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Chapter 342: Chapter 162: Who is Playing Whom?!_2
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By the time Su Huai finished dealing with things and came out, Gu Jiuyue had already sat down obediently.
"Thought of what you want to eat?"
Su Huai’s face was a mix of blue and swollen spots, but it didn’t affect his radiant smile. At first glance, there was a kind of pure foolishness to it.
Gu Jiuyue couldn’t stop smirking, not even bothering to think about food options.
Su Huai had no choice but to take the initiative and interrupt, "Stop looking, how about seafood risotto?"
"Sure... Pfft!"
Gou Huai bared his teeth and grimaced, "Keep laughing and I’ll hold a grudge!"
He received a roll of the eyes and a coy, demure hum.
Day after day, you’re testing me with such unfair attitude...
The classmates gradually returned, and they couldn’t stop exclaiming when they saw Su Huai.
"Huai, what happened to you?"
"You look like you’ve been boiled?"
"Huai, you’re bleeding, let’s take you back and patch you up!"
"Who was it? So thoughtful of the people’s sentiment... nicely done!"
There were those who were worried, but many more were in it for the amusement.
Su Huai chased them all away, "Scram, if you’re not comforting me, don’t get in the way of me seeking comfort from Goddess Yue, tonight is still free time."
"Damn, shameless!"
The boys immediately filled with righteous indignation, all sighing, "Still too lenient..."
There were a few girls who kept asking anxiously, and Su Huai had to explain a bit clearer, "With my ability and Yueyue’s background, we can handle anything that comes our way. Since the two of us are sitting here calm and collected, that means there’s nothing wrong."
"Oh! Right..."
The girls had an epiphany and finally stopped worrying.
And just like that, the matter passed, like a small wave dispersing on the sea surface.
After eating, everyone dispersed again.
Some planned to stay in guesthouses on Jinqing Island, and others decided to camp on the beaches of the nearby islands.
The nights in Xisha are warmer than in Sanya.
The sea water can reach temperatures above 28 degrees, continuously releasing heat to the island.
If you avoid the tidal areas, you could even sleep on the beach bare-chested.
Of course, Su Huai would never let Gu Jiuyue stay out in the open. Right after they finished eating, he set up a tent on Yongfu Island.
Double-door entry, with skylight, fitting two folding beds, and even the bedding was real silk mixed with white goose down.
Once everything was set up, it was truly comfortable.
The sun set, and a crescent moon hung high.
In this pure and unpolluted world, just by looking up, you could see the vast Milky Way.
Gu Jiuyue was an exception.
So, she just sat there smiling, watching Su Huai bustling about.
The tent’s door was zipped, the self-heating stove whistled softly, and the young man was focused on adjusting the camera settings, with a tablet propped up beside it, connected via data cable.
"Your camera is amazing; it captures a more stunning view than what I see with my naked eye!"
Su Huai sighed with admiration as he fiddled with the images of the starry sky he had just taken, sharing them with his little fairy.
Gu Jiuyue glanced at it and nodded with a smile.
She had seen the starry sky before. A decent astronomical telescope costs only a few million RMB, and she had one in the house where she usually lived, far more breathtaking than such an SLR camera.
If you really wanted to compare, stargazing wasn’t as fun as riding a jet ski.
But what mattered most was the friend’s intention to take care of her; drinking tea and chatting under the vast starry sky provided the motivation for a positive life with its relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Moreover, such a quiet and romantic night was particularly suited to discussing topics that you might not normally delve into.
She took a sip of milk tea and initiated casual conversation mode.
"Huaihuai, what kind of person is your father?"
Hm?
Su Huai’s internal alarms went off instantly.
Talking about anything else wouldn’t have caught his attention, but suddenly asking about his father... how could he not overthink it?
"My father, he’s pretty ordinary,"
For the sake of Favorability Rating, Su Huai played it steady.
But Gu Jiuyue seemed to be really just making small talk, "Does he have high expectations of you?"
"Uh..."
Su Huai hesitated, not because he wanted to hide anything, but because he needed time to recall the situation from "over a decade ago".
"High,"
he paused, before adding with emphasis, "Very high."
Gu Jiuyue was surprised, "Ah?"
Since it was casual conversation, Su Huai opened up his heart.
"It’s different from what you might think. For ordinary families like ours, parents tend to put even greater pressure on their children, hoping for them to succeed—you know what I mean?"
Gu Jiuyue shook her head blankly, "I don’t quite understand. Does it have something to do with family background...?"
"Of course, it does."
Su Huai smiled, gazing at the stars, his voice turning low and distant as if he were lost in some memory.
"It’s precisely because our parents have limited abilities and have seen the harsh reality of society, the law of the jungle, yet recognized their own helplessness, that they become more anxious. Hence, they pin all their hopes on the next generation, creating high pressure and coercion."
It’s not that they don’t love, but their love comes with an attitude—
’I hope you don’t follow the old, failed path we took. Don’t suffer the hardships and setbacks that we’ve already endured.’
This is a wish, but it manifests as demands.
If the child doesn’t understand, or if the parents don’t know how to express themselves correctly, conflict is inevitable.
My father...
He actually has a very generous nature, but always seems to lack a bit of patience with me, and resorts to suppression when he can’t explain things clearly.
There was a time when I particularly despised his authoritarian ways..."
Gu Jiuyue’s brow furrowed slightly, struck by his phrase "there was a time?"—such a peculiar way to describe it.
But she understood what Su Huai meant and felt a profound difference.
"My father never puts any pressure on me. However, due to my actual situation, the invisible pressure from my family also weighs heavily on me."
"Right,"
Su Huai nodded, "One is active, the other is passive. One is based on material aspects, and one on underlying emotions. The reasons are different, the ease of solving them differs as well... My troubles tend to be somewhat simpler."
Gu Jiuyue enjoyed talking with Su Huai because he was so insightful—a simple conversation could help him understand any of her thoughts and provide just the right feedback.
She smiled sweetly and continued to ask, "You just mentioned ’there was a time,’ so has it gotten better now?"
"Almost better,"
Su Huai returned her smile, hinting at more as he elaborated.
"The image and attitude of a father aren’t fixed but change with time.
Like my dad, at this stage, he constantly tells me to focus on my studies and not rush into relationships;
a couple of years after I graduate from university and start working, he’ll advise me not to work too hard and to come home if it’s too much;
a few years later, his attitude will definitely shift to ’You don’t have to come home, but at least find a partner, will you?’
Until it becomes ’I don’t expect you to achieve great things, just settle down and let me hold a grandchild, okay?’
So you see, fathers are different at each stage; as long as we can predict his line of thinking and give him a little hope at the right time, he isn’t too difficult to handle.
Parents are always more anxious than we are."
Gu Jiuyue took it all in, meditating for a while before she suddenly turned her head, thoughtfully staring at Su Huai’s profile.
"What about my father then? Do you think he might be the same?"
"He definitely will be."
Su Huai smiled softly, turning to look into her beautiful yet misty eyes.
"A father’s role doesn’t vary based on social labels."
Gu Jiuyue extended the thought, "So, what he dislikes now, he might not dislike in the future. What he’s keen to avoid now, he might insist on later...right?"
So clever...
It’s so satisfying to offer guidance to such a girl.
"Yes, so there’s no need to rush when there are conflicts and pressures. Just hold steady, wait for time to evoke some changes. Being happy and enjoying the present is what’s most important."
"I understand, thank you, Su Huai."
Gu Jiuyue nodded gently, her expression spelling out two clear words: Adorable.
Su Huai, elated, propped up his head and gazed at the brilliant stars above, feeling like this moment surpassed even the pinnacle of his life.
However, as he cast his gaze into the distance, Gu Jiuyue beside him turned her head slightly, pressing her lips together tightly, but she couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth.
It was a subtle smile.
Not flashy or vibrant, but smart and mischievous, making her eyes sparkle with vivacity.
