She Was Willing

Gu Zi found it endearing to see him, his hand awkwardly suspended in mid-air, his mouth agape, unsure of what to say or do. 

He claimed to have been reading parenting books, but it was clear to her that theory and practice needed to be combined to gain real experience. 

However, she was still upset, and so her face remained expressionless.

After drying her hands with a dishcloth, Gu Zi picked up their daughter and left the kitchen, leaving the rest to Su Shen.

Lunch was a quiet affair, each of them eating their own meals in silence. 

Their little daughter, Lele, was the only one who seemed to be enjoying her fried rice, occasionally uttering strange combinations of words and sentences. Gu Zi would respond to her briefly before returning to her meal, not initiating any conversation with Su Shen.

Su Shen, too, seemed preoccupied with something. He ate his meal without speaking to Gu Zi, lost in his own thoughts.