Chapter 151 It's only natural

Looking at his tense profile, Nan Zhiyi's heart softened, and she shook her head: "It's really okay, it's not that painful."

He gently pulled her into his arms, his arms encircling her, his movements careful and tender.

"My Zhiyi has truly suffered..."

Nan Zhiyi patted his back: "You've had a tough time too. Did the mission go well? Were you injured?"

"I'm fine." Gu Xiao raised his head, his emotions had subsided, leaving only deep pity. "It's a man's duty to take care of his wife and children."

His vacation this time was only a few days long.

After breakfast, he carefully asked Aunt Wu if everything needed for the delivery had been prepared.

Aunt Wu pointed them out to him one by one. In the packed bundle, the baby's swaddling clothes, diapers, and soft cloths, as well as the adults' toilet paper and maternity pads, were all prepared properly.

Gu Xiao checked them carefully, then pondered for a moment and said, "I'll go buy some more."

He was still worried, so he went out again and brought some sterilized cotton gauze, brown sugar, eggs, milk powder, malted milk powder, and the like, saying it was to nourish her body.

He put everything away neatly, and only then did he feel a little relieved. He went back to his bedroom to find Nan Zhiyi.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass window and fell on the desk, where Nan Zhiyi was writing something.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Gu Xiao coming in. A smile spread across her face, tinged with a hint of smugness.

She put down her pen, picked up two brand-new literary magazines from the corner of the table, and waved them at him.

"Guess which one I wrote?"

She used a pseudonym when she published it, partly to avoid unnecessary trouble, and partly to preserve her own little world.

He took her hand and sat her on the sofa, pulling her into his arms to make her more comfortable before slowly flipping through the table of contents.

His fingers paused over several titles, carefully considering the opening lines and style of the stories.

The person in my arms waited quietly, with only the soft sound of their breathing.

After a while, he pointed to one of the poems: "It's this one, 'Early Summer at Huaiyuan'."

Nan Zhiyi was somewhat surprised and turned to look at him: "How did you guess?"

She believes she wrote in a subtle way and deliberately in a plain style.

Gu Xiao chuckled and gently stroked her nose with his fingertip: "You wrote about Aunt Wu airing out the quilts in the yard, and how the smell of sunshine was like freshly baked steamed buns. That little detail is just like you. And the way you cherish those peaceful days between the lines is also just like you."

Nan Zhiyi felt both warm and impressed. She leaned back into his arms and murmured softly, "So observant..."

Gu Xiao hugged her tightly, and in that position, they slowly finished reading the story.

"This is so well written, and my understanding is wonderful. Being able to take good care of your body and mind is the best thing."

As a reward, he gently kissed her cheek, his warm lips lingering, filled with longing and tenderness, caressing her tenderly.

Nan Zhiyi's ears burned from his kisses, and her body went weak. She gently pushed him away, saying, "Stop fooling around, be serious. This is how it is now."

She pointed to her protruding belly, her cheeks flushed.

Gu Xiao loosened his grip slightly, his gaze still lingering on her face. He took a deep breath and held her more securely in his arms, his resolve to "only have one child" growing even stronger.

Before dinner, Commander Gu returned and called Gu Xiao into his study.

Commander Gu sat down behind his desk and gestured for Gu Xiao to sit down as well.

"The mission was completed well, and the higher-ups are very satisfied. There's a vacancy in the Beijing Military Region, and the Meng family has also sent word, asking if you'd like to go there."

Gu Xiao sat upright, listening quietly.

“Staying where you are now, proceeding step by step, is safe and secure.” Commander Gu pondered for a moment. “Going to the capital offers a higher platform, more opportunities, and a different circle of contacts, which will benefit your future development. Of course, the pressure will also be greater, and the interpersonal relationships will be more complicated.”

He looked at his son: "What do you think of Meng Qingshan, who is partnering with you this time?"

"Capable, decisive, with a strong background, but also loyal and easy to get along with," Gu Xiao succinctly commented.

"Hmm. His elders think highly of you. This is an opportunity. What do you think? Do you want to stay in a familiar place, or go and try for a bigger future?"

Gu Xiao sat upright and did not answer immediately.

The capital city means a wider world and faster promotion, but it also means leaving the foundation built over many years, facing unknown challenges, and... whether the newborn child and the wife who is weak after childbirth can adapt to the new environment.

"Dad, let me think about it."

Commander Gu nodded, his face expressionless: "Yes, there's no rush. Think it through in the next few days. Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong anywhere."

Before going to bed that night, the two washed up and then snuggled together in bed.

Gu Xiao turned to the side, his fingers stroking Nan Zhiyi's long hair that was loose over her shoulder, and slowly spoke the words of Commander Gu.

Nan Zhiyi initially listened, but when she heard "Beijing Military Region" and "opportunity," her eyes slowly widened.

As soon as Gu Xiao finished speaking, she practically sat up, her movements so fast that Gu Xiao was startled and quickly reached out to protect her waist.

"real?"

She threw herself into his arms, straddled his lap, and cupped his face in her hands. "Go! Of course I'll go! Fifth Brother! How are you so amazing!"

Nan Zhiyi was so excited that she was incoherent, her heart pounding, and she felt that the man in her arms was simply omnipotent.

She leaned in and kissed him loudly several times on the face, and as if that wasn't enough, she also kissed his chin and forehead haphazardly.

Gu Xiao laughed, wrapping his arms around her clumsy body, afraid she would fall, and even more afraid that she would hurt herself by moving too much.

Her happiness was so straightforward that it was infectious.

Being praised so wholeheartedly by her made him more satisfied than receiving any promotion.

He always felt that he was older than her, that she was beautiful and vibrant, while he was too dull. He felt lucky to have won her heart.

Nan Zhiyi hooked her arm around his neck, her eyes curving into crescents, and kept praising, "I knew it! Who is my fifth brother? He's the most unattainable beauty in our compound, capable, and handsome. He'll definitely be even more so in the capital!"

She gave him a thumbs-up and waved it in front of his eyes.

Gu Xiao couldn't help but chuckle. Looking at her rosy little mouth that kept chattering, he lowered his head and took it in his mouth, gently sucking and kissing it, shutting down all those cloying compliments.

Nan Zhiyi wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and responded passionately.

Just as she was getting emotional, her body stiffened slightly.

Gu Xiao immediately released her and asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"

"My stomach... cramped up, and it hurts a bit."

Nan Zhiyi frowned and pressed her hand to her upper abdomen. "It's probably just Braxton Hicks contractions. It's nothing to worry about."

Gu Xiao placed his large hand on her belly, gently stroking it, trying to soothe the little one inside.

A short while later, the skin under his palm tightened and hardened again, this time lasting longer than before.

"Is... I'm going into labor?" Nan Zhiyi grabbed his wrist, somewhat flustered. "It's only thirty-six weeks. Wasn't it supposed to be full term?"