Chapter 26: A Show of Force

"Yi, don't listen to what anyone says. I believe in you..." Seeing the look on Dugu Yi's face, Gu Xinyao quickly offered comfort.

Watching her worried expression and then looking down at his hand, which she was clutching tightly, a faint smile graced Dugu Yi's lips. "I'm fine. Being born into the Dugu family means I should have come to terms with this long ago. Don't be nervous; I'm not angry." Ever since he decided to pursue a career in government, he knew a day like this would come—he just hadn't expected to have her by his side. People grow soft once they have something to rely on, and he was no exception. Because of her care, he had become soft.

Seeing him still able to talk so fluently, Gu Xinyao felt a little more at ease. She had been truly afraid that he would be angry or upset by the words Sister He had left unfinished; the deathly pallor he had displayed just moments ago had truly terrified her.

"Your face was so pale just now, you really scared me. Thankfully, Sister He didn't finish what she was saying." Gu Xinyao patted her chest. She was genuinely afraid that Sister He might bring up that incident from the newspaper at such a time. Although there weren't many people in the shop, being discovered and attracting a crowd was never a pleasant experience, and considering how long ago that matter had been, digging it up again would likely spark another storm.

Dugu Yi shook the hand she was holding tightly; that same hand was still carrying a box of rice crackers.

"Let's go. If we're late, they'll be waiting. My complexion is just like this; the more nervous I get, the paler I look. When I was a child..."

With Dugu Yi insisting repeatedly that he was fine, Gu Xinyao followed him, still half-doubting, listening to him talk about the past. Neither of them noticed that their joined hands had not let go even once.

Because of Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi's visit, the grocery store had closed for the afternoon, and throughout the lunch hour, one could smell the rich, savory aroma of stew wafting from the kitchen.

Qin Rou busied herself between the kitchen and the living room, blocking even Gu Xinyao’s attempts to help.

Sitting in the living room, Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi truly became guests in the literal sense. Gu Xinyao would stand up to walk toward the kitchen, then turn back to check on Dugu Yi.

Dugu Yi, meanwhile, had picked up a magazine from the living room and sat on the sofa, reading patiently. He showed no sign of dissatisfaction or boredom at being neglected by his host; if anything, Gu Xinyao seemed the more restless of the two.

Gu Xinyao rubbed her nose. Although the kitchen was full of the scent of cooking, there was no pollution here; the oil and the energy stoves were all natural, and even the vegetables and fish were organic, green food.

She walked back to the sofa and tilted her head to look at the magazine Dugu Yi was reading. She had seen this magazine once before, but after just a few pages, she felt dizzy. Publications like "Politics and Finance" would likely never occupy a top spot on her bookshelf.

She had zero interest in such things and couldn't fathom how people like Qin Rou and Dugu Yi could enjoy this kind of reading as a leisure activity. As she thought about it, she naturally curled her lip.

"Do you want to read it?" Dugu Yi moved the magazine away and asked kindly, a flash of amusement in his bright eyes.

Gu Xinyao shook her head vigorously. Was he trying to put her to sleep early?

"Is it boring?" Dugu Yi put the magazine down and continued to ask.

Facing Dugu Yi’s incredibly beautiful face, Gu Xinyao had no resistance at all. What she had intended to say—that she would just read with him—turned into something sweet enough to make one’s teeth ache: "Actually, as long as I can be by your side, nothing is boring."

Dugu Yi looked at Gu Xinyao, who was wearing a radiant smile, and found himself somewhere between laughter and tears.

Seeing the half-smiling expression on Dugu Yi’s face, Gu Xinyao felt she was becoming increasingly mushy. She straightened her posture, cleared her throat, and pretended to look around. It wasn't her first time in Qin Rou and Ge Yue's room—she had stayed here the day she arrived in this world—but since they had later lived separately, she rarely visited and hadn't had the chance to look around properly.

"Um, I'm just going to look around. You... you keep reading, go ahead." Gu Xinyao licked her lips, tossed this remark to Dugu Yi, and stood up to wander about.

She walked over to the dressing mirror. On the bookshelf stood several trophies, shining golden in the light, each engraved with the title of a championship from some competition.

What was even more surprising was that someone with a physique as sturdy as Qin Rou’s was actually the champion of a past inter-school yoga competition. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover.

At the top of the bookshelf were several photo frames. There were group photos of Qin Rou with her classmates, as well as individual shots. Most common, however, were the pictures with Ge Yue. Some showed them in loose summer beachwear, others in hiking gear. One that really caught the eye was a photo of the two playing with fish and shrimp on the seabed, and another where they had posed in a heart shape on either side of a massive dolphin. The light diving suits allowed anyone looking at the photo to clearly see the happiness on their faces.

"Yi, come over here!" Seeing this photo, a sense of longing stirred in Gu Xinyao's heart. She turned and waved at Dugu Yi. If one day they could also take such photos in a place like this, it would be even happier.

Dugu Yi had been busy studying a small section of the magazine. Hearing Gu Xinyao’s slightly excited voice, he looked up with curiosity. He arched a brow, walked over, and stood beside her.

"Yi, when we have time in the future, let's travel to these places, shall we?" She had thought about traversing mountains and oceans before, but unfortunately, she hadn't had a suitable partner, and she didn't want to settle for a tour group, so the plan never materialized. Now that she had finally found the perfect partner, she was determined to fulfill this dream. Even if this was no longer the country she was familiar with, seeing Qin Rou and Ge Yue's photos, she could imagine that this world was not lacking in places for her to explore.

Dugu Yi leaned close to the bookshelf and looked at the photos for a while. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, and he pointed to the photo of the couple in hiking gear, saying, "We can go climb Little Wind Mountain."

Hearing that he was willing to go out and travel with her, Gu Xinyao’s heart bloomed with joy. She was, after all, still a simple woman, and despite living here for so long, her nature hadn't changed.

"It's a deal! After we climb Little Wind Mountain, we'll go to these places Qin and Ge visited. Later, I'll ask them where these are. I must take a picture with that giant dolphin too."

She clapped her hands, so happy she almost hugged Dugu Yi and gave him a kiss, or let out a joyous shout.

Dugu Yi’s mouth twitched at her declaration, but he immediately returned to his poker face.

"Hey! What are you two doing? Come over and eat!" Qin Rou carried out the last two dishes. As she reached the living room doorway, she saw Gu Xinyao’s ecstatic, claw-waving display and Dugu Yi’s helpless expression. Curious about what was going on, she simply shouted out.

Gu Xinyao looked toward the doorway. Seeing Qin Rou with a chicken in her left hand and a duck in her right, she immediately ceased her wild excitement, strode over, and helped Qin Rou by taking one of the plates.

Dugu Yi followed to take the other plate from Qin Rou’s hand, but she stepped aside.

"Brother-in-law, you are a guest. How could I let you do the work?"

Hearing this, Gu Xinyao feigned unhappiness. "Sister Qin, are you implying that I should be the one acting as a beast of burden?"

Qin Rou glanced at her, unfazed by her act. She gave Gu Xinyao a hearty pat on the back and laughed, "Sister, don't play the victim. If it were you, I wouldn't even want you to be a beast of burden for me. Letting you help carry the plates today is a favor to your husband, giving you a chance to show off."

Finally, Qin Rou gave Dugu Yi a meaningful look. The man walking behind them still maintained his faint, gentle smile.

Dugu Yi, Gu Xinyao, and Qin Rou chatted and joked their way into the dining room. Ge Yue had already set the table with six dishes, and the staple food was his specialty: golden and silver mini steamed buns and long-grain rice.

Just as he finished setting the bowls and chopsticks, he saw them enter. He quickly stepped forward to take the plates from Gu Xinyao, placed them on the table, and then turned to complain to Qin Rou: "Look, Xinyao and her husband are guests; how could you let them help?"

His complaint wasn't genuine, and Qin Rou didn't bother to retort, just smiled and set down her plates.

"Brother-in-law Ge, I’m strong and healthy; carrying a plate is nothing," Gu Xinyao waved her hand, not wanting to cause any domestic tension over a dish.

Ge Yue smilingly pulled Dugu Yi to sit beside him. The table was just the right size: Qin Rou was next to Ge Yue, Gu Xinyao was next to Qin Rou, and Dugu Yi was next to Gu Xinyao. It was a perfect fit for four people—neither crowded nor empty.

"Come, brother-in-law, this is a braised crucian carp I made especially for you both. It’s a blessing that your future days will be ever more prosperous and your lives smooth and auspicious. Xinyao has no other relatives here, so we are her sister and brother-in-law. Don't let our modest middle-class life fool you; we have everything we need here, and we certainly won't let anyone look down on you." In the center of the table was a silver plate with a silver cover.

After everyone was seated, Ge Yue lifted the cover.

Inside were nine palm-sized crucian carp. Such fish were said to be the most precious and difficult to find. Even the Dugu family had only managed to find four of them the year before last.

Gu Xinyao stared at the fish on the plate. This meal was far too lavish—chicken, duck, and now this fish. It must have cost a fortune.

Dugu Yi heard Ge Yue’s words, stood up, and poured the wine. He raised his glass to toast Qin Rou and Ge Yue: "Thank you, Sister Qin and Brother-in-law, for your grand hospitality. I’d like to use this opportunity to offer you a toast as a token of my gratitude."

Just as he was about to drink, Gu Xinyao intercepted him.

"Yi, what are you doing? That’s a glass of strong white liquor; you’ll feel terrible later." He really was pushing himself—drinking such potent stuff.

Dugu Yi glared at her. Didn't she realize that the reason Qin Rou and her husband had prepared such a feast wasn't just to bless their marriage? Ge Yue’s words were meant for him—a warning not to rely on his noble status and look down on Gu Xinyao.

Ignoring the meaning in Dugu Yi’s gaze, Gu Xinyao grabbed the glass and downed it in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid into her mouth, over her tongue and throat, burning her lips and throat painfully. This liquor was truly strong; she wondered what Qin Rou was thinking, using this stuff to entertain them.

She held back the tears brought on by the burning sensation and tipped the glass upside down—not a single drop fell out.

"Good—" Qin Rou cheered loudly, but was stepped on by Ge Yue, causing her cheer to stretch out and change in tone.

Dugu Yi looked at Gu Xinyao, who had downed a glass of strong liquor without changing her expression, then at the couple, and couldn't help but laugh.

He didn't mind how Qin Rou and Ge Yue treated him; on the contrary, he found it quite heartwarming. That Gu Xinyao could have such friends was a blessing.

He picked up another glass filled with liquid and raised it to toast the couple again. Gu Xinyao went to grab it, but Qin Rou stopped her: "Hey! Sister Xinyao, you don't need to drink for him this time. That’s spring water from Huan’er Mountain in the glass. Drinking this ensures you'll have a big, healthy son in the future. What would it mean if you drank it instead?"

Qin Rou’s shout made Gu Xinyao stop her hand in mid-air.

Dugu Yi already had the glass raised. Hearing Qin Rou, his hand trembled, nearly spilling the water. He looked at Gu Xinyao, she looked back, and after a silent exchange, Gu Xinyao lowered her hand.

"Sister Qin, Brother-in-law, Xinyao drank the liquor for me just now. For this glass, I toast you both, and thank you for the care you've always shown Xinyao." With that, he finished the spring water in one gulp.

Qin Rou and Ge Yue exchanged a look and sighed; it seemed their attempt to give Dugu Yi a "show of strength" had failed. They had no choice but to raise their glasses and drink.

Gu Xinyao pulled Dugu Yi down to sit. Her tongue was still numb from the liquor, but she didn't just start eating for herself.

"Sister Qin, Brother-in-law, I won't toast you again. I've been craving this fish for a long time, and I specifically brought Yi here to taste it today." So saying, she honestly and unceremoniously took a whole fish and placed it in Dugu Yi’s bowl. Not stopping there, she removed the fish head and tail and put them in her own bowl.

In this utopia, everyone knew that the head and tail were the least nutritious parts, so most people only ate the body and discarded the rest, even if they kept the whole fish for cooking.

Seeing Gu Xinyao cherish her husband so much, Qin Rou and Ge Yue could only shake their heads and sigh inwardly; they would no longer make things difficult for Dugu Yi.

Dugu Yi watched Gu Xinyao give him the fish while keeping the head and tail for herself, and a warmth flooded his heart.

"I don't like the parts that are just meat either. Give me your fish tail." Dugu Yi divided the fish in his bowl into two, placed half in Gu Xinyao’s bowl, and took back the tail from hers.

Gu Xinyao tried to stop him, but Dugu Yi had already begun eating the tail.

Across from them, Qin Rou and Ge Yue watched this little detail, a strange expression surfacing in their eyes.