Chapter 436 Rabbit
The sky outside the window was dark and gloomy, and snowflakes were falling heavily on the glass, forming fluffy ice flowers.
Nan Zhiyi stood on the edge of the bed, her fingertips fastening the top button of Gu Xiao's military uniform. The dark green wool fabric made his features appear even more stern, yet his eyes held a smile as he intently gazed at her face.
Her dark hair, cascading down her cheeks, gleamed with an luster like black jade, making her appear even more gentle and tender.
"I told you to sleep a little longer."
Nan Zhiyi continued working, then yawned: "I just wanted to serve Minister Gu a little."
She had just finished buttoning her clothes when he grabbed her waist and pulled her forward half a step.
Gu Xiao suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up, burying his face in her neck and taking a deep breath: "Mmm, thank you, wife."
"Okay, go to work now." She gently nudged his shoulder.
Gu Xiao looked at the swirling snow peeking through the gap in the curtains: "Going out again today?"
“Xiaoxuan has that kind of personality; once she makes a promise, she’ll do it even if it’s raining knives.” Nan Zhiyi straightened his collar. “Besides, we haven’t seen each other for a month or two.”
"Remember to call. I'll have Xiao Liu pick you up." He hooked his fingertip around the belt of her bathrobe, then quickly let go.
“I’ll just take a taxi,” Nan Zhiyi said. “Why do I always bother him?”
Gu Xiao shook his head helplessly and kissed her cheek: "Sleep a little longer, I'm on duty tonight."
As the sound of military boots faded away at the stairwell, Nan Zhiyi lay back in her still-warm bed, hearing the jeep engine fading into the distance downstairs.
I remembered Li Xiaoxuan saying that Friendship Store had just received some new French skincare products, and I was going to meet up with two girlfriends for a beauty treatment today.
In the past six months, Xiaoxuan seems to have had a breakthrough. She goes to art exhibitions, learns flower arranging, and has become a modern woman and an expert in entertainment in Beijing.
Nan Zhi thought that this might not be bad, at least it would make her feel happier.
The snow eased a bit in the afternoon, and she escorted Gu Zhao to the entrance of the affiliated primary school. The child was bundled up like a little cotton ball, and he didn't forget to hop and skip in the snow.
Watching her son chase and jostle into the school gate with his familiar friends, Nan Zhiyi then walked towards the gate of the compound.
She waved and hailed a taxi.
White mist clung to the car window. Nan Zhiyi wiped a clear mirror with her fingertips and gazed at the street scene flashing past outside.
The capital city has changed so fast in recent years that it's almost unbelievable.
The taxi stopped in front of Wangfujing Department Store, and she went straight to the "Chunming Tea House" on the second floor.
The heating is on full blast here. As soon as you push open the carved glass door, the aroma of coffee mixed with the warm air rushes in, making you feel cozy and comfortable.
As soon as Nan Zhiyi untied her scarf, she saw Li Xiaoxuan waving from the booth by the window.
"Xiaoxuan".
“You’re here early,” Li Xiaoxuan said, wearing a magenta wool dress with a half-finished lemonade in front of her. “I just got here. What would you like to drink? It’s on me today.”
She pushed the gold-embossed drink menu forward.
“Let me treat you,” Nan Zhiyi said, taking off her coat to reveal a dark green cashmere sweater. “Consider it an apology.”
"Ah! You know you should apologize?" Li Xiaoxuan slapped her hand exaggeratedly. "You only come once or twice out of ten invitations!"
Nan Zhiyi smiled helplessly: "You're exaggerating. Things should be easier after I graduate and start working. I'm currently revising my thesis and preparing for a writers' seminar..."
Li Xiaoxuan waved, and a waiter in a white uniform came over with a tray.
"A cup of Brazilian coffee."
She then asked Nan Zhiyi, "Zhiyi, what would you like to drink?"
Nan Zhiyi flipped open the leather menu and tapped the "English Black Tea" label with her fingertip: "And a chestnut cake, please?"
Li Xiaoxuan giggled, "Yes, you're treating today, I won't be polite."
Nan Zhiyi asked the waiter to write down two pieces of chestnut cake.
After the waiter left, Nan Zhiyi smiled at Li Xiaoxuan.
Li Xiaoxuan looked left and right, then lowered her voice: "What are you laughing at? Are you so happy? Is Minister Gu really going to be promoted?"
"Isn't it enough that I'm happy to see you?"
Nan Zhiyi glared at her, "You're quite well-informed. But he never tells me much about his work."
Li Xiaoxuan clearly didn't believe her and leaned forward slightly: "Don't try to fool me. I can't just keep it all from you, can I?"
"Yes, they didn't tell me at all."
Nan Zhiyi drew out her words, just as the waiter came over with a tray. "Eat first! Don't ask any more questions."
The aroma of black tea blends with the richness of coffee, and the two cakes are garnished with candied cherries.
Li Xiaoxuan had no choice but to pick up her fork: "I knew you were tight-lipped."
Nan Zhiyi cut off a slice of cake, the cream melting on her tongue: "Mmm, you should try it, it's quite delicious."
She looked at the counter and said, "Wait a minute, I'll pack two portions to take back to my son."
"Okay, okay." Li Xiaoxuan took a few bites and then said, "Sister Liping and Sister Wenjuan will be here later too."
Chen Wenjuan is the eldest daughter of the Chen family. Last year... her husband made a love nest outside with a woman in a blue dress, and Chen Wenjuan smashed the gate to pieces...
Nan Zhiyi took a sip of black tea, and looked at Li Xiaoxuan with some curiosity: "What happened to Comrade Chen's husband's matter later?"
Li Xiaoxuan looked around and lowered her voice: "What else can we do? We'll just have to make do."
"That's it?" Nan Zhiyi frowned, utterly puzzled. "Continue?"
“The two families’ fathers were comrades-in-arms during the Long March, and their child is still in elementary school.” Li Xiaoxuan sighed. “Sister Wenjuan wants to get a divorce, but neither her husband’s family nor her own family will agree. You know, her father just retired from the front line and needs the help of his in-laws right now.”
The melody of "Velvet Flower" drifted through the teahouse. Nan Zhiyi gazed at the swirling snowflakes outside the window, recalling Chen Wenjuan's usual gentle demeanor, and the wistful sadness in Li Xiaoxuan's voice at this moment...
A pang of pity stirred in her heart, and she asked, "Have you been taking Comrade Chen out for walks lately?"
"She's more open-minded now."
Li Xiaoxuan suddenly leaned closer, her voice even softer, "I met an art teacher at the Cultural Palace ball last time."
Seeing Nan Zhiyi cough slightly from the black tea, she raised her drawn willow-leaf eyebrows triumphantly, "Scared, aren't you? Next time, wait until you've swallowed the tea."
Nan Zhiyi pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth: "I really didn't expect this... Comrade Chen looks the most dignified, not like this kind of person."
"Even a rabbit will bite when cornered," Li Xiaoxuan said, dropping a sugar cube into her coffee. "Her husband secretly ran off to another city again recently. Since they're each doing their own thing, who doesn't know how to have fun?"
Nan Zhiyi didn't ask any more questions and focused on drinking her tea. The sweet cake paired with the mellow black tea was quite a good match.
Just then, the wind chimes at the door rang softly, and Zhao Liping and Chen Wenjuan entered hand in hand.
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