Chapter 395 Water Light

When Nan Zhiyi opened her eyes again, it was already broad daylight.

While washing up, Nan Zhiyi gasped for breath in front of the bathroom mirror.

There were some noticeable red marks from his collarbone to his chest.

She had no choice but to pull out a light apricot-colored shirt dress and button it all the way up to the top.

Hmph, I'll settle the score with him when Gu Xiao comes back tonight.

After coming downstairs, Sister Zhang saw her and said, "Comrade Yueran left early this morning, saying she wouldn't be back until tonight."

Nan Zhiyi scooped up the mung bean porridge in her bowl and suddenly found it tasteless.

Although I understand that Zhang Yueran should be given the freedom to date, the feeling of having my "cabbage" stolen just won't go away...

Sister Zhang then served her a plate of jujube cake.

"Xiaoman went next door to play with Huzi. I told him to come back when the sun gets too strong."

Nan Zhiyi nodded.

The army compound was a safe place after all. Children could chase and play among the red brick buildings, and the guards would keep a close eye on them.

Tiger, the son of Sister Wan, is a few years older than Gu Zhao and is already a young boy. He and Gu Zhao have always gotten along well.

In addition, Gu Zhao has a well-behaved personality, so Nan Zhiyi is not too worried about him going out to play alone now.

She ate breakfast hastily and returned to her study on the second floor.

On the wooden desk lay draft paper, and the fountain pen was soaked in blue-black ink.

She always says she needs to rest, but her thoughts always wander into new stories.

She scribbled and drew in her notebook, and before she knew it, the whole morning had passed.

When Gu Zhao got home, he saw his mother busy in the study. He didn't disturb her and entertained himself downstairs.

After finishing writing on a piece of paper, Nan Zhiyi put down her pen and went downstairs to find her son.

Gu Zhao was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, staring intently at the screen, which was showing an animated film from Shanghai Film Studio.

Nan Zhiyi sat down next to her son.

"Mom, are you done with your work?"

"Hmm, is it pretty?"

"It looks good."

Gu Zhao's eyes were still glued to the TV. She picked up a slice of watermelon from the enamel plate on the coffee table and handed it to her. "Mom, try it. It's chilled in the refrigerator. It's both cold and sweet."

Nan Zhiyi took it and took a bite; the sweet juice instantly filled her mouth.

"Good son, thank you."

Just then, Gu Xiao returned from outside under the scorching sun, clutching a strikingly red invitation in his hand.

He casually placed the invitation on the entryway cabinet.

When he came out of the bathroom after washing his hands and face and stood under the ceiling fan to cool off, his gaze was fixed on Nan Zhiyi.

She wore a high-necked shirt dress, her slender waist loosely cinched by a belt, revealing dazzlingly white calves and arms. Her dark blue hair cascaded gently over her shoulders, clearly a deliberate attempt to conceal the traces left from the previous night.

Nan Zhiyi noticed his scrutinizing gaze and glared at him irritably, which only made him smile slightly.

She pointed to the watermelon on the coffee table, and Gu Xiao, understanding, picked up a slice and held it to her lips: "As an apology..."

"I told you to eat it yourself," Nan Zhiyi spat at him.

Gu Xiao insisted on holding the watermelon to her lips, and only after she reluctantly bit off the sweetest tip did he continue eating, using the teeth marks she left behind.

Nan Zhiyi glared at him again, and Gu Xiao felt a tingling sensation in his heart from the glare, with a smile playing on his lips.

Gu Zhao was already used to her parents doing this, so she only glanced at it before focusing on the television again.

After Gu Xiao finished eating the watermelon, he went to the bathroom to wring out a damp towel and carefully wiped his wife's mouth and fingers.

Nan Zhiyi let him serve her, knowing full well that he must have anticipated that she would be angry when she discovered those marks, and had rushed back to appease her.

She gave a light snort and gestured with her chin toward the entryway: "Whose invitation is that?"

Gu Xiao frowned: "The Luo family."

Nan Zhiyi stood up in surprise: "Why did the Luo family send you an invitation? Could it be...?"

She walked to the entrance, picked up the invitation, and opened it. The gold lettering clearly read "Wedding Invitation of Luo Jianming and Lu Linlang," the date being the Sunday after next, and the venue being a very famous hotel in Beijing.

"The Luo family is really going all out," she sighed softly. "Are they going to invite every relative and acquaintance in the capital?"

Gu Xiao leaned in from behind, resting his arm on the entryway cabinet, trapping her in a small space: "Old Master Luo is very particular about appearances, plus... Luo Jianming was just promoted to deputy division commander, so he's using the wedding to build relationships."

His breath brushed against her ear, "You only sent me the invitation because of my father."

Nan Zhiyi turned around and lightly tapped his chest with her fingertip: "Shall we go or not?"

"What do you think? If you want to go, I'll go with you to a play. If you don't want to..."

"In no mood."

Gu Xiao's fingertips brushed across the stand-up collar of her shirt, lightly touching the red mark that was hidden there. "Then I won't go."

...

Nan Zhiyi angrily slapped his hand away, whispering angrily, "I already told you not to do this in the summer! You've been sleeping with Xiaoman these past few days, I'm never talking to you again."

"Good wife, good baby..." Gu Xiao whispered in her ear, pleading, "Next time I promise not to do it in an obvious place..."

"You always say that!"

Nan Zhiyi didn't believe in that.

This time, I have to teach him a lesson and let him know that she's not so easy to fool.

She pushed him away and walked toward the kitchen, but he grabbed her waist from behind, clinging to her and refusing to let go.

Nan Zhiyi deliberately raised her voice: "Sister Zhang, is the food ready?"

"That's good!" Sister Zhang replied from the kitchen. "You can serve the dishes now, Minister Gu still has to go to work. You all eat first, the last dish is being cooked!"

Gu Xiao had no choice but to let go of his wife, thinking he would continue to coax her after get off work.

He actually enjoyed the feeling of not being able to coax her. Looking at her sulky little face, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, she looked even more lively than usual.

These little romantic gestures between husband and wife made him feel that life was especially enjoyable.

Nan Zhiyi kept her word. After lunch, she used the excuse of needing to coax Xiaoman to take a nap and pushed Gu Xiao toward the entrance.

Gu Xiao was half-pushed and half-escorted to the door. Taking advantage of her unpreparedness, he leaned down and kissed her fingertips: "I'll be back soon."

"snort!"

Nan Zhiyi turned and ran upstairs, her skirt tracing a haughty arc.

In the afternoon, when Gu Xiao returned, he carried a bouquet of flowers with water droplets on them and went straight to the study.

Jasmine, tuberose, and magnolia were tied together, filling the room with their delicate fragrance.

Over the years of their marriage, Gu Xiao has given them many gifts, some big and some small. Sometimes they are carefully prepared wedding anniversary gifts, and sometimes they are just small trinkets that he brings back casually when there are no holidays. But he has not given flowers very often.

"I saw someone selling them on the street, and I thought you might like them." He handed her the bouquet, his eyes discreetly observing her expression.

Nan Zhiyi deliberately put on a stern face: "You think you can appease me with just a bouquet of flowers?"

She took the bouquet, lowered her head, and sniffed it. "It smells quite nice."

Gu Xiao took the opportunity to move closer, loosely pulling her into his arms: "Are you still angry?"

She turned her face away, but couldn't help but smile slightly. "We'll see how you do..."

Gu Xiao immediately hugged her tightly, "Good wife, I will definitely behave well in the future."

Nan Zhiyi deliberately put on a stern face and raised her chin imperiously: "Go, arrange the flowers properly."

Gu Xiao obediently accepted the order and carefully divided the bouquet into two bunches. One bunch was placed in a glass bottle on the dining table downstairs, and the other was placed in a blue and white porcelain vase on a small table by the window in the study. It looked quite beautiful.

"Wife, how is it?" He stood beside the flowers, his posture upright, reporting on his work.

Nan Zhiyi nodded slightly: "Good, Minister Gu deserves praise."

Gu Xiao leaned closer, pressing his entire body against his wife's, his lips deliberately brushing against her earlobe: "How should I praise you?"

Overjoyed, Minister Gu was naturally shoved away by his wife and even received a scolding: "Shameless!"

He thought to himself that his wife probably had no idea how alluring she looked with her eyes glistening with tears, that even her cursing made him lose his mind.