Chapter 445 Sobering Up

Gu Zhao woke up, carefully tucked in the blanket, and tiptoed downstairs.

Sister Zhang was in the kitchen when she turned around and saw him: "You're awake? Is your mother still asleep?"

"Mmm." Gu Zhao nodded. "She slept very soundly."

Sister Zhang said, "I made some hangover soup, it's warming up on the stove." She then turned around and brought out a small tray, "Your milk custard and steamed buns, eat them while they're hot."

"Thank you, Aunt Zhang, I'll carry it myself."

Gu Zhao brought the snacks to the dining room, ate them slowly, and then put on a woolen hat and ran to the courtyard.

The afternoon snow made the snowmen look a bit bulky. He carefully adjusted the snowman father's body and shook the snowflakes off the snowman aunt's red scarf before tying it back on.

Just as I finished building the last snowball, I heard the familiar sound of a Jeep engine approaching from afar.

He dropped his small shovel and ran to the gate of the yard, just in time to see his father striding towards him through the snow, the hem of his army coat catching a gust of wind.

"Gu Zhao, how is Mom?"

"She drank honey water and has been sleeping ever since," Gu Zhao reported, looking up with her nose red from the cold. "Aunt Zhang made some hangover soup."

Gu Xiao ruffled his son's hair: "Thank you for taking care of Mom." He put his arm around his son's shoulder and led him into the house. "Your hands are so cold, come inside and warm them up."

Gu Zhao was so happy that she felt lightheaded as her father put his arm around her shoulder and praised her. She followed her father into the house.

When Sister Zhang saw the father and son enter the house, she came over to help Gu Zhao take off his cotton-padded coat and said softly, "Minister Gu, the hangover soup is warming up on the stove." She added, "Gu Zhao was bored at home, so he went out to play for a while. I didn't stop him. Gu Zhao, would you like some ginger soup later?"

Her last sentence was addressed to Gu Zhao.

Gu Xiao had already taken off his coat and military boots and walked straight towards the stairs.

"Thank you, Sister Zhang." He turned to look at his son. "Dad's going to check on Mom. You go do your homework..."

Gu Xiao stepped into the bedroom, deliberately making sure his footsteps were light.

The curtains in the master bedroom upstairs were half-drawn.

Nan Zhiyi lay on her side on the bed, her black hair spread out on the pillow, making her face look like melting spring snow, and her lips like cherries freshly washed in snow water, red and plump.

Gu Xiao took off his military jacket, washed his hands, pulled up a chair and sat down on the edge of the bed. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, but the touch was not as cold as it looked; it was warm and soft, with a faint smell of alcohol.

Sure enough, she didn't listen. I bet she took Zhang Yueran out for a few more drinks as soon as he left.

Nan Zhiyi rubbed against his palm, murmuring indistinctly, "Gu Xiao... Gu Xiao..."

"Awake?" He leaned closer. "Are you dizzy?"

"I'm not dizzy... I can hold my liquor perfectly..."

She smiled with her eyes closed, took his hand that was covering her cheek, and softly kissed it haphazardly. "Fifth Brother, where have you been? I missed you so much... I've been looking for you for so long..."

Gu Xiao's eyes darkened.

If only it were nighttime, with this drunken, clingy state, he would have a hundred ways to slowly coax and amuse her... But the sky outside the window was still faintly bright.

He gently stroked her burning earlobe, his voice hoarse: "Sister Zhang made some hangover soup, would you like some?"

"I don't want to drink it...it tastes awful..." She shook her head, pulling his arm towards her. "Hold me, I don't have the strength..."

"I just came back from outside and didn't change my clothes..."

"I don't mind Fifth Brother..." Nan Zhiyi snuggled into his arms, her soft arms wrapping around his neck.

Gu Xiao tightened his arms and gently lifted the person onto his lap.

Nan Zhiyi laughed triumphantly, her warm lips kissing and biting his neck, leaving wet marks.

Not satisfied, she clumsily unbuttoned his shirt.

Gu Xiao raised his hand as a gesture of protest, but she slapped it away angrily.

"Understand..."

Nan Zhiyi had already unbuttoned a few buttons, and then lightly pecked at his Adam's apple, rubbing it with the tips of her teeth.

"Gu Xiao, you smell so good..."

Gu Xiao's breathing became heavier, and he gently stroked her back, as if to comfort her or to restrain himself.

"Wife, if you keep making a fuss tonight, okay?"

"Only officials are allowed to set fires... while innocent people are forbidden to light lamps..." she huffed in dissatisfaction, her hot breath brushing against his collarbone. "I want it!"

Gu Xiao was amused by these words. Who was setting the fire?

He finally succumbed to her clingy whimpers, so he simply lifted her up a bit, held the back of her head, and kissed her passionately.

Nan Zhiyi's already dizzy head became even more confused.

When Gu Xiao let go, he saw that her eyes were brimming with tears, her lips were swollen and red, and she even subconsciously licked her lips.

He closed his eyes briefly and pressed her back onto his shoulder: "Sleep a little longer? I'll call you for dinner."

Nan Zhiyi pressed against his chest, remained silent for a moment, then slowly slipped her fingers inside his military uniform lining. "Gu Xiao, you're so naughty..."

He grabbed her restless wrist and pleaded, "My dear wife, it's my fault, please forgive me for a while..."

"snort."

"What humph?"

"Just humph."

Gu Xiao chuckled and hugged her tighter. "Hmm, do whatever you want."

As the last rays of sunlight faded from the window, Nan Zhiyi sobered up completely.

She found herself still nestled in Gu Xiao's arms, his shirt crumpled from her caresses, while he remained seated, one arm around her, the other holding a pen, writing something in a notebook on the table.

What time is it?

"Six o'clock. Are you hungry?"

Nan Zhiyi shook her head and reached out to straighten his collar. "Where's our son?"

"They're watching TV downstairs."

She fastened his top button, then couldn't help but laugh, burying her face in his chest as she laughed.

"Gu Xiao, Yueyue is so happy today."

"Yes." He stroked her long hair. "You too."

“I’m happier than her.” She looked up, her eyes shining in the lamplight, “because I have you, and Xiaoman.”

Gu Xiao gave a soft "hmm" and gently rubbed his chin against her forehead.

A thousand words are contained in silence.

Nan Zhiyi sat up straight from his lap: "What should we give Gu Yan and Yueyue as a wedding gift?"

"Gu Yan lacks nothing. Yueyue could think more about giving her something practical."

“Practical…” Nan Zhi thought for a moment, “clothing, food, housing, transportation… how about we give her an apartment? The newly built apartments near Qianmen, I heard the layout is pretty good.”

Gu Xiao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Zhou Xingzhi's courtyard house was elegant, but it was, after all, the man's premarital property. It's not bad that Zhang Yueran owns a property in Beijing.

"This is easy. Leave it to me."

Nan Zhiyi turned her head to look at him: "Aren't you busy with the exercise summary lately? How could you have time..."

"It's just a matter of a phone call."

Gu Xiao got up and walked to his desk, took out a piece of paper and wrote a few lines, "I'll arrange for someone to take care of it tomorrow. We should be able to get the keys before the New Year."

"Let's put your name on the property certificate first," he suddenly said.

Nan Zhiyi was taken aback: "What?"

"That apartment. Put it in your name, and then you can give it to Yueyue. Consider it... a dowry from the older sister to the younger sister."

Nan Zhiyi's eyes welled up with tears, and she threw herself into his arms again, wrapping her legs around his waist and hanging on him.

"Let's just put it in Yueyue's name. Transferring it is too much trouble... Anyway, it's going to be given to her."

Gu Xiao lifted her up slightly and said, "Okay."