Chapter 111 Compromise
The road back to the compound wasn't far, and two rows of footprints were left side by side on the snow.
Chen Hong noticed her unease and silence, but didn't press her about the performing arts troupe or her family. He simply chatted about the weather and reminded her to be careful on the slippery roads in the snow.
Occasionally, when she loses her footing, I will subconsciously offer a slight support to her elbow, demonstrating a good sense of proportion.
He no longer engaged in the same lively discussions as he did at the dinner table; instead, he appeared calm and meticulous.
This considerate silence and appropriate care allowed Zhou Anping's tense nerves to relax slightly.
She secretly glanced at him; he appeared upright and reliable.
Perhaps... this person isn't as bad as I imagined? At least, he knows how to take care of people's feelings right now.
Upon reaching the gate of the compound, Zhou Anping stopped. "Battalion Commander Chen, thank you for bringing me back. Let's stop here."
Chen Hong scratched the back of his head and smiled broadly: "Alright then, Comrade Anping, take care. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Zhou Anping nodded, watching him turn and leave, his figure quickly disappearing into the night and falling snow.
She didn't go home immediately, but instead headed towards the Gu family's small building.
The second floor of the Gu family home.
Nan Zhiyi and Gu Xiao had already eaten dinner and were snuggling up on the sofa in their bedroom upstairs, talking.
The orderly knocked on the door to announce, "Comrade Anping has arrived," and Gu Xiao frowned.
Nan Zhiyi patted his hand and said, "I'll go see her."
Gu Xiao gently squeezed the back of her neck soothingly: "Go ahead."
She quickly went downstairs.
Zhou Anping was sitting on the living room sofa, looking somewhat reserved.
Seeing Nan Zhiyi come down, she stood up, her face apologetic: "Zhiyi, I'm sorry to bother you so late..."
Nan Zhiyi pulled her to sit down: "It's only a little past seven, what's late? Sit down. I'll make you some tea."
"No, no, I don't want to drink." Zhou Anping quickly waved his hand. "I just... I just want to talk to you."
Seeing her hesitant expression, Nan Zhiyi understood a bit and asked softly, "Did you...go to see someone today?"
Zhou Anping nodded, his fingers twisting together, a hint of shyness appearing on his face: "Yes. I've met you."
"So? Who is it? Tell me quickly." Nan Zhiyi leaned closer, very curious.
"His name is Chen Hong, he's the nephew of Deputy Political Commissar Chen, and he was just promoted to battalion commander..."
Zhou Anping gave a general account of what happened at the dinner table: how enthusiastic his mother was, how silent he was, and... that final silent journey together.
"He...didn't talk much, but...he was very thoughtful. The road was slippery, so he walked on the outside the whole time and didn't ask me anything...he just saw me to the door."
Nan Zhiyi listened carefully and noticed a softening in Zhou Anping's emotions.
She looked into Zhou Anping's eyes: "You sound... like a fairly steady person? So... what do you think?"
Zhou Anping's eyes darted around, but finally he seemed to have made up his mind: "Zhiyi... if... if this person seems alright, and there aren't any major problems after getting to know him... I might... just... get married."
Nan Zhiyi's heart tightened.
Anping, this is not the shyness of a young girl in love, but a compromise.
She reached out and grasped Zhou Anping's cold fingers: "Anping, marriage is a major life event, you can't just 'let it go'. Feeling okay is just the beginning. Ask around more with Aunt Song, try to understand his character and family situation from different angles. Most importantly, you should also get to know him a few more times and see if you get along. Don't rush into a decision."
Nan Zhiyi's palm was very warm, and Zhou Anping gripped it tighter, finding solace in the slight confusion in his heart.
She nodded: "Yes, I know. I... I'll think about it some more."
The two chatted for a long time, talking about Chen Hong, the performing arts troupe, and their respective recent situations.
When the wall clock struck 8:30, Zhou Anping got up to say goodbye: "Zhiyi, I'm going back now. Get some rest, I'll come see you when I have time."
Nan Zhiyi saw her to the door and then went back upstairs to her bedroom.
Gu Xiao was leaning against his desk reading documents when he saw her come in. He reached out his hand to her and asked, "Have you been talking for so long? Is Anping alright?"
Nan Zhiyi snuggled into his arms and sighed softly, "Aunt Song forced me to go on a blind date, and I feel... I'm kind of interested. His name is Chen Hong, a battalion commander. I hope he's a really good person."
Gu Xiao hugged her tighter: "Don't worry too much, she knows what she's doing."
Not wanting her to keep thinking about others, he reached out and pinched Nan Zhiyi's chin: "You seem to be in good spirits today. Tomorrow is New Year's Day, would you like to go out for a walk? To clear your mind?"
"Okay, where to?"
Nan Zhiyi couldn't think of a good place to go for the time being.
"What did you do in winter before? I remember you guys always loved to go ice skating?" Gu Xiao reminded him.
There is a lake on the outskirts of Jian'an City. When it gets coldest, a natural skating rink is set up there, which is a rare place for young people in the city to relax in winter.
Nan Zhi's thoughts were also pulled back to the past.
"yes!"
She recalled a time during the Spring Festival holiday when she, Zhou Zhengping, and Zhou Anping went to the Gu family's courtyard to pick up Gu Yan, only to bump into Gu Xiao, who was home on holiday, at the gate.
Gu Yan ran after them with great joy, but Gu Xiao was sent out by Commander Gu with the instruction to "keep an eye on them".
All afternoon, he skated alone at the edge of the ice rink, his movements agile yet exuding a coldness that kept strangers at bay.
She and Zhou Anping held hands, clumsily and joyfully spinning around on the ice. Occasionally, she would catch a glimpse of Gu Xiao, and he seemed like a moving iceberg... That was one of the few "group activities" she could remember Gu Xiao participating in, although he was like a silent background figure throughout.
She couldn't help but chuckle softly, poking Gu Xiao's chest with her fingertip: "That time you were skating, brother, were you lonely skating alone on the side?"
Gu Xiao grabbed her fingers and tucked them into his arms. "Lonely. Seeing you holding hands with someone else, laughing so happily... makes you even lonelier."
This straightforward revelation made Nan Zhiyi's heart feel like it had been brushed by a feather, leaving a tingling sensation.
Gu Xiao's eyes darkened as she pinched his chin.
He nodded readily: "Yes. You are very beautiful." His gaze traced her eyebrows and eyes, "Like a little sun, brightening wherever you go, making people want to get closer."
Being so directly affirmed by her beloved regarding her beauty and presence, Nan Zhiyi felt incredibly sweet inside, but she retorted sharply, "Hmph, you're just lusting after me!"
Gu Xiao didn't refute, but just stared at her intently, the lamplight casting dappled light and shadow in his eyes.
"And what about you? Would you be attracted to me just because you're pretty?"
Nan Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her.
His eyebrows, nose, and the curve of his thin lips were all mesmerizing in the light and shadow.
No wonder the ancients said, "To admire a beauty under the lamplight..."
She stared blankly, then licked her dry lips: "Yes."
Gu Xiao smiled smugly, cupped her face, lowered his head, pried open her teeth, and began to suckle and entwine.
Nan Zhiyi felt weak all over and climbed her hands up his neck, her fingertips digging into the stubble of his nape.
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