Slacking Off
Gu Sheng raised one handsome brow. “Fourth Brother?”
Since he had asked it like that, who else could it be? It could only be the fourth son of the Gu family.
The smile on Zhan Aiping’s face faltered. “?!!!”
This person in front of her was the fourth Gu brother, not Eldest Brother Gu? Comrade Little Zhan was inwardly stunned. She clearly remembered that Gu Sheng’s fourth brother had been rather thin and weak-looking when he was little, and his face had not been big either. But now his forehead had broadened, his cheeks had grown larger, and he looked like he was already past forty…
Fourth Brother Gu had a wooden expression. He seemed to have been born with the face of a leader. When he stood there silently like this, the people around him could not help feeling guilty, as if they were being watched by a superior.
Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan both looked confused. Guobaorou said to his sister, “He’s not Eldest Uncle.”
Little Tangyuan’s spirits lifted. “If he’s not Eldest Uncle, then who is Eldest Uncle?”
Little Tangyuan could not remember too many things. She was only thinking about completing her little uncle’s instructions. Wasn’t this person in front of her Eldest Uncle?
Zhan Aiping said, “This is your Fourth Uncle. Call him Fourth Uncle.”
Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan obediently called out, “Fourth Uncle.”
After that, the two siblings looked at each other. What were they supposed to do next? Before they came, no one had told them what to do when facing Fourth Uncle.
Gu Sheng crouched down and gathered the two children into his arms, acting not at all like a guest. “Let’s not stand outside. Let’s go in.”
Zhan Aiping also followed his lead and acted like the host. “Fourth Brother, don’t stand outside. Come in and sit.”
Fourth Brother Gu: “…”
Fourth Brother Gu stared at the two children in Gu Sheng’s arms and thought that he had not even held them yet. These two were his little nephew and niece.
The fifth brother’s two children really were good-looking.
The boy resembled his mother. Since the weather was cold, he was wrapped up tightly, with a pair of delicate eyes beneath his hat and beautifully red lips. The girl had large eyes and resembled her father, with a straight, high nose bridge, yet her little face was chubby. Wearing a white rabbit-fur coat, she looked soft and round, just like a little tangyuan.
“Daddy!” Little Tangyuan happily hugged her father’s neck. Once she was in her father’s arms, she was too lazy to think about anything else.
Guobaorou stared at his sister without blinking. He felt that his sister was always inexplicably silly and happy.
This silly happiness even affected him. So Guobaorou also called out, “Daddy,” then happily climbed onto his father.
Zhan Aiping looked at the two little caterpillars clinging to Gu Sheng and expressed no envy at all.
The two children were short, so being held by an adult made them happy, especially when it was their father holding them.
Fourth Brother Gu said, “Fifth Brother, these two children of yours are quite attached to you.”
Gu Sheng said in a very punch able tone, “Envious?”
Zhan Aiping: “…My younger brother and your younger sister are still outside.” Don’t start pulling hatred toward yourself the moment you get home.
Fourth Brother Gu laughed. “Why would I be envious? Children are troublesome and noisy. With the two of you as their parents, who knows how noisy they get when they make a fuss.”
Fourth Brother Gu really was not envious. He was just a little irritated. Just now, when the two children had reached out asking to be held, why had he not picked them up?
Now that the two children were in the fifth brother’s hands, even if he wanted to hold them, he felt too embarrassed to snatch them away.
It was not that he wanted children. He just wanted to experience what it felt like to hold one. Fourth Brother Gu was also already past thirty. He had seen plenty of naughty little brats, and he had also seen refined little girls from the families of singers in the troupe, but… a little girl who looked like the fifth brother? He rather wanted to hold her.
Once they entered the house, it was warm. They had returned at an inconvenient time. Gu Ze’an and his wife were not home, and only Fourth Brother Gu was there. Fourth Brother Gu wanted to go to the kitchen to bring out tea, snacks, and fruit to entertain them, but Gu Sheng said, “I’ll do it myself.”
Fourth Brother Gu: “…”
He thought, Fifth Brother, you really don’t act like a guest.
“Mom, where are Grandpa and Grandma?”
Zhan Aiping said, “Grandpa and Grandma aren’t home. We’ll see them after we wait a bit.”
Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan nodded.
Fourth Brother Gu stood to the side, watching the siblings. He did not have much experience interacting with children, but he knew most children were enthusiastic. So he waited for the two of them to take the initiative and ask him for a hug again.
If the siblings started arguing, he could even mediate.
“Mom, is Little Sister hungry?” Guobaorou asked attentively, concerned about the little one in his mother’s belly who had not yet been born.
Zhan Aiping held a cup of hot water. “Not hungry yet.”
Little Tangyuan said, “Mom, do you want me to dance for you?”
Zhan Aiping leaned back on the sofa in satisfaction. “Rest for a bit first. Go play with your brother.”
Guobaorou said, “Mom, I’ll sing for you.”
…
Fourth Brother Gu listened from the side. He looked at Gu Sheng and could not help saying, “The children are quite attached to their mother too.”
Gu Sheng said, “Yes.”
Fourth Brother Gu: “…”
“Fifth Brother, have you ever regretted getting married?” Over the years, Fourth Brother Gu had also had someone he liked. It was just that he liked her, but she did not like him. She had married long ago.
Gu Sheng said, “Regret not getting married earlier?”
Fourth Brother Gu said, “You brat, you really are riding high.”
They waited at the Gu family home for a while. Then Gu Xiangyi and Zhan Mingzhao returned. As soon as Zhan Mingzhao entered, he froze. He had just heard that Gu Ze’an and his wife had gone out, leaving only one person to watch the house. How was it that the one left behind was Eldest Brother Gu?
Zhan Mingzhao swallowed. “E-Eldest Brother?”
Fourth Brother Gu raised an eyebrow. “Who’s your eldest brother?”
Zhan Mingzhao thought he was refusing to acknowledge him as his future brother-in-law and grew tense. He thought to himself that Eldest Brother really was Eldest Brother — his presence was powerful!
Gu Xiangyi said, “Eldest Brother, I’m already this old. It wasn’t easy for me to find a partner. Please don’t break us up.”
Fourth Brother Gu: “…?”
“Open your eyes wider and look at me again. Little Sister, how did you get so dark?” Fourth Brother Gu frowned.
After not seeing them for a few years, what on earth had happened to these younger brothers and sisters?
“I was working hard!” Gu Xiangyi said, beaming with pride. Just now, as soon as she entered the compound, the familiar uncles and aunties had all praised her, saying she looked energetic.
Fourth Brother Gu said, “Which brother of yours am I?”
Gu Xiangyi: “…?”
“Aren’t you my eldest brother?” Gu Xiangyi looked utterly confused. She had originally thought that she and Zhan Mingzhao would be made difficult for by Eldest Brother, but the questions this “Eldest Brother” was asking were completely unexpected.
What did he mean, which brother?
Fourth Brother Gu’s face darkened. “I’m not your eldest brother. You have five older brothers above you.”
It was one thing for Zhan Aiping not to recognise him, but even his own biological younger sister did not recognise him. What kind of eyes did Little Sister Gu have?
Zhan Mingzhao said, “It can’t possibly be Fourth Brother, right?”
Fourth Brother Gu: “…”
Guobaorou said, “Little Uncle, Mom said this is Fourth Uncle.”
Gu Xiangyi was shocked. “You’re my fourth brother? How could you be my fourth brother? How did you become like this?!”
Fourth Brother Gu said, “Didn’t I just gain a little weight compared to before?”
Zhan Aiping thought, More than a little. More like an enormous little.
“You and this Zhan boy have gotten thinner.” Fourth Brother Gu’s gaze landed on Zhan Mingzhao, and Zhan Mingzhao immediately straightened his body.
Zhan Aiping said, “Fourth Brother, your aura has changed too.”
Fourth Brother Gu said, “I’m going to act in a film. I’m playing a big shot.”
Zhan Aiping: “…” He was far too deep into character.
Zhan Aiping glanced at Gu Sheng, thinking that the Gu family really did all have a talent for acting.
Gu Sheng took a sip of tea. “Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother look alike.”
Fourth Brother Gu said, “When I first joined the cultural troupe, I was also a fair-skinned young actor.”
Zhan Mingzhao: “…” When he first joined the cultural troupe, he had been a dark and skinny young actor.
After this interruption from Fourth Brother Gu, both Zhan Mingzhao and Gu Xiangyi became somewhat “relaxed.” At first, the two of them had made a strategy. They believed that the biggest opposing force in the Gu family was the “Eldest Brother Gu” faction, so the person they had actively planned to win over was Eldest Brother Gu.
Fourth Brother Gu usually did not concern himself much with family matters. His threat level was even lower than Third Brother Gu’s.
Just now, they had mistaken Fourth Brother Gu for Eldest Brother Gu, which meant they had been nervous and busy for nothing.
“So it was Fourth Brother.” Gu Xiangyi immediately relaxed. She also collapsed onto the sofa. The capable female soldier demeanour she had had just moments ago instantly disappeared, turning her into a lazy long worm.
This was her familiar home. None of her older brothers had lived here as long as she had. Little Sister Gu had returned to her happy old nest. Even if she wanted to be nervous, she could not manage it.
Fourth Brother Gu frowned. “Just because I’m Fourth Brother, you act like this? Is Fourth Brother not still your older brother?”
Zhan Aiping said, “Fourth Brother, we’re close in age. There’s no generation gap between us.”
Fourth Brother Gu: “…Sister-in-law, my fifth brother is two years older than you.”
Zhan Aiping said, “That’s not a big difference. We’re all people of the same age.”
Gu Sheng could not help laughing.
From the look of them, they did not seem like people of the same generation at all.
“Stop laughing.” Zhan Aiping gave Gu Sheng a look. She had brought her younger brother here this time, so she had to work hard to win over every resource they could possibly win over.
“Fourth Brother, here, please have some tea.” Zhan Mingzhao very attentively served Fourth Brother Gu.
The group exchanged a few polite words.
Then Gu Ze’an, his wife, the eldest brother, and the third brother returned. As soon as they entered, the house instantly became even livelier. Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan happily went to call out to their grandparents.
Compared with their uncles, they were more familiar with Grandpa, Grandma, their uncle, and their aunt.
“My little grandson and granddaughter are back. You’ve grown quite a bit again…” Gu Ze’an and his wife held their grandson and granddaughter, reluctant to let go. Third Brother Gu stood to the side with his hands in his pockets, watching. Eldest Brother Gu stood there quietly with a faint smile.
After seeing Eldest Brother Gu’s true face, Zhan Aiping suddenly understood.
Someone like Eldest Brother Gu was a restrained old fox, while Fourth Brother Gu was an outwardly fierce paper tiger.
Eldest Brother Gu’s gaze landed on Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, then swept over Gu Xiangyi and Zhan Mingzhao.
“You’re all back?”
Gu Sheng said, “We’re back.”
Zhan Mingzhao had originally been nervous, but the moment he heard his brother-in-law Gu Sheng’s voice, he instantly held himself together.
With his brother-in-law here, he felt very reassured.
There was no helping it. After all, they had grown up together. He had personally seen Gu Sheng anger his eldest brother until he nearly jumped in rage.
He had originally forgotten all those things, but at this moment, countless memories surged into his mind.
The moment Eldest Brother Gu heard Gu Sheng’s voice, his head instinctively started to ache.
They all said the eldest brother was like a father. In reality, only the youngest brother and youngest sister had enough of an age gap with him for that “like a father” saying to make sense. As for the fourth brother… why did the fourth brother look even older than him?
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