Chapter 267 Several Months
Knowing that she would see Gu Xiao, whom she hadn't seen for months, after school, Nan Zhiyi felt that every minute and second of this day was infinitely long.
In class, the professor's explanations seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist, and she couldn't help but look at the slowly moving hands on her watch, secretly urging time to go by faster.
Finally, school was over. She was the first to pack her schoolbag, quickly walked out of the classroom, and headed straight for the school gate.
From afar, Nan Zhiyi saw the familiar Jeep parked there, and her heart instantly raced. She couldn't help but jog.
However, as she got closer and saw who was getting out of the driver's seat, she slowed down.
It's Xiao Liu.
When Xiao Liu saw her, he immediately saluted, a simple and honest smile on his face: "Sister-in-law!"
Nan Zhiyi suppressed her disappointment and tried to make her expression look natural. She nodded to Xiao Liu and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Xiao Liu, you even came all the way to pick me up."
"It's no trouble at all, sister-in-law, please get in the car!"
Xiao Liu opened the car door for her and explained, "Minister Gu has an important meeting and can't get away for a while, so he specifically asked me to pick you up and take you home first. He said he'll be home as soon as he's done."
"Okay, I understand."
Nan Zhiyi got into the car, gazing at the fleeting street scenes outside the window, trying to convince himself that his work was important.
When they got home, Xiaoman immediately came to greet them.
Nan Zhiyi then pulled Xiaoman into the kitchen.
Yesterday, as soon as she received the news that Gu Xiao was coming back, she specifically asked Sister Zhang to buy more of his favorite dishes.
"Sister Zhang, how's the food preparation going? Do you need me to help?"
Sister Zhang was busy at the stove, where the pot was bubbling and steaming, filling the air with a delicious aroma.
"Everything is almost ready. We're just waiting for Minister Gu to come back so he can cook a few hot dishes. You don't need to lift a finger. Go play with Xiaoman. That little one has been talking about her mom all day."
Nan Zhiyi looked down and saw her son hugging her legs, looking up at her with his little face.
She bent down and picked up the little one: "Good boy, Mommy's home. Come on, let's go out and play, okay?"
Xiaoman seemed to have an innate ability to keenly perceive adults' emotions. When he saw his mother smile, he also grinned and reached out his soft little hand to touch Nan Zhiyi's cheek: "Mom, I'm happy."
Nan Zhiyi felt even happier. She kissed his cheek and asked, following his words, "Daddy's coming back. Isn't our Xiaoman happy?"
Xiaoman nodded vigorously in agreement, "Happy!"
"Good boy!" Nan Zhiyi put him down and took his little hand. "Come on, let's go out and see if Daddy is back yet."
The mother and son walked hand in hand out of the courtyard, and unknowingly headed towards Gu Xiao's office building.
She wasn't sure if his meeting was over, but she felt that walking in that direction would bring her closer to him, and it was like taking Xiaoman for a walk.
The distance from their home to the office building wasn't actually long, but the mother and son walked extremely slowly.
It was late September, and the leaves of the sycamore trees had turned varying shades of yellowish-brown. When the autumn wind blew, a few broad leaves would twirl and fall, spreading a sparse layer on the ground.
Xiaoman was completely captivated by the autumn scenery.
He broke free from his mother's hand, squatted down, picked up what he thought was the reddest leaf, and handed it to Nan Zhiyi like a precious treasure.
A little while later, he deliberately stepped on the dry sycamore leaves, listening to the crisp cracking sound, and laughed to himself.
Nan Zhiyi didn't rush him, letting him explore the joys of autumn, but her gaze kept drifting towards the end of the road.
As the setting sun painted the horizon a warm orange-red, Gu Xiao walked against the light from a distance. The setting sun danced on his shoulders, bathing him in a warm halo.
He clearly saw them too, and quickened his pace.
Xiaoman was engrossed in playing the game of stepping on leaves when she looked up and saw her father. She immediately dropped the leaves and rushed over like a puppy, opening her arms to hug him.
Unexpectedly, Gu Xiao slightly turned aside, avoiding his son's "impact," and walked straight to Nan Zhiyi.
His gaze lingered intently on her face. "I'm back..."
As he spoke, he reached out and held her slightly cool hand tightly in his palm.
Nan Zhiyi felt embarrassed by his gaze.
In addition, the area was full of people leaving get off work and school. She struggled but couldn't break free, so she could only glare at him and say, "Hmm."
Gu Xiao leaned closer, his voice low and deep: "Wife, I've missed you so much..."
Nan Zhiyi snorted and ignored him.
Seeing that his wife was not speaking, Gu Xiao wanted to continue to coax her.
Over there, Xiaoman, who was being ignored, was not discouraged. She hugged her father's leg tightly, tilted her little head up, and called out repeatedly, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"
Gu Xiao reluctantly let go of Nan Zhiyi's hand, squatted down, and looked his son in the eye. "What's wrong, son?"
Xiaoman pouted and complained, "You...you're ignoring me!"
Gu Xiao reached out and ruffled his little head, then picked him up and held him steadily in his arms, bouncing him a few times: "I care about you."
Xiaoman is very easy to coax. His little grievances vanished instantly, and he wiggled his little body and laughed, then began to express his longing in his own unique way:
"dad!"
"Yes," Gu Xiao replied.
"dad!!"
"Um."
...
After this happened several times, Gu Xiao frowned and turned to Nan Zhiyi beside him, asking, "What's wrong with our son? Why is he suddenly so clingy?"
Nan Zhiyi chuckled: "Minister Gu, it seems your patience with your son only lasts a minute..."
Seeing that she finally smiled, Gu Xiao felt relieved and took her hand again, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the back of her hand.
I was worried you were angry...
This mission was special; they were gone for months without any news, and he knew the torment involved.
Although he himself was also desperately missing her, it was his duty...
Nan Zhiyi noticed that he had clenched her hand tightly and understood his guilt. She gently rubbed the back of his hand with her fingertips.
"Why would I be angry about this? I'm too worried about you to even think about it..." She understood his predicament, but the wait was indeed agonizing.
Their eyes met, and before they could exchange more heartfelt words, Xiaoman, feeling "neglected" again, became unhappy. She stretched out her two chubby little hands and forcefully turned her father's face towards her, eagerly declaring her presence: "Daddy, look at me! Look at me!"
Helpless, Gu Xiao had no choice but to withdraw his gaze from his wife and look at the little one in his arms, asking patiently, "What's wrong?"
Xiaoman stopped talking, just hugged his neck tightly, chuckled foolishly, and was completely satisfied.
Gu Xiao had no choice but to look intently at Nan Zhiyi, saying, "I'll talk to you properly tonight...."
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