Chapter 438: If This Is Not Love

After two knocks, the door creaked open, followed immediately by the familiar sound of Zhang Wenying's sharp voice.

"Wake up! It's already noon! Why are you still sleeping?"

Gao Shen was startled awake. His first instinct was to grab his quilt tightly. Fortunately, he didn't have the habit of sleeping unclothed. Letting out a groan, he flopped back into the warm, cozy bed and looked weakly at his mother.

"Mom, I'm still jet-lagged…"

Before he could finish, his mother interrupted, displeased.

"Jet lag? You've been back for three days! You still haven't adjusted?"

Speechless, Gao Shen simply pulled the quilt over his head, planning to continue sleeping.

Meanwhile, his mother busied herself tidying his room, muttering all the while.

"Don't just lie there all day. Go out for a walk, go shopping, or look at houses. I heard the prices are going up again."

"Mom, we already have enough space in the house," Gao Shen replied, his voice muffled from under the covers.

"Enough? Sure, it's enough for now. But what about later? You'll get married, have kids—at least two kids—and then they'll have kids, and their kids will have more kids…"

Gao Shen almost collapsed under the weight of her logic. She made it sound so inevitable, he had no retort.

"Fine, fine, buy whatever you like," he mumbled. "Just let me sleep a little longer."

"Sleep? Young people like you should be full of energy, not lazing around in bed all day."

That got under his skin.

"Mom," Gao Shen sat up slightly, looking at her with a hint of annoyance, "Didn't you tell me a few days ago to come back so you could spoil me and let me rest? You said you missed me and hadn't seen me all summer. Now that I'm back, you've been nagging me non-stop. Where's the 'rest' you promised?"

His mother froze, caught off guard.

"Didn't you say you missed me so much you'd cook all my favorite dishes? And now I'm back, and you're hounding me all day. When do I get this 'good rest' you keep talking about?"

Caught in the act, Zhang Wenying reached out and gently patted Gao Shen's head.

"You ungrateful kid. I say a few things and you won't even let me speak anymore."

"Fine, fine, say whatever you want. Just let me sleep a little longer," Gao Shen groaned.

He was starting to realize something, parents everywhere were the same.

When they weren't around, they'd call, text, and constantly say how much they missed you. But the moment you came back, the nagging began. Still, he'd flown home for Christmas because he missed them too.

But now, two days later, his mother was treating him like an annoyance.

It was proof, Gao Shen thought to himself, that he was definitely her biological son. No one else would put up with this kind of treatment.

---

As his mother finished tidying up the room, she suddenly sat down beside his bed and gave him a little nudge.

"Hey, does Xiaoqing know you're back?"

"She doesn't know," Gao Shen replied, his voice still lazy. "I flew directly from Italy to Shanghai. How would she know?"

"So you didn't tell her you were coming back?"

"Why would I?" he replied, a little irritated now.

For some reason, Gao Shen really didn't like his parents meddling in his relationship or lack thereof with Su Qing.

His mother ignored his tone and continued.

"I heard from Aunt Lin that her unit's leaders think very highly of her. They're focusing on her development, and a lot of people are trying to introduce her to potential partners. But she's rejected all of them."

That caught his attention. Gao Shen opened his eyes but said nothing.

"She's 28, same as you," his mother went on. "She's not like a boy, you know. No matter how independent and strong she looks, she still needs love and care."

Gao Shen remained silent under the quilt.

"I watched Xiaoqing grow up," Zhang Wenying continued. "She's always been a likable girl, and she has her own ideas. I used to think she looked at you like a brother, but in the past couple of years… every time someone mentions you, her eyes light up."

Seeing him still lying motionless, his mother became frustrated and pushed him again.

"Hey, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Ah?" Gao Shen pulled the quilt down, squinting at her with feigned confusion. "What did you say?"

"Fine, fine. Pretend I didn't say anything. Don't come crying to me if you regret it later," she snapped, annoyed.

She truly felt her son was hopelessly dense. Even Su Qing's mother, Lin Xiuhui, had hinted multiple times that Su Qing had feelings for him.

But Gao Shen was completely clueless.

"You should think about it carefully," his mother said, her voice softening. "When you wanted to go to England, your father and I didn't agree at first. But she came over and explained everything to us. She even convinced us to let you go."

"You know what she said back then?"

Gao Shen stayed silent but listened intently.

"She said, 'You've always been supported by your parents and teachers. They've guided every major decision in your life. But this time, let him decide for himself.'"

"Do you know what else she did?" Zhang Wenying's tone grew emotional. "She gave us the money she'd saved during college, money from cutting back on her own living expenses and from tutoring. She gave all of it to us to help you go to England."

"Tell me, where else in the world would you find a girl like that?"

She paused, then said firmly, "You've come a long way now, Gao Shen. You're more capable, more successful. Sure, Xiaoqing doesn't come from the same background as you. But don't forget where you started. Those girls chasing after you now, do they really like you, or do they like your identity and status?"

"Forget it, forget it. I won't bother you anymore. I'm going to the market to buy some vegetables. You should get up soon," Zhang Wenying said as she left the room, still muttering to herself.

She grumbled about how "a grown-up child can't be controlled by his mother anymore" and warned that if Gao Shen missed this opportunity, he would surely regret it in the future.

Lying quietly in bed, Gao Shen couldn't help but think of Su Qing.

Sometimes, late at night when the world was silent, he'd find himself wondering how he really felt about her.

There were definitely feelings. Thoughts too. Isn't that how it is for all men?

What man wouldn't have thoughts when looking at someone as beautiful as Su Qing?

But having grown up together, their relationship had always been like a cup of lukewarm water neither cold nor hot, just ordinary and uneventful.

Sometimes, Gao Shen wondered what he would do if Su Qing suddenly told him she had a boyfriend or was getting married.

He quickly dismissed the idea.

She wouldn't.

Why?

Because Su Qing wasn't that kind of person.

It was the same reason she had never asked him whether he had a girlfriend while he was in Europe.

Over the three years Gao Shen spent in Europe, his name had appeared in the papers countless times, often alongside photos of him with beautiful women. When he moved to Italy, there was even gossip about an Italian celebrity wanting to have a child with him.

But Su Qing never asked him about any of it. Not once.

He knew why.

Because just as he trusted her, she trusted him.

And yet, Gao Shen couldn't figure out what their relationship really was.

Was it love?

Shouldn't love be passionate?

How could something so lukewarm be called love?

Still, his mother's words had left him feeling uneasy, even restless.

Su Qing might appear independent, but at heart, she was quite traditional. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn't easily change it. And if her feelings ever did shift, winning her back would be nearly impossible.

The thought filled him with irritation.

Any lingering drowsiness evaporated completely.

---

Despite all her nagging, Zhang Wenying prepared a lavish lunch for Gao Shen, filled with his favorite dishes.

His father, Gao Jianguo, and Su Zhijun were both busy with work, frequently traveling to South America for business.

It was peak season for Chilean cherries, and the business was thriving. According to Su Zhijun, the company's turnover this year was projected to be several times that of last year, and it was only the beginning.

With the continuous expansion of their sales network, future growth seemed limitless.

The sale of Chilean wine was also booming, with their business steadily growing in their hometown and Shanghai. The outlook was highly promising.

As a result, both the Gao and Su families were busier than ever.

Meanwhile, Gao Shen was reaping the rewards of his own success. The farms and wineries in Chile and Peru, run by his partners Sanchez, Vidal, and Vargas, were also flourishing. Their profits continued to rise, and their lives had improved significantly.

Vidal and Sanchez were even exploring the possibility of acquiring neighboring plantations and wineries to expand their operations and meet China's growing demand.

Fortunately for Gao Shen, he didn't have to worry about these things.

---

After lunch, Gao Shen tried lying down again, but he couldn't fall asleep. His mind was too unsettled.

Eventually, he grabbed his phone, checked flight schedules, and booked a ticket from Shanghai to the capital that very afternoon.

He didn't bother packing any luggage or even bringing a change of clothes. He simply told his mother he was going to visit a friend and wouldn't be home that night.

Standing by the upstairs balcony window, Zhang Wenying watched as Gao Shen left the building and disappeared from sight.

Satisfied, she left her apartment and knocked on the door across the hall.

"Did he leave?" Lin Xiuhui asked with a delighted smile as she opened the door.

"Of course," Zhang Wenying replied, smiling proudly.

"I just saw him checking flights online. I'm pretty sure he's heading to the capital."

After a pause, she added in a tone of mock wisdom, "My precious son, I wouldn't dare say I know everything, but I do know his temperament. All I needed to do was put a little pressure on him, and he'd take action. Just wait and see. Good news is coming!"

Lin Xiuhui couldn't hide her joy.

As the saying goes, the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more she likes him.

She had always liked Gao Shen. Over the past few years, as he became more accomplished, her admiration for him only grew. She'd encouraged her daughter several times, but Su Qing had always been slow to act.

Now that Zhang Wenying had stepped in, Lin Xiuhui finally felt a sense of relief.

***

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