Chapter 955: Why Are You So Busy?

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Jing had barely sat down when she sprang up again, caught somewhere between surprise and delight. “How do you even know my birthday?”

Su Li, with a smug little grin, turned his gaze to Gu Zi. “Of course, Mom told me! She said that since Little Aunt isn’t like how she used to be anymore, she’s truly family now. And family should always remember each other’s birthdays, right?”

Hearing this, Su Jing’s heart swelled with emotion as her eyes drifted toward Gu Zi, brimming with gratitude.

She was on the verge of tears, but Gu Zi, ever the pragmatist, wasn’t one for emotional theatrics. With a casual wave of her hand, she diverted the conversation, saying, “It came up the last time we were talking about Su Li’s birthday. It got me thinking we should take stock of everyone’s birthdays. Your brother actually reminded me of yours. Anyway, enough about that—what have you been up to these past few months?”

Su Jing nodded, trying to rein in the tide of feelings washing over her.

Her brother remembered her birthday. In the end, it was always her family who loved her most. Thank goodness she had turned her life around in time.@@novelbin@@

Taking a steadying breath, she began recounting her journey over the last few months.

“At first, I just wanted to travel a bit, see new places, and come back after some fun.

“But when I got to the capital, I stumbled upon an art exhibition. It reignited something in me—my passion for painting. I started taking lessons with an art teacher, but after only a few days, it became clear the lessons were too basic for me. The teacher said I had an incredible talent, so he introduced me to my current mentor. I’m now officially one of his apprentices. He’s a renowned painter in the capital.”

She paused, glancing at the rapt faces around her before continuing. “Funny thing—my mentor didn’t used to take on female disciples. Not because he’s biased, but because he’s incredibly old-fashioned. He didn’t want any misunderstandings with his wife, so to make her comfortable, he made it a rule not to work closely with women.”

Gu Zi, intrigued, leaned forward. “So, what made him change his mind for you?”

Su Jing shot a quick look at Su Shen, who had been quietly listening all this time. “I have my brother to thank for that!” she said, a note of pride in her voice. “It turns out my mentor is a veteran from an older generation. He deeply admires war heroes and had heard all about my brother’s accomplishments from his juniors. At first, I couldn’t even get through his door, no matter how many times I tried. Then one day, he found out I’m Su Shen’s sister, and just like that, he agreed to take me in!”

“Actually,” Su Jing added with a smile, “my mentor has been wanting to meet my brother in person for a long time, but something always comes up. Before I left, my mentor’s wife told me he’s planning to visit Guangcheng this year.”

Her voice softened as she went on. “Through my mentor, I’ve learned so much more about my brother’s incredible achievements. I feel so proud to call him my brother. Honestly, I think all the good fortune in my life is thanks to him. Because of him, I’m now the only female apprentice under my mentor.”

Gu Zi grinned. “If he does come, I’ll make sure to host him properly—as long as he’s not too hard to handle, of course. But wow, I didn’t realize Su Shen’s reputation stretched so far! Our family is just too amazing!”

Her eyes sparkled as she turned to look at Su Shen. The admiration in her gaze was so radiant, it was almost tangible.

Su Shen, visibly flustered, coughed lightly and said, “Gu Zi, stop it.”

Their playful exchange was so sweet it could have melted chocolate. Su Jing, watching this rare side of her brother, couldn’t help but mock them. “You two are absolutely unbearable with your lovey-dovey antics. Ugh, I can’t take it anymore! Anyway, I’m exhausted. Sister-in-law, can you show me to my room? Once I finish this cake, I’m crashing.”

Gu Zi chuckled and led Su Jing to her room, also setting up a guest room for her brother and sister-in-law. It was late, and it made sense for them to stay the night and head back in the morning.

After ensuring everyone was settled, Gu Zi noticed Su Shen getting ready to leave. He had already showered but looked like he was about to head back out.

Concerned, she asked, “Why are you so busy these days?”

Based on his workload, Gu Zi had estimated that even with expanding their business, he shouldn’t be this overwhelmed. After all, wasn’t that why they had Jin Long?

Su Shen, sensing her worry, paused and explained, “Jin Long is resigning. He’s gradually handing off his responsibilities, but for now, I have to take over some critical tasks. Once I find the right person to replace him, things will settle down. Don’t worry—it’s just a temporary rush.”

Gu Zi blinked, caught off guard by this revelation. Based on her understanding, Jin Long had no reason to leave. He seemed content with his role.

“Jin Long? Is he heading back to inherit the family fortune after all?” she asked.