Chapter 1065: She Cares, But Just A Little

Gong Xin clung to Gu Zi, sobbing uncontrollably. It took her a long moment to regain composure, and only then did she realize there were other people around.

Hastily wiping her tears, she accepted the fragrant, sizzling lamb skewer Gu Zi handed her and took a big bite before exclaiming, “My brother is running away from home! He’s off to the Capital Military District, and he probably won’t be back for years. I’m devastated!”

Gu Zi finally understood–so this was why Gong Xin was so heartbroken. It was almost amusing. She always complained about her brother, rolling her eyes at his every move, but now that he was leaving, she was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness. Sibling bonds were a curious thing.

Patting Gong Xin’s back in comfort, she said, “That’s not such a big deal. If you miss him, just visit him in the capital.”

Gong Xin finished the skewer in a few bites and immediately grabbed a small cake. She had always been obsessed with Gu Zi’s desserts. Between mouthfuls, she sighed, “It’s not that simple. With him gone, my allowance is going to be cut in half. That means fewer new clothes for me. It’s unbearable!”

Gu Zi gave a deliberately exaggerated smile. “Ah, I see. So you do care about your brother–just not that much.”

Gong Xin put down the cake, her expression shifting to one of deep sorrow. With a choked voice, she wailed, “And you! You’re leaving for university in the capital too! You’re abandoning me! Who am I supposed to mooch off now?”

Gu Zi rolled her eyes. This girl had some feelings for her, but–again–not much. Still, Gong Xin had unknowingly touched upon something Gu Zi had been contemplating. The capital was a place where land was worth more than gold, and at today’s market prices, with the money she had, she could easily afford a mansion with a courtyard right in the heart of the city.

If she could convince Su Shen to invest as well and snap up a few more of those traditional courtyard homes… The appreciation value alone would be astronomical. They would make a fortune!

But it wasn’t just about profit–owning property in the capital would also be a significant advantage for their three children’s education. This was an opportunity she simply couldn’t let slip through her fingers.

Gu Zi was lost in her financial daydreams when Gong Xin whined again, “Gu Zi, are you even listening? I just said I’m going to miss you! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Snapping back to reality, Gu Zi swiftly placed another cake in Gong Xin’s hands. “Of course I heard you. So while you still can, eat as much as you want today.”

With food in hand, Gong Xin was momentarily appeased. She wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to indulge while it lasted. Soon enough, the desserts were almost completely wiped out, and before she left, she shamelessly packed two boxes of treats to take home.

Gu Zi, surveying the now-empty fridge, chuckled to herself. “Looks like I need to restock and make something good tomorrow.”

After the meal, the Su family children moved on to their usual martial arts training. In the courtyard, they were practicing stance-holding. Su Bing and Su Li had to maintain their stances for an hour, while Su Le, just starting out, only had to last fifteen minutes.

Even with the shorter time requirement, it was tough for little Su Le. She was still too young, and her foundation was not yet stable. Within ten minutes, her forehead was covered in sweat, her tiny legs trembling. But she gritted her teeth and pushed through. “Mommy, Lele won’t give up!”

Martial arts came naturally to Su Li. Standing in a stance for an hour was no challenge for him, and he was quite pleased with himself. “Lele, come on, that’s only ten minutes. You’re so weak. You need more practice! Look at me–I could stand here for two hours without breaking a sweat.”

Su Le, already exhausted, was further frustrated by her second brother’s taunting. Pouting, she resolved not to speak to him for the rest of the night.

Su Li, noticing that his little sister was ignoring him, pouted too. He was not the type to stay still for long. In truth, the only reason he had mastered stance-holding was because of their father’s strict authority. Otherwise, he would have long since run off to play with Gao Ming instead.

Su Shen decided it was time to humble this smug little brat. He walked over and pressed down on Su Li’s shoulders. Su Li remained motionless, perfectly stable.

Impressed, Su Shen nodded approvingly. “Your stance is solid. Now, if you can pass a small challenge, you won’t have to practice stance-holding anymore.”

Su Li’s eyes lit up. He had always thought stance-holding was incredibly dull. “Really? What’s the challenge?”