Chapter 444 Forever

Pushing open the door, Zhang Yueran pulled Zhou Xingzhi to greet them.

Zhou Xingzhi solemnly extended his hand: "Brother-in-law."

Gu Xiao shook hands with him, "Xingzhi, congratulations." He then looked at Zhang Yueran beside Zhou Xingzhi, "Yueyue, congratulations."

Zhang Yueran was unusually flustered: "Thank you, brother-in-law..."

"Wash your hands and eat." Nan Zhiyi, worried about delaying Gu Xiao from work, had already gone to help serve the dishes, and didn't forget to call out to her son, "Gu Zhao, stop playing!"

Gu Zhao reluctantly put down the electromagnetic swing and was carried to the bathroom by her father.

The lunch table was piled high with food.

Nan Zhiyi took out the decanted red wine, poured half a glass for Zhang Yueran first, and then poured one for herself.

"May our Yueyue have a future filled with happiness like today."

"I wish you, sister, happiness forever," Zhang Yueran said, her eyes slightly moist.

The two sisters took a small sip.

Gu Xiao also picked up his teacup and looked at Zhou Xingzhi and Zhang Yueran: "Let's drink tea instead of wine, wishing you a long and happy life together."

Zhou Xingzhi raised the teacup with both hands in return: "Thank you, brother-in-law, and thank you, sister. I will take good care of Yueyue."

Gu Zhao joined in, raising her juice glass to clink glasses with Zhou Xingzhi: "I also wish my aunt and uncle happiness every day!"

Everyone laughed.

Zhang Yueran blushed, tilted her head back and drank half a glass, the sweet and bitter taste melting on her tongue. She quietly took Zhou Xingzhi's hand under the table. His fingertips trembled slightly, then he enveloped her entire hand in his palm.

Looking at her sister's blushing cheeks, Nan Zhiyi said softly, "After Gu Yan's wedding, you will officially go back as husband and wife."

“Hmm.” Zhang Yueran leaned closer to Zhou Xingzhi. “Xingzhi said to prepare a generous gift for Brother Liu.”

Nan Zhiyi thought to herself that she not only needed to prepare a generous gift for Gu Yan, but also for the young couple...

Yueyue said that maybe they'll hold a wedding in Jian'an or the family compound, and also in Beijing...

But for the time being, she hadn't decided what to give as a gift...

Gu Xiao frowned when he saw her lost in thought. His wife had only drunk a small cup and she was already dizzy?

He ladled a bowl of soup and placed it beside her. "Are you feeling dizzy? Have some soup first."

Nan Zhiyi raised her chin: "Who are you underestimating? I haven't even started drinking yet..."

Gu Xiao chuckled, "Alright, alright, you're the boss in our family. Boss, would you like me to pour you some wine?"

Nan Zhiyi then handed him the empty wine glass, saying, "Comrade Gu Xiao, please."

Zhang Yueran downed her drink in one gulp, "Me too!"

Zhou Xingzhi helplessly whispered words of comfort to her. No one knew what he said to Zhang Yueran, but he managed to coax the girl so much that her hair was practically steaming.

Nan Zhiyi laughed as she watched, then urged Gu Xiao, "Gu Xiao, Fifth Brother, hurry up and pour the wine."

Gu Xiao had no choice but to get up and pour his wife another glass of red wine, just enough to fill the bottom of the glass.

She was a little dissatisfied, but didn't ask for anything more.

Snow began to fall again outside the window, covering the row of snowmen in the yard in a fine, dense blanket.

Gu Xiao hurriedly finished his lunch and was about to return to his department when Nan Zhiyi saw him to the door.

He buttoned up his coat and ran his fingers across her slightly flushed cheeks: "Don't drink anymore later, okay?"

Nan Zhiyi stood at attention and saluted, just like her son: "Yes, sir!" Her eyes glistened with tears.

Seeing her like this, Gu Xiao frowned slightly, realizing that his wife was probably a little drunk.

But time was of the essence, so he could only ruffle her hair again and say, "Be good, take a nap, I'll try to be back as soon as possible." He then turned and strode into the snow.

Seeing that her brother-in-law had left, Zhang Yueran became bolder and stood up to pour herself a full glass.

Zhou Xingzhi reached out to stop her, but she dodged, spilling a few drops of wine onto the tablecloth, leaving a deep red stain.

"Just one cup!"

Zhang Yueran grasped Zhou Xingzhi's hand, patted it twice, and then loudly declared to her sister, "Sis, I'll drink it!"

The sisters clinked their glasses so hard that the loud sound startled Gu Zhao, who covered her mouth and laughed, then joined in the fun: "Auntie! I want a toast too!"

"Come!"

Zhang Yueran leaned over to clink glasses with Gu Zhao. When she stood up, she swayed slightly and was gently supported by Zhou Xingzhi at the waist.

The effects of the wine gradually build up.

The two sisters chatted about childhood anecdotes and future plans, and even started humming Soviet folk songs they learned as children.

Looking at the scene before him, Zhou Xingzhi sighed helplessly and could only stare intently at Zhang Yueran, afraid that she would fall to the ground.

It was already afternoon when I took my leave.

Nan Zhiyi smiled and waved from the doorframe, "See you during the New Year..."

Zhou Xingzhi half-supported, half-carried Zhang Yueran, and nodded to Nan Zhiyi: "Sister Zhiyi, see you later. You should rest for a while."

Then she looked at Gu Zhao, who was trying her best to support her mother, and said, "Gu Zhao, take good care of your mother."

Gu Zhao, acting like a little adult, said, "Okay, Uncle-in-law, I understand."

Watching his uncle's car drive away, he looked up at his mother's flushed face: "Mom, Uncle said you were drunk. Is that true?"

"How could that be?" Nan Zhiyi bent down and cupped her son's little face, kissing him again and again from top to bottom and left to right. "Mommy can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk..."

Gu Zhao was a little skeptical and continued to support her mother.

She lightly pulled her son into the house, saying, "Come on, Mom will teach you how to make an electromagnetic swing!"

Gu Zhao's bright eyes darted around, and she covered her mouth with a yawn: "Mom, I'm so sleepy... Can you take a nap with me?"

Nan Zhiyi blinked, her vision a little blurry. "Okay then." She squatted down and pressed her forehead against her son's. "But when Dad comes back, don't tell him that Mom drank alcohol, okay?"

Gu Zhao quickly said, "Okay, I won't say!"

The mother and son staggered upstairs.

Gu Zhao led his mother to sit down on the bed in the master bedroom. Zhang Jie brought over some honey water, and Gu Zhao held the cup to his mother's lips with both hands, saying, "Mom, have some water before you sleep with me?"

Nan Zhiyi squinted and took a few sips, then stopped drinking.

Gu Zhao put down the cup and covered her mother with the blanket.

Nan Zhiyi suddenly hugged her son tightly, "Mommy's Xiaoman... Mommy loves you so much..." Her voice gradually choked up, "Xiaoman, don't grow up, just stay Mommy's little baby forever..."

He mimicked his father's usual manner, gently patting his mother's back with his little hand: "Okay, I will never leave Mom."

"You promise?" Nan Zhiyi sat up straight, staring at him through teary eyes. "You'll grow up and get married... Your father always said you're an eagle, and sooner or later you'll fly to other skies..."

She started sobbing again, clearly very upset.

Gu Zhao sighed and wiped the tears from his mother's face with his sleeve: "I promise. Even if I am an eagle, this place is still my nest, Mother."

He climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over their legs, saying, "No matter how far we fly, we have to go home."

"good!"

Nan Zhiyi smiled through her tears, hugged her son, and snuggled into the blankets, pulling him close in her arms: "Xiaoman... Mommy loves you so much..."

Gu Zhao was so tightly held that she could hardly breathe, but she couldn't bear to push him away.

He secretly rejoiced that his father wasn't there. His father always told him that he was "a big kid now" and wouldn't let him sleep so close to his mother. He raised his little arms and tried to wrap them around his mother's neck. "Mommy, I love you so much too."

Occasionally, the soft sound of snow breaking dry branches could be heard outside the window.

In this tranquil moment, Gu Zhao heard his mother's breathing gradually become steady, the slightly sweet scent of wine brushing against his forehead.

He gently brushed aside the strands of hair clinging to his mother's cheek. He realized that adults, like children, also need assurances and need to confirm words like "forever" over and over again.