Chapter 102 Beating the Drum
After recovering, Nan Zhiyi came over to help, rummaging through the wardrobe to find his clean shirt and fleece pants, and then taking out the newly knitted sweater and putting it into the bag Gu Xiao was carrying.
Gu Xiao took the bag and gave her a deep look: "Wait for me to come back."
The door closed, and the room became quiet again.
Nan Zhiyi felt a slight discomfort in her stomach.
She was worried that the smell of the food in the cafeteria would make her vomit again, causing Gu Xiao to worry and wasting food.
She took a breath, went into the kitchen, and started cooking a pot of millet porridge on the coal stove.
When it was completely dark, Gu Xiao returned. He put down his lunchbox and looked at Nan Zhiyi, who was sitting on a small stool tending the stove.
She was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat and curled up in a ball. The firelight illuminated the soft lines of her profile and revealed a faint weariness in her eyes.
He walked over, pulled her up from the stool without saying a word, and hugged her tightly.
Her body, freshly bathed, exuded a clean warmth and carried a refreshing scent of soap, enveloping her entirely.
Nan Zhiyi was caught off guard by his hug, her cheek pressed against his warm neck, bringing a blush of annoyance mixed with a sweet warmth.
She didn't speak, but simply hummed softly in his arms, which was her tacit consent.
With permission, Gu Xiao lowered his head and gently placed his warm lips on hers.
He was just about to go deeper.
Nan Zhiyi's face flushed slightly, and she gently pushed him away: "...Let's eat first."
Gu Xiao chuckled and released her.
The two ate around a small low table in the kitchen.
Nan Zhiyi ladled out two bowls of millet porridge she had cooked herself and placed them on the table.
Gu Xiao opened the lunchbox.
The cafeteria has braised ribbonfish tonight, with a rich sauce. He specially ordered it to help her recover.
Upon smelling that odor, her expression changed. She covered her mouth, her shoulders trembled slightly, and she tried her best to suppress the urge to gag.
Gu Xiaogang had just picked up his chopsticks when he saw this and immediately put them down, his face serious.
He strode over to her and held her slightly trembling shoulders: "Are you cold? Or is your stomach upset?"
He naturally attributed it to her physical discomfort, since she did look much thinner and paler than she had three months ago.
Nan Zhiyi leaned against him, and after a while, she shook her head, her voice weak: "No...it's nothing."
She looked into Gu Xiao's dark eyes, the words "I'm pregnant" tumbling to her tongue, but a strange shyness prevented her from saying them.
"...Let's talk after we finish eating."
Seeing her insistence, Gu Xiao didn't press further, but the worry in his eyes didn't disappear.
He hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, but couldn't taste it.
Nan Zhiyi only managed to drink a small half bowl of the millet porridge she had cooked herself.
When he returned to the bedroom after washing up, Nan Zhiyi had already finished washing up and was tucked into bed, only showing half of her face and a pair of dark, bright eyes.
She watched as Gu Xiao walked to the bedside and sat down before reaching out from under the covers to hand her a thick, bulging envelope.
"Here, these are what I wrote for you over the past few months."
Gu Xiao took it; the envelope was heavy and still warm from her body.
He opened it, and inside was a stack of neatly folded letters.
The handwriting on the letter paper was sometimes delicate and neat, and sometimes messy and erratic, recording the bits and pieces of her life alone: knitting him a sweater to keep him warm; Zhao Yaqin being framed and taking a long leave; a strong wind blowing at night, making the windows rattle like drums... trivial and real, with her unique charm and resilience.
Each letter was dated at the beginning.
He held her hand and read the letter word by word.
Through these words, we can touch the days and nights she spent alone.
His stern features softened in the shadows of the lamplight.
The letter was lighthearted and witty, but his mood grew increasingly somber.
Until he picked up the last sheet of paper.
The date is marked "November 10th".
The handwriting in this letter was more forceful than in the others.
“…I went to the hospital a while ago…” Upon seeing this, Gu Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.
"...It's not that I'm sick, don't worry. I'm pregnant. When I wrote this letter, the baby was about six weeks along. I've been getting tired very easily lately, and the smell of oil in the cafeteria makes me want to vomit. I can't eat anything..."
I haven't finished reading the letter yet.
Gu Xiao bent down and pulled Nan Zhiyi, blanket and all, into his arms, holding her tightly.
His arm tightened so much that it hurt Nan Zhiyi a little, but it also made her feel incredibly safe.
His face was buried in the crook of her neck, his breath hot against her skin, and his shoulders trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry... Zhiyi... I'm sorry... I made you... suffer so much all by yourself..."
Nan Zhiyi was out of breath, but she could clearly feel the violent rise and fall of his chest and the warm, moist sensation coming from the nape of her neck.
Her heart skipped a beat. She turned her head slightly and saw that his eyes were tightly closed, and beneath his thick eyelashes, there was a faint glint of moisture.
He...cried?
Her heart melted, and she hugged his tense back tightly: "It's alright...it wasn't that tiring..."
Gu Xiao looked up, his eyes were indeed red and still moist.
"I don't believe it... You must be eating and sleeping poorly."
She reached out and stroked his chin, gently caressing his light stubble. Her voice was soft: "It's really alright, the occasional vomiting... isn't too bad..."
She sounded a little guilty saying that; only she knew the true extent of her morning sickness.
"Are you alright?" Gu Xiao took her hand that was touching his face, looking at her pointed chin and pale lips. "It's too cold here, and you can't eat anything... I want to send you back to Jian'an ahead of schedule."
He cupped her face in his hands, making her look into his eyes: "Dad has heating and helpers to take care of him; their living conditions are much better. You're pregnant; you can't tough it out here."
He thought of how she had vomited at the smell of fish, and of all she had endured alone for the past three months; his heart felt like it was being repeatedly cut by a dull knife.
Sending her back to the Gu family, where conditions were better, was the most direct protection he could think of.
Nan Zhiyi shook his head, his voice muffled as it came from his chest: "When Dad found out I was pregnant, he wrote a letter asking me to come back... I wrote back saying I could hold on for the time being, so I didn't go back, not wanting to trouble Dad too much."
"Nonsense. Your own comfort is the most important thing. Dad has everything he needs, and Aunt Wu takes good care of him. You're here, not eating or sleeping well, and I'm worried about you..."
He paused, not saying the rest of his words, but tightening his grip on her arms.
Nan Zhiyi looked at him expectantly: "...Do you have a vacation after your mission is over?"
She didn't want to go back to Jian'an; she couldn't bear to leave him.
We just got back together, and now we have to separate again, even if it's for her own good...
Gu Xiao met her wet, tender gaze, which was both soft and astringent.
How could he bear to part with her? Only he knows the taste of longing he felt during these three months of separation.
"We'll discuss the task details tomorrow after I've reported on it. It depends on the leader's arrangements."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com