Chapter 258 Face-to-face

The moonlight outside the window is clear and bright, and summer insects chirp.

Gu Xiao held the book and stood under the lamp for a long time. His heart was warmed and softened by the few words on the pages.

He picked up his pen, found a blank space below Nan Zhiyi's inscription, and wrote a line of words with utmost solemnity.

After the ink had dried completely, they gently closed the book, which carried the feelings of both of them, and carefully put it in the drawer, placing it with some important documents.

Back in bed, he embraced his wife again, feeling a sense of fulfillment and peace in his heart, knowing he had no other desires in this life.

The next day, before dawn, the bedroom was still shrouded in a hazy gray-blue light.

Gu Xiao woke up on time thanks to his biological clock, which he had developed over the years.

He turned to his side, gazing at the peaceful sleeping face of the woman beside him in the dim light streaming in from the window. His heart softened, and as always, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

He gently placed her arm back in place before slowly getting out of bed and going to the next bedroom. His toiletries and clothes were kept in this room because he was worried that his different schedule from his wife and children would affect their rest.

Gu Xiao carefully fastened his top button in front of the bathroom mirror.

Although he did not need to personally lead the team in morning exercises every day like the grassroots commanders, he always insisted on doing morning exercises with the staff and officers in his department, setting an example and maintaining his physical fitness.

Perhaps it was because I was in an exceptionally good mood.

He felt full of energy today, and the training time passed exceptionally quickly.

After having breakfast in the cafeteria, Gu Xiao returned to his office, where the communications officer had already placed today's documents and schedule on his desk.

His schedule was packed this morning. First, he chaired the weekly internal meeting of the operations department, listened to reports from various departments on recent training exercises and enemy situation assessments, and then made arrangements for the advancement of several key projects.

In the afternoon, he went to a training base on the outskirts of Beijing to inspect the adaptation training of a new type of equipment.

The inspection concluded, and it was already late afternoon when we returned. The jeep drove into the city, passing through a relatively bustling area.

Gu Xiao glanced out the window and suddenly said, "Xiao Liu, pull over for a moment."

Xiao Liu parked the car on the side of the road where it would not obstruct traffic, as instructed.

Gu Xiao got out of the car and walked straight to a dough figurine stall set up under the shade of a tree.

On the wooden table in front of the master craftsman, there were several lifelike and brightly colored dough figurines.

On summer evenings, such artisans are a common sight at the entrances of hutongs and along the streets of Beijing.

Several years ago, when Nan Zhiyi spent the Spring Festival in Jian'an, she also bought two small clay figurines. Unfortunately, due to improper storage, the colors of the figurines faded and they developed many cracks. She carefully wrapped them in cloth and stored them in a cabinet.

As the master craftsman listened, his skillful hands quickly began kneading the colorful dough.

Finally, Gu Xiao pointed to a little dragon figure and asked the master craftsman to make one.

Before long, a miniature couple dressed in military uniforms and dresses, along with an extra little dragon, were ready.

Although the clay figurines are small, their expressions are seven or eight parts similar to the two people, especially the "Nan Zhiyi" with her slight smile, which is extremely similar to her own gentleness.

Gu Xiao examined them carefully, paid with satisfaction, and took the three dough figurines skewered with thin bamboo sticks.

After arriving home, he took the three dough figurines and went straight to his study on the first floor.

Sure enough, Nan Zhiyi sat at her small table, buried in a pile of books, diligently signing them. Beside her, the signed and unsigned books were clearly separated, indicating she had been busy all afternoon.

Gu Xiao walked to her side and handed her the bamboo skewer with the dough figurine stuck in it. "Take a look, what do you think? Doesn't it look like the old pair?"

Nan Zhiyi took the bamboo skewer and carefully examined the two little figures. Her fingers gently brushed across the faces of the figures, and she liked them more and more as she looked at them. Her eyes crinkled into a smile: "They look so alike! So alike! Why did you think of buying these?"

"I bought it because I remembered you liked it before."

She saw the little dragon in Gu Xiao's hand and asked with a smile, "Why don't you make a family of three?"

Gu Xiao snorted softly, ignoring the remark.

In his heart, his son would eventually grow up; it was inevitable for a fledgling to leave the nest, and he would have his own world in the future.

They are a couple who are meant to spend their lives together.

But he knew that Nan Zhiyi valued her son highly, and if he said these words, he was afraid that it would upset her in advance, so he simply kept silent.

Nan Zhiyi didn't delve into the matter further, her attention returning to the dough figurine, somewhat worried: "How long can this last? Will it crack after a short time like before?"

Gu Xiao put the little dragon figure in his hand aside and said, "I asked the master craftsman. He said this is a newly prepared material, which is more durable than the previous one. If you keep it in a cool, dry place, without touching it or exposing it to sunlight, it can last for one or two years. The master craftsman said that if you treat it after it dries completely, it can last even longer."

He didn't go into details about the varnish, planning to handle it quietly once the dough had dried completely.

Nan Zhiyi was relieved and carefully placed the dough figurine in her hand into the pen holder.

She turned around, still wanting to continue the unfinished autograph work, but Gu Xiao had already wrapped his arms around her waist, gently pulling her towards him, his tone deep: "Let's rest for a while, okay?"

Thinking of his thoughtful act of quietly tidying up the study, Nan Zhiyi's heart melted.

She raised her arm and hooked it around his neck, looking up at him. "Alright, considering how hard Minister Gu works, I'll keep you company..."

Suddenly, Gu Xiao lifted her up with a slight effort and placed her on the edge of the desk. He then stood in front of her, encircling her within a small space.

He said no more, lowered his head, and gently pecked her lips again and again, his touch delicate and tender, lingering and lingering, each touch carrying a silent affection.

Nan Zhiyi felt a tingling sensation in her heart as he kissed her so tenderly. Her fingers, which were gripping his shirt, tightened unconsciously. She tilted her head slightly to meet his kiss and felt his overwhelming love.

......

Just as their affection was blossoming and the air grew warmer, Xiaoman's voice called out from afar, "Mommy! Mommy!"

Gu Xiao paused, then wrapped his arms tightly around her and let out a low, hoarse sigh.

Nan Zhiyi also snapped out of her daze and nudged his chest: "Xiaoman is here."

Gu Xiao had no choice but to lift her off the desk and place her steadily on the ground.

He didn't forget to smooth out her slightly wrinkled skirt and tidy her somewhat messy hair. After confirming that both of them looked normal, he took her hand and whispered, "Let's go."

Nan Zhiyi walked ahead, then turned back and glared at him reproachfully.

When Gu Xiao received her gaze, he was not annoyed at all. Instead, he smiled with a hint of triumph.

He casually picked up the little dragon figure that was placed to the side and followed her out of the study.