Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!

Chapter 1054 - 525: Do You Like An’an?

After Na Amo and Shen You’an parted ways, she hailed a cab to go home.

Along the way, she stared blankly at the night scenery flying by outside the window, not noticing when her phone rang.

It was the kind-hearted driver who reminded her, and only then did Na Amo come back to her senses, take out her phone, and answer the call.

"Have you seen An’an?" Gu Chengzhao’s low, magnetic voice sounded from the phone.

"I have arranged with An’an to come over for dinner this weekend."

Gu Chengzhao rubbed his hands eagerly: "Looks like this chef god needs to make a comeback once again."

Na Amo, however, couldn’t bring herself to smile.

Gu Chengzhao clearly noticed her odd mood and asked with concern, "What’s the matter? Are you upset?"

"Chengzhao..." Na Amo bit her lip, hesitating for quite a while, "I’m not going back tonight, I’ll go to the old house to see mom and Bichen, you should sleep early, don’t wait for me."

After hanging up the phone, Na Amo sifted through her contacts for a long time, found Yao Huia’s number, hesitated for some time, but ultimately didn’t make the call.

When she got home, the old lady was already asleep.

Gu Bichen’s room still had the lights on.

Na Amo went to the kitchen, heated up a cup of milk, and carried it upstairs.

"Bichen, are you asleep?"

Footsteps sounded from inside the room, followed by Gu Bichen opening the door.

He must have just had a shower, holding a towel as he wiped his semi-dry hair, his face flushed from the steam.

"Mom, why are you coming back so late? Is there something wrong?"

Na Amo handed him the warm milk: "Mr. Xie called me."

Gu Bichen’s hand froze momentarily as he accepted the cup, lowering his gaze so his expression was indistinct.

Na Amo walked into his room, pulled out the chair in front of the desk, and sat down, pointing to the chair opposite: "Come here, mom wants to chat with you."

Gu Bichen obediently walked over and sat down.

Na Amo glanced around the room; Gu Bichen’s room was the largest and had the best lighting in the Gu family household. To provide him with a good study environment, they had combined the guest room next door into a study and bedroom suite, with added amenities like a private bath, walk-in closet, and living room.

The living room was connected to a balcony, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the lush landscape of the mountainside; when tired from studying, he could lift his head to see such a beautiful view, instantly clearing all his fatigue.

In terms of living conditions and environment, Na Amo had never short-changed her son.

Both husband and wife had high allowances. She allocated a part to support scientific research and another part to charity. Apart from that, she and Gu Chengzhao were quite low in material desires and had modest living expenses. But for their son, she was always busy with work and thus showed less concern, always trying to compensate for it by asking friends and colleagues about what kids his age were into these days—be it popular toys, trendy clothes, or cool electronic gadgets. Regardless of the price, she would buy them for Gu Bichen, while Gu Chengzhao disagreed, believing high consumption would foster a child’s tendencies toward comparison and vanity.

She, however, didn’t agree with Gu Chengzhao’s tough love approach, believing that if a person can endure hardship, they will only face endless hardship.

Her deep maternal affection was critiqued by Gu Chengzhao as the folly of a loving mother spoiling her child.

Na Amo noticed the glass cabinet filled with an entire set of figurines, densely packed at a glance.

"I remember a couple of years ago, to get you this set of figurines, I specifically sought out a university friend abroad, begged her to queue up and help me buy them. Then later, to repay her, I worked as a consultant for her company for a year."

Gu Bichen flashed a smile: "So, mom is the one who loves me most in the world."

"That’s right, which mother doesn’t love her own child?"

When Na Amo said this, an image flashed in her mind of a scene she had seen on TV.

There are mothers in this world who do not love their children.

Na Amo retracted her gaze, focusing on Gu Bichen’s face, trying to discern more deeply.

For some reason, Na Amo’s gaze caused Gu Bichen inner unease.

"Bichen, Mr. Xie called me this afternoon. He told me your academic state hasn’t improved recently. Can you tell mom what’s going on with you now?"

Na Amo tried to counsel him in a patient and calm tone.

Gu Bichen lowered his eyelids, silent.

"Is it because of Yu Ruohuan’s influence? Or do you have other concerns? Tell me, and mom will help you solve it."

Na Amo gently coaxed.

Gu Bichen’s fingernails pressed against the back of his hand, pale and red, seemingly enduring great inner struggle and pain.

Na Amo sat next to him, gently hugged him, and whispered reassuringly: "Mom is the closest person to you in this world. Whatever worries you have, you shouldn’t hide from mom; it would make her sad."

Gu Bichen buried himself in Na Amo’s arms, warm tears soaking through the clothes.

"It’s Yu Ruohuan, she is using the engagement to force me into submission. If I don’t agree, she threatens me with the safety of you, dad, and grandma. She’s a lunatic, there’s nothing she’s afraid of doing. Once, there was a girl who spoke ill of her behind her back, and she orchestrated a car accident that left that girl disabled. I’m so scared. During that time, I called you and dad, but your phones were always off. I didn’t know what to do. Mom, I’m sorry, it’s me being too cowardly, all my fault..."

The young man’s fragile, self-blaming cries made Na Amo’s heart ache as if it were being cut by a knife.

"What nonsense from the Yu family, is there no justice left in the world?"

Na Amo was filled with righteous indignation, then tightly hugged Gu Bichen, her heart aching unbearably.

"It’s my fault, Mom didn’t protect you well and let you silently endure so much. It won’t happen again."

During that time, she and Gu Chengzhao were indeed very busy. The child must have felt so desperate and scared when threatened but unable to find his parents.

She pushed all the doubts about mixed samples to the back of her mind, feeling only immense heartache and guilt for the child.

"It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have colluded with Yu Ruohuan, but I was afraid she would really do something harmful to you and Dad. But luckily she’s also about to die, so I can finally break away from her."

Na Amo paused for a moment: "What’s going on?"

Gu Bichen raised his head from Na Amo’s embrace, his eyes particularly red.

"Yu Ruohuan has lung cancer, it’s terminal, she doesn’t have much time left."

A flash of an unusual color quickly passed through the young man’s watery eyes, "That’s the retribution for her sins."

Na Amo observed Gu Bichen’s expression, her delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Gu Bichen grasped Na Amo’s hands: "Mom, did you see An’an today, did you mention the marriage arrangement to her? What did she say?"

In the youth’s red eyes, Na Amo saw hope.

She said calmly, "Bichen, it’s impossible between you and An’an. Stop thinking about it."

Gu Bichen shook his head, "Why is it impossible? We have our elders’ orders. How can we break the marriage agreement set by our ancestors? Grandma still has the token of the marriage agreement. I will treat her well for a lifetime. If Yu Ruohuan has misunderstood me, I can explain it. Mom, can you help me, please?"

Na Amo looked at him seriously, "Do you like An’an?"

After all, An’an is such an excellent and beautiful girl, who wouldn’t like her?

Gu Bichen shyly nodded.

"I’m afraid An’an will misunderstand me because of Yu Ruohuan. You know, when I found out she is Grandpa Yisen’s real granddaughter, I was so happy. It’s a destined fate."

"The marriage agreement set by the elders was more than forty years ago. Their old thoughts can’t keep up with the times. So if you decide your and An’an’s lifelong happiness based solely on the elders’ verbal agreement, isn’t it too hasty? It’s unfair to both you and An’an. I don’t know how far you’ll both develop in the future, but right now, you can’t bind An’an’s lifetime to a verbal agreement. An’an won’t agree, and neither will I."

Na Amo tried to persuade gently.

Gu Bichen’s expression twisted for a moment, and before the opposite person could notice, he quickly lowered his eyes.

"Did An’an tell you herself that she’s unwilling?"

Na Amo sighed, "You’re both so young, why be so persistent about such things?"

"But there’s no better family than ours, the Gu family. If she doesn’t marry me, who else can she marry?"

Na Amo furrowed her brow deeply, glancing at Gu Bichen.

This child’s thinking was very dangerous.

"Bichen, how can you have such a classist mindset? An’an is an independent individual. It’s her freedom to be with whoever she wants. We can’t force her. Your words just now overestimated yourself and underestimated An’an."

Gu Bichen pressed his lips tightly, "Mom, I was wrong. I like An’an too much. I lost myself for a moment."

Na Amo patted his shoulder softly, her tone earnest, "If you really like An’an, you should try to respect her, understand her, and start by being friends with her. As for what happens later, it will depend on your destiny."

Gu Bichen nodded obediently, "I understand."

"As for Yu Ruohuan, you shouldn’t go there anymore. We don’t need to entangle too much with those bandits from the Yu family. Now they can’t even take care of themselves. They won’t have the energy to entangle with you again. If Yu Ruohuan finds you again, just tell Mom, and Mom will help you deal with it."

Gu Bichen’s eyes flickered slightly, "This weekend, I’ll see her one last time, and make things clear. After that, there’ll be no more entanglement."

Na Amo frowned and thought for a few seconds, "I’ll go with you then."

Previously, she didn’t know that Bichen was bullied so badly by the Yu family. Now that she knows, she won’t let Bichen face it alone.

"No need, you’re so busy, no need to waste your time. Yu Ruohuan is lying in a hospital bed now. She doesn’t have the strength to slap me. Don’t worry."

Na Amo raised her eyebrows in anger, "She slapped you?"

Gu Bichen smiled, "It’s all in the past."

Na Amo gently touched Gu Bichen’s face, her eyes full of heartache, "It’s all Mom’s fault..."

Na Amo said seriously, "I’ll go with you this weekend, okay? It’s getting late, drink this glass of milk and go to bed early."

Na Amo left the room.

After closing the door, she suddenly remembered that she seemed to have forgotten something.

Gu Bichen listened to the footsteps outside the door gradually fade away, his expression obscure and unreadable.