Chapter 82: Ningning, Are You Jealous?

As soon as Gu Jianing got home, she heard Zhang Shuwan shouting through the wall, saying she wanted to return the roast duck and roast chicken that Jianing had given her.

“Shuwan-jie, just keep them and eat! I bought two whole birds, and I still have plenty left. If I give you something, don’t send it back, or I’ll get upset.”

She actually bought two whole birds!

Zhang Shuwan was shocked—how much must that have cost?

But hearing what Gu Jianing said afterward, Zhang Shuwan couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. In the end, she had no choice but to keep them.

She carried the bowl back, and when she turned around, she saw Guoguo staring at the big bowl. Zhang Shuwan’s heart softened—her daughter had never tasted these kinds of cooked foods before.

“Guoguo, do you want some?”

Guoguo hesitated, her eyes practically glued to the food, lips pressed together, almost drooling. But she still shook her head and said, “Guoguo won’t eat. I’ll wait for Daddy to come home, and eat together with Mommy and Daddy.”

“Why do you have to wait for Mommy and Daddy to eat together?” Lin Xing asked as soon as he came in, having overheard his daughter.

“It’s roast duck and roast chicken, from Jianing.”

Lin Xing came in and saw it really was roast duck and roast chicken. “This stuff is expensive and rare. Why did you accept it?”

Zhang Shuwan quickly explained the whole story. “Forget it, since we’ve accepted it, let’s just keep it. Next time I have something good, I’ll send some over to Jianing.”

“That works.”

So, the Lin family of three also got to enjoy the fragrant roast duck and roast chicken.

“Guoguo, is it tasty?”

“It’s delicious, so delicious!”

“To be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever tasted roast duck and roast chicken this good.”

“Me too. It’s different from what I’ve had at the deli before—much better.”

Meanwhile, Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi were also eating roast duck, roast chicken, a tomato and scrambled egg dish Sheng Zexi had made, and some greens, all while sitting on the kang.

As she ate, Gu Jianing started talking about what happened at the hospital that morning.

When Sheng Zexi learned that his little wife had successfully performed surgery on Cui Bin and received praise from the hospital director and so many doctors, he felt relieved, but also realized he might have underestimated her.

Ningning’s talent and skill in medicine were truly impressive!

Sheng Zexi had thought he already understood Gu Jianing inside and out, but just when he thought he had her figured out, Ningning would surprise him all over again.

It felt as if Gu Jianing was a book full of hidden treasures—every time he turned a page, he discovered something new and wonderful, making him both delighted and even more drawn to her.

Gu Jianing, still chattering away, didn’t notice that Sheng Zexi was looking at her with increasingly gentle eyes, full of affection.

She also mentioned that the military hospital wanted to collaborate with her on her stomach-protecting pills and rheumatism ointment.

“…Zexi-ge, if they come to discuss it, what should I do?”

Gu Jianing was a bit unsure about how exactly to cooperate.

She had considered just donating the two formulas outright, but in the end, she dismissed the idea.

It wasn’t that she lacked patriotism—she did have some, just not a lot.

Truthfully, she could afford to give away the two formulas. As long as she wanted, and as long as she had enough points, she could buy any formula she wanted from the system’s exchange store. She wasn’t lacking in formulas.

But Gu Jianing still didn’t want to give them away for free.

Maybe it was because of that saying about “a favor the size of a peck of rice breeds gratitude, a bushel breeds resentment,” or maybe she was wary of people taking advantage.

She was afraid that if she gave something away for free this time, next time they’d just expect her to hand things over, or assume she’d always give things away for nothing.

And if she refused, would that make her a bad person?

Once she figured this out, the choice was easy: she could cooperate at a low price, but not for free!

Besides, she actually needed the money. She planned to save it up, and when she had the chance in the future, she could do charity work or make donations.

To be able to live a second life, and so luckily be bound to the childbirth system—

Gu Jianing always felt it was a gift from the heavens.

So, if she had the ability, she would definitely do more good deeds to give back.

“Ningning, you already know what you want to do. Just follow your heart—I trust you.” Sheng Zexi never interfered with Gu Jianing’s decisions. No matter what she chose, he would always stand by her side and support her unconditionally.

“Mm, okay. Thank you, Zexi-ge.” Gu Jianing’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes sparkled as she looked at Sheng Zexi.

She really thought Sheng Zexi was wonderful—so good to her, so considerate and caring, and not the least bit chauvinistic. He was truly the perfect man.

In her past life, she hadn’t chosen Sheng Zexi and had been infatuated with Wen Zhuqing instead—she must have been blind.

After dinner, Sheng Zexi cleared the dishes and went to wash them, then boiled water for Gu Jianing to wash up.

When the two of them were sitting on the kang, with Gu Jianing’s feet soaking in the hot water Sheng Zexi had brought, Gu Jianing brought up Peng Wenjing.

“…Sister Yu said that Peng Wenjing likes you and has been chasing after you for years. Maybe she targeted me this time because of you.”

Gu Jianing’s slender fingers poked Sheng Zexi’s chest, her lips pouting as she glared at him, as if demanding, “Tell me, what’s going on between you and this Wenjing? Be honest!”

Sheng Zexi was amused—he rarely saw her act so lively, like an angry little kitten. He grabbed her slender fingers, his eyes burning as he gazed at her, but he answered with another question, “Ningning, are you jealous?”

Jealous?

Gu Jianing’s eyes widened. “I am not jealous!”

Sheng Zexi studied her carefully and realized she really wasn’t jealous. He couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed, the heat in his eyes dimming.

He could tell—Gu Jianing truly wasn’t jealous.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Sheng Zexi’s sudden drop in mood, Gu Jianing was confused. She was the one questioning him, so why did it suddenly feel like she was the one in the wrong?

Sheng Zexi reached out and pulled the petite Gu Jianing into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder like a dejected big puppy. “Ningning, are you not jealous because you don’t like me yet?”

Huh?!!

Gu Jianing blinked, and after understanding Sheng Zexi’s logic, she couldn’t help but laugh. She reached out to pinch his waist, but the winter clothes were too thick and she couldn’t get a grip.

Just as she was thinking what a pity that was, the next second, Sheng Zexi grabbed her hand and stuffed it under his clothes, placing it on his waist, looking at her pitifully. “Go ahead, pinch.”

Gu Jianing was even more amused, but she didn’t actually pinch him. Still, her palm, now touching his skin, felt a little hot. She tried to pull away, but he held her hand in place.

She said, “It’s because I trust you.”

“I know. When you love someone, you really love them—you won’t change, and you wouldn’t get involved with other women.”

“I was just teasing you with that question.”"