Chapter 461 Familiarity
Nan Zhiyi put down the receiver and returned to the sofa. Before she could even warm the blanket, the phone rang again.
This time it was a female voice, claiming to be the lover of a certain department director. Nan Zhiyi had met her once at a large conference, but they weren't close.
Another round of enthusiastic New Year's greetings followed, interspersed with compliments to Minister Gu and praise for her as a "wise and capable wife."
Nan Zhiyi perked up and replied politely, "You're too kind... I also wish you and your family a happy and healthy New Year."
The phone rang incessantly throughout the morning, almost without stopping.
The phone rang incessantly, with sincere New Year's greetings from familiar friends, as well as many more who were merely acquaintances or even complete strangers.
The content is largely the same: New Year's greetings, inquiries to Minister Gu, and subtle compliments or probing.
Even while she was preparing lunch in the kitchen, she had to rush to the living room twice with a spatula to answer the phone, repeating similar New Year's greetings. By the time she returned to the kitchen, the food in the pot was almost burnt.
After lunch, as the phone rang again, Nan Zhiyi finally felt exhausted.
She walked to the telephone, but instead of answering it, she reached out and took the receiver down, setting it aside.
The receiver kept playing a busy tone, which at least temporarily shut out the "enthusiasm" from the outside world.
She called to her son, "Gu Zhao, come upstairs for a nap."
Gu Zhao had been playing all morning and was a little tired, so she obediently followed her mother upstairs.
Nan Zhiyi first accompanied her son into the children's room.
Gu Zhao yawned as he took off his thick cotton-padded coat.
"Mom, look, I have so many candies in my pocket!"
Colorful fruit candies, milk candies, and a few chocolates wrapped in pretty cellophane were dumped onto the bed.
"Brother Tiger took us to several homes to wish people a Happy New Year. We shared the gifts from the uncles and aunts. Some people even tried to give me red envelopes..."
Nan Zhiyi's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "Red envelope? You didn't accept it, did you?"
“No,” Gu Zhao shook her head and burrowed into the blankets. “Dad said that we shouldn’t accept money or valuables from strangers. The candy was shared by everyone, so it doesn’t count.”
Nan Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief, sat on the edge of the bed, and rubbed her son's cheek: "Good son, you did the right thing. Remember, never accept anything from someone, especially money. Candy and snacks that are shared are fine."
"Okay..." Gu Zhao drawled, her eyelids almost closing. "Good afternoon, Mom."
"good afternoon."
Nan Zhiyi gently closed the door, returned to the master bedroom, and drew the curtains, dimming the light in the room.
She lay down on the bed, and a feeling of exhaustion and relaxation washed over her, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Nan Zhiyi slept soundly, as if she had fallen into warm, thick clouds, until she felt a familiar, calloused touch on her cheek, one after another.
She struggled to open her eyelids, her vision blurred for a while before finally focusing on Gu Xiao's face, which was so close to hers, his eyes filled with a gentle tenderness.
She didn't react for a moment, her voice muffled: "Ah...did I sleep until the middle of the night? Why are you back?"
Gu Xiao sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers still resting on her cheek. Upon hearing this, a smile flashed in his eyes.
"Around 4 PM, I tried calling home, but the line was busy. I just finished what I was doing and came back to see you..."
Nan Zhiyi then remembered the telephone receiver she had removed.
She stretched out her arms, both coquettish and lazy: "Hug me."
Gu Xiao bent down and, with a little effort, picked her up, letting her sit against his chest.
"I woke you up, don't be angry," he said softly, his lips brushing against her forehead. "It's time to go to bed tonight, I'm sleepy."
Nan Zhiyi buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent, "I won't be angry with you."
She said honestly, "I'm happy to see you."
Gu Xiao felt a warm, ticklish sensation in his heart, and leaned down to kiss her cheek again: "Mmm."
After cuddling with her tenderly for a while, he asked, "Did you get too many phone calls at home this morning?" He could imagine that situation, but this year it was probably even more so.
Nan Zhiyi snuggled closer to him and complained softly, "Yeah, it hasn't stopped all morning... I'm getting tired of it."
She looked up at him. "I'll put the phone away in a bit."
"No rush." Gu Xiao patted her back. "Relationships that truly need to be maintained aren't determined by this one phone call. Social interactions, whether intentional or not, aren't measured by a phone call."
Nan Zhiyi didn't respond, but nuzzled against his neck again, pulling his arms even tighter.
She was warm and cozy, carrying the soft, warm scent unique to her from the comfort of the bed. Her hair brushed against his chin and neck, tickling him a little, yet he found it irresistible.
Gu Xiao was aroused by her rubbing against him.
The person in my arms was completely unguarded, still sleepy, dependent and affectionate, like a soft little animal that had put away all its sharp edges.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his breathing became a little heavier.
But he only kissed her more deeply and restrainedly, their lips touching, lingering for a moment, before forcing himself to release her arms.
"I have to go back to the department; I have to be on duty tonight."
Nan Zhiyi felt a little disappointed when he let go of her, but she still clung to him softly, saying, "How about I bring you dinner tonight?"
"No need, it's cold and the roads are slippery, Xiao Liu will get me food from the cafeteria."
Gu Xiao didn't care much for food and felt there was no need to make a fuss.
Nan Zhiyi nodded: "Okay."
He smoothed her slightly disheveled hair. "Wife, I'll try to come back as early as possible today. We'll head back to Jian'an first thing tomorrow morning."
Nan Zhiyi hummed in agreement, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, and only revealed her eyes as she looked at him.
Gu Xiao looked at her for two more seconds, as if trying to etch her gentle appearance into his eyes, before standing up.
"Wait a while before getting up. Gu Zhao went out to play by herself. It's okay."
"good."
Nan Zhiyi leaned against the pillows, watching him turn and leave the bedroom.
His back was straight, but his steps were a little faster than usual. As he went downstairs, the sound of his footsteps on the wooden stairs thumped away and disappeared into the sound of the door closing.
Nan Zhiyi lay quietly on the pillow for a while before slowly getting up.
She changed into her pajamas, went downstairs, put the phone receiver back in its place, and began to methodically pack Jian'an's luggage.
Her and Gu Xiao's clothes, Gu Zhao's comic books and clothes, and the gifts they brought to various families... were categorized and gradually piled up into a neat little mountain in the center of the living room.
When Gu Zhao returned from playing and saw this scene, the excitement on his face immediately turned into guilt.
"Mom..." he sidled closer, his voice low, "I was so busy playing that I didn't even come to help you..."
Looking at her son's drooping head, Nan Zhiyi announced earnestly, "Comrade Gu Zhao, you've come back just in time. Mom has a glorious and arduous task for you to complete."
Gu Zhao looked up. "What mission?"
"Help Mom check if you've packed everything in your suitcase. And," she pointed to the gift bags on the floor specifically for the children, "are all these gifts for your older and younger brothers and sisters here? Don't forget anyone..."
"I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Gu Zhao became serious, carefully washed his hands, and squatted down in front of the 'mountain' to check each item one by one.
He pointed out a few minor, harmless issues, and Nan Zhiyi praised him generously: "Comrade Gu Zhao completed the task exceptionally well!"
Gu Zhao grinned from ear to ear at the praise, "Mom, Dad and I will carry all these things to the car tomorrow! You just need to wait, you don't need to lift a finger!"
“Okay,” Nan Zhiyi replied with a smile, “Then Mom will be counting on the two men in our family.”
The next morning, as dawn broke, the family set off.
Gu Zhao always kept his word. Like a little orderly, he followed closely behind Gu Xiao, helping to carry some light items, making trip after trip.
Nan Zhiyi stayed in the kitchen, preparing a kettle and lunchboxes.
As dawn broke, the family of three got into the car, and Gu Xiao started the engine and drove towards Jian'an.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com