Chapter 1085: My Son and Husband

Chapter 1085: My Son and Husband

Gao Ming had just woken up and was about to eat when he heard Su Li’s excited plea for instant noodles. Turning to his father, who was carefully scooping up a spoonful of congee, he said softly, “Dad, I want instant noodles too.”

Gao Lang looked down at his son, who still appeared rather pale and feeble. But of course—if his son asked for something, how could he refuse?

“Alright,” he said indulgently. “Drink a few sips of porridge first. I’ll go get it for you.”

Meanwhile, Su Shen returned from the dining car holding a steaming cup of instant noodles like it was a precious artifact. He placed it directly in front of Gu Zi and even opened the plastic fork for her.

Gu Zi, with zero hesitation and a singular focus, took the fork and began eating. Only after he saw her properly enjoying her meal did Su Shen finally open his own lunch box and begin shoveling food into his mouth with practiced efficiency.

Su Li, unable to resist the alluring aroma wafting from his mother’s cup, leaned his head over, eyes wide, and tried to sneak a bite.

But Su Shen caught him by the scruff of his neck like a naughty kitten and scolded, “Have some manners when you eat. Go get your own lunch box. If you’re not hungry, then go sit somewhere else.”

Su Li froze, utterly stunned. What had just happened?

Mom said she wanted instant noodles—he’d said it too! But only Mom got the prize, and now he was getting shooed away like an uninvited guest at a family banquet. Double standards much? Seriously, Dad?

After lunch, a few spirited youths in the carriage started playing a melodious tune on a melodica, and soon others joined in, singing with unrestrained joy. What began as a few notes soon turned into a full-blown chorus.

Gu Zi, hearing the energetic vocals, turned to glance over and saw a group of students, all around her age, perhaps on their way to the capital to attend university. Their faces radiated passion and idealism, brimming with hope for a new era. Caught up in the moment, she found herself humming along, her mood inexplicably lifted.

Su Li was still deeply immersed in his game of Go, though the roster of competitors had changed.

A male student had taken over and was now playing against Su Bing. Initially, Su Li had been dueling with younger kids, but once a few older students spotted the game, they eagerly joined in.

The boy, believing it beneath him to compete with children, had insisted on playing against the older-looking Su Bing, even generously offering to “give him a few moves.”

Three rounds later, he had been utterly humiliated.

It turned out that even without a handicap, he couldn’t win against this quiet younger boy, who appeared several years his junior. He suffered three more brutal defeats.

Laughter broke out all around, and only then did the student finally accept defeat with a laugh. “You’ve got a bright future, little guy,” he said with a wry grin. “You’re incredible. I concede.”

Nearby, a bright-eyed girl turned to Gu Zi and gushed, “Your little brother is not only smart—he’s also so cute! If my younger sister were here, I swear we’d be arranging a child engagement right now! Oh, and the guy who bought you lunch and instant noodles—he’s your dad, right? Your family’s genes are off the charts!”

Gu Zi thought the comment about matchmaking was already outrageous, but the second half of the girl’s statement was even more absurd. She let out an awkward chuckle and corrected her, “Actually… that ‘little brother’ is my son. And that man is my husband.”

The girl had just taken a sip of water and immediately choked, sputtering in horror and embarrassment as she coughed twice and made a beeline in the opposite direction.

She had just wanted to flirt a little. How did things get so embarrassing so fast? Never again, she vowed silently. Never again would she run her mouth without thinking…

Trains in this era weren’t fast. The journey from Guangcheng to the capital took three days and two nights.

Time stretched like taffy. But thankfully, the atmosphere aboard this carriage was lively and warm, making the ride feel more like an adventure than an ordeal. Especially for Gu Zi, who had the company of a considerate older man who catered to her every need, pampering her to the point where she barely noticed the fatigue.

By the time night fell again, Su Shen brought her a freshly steeped cup of floral fruit tea, its aroma wafting sweet and mellow through the small space. The scent alone refreshed her senses. She poured herself a small cup and took a delicate sip.

“Su Shen,” she said appreciatively, “your tea is getting better and better.”

Just then, Gao Lang—who had been napping—woke up. He was scheduled to take over the night shift. But the moment he spotted the couple cozied up, sipping tea and chatting like an advertisement for marital bliss, he quietly tiptoed away. No way was he going to be the third wheel.

Su Shen sat down beside Gu Zi and gently offered, “If you’re not sleeping well, you can lean on me for a bit. See if it helps.”

She didn’t say anything—she simply followed his suggestion and rested her head on his shoulder. At first, she didn’t expect much. After all, she’d slept so much on the train already that she felt wide awake and irritable, her head buzzing yet her body exhausted.

But to her astonishment, Su Shen’s familiar scent, his warmth, his steady breathing—it worked like magic. Wrapped in his presence, she fell asleep once again.

By the time she woke up, it was deep into the night, and the train had just pulled into the capital’s grand station.

The children were woken up one by one, groggy and grumbling, struggling to pull on jackets and gather their things.

Gao Ming, still weak, was carried off the train on his father’s back. Meanwhile, Su Shen—like some kind of domestic superhero—managed to carry Su Le in one arm and hoist Su Li over his shoulder with the other, descending the steps with practiced ease.

Gu Zi, still half-drowsy, looked at her husband and couldn’t help but marvel, ‘This older man… his arm strength is seriously something else.’

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