Chapter 46 Going Out

Nan Zhiyi was initially a little stiff, and the lingering soreness in her body prevented her from fully relaxing.

But as he read aloud, his fingers gently combed through her long hair, his fingertips occasionally brushing against her earlobes or the back of her neck, bringing a subtle tingling sensation.

Sometimes, when he was reading a passage, he would stop, lean down, and plant a kiss on her forehead.

These touches are intimate and natural.

Like a frog being slowly boiled in water, it gradually eroded her defenses.

Nan Zhiyi's tense nerves relaxed, and her body went limp into his arms.

Night fell.

After Gu Xiao finished showering, his gaze fell on the motionless ball of blankets on the bed, a knowing look flashing in his eyes.

He walked to the bedside, picked up the edge of the blanket with his fingertips, and pulled it down to reveal her face with her eyes tightly closed.

"In your heart, is Fifth Brother really that bad?"

Nan Zhiyi squeezed out a voice, embarrassed and annoyed, "...I was just sleepy."

Gu Xiao chuckled softly, as if aggravating his injury, and he took a light breath.

Nan Zhiyi immediately stood up, her gaze falling with concern on the wound on the lower edge of his vest.

"Is it hurting again?" she asked, frowning. "Is it...is it because of last night..."

She couldn't bring herself to say the rest; her face flushed instantly.

"It's a minor injury." Gu Xiao grabbed her outstretched hand, preventing her from touching it. "The army doctor re-bandaged it this morning."

Afraid of aggravating his injury, she could only blush and remind him, "You...don't move around, be careful the wound opens up again."

Seeing her trying to suppress her embarrassment yet not daring to refuse, Gu Xiao's heart softened completely.

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her smooth forehead. "Mmm, don't move."

He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her forehead. "Sleep."

Nan Zhiyi's body was initially tense.

He held her close and warmly, his hands gently patting her back rhythmically, one pat after another.

She fell asleep quickly.

Only after confirming that she was fast asleep did Gu Xiao slowly open his eyes.

He reached for the ointment on the bedside table, carefully lifted the blanket, and applied it to her wound.

Nan Zhiyi, still asleep, felt unwell, her brows furrowed even more, and she let out a groan.

He was covered in sweat after the medicine was finally applied.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and hugged her even tighter.

As the morning light pierced through the thin mist, Nan Zhiyi pushed open the door, her eyes slightly squinting from the sunlight.

In the courtyard, Gu Xiao was washing clothes by the pool. His army green shirt sleeves were rolled up high, and sunlight outlined his broad shoulders and back; his waist was slender, and he appeared exceptionally tall and strong…

Nan Zhiyi leaned against the door frame, watching quietly, her heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason.

When Nan Zhiyi saw a familiar light-colored fabric being rubbed by his large hands, her cheeks suddenly flushed.

Although she knew that he always washed and dried these intimate clothes silently when he was at home, she still felt embarrassed watching his well-defined fingers kneading her undergarments.

"Awake?" Gu Xiao wrung out the clothes in his hands. "There's porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables in the kitchen. Eat and change into your clothes for going out."

"Going out?"

Nan Zhiyi was stunned for a moment. Since joining the army, apart from going to the market, going up the mountain, and visiting the military service center, she had hardly ever left the small world of the family compound.

"Hmm. Let's go for a walk in the city. You must be feeling cooped up for too long, right?" He shook the water droplets off his hands, walked over, and rubbed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

Nan Zhiyi held his hand, shook it, and was overjoyed.

After dinner, Nan Zhiyi changed into a dress, slung a small crossbody bag over her shoulder, and happily followed Gu Xiao into the jeep and set off.

Nan Zhiyi sat in the passenger seat, watching the fields and villages rushing past the window, her mood as free as a bird set free.

"Fifth Brother, where should we go first?"

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding her hand, Gu Xiao suggested, "Want to see a movie? Or go for a walk in the park?"

"See a movie!"

"good."

When I arrived at the movie theater, there was a faded poster on the outside, showing the movie "The Scout".

Gu Xiao bought the tickets and then bought a bag of sunflower seeds from a small window next to him before pulling her inside.

The cinema was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the smells of sweat and dust.

While the screen was filled with the sounds of gunfire, Nan Zhiyi's mind was not very focused, and she would occasionally turn her head to look at the man beside her.

Light and shadow flickered on his sharply defined face, and his attention was entirely focused on Nan Zhiyi, his eyes gazing tenderly at her.

She quietly placed her hand on the back of his hand, and he immediately grasped it, his dry, warm palm completely enveloping her small hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand.

Nan Zhiyi smiled, leaned back in her chair, and turned her gaze back to the screen.

After leaving the movie theater, it was lunchtime, so Gu Xiao took her to a state-run restaurant.

It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was bustling with people.

Gu Xiao protected Nan Zhiyi and pushed through the crowd to the order window.

The names and prices of the dishes were written in chalk on the greasy little blackboard.

What would you like to eat?

Nan Zhiyi: "Boiled fish? Is that okay?"

"One serving of shredded pork with eggs, one serving of boiled fish, stir-fried vegetables, and two bowls of rice," Gu Xiao's voice boomed over the noise. "And two bottles of soda."

The waiter shouted, "Three yuan and seventy cents, four ounces of grain coupons. Hurry up, there are still people behind us!"

Nan Zhiyi quickly counted out the bills from her handbag and handed them over.

"Fifth Brother, you need to be careful about what you eat since you're injured. Avoid spicy and greasy foods."

A clear female voice suddenly interrupted from behind.

Nan Zhiyi turned her head at the sound, and her heart clenched suddenly.

Lu Linlang stood a few steps away.

A round-faced young woman was standing next to her, curiously observing them.

Lu Linlang's gaze lingered on Gu Xiao's face for a long time before turning to Nan Zhiyi, her eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions.

Nan Zhiyi's fingertips felt cold.

Lu Linlang, the daughter of Vice President Lu of the General Hospital of the Military Region, and Gu Xiao grew up in the same hospital.

How did she end up here?

For a moment, Nan Zhiyi wanted to shrink behind Gu Xiao, but she straightened her back and said softly, "Dr. Lu, hello."

Gu Xiao nodded casually to Lu Linlang, his gaze sweeping over her without lingering.

"Commander Gu, sister-in-law!" The round-faced nurse next to him greeted him warmly with a smile, "You've come to eat too?"

The words "sister-in-law" reached Lu Linlang's ears.

She glanced at Nan Zhiyi, then turned to Gu Xiao: "Fifth Brother, didn't Nan Zhiyi...didn't she go to the countryside? How come you two are together?"

Nan Zhiyi's throat went dry, and her mind raced, searching for a lame excuse: "I..."

“She is my lover,” Gu Xiao replied.

He then ignored Lu Linlang's pale face, took the sign handed out from the window with one hand, and held Nan Zhiyi's hand with the other.

Excuse me.

His voice was calm, and after nodding slightly to the round-faced nurse, he led Nan Zhiyi to a newly vacated square table in the corner.

Lu Linlang stood frozen in place.

spouse?

Did Gu Xiao marry Nan Zhiyi?

That capitalist's daughter with a bad family background, whose family was ruined?

At the corner table, Nan Zhiyi felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

After finally getting all the food, she buried her head, wanting only to finish the rice in her bowl as quickly as possible.

Gu Xiao, however, paid no attention to those strange gazes.