Chapter 272 Anniversary

Xiaoman, with her sharp ears, quickly slid off her mother's lap and rushed towards the courtyard gate.

Nan Zhiyi followed behind him with a smile.

The little guy had just run out of the yard when he was lifted high into the air by a pair of arms, causing him to let out a series of screams that were both frightened and excited: "Daddy! Daddy!"

Gu Xiao tossed his son up twice, catching him steadily amidst Xiao Man's even more excited shouts. Then, his gaze passed over his son and landed on Nan Zhiyi, who had followed him out, his eyes softening.

He was about to put the little one in his arms down so he could take his wife's hand.

Little Man is surprisingly clever these days. She clung to her father like a koala, her little arms and legs dangling from him, crying, "I don't want to get down! Daddy, hold me!"

Gu Xiao was so bothered by his persistence that he chuckled softly and had no choice but to use one arm to steadily support his son's little bottom while holding Nan Zhiyi's hand firmly with the other. "Come on, it's cold outside, let's go inside."

In November, the autumn wind in Beijing already carried a noticeable chill.

With their wedding anniversary approaching, Nan Zhiyi harbored a little secret, feeling both excited and a little apprehensive.

She started thinking about what to give Gu Xiao back in October. Something too ordinary wouldn't be presentable, while something too expensive would seem contrived.

After agonizing for two days, I finally decided to make a unique gift by hand.

She secretly painted a small watercolor during her lunch break at school. The painting depicted her and Gu Xiao snuggling on a swing, with their family's grape trellis in the background, the light and shadow soft and gentle.

She carefully pressed out some more petals, cleverly adorned them around the edges of the painting, and finally placed them in a natural wood frame.

That day, she finally finished perfecting the last few details. Looking at the finished product, she planned to quietly place it on the bedside table in the bedroom when she got home, so that he could see it as soon as he returned.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the school gate with her schoolbag, she saw Gu Xiao waiting for her.

Nan Zhiyi couldn't hide her smile as she quickly walked over and was helped into the car.

Once the car started, Nan Zhiyi quickly realized that Gu Xiao was not heading towards the Army Compound.

Her little expectation rippled across the lake of her heart.

She smiled, pursing her lips, but didn't say anything. She just sat there obediently, wondering where he would take her.

The car hadn't been driving long when it stopped at the entrance of a quiet alley.

"Get out of the car." Gu Xiao walked around to open the door for her.

Nan Zhiyi got out of the car as instructed and curiously looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Gu Xiao stood in front of her, blocking her view, and whispered, "Close your eyes."

Nan Zhiyi readily complied, closing her eyes, but a smile played on her lips as she deliberately muttered, "Where is Fifth Brother taking me? Is he planning to sell me off?"

Gu Xiao took her hand and steadily led her forward. "Yes, sell her to the Gu family to be my child bride."

Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but laugh out loud, and pretended to open her eyes: "Then I'll have to see if the buyer can afford the price..."

Before he could finish speaking, everything went dark as Gu Xiao's hand covered his face. "Don't peek!"

Nan Zhiyi's long eyelashes scratched restlessly in his palm. "I'm going to peek anyway."

Gu Xiao glanced at the quiet, deserted alley, quickly lowered his head, and gently bit her cheek. His voice was threatening yet full of affection: "Cooperate, Mrs. Gu."

Nan Zhiyi's cheeks flushed from his sudden attack, and she finally calmed down, letting him put his arm around her waist and carefully guide her forward.

She felt as if she had entered a courtyard, and heard the slight creaking sound of the door hinges turning as it opened, followed by Gu Xiao's low voice reminding her: "Be careful, there are steps."

He led her forward step by step, her heart pounding like a rabbit's, filled with anticipation for the unknown surprises.

Finally, Gu Xiao stopped, removed his hand from her eyes, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"You can open your eyes now."

After her eyes adjusted to the light, Nan Zhiyi found herself standing in the center of a courtyard house!

The ground was paved with blue bricks, clean and quiet.

Directly in front are several well-proportioned main rooms and symmetrical side rooms. The vermilion pillars, though showing some signs of age, appear even more ancient.

She turned around instinctively and saw the exquisite hanging flower gate and the carved screen wall, which were connected by a corridor to form a complete and private world.

"Oh my god..."

Nan Zhiyi covered her mouth, hardly believing her eyes.

She looked at Gu Xiao, her voice trembling slightly, "This...is this ours?"

Gu Xiao's eyes were full of doting smiles. He reached out and gently pinched her chin, correcting her, "T doesn't belong to 'us,' it belongs to you alone."

"ah?"

Nan Zhiyi was completely stunned, her mind went blank, and she could only stare at him blankly.

Gu Xiao stopped being mysterious, took her hand, and led her around the yard.

"The property deed only has your name, Nan Zhiyi, on it."

After regaining her composure, Nan Zhiyi remembered to ask, "Didn't you say before that courtyard houses are hard to buy? And where did you get the money?"

"Qin Fen helped make the connection. The original owner's family had fallen on hard times and was eager to move south, so they sold it at a reasonable price. I had some money with Gu Yan before, but he didn't need it anymore and returned it to me. I used that money to buy this courtyard, and there's still some left over..."

Gu Xiao led her to the main room. The room was empty of furniture, but bright and clean, and newly renovated. A faint scent of wood and tung oil lingered in the air.

"It's been repaired so well? Fifth Brother, you've been preparing for this for a very long time, haven't you?"

Nan Zhiyi was deeply moved and, with tears in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Gu Xiao didn't want to talk about these things. "Well, I've been preparing for this for a while now. For you, it's worth it no matter how long it takes."

He stroked her long hair.

"This place isn't far from Peking University or the Army compound. Whether you want to write quietly or just want some peace and quiet by yourself, you'll have a place of your own. This place is entirely yours."

Nan Zhiyi could no longer hold back. She threw herself into his arms, hugged his waist tightly, and said in a choked voice, "Fifth Brother... this gift is too precious..."

Gu Xiao put his arm around her and said, "I'm glad you like it. It wasn't all for nothing."

The two stood at the entrance of the main house, cuddling together for a long time.

He loosened his grip slightly, his fingertips stroking her reddened eyes. "Alright, wife, let's take another look behind us while it's still light."

Nan Zhiyi nodded vigorously.

Gu Xiao led her through a small door on one side of the main house, and suddenly a wonderfully laid-out back garden appeared before them. Although it was late autumn and the vegetation was bare, the outlines of the rockery and fish pond were still visible, and there was a row of rear buildings behind them.

Nan Zhiyi touched the artificial hill, then gripped Gu Xiao's hand tightly, stammering, "Fifth Brother... this... this surprise is too big... I..."

Gu Xiao didn't want her to express those meaningless expressions of gratitude; he was only focused on stealing a kiss, asking, "Wife, where's my anniversary gift?"