"Sister, it's true," Zheng Yu chimed in.
"Shut up!" Gu Yitong glared at Zheng Yu, finding his face increasingly irritating. She gritted her teeth. "I'm not your sister!"
"You will be soon."
Gu Yitong felt like she was about to faint from anger. She took a deep breath and turned to A'Fu. "A'Fu, go eat. Don't starve yourself."
"Gu Yi, go eat with your brother-in-law. Now." This was the first time Gu Yitong had used Gu Yi's full name.
Hearing Gu Yitong's strained calm, Gu Yi dared not speak further. He cast a worried glance at Zheng Yu.
Zheng Yu met Gu Yi's worried gaze with a gentle smile. "It's fine. Go eat. I'll explain things to Sister properly."
Upon hearing the word "Sister" from Zheng Yu's lips again, Gu Yitong took a deep breath, closed her eyes as if resigned, and said nothing more.
"Yi'er, go eat first." A'Fu stepped forward at the opportune moment, taking Gu Yi's hand as they left.
As the door closed, feeling Gu Yi's lingering, worried gaze, Gu Yitong forcefully released her grip on his collar and sat down, panting. "What kind of spell did you cast on him?"
"None at all. I wouldn't dare," Zheng Yu replied obediently to her future sister. "Sister, we really didn't do anything."
"I know you didn't do anything last night, or you wouldn't be sitting here alive," Gu Yitong retorted, giving Zheng Yu a dismissive look. "And I'll say it again, don't call me Sister. You're three years older than me and you have the nerve to call me Sister?"
"But you were so fierce to me just now," Zheng Yu pouted, adopting a boyish demeanor.
Gu Yitong felt a chill run down her spine. "I never realized you were so disgusting before."
Zheng Yu ignored the comment. "It's not about me. You scared Yi'er."
"That's exactly the point," Gu Yitong sighed heavily. "See if he dares to stay in your room again without permission."
"I got drunk covering your drinks last night and begged Yi'er to stay," Zheng Yu said, taking responsibility and subtly highlighting who the culprit was and for whom she had gotten drunk.
"Impressive, Mayor. You think a few words will make me feel guilty."
"Are you feeling guilty?"
"No, you're not worthy of it," Gu Yitong said with disdain. "You should be covering my drinks, my future sister-in-law."
"Zheng Yu, I haven't refused Yi'er's proposal. Can't you just endure for two months?"
"Two months?" Zheng Yu seized on the key detail, revealing her inner thoughts. "You mean the wedding is in two months?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Just listen," Gu Yitong stood up. "Within these two months, if I find out you and Yi'er cross the line, the consequences will be your own responsibility."
"Understood!" Zheng Yu grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you, Sister, for your forgiveness."
"Don't disgust me. Hurry up and get ready, then go eat," Gu Yitong didn't have time for this bickering. Her little husband was waiting for her.
"Go on. Look at that rosy glow on your face."
Gu Yitong turned around in disbelief, her eyes wide. She raised her hand as if to strike, then suddenly remembered something. She slowly lowered her hand and cleared her throat. "The wedding... date... postponed."
"No!" Zheng Yu wailed. "Sister!"
Hearing the voice behind her, Gu Yitong smiled with satisfaction and left.
In the dining hall, A'Fu and Gu Yi sat on stools, chatting. The food on the table remained untouched, waiting for them to eat together.
As soon as Gu Yi saw Gu Yitong, he immediately stood up from his stool, head bowed, afraid to speak.
A'Fu also stood up, looking at Gu Yitong without a word.
"Alright, sit down." Gu Yitong frowned slightly and sat down next to A'Fu, passing Gu Yi.
"Yi'er."
"Sister." Hearing Gu Yitong's voice, Gu Yi answered immediately, afraid that a moment's delay would anger her again.
"This is the last time. If I find you two sharing a room at night again..." Gu Yitong paused, looking at Gu Yi's face, unable to bring herself to say anything harsh.
"Sister, how dare you secretly scare my future husband while I'm away?" Zheng Yu's voice came from outside the door before she even entered.
Gu Yitong glanced at Zheng Yu speechlessly and said nothing.
"Is the food waiting for me to join you?" Zheng Yu, eager to break the awkward atmosphere, said.
"Eat quickly," Gu Yitong said with a cold face. "Then go back."
"Yes, ma'am!" Zheng Yu said with a smile. "Thank you for the meal, Sister."
"Gu Yi, are you waiting for me to feed you?" Gu Yitong asked sternly, seeing Gu Yi sitting there blankly, just staring at the table.
Startled, Gu Yi's hands immediately went to the table. He tried to eat but, due to his nervousness, knocked over a plate. He became flustered.
Gu Yi was startled by his own actions and dared not look up. He pursed his lips, trying to hold back tears.
"It's okay, it's okay," Zheng Yu said, sitting beside Gu Yi. Sensing Gu Yi's panicked and nervous emotions, she immediately spoke to comfort him and moved the plate he had knocked over to her side.
"Eat," Gu Yitong softened her tone, realizing she had spoken too harshly. "You like this."
Gu Yitong then offered Gu Yi the sweet and sour pork ribs in front of her, a dish he had loved since childhood.
When they were younger, Gu Yitong always doted on him. Whenever this dish was served, she would place it in front of him, or if it was just the two of them, she would directly put the sweet and sour pork ribs into his bowl.
The eerily quiet breakfast finally ended. Just as Gu Yitong was about to tell Zheng Yu to leave, A'Fu tugged at her sleeve.
Following A'Fu's gesture, Gu Yitong finally relented, sighed, and left with A'Fu, leaving the dining hall to Zheng Yu and Gu Yi.
"Don't worry, your sister believes you. She just wanted to scare you a little."
Zheng Yu couldn't bear to see Gu Yi sitting alone on the chair, trembling with fear. She reached out her hand, hesitated for a moment, then let it rest on Gu Yi's cool fingertips.
"She's just too worried about you," Zheng Yu dismissed the servants and finally, with a sense of relief, gently pulled Gu Yi into her embrace. "She's afraid you'll be gossiped about, just like your brother-in-law."
"Moreover, my identity as the mayor is different from Yitong's. If people gossip, it will be even more severe than the gossip about your brother-in-law back then. She doesn't want you to get hurt."
Sensing the warmth on her shoulder, Zheng Yu slowly helped Gu Yi up and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Don't cry, it pains me."
"Mmm."
A choked reply shattered Zheng Yu's heart again. She could only comfort him as best she could. "Don't cry, don't cry."