Chapter 369 Making Arrangements
Zhou Anping said, "It's boring staying at home, so I came to see you and Xiaoman."
She looked up at Nan Zhiyi, her voice lowering, "I... I wanted to tell you sooner, but I had a bit of a severe reaction recently, and I was feeling lethargic, barely answering the phone..."
Looking at the apology and unease in her eyes, Nan Zhiyi's lingering resentment suddenly dissipated.
"What are you saying? Your health is the most important thing. How are you feeling now? Are you still uncomfortable?"
"fine..."
"That's great, Anping, congratulations."
Looking into Nan Zhiyi's eyes, filled with pure blessings and concern, Zhou Anping felt a lump in his throat. "Zhiyi... I..."
"Alright," Nan Zhiyi patted her hand, interrupting any possible apology or explanation she might offer, "It's all in the past. You're pregnant now, so be happy. What about Qingshan?"
"He's with Lele at his parents' place."
Zhou Anping sniffed, and a smile returned to his face. "By the way, my brother and Gu Yan are driving back together tomorrow, so the house will be even more lively then."
“That would be great. We haven’t had a proper get-together in ages. Gu Yan loves a good time, he’ll definitely organize a party when he gets back.”
"That's right! He's always on the go, he's definitely itching to take Xiaoman around everywhere."
The two smiled at each other and started chatting about funny things from the past, as if they had truly returned to those days.
After chatting and laughing for a while, Zhou Anping got up to say goodbye, "It's getting late, I'll go back first, let's talk again another day."
Nan Zhiyi escorted her to the door, watching her carefully walk towards the Zhou family's house across the street.
She stood at the gate of the courtyard for a while and saw Commander Gu's car slowly driving up in the distance.
She stood at the gate of the courtyard and waited.
Commander Gu was helped out of the car by Xiao Li.
He was much thinner than before, but his spirits were still good. Apart from moving a little slower than the average person, it was hard to tell that he had just recovered from a serious illness.
"Dad, you're back."
Commander Gu chuckled, "Come inside. You didn't even put on your coat. What happened?"
Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "I just wanted to see Dad as soon as possible."
Commander Gu laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
After they went inside, Nan Zhiyi called upstairs, "Xiaoman, Grandpa's back!"
Upon hearing the noise, Gu Xiao pulled Xiaoman downstairs.
Commander Gu also saw his son and grandson and immediately waved to them.
Xiao Li helped him take off his coat and guided him to the sofa.
Commander Gu said loudly to Gu Xiao, "This little Li is only helping me; I can walk by myself!"
Gu Xiao went over and helped him up, saying, "Since you can walk by yourself, let me do my filial duty."
Commander Gu had just sat down.
Xiaoman rushed to the sofa, "Grandpa!"
"Why!"
His face lit up with a smile, and he patted the empty seat next to him, gesturing for his grandson to sit down.
Xiaoman climbed onto the sofa and snuggled up next to her grandfather.
Commander Gu affectionately patted Xiaoman's head. "I'm back, Xiaoman! Were you happy in Beijing? Did you have fun at school? Tell Grandpa!"
Xiaoman thought for a moment, then began to recount the interesting things that happened in kindergarten in a serious and methodical manner.
Before going home, his mother and father gave him a serious briefing on his tasks. First, he had to be polite to his family; second, he had to take good care of his grandfather and uncle and make them happy.
Xiaoman felt that the two tasks were not difficult to complete. His grandfather and uncle would only smile when they saw him, and he was much easier to get along with than the children in kindergarten.
Commander Gu listened with squinted eyes to his grandson's childish report, and couldn't help but sit on his lap with his grandson in his arms, looking completely content with his grandson.
Gu Xiao and Nan Zhiyi were sitting on the sofa to the side.
Seeing that his wife only had a smile on her face but no joy in her eyes, Gu Xiao asked, "Are you tired?"
He knew his wife well; right now, she must be tired not only physically but also mentally.
Nan Zhiyi shook her head, turned her head and looked at him gently: "Where's Fifth Brother? You drove for several hours, and you were upstairs busy tidying up for a long time. Aren't you tired?"
Gu Xiao raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "My wife underestimates me so much?"
Nan Zhiyi smiled and secretly pinched his arm, not continuing the topic, but turning her gaze back to the grandfather and grandson who were enjoying a happy time together.
Gu Xiao didn't press the matter further. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.
After dinner, Commander Gu was feeling unwell and was helped back to his room to rest by Xiao Li.
After the family of three finished washing up, they put Xiaoman to sleep.
Nan Zhiyi then remembered to ask Gu Xiao, "Is Dad still working?"
“He officially retired before the Lunar New Year. The organization talked to him, and he himself was aware that he was getting old, and with this illness, his energy was not what it used to be. Now he just holds an honorary position, occasionally showing up at some less important meetings to listen to reports, but he no longer participates in specific affairs.”
Gu Xiao gently combed his wife's long hair. "When Dad was young, he devoted himself to his work and didn't take care of the family much. Now that he's old and has been sick, all he wants is for the family to be harmonious and lively. So he's happy that my eldest brother and third sister are back."
Nan Zhiyi could understand Commander Gu's mindset. In his youth, he was busy with military affairs and had no choice in his own life. In his twilight years, he valued blood ties and family happiness more and more, especially after experiencing life-and-death situations.
She sighed softly, "I hope that when my eldest brother and third sister come back this time, everyone will be well and Dad can have a peaceful New Year."
Gu Xiao hummed in agreement, put down the comb, and snuggled into the quilt with his wife.
"Don't overthink it, just let things take their course. Go to sleep."
Nan Zhiyi adjusted to a more comfortable position in his arms, her fingertips idly drawing circles.
She then remembered something else, "Dad is all alone here. Although Aunt Wu and Xiao Li are taking care of him, we're still worried. How about... you persuade Dad to come back to Beijing with us for a while after the New Year? The medical conditions there are better, which would be more convenient for him to recuperate."
Gu Xiao had considered this question before, but...
"You know Dad's stubborn nature. Jian'an is his home; his old subordinates and comrades are all here. It's hard to get him to leave completely. But... I'll try to ask him when I have the chance. He dotes on Xiaoman... and he gets along well with you..."
He spoke subtly, but Nan Zhiyi understood that in Commander Gu's heart, Gu Xiao and Xiao Man held the most importance, and by extension, he also valued her, his daughter-in-law, to some extent.
Gu Xiao pulled her closer to him, ruffled her hair haphazardly, and ended the conversation: "Good wife, you always have so many worries. Go to sleep early, we can talk about this tomorrow."
Nan Zhiyi knew he understood, so she stopped pestering him and nestled obediently in his arms, only occasionally touching and rubbing her fingers on his chest.
Gu Xiao sighed inwardly, "It's not easy."
When they first got married, she was shy and passive, and she was always reserved in front of him.
Now, after several years of marriage, their love runs deep, and she has finally shed her naivety and begun to desire him...
Unfortunately... these past two days have been another case of seeing something but not being able to eat it.
He felt a tickle in his heart and gave her a light pinch.
Nan Zhiyi closed her eyes, turned her palm into a fist, and punched his chest twice, muttering, "Ugh...sleep!"
Gu Xiao chuckled as he took the two blows, then stopped teasing her and simply held her tightly in his arms.
Nan Zhiyi struggled, but couldn't break free, so she let him be.
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