Chapter 124 Purpose
"Out of sight, out of mind? I wish! We live under the same roof, we see each other all the time! Fortunately... she went back to her parents' home these past two days."
As soon as she left, my brother's face relaxed, and our house finally felt a little thawed! You have no idea, those two days she was home, I felt like I was suffocating!
"She's gone back now, so stop thinking about it. Now that she's gone back to her parents' home, you'll have some peace and quiet. The most important thing is to be happy."
Zhou Anping smiled wryly: "That's all I can think about. Anyway, I'll avoid her if I can, and I won't talk to her if I can avoid it."
She leaned on Nan Zhiyi's shoulder, looking exhausted.
Nan Zhiyi used a handkerchief to wipe away her tears...
Just then, Meng Qingshan's clear voice could be faintly heard from downstairs, as if he was talking to Gu Xiao about something.
The sound wasn't loud, and as soon as Zhou Anping heard it, he sat up straight.
"Zhiyi, I really have to go. Downstairs... that person downstairs... I really can't eat this meal, I feel so uncomfortable!"
Nan Zhiyi understood her feelings and didn't insist that she stay: "Alright, then I'll see you downstairs."
The two composed themselves and went downstairs again.
In the living room, Gu Xiao and Meng Qingshan also stopped chatting, and the atmosphere became subtly quiet.
Seeing Zhou Anping and his companion come down one after the other, each carrying a scarf.
Meng Qingshan stared intently at her: "Comrade Anping, are you leaving already?"
Zhou Anping avoided his gaze and said as naturally as possible, "Well, I have some things to do this afternoon, so I have to go back first. Fifth Brother, Comrade Meng, you two can continue your conversation."
A clear look of disappointment flashed in Meng Qingshan's eyes.
Just as Zhou Anping was about to walk around the sofa and leave, he blurted out, "Comrade Anping, wait!"
Zhou Anping paused and looked at him.
"Well, I came in a hurry this time and was thinking of bringing back some local specialty tea from Jian'an for my family. I've heard that Biluochun is good, but I'm not familiar with the supply and marketing cooperatives and tea shops here."
"Comrade Anping, you're a local, so I wonder if it would be convenient for you... to take me shopping on your way? It won't take up too much of your time."
His reasons were reasonable, and his eyes were full of sincerity.
Gu Xiao put his arm around Nan Zhiyi's shoulder, and both of their eyes were focused on Zhou Anping.
This will be Anping's own choice; no one else can make the decision for her.
Zhou Anping stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay, his heart pounding like a drum.
She lowered her eyelashes, her mind a jumbled mess.
It's just showing you the way, isn't it?
In broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of everyone, could Meng Qingshan possibly eat her?
Leading the way is fine, perfect... perfect opportunity to further investigate his background...
“…Okay. I know a public tea shop that’s not too far from here.”
She spoke very quickly, grabbing her scarf and haphazardly wrapping it around her neck.
Meng Qingshan was pleasantly surprised: "That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Comrade Anping!"
Nan Zhiyi and Gu Xiao exchanged a glance.
Gu Xiao gently pressed the finger on her shoulder. Both of them saw through Meng Qingshan's little thoughts and understood the open door to Zhou Anping's heart behind his awkward compromise.
"Well...we'll be going now. Brother Gu Xiao, sister-in-law."
"Drive safely." Gu Xiao nodded.
Nan Zhiyi instructed, "Anping, take care, come again next time."
Zhou Anping grunted in agreement and walked towards the door first, his steps quick and swift.
Meng Qingshan strode after him, put on his coat in the entryway, and followed closely behind.
Nan Zhiyi and Gu Xiao stood outside the courtyard gate, watching the jeep gradually disappear into the distance.
As the jeep drove out of the military compound, Meng Qingshan gripped the steering wheel firmly with both hands, but his peripheral vision kept a close eye on the tense figure in the passenger seat.
Zhou Anping sat sideways, almost touching the car door, his face turned towards the window, leaving only a glimpse of Meng Qingshan's profile.
Meng Qingshan had a lot to say. He wanted to ask her if she believed his explanation, if she was tired lately, and so on.
But seeing her aloof and unapproachable demeanor, all the words I had prepared stuck in my throat.
In the end, he simply cleared his throat:
"Comrade Anping, could you please give me directions?"
“Hmm.” Zhou Anping still didn’t turn around. “Turn right at the next intersection, then go through two more intersections, and the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative is on your left. There’s also a public Chunming Tea House next to it.”
"Okay, thank you." Meng Qingshan turned the steering wheel as instructed, but felt somewhat helpless.
Upon arriving at their destination, Zhou Anping led him to the entrance of Chunming Pavilion, but he didn't go in himself. Instead, he stood with his arms crossed at the entrance of the tea shop, staring blankly at the dusty walls on the street.
Meng Qingshan picked out tea leaves and paid for them at the tea shop. Looking at her lonely silhouette standing in the cold wind through the glass window, his heart ached.
After buying the tea, the two got back into the car.
The return journey seemed shorter than the way there.
As they got closer to the military compound, Meng Qingshan knew that if he didn't speak up soon, this hard-won opportunity to be alone with her would be completely wasted, and he didn't know when they would meet again.
He took a deep breath and slowed down the car.
"Comrade Anping, thank you for leading the way today."
Zhou Anping turned his head to look out the window and hummed in response.
“I know that this excuse of ‘buying tea’ is very lame, and you must have noticed it too.”
He gave a self-deprecating twitch of his lips, then said seriously, "I just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to you alone for a few minutes."
Zhou Anping's heart skipped a beat, and his fingers gripped the scarf tightly.
“I remembered you the first time I saw you. Later, I asked my sister-in-law to ask you about you, and I waited for you at the Cultural Palace... And this time, I came to visit the Gu family on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, all because I like you, Comrade Zhou Anping.”
The carriage was so quiet you could hear the two of them breathing.
The heat on Zhou Anping's face reached all the way to his ears.
For a moment, she really wanted to hide herself away.
Meng Qingshan's tone became even more resolute: "I, Meng Qingshan, solemnly declare my feelings to you today. It is the kind of liking that is aimed at marriage. I hope to establish a revolutionary comradeship with you, to progress together, and to live together."
Liking? Marriage? Partner?
These words left Zhou Anping dizzy and disoriented.
A series of images flashed through her mind in an instant…
She should have refused.
Rejecting him will save you a lot of trouble.
The house is already messy enough...
But……
But deep inside, a small voice was rising up.
The way he looked at himself was different from how he looked at others.
He dared to say it so directly, not even afraid that she would laugh at his lame excuse... Besides, he was indeed very good, so good that even his mother couldn't find fault with him...
Agree? That's too sudden! She hasn't thought it through yet!
Refuse? That "no" seems a little... hard to say?
The jeep was slowly approaching the gate of the military compound; it was almost there.
Zhou Anping managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"...I...my mind is a mess right now. Let me...let me think about it..."
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingshan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but smile. "Alright! I'll wait for you to consider it! I'll wait as long as it takes!"
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