Chapter 262 — Gu Mengyao's Suitor
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Brother An, is that your little Sister Chu?" one of the men, wearing a white casual shirt, said to the man at the head of the table.
An Liwen's gaze sharpened. He had only just returned to Songshan City, and today he had merely arranged a small gathering with a few old friends, planning to pay a formal visit to Gu Mengyao's home in a couple of days. He had never expected to see Gu Mengyao, Shen Yushu, and another unfamiliar man come to the amusement park together to play—and the sight sent a sharp pang through his heart.
"I'll go over and say hello," An Liwen said to the two men beside him.
"Want us to come along and help?" asked the man in the white shirt. "Look at that kid, poor as a beggar—he even lets Gu Mengyao pay for his food. What a piece of work!"
"Exactly. How could a man like that deserve to be Brother An's rival?" the other man, whose features were somewhat soft and effeminate, chimed in as well.
"No need for you two. I'll go over myself." An Liwen gave a faint wave of his hand and rose to his feet, walking in Gu Mengyao's direction.
"Yaoyao, it's been so long. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye you'd have grown into such a young lady!" An Liwen greeted Gu Mengyao with a smile, his face full of warmth, the very picture of the boy next door.
"You're... you're Brother Jianwen?" Gu Mengyao was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a pleasant surprise. "You—you've come back to the country?"
"That's right. I just got back yesterday. Today I'm meeting up with a few old brothers, and I never expected to run into you here. I was planning to pay a proper visit to Uncle Chu and my little sister Yaoyao this weekend!" An Liwen seated himself with grace in the spot beside Gu Mengyao that had originally belonged to Wei Zhao, and turned to look at Shen Yushu. "Little Shu, you're still as adorable as ever. Do you remember Brother Jianwen?"
"Of course I remember. How could I forget my brother's defeated foe? Hee hee!" Shen Yushu waved to An Liwen with a smile.
A trace of something soft and sly flitted through An Liwen's eyes, gone in an instant, and the smile swiftly returned to his face. "That's right. Brother Yutian is off serving in the border guard now, so it's not easy to see him even once. If he came back, only then would the Four Young Masters of Songshan be complete again..."
Here An Liwen's face took on a look of fond remembrance. "I think back on those days—under Brother Yutian's leadership, how magnificent the Four Young Masters of Songshan were! But heh heh, we've all grown up now!"
"Brother Jianwen, now that you're back in Songshan, are you staying here?" Gu Mengyao asked, seemingly offhandedly.
"That's right. This time I'm back, and I plan to stay—because my little sister Yaoyao is here!" An Liwen gazed at Gu Mengyao with a gentle smile.
For some reason, a faint gloom settled in Gu Mengyao's heart. Hearing An Liwen's words, she no longer felt the warm intimacy of siblings from childhood; his manner, on the contrary, made her a little uncomfortable.
"Oh, is that so? Then—welcome..." Gu Mengyao forced a smile and said.
Just as they were talking, Wei Zhao came back carrying a tray. This fast-food restaurant sold only set meals, so Wei Zhao had simply picked three different ones and brought them back—whoever wanted what could take it.
Wei Zhao's gaze, too, had remained fixed on An Liwen. Though this fellow was acquainted with Gu Mengyao, Wei Zhao could not be certain whether he meant her any harm.
"Sir, you're sitting in my seat. If you'd like to keep sitting here, you can have the waiter bring another chair," Wei Zhao said to An Liwen as he set the tray down on the table. It was a round table for three; a chair could be added, but it would certainly be cramped.