No one understands rebirth better than me

Chapter 267 Gu Youli Returns Home

Some things are better faced than avoided.

This can be considered one of Guan Qiaoyun's principles for dealing with people and things.

It is precisely because of this that she has been able to bravely raise the tiny Guan Ren into the large Guan Ren she is today.

So, faced with the strange behavior of her son secretly smelling her lipstick, Guan Qiaoyun ultimately did not choose to hide aside and overthink, but instead went straight over.

"Guan Ren!"

"!"

Guan Ren, standing in front of the dressing table, was startled and turned around, looking somewhat bewildered.

Because his mother was looking at him with a solemn expression, her brows slightly furrowed.

At the same time, just like a certain teacher, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, supporting two mounds of thick and deep flesh that overflowed from his forearms.

……

Of course, this action wasn't originally exclusive to Gu Wancheng.

Guan Ren felt that women couldn't help but act this way whenever they were feeling powerful and assertive.

Moreover, there are differences between crossing one's arms and crossing one's arms.

As for the specific differences... it's hard to describe.

Roughly speaking, Gu Wancheng has a "mature woman" vibe when she crosses her arms, while Qiaoyun has a "young woman" vibe.

……

"Guan Ren!"

"!!"

Seeing that the simple-minded boy was lost in thought, Guan Qiaoyun called out again.

Guan Ren scratched his head, not knowing what was going on, but he smiled and leaned over, gently putting his arm around her shoulder:
"Sister Qiaoyun~"

"..."

Guan Qiaoyun glanced sideways with her phoenix eyes, her pretty face slightly somber.

"Uh... Mom, what's wrong? You seem really angry."

Guan Ren tightened his grip on her shoulder, while raising his other arm to flex his biceps, speaking with righteous indignation:
"Did someone bully you? Tell me who it was, and I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget."

"Go! Go! Go!"

Guan Qiaoyun ignored his antics, twisted her voluptuous body to break free from his arm, and coldly said with a raised eyebrow:

"Bully me? In this family, who else but you can bully me?"

"what?"

Guan Ren was stunned when he heard this:
"Mom, when have I ever bullied you? I would never bully you, no matter who else I might bully. Am I that unfilial?"

"Heh, hard to say..."

Well, Guan Ren really didn't bully her, so Guan Qiaoyun mumbled something in a low voice, then tilted her chin towards the dressing table, a slight hint of unease flashing across her face before she solemnly rebuked:
"What were you doing at my dressing table just now?"

"I…"

Okay, now Guan Ren understands why. He gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Mom, I was just... tidying up your cosmetics..."

"..."

Seeing his mother's stern expression, Guan Ren deduced that she had probably witnessed the whole thing, so he gave a slightly more honest account:
"...I'm organizing my cosmetics, and I might as well take a look at some lipsticks..."

"Research?"

Guan Qiaoyun frowned:
"What are you doing researching lipstick, you big...small man?"

"Mom, don't change your mind. Be confident, I really am a grown man now!"

What are you interrupting me for?

Guan Qiaoyun glared at him irritably:
"go on!"

"Oh, I'm researching lipsticks because...because..."

Guan Ren certainly couldn't say it was because of Gu Wancheng.

Then all the things I did these past few days, including going to Teacher Gu's house and even spending the night there, were exposed.

Teaching teachers to cook isn't something shameful... right?

However, Guan Ren, relying on his sixth sense, still felt it was best not to reveal this matter to any third party, including Teacher Gu, who certainly didn't want outsiders to know.

So Guan Ren found a more plausible excuse:

"Because it's Gu Youli's birthday, I'm planning to give her a lipstick, and I wanted to take a look at yours."

Upon hearing this, Guan Qiaoyun's brows did indeed relax somewhat:
"They're all high school students, and you're giving them lipstick? Your school isn't No. 3 High School or a vocational school, are you starting to allow makeup now?"

"It's not allowed, but you can still send it as a token of your affection. Besides, you can wear makeup when you're not at school."

"..."

Guan Qiaoyun thought about it and agreed.

Although she raised a son, some of the parents she knew raised daughters.

Indeed, many girls start learning to apply makeup from their junior and senior years of high school, taking advantage of their time away from school.

The mothers of the daughters usually take the initiative to teach them some things as well.

After all, waiting until university to learn it might be too rushed.

When the time comes, if there are any events, speeches, defenses, or classmate gatherings at university, appropriate makeup will still be quite necessary.

"If you're giving a gift, remember not to buy anything too cheap; buy something from a reputable brand."

"Uh-huh!"

Seeing that Guan Qiaoyun accepted this explanation, Guan Ren nodded repeatedly.

But Guan Qiaoyun thought for a moment, then changed the subject and reminded her seriously in a low voice:

"And don't buy anything too expensive..." "?"

Guan Ren found it amusing that his mother, despite her pretty appearance, spoke with such shrewd calculations. Suppressing a laugh, he deliberately said:
"Mom, Youli is a girl, is it really appropriate for me to give her something cheap?"

"Tsk! What kind of statement is that?"

Guan Qiaoyun's eyes widened in surprise:
"You little rascal, how old are you and you're already trying to seduce girls with money? Do you want to be that scumbag on TV?"

"No, Mom, I'm a very upright person, but even so, Youli and I have a good relationship, I..."

Guan Qiaoyun gently bit her red lips and pressed her jade-like fingers against the forehead of the simple-minded boy:
"What's so good about it? How good is it? Even if it's good, it's still not over... over..."

She hesitated for a moment, then quickly stopped herself.

I almost blurted out something like, "Even if she's perfect, she's not married yet."

It's like they're making it seem like their son is already Gu Xiaoya's boyfriend...

"Oh, you decide for yourself! Just don't buy anything too expensive! ... Also, you can study lipsticks, but what are you doing, just sitting there smelling them? What kind of research is that?"

"It's about studying smells."

"All lipsticks basically smell the same!"

indeed.

At least most regular lipsticks have the same scent.

and so…

That subtle, sweet orange scent, different from the lipstick itself, was definitely from that night…

pat.

Guan Qiaoyun put the lipstick back on and put it back in its place.

But he still couldn't resist giving the simpleton a couple of words of advice:

"From now on, you're not allowed to smell Mom's things randomly. It's...unhygienic, you hear me?"

"..."

Guan Ren lowered his head, secretly pursing his lips.

I thought to myself, "Then when you come home in the future, don't just leave your stockings lying around like that..."

Every time I help tidy up, my hands inevitably get covered in the smell, and I inevitably end up accidentally putting them on my nose...

"I'm asking you! Did you hear me?!"

"heard it!"

Guan Ren read aloud slowly and deliberately:

"I promise I will never smell Sister Qiaoyun's lipstick again."

To be honest, Guan Qiaoyun felt there was something wrong with what he said.

But I'm too lazy to think about it anymore.

Finally, I muttered a few words of criticism to him:
"I was startled when I saw you in there. You're such a big young man, I thought you were going to put on makeup, but all I saw was you sniffing around... Ha, you looked just like a little puppy."

"Hey~"

Guan Ren chuckled and began massaging Guan Qiaoyun's shoulders:

"Mom, I'll always be your little puppy~"

"???"

Guan Qiaoyun chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and said reproachfully:
"What do you mean? Are you insulting me in a roundabout way?"

"Injustice!"

"What nonsense! Oh, you're my little puppy, and what am I? Your mother, right? I..."

"Cough cough cough! Cough cough..."

Guan Ren choked on a mouthful of air.

Clearly, given the cultural context of 2012, Guan Qiaoyun was completely unaware of how serious the ambiguity in those words was.

"Sister Qiaoyun, I really didn't mean that. Um... I'm going to the restroom..."

Guan Ren himself was a little afraid to listen, fearing that his mother might say something else outrageous, so he simply ran away.

--------

the next day.

Another day has passed, another boring summer vacation.

In the morning, Guan Ren played chess with Grandpa Lin at the entrance.

Like many old men chatting at the village entrance, the two talked about everything from art and literature to the world situation, and finally back to what to eat for lunch.

After lunch, Guan Ren estimated the approximate time and immediately called Xiao Lihua.

beep--

"Hello…?"

"Hey~ Little Pear, welcome home!"

Yes, today at noon is the day Gu Youli returns home from Chengdu.

However, Gu Youli was stunned for a long time on the other end of the phone:
"Guan Ren, how...how did you know I was back?"

"Hmm? Uh..."

"I think I only told my sister when I was coming home..."

"..."

broken.

Guan Ren's heart skipped a beat.

(End of this chapter)