On the surface, she kept me at arm's length, but deep down, I occupied a place in her heart.
Luo Shuhe felt all the minor grievances she'd harbored against Gu Luo throughout the day melt away like thin snow under the warm spring sun in an instant.
Loving someone was always this irrational—one's emotions could shift entirely based on the other's every move, every word.
"Baby, how are you feeling?" Luo Shuhe's voice was softer than ever as she gently stroked Gu Luo's flushed cheek. "Would you like some water?"
"...Huh?"
Gu Luo swayed slightly, reaching clumsily for the half-empty glass of beer mixed with baijiu.
This had been Gu Feng's idea—tricking him into believing that mixing beer with baijiu made it taste better and that the alcohol wouldn't hit as hard.
And the inexperienced Gu Luo had naively fallen for it.
The result? The dazed, tipsy mess before them now.
Fortunately, Gu Feng had shown some restraint, not letting his son drink himself into complete oblivion.
Seeing this, Luo Shuhe swiftly moved the glass away, her voice still tender. "Baby, no more alcohol. Be good and drink water instead, okay?"
"...Huh? Hehe..."
Gu Luo's consciousness was clearly muddled, and it was impossible to tell whether he understood or not—he just giggled foolishly, his expression adorably drunk.
Luo Shuhe played the part of the doting wife perfectly, pouring water, wiping his mouth with a tissue, all under the stunned gaze of the hotel staff who had followed them.
Was this really the same Luo family's second daughter, usually so icy and unapproachable?
Yes, the young woman before them was indeed the second daughter, not the famously gentle and kind eldest sister.
But the scene unfolding was almost too surreal to believe.
The staff member's expression was a mix of awe and amusement, thinking to himself how terrifying the power of love could be—it truly had the ability to transform a person completely.
Still, after taking a closer look at the strikingly handsome young man swaying in his seat, it all made sense.
With looks that could make hearts race just from a glance, it was no wonder.
Though as a low-level supervisor at the hotel, he wasn't privy to the exact dynamics between these people.
But it was better not to pry into the boss's private affairs—some things were best left unknown.
"Lucky brat," Gu Feng muttered under his breath, taking a sip from his bottle as he watched Luo Shuhe fuss over Gu Luo, an involuntary grin spreading across his face.
Clearly, he was thoroughly enjoying the sweetness of this young couple.
Each soft, affectionate "baby" made Gu Feng shake his head in disbelief—just how well was his son living?
His mind briefly conjured an image of Luo Liang calling him "baby," and he shuddered violently.
The thought was too jarring, too out of character—better not dwell on it.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for his son, who had somehow managed to soften the frosty Luo Shuhe into this sweet, devoted version of herself.
—A father's silent approval.
What Gu Feng didn't know was that Luo Shuhe's gentle demeanor was reserved solely for him and Gu Luo.
"Dad, you should drink less too," Luo Shuhe said softly, steadying Gu Luo with one hand while turning to Gu Feng.
"Alright, whatever my daughter-in-law says."
Gu Feng chuckled, setting the bottle down. Just as he was about to speak, Aunt Wang, having finished attending to another table, hurried over.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of the ethereally beautiful Luo Shuhe, and she couldn't help but exclaim,
"My, what a stunning young lady! Look at that face, that skin, that figure!"
Gu Feng beamed with pride, puffing up slightly as he introduced her.
"Beautiful, isn't she? This is my daughter-in-law, Shuhe."
"Hello, Auntie," Luo Shuhe greeted gracefully, still supporting Gu Luo but straightening slightly, her smile both elegant and captivating.
The poise of a well-bred young lady was unmistakable, leaving a striking impression.
"Hello, hello! Xiao He, right? Just gorgeous." Aunt Wang's gaze flickered between Luo Shuhe and Gu Luo before sighing wistfully. "Imagine how beautiful their children will be!"
After a pause, she added playfully, "Shame my granddaughter's already a few years old—otherwise, we could've arranged a marriage pact, haha!"
Gu Feng grinned, thoroughly pleased. "When these two get married in a couple of years, you'd better come to the wedding, Sister Wang."
"Of course! I'll even bring a hefty red envelope!"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, another group of customers entered the eatery, prompting Aunt Wang to excuse herself.
Meanwhile, with the supervisor's help, Gu Luo stumbled into the waiting chauffeur-driven car.
Outside, not far from the vehicle,
"Shuhe... you two... be safe, alright?" Gu Feng's expression turned slightly odd as his eyes landed on the bold "Luo Shen Grand Hotel" emblem on the car.
He emphasized the word "safe."
Originally, he'd assumed Luo Shuhe would just take Gu Luo to the seaside for some romantic fresh air—not that she'd skip straight to the finish line.
Then again, who knew? Maybe they'd already crossed that bridge.
Ah well, let them be.
"Don't worry, Dad. I know my limits." Luo Shuhe smiled sweetly before adding sincerely, "Thank you, Dad."
"You're my precious daughter-in-law—no need for thanks."
Gu Feng waved it off, then cheerfully shared some wisdom.
"Shuhe, Gu Luo's alcohol tolerance isn't bad. If you ever want to get him tipsy, just do what I did—mix beer with baijiu."
"Baijiu is a distilled liquor, mostly ethanol, while beer is fermented and contains polyphenols alongside carbon dioxide. Those compounds slow down the liver's ability to break down alcohol."
"So this combo gets people drunk faster and can even cause blackouts. The downside is it's a bit harsh on the body, but in moderation, like with Xiao Luo here, it's fine. He's just happily out of it."
He explained in detail, partly to show off in front of his daughter-in-law but mostly out of genuine hope for their lasting happiness.
Sometimes, alcohol could be the perfect catalyst to bring two people closer.
Since they were clearly smitten, why not let them savor every sweet moment of their romance?
"I'll remember that, Dad. You're amazing—and so good to me." Luo Shuhe gazed at him with starry-eyed admiration.
"Haha!" Gu Feng's ego soared, his grin widening. "Alright then, you lovebirds stay safe. My ride should be here soon."
"Mm-hmm! Dad, drive safely on your way back. Send me a message when you get home."
"Alright, bye."
"Bye~~~"
Before long, the van and the black sedan drove off one after another, disappearing down the street.
Aunt Wang, who had just finished clearing the table, gazed in the direction the black sedan had gone. Her wrinkled face broke into a heartfelt smile as she sighed softly,
"Ah Feng, you’ve finally made it through."
"You’ve suffered so much over the years..."
Just as she was lost in reminiscence, a clear, melodious voice called out beside her, "Boss Wang, I’d like to order."
"Ah, sure!" Aunt Wang turned around, pen in hand, ready to jot down the order—but froze when she saw the person in front of her.
The girl before her looked almost identical to Gu Luo’s girlfriend, Luo Shuhe, except for her hairstyle. Her features were strikingly similar, though her figure exuded a more youthful energy.
The short, ear-length bob and her bright, cheerful demeanor felt oddly familiar.
After a pause, Aunt Wang couldn’t help but ask, "Sweetheart, are you and Xiao He twins?"
"Yes."
Luo Shuling nodded with a smile.
"No wonder. But why are you..." Aunt Wang trailed off, hesitant.
It was a bit strange.
If they were twins, why wait until Xiao He had left to place an order? It almost felt sneaky.
"Because I wanted to give my sister some time—well, the length of that time is up to you, Boss." Luo Shuling chuckled as she settled into a freshly cleaned empty seat nearby.
"Just bring a simple selection of skewers for three people—whatever you recommend. No alcohol, but start with a cold appetizer."
"...Alright. So you’ve got friends coming, then?" Aunt Wang was thoroughly confused, unable to grasp the deeper meaning behind Luo Shuling’s words.
She turned to pick out the skewers but suddenly paused and looked back.
"Oh, sweetheart, have we met before? You look so familiar."
"I came here once with classmates for barbecue. You probably saw me then." Luo Shuling crossed her slender, fair legs, lounging comfortably as she explained with a grin.
"I see..."
Aunt Wang nodded, dismissing the thought, and went to prepare the food.
For regular customers, she might have grilled extra skewers, but since this girl seemed like an acquaintance, she figured it was better to start with just enough. They could always order more later.
"Hmm..."
Luo Shuling stretched lazily in the cool breeze, then rested her chin on her hand, shaking her head in amusement.
Shuhe was just too adorable—though a little impatient.
But being too hasty wasn’t good. It could backfire.
As for Shu Ning, she was probably still in the dark at home, anxiously waiting for news from her brother.
Little Man? Well, she was as soft-hearted as her brother. If Xuexue, that petite twin-tailed girl, played her cards right, she could easily win her over.
Speaking of which, Xuexue really was cute—fragile, sweet-smelling, and those little white stockings? Even Luo Shuling couldn’t help stealing glances.
No doubt her brother would like her too.
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