Chapter 428 Private Matters
Several classmates chimed in, saying they wanted to join in the fun, "Great! I heard their boiled pork slices are pretty good."
Nan Zhiyi tied the last stack of journals with a label and gave an apologetic smile: "I won't be going. My husband is coming to pick me up later."
Wang was packing his schoolbag when he turned around in surprise: "Nan, you're married?"
For the past month or so, these students who did the internship together, apart from knowing which professor each other were under and occasionally chatting about their studies, never talked about their personal matters.
All they knew was that Nan Zhiyi was Professor Wang's most capable graduate student and seemed to have published a book.
Nam Ji-yi is very low-key and never takes the initiative to talk about her private affairs with others.
During her many years at Peking University, apart from Yang Mei and Shan Xiaoyan, her counselor, and now Professor Wang, no one knew that Nan Zhiyi was married.
“Yes, we’ve been married for many years.” Nan Zhiyi took off her gloves, revealing a gold ring on her ring finger. “Our son is already in elementary school.”
Wang opened his mouth, looking at Nan Zhiyi's still young and beautiful face, and murmured, "I really can't believe it..."
Nan Zhiyi smiled but didn't reply.
She packed her cloth bag; she really didn't want to participate in this kind of meaningless social interaction.
Professor Wang is a truly dedicated teacher who nurtures her students. If she wants to stay at the university, she should rely on solid academic achievements, not these superficial social interactions.
These days, her studies, creative work, and family matters already take up all her time, leaving her with no energy to deal with these kinds of dinner parties.
Instead of wasting time, you should spend more time with that father and son, or work on the outline of your new book.
As the sun began to set outside the window, at exactly 5:30, the group locked the archive room door and walked out together.
Wang and Shi walked on either side of Nan Zhiyi, trying to build a relationship.
"Nan, I heard you're going to a writers' seminar?" Wang turned his head. "What day is it again?"
"At the end of the month," Nan Zhiyi said succinctly, "the professor said I need to submit a paper to the conference."
Wang looked very curious again, "I've heard Professor Li often praise you for publishing a book. What book is it? We'd like to read it too."
Student Shi then added, "Yes, I've also been wanting to try writing recently, but I don't know where to start."
Nan Zhiyi glanced at the sycamore trees by the roadside that were beginning to shed their leaves, and said in a flat voice, "They are all immature works, not worth mentioning."
She didn't want these classmates to know about her work, firstly because it might cause some pointless trouble on campus, and secondly because she didn't think her work would be of any help to them.
Wang's lips curled down, his face clearly showing dissatisfaction.
Seeing this, Shi awkwardly tried to smooth things over: "Oh dear, getting it published is already amazing! The literary and artistic circles really need new blood right now..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang had already pulled Shi forward a few steps, deliberately leaving Nan Zhiyi behind.
Nan Zhiyi noticed Wang's slight mood, but didn't care at all. She didn't care what these classmates she had just met thought of her.
She remained calm and continued at her usual pace.
A moment later, Liu caught up from behind and warmly invited again, "Nan, are you really not going to the dinner party? Bring your partner along, it'll be more fun with more people."
Nan Zhiyi: "......"
She couldn't believe the sight of Gu Xiao eating with this group of hotheads... it was hilarious just thinking about it.
"No, thank you."
Liu's expression immediately turned sour.
Nan Zhiyi found this person utterly inexplicable and stopped talking.
When she arrived at the school gate, Nan Zhiyi immediately spotted the familiar Jeep.
Gu Xiao was leaning against the car door checking his watch when he looked up and saw her, and immediately stood up straight.
"I'm leaving now." Nan Zhiyi nodded slightly to her classmates and walked towards Gu Xiao without waiting for their response.
She heard hushed whispers behind her:
"A military vehicle... Her husband is a military officer..." came the surprised voice of student Shi.
Wang scoffed, "No wonder he looks down on our petty squabbles."
Some people even said sourly, "Marrying well really makes a difference."
......
Nan Zhiyi could no longer hear the buzzing sound behind her. It was probably just some cheesy, meaningless chatter.
Gu Xiao took her cloth bag and opened the car door for her.
He stood ramrod straight, his gaze sweeping over those classmates with his usual sharpness.
He only showed a gentle expression when he bent down to fasten her seatbelt.
"Your classmate?"
"We were organizing the files together."
Nan Zhiyi saw through the car window that her classmates were still standing there, looking around. She rolled up the window, shutting out their inquisitive gazes.
"Are you unhappy?" Gu Xiao started the car, glancing at her slightly pursed lips out of the corner of his eye.
Nan Zhiyi shook her head and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear: "It's not that serious. It's just some minor emotional turmoil between young people."
She briefly recounted what had just happened.
Gu Xiao chuckled and squeezed her hand with his right: "You're young too. My wife is young, beautiful, and capable, so it's normal for her to arouse jealousy from others."
Nan Zhiyi laughed at his words, "It's so-so."
Gu Xiao turned his head back to focus on driving. He knew his wife wouldn't dwell on such a small matter, so he didn't bring it up again.
He then changed the subject to tonight's arrangements: "This is an internal army dinner following the cross-military region exercise. It's quite a large event; the General Staff and General Logistics Department are also here..."
Nan Zhiyi exclaimed, "Oh!" and quickly said, "I didn't even bother to dress up properly! You're going to go looking like this, all disheveled?"
She looked down at her simple dress and cardigan, and glared at Gu Xiao with a hint of resentment.
"Let's go home first, I need to get dressed up."
She didn't want to embarrass Gu Xiao.
Seeing that Gu Xiao remained silent, Nan Zhiyi leaned closer. "Fifth Brother, do you know? A wife's appearance reflects a husband's honor. If you don't let me dress up, people will see Minister Gu's wife looking disheveled..."
Gu Xiao smiled and stopped teasing her: "Alright, my Glory, there's a lounge at the hotel. I brought you clothes and other things you need in the back seat. I'll go with you to change."
Nan Zhiyi turned her head and saw that there were indeed two bags on the table behind her, which satisfied her.
"You're smart."
As dusk fell, the jeep drove into the gate of the Xishan Hotel. Along the way, there were many military vehicles, and groups of two or three officers with their families were walking towards the main building.
Gu Xiao parked the car and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Nan Zhiyi.
He led his wife to the VIP lounge and helped her change into the dress and jewelry he had brought.
Nan Zhiyi carefully styled her hair in front of the mirror, touched up her makeup, and then asked Gu Xiao, "Do I look good now?"
Gu Xiao nodded slightly. "It looks good."
Nan Zhiyi was a little skeptical of her daughter-in-law's exaggerated claims.
"Really? You're not kidding me, are you?"
Gu Xiao held her arm as they stood in front of the mirror. "It's absolutely true."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com