Chapter 684 Surname
Ning Li, “…”
Gu Tinglan felt a lump in his chest.
“Second Master Lu is too polite. I can’t possibly ask you to call me ‘Little Uncle’.”
Lu Huaiyu’s lips curled into a smile, his expression sincere.
“No, we’re all family.”
The hand that Gu Tinglan was using to hold onto the door frame slowly tightened.
He should’ve known that Lu Huaiyu was not an easy man to deal with!
He had called him ‘Little Uncle” so very naturally!
Without trying to reason with him any further, Gu Tinglan took a deep breath and turned to look at Ning Li.
“Ah Li, did you remember what I told you just now?”
— Spend more time with your grandparents and Shen Zhijin.
As for Lu Huaiyu… who cared!
Ning Li blinked.
“Oh, okay.”
Lu Huaiyu’s gaze swept over the two of them, and he asked with a smile, “I wonder if it’d be convenient for me to listen to Little Uncle’s teachings as well?” The corners of Gu Tinglan’s eyes twitched, and he finally turned his gaze to Lu Huaiyu.
The moment their eyes met, sparks flew everywhere.
‘Did you not understand what I meant?!’
Lu Huaiyu raised his eyebrows.
‘Haven’t you known since long ago that I’ve liked Ning Li? Weren’t you supportive back then?
Gu Tinglan’s temples throbbed.
How could it be the same now as it was back then??
In the past, he had, at most, been merely a bystander. Thus, he had naturally been happy to see it happen. Now, it was not possible. Ning Li had just been found, and the family had not had time to properly treasure her yet. How could they let Lu Huaiyu snatch her away first?
Gu Tinglan could not bear to think about it. Just thinking about it gave him a headache, and he was feeling regretful.
“Since Uncle doesn’t want it, then–” said Lu Huaiyu, who then handed the container of food to Ning Li.
“It’s easy to get indigestion if you eat supper at this time.”
As Gu Tinglan said this, he stopped the container of food from being handed over and stared at Lu Huaiyu for a second, “I happen to have something to discuss with you. Come in.”
Lu Huaiyu looked at him meaningfully.
Gu Tinglan pushed Ning Li.
“Ah Li, go back and rest early.”
Ning Li’s gaze shifted between the two of them.
“Then… Little Uncle, Second Brother, I’ll go back first, okay?”
Lu Huaiyu’s lips curved slightly.
“Go to bed early and obediently.”
Ning Li responded before turning around to go back.
It was not until she had opened her own room door and walked in that the delicate balance between the two men collapsed instantly.
“I didn’t know that Second Master Lu would be so straightforward in the way you address me,” Gu Tinglan sneered.
Lu Huaiyu smiled, still calm and composed.
“In the past, I didn’t know about Ah Li’s background. Now that she has acknowledged the Gu family and Teacher Shen, this title… Of course, I have to change it along with her.”
Gu Tinglan narrowed his eyes.
“Ah Li is only eighteen! How old are you? Don’t you know?”
Lu Huaiyu thought for a moment.
“I’m twenty-two. Ah Li spent her birthday with me. I remember it clearly.”
As he spoke, he thought of something.
“Oh, right. It’s the legal age for marriage in this country.”
Gu Tinglan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Lu Huaiyu, that’s my niece!”
Lu Huaiyu paused, his expression sincere.
“Well, didn’t I just address you as Little Uncle?”
Gu Tinglan, “…”
From this day on, the friendship between the Fifth Master of the Gu family and the Second Master of the Lu family was now in danger.
The next day.
Apart from Gu Tinglan, who had stayed on in Lincheng to continue the investigation, the rest of them took the opportunity to return to the Capital.
Su Yuan and Ye Cheng were sent back to Yunzhou.
Their previous situation had already been bad enough. The Ye family had gone bankrupt, and their creditors had come knocking on their doors.
Not only that, but Ye Ci had also caused a scandal by becoming a mistress. Almost everyone in Yunzhou knew about it, so they were criticized whenever they went out.
More importantly, Ye Ci had hired people to kill Ning Li and had already been locked up.
It was obvious that this accusation had been confirmed. Ye Ci would have to stay in there for many years. It could be said that her entire life had been ruined.
Under such circumstances, Su Yuan had turned to Ning Li as her only lifeline.
Although she had been rejected several times before, she had still held a glimmer of hope. As a daughter, surely she could not just watch her mother be forced to die, right?
However, who would have known that Ning Li was not her daughter at all!
Her real daughter had already died in that fire more than ten years ago!
Who else could she rely on now?
As if by mutual agreement, all her creditors had come to her door immediately after she returned to Yunzhou, which almost drove her crazy.
Under the onslaught of so many blows, Su Yuan had finally fallen ill.
Jinse Bay.
In the living room, everyone sat apart. The atmosphere was delicate.
Elder Mei sat on the sofa, looking left and right.
On the left was the Gu family, and on the right was Shen Zhijin.
On the other side–
There was nothing the grandfather and grandson from the Lu family could say, so he could not be bothered to look.
Ning Li sat beside Elder Mei.
Today’s meeting was all about one thing– She wanted to change her name.
She was Elder Gu’s only granddaughter, and at the same time, she was Shen Zhijin’s only daughter.
Besides, with all the things that Ning Haizhou had done, she had to change this name.
The main point was… what should she change it to?
Elder Mei broke the deadlock first and said, “Everyone is already used to calling her Ah Li. In my opinion, it’ll be quite good to continue calling her that in the future. The key is this surname…”
He looked left and right, his expression inquisitive.
On one hand, everyone in the Gu family had pampered Gu Tingyin. Now that they had finally found her only bloodline, they definitely wanted Ning Li to acknowledge her ancestors and return to her family.
On the other hand, Shen Zhijin had been alone for many years. Now that he finally had his daughter back, it was not easy.
This…
After a moment of silence, Shen Zhijin spoke.
“Ah Li will take Yinyin’s surnames.”
Ning Li was stunned. She looked at Shen Zhijin and saw that his handsome face was very calm.
She still clearly remembered that on the day the results of the paternity test had come out, he had said that he would take her back no matter what, just for a chance to guard her the entire night. He had not budged an inch in front of the Gu family.
But now, in this matter, he had given in so easily.
He had not given in to the Gu family, but to Yinyin.
Gu Tingfeng and the other brothers exchanged glances and did not say anything.
Of course, in their hearts, they had hoped that Ning Li could return to the Gu family. However, it was still up to Old Master Gu and Old Madam Gu to decide this matter.
Old Master Gu looked at him with a heavy gaze. Then, he turned his head and asked in a low voice, “Ah Qing, what do you think?”
Old Madam Gu seemed to be in a trance. Hearing this, she froze for a moment before shaking her head.
She looked at Shen Zhijin, her eyes seeming to be reminiscing about something. The smile on her lips was gentle and her eyes were slightly red.
“Zhijin, the Gu family can’t possibly bully you. Yinyin would be unhappy.”