Chapter 456 Vulnerability
When I got home, it was already completely dark.
Nan Zhiyi took off Gu Zhao's coat and patted off non-existent dust from his shoulder.
"Go take a shower and change clothes. I've been out all day."
She still can't shake this little bit of her obsession with cleanliness.
Gu Zhao obediently carried her change of clothes into the bathroom.
Nan Zhiyi returned to the master bedroom, quickly washed up, changed into cotton pajamas, and loosely tied her hair up.
The room was very warm, making one's skin dry, but it couldn't dispel the deep-seated fatigue.
She could manage at most two such social engagements a day. Today, she went to seven or eight more, having to smile, talk, and be mindful of her words at each one—it was incredibly exhausting. It was even more tiring than staying up all night to finish a manuscript.
After a quick dinner, Nan Zhiyi settled her son in and then got into bed herself.
It was only a little past seven o'clock, and the occasional sound of firecrackers could be heard outside the window, muffled, as if through a layer of cotton.
She pulled the blanket up and covered herself completely.
Darkness and silence crept in.
She fell asleep almost immediately.
When I woke up again, I was startled by the slight vibration of the mattress and the rustling of clothes.
She opened her eyes groggily and saw Gu Xiao gently lifting the blanket.
A small bedside lamp was lit in the room, its dim light illuminating his profile, highlighting his taut jawline.
The alarm clock on the bedside table shows that it is 1:20 a.m.
She slept for a full six hours, a deep and restful sleep that dispelled most of her fatigue and left her feeling relaxed to the bone.
Gu Xiao turned off the light, lay down beside her, and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his movements very gentle.
"Did I wake you up? Sorry."
Nan Zhiyi didn't move, nestled in his arms. His body temperature and breath made her feel safe and comfortable.
"No, I went to bed early today."
Gu Xiao tightened his grip, and the chilling aura and soap scent became even stronger.
"Are you tired? Xiao Wang said you visited seven or eight places this morning and afternoon."
“Yes.” Nan Zhiyi turned over to face him, and in the darkness, she could only see his blurry outline.
She reached out and hugged his waist, pressing her face against his chest. "I ran all the important ones today."
Gu Xiao's hand slowly caressed her back.
"Are you going again tomorrow?"
"Okay. Uncle Liu's house, Uncle Shi's house, Director Chen's house... I'll go tomorrow morning. For the rest, we can leave without showing our faces; we'll have Xiao Wang deliver some things."
Gu Xiao didn't speak, but lowered his head and kissed her forehead very carefully, then the tip of her nose, and finally her lips.
The kiss was light, with a hint of tenderness.
“That’s just how it is in the capital,” he said, his breath warm against her lips. “It will become more and more about personal relationships in the future. This year’s situation is special, and it’s tiring for you. Let’s plan ahead for next year, deciding which places we absolutely have to go to and which we can postpone.”
Nan Zhiyi snuggled closer, raised her hand to stroke his brow, and her fingertip touched his skin; sure enough, there was a knot there.
“It’s nothing,” she said softly, stroking the brow. “Don’t worry about it so much.”
Gu Xiao took her hand, lowered his head and kissed her palm, then moved down to kiss the inside of her wrist. The skin there was thin, and she could feel the warmth of his lips and the slight tickle of his stubble.
It's very itchy.
"Okay," he mumbled, his voice low, as if he were coaxing her.
Nan Zhiyi tentatively withdrew her hand. "Fifth Brother, go to sleep. You've been working non-stop these past few days, you must be tired."
"Um."
Gu Xiao shrank back, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
His warm breath fell on her skin, and his arms were tightly wrapped around her waist, as if he wanted to embed himself into her body.
This dependent attitude softened Nan Zhiyi's heart.
He rarely does this.
Only in the dead of night, in front of her, would he occasionally reveal a vulnerable moment, a moment when he needed to draw strength from her.
Nan Zhiyi raised her hand and gently stroked the back of his head. His hair was softer than during the day and a little damp.
Her fingers ran through her hair, gently massaging her scalp.
Gu Xiao didn't say anything, just stayed close to her. After a while, his breathing gradually calmed down, and his body was no longer so tense.
A few more sporadic firecrackers sounded outside the window, far away, like muffled thunder on a summer night.
The radiators in the room made a very faint hissing sound.
Nan Zhiyi remained in this position, feeling the gradually slowing heartbeat of the man in her arms.
Her hand was still rhythmically stroking his hair.
After a long time, so long that one might think he had fallen asleep, Gu Xiao suddenly spoke very softly:
"daughter in law."
"Um?"
"It's alright." He buried his face deeper into the crook of her neck. "Go to sleep."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and lowered her head to kiss the top of his head.
Then I closed my eyes, listened to his even breathing, and soon drifted back to sleep.
This time, not even a dream.
On New Year's Eve, Nan Zhiyi and Sister Zhang spent most of the day in the kitchen preparing dishes such as Four Happiness Meatballs, Braised Carp, White Cut Chicken, and Steamed Assorted Cured Meats. Several hearty dishes were arranged on an enamel plate, and mutton and radish soup was simmering on the stove.
By 3 p.m., all the food was ready.
"Sister Zhang, you should go back now." Nan Zhiyi took off her apron. "I feel so bad for troubling you on New Year's Eve."
Sister Zhang was wiping the stove when she heard this and straightened up: "These vegetables..."
"I'll warm it up myself if it gets cold."
Nan Zhiyi took out two net bags, filled them to the brim, and then took out four red envelopes, which were thicker than in previous years, "to take back to the children."
Sister Zhang looked at the red envelope and rubbed her hands on her apron: "Sister-in-law, this..."
"It's not much," Nan Zhiyi said, placing the money in her hand. "You've worked hard all year. Go home early and be careful on the road."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Sister Zhang then accepted the gift, her eyes slightly red.
She took off her apron, folded it neatly, and put on her cotton coat. "Then I'll come earlier tomorrow..."
“No need,” Nan Zhiyi saw her to the entrance. “You should rest at home and spend time with the children. We’ll have a simple meal at home tomorrow and head back to Jian’an early the day after tomorrow.”
Sister Zhang nodded, a simple smile on her face: "Then I wish you a safe journey, a prosperous New Year, and a happy family."
Gu Zhao, who was watching TV on the living room sofa, heard the noise, turned around and said very seriously, "Goodbye Aunt Zhang, Happy New Year and all the best!"
"Oh, thank you, Xiaoman. Aunt Zhang also wishes you health, happiness, and academic success..."
After seeing Sister Zhang off, the room suddenly became quiet.
Nan Zhiyi closed the door, walked over and sat down next to her son. Gu Zhao leaned closer to her, his eyes still fixed on the screen.
The newspapers had already reported that this year, CCTV would be hosting its first large-scale live Spring Festival Gala, starting at 8 p.m.
Nan Zhiyi wasn't familiar with the play, but she still felt it was festive when she heard the tune.
She pulled Gu Zhao into her arms and let him lean against her.
It gradually got dark outside the window, and you could hear the faint sound of firecrackers in the distance, crackling and popping here and there.
"Mom, when is Dad coming back?"
"It'll be very late." Nan Zhiyi glanced at the clock on the wall. "Let's eat first and save some food for Dad."
Gu Zhao nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
Nan Zhiyi answered the phone; it was Commander Gu calling. His voice came through the receiver, a little distant but very loud: "Where's Fifth Brother?"
"Dad, he's on duty and hasn't come home yet."
"Hmm." The old man said again, "Where is Gu Zhao? Let my grandson talk to me."
Nan Zhiyi waved to Gu Zhao.
Gu Zhao ran over, took the microphone, and called out, "Grandpa."
He listened for a while, then answered seriously, "...Watching TV...Dad hasn't come home yet..."
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