Chapter 11 Trust
"The factories, shops, and furnishings that were publicly visible... were all donated or... taken away. That's all that's left."
Nan Zhiyi lowered her long eyelashes, concealing the tears in her eyes. "Fifth Brother, this is all I have left."
A suppressed anger silently rose in Gu Xiao's chest.
He never expected that Nan Zhiyi would dare to hand over these things, and even her life, so easily to a man she had just married.
What if that person wasn't him? Would she still dare to do that?
He gritted his teeth. "Nan Zhiyi, you're really bold. Why did you dare tell...me?"
Nan Zhiyi: "Because I trust Fifth Brother."
She added, "I won't talk about anyone else."
Gu Xiao's anger subsided slightly, and a smile appeared on his lips, but it quickly disappeared.
Are other people included, including Zhou Zhengping?
But he didn't press the matter further, thinking there would be plenty of time in the future.
"Take it and put it away properly."
Nan Zhiyi nodded silently, picked up the oil paper package, and turned to walk towards the stairs.
Gu Xiao's gaze followed her figure until she disappeared around the corner of the stairs before he looked away.
Upstairs bedroom.
Nan Zhiyi opened her camphor wood trunk and began packing.
She carefully folded several dresses, cheongsams, and sweaters of decent quality and in simple colors and placed them inside. Next came the silk pillowcase embroidered by Nanmu.
The dressing table was empty; the once exquisite makeup boxes had been taken away...
She rummaged under the wardrobe and pulled out a small cloth bag containing a few things she had secretly kept: several bottles of French perfume and a few skincare products with foreign packaging.
Next, quilts, pillows, sheets, blankets, enamel mugs, washbasins...
The stuff keeps piling up...
She secretly glanced up at Gu Xiao, who was standing by the door.
"Fifth Brother... the jeep... I'm afraid it won't fit everything, will it?" She looked at the mountain of items, her ears turning red.
Gu Xiao did not blame her; he liked Nan Zhiyi's lively and charming demeanor.
"The military region will provide new bedding. Enamel basins and teacups are available there, so you don't need to bring them. However, you can bring whatever you like. Just make sure no one sees it in public."
Nan Zhiyi understood what he meant and breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Xiao started taking her packed items into the car, and she followed suit, carrying some lighter items.
After everything was tidied up, it was already very late at night.
All was quiet outside the window.
Nan Zhiyi suddenly remembered something, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across her face.
"Fifth Brother, you haven't eaten anything yet." Her voice carried a belated apology.
Gu Xiao's face remained calm as he simply said, "It's nothing."
He turned and left the room, returning a moment later with two military-grade compressed biscuits in one hand and a military water bottle in the other.
Nan Zhiyi had little appetite; the dry, hard crumbs filled her mouth, carrying a faint alkaline taste.
Seeing her chewing with difficulty, Gu Xiao opened the kettle and handed it to her.
She drank several large gulps of water before she finally caught her breath.
"I...can't eat anymore. I'll go clean the guest room."
Nan Zhiyi walked out quickly.
The guest room hadn't been occupied for a long time. She opened the closet and took out the sheets, blankets, and pillows.
Gu Xiao stood at the door of the guest room, watching her slightly awkward movements.
"Alright, Fifth Brother, get some rest. We have to travel tomorrow morning."
"Mm," Gu Xiao replied.
Nan Zhiyi left, gently closed the guest room door, and quickly walked back to her bedroom.
She didn't sleep well all night.
When she woke up, it was almost eight o'clock.
She got up and went to the living room. On the table was a military mess kit, with a note underneath; the handwriting was strong and forceful:
"I'm going out on an errand, I'll be right back."
The lunchbox contained steaming hot white porridge and a boiled egg.
She ate silently.
A knocking sounded suddenly.
Nan Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat.
She put down her spoon, walked to the door, and hesitantly opened it a crack.
It was Zhou Anping.
She came in, her face a mixture of surprise and worry.
"Zhiyi! I was so worried about you! I've been knocking on your door every day for the past few days! There's been no answer at all! Where have you been? I thought..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but her eyes were already red as she looked Nan Zhiyi up and down. "Are you alright? Are you okay?"
Looking at her friend's anxious face, Nan Zhiyi felt as if something was blocking her throat.
The matter of marrying Gu Xiao... cannot be discussed.
Given Gu Jia's background and her current social standing, this hasty marriage cannot be easily revealed to others, and even less can it implicate Gu Jia.
She avoided Zhou Anping's probing gaze, her voice a little hoarse: "I... I'm fine. I found... another job. For now... I won't be going to the countryside."
Zhou Anping's eyes lit up. "Great! What kind of job? Where is it? Is it tiring?"
Nan Zhiyi gave a vague answer: "Um... I just... I help people with some things, it's alright."
She glanced nervously at the closed door, fearing that Gu Xiao might come back and see her.
"Anping, I'm fine, don't worry. How's your brother...?"
"My brother?" Zhou Anping pursed his lips and lowered his voice, "My dad packed him up and sent him away overnight! He said he was going to the military region next door for training and learning, but really he just didn't want him to worry about you anymore!"
His eyes were red when he left. He repeatedly told me to find out about you, and to wait for him, saying he would definitely find a way... Zhiyi, don't blame my brother, he..."
"I don't blame him, it's all in the past."
She just wanted to end the meeting as soon as possible.
"Anping, you still have to go to work later, right? Shall we... get together again next time? I'll contact you once I'm settled."
Zhou Anping opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed back what he wanted to say.
She nodded, then looked closely at Nan Zhiyi's face, and only felt slightly relieved after confirming that she seemed to be fine except for being tired.
Before leaving, she remembered something, and a gloating smile appeared on her face:
"By the way, Zhiyi, let me tell you something that will make you feel better! That jerk Wang Lili took a nasty fall the other day and broke both her arms! I heard she was screaming in pain! Serves her right! Once she gets out of the hospital, I'm going to go and 'comfort' her properly, and teach her a lesson!"
After she finished speaking, she raised her eyebrows triumphantly.
Wang Lili? Broken both arms?
Nan Zhiyi was slightly taken aback.
The news came suddenly.
But at this moment, she had too many things weighing on her mind, and this thought of gloating didn't stir up much of a ripple in her heart.
She merely tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "Is that so?"
Seeing her lukewarm reaction, Zhou Anping lost interest. He gave her a few more instructions, such as "Take good care of yourself" and "Be sure to contact me," before leaving, turning back to look at her every few steps.
After closing the door, Nan Zhiyi leaned against it and let out a long sigh.
She had only one thought in her mind: a new life had begun. For better or for worse, she could only move forward. To survive, and for... her parents.
Around noon, Gu Xiao returned and helped her lock the doors and windows of the small building before taking her away.
The car drove out of the city, and the road became bumpy.
Nan Zhiyi leaned against the car window, watching the increasingly desolate scenery outside, with vast stretches of barren land and the occasional row of low adobe houses.
Drowsiness crept in, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep against the car window.
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