Chapter 420 My Own Home

Gu Zhao was squatting at the gate of the courtyard tying her shoelaces when she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw her uncle leading Chen Anna over.

Gu Yan changed into a light gray shirt, looking energetic: "Gu Zhao, want to go out?"

Chen Anna also took Gu Zhao's hand, "Xiaoman, want to go together? I heard we can go boating!"

"I'm tired today and want to stay home with my mom."

Nan Zhiyi didn't want her son to be a third wheel, so she hugged him and said, "Gu Yan, let Gu Zhao stay home with me. You two have fun."

Anna Chen bent down and pinched his cheek: "Really not going?"

"Aunt Anna, I hope you have fun. I'll be waiting for you at home."

Anna Chen really liked Gu Zhao, so she picked up the child and spun him around, saying, "Okay, Auntie brought you a gift!"

Gu Yan chimed in, "Aren't you going to thank your auntie?"

"Thank you, Auntie!" Gu Zhao replied readily.

In front of her sister-in-law and Gu Zhao, Chen Anna blushed and lightly punched Gu Yan's shoulder: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Gu Yan feigned pain: "Murdering your husband?"

Chen Anna was so embarrassed that she turned around and ran out the door.

Gu Yan smiled at Nan Zhiyi: "Sister-in-law, we'll be back this afternoon."

Nan Zhiyi stood at the door and saw Gu Yan quickly chase after her. He grabbed Chen Anna's hand at the courtyard gate, and the two walked away side by side.

"Mom," Gu Zhao tugged at her sleeve, "actually, I deliberately didn't go."

"Hmm?" Nan Zhiyi looked down at him.

"When my uncle is with Aunt Anna, his eyes are always shining."

Gu Zhao tilted her head, "Just like when Dad looked at you."

Nan Zhiyi gently ruffled her son's hair and led him into the house, saying, "You're such a little devil."

Because Gu Yan still had work to do, he left with Chen Anna on the afternoon of the third day.

Gu Yan stood at the gate of the courtyard with his luggage bag, while Chen Anna held Nan Zhiyi's hand reluctantly.

"Sister-in-law, see you next time. I will go back to Jian'an with Gu Yan to visit Uncle during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

After spending the last two days together, Chen Anna found that Gu Yan's brother and sister-in-law were very easy to get along with. Her initial nervousness had long since dissipated, and Nan Zhiyi's gentle and considerate nature made her feel that Gu Yan's father shouldn't be too difficult to get along with either.

Nan Zhiyi smiled faintly: "Take care on the road. See you in Jian'an then."

Gu Yan put his arm around Chen Anna's shoulder: "We should go, or we'll miss the train."

After seeing the two off, in the quiet of the night, Nan Zhiyi leaned on Gu Xiao's shoulder and couldn't help but talk about what she had been thinking during the day: "I didn't expect Gu Yan to find such a lively girl. He's much more mature now, and he and the innocent and romantic Anna complement each other perfectly."

Gu Xiao gave a soft "hmm" and casually combed her long hair with his fingers.

Nan Zhiyi rolled over and lay on his chest: "Fifth Brother, do you think Gu Yan really wants to bring up marriage with Dad when he comes back to Jian'an for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

“He’s over thirty, it’s time for him to settle down.”

“Dad definitely won’t object.” Nan Zhiyi laughed, her hair brushing against his chin. “Even if Gu Yan brings any girl back now, Dad will agree.”

Gu Xiao had to admit that his wife was right. In the past two years, his father had really been worried about Gu Yan's situation and had even asked Gu Xiao to find some eligible young women for Gu Yan in the army...

However, Gu Xiao dared not make the decision for Gu Yan…

Fortunately, he finally came to terms with it.

How could a father possibly object to such a well-matched marriage?

"Go to sleep, my wife."

He didn't want his wife to keep thinking about these trivial things, so he patted her back and turned off the lamp.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains. Nan Zhiyi looked at the light and suddenly remembered Gu Yan's carefree and dashing appearance many years ago.

Looking at him now, seriously planning for the future, he seems so mature, like a completely different person.

Nan Zhiyi wasn't asleep. She gently turned over and gazed at Gu Xiao's profile in the dim light.

His eyes were closed, his breathing steady, but the arm around her waist was still strong.

Fifth Brother, are you asleep?

Gu Xiao closed his eyes and pulled her closer to him: "Mmm, she's asleep."

He paused, his voice rising slightly at the end, "What? If you can't sleep, I can..."

Nan Zhiyi immediately closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, even softening her breathing.

Gu Xiao chuckled softly, rolled over and pressed himself against her, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe: "Since you can't sleep, then keep me company..."

He knew her too well; he knew she was prone to overthinking at night.

Instead of letting her worry about trivial matters, it's better to distract her in other ways.

This commotion lasted until late into the night, until Nan Zhiyi, feeling both ashamed and annoyed, curled up in his arms and fell into a deep sleep.

Gu Xiao gently brushed aside the sweat-dampened strands of hair from her forehead.

His younger brother is no longer the spoiled brat he used to be, who required his attention. Now known as "President Gu" in the business world, he is naturally capable of handling his personal relationships.

Under the same moonlight, the bedside lamp in the hotel room was still on.

Gu Yan leaned against the headboard, reviewing documents.

Anna Chen rolled over, still wrapped in the blanket, and sleepily tugged at the hem of his pajamas:

"Go to sleep? You've been staring for ages."

Gu Yan glanced at his watch; it was already one in the morning.

He took off his glasses, closed the file, turned off the light, and got into bed.

Anna snuggled into his arms like a kitten.

"How about I wait for you at the hotel tomorrow?" She yawned. "I don't want to go to the factory."

"Okay." Gu Yan gently patted her back. "I'll finish this as soon as possible and take you to Liulichang when I get back."

Anna Chen shook her head against his chest, her hair tickling him: "I don't want you to come back as soon as possible. I want you to finish all your work, complete all your work seriously, and come back to me only when everything is completely alright."

Gu Yan chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead: "Good girl."

"Gu Yan," she snuggled closer to him, her voice growing fainter, "I'm being good because I feel sorry for you..."

The moonlight slowly moved past the head of the bed, shining on the two people sleeping in each other's arms.

As dawn broke, the curtains in the hotel room were half-open.

When Gu Yan came out of the bathroom after washing up, he saw Chen Anna, still sleepy, ironing his suit.

“Go back to sleep,” he said, reaching for the iron. “I can do it myself.”

Anna Chen shook her head to avoid his hand and continued ironing: "I'll sleep after you leave."

In the rising steam, Gu Yan gazed at her gentle profile.

This girl, who grew up pampered in the port city, even needed a maid to pack her suitcase when she first went on a business trip with him. Now, she has learned to get up early in a strange city to iron his clothes.

What initially attracted him to her was her innocent and naive nature.

The longer they spent together, the more he discovered the thoughtfulness and loveliness beneath her delicate exterior…

The morning light bathed her hair in a pale gold glow, and Gu Yan's heart softened: "Thank you, Anna."

She looked up at him and smiled, then continued ironing the last shirt.

After putting down the iron, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips hard, the cool scent of shaving lotion lingering between them.

"You've worked hard too, I'll wait for you."

Gu Yan picked her up and carried her back to the bed.

As the blanket was wrapped around her, she half-closed her eyes and mumbled, "Remember to eat breakfast..."

He stood by the bed tying his tie, watching her curl up into a tiny ball in the blankets.

The clanging of the early morning tram came from outside the window, and this ordinary morning suddenly gave him a concrete image of "home".

Although my brother and sister-in-law... Zhiyi... always say that their home is his own home, this is different. He really needs to have his own home.