CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 472: DEEPLY SUSPICIOUS

Gong Ruini was stunned to see Gong Tao rushing in. Isn’t this the time when Dad usually fusses around Mom? How does he have time to see her?

When Gong Ruini found out that Gong Tao had come in a hurry to see the family portrait, she was even more perplexed. "What, Dad, you actually want to see that?"

Last time, he said her drawing wasn’t good enough, then mentioned Cai Meina having a child. He said they’d do it after the baby was born. How come just a few days later he’s suddenly eager to see the family portrait? Gong Ruini was utterly confused by this turn of events.

"Is it gone?" Seeing his daughter not moving, Gong Tao was anxious. If he couldn’t get his hands on that thing, how would he explain it to his wife?

Would his wife think he was lying? Ever since she got pregnant, she’d become somewhat unpredictable. This made Gong Tao extremely cautious around her.

"I have it." Seeing Gong Tao’s panic, Gong Ruini shook her head. People always say a man shouldn’t spoil his wife too much, but as soon as her mom has a slight issue, he’s beyond anxious. It must be tough for him.

Gong Ruini dug the family portrait she drew out of the box. "Be careful with it." Although her portraits weren’t very spot-on, Gong Ruini got used to keeping a copy of every drawing she made.

Even keeping the childish ones; sometimes, when she looks back on them, she can clearly see how much she’s improved.

Gong Tao glanced at the drawing and let out a long sigh of relief, "Luckily, it’s still here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do." Now he could explain to his wife. Otherwise, he’d really be at a loss.

Gong Ruini saw how relieved Gong Tao was and couldn’t hold back, "Actually, I drew several family portraits. Some Mom hasn’t seen."

A drawing is really easy to get, but Gong Tao was too flustered to realize this.

Gong Ruini knew that after many women get pregnant, they become a bit more forgetful—after all, they say a three-year period of silliness follows pregnancy. But she never expected Gong Tao would become like this, which was quite disappointing to her.

Yet, isn’t it also a woman’s happiness if a man becomes so silly for her? She wonders if she will have such a good man waiting for her in the future.

Ugh, no way! Gong Tao was dumbfounded, realizing he had gotten so worked up over something utterly foolish?

"Forget it, I’ll be honest with you; otherwise, if your mom finds out, my reputation..." Gong Tao thought for a moment. He had better stick to being a good guy.

Actually, he is a good guy, it’s just that his own family dragged him into this mess. He knows his daughter sometimes sets traps, which is not so good.

But something about what Gong Ruini said seemed off. I get the feeling Gong Tao must have done something to let Cai Meina down in the past, otherwise, why would he be so nervous?

Sigh, forget it. I won’t talk about this with Gong Tao anymore. He’s already quite frazzled, and if I scare him further, I’m genuinely worried about him. After all, he’s my dad.

Gong Tao had no clue his daughter thought of him this way. Excitedly clutching the drawing, he rushed to show it to his wife.

Cai Meina took the drawing and scrutinized it, seeing nothing wrong. "Why were you so secretive about this?"

Cai Meina felt that there wasn’t anything problematic with a simple drawing. Why was Gong Tao so anxious to hide it from her? Was there something fishy he wanted to keep from her?

Hmph, she wasn’t naïve. She knew Ni Zi kept all her drawings unless they were really unsatisfactory, which meant getting one from Ni Zi wasn’t that difficult.

Could it be her husband was doing the same? The thought fueled Cai Meina’s suspicions as she scrutinized Gong Tao for any telltale signs in his expression.

Gong Tao had no idea his wife had begun to doubt him. He was busy explaining why he hadn’t liked the drawing back then, entirely unaware of her suspicions.

Of course, Cai Meina wouldn’t foolishly ask Gong Tao directly. Instead, she went to ask her daughter. Despite being rather astute, her daughter wasn’t someone who could keep everything from her.

===

Gong Ruini was stunned when Cai Meina quietly pulled her aside to question her. Why does Mom still think Gong Tao is cheating on her? If only Gong Tao, who was currently fast asleep and snoring, knew, surely he’d feel extremely frustrated.

Gong Ruini found it both funny and sad. Ah, life is difficult; even when you’re being honest, some people will still think you’re lying.

"Am I right?" Cai Meina, noticing her daughter stunned, felt a pang of dread in her heart. Would her husband have actually done something to betray her trust? Why else would their daughter look like this?

What on earth? Gong Ruini was internally rolling her eyes. It’s a good thing Gong Tao didn’t hear, otherwise, how heartbroken would he be! His wife didn’t trust him at all, how could he continue to happily dote on her?

"The drawing that Dad wasn’t satisfied with was because he thought I didn’t capture your beauty," Gong Ruini explained, though she didn’t quite know how to feel about Gong Tao’s reason for rejecting her drawing.

In Gong Tao’s eye, Cai Meina was incomparably beautiful, beyond words. But come on, she was still just a novice, not aiming to embellish excessively.

Besides, since Cai Meina got pregnant, who knows if it was psychological, she really seemed uglier to Gong Ruini.

Imagine the dilemma if someone insists on depicting Cai Meina as increasingly beautiful. How would she feel upon seeing it?

If she was in a good mood, she’d be miffed. But if someone more sensitive received such a portrayal, they might worry it was a subtle hint she’d gotten uglier. How happy could she be?

Judging by Cai Meina’s reactions over the past few days, she’s undoubtedly the latter.

Cai Meina already had Gong Tao quite beleaguered, and introducing this might make her even more challenging.

However, the frustrating truth was something Gong Ruini couldn’t utter, "Also, Dad said, Mom, you’re expecting a little brother. I should have drawn him in."

Sigh, the pressure on Gong Ruini felt unbearably heavy. Not just imagining what her future brother might look like, but the insistence on adding a son might laden Cai Meina with immense pressure.

Even though Cai Meina said she didn’t care if it was a boy or girl, having a perfect pair, it didn’t mean she wasn’t affected seeing Zhan Jing next door constantly giving birth to sons; she’d already had four. Didn’t she feel anything?

Before, she hadn’t mentioned it because Gong Tao wasn’t fixated on having a son. But seeing how he now asked for one to be drawn really peeved her.

Ah, even though they were adults, they were all far from trouble-free—each with their own ideas, never considering others.

Gong Ruini now genuinely felt acting as a mediator was no easy feat. Sigh.

Yet, even though it’s difficult, she must persist. Otherwise, what happens if she offends the two big bosses at home? That would be courting disaster in no time.