Chapter 419 Newcomer
Gu Yan had mentioned beforehand that his plane with Xiaoman would arrive at Beijing Airport around 8 PM.
To show his seriousness, Gu Xiao did not work overtime and decided to personally drive Nan Zhiyi to pick her up from the airport.
He changed into a dark shirt and black trousers, which made his legs look straight and long.
Nan Zhiyi leaned against the door frame watching him button his shirt, her gaze tracing his profile.
Over the years, he has shed the naivety of his youth, and his bone structure has become more defined. When he is not speaking, his eyes and brows have a sharp edge, but when he turns his head to look at her, they soften into tenderness.
"Have you seen enough?" Gu Xiao buttoned up the last button, turned around and saw that she was still in a daze.
Nan Zhiyi walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist, then tiptoed to give him a light kiss on the lips. "Fifth Brother, you're so handsome."
She couldn't resist kissing his Adam's apple again.
Gu Xiao raised an eyebrow, "Really?" His arm was already around her waist.
"Of course it's true." She looked up and sought his lips again, but he lowered his head and took hers in his mouth.
The kiss was so lingering that it made her legs weak, until Gu Xiao released her, saying, "I'll play with you again later."
He straightened her crooked collar and smoothed her disheveled hair. "It's time to go pick someone up at the airport."
Nan Zhiyi blushed as she fastened the buttons on his shirt that had been ripped open, muttering softly, "You started it."
"Turning the tables is my wife's specialty..."
"I don't…"
"Really? Who hugged me first?"
"Let's go, let's set off!"
Nan Zhiyi felt guilty and stopped arguing. She pretended to naturally lead him downstairs.
The couple didn't wait long at the arrivals gate before they heard the airport announcement that their flight had arrived.
The crowd at the arrivals gate stirred slightly.
Nan Zhiyi, holding onto Gu Xiao's arm, stood on tiptoe to look around. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as Gu Zhao, wearing blue overalls, rushed out, his little leather shoes clicking.
"Mom!" He threw himself into Nan Zhiyi's arms.
Nan Zhiyi squatted down and hugged her son tightly, noticing that he had grown a little taller and his once round face seemed to have thinned out.
"Xiaoman, Mommy misses you so much."
She gently rubbed her son's soft hair.
"Mom, I miss you a hundred times more!" Gu Zhao said even more enthusiastically.
He reached out and took his father's hand, saying, "Dad, I miss you too."
Gu Xiao ruffled his son's hair. "Good boy, I was just thinking about it casually anyway?"
Gu Zhao reached out to hug her father again, "It wasn't just a casual thing, it's a really serious matter. Dad, I want to tell you, my uncle is taking me..."
The father and son were whispering to each other when Nan Zhiyi looked back and saw Gu Yan leading a young woman closer.
The girl was wearing a cherry-red dress, her curly hair was playfully tied back, and her eyes and brows were so expressive they seemed to speak.
Gu Yan greeted them with a smile, "Brother, sister-in-law." He then stepped aside to introduce her, "This is my girlfriend, Chen Anna."
"Welcome to Beijing." Nan Zhiyi stood up and smiled.
Chen Anna was a little shy. "Brother, sister-in-law, hello."
Gu Xiao nodded slightly and took the luggage from Gu Yan's hands: "Was the journey smooth?"
"Let's talk as we walk," Gu Yan said, putting his arm around Chen Anna's shoulder. "This is her first time in the North; she was incredibly excited on the plane."
Gu Xiao asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"
"The airplane food was awful!" Gu Yan frowned dramatically. "Brother, you have to treat us to a nice welcome-back meal."
"Then let's go to the New Qiao Hotel."
Gu Xiao made the decision to lead the way.
The group arrived at the jeep. Gu Zhao climbed into the back seat, waving at Chen Anna through the window: "Auntie, sit with me!"
Chen Anna listened to him and squeezed in with Gu Zhao.
She reached out and took Gu Yan's hand again, her gaze both shy and affectionate.
Gu Yan also sat down next to her with a smile.
The car drove out of the airport.
Chen Anna leaned on Gu Yan's shoulder and pointed out the window: "Gu Yan, is that Shichahai? I've seen it in a magazine!"
"That's the airport reservoir," Gu Yan chuckled, then whispered in her ear, "I'll show you the real Shichahai tomorrow."
After having dinner at the Xinqiao Hotel, Nan Zhiyi returned home and showed Chen Anna the guest rooms.
"Anna, the room is all tidied up, and the toiletries are in the bathroom..."
Gu Yan interrupted with a smile, "Sister-in-law, don't worry about it. Do you think we can't find it?"
He put his arm around Chen Anna's shoulder. "Sister-in-law, you should take Xiaoman to rest."
Gu Xiao, standing by the door, said to Nan Zhiyi, "Why are you being so polite with him? He's just going home."
Before Nan Zhiyi could speak, Gu Yan said, "That's right, that's right."
Chen Anna smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law."
"Then I'm not going to care about you anymore."
Nan Zhiyi said no more, leaving Gu Xiao and Gu Yan to talk, while she led Gu Zhao back upstairs.
Gu Zhao walked around his room and the master bedroom, touching the left and looking at the right, like a little dog marking its territory.
Nan Zhiyi found it amusing and urged him, "Son, go take a bath. Mom will sleep with you later."
Gu Zhao obediently agreed, "Mom, I'll tell you what I did at Uncle's place later!"
"good."
After Gu Zhao skipped and hopped into the bathroom, Nan Zhiyi stood by the window, lost in thought.
The night breeze rustled through the grape trellis in the yard.
Just now at the T restaurant, watching Gu Yan meticulously serve food and pour drinks for Chen Anna, under the lights, his usually nonchalant peach blossom eyes were filled with genuine tenderness.
This reminded her of when she used to have meals with Ruan Wenjing, Ruan Wenjing would always take care of Gu Yan quietly, and Gu Yan would accept it without complaint.
What are you thinking about?
Gu Xiao's voice came from behind her. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin gently on the top of her head.
Nan Zhiyi leaned back into his arms: "I just feel... Gu Yan has changed."
"People change, and Gu Yan has been through a lot."
"I know. It just suddenly dawned on me... that there really is no fixed formula when it comes to feelings."
Nan Zhiyi turned to face Gu Xiao, "Gu Xiao, will we change too?"
…
The bathroom door creaked open, and Gu Zhao poked her head out with her hair still wet: "Mom! I'm done showering!"
Nan Zhiyi turned to get a towel, but Gu Xiao went over first and wrapped his son in the towel to rub him.
Gu Zhao squirmed in her father's arms: "Dad, can I sleep between you two tonight?"
"Today."
Gu Xiao relented, picked up his son, and walked to the bedside.
As Gu Zhao lay between his parents and began to recount his experiences in the South, Nan Zhiyi turned to look at the father and son.
Gu Xiao rested one hand behind his head and gently patted his son's back with the other, but his gaze kept falling on her face.
"...Then my uncle took me to see a huge ship!" Gu Zhao said excitedly, sitting up, but Gu Xiao pressed her back down onto the pillow.
"Lie down and talk."
"That ship was as tall as a ten-story building! My sister Anna said it was a cargo ship, loaded with televisions and jeans..."
Gu Zhao chattered away, sharing the things he had memorized in his little head…
He fell asleep while they were talking.
Looking at the bed, which was crammed full of people, Nan Zhiyi asked Gu Xiao, "Won't you fall off the bed at night?"
Gu Xiao raised an eyebrow and offered his hand, "Then remember to give me a hand."
Nan Zhiyi then held Gu Xiao's hand across her son and closed her eyes to sleep as well.
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