Proud
As luck would have it, Gu Sheng and his wife moved in next door to Commander Luo. Both families were familiar with each other, and their yards were connected. While Gu Sheng and his wife were happily preparing for the move, Commander Luo and his wife had mixed feelings.
Commander Luo, in particular, felt troubled. Just when he’d sent off one “nuisance,” another one moved in, stirring up his annoyance. With Commander Jiang’s promotion, Commander Luo felt uneasy, and now that Gu Sheng had become his equal, he felt even more so.
This unease dulled his joy over the birth of his long-awaited son. Zhang Lirong had just given birth, finally giving Commander Luo a son, which made him ecstatic.
Unfortunately, he didn’t even have time to go out and brag before Commander Jiang was promoted and transferred, leaving Gu Sheng as his new neighbour. Meanwhile, Zhang Lirong felt like she’d done the Luo family a great service by having a son, and now she carried herself with even more pride.
She considered herself the “matriarch” of the Luo family now!
Commander Luo: “…”
This didn’t exactly make for a happy household.
The one consolation was that Gu Sheng also feared his wife, which eased Commander Luo’s embarrassment. At least now, they could wash clothes together in the yard. Although it was rumoured that after Gu Sheng’s injury, his wife had been doting on him, Commander Luo felt this “honeymoon phase” wouldn’t last. He figured that Zhan Aiping would eventually return to her former self, and then he’d be able to enjoy watching the drama next door.
After all, as the saying goes, it’s easy to adjust to luxury but hard to go back to simplicity.
Men, once spoiled by women, start taking their efforts for granted.
Commander Luo clicked his tongue, thinking, “…”
Although Gu Sheng was younger and had reached Commander rank sooner, maybe he’d also experience an early divorce, perhaps even remarrying a fierce “tigress” from the east.
Commander Luo, looking back, regretted letting his marriage with Zhu Hui fall apart.
But men never complain to others. What’s in the past stays in the past. Commander Luo held back tears inside but still smiled on the outside, telling everyone, “This third marriage is going quite well.”
Inside the house, he’d lost everything, but outside, he wouldn’t lose face.
“Do you think I’m really afraid of my wife? No, I just love her.”
Since the move wasn’t far, Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping took a whole week to transfer their belongings gradually. This time, they’d gotten a larger house with a bigger yard, though the kitchen was a bit small, which didn’t bother them.
Gu Sheng was thrilled to have accomplished something he’d wanted for a while. Before the move, he’d arranged for two small beds to be made, and now he took the opportunity to move his two little ones out of the master bedroom.
At almost three, it was time for them to sleep on their own!
Since the kids were young, he had them share a room with two beds, so they could keep each other company. Later, when they grew a bit older, they could move to separate rooms.
“Daddy got you little beds, with a table and chairs. Aren’t you excited? Let’s go check out your room, Youyou and Yuanyuan. If there’s anything else you want, just tell Daddy.”
Feeling delighted at the prospect of finally having the room to himself, Gu Sheng sweetly coaxed the kids.
“Youyou, sleeping alone makes you a big man.”
Though Youyou was clever, he fell for his dad’s sweet talk.
“Yuanyuan’s wanted to sleep on her own for a while, right? Now you have your own table; you can decorate it with any pictures you like…”
Xiaotangyuan crossed her arms proudly, “I’m grown up now; I don’t need to sleep with Mom and Dad!”
Gu Sheng, with a gentle smile and his charming eyes, thought that for such a rebellious young man, he’d surprisingly ended up with two obedient children. It was a comforting thought for him as a father.
“My two kids are wonderful. You make me proud, Youyou and Yuanyuan—brave enough to sleep on your own at only two years old.”
Guobaorou and Xiaotangyuan were immersed in their father’s endless praise, already feeling like little adults and daydreaming about sleeping independently.
They followed behind him like little tails as Gu Sheng led them to their future room. The three of them admired the space as Gu Sheng continued to paint an exciting picture.
“Look at our little room; isn’t it nice?”
“We’ll put Yuanyuan’s panda right here. Here are your dolls, all arranged around your bed…”
…
Gu Sheng’s sweet talk must have worked too well, as Guobaorou and Xiaotangyuan became so eager for their independence that a disagreement arose.
—They no longer wanted to share a room.
“I want to sleep by myself, by myself!” Xiaotangyuan buzzed around her mom Zhan Aiping like a little bee.
She hugged her mom’s leg.
True independence as a “girl boss” meant having her own room, not sharing with her brother.
Guobaorou felt the same; he also wanted his own space.
Gu Sheng: “…”
“Alright, alright. So, which rooms do you want? Once you decide, Daddy will help set them up.”
Guobaorou and Xiaotangyuan ran around the house, dashing from room to room, carefully considering where they wanted to sleep in the future.
Gu Sheng stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, smiling as he watched the two kids run around. His gentle, doting expression was like a calm spring breeze.
He couldn’t help but whistle happily.
Zhan Aiping, arranging the living room, heard his whistling and couldn’t help rolling her eyes at him. “Some people’s intentions are as obvious as daylight.”
Taking advantage of the kids’ innocence.
“Honey, the kids are growing up,” Gu Sheng said cheerfully. He walked over to Zhan Aiping, quickly stole a kiss on her cheek, and went back to his whistling.
Now that he was finally free of the two little “light bulbs” (the kids), he could enjoy carefree, uninterrupted time with his wife.
He really had it rough. Even Wang was luckier; Gu Sheng had barely settled into married life before they had two kids, leaving him with little chance to enjoy being a newlywed. Now, he was finally sending the kids to their own room.
“Mama, don’t spoil the kids too much. Let them fly free and independent,” Gu Sheng said as he leaned close to Zhan Aiping’s ear.
With a laugh, Zhan Aiping pushed his handsome face away. “Oh, I know what you’re thinking. You don’t think I know?”
Gu Sheng smiled, “You’re like my mind-reader; of course you know.”
Zhan Aiping placed some freshly cut roses in a vase. With the move, she’d pruned the blooming flowers; some plants were still at the old house, waiting to be transplanted once they finished flowering.
“No need to keep your voice down now, honey,” he added.
She paused, looking up at him. “Honestly, I try to keep calm, but you’re just so aggravating.”
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Zhan Aiping muttered, feeling her “model wife” patience wearing thin.
Laughing, Gu Sheng wrapped his arms around her from behind. “I know these good days won’t last, so I’m making the most of them.”
“Let me bask in it a bit longer!”
Commander Gu had always been one to seize the moment without holding back. When his father, Gu Ze’an, called to check on him, Gu Sheng spoke freely on the phone, “Hey, Dad, guess what? I’m living the good life now!”
Gu Ze’an was briefly taken aback. He’d called to ask how his son’s recovery was going, concerned in a fatherly way, only to be met with this excited rambling.
“Dad, I’m living in comfort now. I wish you could see it—my wife’s been so gentle lately…”
“You’ve probably never experienced that, right?”
Gu Ze’an silently fumed, whatever fatherly concern he’d felt disappearing instantly. “Your mom had her gentle moments too.”
“Really?” Gu Sheng seemed puzzled. “Why don’t I remember that?”
“You’re the youngest. You missed it.”
Gu Sheng replied, “…From what I know, my older brothers didn’t see it either.”
“Nor did little sister.”
“You brat! It’s not your pretty wife I envy; it’s those obedient kids of yours.”
“Yeah, I have to say I’m quite proud of that myself.”
“Well, why don’t you have your wife give you a couple more wild ones to turn your life upside down?”
“With every word they’d say back to you, driving you mad.”
Gu Sheng replied nonchalantly, “No more kids. I’ve got my son and daughter. Why add more trouble?”
…
After the call, Gu Sheng was in high spirits. Lately, life had been great for Commander Gu, and he hadn’t had a single bad day.
Returning home, he ran into Commander Luo, his new next-door neighbour. Now that they shared the same compound, it was impossible not to see each other.
“Commander Luo,” Gu Sheng greeted casually.
“Ah, Xiao Gu.” Commander Luo still called him “Xiao Gu,” clinging to the familiarity to feel superior.
But that small pleasure did little to ease his frustration. Seeing Gu Sheng’s cheerful face daily, Commander Luo secretly wished he could punch him just once.
Wasn’t Gu Sheng supposed to be doing laundry and cooking at home?
Yet here he was, wandering around, looking smug, while his beautiful wife took care of everything for him.
Zhan Aiping truly was beautiful, and her gentle moments were genuinely tender. Just the other day, Commander Luo had seen her wiping Gu Sheng’s brow with a soft smile, caring for him with such affection that it made him green with envy.
His insides churned with jealousy. He’d accepted his fate when Zhang Lirong gave him a child, adjusting to his life. But with Commander Jiang promoted, Xiao Gu had risen to equal rank with him. And on top of that, Xiao Gu’s wife had begun doting on him!
Back then, Zhu Hui wasn’t as beautiful as Zhan Aiping, but she had her own charm. Now, Zhang Lirong couldn’t even compare to Zhu Hui, let alone to Zhan Aiping, who was not only beautiful but also a doctor.
Commander Luo approached Gu Sheng with a sarcastic tone, “Ah, Xiao Gu, you need to keep your mindset straight. Just because you’re a commander now doesn’t mean you can neglect your wife…”
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, “How am I neglecting my wife?”
Commander Luo gritted his teeth, “You don’t even do your own laundry anymore.” Meanwhile, he had to wash his clothes all by himself every day.
Gu Sheng, never one to hold back, replied smugly, “It’s only right that my wife takes care of me.”
Commander Luo nearly choked in frustration: “…” Director Li should hear this! How did this man ever get the “Model Husband” title?
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