Flash Marriage: He is a Wife-pampering Addict

Chapter 1369: 1368, you must have cursed me ten million times already.

“””

Jing Xiaocha couldn’t hear what Wen Ran was saying on the other end of the call. She only saw the tender smile on Wen Jin’s lips. “Alright.”

After hanging up the phone, Wen Jin looked over at Jing Xiaocha. Jing Xiaocha immediately smiled and asked, “Brother Wen, I wasn’t lying, was I? I didn’t trick you.”

“Hmm. When are you starting work?”

Wen Jin put away his phone, the smile on his face dimming slightly.

Though he still smiled, the warmth and indulgence from his earlier phone call with Wen Ran had disappeared.

Jing Xiaocha thought for a moment. “I can start in the afternoon.”

“Hmm.” Wen Jin agreed to her starting work in the afternoon, then picked up his chopsticks and began eating without saying another word.

***

That afternoon, Gu Kai came home with Tongtong. After Tongtong napped, he went into the study to read.

At 3:30, the ringing of the phone disrupted the quietness of the study, the buzzing sound vibrating on the desk.

Seeing the caller ID, Gu Kai’s heart skipped a beat.

He didn’t reach out for the phone. Instead, his fingers, which were holding onto the papers, gradually tightened.

His pitch-dark eyes locked onto the name “Bai Yiyi” on the screen. Those three simple characters stirred up a storm in his heart, and his emotions churned alongside the blinking letters.

After a few seconds, his long fingers pressed the answer button. Bringing the phone to his ear, he spoke calmly, “Hello.”

“I’ve seen your message. Did you see mine?”

Bai Yiyi’s voice came through, distant and unfamiliar, making Gu Kai frown.

“Your mother turned herself in,” Gu Kai said hesitantly, his voice detached.

As his words fell, the other end of the call suddenly went silent.

Gu Kai couldn’t see Bai Yiyi’s expression on the other side of the line. The silence, however, was stifling and weighed heavily on his mood.

He unconsciously tightened his grip on the phone by an increment.

After a long pause, Bai Yiyi’s voice finally came through, tinged with three parts mockery and two parts indifference. “That’s something she should’ve done more than twenty years ago. Don’t worry, when I remember that incident, I’ll also turn myself in.”

“Bai Yiyi, what nonsense are you saying?” Gu Kai suddenly snapped.

Even he didn’t know why he was so angry, only that he couldn’t stand the barbs hidden within her words.

“Am I talking nonsense? Li En must’ve told you. On my sixth birthday, I went to find Fu Jingyi and met Ranran. So, you’ve probably cursed me out a thousand, ten thousand times in your heart, thinking that at such a young age, I had a vicious heart, right?”

Bai Yiyi’s mocking laughter drilled into his ears, and Gu Kai’s handsome face instantly turned grim.

Yet, he couldn’t refute what Bai Yiyi was saying.

Because he had indeed thought that way.

Because he liked her, he couldn’t tolerate her involvement in those matters, not even as a six-year-old child who was incapable of much.

He had condemned her as wicked, had judged her guilty.

Bai Yiyi’s laughter held a bitter self-deprecation. “Gu Kai, I know. My parents owe the Gu Family too much. So, I’m returning Tongtong to you. If someday you fall in love or get married and don’t want her living with you, send her to Ranran’s house.”

“Bai Yiyi, where are you right now?” Gu Kai asked angrily.

What was this woman rambling about? How could he abandon his daughter for another woman?

“I’ve left G City. Hate me if you want, I don’t mind.”

“Come back immediately, or tell me where you are, and I’ll come find you.”

Gu Kai stood abruptly, taking firm strides out of the study. His chiseled features carried anger in every taut line.

Even through the phone, Bai Yiyi could feel Gu Kai’s fury. But so what? They were over now—it was him who had given up on this relationship first.

She had given him ten days, and given herself ten days as well.

“Gu Kai, take good care of Tongtong.” Bai Yiyi did not answer his question and simply ended the call.

Gu Kai pursed his lips and dialed back, only to find her phone was already turned off.

He now understood the frustration Bai Yiyi must have felt days earlier when she couldn’t reach him. His knuckles gripping the phone turned white as voices drifted through the door—Tongtong happily chatting with the nanny.

Gu Kai suppressed his emotions and opened the door to leave the study.

Tongtong, held by the nanny’s hand, looked up and beamed brightly when she saw him. “Daddy!”

Gu Kai walked over, picked her up, and told the nanny to attend to other tasks. “Tongtong, did you cry after waking up?”

“Nope.”

Tongtong proudly grinned from ear to ear. “Tongtong doesn’t cry.”

“Tongtong is amazing.”

Gu Kai didn’t hesitate to praise her. In response, Tongtong’s smile grew even more radiant. But in the next instant, her words cast a shadow over Gu Kai’s heart.

“Daddy, I miss Mommy.”

Gu Kai’s smile froze on his face as Tongtong’s clear voice rang in his ears. “Call her.”

“Tongtong, Mommy is working, so her phone’s turned off. She’ll come back in a few days.”

Gu Kai lied to deceive Tongtong.

Tongtong looked at him doubtfully. “Have Mommy take Tongtong’s call.”

“How about Daddy takes you to the hospital to see Grandpa?”

“Call Mommy,” Tongtong insisted persistently. Perhaps it was because she feared her mother might feel lonely while she was at Daddy’s house.

Or perhaps Tongtong remembered seeing her mother cry that night. Whatever the reason, she insisted today—Daddy had to call Mommy.

Gu Kai had no choice but to pull out his phone and dial Bai Yiyi’s number. Her phone, however, was still turned off.

“Tongtong, Mommy’s phone is off while working. Listen, it’s off right now,” Gu Kai explained patiently.

Hearing this, Tongtong bit her lip sadly and lowered her head, openly displaying her unhappiness.

Seeing her reaction, Gu Kai felt a pang in his chest. After a moment of hesitation, he softened his voice to comfort her. “Tongtong, how about you say something to Mommy, and we’ll send it as a message? Mommy will hear it as soon as she turns her phone on, okay?”

“Okay.”

Tongtong, who had been upset just moments ago, was suddenly cheerful again. Her bright eyes eagerly watched the phone in his hand.

Gu Kai crouched down to her level, opened the chat app, and explained, “Tongtong, think about what you want to say to Mommy. When Daddy presses this button, I’ll hold the phone for you, and you can speak.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Tongtong nodded seriously, showing she understood.

Her round eyes stared unwaveringly at the phone, her small lips pressing together as she thought.

Gu Kai observed her focused look, and an unfamiliar ache filled his chest. For the first time, he thought that perhaps Ranran was right—Tongtong couldn’t grow up without her mother, without a complete family.

He shouldn’t let the grievances of the previous generation ruin Tongtong’s childhood happiness.

Lowering his gaze and hiding his emotions, Gu Kai pressed the record button and held the phone up to Tongtong. She immediately broke into a smile and, with her childish, excited voice, called out, “Mommy, Tongtong misses you.”

“Tongtong, the message has been sent. Do you want to say anything else?”

“Yes.”

Tongtong eagerly nodded with a smile. She wanted to tell Mommy to come home soon.

“””