A low-key black car pulled into an upscale residential complex. A man stepped out, retrieved several boxes of nutritional supplements from the trunk, and walked into the elevator with a stoic expression. His tall, lean frame, clad in a knee-length wool coat, drew covert glances from the women inside, all curious when such a stunningly handsome man had moved into their building.
The elevator reached the eighth floor. Gu Chao, familiar with the route, stopped before a door adorned with couplets and knocked. Soon, a heavily pregnant woman opened it, her face lighting up at the sight of him.
"Didn't I call you earlier to come back? Why are you so late?" she said, feigning displeasure as she reached for the boxes in his hands, only for him to deftly avoid her.
"Work kept me busy." Gu Chao stepped inside with his long legs, setting the items on the living room table.
"I know you're busy—I barely see you all year. But it's New Year's, and I wanted you home for a meal." Gu Nanxi waddled over, her belly prominent, to pour him water. Gu Chao took the teapot from her and poured two cups himself.
Sitting down, he glanced around. "Where's my brother-in-law?"
"He had something come up and won't be back until later."
"And the nanny?" Gu Chao frowned slightly. "He's okay leaving you alone?"
"What's there to worry about? It's not like I can't take care of myself." Gu Nanxi peeled peanuts for him with a gentle air. "The nanny went grocery shopping. You and Nanzhou aren't leaving right after eating, are you?"
"No need to go to that trouble. We'll eat out once Nanzhou gets here."
"Who eats out on New Year's?" Gu Nanxi shot him a stern look, channeling the family matriarch. "Even if you're a company CEO, you can't throw money around. You need to be prepared for hard times."
Gu Chao pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile as he sipped his tea.
Their parents had died young, leaving the three siblings to fend for themselves. As the eldest, Gu Nanxi had given them every scrap of food she could. Life had been brutal—she'd dropped out of school at twelve to do manual labor to support them. When things got too dire, she'd taken them begging on the streets. In Shencheng, where passersby sneered at them, they'd met Mu Yan, the noble eldest daughter of the Mu family. She insisted her parents take them in, and from then on, they found shelter and meals in the Mu family estate, changing their fate.
After the Mu family was wiped out, Shen Xiaoxing helped them out of gratitude. To avoid unnecessary trouble, the three siblings changed their names. Years had passed, but Gu Nanxi still clung to habits of frugality, often preaching "preparedness for adversity."
"So many years have gone by," Gu Nanxi sighed heavily. "Back then, the three of us begged together, endured every hardship. Now we have everything, but something still feels missing."
Gu Chao pursed his lips, eyes fixed on the cup in his hands, his gaze heavy. Gu Nanxi glanced at him, knowing her taciturn brother well—she understood the obsession that had haunted him all these years.
"Xiao Wu, it's been so long. You can't keep dwelling on the past. Look forward." She cradled her warm cup. "You're not young anymore—twenty-six after the New Year. It's time to think about settling down."
Gu Chao scratched the skin under his eye, chuckling as he tried to change the subject. "Sis..."
"Stop right there." Gu Nanxi cut him off, anticipating his move. "I know what you're going to say, but it won't work. You need to find a girlfriend soon, and early on, expand our..." She paused. "Expand the Li family line."
They were originally surnamed Li. After the Mu family's fall, survivors were hunted. The three siblings had barely escaped death and changed their identities to keep living in Shencheng.
"That might be tough in my current situation." Gu Chao smiled faintly. "Sis, leave that tough task to Nanzhou."
Gu Nanxi opened her mouth to retort when a knock came at the door. Gu Chao told her to stay put and got up to answer it.
Speak of the devil. Gu Chao looked at the slouching Sheng Nanzhou before him, raising an eyebrow. Couldn't this guy take a hint?
"Hey, bro, you're early today?" Sheng Nanzhou squeezed in, grinning as he greeted Gu Nanxi. "Sis, did I make it in time?"
Gu Chao chuckled, closing the door. "Right on time. Perfect timing."
A godsend, really.
Gu Nanxi didn't return Sheng Nanzhou's grin. Her expression soured, leaving him puzzled. He hadn't even done anything wrong yet, had he?
Sheng Nanzhou leaned back, and as Gu Chao walked over, he whispered, "Did you say something treasonous?"
"Not bringing a girlfriend home—that's the treason."
Sheng Nanzhou let out a "hey," then sidled up to Gu Nanxi, massaging her shoulders eagerly. "Sis, getting a girlfriend is no big deal for me. The problem is my brother—you hit a wall with the marriage talk, didn't you?"
Gu Chao passed by and gave him a subtle kick.
"Neither of you gives me any peace." Gu Nanxi sighed. With their parents gone early, she'd taken on the role of family elder, looking after her two brothers. They'd faced so much together, and thankfully, life was better now. She just wanted to see them settled, married, living stable lives.
Sheng Nanzhou grumbled, "Bro, you come home and make sis mad right away. Real filial of you."
Gu Chao sipped his tea, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"Enough about him. What about you?" Gu Nanxi shifted focus. "Nanzhou, when are you bringing a girlfriend home?"
"My brother's still single. If I showed up with a girlfriend, it'd embarrass him. As his younger brother, I can't do that."
Gu Chao smirked. "Go ahead. Don't worry about me."
Gu Nanxi looked at them both, straightening up. "I don't care what you two think. You both need to find wives this year. You're not kids anymore—stop needing to be nagged."
"Fine, I promise I'll bring you a sister-in-law this year." Sheng Nanzhou massaged her calves, then stared at her belly. "Sis, I swear it's bigger than last time I was here."
"The doctor says the baby's growing fast. Eight months along now. The closer to delivery, the more nervous I get—my heart's all over the place."
"Nervous about what? You've got us." Sheng Nanzhou comforted her. "Sis, don't overthink it. With us two uncles protecting him, nothing's going to happen."
Gu Chao stared at his sister's belly, marveling at how fast time flew. Soon, he'd take on a new role.
"Sheng Nanzhou, you come see sis and don't even bring anything? So stingy."
Sheng Nanzhou took offense. "Stingy? I swear, I treat sis the best. I didn't bring gifts because she said not to."
Gu Nanxi chimed in, "Exactly. You two always bring so much nutritional stuff, and I don't even like it. It'd be a waste to throw it away, so your brother-in-law ends up eating it all."