Especially Fond of You

Chapter 26(B, Wang Miao’s Perspective)Episode

Faced with Bernard's question, Wang Miao resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Captivity? Seriously, he must have watched too many weird movies!

She explained it was a Chinese tradition, "not to dwell on the past."

To emphasize her point, she wanted to call him by his Ukrainian name, but she only remembered his last name ending with "ski" and couldn't recall his full name.

Bernard was unconvinced, "Kay and Rocky are also Chinese, and they don't have this tradition!"

"So they don't live in China," Wang Miao retorted, "Look at them, they haven't inherited the subtlety and elegance of the Chinese."

She pointed to Gu Lin as an example, "Look at my boyfriend, how composed he is. He doesn't shout or seek attention."

Bernard shook his head, "Kay and Rocky would be hurt if they heard that."

"Why would they hear it? Do you still keep in touch with them?"

"Yes, we're good friends. Kay says we're part of the Broken Hearts Club."

Wang Miao felt a throbbing headache. These names felt distant, memories of past misdeeds nearly forgotten but now resurrected repeatedly.

She rested her chin in her hand, watching as Gu Lin used the communal chopsticks to pick out fish bones before placing the fish meat on her plate.

Wang Miao smiled softly at him, feeling her headache ease.

Bernard, seeing this, asked, "You like him because he takes care of you."

"Yes, he's a very gentle man," Wang Miao replied.

Bernard wasn't convinced, "Kay was gentle too! But you found him annoying and eliminated him!"

"Being gentle and being nagging are not the same thing," Wang Miao retorted, recalling how Kay meticulously planned everything for her, from wake-up times to outfits, breakfast, library schedules, and bedtime readings. He was like a butler, arranging her life, and when she didn't follow his plans, he didn't get angry but kept asking why.

Later, Wang Xiwen presented her gift to Bernard. He looked at it for a long time, repeatedly expressing his liking and gratitude. Wang Miao realized that meeting Bernard wasn't as bad as she had feared; reminiscing about college friends was actually fun.

Of course, the fun was contingent on Gu Lin not understanding a word and just quietly listening, occasionally showing a bit of jealousy.

Men are sensitive too; faced with potential threats, their emotions become apparent.

Just like how Gu Lin had intercepted Bernard’s hug earlier.

This slight jealousy continued until they dropped Wang Xiwen off and headed to the theater. Gu Lin’s main expression of it was a noticeable reduction in words.

Though he was usually quiet, today he seemed exceptionally silent and a bit sulky.

Wang Miao intentionally didn't soothe him, curious to see what other interesting behaviors he might display.

While dozing off in the stable car, she suddenly heard Gu Lin say "I love you" in French.

It felt like a thunderclap at three or four in the morning. Wang Miao’s heart skipped a beat, thinking his earlier silence meant he understood everything.

She responded with a quivering voice, "You speak French?"

He smiled mischievously, saying his friend taught him just that one phrase, then went back to fretting about whether Bernard liked her.

The tension that had built up in her mind snapped, her anxiety dissipating.

Wang Miao’s smile was somewhat forced, holding his hand lightly. Only when he smiled back did she feel alive again.

She realized she had been too confident. There was no such thing as a leak-proof wall. Even though she thought her past relationships were securely abroad, someone like Bernard could always pop up out of nowhere. Worse, friends or classmates might casually mention old stories.

Not everyone would speak to her in a foreign language, and not every gathering would exclude Gu Lin.

Wang Miao thought she needed to find a way to gradually reveal her past to Gu Lin, ideally when their relationship was solid enough to withstand it.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, torn between wanting to protect herself and fearing that delaying the truth would make things worse.

She was still mulling it over when the car stopped at the theater.

"Hey, snap out of it," Gu Lin suddenly snapped his fingers in front of her, startling her so much she bit her lip hard. The pain was intense.

"Sorry, sorry. Why are you so out of it? Didn’t you eat enough at lunch?" Gu Lin leaned over and blew on her lip, trying to ease the pain.

After a few breaths, the atmosphere in the car became subtly charged.

Gu Lin pressed a light kiss on her lips, patted her head, and flicked her nose, “Stop spacing out. The play starts at three, right?”

Wang Miao wanted to hold Gu Lin’s neck and hug him tightly. She felt he was so good to her and wondered if he could accept her flaws.

But she said nothing and just held his hand as they exited the car.

The play they watched was very popular, with a young audience and equally young actors. It was about a young couple who married and divorced quickly, then got back together. Despite the cliché plot, the dialogues and conflicts were cleverly crafted, drawing laughter and applause every few minutes.

One scene involved the ex-husband visiting the ex-wife’s family during the New Year to deliver gifts. The mother-in-law barred him from entering, saying the daughter was dating someone new and couldn’t let him know she had been married. The ex-husband insisted on giving the gifts, including an old hen for his ex-wife’s health. The mother-in-law accepted the gifts and gave a green-feathered wild chicken as a return gift, symbolizing the new suitor. The ex-husband walked offstage with the green chicken, leaving the audience in stitches.

Wang Miao, however, didn’t find it funny.

She thought the ex-husband was pitiful.

His ex-wife was not only moving on but also erasing his existence.

It was like Gu Lin, being the ex-wife’s new boyfriend, who had to deal with her past.

But then she reconsidered. Gu Lin wasn’t the new boyfriend but the pitiful ex-husband.

Watching the play ended with both agreeing it was mediocre, reinforcing their similar tastes.

Gu Lin yawned, looking tired. Wang Miao offered to drive, but he hesitated, asking, “Are your feet okay?”

“They’re fine!” Wang Miao jumped twice to show her health.

Gu Lin smiled and settled into the passenger seat, “Have you decided what to eat tonight?”

“Let’s go home,” she suggested, seeing his exhaustion.

“My home is far; it’s inconvenient for you.”

“No problem.” She wouldn’t mind staying over if it meant more time together.

Gu Lin agreed, too tired to argue, “Alright, let’s go to my place. I’ll rest and drive you back later.”

“Okay.”

Arriving at Gu Lin’s home, Wang Miao smoothly changed shoes and washed her hands, hugging Gu San San – Gu Er was too big.

Gu Er still showed some inexplicable hostility, while Gu San San adored her, following her around despite Gu Er’s growls.

Gu Lin laughed, petting Gu Er, “Jealous? Want a hug too?”

Wang Miao didn’t mind the nickname Gu Lin gave her, but she felt like rolling her eyes at his “jealous” comment. Was he really their owner?

Too tired to cook, Gu Lin ordered food while Wang Miao leaned on him, petting Gu San San, “Can I skip cooking after we get married?”

“Sure, if I’m home, I’ll cook. If I’m at work, you can eat with your parents.”

“What kind of lazy suggestion is that!”

“No, I mean you can eat with your parents when I’m not home. Cook if you want, or order takeout.” Gu Lin petted her like Gu Er, “Your parents are getting older. It’s good that you live in the same city. When you’re free and I’m working, you can stay with them.”

Wang Miao loved the idea, feeling hopeful about the future. She wanted to say something but didn’t know how to start.

Gu Lin flicked her nose, “What are you thinking about?”

Wang Miao rubbed her nose, smiling but then wincing at the pain.

Gu Lin went to the bedroom, returning with a box, “Come here, I have something to show you.”

Why did that sound so suspicious?

Curious, she followed him, with Gu San San and Gu Er trailing behind.

Standing at the door, she saw Gu Lin holding a square box.

She had never been proposed to before, and her heart raced.

Expecting a proposal, she was ready to say “yes” when Gu Lin opened the box and handed her a jade bracelet, “A gift from my mom.”

???

Still in shock, she managed to say, “Thank you, Auntie.”