Peace of Mind
Was it that obvious? Gu Zi was stunned. After finishing the last mouthful of rice, she said, "I'm done eating. You guys take your time."
With that, she carried Su Le and left without looking back at Su Shen. Despite being a 21st-century Homo Evolutis, shyness wasn't foreign to her.
Su Shen gazed in the direction where Gu Zi had sat, a meaningful smile gracing his lips.
Su Bing cleared his throat and offered a piece of duck meat to Su Li while gently reminding him, "Keep eating, little brother."
Baffled, Su Li continued eating.
But he was convinced that her blushing cheeks signaled shyness, though he couldn't quite fathom why she would be shy.
Perhaps understanding women was a complex task.
For instance, their previous stepmother was initially kind, yet her behavior changed over time, becoming horribly bad.
Su Li hoped that their current stepmother would remain as wonderful as she seemed.
After dinner, Su Shen entered the kitchen while the two brothers willingly took on the task of cleaning up the dining room.
"You guys go take care of your sister. I'll clean up." Gu Zi's voice called out, and Su Bing looked at his brother, unsure of what to do.
Remembering Su Shen's conversation with Gu Zi earlier, Su Bing spoke to her, saying, "Thank you."
He then took Su Li with him to check on Su Le.
Gu Zi found amusement in Su Bing's mature demeanor as she put away the kitchenware. Her gaze wandered over to the tall, broad-shouldered figure at the sink.
He was washing the dishes without saying a word. His movements were agile.
Gu Zi recalled the bowl of sliced meat from earlier and thought that compared to modern men who did nothing at home, she had struck gold with her husband.
Most importantly, his mere presence was comforting.
Su Shen had already finished washing the dishes and tidying the kitchen.
He turned around and said, "I'll be taking care of some household chores from now on. If there's any dirty or strenuous work, just let me know."
Though he didn't use flowery words, his actions conveyed his feelings. He didn't want Gu Zi to overexert herself, as she was still a young woman who deserved pampering.
He wanted to express how well he would treat her, but the words that came out of his mouth were just an echo of his earlier statement. "All right, I'll keep that in mind," Gu Zi replied softly. "Could you pass me the cloth on the hook?"
She pointed to the rag on a hook that was just out of her reach. In the past, she had to stand on tiptoes to retrieve it. However, now that he had offered to help, she could request his assistance.
Su Shen moved closer to assist her.
His impressive height of around 1.9 meters allowed him to easily retrieve the cloth, bringing them into close proximity.
Gu Zi felt particularly petite standing before the tall man.
Instead of immediately handing her the rag, Su Shen inquired, "What do I need to do?"
He observed Gu Zi with interest, recognizing her fair complexion and overall attractiveness. Her appearance hinted at a life well-lived in the city, and yet she was now going to be his wife, responsible for household chores and child-rearing.
Su Shen's heart ached at the memory of Chu Xi's accusations, and he was determined to work even harder to ensure Gu Zi's happiness.
Gu Zi replied with a faint smile, not hesitating for a moment. "Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Su. Please wipe the low table in the living room."
With her request made, Gu Zi exited the kitchen. As she turned away, Su Shen's gaze lingered on her slender waist. Her figure was undeniably graceful.
Following her outside, Su Shen noticed Gu Zi was nowhere to be found. "She went to take out the trash with Brother," Su Li timidly informed him.
After saying that, Su Li sat up straight and hid behind his sister to avoid looking at Su Shen.
Su Shen's gaze fell on the snacks on the table and the crumbs around it. In that moment, he realized something had shifted in the house, though he couldn't quite put it into words.
After tidying up the table and sofa, a warm feeling blossomed within him, a sense of newfound sweetness. It was then that he recognized this sensation as warmth, the taste of a home filled with love.
Outside the courtyard, Gu Zi and Su Bing returned after disposing of the trash. Su Bing held a flashlight, ensuring he had the proper direction to assist her.
Gu Zi observed his actions, akin to Su Shen's; actions that spoke louder than words.
Seeing these qualities in Su Bing, Gu Zi began to believe in his potential to evolve and change for the better.
"Ah, Little Su's family!" Zhang Cuihua stood at the door and called out.
Pausing in her tracks, Gu Zi turned around, finding herself almost face to face with Zhang Cuihua.
"Oh, Su Bing is here too. These are the cabbages grown in my family's field. Please take them and enjoy." Saying that, Zhang Cuihua placed a handful of cabbages in Gu Zi's hands..