Chapter 286 Time

Gu Xiao returned home at noon.

Sister Zhang said softly, "Minister Gu, you're back? The food is keeping warm on the stove. My wife and child are still sleeping upstairs, so I didn't dare to wake them."

He nodded, took off his coat, hung it up, washed his hands, and quietly went upstairs.

The bedroom door was ajar, letting in a little dim light.

He gently pushed open the door and saw Nan Zhiyi sleeping on her side on the large bed, her long hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing long and steady.

Xiaoman's fluffy head nestled tightly in her arms, the mother and child snuggling together, creating an exceptionally tender scene.

These two people were his lover and the continuation of their lives.

Looking at her and her child's sleeping faces, a deep sense of satisfaction filled his chest, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

Their peace and tranquility is his greatest happiness.

Remembering something, Gu Xiao turned around and went to the study to retrieve his camera.

Back at the bedroom door, he adjusted the aperture and shutter speed.

The indoor lighting was dim, and he knew that the resulting photos might be blurry.

But he still raised his camera, adjusted the angle, and pressed the shutter a few times.

Whether it's clear or not doesn't matter; he just wants to preserve this moment in some way, to print it on film, and even more so, to etch it into his mind.

After putting away the camera, Gu Xiao walked to the bedside and squatted down.

His gaze lingered on Nan Zhiyi's sleeping face, then he reached out and stroked her cheek. "Wife? My darling wife?"

Nan Zhiyi's eyelids twitched, but she didn't open them. She raised her hand and grabbed his fingers, mumbling sleepily, "Why are you back... are you off work?"

Gu Xiao let her hold him, saying, "I was worried about you, so I came back to check on you during my lunch break."

He held her hand and gently shook it. "It's almost one o'clock. Do you want to get up and eat something? You've slept too much during the day, so you should be sleepy at night. If you're still tired, go to bed earlier tonight."

His voice was close, carrying a reassuring quality.

Nan Zhiyi opened her eyes and met Gu Xiao's lowered gaze. His usually sharp eyes were now like dissolved ink, shimmering with a deep light, enveloping her with focused tenderness.

She rubbed her palm against his: "Gu Xiao, I missed you so much... I even dreamed about you just now, and then you came back."

Gu Xiao gently brushed her eyelashes with his fingertips and asked in a low voice, "What did you dream about?"

"I dreamt that... I secretly went to your house, slipped into your room, and you were sleeping..."

Gu Xiao let out a low chuckle, "And then? Did you do something bad?"

"No, I didn't..." Nan Zhiyi protested softly, "I just... wanted to see you..."

“If I could turn back time,” Gu Xiao leaned down, his nose almost touching hers, “I wouldn’t just look at you when I saw you…”

Nan Zhiyi had just woken up and was not very energetic. Her glare at him was like a coquettish look with tears in her eyes.

She reached out and covered Xiaoman's ears, saying, "You're not allowed to say things like that in front of Xiaoman."

"He can't hear..."

As a result, Xiaoman opened her eyes immediately, looked around, and ignored her father next to her.

He found himself still in his mother's soft, warm embrace, and clung to her, burying his face in her chest and softly whimpering, "Mama... Mama..."

Gu Xiao was immersed in the tender moments between husband and wife when this little guy interrupted her. She reached out and ruffled her son's hair in annoyance: "You little rascal, how old are you and you still want to crawl into your mother's arms?"

Xiaoman ignored him and just hugged her mother's neck and acted coquettishly.

Nan Zhiyi looked at Gu Xiao, who was still wearing his neat military uniform, and knowing that he had to work in the afternoon, she said softly to her son, "Xiaoman, shall Mom take you downstairs for lunch? Dad has to go to work this afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoman immediately stretched out her little arms to Gu Xiao and obediently let her father carry her to wash her hands.

As his father carried him to the bathroom, he didn't forget to turn his head and declare his loyalty to Nan Zhiyi on the bed: "I'll listen to Mom!"

Gu Xiao was amused and annoyed by the little guy in his arms who had used him and then turned to fawn over his mother. "You're working hard for your father now, and then you turn around and pledge your loyalty to your mother. Gu Zhao, aren't you a little rascal?"

Xiaoman puffed out her little chest and declared confidently, "Mommy says I'm a good baby!"

Looking at his son's smug little face, Gu Xiao shook his head helplessly and decided not to argue with the little guy.

Nan Zhiyi was amused by the father and son, put on a long knitted cardigan, and the family of three went downstairs for dinner.

Gu Xiao ate a few bites quickly, then got up to go to work.

Before leaving, he made a point of kissing his wife on the cheek in front of Xiaoman before heading out, completely satisfied.

The next day after school, Nan Zhiyi put away the class notes that Yang Mei had lent her and hurried to the school gate, wondering which bus would get her to the hospital the fastest.

Just as she stepped out of the school gate, she saw the guard, Xiao Liu, standing by the jeep looking around. As soon as he saw her, he ran up to her.

"Sister-in-law, Minister Gu asked me to pick you up to go to the hospital." Xiao Liu opened the car door for her and pointed to the back seat. "I brought two thermos containers, one with chicken soup and the other with light meals. There are also some tonics like red dates and longan in the trunk, all prepared at Minister Gu's request."

Nan Zhiyi felt a warmth in her heart. She hadn't expected Gu Xiao to have considered even these details, making him even more thorough and meticulous than she had imagined.

She got into the car and said softly, "Thank you, Xiao Liu, for troubling you again."

Xiao Liu started the car. "Sister-in-law, you're too kind."

Although Minister Gu was strict in his administration, he was also very principled and never allowed them to handle personal matters. He would only make exceptions when it involved his sister-in-law.

My sister-in-law is always so polite, afraid of causing them any trouble, and she will never use a car if she can take the bus.

Unlike some family members in the compound who practically treat their guards like their own personal servants.

Xiao Liu felt lucky to be able to work under such a considerate and upright leader.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Xiao Liu carried the substantial amount of supplements and gifts, while Nan Zhiyi carried a thermos in each hand, easily finding Zhou Anping's ward.

As soon as I arrived at the ward door, I heard a lively chatter coming from inside.

There were quite a few people in the ward.

Meng Qingshan was bending over, awkwardly holding the swaddled baby. Surrounding him were Meng's mother, Lin Yaru, and several unfamiliar relatives and friends, presumably from the Meng or Zhou families, all laughing and chatting as they watched the newborn.

Zhou Anping leaned against the headboard, his face regaining some color, and quietly listened to everyone talking.

She looked up and saw Nan Zhiyi, then smiled and said, "Zhiyi, you're here!"

Nan Zhiyi walked over with a smile and placed the two thermos containers on the bedside table: "I brought you some food and drinks. Sister Zhang made them especially for you. They're very light. Do you have an appetite now? Would you like to eat some while they're hot?"

Xiao Liu also placed the tonic gift in the corner of the ward.

Looking at the large and small bags, Lin Yaru hurriedly said, "Zhiyi, you're too kind. It's enough that you came; you brought so much stuff. It's really..."