Chapter 14 Sharing a Bed

Nan Zhiyi took out the skincare products she brought from home and applied them to her face and hands little by little.

The cool ointment, with its familiar scent, soothed her tense nerves slightly.

After doing all that, she crawled into bed, wrapped herself up tightly, leaving only half of her face exposed, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door.

Her heart started pounding fast and wildly the moment Fifth Brother started wiping her hair.

She couldn't help but let her mind wander. What if... what if Fifth Brother...? What should she do? Refuse him? But they were husband and wife...

She was... nervous and had an inexplicable palpitation.

The bathroom door rang.

Nan Zhiyi's body was tense.

Gu Xiao walked in.

He was only wearing an old white vest issued by the army and a pair of military green trousers, his hair was wet and dripping with water, and a few strands of black hair hung down on his full forehead.

He exuded heat and the refreshing scent of soap, his strong masculine aura instantly filling the small bedroom.

She never imagined she would see her fifth brother after his bath; he was so handsome.

Nan Zhiyi's cheeks burned uncontrollably.

The mattress dipped slightly as he lay down.

His body temperature and scent instantly filled half of the bed.

Nan Zhiyi held her breath.

"Go to sleep." Gu Xiao turned on the light.

He didn't make any extra movements; he just lay flat on his back.

Nan Zhiyi's tense body relaxed a little, but her heart was still beating very fast.

She dared not move, lying there stiffly.

However, the steady breathing and clean scent of the man beside me brought a sense of reassurance.

Hearing her breathing become even and deep, Gu Xiao opened his eyes in the darkness.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on her blurry outline.

The fragrance emanating from her body wafted into his nostrils, gently caressing his heart.

His Adam's apple bobbed silently, and then he moved a little closer to her.

In the darkness, he greedily inhaled her scent, and the heat he had just suppressed began to return.

Finally, he reached out and slipped his arm under her neck, then wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Her petite body was warm and fragrant, nestled comfortably in his arms.

Gu Xiao's breathing became heavier.

He suppressed the surging desire deep within his body, resting his chin gently against the top of her soft hair, remaining motionless.

He finally managed to fall asleep in the middle of the night, amidst extreme restraint and torment.

The next morning, Nan Zhiyi opened her eyes and found herself curled up in Gu Xiao's arms, his arms still tightly wrapped around her.

She dared not move.

Only when she felt his breathing was steady and he seemed not to be awake did she carefully move out of his arms, her cheeks flushed red.

Gu Xiao woke up when she moved, but he didn't move.

He only got up casually after she slipped out of bed.

Breakfast was still porridge and steamed buns that Gu Xiao brought back from the cafeteria.

He ate quickly: "I'll go to the logistics department and go shopping with the truck. What else do you need? Buy it all together."

Nan Zhiyi was sipping her porridge when she heard this and thought for a moment: "Toilet paper... I want the soft kind. Hmm... a mirror? A comb?"

She never used to worry about these trivial things. "Oh, and kitchen supplies, dishcloths, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and so on..." She counted on her fingers, a little embarrassed. "I don't know much about them, so Fifth Brother can decide what to buy."

Gu Xiao nodded, then turned back to look at her as he walked to the door. "Wait for me at home."

Just after noon, the sounds of car engines and voices could be heard outside the courtyard.

Nan Zhiyi was gesturing in the yard how to mark out a vegetable patch when she heard the noise and ran out.

A military jeep was parked at the entrance, and Gu Xiao and a young soldier from the logistics department were unloading things, piling up bags and packages all over the ground.

Toilet paper, wooden comb and round mirror, pots and pans, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar, several thick rags, a stack of bowls and plates... and even a small bundle of thin hemp rope.

There was also malted milk powder, milk powder, a few packets of pastries, and fruit hard candies...

"Commander, I've put your things here!" the young soldier said with a grin, wiping his sweat.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work," Gu Xiao said.

The young soldier saluted and drove away.

Gu Xiao bent down and lifted the heaviest packages: "Move them all inside."

As he walked, he said, "The canteen is having an extra meal tonight. We're treating a few officers and their families to a meal, as a way of...getting to know each other. You're coming with me."

Nan Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat. So many people? Her identity...

A hint of worry and fear appeared on her face.

Gu Xiao put down his things and walked up to her.

He was much taller than her. He raised his hand, his fingertips brushing across her slightly furrowed brow, and then onto her hair, where he ruffled it a couple of times.

"It's alright. Nobody here knows anything else. They only know you're Teacher Nan, and my wife."

The word "wife" made Nan Zhiyi's ears burn.

She nodded, not resisting his slightly intimate gesture.

The regimental canteen was much busier than usual in the evening.

Several square tables were joined together to form a long strip, on which were placed large platters of stewed meat, half-meat and half-vegetarian dishes, scrambled eggs, green vegetables, and steaming white steamed buns.

Several battalion and company commanders from the regiment came with their families, and along with Gu Xiao and Nan Zhiyi, two tables were full of people.

The atmosphere was warm and simple.

The men spoke loudly, joking with each other, and their conversation revolved around training and missions.

The military wives huddled together, chatting and laughing in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally glancing curiously at Nan Zhiyi, who sat next to Gu Xiao.

Sister-in-law Wang and Sister-in-law Liu were also there, and they greeted Nan Zhiyi warmly, introducing her to the other sisters-in-law.

"Teacher Nan, don't be shy, eat more!" Deputy Regiment Commander Zhao Dayong, with the loudest voice, raised his glass and went straight to Gu Xiao, "Regiment Commander, on this joyous occasion, you have to drink this glass!"

Gu Xiao picked up the wine glass in front of him, a common white porcelain cup filled with clear white wine.

He didn't say much, just tilted his head back and drank it down.

"Great!" the crowd cheered.

Then someone else came to offer a toast, their target clear: "Sister-in-law! Nice to meet you, let me toast you! Welcome to our group!"

A company commander was holding a wine glass, his face flushed, clearly having already drunk quite a bit.

Nan Zhiyi looked at the glass of white wine, feeling somewhat lost.

At home, she might drink some sweet rice wine, but she's never touched this.

“She won’t.” Gu Xiao reached out and took the glass of wine, then drank it all in one gulp.

He put down the empty glass, picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with his chopsticks and put it into Nan Zhiyi's bowl, "Eat this."

Nan Zhiyi lowered her head and ate the food in her bowl in small bites.

Fifth Brother knew he was a vegetarian...

Gu Xiao sat beside her, like a silent and solid city wall.

He wasn't a man of many words, but whenever someone tried to persuade her to drink, or when the topic made her feel awkward, he always managed to deflect the question at just the right moment, or distract her with food.

She secretly glanced at him. The lines of his profile looked cold and hard under the bright lights of the cafeteria, but when he occasionally looked down at her, his eyes held a gentle smile.

The meal was both lively and satisfying.