Chapter 27 Breakfast

In the early morning, the maids served hot porridge, steamed buns, and several side dishes in the restaurant.

Commander Gu was already seated in the main seat, reading documents.

Gu Yan sat to the side, seemingly lost in thought.

Hearing the noise on the stairs, he looked up.

Gu Xiao was leading Nan Zhiyi downstairs.

She wore a beige thin sweater with a light-colored cardigan over it, which accentuated her long neck. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were moist, and she looked beautiful and charming.

Gu Xiao, on the other hand, looked refreshed, and the coldness that had always lingered between his brows softened a little, revealing a sense of satisfaction.

Gu Yan didn't sleep all night. When he woke up, he saw his fifth brother and Zhiyi looking like this, and he felt extremely sad.

He watched as Gu Xiao and the other person took their seats.

Nan Zhiyi turned her head and whispered something to Gu Xiao, a faint smile on her lips.

The instant she turned her head, Gu Yan saw a hickey of an ambiguous color behind her ear, clearly visible on her fair skin...

Gu Yan's face turned deathly pale.

He knew before that she was engaged to Zhou Zhengping, but Zhou Zhengping was so mild-mannered that he didn't even dare to hold her hand more than a few times, let alone leave such a mark on her body.

For the sake of that ridiculous "brotherly bond," he didn't even dare to confess his feelings.

Later, when her family ran into trouble, he became certain that his father would never agree to him marrying a "capitalist's daughter," and he ruthlessly extinguished even the thought of saving her...

But what about Fifth Brother?

Without a word, Fifth Brother turned her into his wife, rightfully possessing her, and even... was able to leave his mark on her so intimately.

The scene he wouldn't even dare to dream of was now so glaringly presented before him.

He lowered his head and stared at the white porridge in front of him.

"Let's eat," Commander Gu said calmly.

Gu Yan grabbed a steamed bun haphazardly and stuffed it into his mouth; it tasted like nothing at all.

He dared not look at Nan Zhiyi again, and he didn't want to see Gu Xiao's satisfied expression.

He quickly ate a few mouthfuls of porridge and stood up.

"Dad, I...I'm going out for a bit."

He rushed out of the restaurant without even waiting for Commander Gu's response, not even bothering to grab his coat.

Commander Gu frowned, said nothing, and continued reading the documents.

Gu Xiao seemed oblivious to Gu Yan's outburst, not even lifting an eyelid.

He slowly peeled an egg, put the yolk into his own bowl, and placed the egg white on the plate in front of Nan Zhiyi.

"Eat."

Nan Zhiyi focused on eating the whole time and was too embarrassed to look at Gu Yan.

She also felt strange that she had suddenly become Gu Yan's fifth sister-in-law.

But there's nothing we can do. Fifth Brother is willing, and she... is willing too.

After breakfast.

Gu Xiao asked, "Want to go out for a walk? It's almost Chinese New Year, the streets are lively."

Nan Zhiyi shook her head: "No. There will be too many people around... What if they gossip and cause you trouble?"

She just wanted to stay quietly in this small building, unnoticed and uncontroversial, and ideally, for everyone to forget her existence as a "capitalist's daughter."

Looking at her cautious manner, Gu Xiao felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.

He understood her concerns and didn't insist. "Okay, shall we go upstairs?"

Nan Zhiyi nodded.

Back in Gu Xiao's room, she looked around and her gaze fell on the bookshelf.

Most of the books on the subject were military treatises and political theories, which she couldn't understand.

After searching for a while, I finally found a few novels with yellowed pages at the bottom of the bookshelf.

She pulled out a copy of "Song of Youth" and then a copy of "Red Crag," walked to the single sofa by the window, sat down, and casually flipped through the pages.

After watching for a while, she went to the bathroom.

She glanced at it as she washed her hands.

The mark behind my ear was reflected in the mirror.

Nan Zhiyi's cheeks flushed bright red instantly.

She rushed out of the bathroom and ran a few steps to Gu Xiao, who was sitting by the desk: "Fifth Brother, you...you're a pervert!"

Her voice was soft and sweet, lacking any intimidating power.

Gu Xiao curled his lips into a smile: "Oh? Where's the 'hooligan' about?"

She was both embarrassed and annoyed, and hurriedly let down all the long hair that had been tied up behind her head.

Thick, cascading hair cascaded down, concealing the pesky mark and softening the lines of her face.

Stray hairs fell beside her cheeks, making her skin appear even whiter than snow and her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting, adding a touch of lazy and charming allure.

Gu Xiao's eyes darkened, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he stretched out his long arm, wanting to pull her into his embrace.

"No!" Nan Zhiyi reacted quickly this time, running away and retreating to the doorway, looking at him warily. "Don't try anything funny!"

Gu Xiao's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. Looking at her flustered and embarrassed expression, he did feel somewhat guilty.

He lowered his arm: "Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I promise I won't do it again next time."

Nan Zhiyi felt uneasy under his serious gaze and hummed, but her face still showed "I don't really believe it".

Gu Xiao chuckled softly and didn't continue the topic.

He picked up the copy of "Red Crag" that she had placed on the sofa, sat down on the sofa himself, and then patted the spot next to him.

Nan Zhiyi hesitated for a moment, but still obediently walked over and sat down next to him.

Gu Xiao stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace, letting her lean against his chest.

He held a book in one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist.

Nan Zhiyi gradually relaxed.

She pressed her cheek against his chest, her gaze fixed on the pages of the book in his hands.

Gu Xiao gently rested his chin on her forehead and began to read to her in a low voice.

His voice was deep and calm, with a peculiar rhythm, as he recounted the stories amidst the flames of war.

She closed her eyes and listened to his reading.

Gu Xiao looked down and saw that she was already asleep, her lips slightly pouting, completely unguarded.

He closed the book, adjusted his position, and made sure she slept more peacefully.

Gu Yan rushed out of the Gu family's small building, wearing only a sweater, and stood outside the door, not knowing where to go.

Today is the 29th day of the Lunar New Year. The festive atmosphere in the courtyard is getting stronger. Red paper is pasted on the doors of each household, and the aroma of stewed meat can be faintly smelled out.

Zhou Zhengping and his sister Zhou Anping walked out of a small courtyard not far away, preparing to go out.

The brother and sister spotted Gu Yan, whose face was pale, right by the roadside.

"Gu Yan!" Zhou Anping exclaimed, "Why did you come out dressed so lightly? Your face is all white from the cold!"

Zhou Zhengping took off his military overcoat and draped it over Gu Yan's shoulders, saying, "Put this on quickly! It's freezing cold, do you want to catch a cold? Did you have a fight with Uncle Gu?"

He naturally assumed that Gu Yan's current appearance meant he had been scolded by his family for his business ideas.

Commander Gu's dissatisfaction with Gu Yan's "neglect of his duties" was known to all of them, who had grown up together.

Wrapped in a military overcoat, Gu Yan's stiff body warmed up slightly, but the icy abyss in his heart deepened.

He mumbled a reply: "Um...it's nothing serious."

"Come inside and warm up!"

Without saying a word, Zhou Anping grabbed Gu Yan's arm and dragged him toward the Zhou family home.

Gu Yan was in a state of utter confusion and had nowhere to go, so he was half-heartedly dragged into the Zhou family's house.