Chapter 68 Curiosity

The two worked together seamlessly.

Sun Xiaobing quickly laid out the background color blocks, while Nan Zhiyi focused on depicting the details of the characters and the foreground.

By lunchtime, the busy group of workers had taken shape, having completed nearly half of the work.

Nan Zhiyi glanced at her watch; it was almost midnight.

The main body of the bulletin board is basically completed, with only some details remaining to be finished.

"Officer Sun, you should go eat first, we can continue this afternoon."

Sun Xiaobing wiped his sweat: "Alright! Comrade Nan, you should also take a rest. See you this afternoon!"

He got on his bicycle and left.

Nan Zhiyi didn't leave immediately. She picked up a small paintbrush, dipped it in dark brown paint, and carefully outlined the shadows to make the picture more three-dimensional.

As Gu Xiao came out of the regimental headquarters, he immediately saw Nan Zhiyi, who was intently drawing on the bulletin board, with the sunlight shining on her without any obstruction.

He frowned and strode over.

"I understand!"

Hearing his voice, Nan Zhiyi turned around in surprise, "Gu Xiao, I wanted to tell you last night that I was coming here today..."

Gu Xiao grabbed her wrist and pulled her all the way to his office.

"You haven't had a drop of water all morning, have you?"

Nan Zhiyi licked her slightly chapped lips and gave an embarrassed smile, "I forgot to bring my water bottle..."

Gu Xiao pressed her down into the chair in front of the desk, turned around, picked up the enamel mug on the desk, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to her.

"Drink up. You know I'm here, why didn't you think of coming to find me?"

Nan Zhiyi was indeed thirsty. She lowered her head and took small sips of water. "I forgot!"

Gu Xiao didn't say anything, but he could guess that she was afraid of causing trouble.

After she put down her cup, he picked up a handkerchief and wiped her sweat: "The commander's office isn't exactly a secret location. You always overthink things..."

He pinched her earlobe. "I'm going to get food. You wait here for me."

"Um."

After he left, Nan Zhiyi curiously looked around at his workplace.

The furnishings were simple: a few chairs, a filing cabinet, and maps and documents neatly arranged on the desk, exuding a serious atmosphere... This was another space belonging to Gu Xiao, one she had never set foot in before.

Soon, Gu Xiao returned carrying two aluminum lunch boxes.

He placed the lunchbox on the desk, pulled over another chair, and sat down next to Nan Zhiyi.

"Eat up." He handed her the chopsticks.

The lunch was alright, with stir-fried green beans with shredded pork and a few slices of rare cured meat.

The two were very close, their arms occasionally touching.

It was the first time Nan Zhiyi had eaten with him at his workplace, and she found it quite novel and had a good appetite.

Gu Xiao was absent-minded, his gaze fixed on her face.

As soon as she put down her chopsticks, he immediately took her hand and asked, "Are you tired?"

Nan Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat, and she shook her head: "It's okay, drawing isn't tiring."

She let him hold her hand, her fingertips secretly tickling his palm.

"Are you still painting this afternoon?"

"Okay, I'll try to finish drawing this afternoon. Tomorrow, I'll be going to work on other bulletin boards..."

"Want to go home together after get off work?"

"Okay~" She moved even closer to him.

The two sat in silence for a while, until it was time for them to go to work.

Gu Xiao packed up the lunchbox.

He picked up the military green water bottle on the table, filled it with warm water, and handed it to her: "Take this, drink it this afternoon."

He raised his hand again and tidied the stray hairs at her temples.

Nan Zhiyi's heart pounded like a drum. She dared not look him in the eye and whispered, "I'm leaving."

She picked up her straw hat and quickly walked out of the office.

Gu Xiao stood at the door, watching her figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, before picking up the water glass on the table and slowly walking to the window.

Downstairs, that slender figure was walking briskly toward the bulletin board.

He took a sip of the now-cold water, his Adam's apple bobbing, and a satisfied pleasure surfaced deep in his eyes.

Before he could even take his second sip, he saw... Zhou Zhengping hurriedly walking in that direction.

He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

As the sun moved westward, the bulletin board was gradually enveloped in shadow and was no longer scorching hot.

Nan Zhiyi stood in front of the board, looking up at the morning's work.

She subconsciously glanced at the window of Gu Xiao's office. The glass reflected the light, making it impossible to see inside, but she knew he was there.

She smiled, pursed her lips, and just as she picked up her paintbrush, she heard footsteps.

She thought it was Sun Xiaobing, but when she looked, it was Zhou Zhengping.

"Aping? You're back?"

"Um... what are you doing here?"

Zhou Zhengping was an operations staff officer. He had just returned from a coordination meeting and did not expect to meet her here.

He stood at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, watching her with a complex expression in his eyes.

Nan Zhiyi ignored his gaze and asked anxiously, "How is Anping? Is your aunt still pressuring her to go on blind dates? She hasn't replied to the letter I wrote to her."

Seeing the worry in her eyes, Zhou Zhengping paused for a moment, then carefully said, "I... I just got back a few days ago. Anping... she's alright. As for my mother..."

He paused, avoiding the details of the heated confrontation between his mother, Song Lanxin, and Anping, and also concealing the fact that Anping might face even stronger pressure next…

“My mom… hasn’t mentioned blind dates again for the time being. Anping continues to work at the cultural troupe, and everything… is going smoothly.”

Nan Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good. Thank you for telling me."

Her polite thanks made Zhou Zhengping's face turn pale instantly.

He lowered his head and said in a much softer tone, "Anping asked me to bring you something. I just got back these past few days and I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to give it to you yet. I'll give it to you in a couple of days?"

“Okay, no rush. Thank you, Aping.” Nan Zhiyi added, “I’m working as a temporary worker in the publicity department now, so I’m not home during the day. You can take it to my house after get off work.”

"Okay, then... you go ahead and get busy, but be careful not to get too much sun."

Zhou Zhengping glanced at her one last time, hesitated, then simply nodded again and strode away.

Nan Zhiyi gripped her paintbrush and climbed back up the ladder.

And behind the window.

Gu Xiao watched Zhou Zhengping leave, and Nan Zhiyi returned to her work before he sat back down at his desk, forcing himself to focus on the training plan in front of him…

Downstairs, Nan Zhiyi was intently adjusting the details on the bulletin board.

As the workday draws to a close, the spirit of the "Iron Man" is already vividly displayed on the huge bulletin board.

The bold and powerful lines and the striking contrasting colors vividly showcase the spirit of the working class.

"It's done!"

Sun Xiaobing took a few steps back, looked at the overall effect, and couldn't help but clap his hands, "Your skill is much more impressive than what Sister Chen painted before!"

Nan Zhiyi also breathed a sigh of relief, put down her paintbrush, rubbed her sore wrists and shoulders, and looked at her work, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Section Chief Li Mei walked over at some point, stood not far away with her arms crossed, and looked up at the bulletin board.

She had no expression on her face, but she looked very carefully.

Nan Zhiyi and Sun Xiaobing quickly greeted, "Section Chief!"

Li Mei took a few steps closer, examined the details, then turned to look at Nan Zhiyi and nodded.

"Well done, and you're progressing quickly. Thanks for your hard work."