CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404 COMFORT

Gong Ruini really didn’t rest well all night. It wasn’t that someone was causing trouble outside, but she found out that Wan Qiweng surprisingly didn’t sleep well all night.

Gong Ruini didn’t know if Hua Miaozhu rested well yesterday, but she was definitely feeling dizzy.

What Gong Ruini couldn’t accept was that Wan Qiweng still managed to get up early in the morning for exercise, which made Gong Ruini feel quite indignant.

Especially since Wan Qiweng could still energetically instruct Zhao Xuran and the others, Gong Ruini could only wonder if martial artists could stay up all night and still be full of energy the next day.

Ugh, forget it. While Zhao Guangran and the others are still practicing martial arts, I’d better catch some sleep quickly, or else when that boy comes over, he’ll definitely make fun of me.

Gong Ruini planned to rest for a bit, but when she woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky, which gave her a shock.

She jumped up quickly, hurriedly got dressed, and ran outside.

Zhao Xuran saw Gong Ruini in a hurry and said, "Ni Zi, you’re awake?"

"Gong Ruini, you finally woke up. I thought you were so brave, but it turns out you were so timid." Zhao Guangran had been waiting all morning, and now that Gong Ruini was finally awake, of course, he didn’t hesitate to mock her.

Ah, when did she become cowardly? Is she a coward? It’s really a joke, and anyway, has anything scary happened recently?

"What did I do?" Humph, it must be this kid smearing her again, "I just didn’t rest well, that’s all."

Gong Ruini saw the thick stack of papers in front of them and knew she had woken up unusually late.

Didn’t rest well, she scoffed, she wasn’t frightened, Zhao Guangran sat quietly, because if he continued talking, who knows, his big brother might take action against him, ugh, that’s his brother for you.

"Why didn’t you rest well?" Zhao Xuran didn’t think Gong Ruini was scared yesterday, after all, nothing happened yesterday.

"I just didn’t rest well." Gong Ruini couldn’t possibly say it was because Wan Qiweng cried for most of the night, right?

If it were just Zhao Xuran and Gong Ruwen, Gong Ruini might’ve said it, because they wouldn’t spill the beans, but she couldn’t trust Zhao Guangran to keep it to himself.

Although he wouldn’t spread it around, in Zhao Guangran’s mind, everyone is family. If he found out, no big deal, but how would Wan Qiweng feel?

A Wan Qiweng who could cry for half the night and still push herself to get up in the morning doesn’t want anyone’s pity.

Zhao Guangran, though seemingly engrossed in copying materials, had his ears perked up, eager to hear what Gong Ruini might say, but he hadn’t expected her to keep quiet.

Humph, annoying, how is this guy becoming less likable, always hiding things when he talks.

"Was it because Wan Qiweng cried for a long time last night?" Zhao Xuran suddenly whispered into Gong Ruini’s ear.

All of Gong Ruini’s attention was on Zhao Guangran, so she didn’t notice Zhao Xuran’s sudden approach, and his sudden close presence startled her.

Before Gong Ruini could push Zhao Xuran’s head away, his words surprised her.

"You..." No way, this kid actually knows, but how come Zhao Guangran and the others don’t react, knowing they also receive Wan Qiweng’s martial arts guidance?

"So it’s true," Zhao Xuran thought Wan Qiweng just cried for a bit, not expecting it to disturb Gong Ruini’s rest, which made Zhao Xuran a bit unhappy.

Sure, knowing that Wan Qiweng has been in the Northeast alone for so many years without returning, it’s normal to miss family, but disturbing Ni Zi’s rest is just a bit much.

"Don’t say anything." Gong Ruini didn’t want to be the little villain who spills secrets. "By the way, how did you know?"

"Red eyes and claimed they were rubbed." Really, rubbed eyes and having cried all night have very obvious differences, only Gong Ruwen could be fooled to believe the rubbing story.

Oh, so it was her red eyes that gave Wan Qiweng away; likely, even her uncle and the others would know.

"I’m going to eat, then get to work." Filled with a bit of worry on how to comfort Wan Qiweng without aggravating her, but since even Zhao Xuran noticed, others probably did too, so she might as well remain silent like a child.

Comforting someone is truly tiring; Gong Ruini didn’t have the skill to counsel anyone.

After greeting everyone, the late-rising Gong Ruini went to find something to eat. She really was starving, worried that if she didn’t eat, she’d have no strength to continue copying materials.

Wan Qiweng felt genuinely apologetic upon seeing Gong Ruini. She hadn’t expected to get so emotional the previous night, crying on the kang for so long, and forgot she wasn’t living alone at the knowledge youth point. She likely disturbed the poor girl, preventing her from sleeping well, explaining why she woke up so late today.

"I’m sorry." Following Gong Ruini to the kitchen, Wan Qiweng apologized softly.

Huh, Gong Ruini never expected Wan Qiweng to apologize to her; in many people’s eyes, there’s no need for adults to apologize to a child.

"It’s nothing, Aunt Wan, you must be missing home, right?" Gong Ruini picked up a meat bun and started eating.

Originally, Hua Miaozhu cooked the meal, and the dishes were prepared early by Cai Meina and the others. Ingredients were ready to go straight into the pot as needed, due to a lack of hands, resulting simply in either eating steamed buns or steamed rice, eating with braised meat. Basically, whoever’s hungry eats first or calls out for some new food to be made.

Wan Qiweng picked up a bun too. Even though she wasn’t very hungry, lunchtime wasn’t far away, so she didn’t want to eat again later, "How could I not miss it? It’s been so many years since I left."

For some reason, Wan Qiweng just had so much to say to Gong Ruini, she talked endlessly, "Ha, I told you so much, maybe you find me nagging, but thank you."

"I feel much lighter now, as long as I work hard at my exams and get good grades, I can go back." Wan Qiweng gave Gong Ruini a tight hug.

"If you ever come to Beijing, and if something happens, you can come find me."

"I might not be able to help with major issues, but for small favors, I can definitely help." Wan Qiweng wasn’t someone who liked owing favors, and since Gong Ruini and the others were sensible people, there would be no excessive demands, so Wan Qiweng generously made her promise.

Although when Wan Qiweng spoke, she was quite restrained about her family background without saying too much, Gong Ruini felt it was definitely not an ordinary family, especially since she might really need her help one day.

"Aunt Wan, you said it yourself, and I have an idea." Gong Ruini beckoned Wan Qiweng closer with a finger.

No way, just after she made the promise, this girl already had an idea. If she wasn’t so sure nobody knew about her information, she’d have thought Gong Ruini waited here just for her.

After hearing Gong Ruini’s condition, Wan Qiweng was genuinely shocked, "Alright, I understand, but it depends on the situation."

"No problem," Gong Ruini indicated it wasn’t urgent.