novelraw Chapter 191 Taking Uncle's Surname
Chapter 191 Taking Uncle's Surname
Gu Yanshen finally couldn't hold back his tears.
Gu Yanshen rarely sheds tears.
Growing up in the Gu family, a place that devoured people, the first thing he learned was not to cry.
But at this moment, he cried like a child, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his shoulders shaking. He thought he would never have children in this life, he thought he could never repay her what he owed her, he thought that the nursery, the crib, and all those design drawings that he had drawn and revised again and again would forever remain just drawings.
But now, she is. She is carrying his child. Fate has finally turned a blind eye to him.
Lu Xiran was held in his arms and could feel his hot tears falling on her shoulder.
Her heart softened for a moment, just for a moment.
Then all those grievances surged up, like a tide, washing away her soft heart completely.
She pushed him away.
"Gu Yanshen, it's me who's getting pregnant, not us." She glared at him, tears still streaming down her face, but her gaze held no tenderness, only stubbornness. "We've already broken up. This child is mine, and has nothing to do with you."
Gu Yanshen was stunned for a moment, and was pushed back half a step by her. Looking at her flustered appearance, he suddenly wanted to laugh, but he held back. He couldn't laugh, because if he did, she would be even angrier.
"Okay, okay." He spoke very softly. "Don't be angry. It's all my fault."
Lin Chen and Xue Jingyan looked at each other in bewilderment.
When had they ever seen Gu Yanshen so humble? The Gu Yanshen who was ruthless and decisive in the business world and never showed any mercy to anyone was now saying "It's all my fault" in front of a little girl with a tear-streaked face, his tone as gentle as if he were coaxing the most precious treasure in the world.
Lin Chen quietly reached into his pocket, found his phone, and wanted to record a video.
Xue Jingyan pressed his hand down and shook his head—his eyes conveyed the message: If you want to die, don't drag me down with you.
"What did you do wrong?" Lu Xiran's voice rose, tears still streaming down her face, but her momentum remained undiminished. "What does it have to do with me?" The more she spoke, the angrier she became, the more aggrieved she felt. All the emotions she had suppressed for three years surged up like a flood bursting its banks, unstoppable. "You just treated me like a tool for having children, didn't you? Before, when you found out I couldn't have children, you dumped me like trash. Now that you know I'm pregnant, you want to win me back! Gu Yanshen, let me tell you, this child has nothing to do with you, and it won't bear your surname."
Gu Yanshen looked at her.
She sat there, her hair a little messy, her eyes red, her nose red, and her lips slightly pouting in anger. She looked like a cat with its fur standing on end, all bared and claws, yet incredibly cute. He wanted to say no, but fearing she would get even angrier, he said nothing, just watched her, listened to her, and waited for her to finish her rant.
"What's your surname?" Xue Jingyan couldn't contain his gossip and blurted out.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them—Lin Chen glared at him, and Gu Yanshen's gaze swept over him like a knife.
He shrank back, pretending to look at the materials in his hands.
Lu Xiran was taken aback by the question.
What surname? If not Gu Yanshen's, then it must be her own. But she swallowed the words back. She didn't want her child to have the surname Lu. That surname was Lu Hao's. She hadn't changed her surname because she was in a hurry to go abroad and thought it was too much trouble. But now, she didn't want her child to have that surname.
"My surname is Lin!" she said angrily, her chin slightly raised like a kitten declaring its territory. "And my uncle's surname!"
The living room was silent for a second.
Then Lin Chen laughed, laughing so hard he bent over. He walked over and ruffled Lu Xiran's hair. "Okay, you'll have the surname Lin. Your uncle will take care of you."
Gu Yanshen frowned as he looked at Lin Chen's hand, but didn't say anything. He just looked at Lu Xiran, at her puffed-up face, at her red nose, at her unconsciously protecting her lower abdomen with her hand. His heart melted completely.
"Ranran," he called to her.
She turned her head away, ignoring him.
"Okay. I agree. Whatever your last name is, that's fine."
"Agree?" These two words touched a nerve. "Gu Yanshen, I'm not asking for your opinion! I'm informing you! Do you understand? I don't need your consent. I'll make the decisions about my baby, and you have no right to object!"
"Okay, okay." Gu Yanshen felt that whatever he said would be wrong, so he could only coax her, "You're right, I'm bad at speaking." His voice was very soft, "But can I take care of you?"
Her eyelashes fluttered. She didn't turn around.
"Go away." Her voice was muffled and nasal. "I don't want to see you."
Gu Yanshen didn't leave. He stood up, went into the kitchen, and brought out a bowl of noodles. The soup base was tomato-based, red and rosy, with bright green scallions floating on top. A poached egg lay in the middle, the yolk half-cooked, about to spill out at the slightest touch. He placed the noodles in front of her and handed her chopsticks.
"Eat the noodles first. It's bad for your stomach if they're cold."
Lu Xiran stared at the bowl of noodles. She didn't want to eat it, but she was hungry. She picked up her chopsticks and lowered her head to eat. After a few bites, she looked up and found him still standing there, watching her.
"Don't look at me," she mumbled, her voice much softer.
Gu Yanshen turned around, pretending to tidy up the kitchen. His back was to her, and a slight smile played on his lips before he quickly suppressed it. He was afraid she would see.
Lin Chen and Xue Jingyan exchanged a glance and quietly slipped out to have a late-night snack.
The door closed, leaving the living room to the two of them.
Lu Xiran ignored him. Gu Yanshen sat right next to her, unable to get enough of looking at her, his gaze fixed on her face, unable to look away.
"Don't look at me."
"Okay." He agreed readily, turning his head away as if to look elsewhere. But less than three seconds later, his eyes were back on her, even more blatantly than before, no longer bothering to hide them.
Lu Xiran was a little annoyed and stood up, bracing herself against the edge of the table. Before she could even stand up straight, he had already swept her up in his arms and held her firmly in his embrace.
"Gu Yanshen!" She glared at him, her voice filled with annoyance, but the tips of her ears had already turned red.
Gu Yanshen did not let go. He gently placed her on the bed, sat down beside her, and turned slightly to look at her.
That look wasn't possessive, nor domineering; it was fear. The kind of fear that comes from losing something and then getting it back, and then being too afraid to let go again.
"Your Highness, what are your orders?" His voice was low and a little hoarse, as if he were coaxing or pleading.
"Get out."
"no."
Sure enough. He only obeyed for three seconds. He said "I'll listen to you," but deep down he was still the same Gu Yanshen who always had the final say. Lu Xiran was so angry at his self-righteous attitude that she couldn't speak. Her chest heaved and her lips were pressed into a thin line.
"You said you'd listen to me!"
"This won't do." He leaned close to her, so close that she could see the unfathomable depths of his eyes. Caught off guard, she met his gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Ranran, your foot isn't fully healed yet." His voice lowered, "Like that night, thank goodness I caught you... I still feel scared thinking about it."
His fingers gently rested on her ankle, his fingertips caressing the small patch of skin that was still slightly swollen.
"I must stay by your side," he said.
It's not a discussion, not a request, it's a statement.