Chapter 161 (1/2)

Yuan Gun Gun ate breakfast, and occasionally looked at Hao Yan Che's face. She didn't know why he let her sit on a chair to eat. It felt strange not sitting on his lap, and feeding each other when they sat at the dining table at home together.

Hao Yan Che acted calm even though he missed having Yuan Gun Gun sit on his lap. She was his wife. He didn't know why he stopped himself from hugging her if he wanted to. But he had to change and be gentler if he wanted her to stay with him. He was torn between giving her space to feel free, and holding onto her tightly. It was the most frustrating breakfast in his lifetime.

Yi Tu and Jia Tu exchanged a confused look with each other. They didn't understand why the atmosphere in the dining room felt odd.

After breakfast, Yuan Gun Gun stood to follow Hao Yan Che to work.

'You don't have to come to work anymore,' Hao Yan Che said. 'You're free to stay at home.'

Yuan Gun Gun asked Hao Yan Che to let her stay at home often, but he insisted she came to work with him because he hated being apart from her. He told himself the right thing to do was give her time to herself away from him so she wouldn't feel suffocated.

Yuan Gun Gun thought Hao Yan Che not being affectionate with her, and wanting her to stay at home was his way of punishing her.

'I'm going to work,' Hao Yan Che said.

Hao Yan Che suppressed his desire to carry Yuan Gun Gun to work with him.

Yuan Gun Gun watched Hao Yan Che walk out the front door. Wasn't staying at home what she wanted? She didn't like hearing gossip at work, or dealing with people who acted like her friend and stabbed her in the back. But she liked being with Hao Yan Che.

Hao Yan Che returned home at seven in the evening. Yuan Gun Gun was eating potato chips, and watching TV in the living room. She put the chips down on the coffee table and waited for him to say something.

'Did you eat dinner yet?' Hao Yan Che asked.

'Not yet,' Yuan Gun Gun said. 'I...'

'Then why are you eating junk food?' Hao Yan Che said. 'How many times have I said not to eat junk food before dinner?'

'I...' Yuan Gun Gun said.

Yuan Gun Gun wanted to say she waited to eat dinner with Hao Yan Che. But she got hungry, and ate a bit of chips because she didn't know what time he would be home.

Hao Yan Che saw Yuan Gun Gun fidgeting her fingers nervously, and he told himself he needed to give her freedom.

'You can eat junk food,' Hao Yan Che said. 'I'll go eat dinner.'