She sat up and realized that she felt different than usual. Memories of last night's tenderness and unbridled passion flooded back, and the unease she felt when she couldn't find anyone was suddenly replaced by overwhelming shame.
Gu Yueyue lay down silently and burrowed deeper into the blankets.
Xu Yi was outside with Xiao Xiao when she noticed the commotion in the bedroom. She urged Xiao Xiao to go to the toy room to play by herself.
The bedroom door opened, and Gu Yueyue heard footsteps approaching. She nervously gripped the sheets.
"Teacher Gu."
It was that title again. Before last night, Gu Yueyue had never felt any warmth in those three words.
Since last night, these three words have been like something fished out of boiling water; just hearing them makes one's head spin.
"I know you're awake. Get up and eat something." Xu Yi sat down by the bed and gently pulled back the thin blanket covering Gu Yueyue.
Gu Yueyue peeked out, stretched out her fair and smooth arms to hug the blanket in front of her, blushed, and said coquettishly, "Bring me, cough...bring me my clothes, you can go out first."
When I opened my mouth, I realized that my voice was like an old radio with a bad signal, so hoarse that I could barely hear myself.
Xu Yi obediently brought the clothes, her usually emotionless voice now filled with tenderness and affection, "Just call me if you need anything."
"Um."
After Xu Yi left, Gu Yueyue started to get dressed. She felt no discomfort or the various aches and pains described in the book, but a sense of weakness swept over her entire body.
I quickly washed up in my room and then came out.
Xu Yi had already reheated the food and brought it to the table.
Xiao Xiao also came out of the toy room and glared at Xu Yi unhappily.
She didn't know what had happened at home, she only knew that Xu Yi would coax her to the toy room all day long, but wouldn't buy her any new toys, and she was tired of playing with the same few toys every day.
Xu Yi was happy today. Even though Xiao Xiao glared at her, she wasn't angry. She even took the initiative to pick up food for Xiao Xiao and patted her head.
"Aunt Wang is coming tomorrow, how about she takes you out to play?"
Her little eyes lit up. "Can I buy a new toy?"
"certainly."
Xiao Xiao wasn't hungry at the moment and was full after a couple of bites. When she heard that she could buy a new toy, she happily stood on the chair, hugged Xu Yi's neck, and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Mommy Xu."
"Cough cough..."
Gu Yueyue, who was sitting to the side, was choked by Xiao Xiao's way of addressing Xu Yi.
Xu Yi pushed away the small figure that was clinging to her, "Go play."
Xiaoxiao went to the toy room again to play and have fun. She could rebuild the Lego bricks she bought before in a different way.
Xu Yi took the bowl and chopsticks from Gu Yueyue and put them down. She patted Gu Yueyue's back and fed her some warm water.
Eat slowly.
Once Gu Yueyue stopped coughing, Xu Yi picked up her bowl, took a spoon, and said, "Teacher Gu, let me feed you."
"No need." Gu Yueyue tried to take back her bowl, but Xu Yi easily dodged it.
"Yes, I will." Xu Yi insisted, "Last night Teacher Gu fed me water, now it's my turn to feed Teacher Gu porridge."
"..."
This meal was hard to swallow.
"Are you going to let Aunt Wang take Xiaoxiao out by herself tomorrow?" Gu Yueyue didn't mention the way Xiaoxiao addressed Xu Yi earlier.
Xu Yi nodded slightly and fed her another sip of porridge. "Yes. Xiao Xiao said she doesn't have any toys anymore."
"How about I take Xiaoxiao tomorrow? I don't have anything to do right now anyway." Gu Yueyue really likes Xiaoxiao, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she treats her like her own daughter. Naturally, she wants to spend more time with Xiaoxiao whenever she has the chance.
Xu Yi wanted her to rest at home for a few days. She had been busy with work before, and now that she had some free time, she should take good care of her health at home.
Xu Yi asked her with a smile, "What? Does Teacher Gu want to buy toys too? Did I not let Teacher Gu have enough fun last night?"
Gu Yueyue's face flushed slightly, and she became even angrier.
Gu Yueyue deliberately made her expression colder, and if she hadn't blushed, this expression would have been quite intimidating.
"In my home, we don't talk while eating or sleeping," Gu Yueyue reminded her to refrain from making suggestive remarks.
Xu Yi nodded thoughtfully, "I see. But Teacher Gu was shouting very loudly last night."
Xu Yi's mouth was suddenly covered by a hand.
"Shut up."
Xu Yi smiled and nodded, her eyes crinkling.
Gu Yueyue let go of her hand, her attitude hardening, and told her to continue feeding her porridge.
Xu Yi behaved herself this time, not making a fuss, with a smile on her lips, and obediently fed her a bowl of porridge.
Gu Yueyue quite liked this tranquil and cozy feeling.
After dinner, Gu Yueyue watched TV for a while.
Xu Yi came out of the kitchen, washed some fruit, placed it in front of Gu Yueyue, and sat down next to her to watch it with her.
"Is this Director Ma's drama?" Xu Yi watched for a while and felt that the scene was a bit familiar.
"Yes, it can finally be broadcast. Ma Youcai's hair is saved." Gu Yueyue smiled, also happy for Ma Youcai. After the drama was filmed, Chu Man'er's sugar daddy fell from grace, and more than a dozen minor stars, including Chu Man'er, were also involved in the scandal.
The show was also affected, and Ma Youcai was worried every day, not knowing what to do.
Half a year has passed, and it can finally be broadcast. This situation is considered good in the industry. Some people work hard to film their dramas but never get a chance to be broadcast. Some people wait seven or eight years before they can make it. Artists in the industry basically rely on their youth. Who can afford to wait?
Gu Yueyue took the initiative to talk to her about Chu Man'er.
After saying that, before Xu Yi could react, she began to sigh.
"Actually, Chu Man'er has a good foundation. If she can calm down and hone her acting skills, she can definitely make a name for herself." Gu Yueyue added that when casting, Ma Youcai actually wanted Chu Man'er to play a supporting role, which would be more in line with Chu Man'er's personal qualities. If the film was done well, there would be no shortage of viewership.
Unfortunately, the very next day, Chu Man'er's sugar daddy approached Ma Youcai and directly cast Chu Man'er in a minor role with a lot of screen time but not a particularly likable one.
"Later, Chu Man'er had plastic surgery. Originally, her face was very distinctive and her bone structure was quite good, but she was too thin and looked a bit gaunt. What a pity."
"Hmm." Xu Yi could understand to some extent. Many cultivators had good talent, but they chose a path of no return because they were too eager for quick success.
After watching three episodes, Gu Yueyue was a little tired and wanted to go back to her room to rest.
"Teacher Gu, let's eat dinner before we go to sleep." Xu Yi got up and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Gu Yueyue turned off the TV and went into Xiaoxiao's toy room. Xiaoxiao was sitting on the floor studying the blueprints, with scattered building blocks around her.
"Mommy." Hearing the noise at the door, Xiaoxiao quickly stood up, rushed to Gu Yueyue's legs and hugged her, "Mommy, play with me."
"Okay, sure." Gu Yueyue joined her in building with blocks.
Xiao Xiao told her, "Grandma Wang doesn't know how to play this. She always messes things up when she plays with me. I don't like playing with her."
"Oh, I see." Gu Yueyue thought of the nanny who would tell the children bedtime stories from Dream of the Red Chamber and couldn't help but smile. She was kind and friendly and good to the children, but she seemed to lack childlike fun.
"But Mommy can't always be home with you." Gu Yueyue's voice was soft, tinged with self-reproach. She thought for a moment and then asked Xiaoxiao, "Baby, do you want to make friends?"
"Hmm?" Xiao Xiao tilted her head. "Friend?"
"Yes. How about going to kindergarten? She can meet lots of other children there, and then someone will play with her." Gu Yueyue touched her little face; a mother can't help but find her child adorable.
"May I?"
"Of course! After the New Year, I'll take you to see the kindergarten, okay?" Gu Yueyue wanted to send her to kindergarten, not only so she could make friends with other children her age, but also because Xiaoxiao was already over four years old and could start receiving early childhood education.
She had discussed this with Ono before, but nothing was finalized.
She had already talked to Xu Yi a few days ago, and Xu Yi was very supportive and agreeable.
There was a knock on the door, and Xu Yi opened it and came in. "Dinner is ready, come out and eat."
Little Xiao loves to eat and play. After spending so much time in the toy room, she heard it was time to eat and immediately ran out.
"Dinner's ready! Do you have any meat?"
After Xiao Xiao left, Xu Yi reached out and helped Gu Yueyue, who was sitting on the ground, up.
As soon as Gu Yueyue steadied herself, someone wrapped her arms around her waist and touched her lips with a soft, wet sensation.
Gu Yueyue placed her hand on Xu Yi's chest to keep some distance between them. She breathed softly and asked Xu Yi, "You want to send Xiaoxiao to kindergarten. Is it because you sincerely want her to receive early childhood education as soon as possible?"
"certainly."
"real?"
"It must be true! Does Teacher Gu suspect that I have ulterior motives?" Xu Yi held the hand that was pressed against her chest. The soft and delicate touch reminded him of the time ten thousand years ago when it stayed inside his body and teased him wantonly.
Gu Yueyue couldn't glean any other emotions from her expression, but her understanding of Xu Yi over the past few days made her chuckle. "I think Xu Yi's purpose is obvious."
Chapter 99
After discussing with Xu Yi about sending Xiao Xiao to kindergarten next spring, Gu Yueyue called Xiao Ye to inform her of this as well.
Ono also has something to say.
They first asked Gu Yueyue for her thoughts on "Youth Never Ends," as they were being pressed for a decision quickly.
"Sister, you should talk to Xu Yi. Explain the situation to her clearly, so she doesn't get fooled. People in this industry are very fickle. She just left Sister Yin's show and is currently riding high. Don't let her keep chasing after the next big thing and lose sight of her own place."
“I’ve watched the show ‘Youth’ and I can accept the role. Besides, Xiao Xu and Zhang Ya have no conflicts. Going there would only be icing on the cake and would also promote the sisterhood among the girl group members. It’s a good thing.”
Ono was talking so enthusiastically that he wished he could call Xu Yi again and talk to her in person.
Gu Yueyue glanced at Xu Yi, who was sleeping soundly beside her, and didn't intend to wake her. She reached out and touched Xu Yi's cheek, her skin smooth and soft.
Gu Yueyue didn't want to wake her up to talk about things, nor did she want Xiao Ye's phone call to wake her up, so she directly said to Xiao Ye, "Come over this morning and let's talk in person."
Gu Yueyue added, "Please help me find a suitable kindergarten that offers good privacy, is close by, and has strong teaching staff."
Ono was busy for a while and arrived just before lunch.
As soon as I entered, before I could even catch my breath, I saw Xu Yi at Gu Yueyue's house.
"Xiao Xu, you're here too. That's perfect, let's chat." After saying that to Xiao Ye, Xiao Ye turned around and took out a file folder from her bag and handed it to Gu Yueyue. "Sister, I've compiled information on suitable kindergartens nearby, take a look."
"Xiao Xu, come to the study with me." Xiao Ye knew the place better than he did at home and went straight to the study.