"Huh?" Shen Wuqiu was taken aback for a moment, and after pondering for more than ten seconds, she said, "It's been a long time since we've been in touch, so let's not prepare anything."
Since returning to her hometown, her life has been disrupted by a certain cat. At first, she would occasionally chat with her old friends and classmates online, but after learning that she was pregnant, she almost completely isolated herself from the world.
To be honest, in the eyes of outsiders, she has always been the aloof type. Most of her relationships in the industry were just nodding acquaintances. Even those she was close to, she felt that at their busy age, they might not have time to congratulate her. Even if she invited them, she guessed they would just send her a monetary gift online.
It would be better not to invite them at all.
Su Yunzhi nodded, but didn't rush to leave. After a while, she tentatively asked, "You're not inviting any of them?"
Shen Wuqiu looked at her.
Su Yunzhi pretended to touch her hair, thought for a moment, and then said in a tone of someone with experience, "I just think that after all these years away from home, you should have at least one or two close friends. Don't you girls have those best friends?"
Then, fearing misunderstanding, she continued, "I didn't mean anything by it, I just feel that... you and Lingyu are very close right now, her parents treat you well, and you don't seem to have any worries. But, you know, life is unpredictable. I'm just worried that if you have a child with someone now, you'll lose your friends, and when you feel down in the future, you won't know who to talk to."
Shen Wuqiu was somewhat flattered; she hadn't expected her stepmother to be so considerate and thoughtful towards her.
"Oh dear, don't look at me like that. I know I have a bad tongue." Su Yunzhi thought the other woman didn't like what she said and secretly blamed herself for being so talkative. "Alright, it's up to you..."
“Mom, thank you.” Shen Wuqiu interrupted her, “I just… didn’t expect you to say these things to me…”
Su Yunzhi felt a little awkward, though she was secretly pleased. Her tone remained sharp and sarcastic as she said, "Since you're calling me 'Mom,' I naturally have to give you some advice..."
"Yes." Shen Wuqiu nodded. "Thank you."
"Of course, I'm just saying that. You're a lucky child, and I don't want you to experience the troubles of ordinary life in the future. I'm just an ordinary rural woman, and I don't know as much as you do."
"I understand what you mean. I think your reminder is very accurate."
Su Yunzhi's simple words really woke up Shen Wuqiu. After returning home, her life became much simpler and more mundane. She spent all her time with her children and partner. Although she didn't dislike this kind of life, upon closer reflection, she realized that she had indeed lost herself.
Perhaps you've notified your old friends, and they might not have time to come, but at least the friendship remains.
Thinking about it, Shen Wuqiu said, "Then I'll ask my friends if they're free."
Su Yunzhi nodded in satisfaction, then paused and added, "By the way, about the Gu family... I wonder if they also follow our customs? Will they send someone over? I don't know how to bring it up, why don't you ask Lingyu?"
Shen Wuqiu initially wanted to refuse outright, but then, for some reason, he nodded in agreement.
After discussing this matter with Su Yunzhi, Shen Wuqiu took some time to contact her friend. Feeling a little embarrassed to talk about it in person, she chose to send a message via WeChat.
It wasn't until evening that I received a response to the few messages I sent.
She notified five people: four of her college roommates and one of her best friends from high school.
Two of her four college roommates gave her perfunctory blessings and then said they were too busy with work to come. The other two either transferred 1,000 yuan to her directly or called her back via video call.
The video call had barely connected, and before the person on the other end even appeared in front of the camera, a loud, boisterous voice came through: "Damn it... Shen Qiuqiu, you're so unfair! Getting married and having a baby are such big events, and you didn't say a word, you just told me to come to the baby's one-month celebration!"
After a while, a woman wearing a koala coral fleece pajama appeared on the other side.
Seeing her friend still looking unkempt, Shen Wuqiu couldn't help but chuckle: "Zhou Xingxing, it's been so long since you graduated from university, why are you still wearing these pajamas?"
"You don't know anything, I'm just being sentimental." After saying that, the person on the other end of the video call pulled her hat down, revealing her petite figure. "Stop changing the subject. I'm asking you, when did you find a partner, and when did you get pregnant?"
Seeing that her friend hadn't changed at all, Shen Wuqiu inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Xingxing is a typical attention-seeker. She didn't like this crazy roommate at first, but the other two roommates were like twins, always sticking to Zhou Xingxing no matter what she did, so she gradually came to like them.
After spending time together, she discovered that Stephen Chow was a real joy to be around, which is why their relationship has lasted until today.
"It's a long story. If you have some free time, why don't you come and stay at my place for a few days?"
"Of course!" Zhou Xingxing rolled his eyes at her and said without any politeness, "I just fired my boss today. Send me the address right away and I'll book the tickets immediately."
"Are you planning to change jobs again?" After graduating from university, everyone went their separate ways. In the few times they chatted, Zhou Xingxing was always talking about quitting her job. If she remembered correctly, this was the fourth time.
Stephen Chow didn't care, and then smiled wickedly, "My house was demolished and I got a relocation compensation. I'm a nouveau riche now, so it doesn't matter whether I work or not."
Her outlook on life has always been like this, and Shen Wuqiu neither agreed nor disagreed, "Then I wonder if a rich young lady would get used to living in a poor, remote place like my home."
"Damn... With your high standards, you wouldn't have gotten yourself into a mess and ended up as a wife in some remote mountain village, would you?"
Shen Wuqiu teased her on purpose: "Yes, she was abducted and brought to this remote mountain village."
Before the words were even out of their mouths, the cat came in carrying Big Fur and casually asked, "What? Kidnapped?"
Shenwu Qiu was on speakerphone.
Zhou Xingxing on the other end of the video call couldn't see the person, but he heard the voice and immediately imagined, "Shen Qiuqiu, could it be that someone is still spying on you?"
Gu Miaomiao heard this clearly and immediately moved closer to her, asking, "Who are you talking to on the phone?"
Wow, you're really meddling in other people's business.
Zhou, imagining the stars, immediately added his own dramatic flair: "I'm Shen Qiuqiu's guardian angel, who are you anyway?"
Upon hearing this, Gu, the jealous person, instantly became sour. She leaned close to the phone and glared at the person on the screen, saying, "I am Qiuqiu's partner."
Looking at the magnified face on the screen, Zhou Xingxing was stunned for a second. It was the first time she had seen such a flawless, fair face in a video call. It was just too damn beautiful.
However, after a brief moment of infatuation, Stephen Chow, not thinking otherwise, deliberately tried to argue and immediately retorted: "What a coincidence, I am also Qiuqiu's partner."
The vinegar jar was about to explode. "What utter nonsense!"
Shen Wuqiu quickly pulled her away: "You only learn bad things, not good ones. Look at what you're saying!"
Gu Miaomiao: "Who told her to talk nonsense?"
Stephen Chow: "I'm not making this up. Ask Qiuqiu. Back in college, I warmed her bed a lot during the winter..."
"Hey, I'm just teasing you." Shen Wuqiu sensed something was wrong and quickly interrupted her. "I didn't marry into a remote mountain village. I've gone back to my hometown. My dad isn't in good health, and no one is taking care of the forest land we contracted. I've come back to manage it for him."
Stephen Chow: "And then you didn't get persuaded by all your aunts and uncles to just marry some random country bumpkin and raise children, did you?"
Gu Miaomiao: "Who are you calling a country bumpkin?"
Stephen Chow: "It's not like I'm talking about you, why are you so anxious?"
Gu Miaomiao: "How can you say it's not about me? Qiuqiu is going to marry me."
Stephen Chow: "Shen Qiuqiu, who is this person next to you? They're so noisy..."
Gu Lingyu stared straight at Shen Wuqiu.
Seeing her stubborn little face full of grievance, Shen Wuqiu felt a little sorry for her, so he didn't hide anything: "I'm not joking with you, she really is my partner, the kind of partner I'll spend my life with."
"..." After several seconds, Zhou Xingxing seemed to realize something, paused, and a hint of absurdity flashed in his eyes: "Damn, Shen Qiuqiu, I didn't expect you to have such heavy tastes."
Shen Wuqiu frowned subconsciously. She hadn't expected that Zhou Xingxing, who seemed carefree, would be so sensitive about homosexuality. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. "...Is it alright?"
Stephen Chow held back for a moment: "I'll just tell you the truth, isn't this considered having a strange taste? A perfectly normal man acting more like a woman than a woman, why don't you just like a woman directly? Of course, I'm just expressing my opinion, even if your taste is this strange, I have no objection..."
"..." After all that, it turned out the other party had misunderstood. Shen Wuqiu said, "She's just a girl."
Stephen Chow: "...Then how were your children born?"
That's a long story.
As Shen Wuqiu was pondering his words, Gu Miaomiao suddenly interjected, "That's because I have a special talent."
Shen Wuqiu & Zhou Xingxing: "..."
After saying that, without giving Stephen Chow time to react, she leaned closer to the camera and said, "It's very late, don't disturb our rest. Goodbye."
After saying that, he hung up the video call.
As soon as she hung up, Zhou Xingxing called again. After being glared at by Shen Wuqiu, Gu Miaomiao timidly handed over the phone she had just snatched.
Shen Wuqiu clicked on the video, and Zhou Xingxing on the other end asked impatiently, "Shen Qiuqiu, you're not joking, are you?"
Shen Wuqiu: "What joke?"
Stephen Chow: "Is that woman next to you really your girlfriend?"
Shen Wuqiu glanced back at the restless cat, then said in a serious tone, "Yes, Gu Lingyu, that's my wife's name."
Stephen Chow's expression was extremely complicated: "If I had known you liked women, I wouldn't be single now."
"you……"
Gu Lingyu had just gotten close to the camera, ready to say something harsh, when she was silenced by soft lips.
Stephen Chow: "..."
A few seconds later, Shen Wuqiu calmly said to Zhou Xingxing, "It's too late."
"..." This is just pure dog abuse! "Goodbye."
After a sigh, Stephen Chow ended the video call.
Two seconds later, the phone received another notification sound; it was a message from Stephen Chow:
[I can't get the big one, I want to get the small one.]
Shen Wuqiu chuckled upon seeing the message, quickly tapped the screen with her slender fingers, and replied promptly.
After replying to the message, she immediately exited the chat, placed her phone on the bedside table, and then turned to look at her jealous cat: "Still not satisfied?"
Jealous Cat hummed in agreement. "She said she slept with you."
This was somewhat helpless. Perhaps because she was in a good mood, Shen Wuqiu was unusually patient and coaxed her, "Well, we just haven't met yet, have we? Otherwise, why don't you turn back time?"
The jealous cat hung its head dejectedly and remained silent.
Shen Wuqiu got up and carried the sleeping Da Mao to the rocking crib next to her. After comforting the child, she tiptoed back to the bed, patted the cat who was still feeling jealous, and stopped teasing her.
"I've never slept with anyone. I'm not used to sleeping with people, let alone the small single bed in the university dormitory. When she said 'warm bed,' she just used a hairdryer to warm up the blankets for me in the cold winter and the humid south."
Upon hearing this, Gu Miaomiao perked up a bit, but quickly wilted again. "She's so nice to you, she must have ulterior motives."
Shen Wuqiu was amused by her: "Don't you think you're going a bit too far? Even if someone has inappropriate thoughts about me, can I control that?"
Gu Miaomiao: "I don't care, you're my partner now, and no one else can covet you."
Shen Wuqiu was too lazy to coax her anymore, so she used action to suppress her, shoving her to the ground and then kneeling on top of her, looking down at her and saying, "If you keep thinking nonsense, I'll..."
The voice rose in pitch, then suddenly plummeted.
Just as Gu Miaomiao was feeling nervous, Shen Wuqiu leaned down again, whispered in her ear, and said softly, "I won't kiss you."
That gentle, sweet breath whispered in my ear was so soothing, it melted the nerve endings of my body.
"Then I... won't... stop thinking... nonsense."
Shen Wuqiu gently ran his index finger across her lips. "Little stutterer, so cute..."
The atmosphere was just right, and Shen Wuqiu was about to kiss her when the cat suddenly flipped over and pushed her away. Its swift, leaping motion almost threw Shen Wuqiu off the bed.