Chapter 277 Argument
Nan Zhiyi patted Zhou Anping on the shoulder, "Anping, go sit down and rest for a while."
Zhou Anping lowered his head and said no more.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone found their seats according to the pre-arranged table number cards.
The main table was naturally occupied by the military region's top leaders and their wives.
Gu Xiao and his wife were seated at the second-to-main table, which was right next to the main table. This table was mostly occupied by deputy leaders from various departments and bureaus and their families.
Meng Qingshan, being of a slightly lower rank, and his wife and Lin Yaru were seated a little behind the main table.
As Nan Zhiyi sat down with Gu Xiao, she could feel the curious, admiring, or evaluative gazes directed at her from those around her.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, maintained a polite smile, and occasionally nodded politely to the other leaders and their families at the table.
Gu Xiao gently squeezed her hand under the table, conveying his silent support.
Nan Zhiyi's heart gradually calmed down.
She looked in Zhou Anping's direction and quietly waved to him, but Zhou Anping's face remained expressionless.
Nan Zhiyi also saw Lu Linlang. Their positions were also quite close to the front, which clearly showed that Luo Jianming's background was not to be underestimated.
The entire banquet went smoothly; it consisted of watching performances, eating refreshments, and exchanging pleasantries.
At Nan Zhiyi's table, two slightly older military dependents, upon learning that she was a top student from Peking University, praised her highly.
......
After the banquet ended, Gu Xiao led Nan Zhiyi outside, and Nan Zhiyi's gaze kept following Zhou Anping's direction.
Gu Xiao led her down the stairs, and Nan Zhiyi followed closely behind to ask Meng Qingshan and Zhou Anping, "It's late and the roads are slippery, are you staying in the compound tonight?"
Meng Qingshan said yes.
So the two couples walked together toward the small building.
Nan Zhiyi was worried about Zhou Anping. Seeing that she looked gloomy, she let go of Gu Xiao's arm and said, "You talk to Qingshan, and I'll talk to Anping."
Gu Xiao adjusted her scarf before telling Meng Qingshan to fall a few steps behind, keeping a close eye on the two figures in front of them.
The halo of the streetlights swayed in the wind, blurring and piecing together the shadows of the two people.
Nan Zhiyi linked arms with Zhou Anping and felt her arm stiffen.
"Anping, what's wrong with you? You always seem unhappy..."
Zhou Anping pulled his arm away and turned his face away: "I don't want to talk about it."
Nan Zhiyi stopped and carefully chose her words, "I know you won't listen to me right now, but you should focus on your health more... Don't think about her anymore."
“Children, children, you all think about the children, even you only think about the children?” Zhou Anping turned around and glared at her, his eyes red.
Nan Zhiyi paused for a moment, then tried to explain, "Of course that's not what I meant. I do think you're the most important person, but what about the past..."
"Put it down?" Zhou Anping interrupted with a cold laugh.
"Are you going to be condescending and tell me to let go again? Why should I let go? Look at what she's done to my brother and my family!"
Nan Zhiyi felt helpless. "I just feel that instead of dwelling on the past, it's better to live my life well."
Zhou Anping felt a deep sense of unease, and tears welled up in his eyes. His words fell like uncontrollable tears.
"Yes! You're doing so well! Before, you had family and friends protecting you, and now you have the Gu family and Fifth Brother protecting you, so of course you can happily say that everything is over! Let me tell you, I can't get over it!! How many years has my brother not come home? How many years have my parents aged? It's all her fault! Why can't I get my revenge!"
Zhou Anping's words stung Nan Zhiyi's nose, making her feel unbearably sore.
Not far away, Gu Xiao frowned and stood a few steps away from Meng Qingshan, who was equally at a loss, silently watching the scene.
Nan Zhiyi suppressed the bitterness in her heart, "I know you're upset. It hurts me too when you say that. I never intended to judge you... but, being happy myself... is what matters..."
"Am I doing well? Even if I'm doing well, is it as good as you?"
"Anping, you..."
Zhou Anping's tears flowed even more fiercely, and he became increasingly reckless in his speech, "You can be a virtuous and noble person, and I'm narrow-minded, so I keep chasing after her! You tell me to let go so easily, do you think you're so great?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Anping regretted them.
She didn't know why, even though that wasn't what she really thought, those words just slipped out of her mouth.
Nan Zhiyi's throat tightened, and tears streamed down her face. "Anping... I just want you to be happy..."
After venting his anger, Zhou Anping was speechless.
The two stood there under the streetlight, silently shedding tears.
A cold wind blew, and Zhou Anping's strength seemed to be taken away. His anger subsided, leaving only endless exhaustion and embarrassment.
Her voice was so low it was almost inaudible: "Leave me alone..."
After saying that, she silently turned around and walked straight ahead.
Nan Zhiyi wiped away her tears, caught up with her, and tried to support her arm: "Anping, you were angry just now and didn't know how to speak properly. Just calm down. Don't worry, I'm definitely not angry. We're best friends. The fact that you took your anger out on me shows that we have a great relationship..."
She said this, but her voice was choked with sobs.
Zhou Anping, coaxed by Nan Zhiyi, realized that he had been utterly awful just now. How could he have said such nasty things?
I felt ashamed and embarrassed, and I wanted to disappear.
She quickened her pace as if fleeing, throwing down the words, "I don't need your help!!"
Seeing this, Meng Qingshan could only nod hastily to Gu Xiao, then quickly caught up and helped the unsteady Zhou Anping.
Gu Xiao stepped forward and put his arm around Nan Zhiyi's shoulder.
She watched the departing couple, tears streaming down her face.
In over twenty years, she and Zhou Anping had never argued like this before...
She simply couldn't understand how those years they grew up together, the sorrows and joys they shared... could vanish like snowflakes in an instant.
Gu Xiao saw her shoulders trembling slightly as she cried, silently, but it pained him more than if she had been wailing loudly.
He led her to a relatively quiet, shady spot by the roadside, unbuttoned his coat, and wrapped her entirely in his arms, warming her with his body heat.
Nan Zhiyi initially tried to hold back, but being held in his arms like that, she finally couldn't suppress her sobs anymore.
Gu Xiao let her tears soak his clothes, and his dislike for the Zhou siblings resurfaced in his heart.
Zhou Zhengping left behind a mess and then sought help from Gu Yan in the south. Now, Zhou Anping is venting his emotions on Zhiyi, needlessly hurting her.
When her crying subsided, leaving only soft sobs, Gu Xiao gently loosened his grip, his fingertips brushing against her cold cheeks. "Your nose is all red from the cold. Let's go home first, okay?"
Nan Zhiyi nestled against him, and he embraced her as they walked forward.
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