Chapter 15 Sharing a Bed
Nan Zhiyi was pulled aside by several of her sisters-in-law for a while. Although she was not used to such liveliness, she politely chatted with them about everyday matters, such as washing clothes and cooking.
When the party ended, Gu Xiao had drunk quite a bit, but his steps were still steady, only his eyes were more profound than usual.
He naturally took Nan Zhiyi's hand and, amidst the good-natured laughter of the crowd, led her towards the family compound.
Nan Zhiyi did not break free and let him lead her.
Once inside, Gu Xiao closed the door behind him.
He turned around and looked at Nan Zhiyi.
He still smelled of alcohol, which, combined with his strong masculine aura, created a highly aggressive and oppressive feeling.
Nan Zhiyi's heart pounded erratically, and she took a half step back, her back pressed against the door.
She looked up and met Gu Xiao's deep eyes.
The air seemed to freeze, the only sound the sound of each other breathing.
He raised his hand, bracing his arm against the door panel beside her ear, trapping her between his chest and the door panel.
The faint scent of alcohol brushed against her nose.
"Zhiyi, can I kiss you?"
Fifth Brother, are you really this... direct in private?
Nan Zhiyi's cheeks were burning hot.
His gaze was so intense and oppressive that it instinctively made her feel a sense of fear.
"Fifth Brother, you're drunk..."
Gu Xiao didn't move, but just looked at her intently. He raised his other hand and gently supported her chin. The force was light, but it prevented her from turning her head away.
Nan Zhiyi's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.
Just as his breath drew closer and was almost touching hers, she raised her hand and covered her mouth.
Her eyes widened, filled with a desperate and embarrassed expression: "The smell of alcohol... is awful."
Gu Xiao paused in his movements.
He watched her cover her mouth and glare at him, her beautiful eyes filled with genuine disdain and naivety.
After a few seconds of silence, he chuckled softly.
He didn't try to get closer to her lips again, but instead rested his head in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath.
"Spoiled brat".
Nan Zhiyi felt extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed by his action.
She complained, "Ugh! Were you trying to scare me on purpose?"
Gu Xiao straightened up and looked down at her flushed cheeks and reproachful eyes, his smile deepening: "So dramatic."
Nan Zhiyi felt even more embarrassed by his gaze. She stomped her foot, turned around, and walked towards the kitchen: "Boil water to wash up! It stinks!"
In the kitchen, the flames flickered in the stove.
Nan Zhiyi squatted down beside him, watching Gu Xiao add firewood. "Fifth Brother, teach me how to start a fire."
She felt she had to learn these things eventually.
Gu Xiao moved aside.
Nan Zhiyi followed his example, picked up a thin piece of firewood, but dared not put it into the stove.
Gu Xiao reached out and covered her small hand holding the firewood, steadily placing the firewood into the flickering flames.
Nan Zhiyi withdrew her hand and muttered softly, "...I understand."
Gu Xiao came in, still feeling refreshed from the dampness, and saw the silkworm pupa on the bed.
In the dim light, he walked to the bedside, lifted the covers, and lay down.
He reached out and gently patted her back, as if soothing a restless child to sleep.
"Go to sleep."
A few light taps.
This allowed Nan Zhiyi to relax her tense nerves.
Gu Xiao only stopped stroking her after he was sure she was completely asleep.
He propped himself up slightly and gazed at the peaceful sleeping face of the person beside him.
The moonlight outlined her delicate features, her lips slightly pouting.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and the dark emotions churning in his eyes threatened to spill over.
He slowly lowered his head, his cool lips touching hers briefly before parting.
He dared not linger, but carefully ground it for a moment before forcing himself to lift his head and lie back down on the pillow.
In the darkness, he kept his eyes open, enduring the long and agonizing moment of "recoil control".
When Nan Zhiyi woke up, the seat next to her was empty.
On the small kitchen table sat a covered enamel bowl containing warm porridge and a hard-boiled egg.
Nan Zhiyi had little appetite and only ate a few mouthfuls of porridge. She broke the egg white into pieces and ate only half of it.
The room was eerily quiet.
She walked around the empty courtyard twice. The early winter wind was chilly and stung her face.
There was a simple tap in the yard, with a shallow cement pool built underneath it.
Nan Zhiyi placed the enamel basin in the pool and turned on the tap.
The water gushed out with a "whoosh," icy cold.
She gritted her teeth, soaked each piece of clothing, and lathered it with soap.
She was weak and it was very difficult for her to rub the area, especially the collar and cuffs of Gu Xiao's military uniform shirt. It took her a long time to feel that it was clean.
The icy water quickly turned her fingers red and stiff, and she could barely feel them at the tips.
The newly bought bed sheets and duvet covers have absorbed water and are heavy, making them difficult to wring out.
It took me all morning to finally wash the clothes and sheets and pile them in a basin.
Nan Zhiyi straightened up, her back aching from exhaustion.
A cold wind blew, and my wet hands felt even colder.
She looked up at the sky, where a few wisps of pale clouds drifted by.
This desolate sky, this icy water, this empty courtyard... Before, when there were maids at home, she had never even properly washed her own handkerchiefs more than a few times; at most, she would wash her own underwear.
My mother always smiles and says she's destined to enjoy a life of happiness...
"Mother……"
Nan Zhiyi felt a sudden pang of sadness, and her vision blurred instantly.
Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open.
Gu Xiao returned, carrying a familiar lunchbox.
What was even more jarring were her hands, which were red from being soaked in water, and the pile of wet clothes.
Gu Xiao felt both pain and suffocation in his heart.
He strode over, casually tossing the lunchbox aside, grabbed her wrist, and frowned deeply: "Why are you washing this? The water's so cold."
Nan Zhiyi was pulled so hard by him that she swayed, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.
"Fifth Brother, I can't turn it..."
"You don't need to lift a finger, come inside!" Gu Xiao half-embraced and half-pushed her into the house.
He pressed her down onto a chair in the bedroom, dried her cold, wet hands with a towel, and then warmed them in his own arms.
Nan Zhiyi was a little confused and a little sweet by his series of actions. She could feel the warmth of his body under his sweater under her palm... The grievances and bitterness in her heart gradually subsided...
“It was my oversight,” he said, head bowed. “We didn’t have time to buy a washing machine. From now on, you don’t need to do these things. I’ll take care of them.”
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