Published: March 8, 2025
"I'm really envious of you... finally relieved... you have so many good brothers," Gu Miaoling said gently. "When I meet them, I must properly thank them for taking care of my little brother during my absence..."
"Little brother..." Gu Duxing was somewhat unwilling. He turned over and leaned close to her face, saying, "Sister Xiao Miao, didn't you understand the meaning behind adoptive father's words? He has already nodded regarding us... from now on, I will be your husband, the head of the family. How can you still call me little brother? Let's change how you address me!"
"Change how I address you?" Gu Miaoling grasped his hand, her expression half-smiling, half-serious. "What should I change it to?"
"Um... you can call me Langjun... No, no, that reminds me of Rocky Luo's Little Wolf..." Gu Duxing scratched his head. "How about you just call me husband..."
After thinking about it, he felt it was a bit cheesy and said, "How about you just call me by my name, Duxing? How does that sound?"
"Isn't that too distant?" Gu Miaoling played with her long hair, indifferent to his words.
"Then what do you suggest?" Gu Duxing asked hopefully.
"I remember when you were little, I always called you 'Duxing Dog'..." Gu Miaoling squinted at him mischievously. "How about... we use that again?"
"Don't..." Gu Duxing broke out in a cold sweat. If that name got out to his brothers, he would never live it down. He finally gave in, saying, "Then just call me little brother..."
After thinking again, he opposed, "Let's just go with little brother, not little brother."
Now it was Gu Miaoling's turn to be surprised, her eyes wide open. "Why not?"
"Cough, cough..." Gu Duxing coughed twice and leaned close to her ear to whisper something.
Pfft!
Gu Duxing was suddenly kicked off the bed. On the bed, Gu Miaoling's face was flushed, and she glared at him fiercely. "Well, Gu Duxing, after being away for a few years, you've learned to tease girls! Not bad, not bad! Come on, be honest, how many girls have you teased?"
"I haven't!" Gu Duxing protested, rubbing his sore bottom.
"You have!" Gu Miaoling accused, her eyes wide open and unreasonable.
Gu Duxing was so anxious that beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he bowed and swore for a long time before finally gaining her forgiveness. He climbed back onto the bed, cuddling up...
In fact, this thick-headed guy had no idea that Gu Miaoling wasn't really angry... she was just flirting with him. But Gu Duxing's heart was racing for a while...
It seemed he could see the younger days when Sister Xiao Miao would tug at his ear and sternly ask, "Duxing Dog! Where have you been? If you don't tell the truth, I'll spank your bottom..."
He couldn't help but feel a phantom pain in his rear end...
Years of accumulated authority meant Gu Duxing still needed time to digest it...
Seeing him so honest, Gu Miaoling felt that her joke had fallen like the sky collapsing... she couldn't bear to bully him anymore, so she nestled in his arms, happily narrowing her eyes.
The two chatted endlessly, as if they had an unending supply of topics. Once Gu Duxing started talking, he couldn't stop. Even if he combined all the words he had said when he was with Chu Yang and the others, it probably wouldn't add up to the amount he spoke today.
Gu Miaoling listened with a smile, occasionally chiming in to express her opinions, essentially saying: "You talk, keep talking, I like to hear you speak..."
After a long time...
Gu Duxing was still talking about something, but Gu Miaoling finally gently interrupted, saying softly, "Little brother... you... go to the front hall quickly, father and the others are waiting for you... be good... listen."
Reluctantly, Gu Duxing lifted his head from her shoulder, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her, and affectionately asked, "Sister Xiao Miao, will you wait for me here?"
"Wait for you to do what?" Gu Miaoling pointed at his forehead and bit her lip, saying, "Duxing Dog, you little rascal!"
Gu Duxing broke out into a silly grin and jumped up. Gu Miaoling yelled from behind, "Put on your clothes! Get dressed, you little fool!"