Chapter 220 Hot Pot

It was late at night.

In her sleep, Nan Zhiyi heard a continuous rustling sound outside the window, occasionally mixed with the faint whistling of the wind blowing through the eaves.

She opened her eyes groggily. The bedroom was dark, but a hazy white light shone through the gaps in the curtains, unlike usual.

She turned around and pressed her entire body against Gu Xiao's warm and firm chest.

He seemed to sense something in his sleep, and subconsciously used his palm to support her lower back, bringing her closer to him.

Nan Zhiyi reached out and stroked his cheek, her fingertips tracing his chin, and whispered, "Gu Xiao..."

"Hmm?" He responded immediately, his voice heavy with sleepiness, but he was clearly awake.

"It's snowing, listen, it's snowing heavily."

Gu Xiao listened intently for a moment, while outside the window, snow fell and the wind whispered.

His fingertips gently caressed her back through her pajamas.

"Yes, it's snowing, I know." He murmured softly: "Newly brewed wine, green as ants; a small red clay stove, a gentle fire. Evening approaches, and snow is imminent; shall we share a cup?"

Nan Zhiyi chuckled, looked up, found his chin, and gently bit it: "You still remember this?"

She recalled a winter day many years ago, when it was snowing heavily, and she, Gu Yan, Zhou Anping, Zhou Zhengping, and Zhang Yueran were all fooling around at the Gu family's house.

Looking at the snowflakes outside the window, she suddenly had the idea to learn from the ancients and brew wine to appreciate the snow. Gu Yan, who was also a playful person, actually found a small coal stove and secretly opened the yellow wine that Commander Gu had treasured.

The group gathered around the stove, pretending to brew and drink wine. Zhang Yueran, the youngest, only took one sip before feeling dizzy.

When Gu Xiao returned, he found the room filled with the smell of alcohol and several flushed, drunken faces.

She was still half-drunk and foolishly holding up her glass, calling out to him, "Fifth Brother, let's drink together..."

Naturally, they ran into trouble. His face darkened, and he punished them by making them stand at attention in the cold corridor facing the heavy snow to sober up.

In the end, it was only after Aunt Wu returned home from the supply and marketing cooperative that she secretly brought reinforcements. Aunt Feng and Aunt Song arrived and rescued them.

Gu Xiao personally escorted her back to the Nan family home in Wannian Lane. On the way, she walked unsteadily, relying entirely on him to half support and half carry her.

As for the instigator, Gu Yan, he was reportedly punished by being made to squat in a horse stance in the snow for half the night.

“The idea was mine,” Nan Zhiyi buried her face in his chest, “I never expected that Gu Yan would end up getting a fever from the cold.”

Gu Xiao snorted: "He deserved it. He was only 18 years old back then, and he dared to take you guys drinking."

"Go to sleep," he patted her back soothingly, "I'll build you a snowman tomorrow."

But with a sly glint in her eyes, she suggested, "Tomorrow... I'll make you some Shaoxing wine?"

Gu Xiao chuckled softly, his chest heaving, his calloused fingertips kneading the soft flesh of her waist, his voice hoarse: "You... with that little alcohol tolerance, you get dizzy after just one drink, why did you suddenly think of this?"

Nan Zhiyi snuggled against him with her eyes closed, humming incoherently, "I can do whatever I want..."

He cupped the back of her neck and pressed his lips to hers, his touch a mixture of tender probing and aroused heat, lingering between her lips and teeth as he chuckled and nuzzled her nose. "Hmm? Can't you sleep? What are you thinking about..."

Nan Zhiyi's breath hitched slightly from his kiss, but she refused to answer. She snuggled into his arms, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

Gu Xiao chuckled softly again, pulling her closer and gently patting her back until their breathing synchronized again, and they drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, when Nan Zhiyi woke up, neither the adult nor the child was in the bedroom.

She drew back the curtains; the snow was still falling, everything was covered in a blanket of white.

The sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light.

Two adorable snowmen stood side by side in the yard, their round bodies, one larger and one smaller, nestled intimately together.

The snowman's face has black coal for eyes, carrots for nose, and a mouth cleverly made of red chili peppers forming a smile. A small broom is stuck next to it, as if they are holding hands.

Her heart felt like it was filled with honey, so sweet it was almost cloying.

When Nan Zhiyi finished washing up and came downstairs, Gu Xiao was sitting on the living room sofa reading a book, while Xiaoman was sitting on the carpet, intently munching on a fragrant slice of steamed bun.

“I saw the snowman,” she squeezed next to Gu Xiao. “Brother, you built it so well, it’s so cute.”

Sister Zhang brought out breakfast and replied with a smile, "The snow is still falling, it's already up to your calves. Minister Gu braved the snow to build it."

Hidden behind the sofa armrest, Nan Zhiyi secretly reached out and scratched his palm with her finger.

Gu Xiao grabbed her fingers with his other hand and squeezed them gently.

"Go eat first."

"good."

As she ate the millet porridge and fried dumplings that Sister Zhang had brought her, looking at the still-fluttering snowflakes outside the window, a thought suddenly struck her, and she felt a surge of leisurely interest: "Sister Zhang, it's so cold on this snowy day, how about we cook a hot pot for lunch? Do we have enough ingredients at home?"

After a while, Sister Zhang poked her head out of the kitchen and replied, "That's enough! We happen to have some Jinhua ham, which is perfect for slicing and making a delicious soup base. There's also some frozen mutton, and we have cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and vermicelli in the cellar. I'll soak some wood ear mushrooms and daylily buds, stretch out some hand-pulled noodles, and then cook them all in the pot. It'll be hot and delicious, and there'll be plenty to go!"

Gu Xiao's gaze softened when he saw the rare interest Nan Zhiyi showed.

"Want some hot pot?"

"Yes, with such heavy snow, the whole family is gathered around the stove eating a warm meal..."

Gu Xiao thought for a moment and then said, "Okay. We might not have enough sliced ​​meat at home. I'll go to the service center and see if I can get some fresh sliced ​​beef and mutton, as well as fish balls and shrimp paste."

He knew that the service center would have staff on duty during the Lunar New Year period, and although supplies might not be as complete as usual, there would always be some way to ensure supplies.

"Let's see if there are any leafy greens for hot pot, and try to get some."

Gu Xiao was about to get up and put on his coat when Nan Zhiyi quickly grabbed his hand: "The snow outside is still so thick, it's cold and the roads are slippery, it's too much trouble. We have enough to eat at home, don't go..."

"It's alright, the service center isn't far, I'll be back soon."

Gu Xiao saw the annoyance and regret on her face; she clearly felt she had caused him trouble.

He leaned down slightly, meeting her gaze, and lowered his voice, coaxing her: "What's wrong? That's how life is. If you want to eat something, we'll get it for you. Don't be upset about such a small thing, okay? I'll be back soon."

He spoke as if fulfilling any of her desires was a matter of course.

Nan Zhiyi didn't want to spoil the mood any longer, so she nodded and helped him tie his scarf, making sure the collar was pulled up tightly.

"Drive carefully, I'll wait for you to come back."

She saw him to the door, watching his tall figure step into the snow outside the courtyard.

Not long after,

Gu Yan and Ruan Wenjing also woke up. After having breakfast, they took Xiaoman to play on the second floor, their laughter faintly drifting down.

Nan Zhiyi was happy to have some peace and quiet, so she spread out her manuscript paper and started writing in her small study on the first floor.