The Slacker Stepmother and the Non-Domineering CEO

"Hey, Anlu, come downstairs. I'm waiting outside your building."

Early Saturday morning, Qi Anlu received a call from Gu Zhijing. Remembering that he had promised her a surprise, she quickly told Zhou Xinfang she was heading out and put on her coat before going downstairs.

"Why are you here so early?"

When Qi Anlu came down, she saw Gu Zhijing standing in front of a car. She assumed there was a driver inside and didn't think much of it.

Instead of answering, Gu Zhijing led her to the passenger seat. "Just get in, and you'll understand what's going on. I've got to go now."

His words only confused Qi Anlu more, and she quickly grabbed him, asking, "Go? Where are you going? Aren't you coming with me?"

"What, afraid I'm going to sell you off?" Gu Zhijing pried her hand away and started running, shouting as he went, "The rest of the time is yours!"

Qi Anlu was completely bewildered. When she opened the passenger door, she was stunned.

"Uncle Gu! How come it's you?!"

She never expected to find Gu Junxing sitting in the driver's seat. She had thought the driver was just a chauffeur and that Gu Zhijing had left a gift on the passenger seat, maybe something that would pop out when she opened the door...

But there was nothing. Qi Anlu carefully peered inside the car, but it was empty.

"Get in," Gu Junxing said to Qi Anlu, who was still standing by the passenger door.

After she sat down, Qi Anlu asked Gu Junxing, "Uncle Gu, do you know what surprise Zhijing was talking about?"

Instead of answering, Gu Junxing asked her a question: "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?" Then he added, "You can think of me as... as an elder. Whatever place you want to visit, whatever you want to do, just tell me."

Gu Junxing felt somewhat helpless inside - he couldn't exactly tell her straight out to think of him as her father, so he chose a different way to phrase it.

Qi Anlu was clever. Hearing Gu Junxing's words, she immediately understood this must have been Gu Zhijing's idea, probably because of what she had said earlier about envying him for having such a father.

"Uncle Gu, could we go to the amusement park?" Understanding Gu Zhijing's intentions, she didn't want to disappoint his goodwill.

Back in elementary school, after hearing her classmates talk about the amusement park, she had gone home asking her parents to take her, but...

"Of course we can." Gu Junxing didn't hesitate at all. He turned on the navigation and started driving toward their destination - the city's largest amusement park.

During the drive, Gu Junxing acted just like any regular parent, occasionally asking about Qi Anlu's studies and daily life.

After a few questions, Qi Anlu began to feel more relaxed.

When they arrived at the amusement park, Gu Junxing said to Qi Anlu, "I'll go buy the tickets. You can think about which rides you want to try."

"Uncle Gu, can I try the go-karts?"

"You don't need to ask permission. Today, you can try whatever you want." Gu Junxing patted Qi Anlu's shoulder, and they headed to the go-kart track together.

The staff brought two helmets, and Gu Junxing took one and naturally placed it on Qi Anlu's head, helping her adjust it properly.

Looking at Gu Junxing as he adjusted her helmet, Qi Anlu said softly, "Uncle Gu, I've never driven a go-kart before."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. It's quite simple."

"Have you done this before?"

"Yes." Gu Junxing nodded and smiled as he recalled, "I used to love driving these in college. Often came here with friends."

Gu Junxing helped Qi Anlu into the kart and fastened her safety belt, then taught her how to drive. He didn't get in a kart himself at first, instead standing by the track watching until she could complete several stable laps before putting on his helmet to join her.

While Gu Junxing was taking Qi Anlu out, Nian Suian was also busy.

She had gotten Xin Yuchun's current address from Zhao Yue and went to visit that morning.

When Nian Suian arrived, Yuchun was cleaning the house.

The small one-bedroom apartment that the grandmother and granddaughter rented was tiny, but it had everything they needed - a kitchen and bathroom included.

"Sister Suian!" Xin Yuchun was delighted to see Nian Suian and quickly invited her in, rushing to serve tea and fruit.

Nian Suian hurriedly made her sit down and told her not to fuss.

"Where's your grandmother? Not home?"

"She went out. When she hurt her leg before, she was cooped up at home all day and said she felt stifled. Now whenever she has time, she goes out. There are people singing opera and dancing in the park, so she went to watch."

"Seems like your grandmother has adjusted well." Nian Suian put down her teacup and explained why she had come today.

"You're starting school officially on Monday, right? I want to take you shopping for some school supplies and clothes."

"There's no need, Sister Suian. I already have those things," Yuchun quickly waved her hands in refusal. She felt that being able to go to school was already an incredibly wonderful thing, how could she let someone buy things for her?

"What you have is yours, but what I want to buy you is different. Don't worry, I have plenty of money, so don't feel embarrassed."

Nian Suian had grown quite fond of this strong and sensible young girl and was happy to buy things for her.

"Call your grandmother and let her know you're going out," Nian Suian reminded her before they left.

Nian Suian took Yuchun to the same "plot-triggering" mall as before. This wasn't intentional - it was simply the largest mall in the area, so there was no point in going somewhere further away.

As soon as they entered the mall, Nian Suian enthusiastically started picking out clothes, wanting Yuchun to try on everything that looked nice.

The shop assistants kept complimenting them, saying, "Your sister is so beautiful, even prettier than celebrities. This outfit seems made for her."

Nian Suian was delighted seeing the pretty young girl, grinning from ear to ear.

So while one was happily swiping her card and the other was happily making sales, only Yuchun was feeling nervous and worried...

After leaving the store, Yuchun quickly grabbed Nian Suian, who was ready to buy more. "Sister Suian, we wear uniforms at school, you don't need to buy me clothes."

"You might wear uniforms in class, but what about other times? When classmates invite you out to play, you can wear these."

"What we bought is already enough, Sister Suian."

"Really enough?"

"Really, really! We already have several outfits, and we won't be able to carry any more if we buy more."

"You're right, we do have several outfits now, that should be enough."

Yuchun finally breathed a sigh of relief hearing Nian Suian say this, but then heard her continue: "But we still need two pairs of shoes! How can we buy clothes without getting shoes?"

With that, she enthusiastically pulled her toward the shoe store, but first noticed all the bags they were carrying. "Let's leave these bags at the previous store and come back for them later."

So they returned to the clothing store with all their packages.

"Excuse me, we're going to buy some other things. Could we leave these here for a while?"

"Of course, ma'am."

The shop assistant took their bags with a smile - they would do anything for such a big customer.

"Ladies, please wait a moment."

Just as they were about to leave after storing their bags, they were unexpectedly called back.