Chapter 44 Published
Two days later.
weekend.
The spring day is warm, the grass is green and the birds are singing.
Gu Xiuyi's car was stuck on the main road of the suburban ring road, moving forward at a snail's pace amid a group of colorful private cars.
Spring is here, and city dwellers seem to be rushing to the suburbs, taking their families out for an outing.
Gu Xiuyi tapped his fingers on the steering wheel a little anxiously. He glanced at the time. It was 11:05. Fortunately, it was not too late for the time being.
But if the traffic jam continues for a while, it will be hard to say what will happen, and he still has to pick up Ji Ruan for lunch.
"The road ahead is congested, and we are re-planning your route..."
The navigation system tried to plan a new route for him every few minutes, but in five minutes he hadn't even driven ten meters and couldn't even walk. What was the point of planning it?
Gu Xiuyi raised his hand, clicked, and accurately turned off the navigation.
Pure.
The night before yesterday, after he brought Ji Ruan home from the hospital, the little boy curled up in the quilt, pulled his sleeve with red cheeks, and said he wanted to discuss something with him.
Let alone discussing it with a sleepy kid about his little wish before going to bed, even if the decision has been made and you just inform him, can he not agree?
If you want the stars in the sky, you have to fly up and pick them without saying a word.
That’s what Gu Xiuyi said.
Of course, the words he chose were more restrained and euphemistic, which was in line with his calm image in Ji Ruan's mind.
So Ji Ruan said that Cheng Yunxiu wanted to take him as his apprentice, and he had already agreed.
Just a few hours ago.
This was partly why he came to the bar to find him.
Gu Xiuyi heard a little bit of heartbreaking sound at that time.
But it doesn't matter, it's only part of the reason. Moreover, the fact that Ji Ruan came to the bar to find him just to hear his opinion is enough to show how important he is in Ji Ruan's heart.
This is actually a good thing.
If Ji Ruan can find something he likes to do, Gu Xiuyi certainly has no reason to refuse and will fully support him.
This is what he told Ji Ruan.
Then he coaxed Ji Ruan to fall asleep peacefully.
But Gu Xiuyi didn't expect Ji Ruan to act so quickly.
He agreed to become the disciple that evening, and was in a hurry to perform the ceremony the next morning.
The famous Master Cheng and Ji Ruan, who is always as slow as a snail, are unexpectedly strong in execution in this matter.
Cheng Yunxiu liked Ji Ruan too much and was afraid that his apprentice would run away.
And Ji Ruan... Gu Xiuyi didn't understand why Ji Ruan was so anxious. His stomach wasn't even fully recovered before he went out. When he got up, he lay on the edge of the bed in pain for a long time.
Ji Ruan's movements were so quick that it gave Gu Xiuyi the illusion that he wanted to leave him.
Because of this fleeting yet frightening thought, Gu Xiuyi lost interest in the meeting all morning.
Being stuck in traffic now makes me even more anxious.
The journey, which was only forty minutes long, took two hours due to traffic jam, and by that time Ji Ruan's apprenticeship ceremony had already ended.
When Gu Xiuyi arrived, Ji Ruan was standing by the door, kicking pebbles on the ground with his head down.
Cheng Yunxiu has a small yard on the outskirts of the city, where she plants a lot of colorful flowers that bloom vigorously over the fence.
Ji Ruan was wearing a simple white shirt and a gray knitted jacket, looking particularly fresh and elegant among the bright flowers.
Cheng Yunxiu had an appointment with another teacher at noon today and originally wanted to take Ji Ruan with them, but they were going to eat seafood. Ji Ruan had an upset stomach and was afraid that eating would make him feel worse, so he didn't go with them.
Mr. Gu knew about this and volunteered to pick him up, but he ended up being half an hour late as agreed.
If Ji Ruan hadn't eaten two pieces of peach blossom cakes at Cheng Yunxiu's house, he would have fainted from hunger.
Gu Xiuyi got out of the car and walked quickly to Ji Ruan. He first looked at his face, stuffed a candy into his mouth without saying a word, and then gently put his arm around his shoulders.
"Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
"...I'm starving." Ji Ruan said weakly.
He pressed the candy against his palate, and the sweetness spread between his lips and teeth, but the dizziness did not ease immediately, and he could only lean on Gu Xiuyi with weak hands and feet.
"My bad."
Gu Xiuyi placed his palm on Ji Ruan's stomach through her clothes. Her originally flat belly seemed a little sunken, and it felt very pitiful to touch.
He moved up a few inches and gently pressed Ji Ruan's stomach: "Does it hurt?"
The pain was not so bad, but I was twitching with hunger and sometimes had acid reflux. Ji Ruan closed his eyes and his lips were pale: "A little..."
Seeing this, Gu Xiuyi didn't dare to delay any longer. He half hugged and half embraced Ji Ruan and took her to the passenger seat. Fortunately, the road was much smoother now, and he didn't spend much time choosing a beef bone soup restaurant with a very clean store.
There were meat, vegetables, rice, and fragrant and refreshing beef bone soup. After a few sips of the hot soup, Ji Ruan's pale lip color, which even fruit candy couldn't save, finally came alive and returned to its original light red color.
Although this shop sells pork bone soup, its decoration is very elegant with a pastoral feel. From the private room on the second floor, you can see the flowers, plants and white butterflies in the yard outside.
Ji Ruan picked up a seasonal vegetable and chewed it slowly with the soft and glutinous rice. No matter how hungry he was, he would not lose his dining etiquette and would be gentle and quiet without making any sound.
Not surprisingly, there was no topic worth talking about at this time. Ji Ruan would only stare at the vegetable soup and meat in front of him and respond with "hmm", "ah" and "oh". If you wanted to hear him talk, you had to wait until he finished chewing for a long time.
But usually he wouldn't say more than a few words before he would put another bite of meat into his mouth, and then the long cycle of chewing, waiting, and perfunctory responses would begin again.
Gu Xiuyi knew this dining process very well, and didn't try to chat with him about anything at the beginning. He only reminded him occasionally to be careful of the heat. There was no extra sound in the private room, only the gurgling sound of the soup pot.
This way of eating initially suited Gu Xiuyi's taste. Perhaps because of his father's rough manners, he had always admired people who ate in a refined and cultured manner since he was a child.
When they first got married, Ji Ruan seemed to be the type who was delicate and hard to support, and could not be considered a perfect marriage partner.
But Gu Xiuyi had hardly considered anyone other than Ji Ruan from the very beginning, largely due to the fact that when they first met, he had the honor of having dinner with Ji Ruan and appreciated his elegant demeanor while eating.
Gu Xiuyi said nothing, but watched Ji Ruan's every move as usual, feeling refreshed as he watched.
Finally, Ji Ruan finished his small bowl of rice, scooped up some soup and used a spoon to gently stir it to cool, then propped his chin with one hand and looked at the butterflies outside the window:
"Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you."
He spoke leisurely, and seemed to exhale a little while speaking. The ending tone sounded comfortable and cozy, as if he liked the butterflies fluttering around the flowers outside the window.
The slightly rising ending tone with a sense of laziness and fatigue made Gu Xiuyi slightly alert.
Although Ji Ruan was very handsome like this, he was also so subtle and handsome when he asked Gu Xiuyi to become his disciple the night before yesterday, and even the tone of his voice was exactly the same.
"What's up?"
Gu Xiuyi said in a calm tone.
Ji Ruan turned around, the spring scenery in the garden still reflected in his eyes, and smiled: "There is an event next week, and the teacher wants to take me and my senior sister to go together. It's a grand event held every two years."
Gu Xiuyi had expected this and nodded, "That's good. The weather is nice and it's good for your health if you go out for a walk more often."
"That's great, I can go back and start packing."
Gu Xiuyi looked up: "Luggage?"
"Well, I'm out of town. I'm on a business trip."
Ji Ruan picked up the soup bowl, scooped a small spoonful and put it into his mouth. His movements were smooth and graceful, and a part of his wrist was exposed at the loose cuffs of his white shirt.
He seldom wears a shirt. Including the day he got his marriage certificate, this was the second time Gu Xiuyi saw him wearing this shirt - there was a small black bamboo embroidered on the cuff, which added a bit of quiet scholarly air to him.
Almost a year has passed, and Ji Ruan's brows and eyes have relaxed. Her originally delicate facial features are even more beautiful and full of spirit than when they first met.
Gu Xiuyi's expression was blank for a moment, and then he realized that Ji Ruan was already an adult who could go on business trips on his own.
He couldn't describe the feeling in his heart. While he was relieved, the illusion that "Ji Ruan would leave him" could not help but occupy his consciousness.
He put down his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair, resting his elbows on the armrests on both sides and crossing his legs naturally.
After a long while, he spoke calmly, as if asking casually: "It sounds interesting, will there be any works on display?"
Ji Ruan is always talkative about things that interest her: "Yes, there are many collection-level embroidery exhibitions, not only Han embroidery, but also teachers of the four famous embroidery schools will come. There will also be auctions, and the teacher and senior will also send two of their own works to the auction."
His cheeks flushed slightly, and he looked around excitedly: "But I don't have any. I just became your disciple, and I haven't officially entered the industry yet. This is the first time that the teacher has brought me into the circle. It's also good to go with you to broaden your horizons."
Gu Xiuyi looked at Ji Ruan with gentle eyes, nodding occasionally as he spoke, as if he was listening very seriously: "It is indeed very meaningful. Do you need me to prepare anything for you?"
"No need, I'm just a little apprentice." Ji Ruan was a little touched to see Gu Xiuyi support her hobbies so much: "Thank you."
Gu Xiuyi smiled and asked casually, "Where is the business trip? Is it far?"
"It's not far away, just next to the city B, Qingxi Mountain." Ji Ruan was so moved that he told him everything he knew.
Gu Xiuyi sipped his tea and thought for a moment: "The scenery there is very beautiful."
"Yeah," Ji Ruan yawned, "...I've wanted to go and see it for a long time.
Unlike Gu Xiuyi's chair, Ji Ruan was sitting on a small sofa. He felt a little sleepy after eating, and the cushion behind him was very soft. He rubbed his stomach and leaned back contentedly, his eyelids closing little by little.
"Can we rest for a while before we go..." he murmured.
When my eyes were completely closed, I heard Gu Xiuyi's low and soft voice: "Of course."
Ji Ruan took a nap on the side, and Gu Xiuyi maintained the same posture with his chin supported by his fingers.
He sat at the junction of the window and the wall. If he leaned back slightly, his body would be lost in the shadows. There was a dark shadow between his brows, as if he was thinking about something obscurely.
It took him a long time to move, his eyes fell on Ji Ruan's face, watching his eyelashes fluttering gently when he slept.
Then his gaze suddenly turned and looked at Ji Ruan's belly.
He stared for a long time, as if to see more clearly, and then quietly sat down next to Ji Ruan.
Ji Ruan was very thin, with less than 200 grams of flesh on his entire body, let alone a belly. His waist and abdomen were hidden under his shirt, a thin piece so that nothing could be seen.
But the cardigan that Ji Ruan was wearing was a bit similar in color to the cat at home.
Gu Xiuyi remembered very clearly that when Xiao An was first brought home and was only the size of a palm, he liked to lie on his back like this after feeding, and would also be happy to let him touch his belly.
Gu Xiuyi stared at it for a long time, then reached out his hand towards the poor little belly as if possessed by a ghost.
Hmm? Why is it a little bit drummy?
Not sure? Feel it again.
It really swelled up!
...and kind of cute.
The belly that was originally sunken due to hunger now has a little arc. Gu Xiuyi was surprised. In his opinion, Ji Ruan didn’t eat much at all. Could a bowl of beef bone soup and a few bites of meat fill up his stomach?
This saves a lot of food.
Gu Xiuyi inexplicably felt that Ji Ruan was not that difficult to support. In fact, raising him gave him a greater sense of accomplishment than raising a cat.
He seemed fascinated and couldn't let go of it and touched it again and again.
His palm suddenly felt cold, and Ji Ruan's slender white fingers slowly lifted his hand:
"What are you doing?"
His eyebrows were slightly raised, and there was still some sleepiness in his eyes.
Gu Xiuyi paused as if waking up from a dream.
He also wanted to know what he was doing.
How could he do such an inappropriate thing as touching someone's belly while they were sleeping?
How do I explain this?
Is the gentlemanly image that he has worked so hard to maintain in front of Ji Ruan crumbling?
What would Ji Ruan think of him?
Do you think he is no different from any other ordinary wealthy man in his thirties?
In an instant, Gu Xiuyi's heart was filled with raging storms, lightning, thunder, and heavy rain, forcing him to use all the psychological strength he had developed over decades of fighting in the business world and embroiling in the bloody intrigues of wealthy families to steady himself and withdraw his hand.
All this happened in Ji Ruan's eyes in just a brief moment.
All he saw was Mr. Gu withdrawing his hand neatly, then folding his hands in front of his chest, his expression so calm that it could be considered cold.
Ji Ruan's mind was blank. He sat there for a long while before rubbing his eyes and asking again: "Why did you touch my belly?"
Gu Xiuyi's body was tense, but the smooth lines of his arm muscles were revealed under his overly stiff shirt.
The air was quiet for a few seconds, and he turned his head to look at Ji Ruan, his expression as usual:
"Didn't you notice that your stomach was uncomfortable just now?"
"……?"
"You had a stomachache when you were sleeping just now, so I rubbed it for you."
"……Yeah?"
"Yes."
Gu Xiuyi said in a tone that showed that even he himself believed it.
Because of his poor health, Ji Ruan’s IQ is at its lowest point in life every time he falls asleep and the first few minutes after waking up.
Gu Xiuyi's firm, upright and upright gaze and Ji Ruan's suspicious, dull and self-doubting gaze were entangled in the air. In the end, the old fox surnamed Gu won a great victory with an even more shameless mentality.
Ji Ruan lowered his head and touched his belly.
He ate more than ever before, and his stomach was bloated, which really made him feel uncomfortable.
He gently stroked the bulging arc with his palm and looked at Gu Xiuyi: "It seems... a little swollen."
For people with beautiful eyes, the slightly red eyes when they just wake up from a nap are always the most deadly weapon for acting coquettishly, like thousands of arrows shooting straight at Gu Xiuyi's vital point.
Gu Xiuyi's Adam's apple slid up and down, and he hooked Ji Ruan's waist and brought him to his side.
Ji Ruan was extremely light, and was holding a small cushion in his hand. When Gu Xiuyi lifted him up, he was like a doll. He easily moved both him and the cushion to Gu Xiuyi's side.
Gu Xiuyi put his palm on his bulging belly: "It's okay, rub it to promote digestion, and it will soon be gone."
These words were spoken by an experienced old technician with many years of experience. Ji Ruan was deeply moved by the technician's sense of service and gave him a thumbs up.
Touched, he asked, "Is your group really not planning to expand into the service industry?"
If we really expand, with Gu Xiuyi leading by example, how strong a corporate belief must be established from top to bottom, from the boss to the employees!
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