”

The two servants stepped back.

Gu Jingxi approached the bed and sat on the edge, looking down at the little wife who was still scowling. He picked her up and coaxed, “It’s all my fault for making you angry, A-Yao. Will you forgive me this time? I won’t dare do it again.”

Meng Jinyao pinched his waist lightly and huffed, “Haven’t you always said that? You admit your mistake but will still dare next time.”

Hearing her hoarse voice, Gu Jingxi realized he had overdone it last night. Softly and tenderly, he coaxed, “A-Yao, I know my mistake. You can punish me, scold me, I’ll accept it. Just don’t be angry anymore.”

Meng Jinyao glared at him. “This month, you sleep in the study. I’ll sleep with Wanwan.”

Gu Jingxi sighed lightly, a trace of regret in his voice: “I’m afraid that can’t happen. Mother is so fond of Wanwan. This morning, I took him to pay respects to her. When she held him, she couldn’t let go. She decided to keep him for a while. But don’t worry, A-Yao; Wanwan won’t be lonely. Yunxin from the Xiuyuan family is with her too.”

Meng Jinyao: “???”

She tightened her face, glaring at Gu Jingxi, clenching her teeth. She didn’t believe this wasn’t his doing.

Truly a scheming man. While she was asleep, he sent Wanwan to his mother-in-law, said something to her, and now mother-in-law kept Wanwan—blocking her from using him as a shield.

Since mother-in-law adored her grandson, letting him stay there pleased her. There was no way Meng Jinyao could bring him back now; she would have to wait until mother-in-law grew tired of caring for him before retrieving the child.

Gu Jingxi, seemingly oblivious to his little wife’s anger, continued gently: “A-Yao, are you hungry? Get up and dress. The kitchen prepared your favorite dishes. You can eat soon.” He then bent down to help her put on her shoes, then assisted with her clothing.

Meng Jinyao, indeed hungry, didn’t resist. After dressing and washing up—her hair combed with his help—she finally went out to the hall for lunch.

Gu Jingxi, knowing he was in the wrong, attended to her carefully as if serving a deity, almost feeding her himself.

Perhaps because all the dishes were her favorites, Meng Jinyao enjoyed the meal thoroughly. When she put down her chopsticks, she finally addressed him: “Husband, tomorrow is the announcement of the Autumn Examination results, right?”

Gu Jingxi nodded. “Yes.”

Meng Jinyao became nervous. Her eldest sister-in-law hoped Xiuwen would succeed; she also had high hopes for her second brother. She wanted him to succeed but didn’t want to pressure him, so she had to hide any worry in front of him.

Gu Jingxi held her small hand gently and said warmly, “Don’t be nervous. Your second brother is still young. Even if he doesn’t pass the exam, he surely will in three years. With his talent now, passing is inevitable, barring any accidents.”

Meng Jinyao nodded, knowing there was no point in worrying—the result would be known tomorrow.