Chapter 277 - 257: Lin Ruoxi’s Questioning (2)

"Xue’er, did Xue Rui tell you to do this too?" Gu Qingshan asked curiously.

His daughter, surprisingly, wasn’t showing off her gift, instead dutifully hiding it in the cardboard box.

"No. If I took out the same thing as you, wouldn’t it look like Xiaorui sent both?" Gu Muxue said in a low voice.

Gu Qingshan smiled and patted Gu Muxue’s head. ’My daughter is so thoughtful,’ he thought, ’she knows how to look out for me.’

’Too bad your mother is too smart. Hiding it is useless.’

"Dad, why aren’t you going in yet?" Gu Muxue urged.

"Oh, right away." Gu Qingshan dragged his feet. It was the first time he had ever given his wife a gift for a holiday.

Zhao Lizhen was reviewing a report when, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly spotted a bouquet of flowers. She looked up and was surprised to see it was from Gu Qingshan.

Gu Qingshan avoided Zhao Lizhen’s eyes, staring at the gift box instead as he said, "This is for you."

After saying that, he walked over and sat back down on the sofa, as if nothing had happened.

Zhao Lizhen’s beautiful eyes widened. ’Her husband is giving her a gift on Qixi Festival?’

She knew Gu Qingshan’s personality; he disliked expressing his emotions and would never say the word "love." For him to do something so out of character today, she guessed it had something to do with Xue Rui. It was hard for any other outsider to influence Gu Qingshan’s decisions, but Xue Rui had found his weak spot.

She gently closed her laptop and walked over to sit next to Gu Qingshan. "Honey, Xiaorui sent this, didn’t he?"

"I asked him to buy it for me. The duty-free shops in Shencheng are cheaper," Gu Qingshan said without batting an eye.

Zhao Lizhen was slightly surprised. "Really?"

"Really," Gu Qingshan said with a nod.

Gu Muxue had just walked into the room carrying the box when she overheard their conversation. ’It seems like lying is just second nature to men,’ she thought. ’How can he say that so matter-of-factly?’

"Thank you, honey." Zhao Lizhen cupped Gu Qingshan’s face and gave him a light peck with her red lips.

Gu Qingshan sighed helplessly. ’How could his wife not know?’ he thought.

’The fact that she mentioned Xue Rui’s name means that even if she hasn’t guessed the whole story, she’s got eighty or ninety percent of it. She’s just saving face for me.’

Zhao Lizhen looked at Gu Muxue with a beaming smile. "Xue’er, what did Xiaorui get you?"

Hugging the box, Gu Muxue climbed the stairs. "It’s a secret."

"Sir, where should I put this package?" the housekeeper asked, walking in while carrying another large box.

Gu Qingshan wasn’t planning on looking at the contents of that box, but Gu Muxue came rushing back down the stairs. "I haven’t looked yet!"

She wanted to know what kinds of things Xue Rui was making over in Guangdong Province. He had sent several items, so there should be one for her too.

"Let’s look together," Gu Qingshan said, getting up and taking the heavy box.

It was filled with electronic products—power banks, power strips, and the like. The design was very innovative. Unlike traditional power strips that served a single function, this one had three added USB ports. The workmanship was also simple and refined, making a striking impression.

"He’s really got something here," Gu Qingshan murmured. As he spoke, he continued to dig through the box and was surprised to see two cartons of cigarettes in gold packaging. He hurriedly tried to cover them up.

Zhao Lizhen asked with a smile, "Did you ask Xiaorui to buy those for you too?"

Gu Qingshan’s hand had clearly hesitated, and he had subconsciously tried to hide them. He definitely hadn’t expected to find two cartons of cigarettes inside.

She reached out, took out the cigarettes, and glanced at them. "Da Guoxi. A brand from Guangdong Province. Xiaorui is so thoughtful."

Gu Qingshan coughed awkwardly. "Mm."

’He really hadn’t expected this,’ he thought. ’A Qixi Festival gift for me, too.’

Of course, with Gu Qingshan’s shrewdness, he knew that Xue Rui’s motives weren’t entirely pure...

But he had to admit, the kid was damn good at getting a read on people!

’Even a man can be touched by getting a gift on a day like this.’

Looking at the lively atmosphere at home, Gu Qingshan couldn’t help but feel that he was indeed a bit too rigid sometimes. But Xue Rui was also a little too cunning.

Gu Muxue returned to her room and turned her phone screen on again.

Although Xue Rui couldn’t see what was happening, the girl on the other end hadn’t hung up the video call, so he had already guessed most of what had occurred at Gu Muxue’s house.

’Mhm, this way, she won’t mind that I wasn’t there to celebrate Qixi Festival with her.’

Everything was going according to his plan. The only unforeseen detail was that the balcony had no air conditioning, and he had nearly died from the heat.

"Xiaorui, I love your gift. Thank you," Gu Muxue said with a beaming smile.

She silently added in her heart, ’When you come back, I’ll give you something you like.’

If it had just been flowers and skincare products, Gu Muxue certainly wouldn’t have been this happy. Given her family background, her threshold for being impressed by gifts was already very, very high. So, Xue Rui had taken a different approach, allowing Gu Muxue to gain a different kind of emotional value.

And what is family harmony if not a gift in itself?

"Muxue, I have to go. The signal is bad indoors here, and it’s too hot outside," Xue Rui said, wiping the sweat from his forehead and waving at the camera.

Gu Muxue had noticed this as well and quickly said, "Let’s talk tonight. You should go cool off first."

She thought that Xue Rui had deliberately stayed outside for a while just to talk to her, while she herself had dawdled for so long. She felt a little guilty.

In reality, that sly dog Xue Rui was just afraid of being discovered by the young woman.

Just as Xue Rui hung up the phone with a satisfied smile, he turned his head and was shocked to find the young woman watching him from the window of the room next door. His smile gradually faded into shock.

Xue Rui instantly grew tense. He had specifically chosen this spot because his room’s balcony was isolated, but the young woman was actually sticking her head out the window to stare at him?

"Get back inside! It’s dangerous!" Xue Rui shouted anxiously.

"Okay. Dinner’s ready. Come on in and eat," Lin Ruoxi said softly.