Chapter 414 Fragrance
Department store.
In the sweltering summer, daily necessities are consumed quickly, so Nan Zhiyi thought she might as well buy some new ones and perhaps get some fresh ones.
Compared to the previous two years, the merchandise displayed in the counter is significantly more abundant and brighter in color.
Oval-shaped shampoos and pump-type body washes have replaced the previously monotonous soaps, and there are now more varieties of cold creams and body lotions in glass bottles.
The perfume bottle has an elegant design, with a small card next to it indicating "imported from France" and "elegant floral fragrance".
There are also more lipstick options available, with softer shades such as mauve and orange-pink.
The saleswoman was a young woman wearing a clean white apron. When she saw Nan Zhiyi stop and look around, she took out several newly arrived shades for her to try.
Nan Zhiyi initially just looked around, but unable to resist the saleswoman's enthusiasm, she gently drew a line on the back of her hand in front of a small mirror. It was a coral color, softer than bright red, which made her skin appear even whiter.
"This color suits you perfectly!"
Nan Zhiyi also liked it and was in a good mood: "Then please wrap it up."
"Sir, take a look at our new French perfumes." The saleswoman smiled and pointed to the perfumes next to her. "These are from Guangzhou; the scents are more unique. Would you like to try them?"
Nan Zhiyi was persuaded again and bought a small bottle.
After a while, Nan Zhiyi started to lose control.
She bought a lotion that supposedly moisturizes and whitens; a new shower gel; beard conditioner for Gu Xiao; and even a few bottles of elegantly colored nail polish... By the time she finally snapped out of her shopping spree, her hands were already full of paper bags and net bags of all sizes.
That evening, Nan Zhiyi took a shower with the new shower gel she had bought, and then carefully applied the new lotion and moisturizer. She even took a sniff of herself, and smelled wonderfully, which made her laugh to herself.
She turned on the bedside lamp, took out the bottle of rose-red nail polish, and just as she unscrewed the cap, ready to do it herself, she rolled her eyes and stopped.
After Gu Xiao finished showering and sat down on the edge of the bed while drying his hair, Nan Zhiyi leaned over and shoved the nail polish bottle into his hand, saying, "Gu Xiao, paint my nails."
Without saying a word, Gu Xiao tossed aside the towel in his hand and took the small bottle of nail polish.
Holding her hand in one hand and a small brush in the other, I held my breath and carefully began to apply the product under the light of the desk lamp.
After painting one nail, he admired it carefully and praised, "Even my wife's little hands are so beautiful."
Nan Zhiyi said haughtily, "That's right~"
When he applied the ointment to his right ring finger, he paused slightly.
Under the light, the gold ring gleamed with a warm luster at the base of her finger.
Gu Xiao's eyes dimmed. "You've been wearing this ring all these years... but I can only wear it occasionally when I'm on leave or not in uniform."
Nan Zhiyi raised her other hand and gently stroked his cheek, which was so close to hers.
"It's okay. Your kindness is more important than anything else. I know that."
Afraid that he would continue to feel sentimental about this topic, she quickly pinched his chin with her fingertips and urged, "Hurry up, concentrate on applying it. It's not even evenly applied here yet. Don't smudge it."
Gu Xiao obediently lowered his head and continued to focus on the "work" in his hands.
He even learned on his own that once the first layer was almost dry, he would apply a thin second layer to make the color more saturated and even.
When he finally finished applying the last oil to the last finger, he carefully held her hands and even tried to blow on them to dry them. His earnestness made Nan Zhiyi laugh.
She praised him generously, "Minister Gu's skills are quite good. From now on, we'll contract this service to you?"
"My pleasure."
Gu Xiao chuckled softly, carefully holding her hand and adjusting the angle so that the breeze would caress her still-damp nails as she faced the fan.
Nan Zhiyi stared intently at his long, dark eyelashes, her expression focused as if she were dealing with some important task.
Although Gu Xiao didn't look up, he could feel her gaze. "My wife is looking at me so intently?"
“Yes,” Nan Zhiyi said without hesitation, her gaze lingering on his face, “I think Minister Gu is really handsome, I can’t get enough of looking at him.”
Gu Xiao finally raised his eyes, his gaze meeting hers directly.
His eyes were deep and gentle, but beneath that gentleness surged a familiar aggressiveness, making Nan Zhiyi's heart skip a beat.
“Comrade Nan Zhiyi,” he deliberately used a formal address, drawing out the last syllable with a lingering tone, “are you trying to sweet-talk me again?”
Nan Zhiyi forced herself to meet his gaze, "No, I'm telling the truth!"
Gu Xiao leaned in and planted a brief kiss on her lips, then stepped back slightly to get down to business.
"Dad called today, saying the Luo family's wedding banquet is the day after tomorrow, and he wants me to go." He observed her expression. "It's up to you to decide whether you want to come with me or stay home and rest."
He guessed that she might not want to see Lu Linlang, after all, those past entanglements were never pleasant to recall.
Nan Zhiyi really didn't want to see Lu Linlang, but she also knew that Gu Xiao would inevitably feel lonely on some occasions when he attended alone, which might lead to unnecessary speculation.
She pursed her lips. "Then... I'll risk my life to accompany you?"
Gu Xiao gave her the choice: "It's up to you. If you want to go, we'll go together; if you don't want to go, I'll just go and check in by myself and come back quickly."
"I'll go with you!"
"I couldn't have gotten it."
The topic of the wedding banquet was dropped.
Gu Xiao gently touched the last nail tip that had been painted with his fingertip to make sure the nail polish was completely dry before he could comfortably pull his wife into his arms and take a deep breath.
"The scent is different today, is it a new one?"
"Hmm," Nan Zhiyi leaned against his chest, "Yeah, I went to the department store today and bought a lot of new toiletries. Oh right, I also bought you new aftershave and a razor. They're on the cabinet next to the sink. Did you see them?"
Gu Xiao pulled his wife onto his lap and nuzzled her earlobe. "Silly talk, of course I saw it. Thank you, my wife, for remembering me even in your busy schedule."
Nan Zhiyi wanted to push him away, the burning heat of their skin touching made her panic, but her arms seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around his neck and she couldn't bear to move.
Zhang Yueran went back to her dormitory at the research institute, and Gu Zhao wasn't home either. At this moment, only the two of them were in the small building...
The thought had barely crossed her mind when Gu Xiao noticed her distraction and forcefully pushed her onto the bed.
"Wife, tonight... you can speak a little louder..."
Nan Zhiyi stared at him with eyes as clear as water.
The next morning, after getting up with sore legs, Nan Zhiyi remembered the wedding banquet and the first thing she did was call Li Xiaoxuan.
"Xiaoxuan, you said your sister-in-law would be representing you at the Luo family wedding banquet the day after tomorrow. What about you? Why don't you go too? Just to keep me company. Otherwise, it'll be so boring for me to be there alone with people I don't know very well."
Li Xiaoxuan readily agreed, "Okay! I'll go with you, sister-in-law. We'll sit at the same table, and after the meal, if we get bored, we can slip away early. I'll go shopping with you at the department store, or we can find a place to grab a cold drink, how about that?"
"Then it's settled! You're the best!"
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