Chapter 101 Bastard

Nan Zhiyi was wrapped in a thick scarf, with only her eyes showing. Her stomach felt empty and inexplicably blocked.

Lin Xiangyang mixed the paints, while Chen Xiaoyun held the chalk and ruler, her hands trembling slightly.

She took a deep breath and walked over to Chen Xiaoyun: "Don't be nervous, Xiaoyun. Follow the sketch, first draw the grid, divide the area. Write slowly, neatness is the most important thing. Let Xiangyang mix the colors, he has a steady hand."

"good."

Chen Xiaoyun climbed the ladder and began drawing lines at the top of the bulletin board.

Lin Xiangyang was also mixing bright red paint on the side.

Nan Zhiyi stood a few steps away, occasionally pointing out directions. The cold wind made her shiver slightly, her fingers were a little stiff from the cold, and she felt a slight heaviness in her lower abdomen.

It's been three months.

She stared at the mottled old paint on the bulletin board, her thoughts drifting.

When Gu Xiao left, the osmanthus flowers had just faded.

Now, it has snowed several times.

She took out a sour plum that Li Weidong had asked Zhao Yaqin to get for her from her pocket and put it in her mouth. The extreme sourness temporarily suppressed the...

The nausea stirred up even deeper weariness and an inexplicable sense of grievance.

Just then, a series of hurried and familiar footsteps approached from afar, shattering the cold wind.

Nan Zhiyi subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.

At the end of the main road, a tall figure strode towards the road against the light, braving the wind and snow.

The dark green military overcoat was covered in snowflakes, and the gold stars on the epaulets were still conspicuous against the gray sky.

The brim of his hat was pulled low, covering most of his face, revealing only his sharply defined jawline and tightly pursed lips.

It's Gu Xiao.

Nan Zhiyi stood frozen in place, watching him get closer and closer, until his deep eyes under the brim of his hat finally lifted and looked at her.

The instant their eyes met, tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking her scarf.

Gu Xiao quickened his pace and stopped in front of her.

His somewhat rough fingertips gently wiped away the tears that kept rolling down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?"

Those three words were like unscrewing the floodgates of her tears.

She pouted, her nose turned even redder, and her tears fell even harder. Even she herself felt that she was being dramatic, but she just couldn't help it.

The anxiety, physical discomfort, and the emptiness of waiting day after day all turned into a torrent of tears the moment he suddenly appeared.

She just wanted him to comfort her, to let him know how sad she was.

She didn't answer him, but simply reached out and grasped his little finger, looking at him with teary eyes.

Gu Xiao felt a pang in his heart at her silent accusation and dependence.

"..."

His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, his gaze sweeping over Chen Xiaoyun and Lin Xiangyang, who were already stunned.

"Officer Lin, could you please ask Section Chief Li for leave for Zhiyi? Just tell him I'm taking her back first."

Lin Xiangyang nodded immediately: "Yes, Commander Gu! Don't worry!"

Without further delay, Gu Xiao took Nan Zhiyi's wrist and led her a few steps into the regimental headquarters building, heading straight into his office.

"Wait here for me a moment," Gu Xiao released her hand, took off his military overcoat covered in dust and snow, and hung it on the hook behind the door, revealing his military uniform underneath.

He looked at her still-tears and asked in a low voice, "Just for a little while, okay?"

Nan Zhiyi sniffed, gave a soft "hmm," and turned her head away from him.

Gu Xiao gave her a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Fortunately, he did return very quickly. It seems he really just went to check in and explain the most important matters.

"Let's go home." He said succinctly, picked up his coat again, put it back on, and took her hand once more.

The snow outside has stopped, but the ground is slippery, and a thin layer of ice has formed where the snow has been trampled down.

Nan Zhiyi didn't ride a bicycle; the two walked side by side.

Gu Xiao's hand tightly enveloped hers; his palm was burning hot, continuously warming her frozen fingers, and that warmth traveled from his palm all the way to her heart.

He walked slowly, accommodating her pace and clearing a path for her.

Upon entering the house, it wasn't much warmer inside than outside.

Gu Xiao had just hung up his coat when Nan Zhiyi threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist tightly and burying her face in his shirt.

"Gu Xiao..." her voice was muffled, trembling with tears, "You bastard!"

Gu Xiao was slightly swayed by her bump, then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her completely into his embrace.

He lowered his head, gently nuzzled her with his chin, and coaxed her repeatedly, "Yes, yes, you bastard, I'm a bastard."

His attitude of not resisting and readily admitting his guilt only made Nan Zhiyi feel more wronged.

She clenched her fist and punched his chest a few times, tears welling up again: "Three months... You said you'd write to me, but there's been no news at all... I didn't know... You didn't know..."

"Yes, it's my fault."

Gu Xiao hugged her tighter, "I'm sorry to have worried you."

Her body seemed exceptionally thin in his arms, and even wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, she didn't feel much weight.

He lowered his head, his warm lips, filled with tenderness, gently pressed against her wet eyelids, the touch gentle and intimate.

Nan Zhiyi's eyelashes trembled as he kissed her, and the grievances in her heart slowly deflated like a punctured balloon.

She squirmed in his arms, reaching out to push against his hard chest, her little face stern: "Don't kiss me! I'm still angry... I'm not so easy to appease..."

Gu Xiao looked at the person in his arms, who was crying with tears streaming down her face but still trying to look fierce, and a helpless smile and a deeper heartache flashed in his eyes.

He pulled her onto the sofa, held her on his lap, and nuzzled her cheek against his.

"Okay, no kissing. Brother was wrong, how should he be punished? Show me the right way? Hmm?"

His embrace was warm and firm.

Nan Zhiyi didn't push him away again. She pressed her face against his chest, rubbed against him, and said in a muffled voice, "...I don't know."

She nestled in Gu Xiao's arms, her breath carrying his weary scent, a mixture of sweat, gunpowder, and biting cold.

I didn't notice it when I was emotionally agitated, but now that I've calmed down a bit, that strong, mixed odor is creeping into my nostrils...

She shoved Gu Xiao away abruptly, covered her mouth, staggered into the bathroom, and began to gag while holding onto the enamel sink.

Her stomach was empty, and she only vomited a few mouthfuls of sour water, which burned her throat and made her eyes water.

Gu Xiao hurriedly followed her to the bathroom door, his brows furrowing as he watched her trembling figure.

"What's wrong? Is it my smell that's bothering you?"

He took a half-step back in frustration, not daring to get too close for fear of upsetting her further. Even though they were only a few steps apart, his heart clenched. "Zhiyi?"

Nan Zhiyi waved her hand, unable to speak, and then gagged a few times.

She turned around, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. "It's...it's nothing."

"I'm going to the public bathhouse to wash up and get some food on the way back. You stay home and rest, don't do anything unnecessarily."

Gu Xiao turned around and went to the inner room to get a change of clothes.