Chapter 77: What Is Your Relationship?

Yu Wanqin turned around in surprise, meeting Gu Yanbin’s deep, dark eyes. His gaze was fixed intently, the flames within seeming ready to devour her.

She felt as if scalded, blushing as she turned her face away.

“Have you finished your business?”

Gu Yanbin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Mm!”

“Oh my! Sister, your family is so good-looking, every one of you! It’s such a delight to see! This dress suits you perfectly—look, even your husband can’t take his eyes off you,” the saleswoman exclaimed with envy.

Yu Wanqin nearly choked on her own saliva.

Her face flushed crimson as she tried to explain, “We’re not—”

Tongtong had already pattered over to Gu Yanbin, hugging his sturdy leg. “Dad Gu, I’m tired. Carry me.”

Gu Yanbin also realized his gaze had been too intense and reluctantly withdrew it.

With a long arm, he scooped Tongtong up, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile. “Daddy will take you to buy some canned food.”

“Yay!” Tongtong happily planted a loud kiss on Dad Gu’s cheek.

Gu Yanbin turned and led the children out.

Yu Wanqin immediately forgot what had just happened, hurriedly paid, gathered the clothes the children and she had changed out of, and followed.

Gu Yanbin had somehow obtained foreign exchange certificates and took them to browse the Friendship Store.

Tongtong stared wide-eyed at the dazzling array of imported goods, her little face brimming with excitement.

“Dad Gu, can we buy all of these?”

“Yes!”

Tongtong didn’t hold back, selecting plenty of tasty treats—some for herself and some for her two older brothers.

Gu Yanbin didn’t even bat an eye, buying whatever his daughter pointed at.

In no time, they had a large bag full: chocolates, imported snacks and candies, and foreign sodas, one of each.

While paying, he noticed a pair of white women’s high-heeled shoes prominently displayed.

The heels were slender and tall, exquisitely crafted and stylish.

For some inexplicable reason, an image of Yu Wanqin wearing those shoes flashed through his mind.

He roughly estimated the size.

“Please get me a pair of those shoes in size 35 and wrap them up.”

Yu Wanqin paused, then averted her gaze.

She had actually wanted to ask about those shoes too, but she didn’t have any foreign exchange certificates.

Since Gu Yanbin wanted to buy them as a gift for someone, she gave up the idea of getting them herself.

After wandering around the city, they finally went to the mooncake factory’s distribution department.

Mooncakes at this time were made simply, with only a few varieties available.

Yu Wanqin bought two jin of five-nut mooncakes and two jin of fruit-filled mooncakes.

Tongtong, her dark eyes gleaming, quietly tugged at Muchen’s sleeve and gave him a meaningful look.

Muchen understood immediately, silently shifting his position to block the adults’ view with his slender but upright frame.

Tongtong quickly retrieved several packs of Cantonese-style mooncakes from her space—unwrapped and repackaged in oil paper—and slipped them into the pile of items Mother had just bought.

Yu Wanqin turned back and looked at the inexplicably added packs of mooncakes, somewhat puzzled. “Huh? Did we buy this many just now?”

Tongtong immediately blinked her innocent, wide eyes and nodded blankly. “Yeah, Tongtong picked all of these.”

Gu Jingnan glanced over, not entirely sure, but since his little sister said so, he nodded along. “That’s right!”

Muchen, meanwhile, stared expressionlessly at the sky.

Gu Yanbin, utterly doting on his daughter, chimed in, “Whatever Tongtong says is right!”

…Alright then.

Yu Wanqin guessed her daughter might have taken them from her space and quietly packed everything away without another word.

Gu Yanbin helped carry the large and small bags.

After the shopping was done, Gu Yanbin went ahead to bring the car over.

Yu Wanqin walked out of the store with the children, their hands full of purchases.

But she saw Gu Yanbin, tall and long-legged, leaning lazily against the Jeep, waiting.

Beside him stood a young woman, dressed in a blue-and-white striped plaid skirt, a silk scarf around her neck, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyebrows and eyes meticulously made up. She was smiling and talking to Gu Yanbin.

It was actually Doctor Shen.

The two seemed quite familiar.

Yu Wanqin thought to wait a moment before approaching, not wanting to disturb their conversation.

Tongtong tilted her head, her dark, bright eyes darting around, then she dashed over like a little cannonball.

Her small, milky voice rang out crisply: “Daddy!”

As soon as Gu Yanbin saw her, his originally stern brows and eyes instantly softened. He crouched down and picked up the little girl.

But this cry of “Daddy” was like a sudden clap of thunder, completely stunning Shen Xinyun.

The smile on her face froze instantly. She looked incredulously at Gu Yanbin, then at the little one who had rushed over, her voice changing pitch: “Yanbin? This… this is your daughter? When did you have such a big daughter?”

Gu Yanbin offered no explanation, simply giving a soft “Hmm.”

His gaze passed over Shen Xinyun, landing on Yu Wanqin as she approached. Instantly, his eyes became incredibly gentle and focused, his voice softening as well: “Get in the car.”

Such a starkly different attitude—how could Shen Xinyun not notice?

Her sharp gaze immediately shot toward Yu Wanqin, filled with scrutiny and hostility: “Doctor Yu? You two… what is your relationship?”

Yu Wanqin didn’t want to cause trouble, nor did she want to put Gu Yanbin in an awkward position. She replied calmly, “Commander Gu is just giving us a ride out of kindness since he’s heading the same way.”

She looked at Gu Yanbin and added, “If you have other matters to attend to, Commander Gu, perhaps we should just take the bus back.”

Her intention was not to disturb the two of them.

Or to create any unnecessary misunderstandings.

But Gu Yanbin grew anxious and quickly said, “I’m fine! I have nothing else to do! Get in the car, quickly!”

Afraid that Yu Wanqin might really leave, he hurriedly opened the back door, placed Tongtong in his arms inside, and then motioned for Gu Jingnan and Si Muchen to get in as well.

Watching this scene, Shen Xinyun felt both sour and furious.

She had heard that Gu Yanbin would be in the city today and had taken time off specifically to “bump into” him. How could she let this country woman ruin it?

She immediately stepped forward and said in a coquettish tone, “Yanbin, my foot seems a bit sprained. I can’t walk. Could you give me a ride back too?” As she spoke, she reached for the passenger door.

Gu Yanbin frowned tightly, directly reaching out to stop her. His tone was cold and firm: “Doctor Shen, I’m sorry, but the car is full. Please find your own way back.”

With that, he unceremoniously pulled her hand away from the car door.

Shen Xinyun hadn’t expected him to be so blunt. She deliberately pouted and said, “Oh, Yanbin, you’re hurting me! We can squeeze in a bit. How can it be full?”

From the back seat, Tongtong happily patted the empty space beside her and called out, “Mommy, come up quickly! There’s plenty of room here!”

Yu Wanqin still hesitated, feeling this was putting Gu Yanbin in too difficult a position.

“It’s getting late. We should head back soon!”

As soon as Gu Yanbin finished speaking, as if afraid she might change her mind, he gently nudged her into the car, then quickly closed and locked the door!

He jumped into the driver’s seat, and the Jeep roared to life, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.

The motion was seamless, leaving Shen Xinyun’s face covered in exhaust fumes.

Shen Xinyun’s face turned green with anger.

Her eyes coldly fixed on the vehicle’s receding figure, she clenched her fists tightly at her sides.