CHAPTER 417: CHAPTER 418: I UNDERSTAND, YOUR YOUTH HAS DIMMED IN PAIN AGAIN

Bo Xichen lowered his head, his voice slightly hoarse, "Didn’t you always say I’m your baby?"

Feeling somewhat awkward, Gu Anxi buried her face in his embrace for a while before speaking, "Uncle, you should go get ready for surgery."

He nodded and, after a thought, said, "Why not sleep in my lounge? I’ll take you to school tomorrow morning."

"I can drive myself." She was worried he was too tired, so she gently pushed him to go.

With a slight smile, Bo Xichen got up to prepare for the surgery. After he left, Gu Anxi called Bo’s mother to let her know that she wouldn’t be returning home, planning to spend the night at her uncle’s place.

After hanging up the phone and finding herself unable to sleep, she took out her laptop to read a script.

The script for "Big Gray Wolf 1" had come out, and according to the contract, Gu Anxi had to review it. She read through it carefully, suggesting revisions for parts she found unsuitable. She was so engrossed in her task that time flew by, and before she knew it, it was already two or three in the morning. She was a bit sleepy, but her uncle hadn’t returned yet.

Gu Anxi stayed up until four in the morning, when Bo Xichen finally returned. He had probably showered before coming back to avoid waking her. Upon his return, he found her on the couch, yawning while working.

He approached her, picked her up, and headed to the lounge, saying, "It’s so late. Why aren’t you sleeping?"

Gu Anxi looked at him earnestly, whispering, "I wanted to wait for you."

Setting her down and pulling the covers over her, he said, "I’m a doctor. Emergency surgeries are common. You don’t have to wait for me in the future, okay?"

But Gu Anxi climbed out from under the covers. "I made you some tremella and rock sugar water. You should have some!"

Bo Xichen followed her out. He watched as she took a container from the refrigerator, heated it in the microwave, and then placed it on the dining table like a treasured offering.

"You made this?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gu Anxi remained silent. After Bo Xichen took a bite, he figured it out. "Is this from the hospital cafeteria?"

Gu Anxi made a small, sheepish sound. "Mmm..."

He didn’t mind. If she couldn’t cook, then so be it. He hadn’t married a wife just to have her cook for him. Besides, not being able to cook didn’t mean Anxi wasn’t considerate. On the contrary, she was very good to him.

It was the kind of affection born from mutual support and reliance.

After he finished eating, he carried her off to bed.

Early the next morning, Gu Anxi, of course, overslept. Thankfully, Beicheng University didn’t really care about her attendance, so she comfortably closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

When she woke up again, it was already noon, and Bo Xichen had long since started handling his affairs.

Gu Anxi peeked her head in from the doorway. "Uncle, you’re up?"

He was signing documents when he replied in a calm voice, "It’s an endless pile of work."

Gu Anxi went over and massaged his shoulders for a while before going to brush her teeth. Then, they had a meal together.

They ate at Gu Yuanshan’s small building. Thanks to Grandma Chen’s cooking, the food was delicious.

Throughout the meal, Gu Anxi’s eyes kept darting between her father and mother, prompting Bo Xichen to tap her lightly. "Focus on your food."

She murmured an obedient "Okay," but her eyes were still restless.

A flush appeared on Wang Keru’s face. "Anxi!"

Gu Anxi said with a grin, "I have class this afternoon, so I won’t disturb you two."

Saying this, she linked arms with Grandma Chen. "Shall I take you to Aunt Gu Ning’s place for a few days? I hear Aunt Gu Ning hired a Thai masseuse. The massages are supposed to be amazing!"

Grandma Chen quickly shoveled a few more mouthfuls of rice, her old eyes widening considerably.

After a moment, she nodded very solemnly.

After the meal, Gu Anxi first drove Grandma Chen to Gu Ning’s place. Gu Ning hadn’t been managing the Gu family business much lately and was just enjoying life at home, so Grandma Chen’s visit would give her some company.

The two women had similar temperaments and got along very well.

After dropping Grandma Chen off, Gu Anxi returned to Beicheng University. She hadn’t been there for about a week.

Truthfully, she could have chosen not to attend classes at all. After all, she already held two doctoral degrees from Cambridge. But it seemed like there wasn’t anything else important for her to do, and besides, with Wang Qin here, she was willing to come.

When she arrived, it was lunchtime. Somehow, Wang Qin knew she was coming to campus and was waiting for her at the school gate.

Getting out of the car, Gu Anxi asked, "Wang Qin, what are you doing here? Where’s your Fang Ming?"

Wang Qin’s face turned a little red. "He’s not *my* Fang Ming."

Gu Anxi put an arm around her shoulder. "Oh? Are things not going smoothly?"

Wang Qin’s face turned beet-red. "You’re talking nonsense!"

Gu Anxi quite enjoyed teasing her, joking as they walked. Wang Qin was thin-skinned; how could she possibly endure this?

Besides, her relationship with Fang Ming was still perfectly innocent. At most... he just teased her a little, that’s all.

Gu Anxi was just teasing verbally; once she felt it was enough, she let Wang Qin off the hook.

Before they parted for class, Gu Anxi went to the restroom. I must have eaten something bad,

she thought, as she spent quite a while in the stall. Wang Qin waited for her outside.

Just as Gu Anxi was about to tell Wang Qin to go to class first, she heard the voices of several girls outside.

The tone was not friendly, carrying a hint of provocation.

"Wang Qin, do you really think being with Fang Ming means you’ll be together forever?"

"Yeah, I heard your dad is just your godfather, not your real dad."

"Your godfather is just a deputy director at some minor bureau, right? That’s a huge gap compared to the Fang family. I heard Fang Ming’s mom really dislikes Wang Qin. Wonder if it’s true!"

"Of course, it’s true! Didn’t Mingzhu say so? Fang Ming’s mother can’t stand Wang Qin. She always favored Mingzhu."

Wang Qin’s face had gone white with anger, but she didn’t want to engage with these people.

She silently leaned against a wall, staying quiet.

Just as Gu Anxi was about to speak up, a familiar voice rang out, "Wang Qin, the Fang family will never accept you. Fang Ming is just playing around with you. The girl he’ll marry will definitely be from a family of equal social standing."

This voice belonged to none other than Gu Mingzhu.

Biting her lip, Wang Qin retorted, "What does this have to do with you?"

Gu Mingzhu chuckled softly, her voice tinged with arrogance. "I’m just kindly reminding you, that’s all."

Wang Qin wanted to respond but couldn’t find the right words.

Just as she was growing flustered, Gu Anxi walked out of the stall. She glanced at Wang Qin, then at Gu Mingzhu.

Gu Mingzhu hadn’t expected Gu Anxi to be in the restroom and was momentarily lost for words.

Gu Anxi went to wash her hands, saying casually, "Don’t worry. Whoever Fang Ming marries, it certainly won’t be you."

Gu Mingzhu snapped, "I never said I wanted to marry him!"

Gu Anxi chuckled and turned around. "If you don’t want to marry him, why are you fussing over it so much? Oh, I get it. It’s the ’Pain of Youth,’ isn’t it!"

Gu Mingzhu’s expression turned ugly, but Gu Anxi couldn’t care less about her reaction. She took Wang Qin by the arm and walked out.

From behind them, Gu Mingzhu said coldly, "You know Jiang Chaoge has taken over Jiangshi Hospital, right? Once she partners with WK Company, do you think the Bo Family will still be the Bo Family?"

She then looked at Wang Qin, her expression tinged with scorn. "The Fang family would never marry someone from a minor family in Qingcheng like yours. Just you wait and see."

"A minor family?" Gu Anxi smiled faintly. "Gu Mingzhu, aren’t you a little too full of yourself?"