"Not even a hint of it?" Long Tianjiao curled her lip disdainfully. "Besides, since Mo Ge and my brother are close friends, they're bound to meet."
"You're hopeless, child," chastised the venerable Long matriarch. "No sense at all."
Long patriarch offered a peeled shrimp to his wife, adding with a grin, "Her wit isn't exactly the hallmark of our Long family."
The remark drew an involuntary chuckle from Gu Lili, instantly attracting several pairs of inquisitive gazes upon her.
She smiled softly, "Grandfather, your humor is unmatched."
The elder lady chuckled, "He's always been like that."
"Grandma, your bond with Grandpa is truly admirable."
"Indeed," the matriarch beamed. "That's the one thing about your grandfather—he listens to everything I say. After weathering decades of storms and sunshine together, to grow old side by side is truly a blessing."
"How enviable."
"Envy what? You and Yubei should nurture a harmonious life of your own, live well. No need to envy us. Better hurry and bring a little one into the world. Your grandfather and I have grown quite dull without children. If you don't want to raise the child yourselves, leave it all to us—we'll spoil it till it's plump and rosy."
Gu Lili blushed, "We'll certainly do our best."
She longed deeply for a child, to become a mother.
Her mind wandered to what their child might look like.
Would it resemble him, or her?
Imagining a tiny, adorable bundle made Gu Lili smile softly.
Long Yubei, sitting nearby, needed no guesswork to know what filled her thoughts.
After the meal, the couple departed; along the way, she hummed an unfamiliar tune, her mood delightfully serene.
Upon arriving home,
He took her hand and led her straight to the bedroom, seating her upon his lap.
His arms encircled her waist as he whispered, "Do you desire children?"
"Of course."
"But not yet," he murmured, turning his head. "I'm not particularly fond of children."
Gu Lili frowned, "But eventually, we must have one. Even if you dislike it, we need a child."
"Then later," he added softly, "just not now."
Hearing this, she acquiesced, comforted by his promise of 'later,' not 'never.'
"If Grandma asks again, you answer her—I'm done with it."
"Agreed." He tightened his embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder. "What fragrance are you wearing?"
"I'm not wearing any perfume."
The subtle, delicate scent he inhaled was her natural aroma. "For our honeymoon, is there anywhere you wish to go?"
"I said yes, but will you come?"
"Where?"
"…"
Surveying the scene before him, Long Yubei asked in astonishment, "This is where you grew up?"
"Yes, you promised to spend a week here with me for our honeymoon. I want to take this chance to have you live here, to experience the environment that shaped me. Otherwise, when would you ever come?"
She opened the door, inviting him in.
Long Yubei followed her inside, taking in the modest courtyard, scarcely able to imagine she had spent her childhood here.
"Is there electricity?"
"Yes, and even signal," she said, opening the door to the main room.
Inside, the sparse furnishings struck him as starkly simple.
The bedroom held two beds, a wardrobe, and a table; she explained softly, "When my master was alive, we lived in the same room."