Chapter 37 Marriage Leave?

As the two of them arrived at the doorstep, Gu Xiao swiftly unlocked the door and pulled her inside.

“You just said… you were worried He Wenqing might get me in trouble?” Gu Xiao’s voice was a little rushed, his expression full of barely contained anticipation.

“Yeah,” Song Youyou nodded seriously. “You’re a soldier. I was afraid if he reported you for hitting him, it might cause trouble for you.”
These days, people loved to report others for anything — it was impossible to guard against it. Who knew if He Wenqing would be just like Song Baozhu, always running around stirring up trouble?

“I’m not afraid of being reported. He can report me all he wants!” Gu Xiao said, clearly delighted.

“…Not being afraid is one thing, but why do you look so happy…” Song Youyou stared at him blankly. She felt like she was the only one panicking here, while he, the supposed party at risk, seemed completely unconcerned.

Before she could finish silently complaining, she suddenly felt something tighten around her waist — and the next second, she was pulled into the man’s strong, hot embrace.

“Youyou, you’re so good…”
His voice was deep and husky, the breathy heat curling into her ear like a spark. Song Youyou felt her mind go fuzzy from the warmth, but her sense of reason still picked up on how strange his words sounded.

“?”
Why was he suddenly calling her good?

“You’re just really good. You’re worried about me, not He Wenqing — that makes me really happy.”
He said it so openly, with complete honesty.

He’d never realized he was the kind of person who could be satisfied so easily. Just one small show of concern from her, and all the questions, all the suspicions about what had happened earlier with He Wenqing… they no longer mattered.

Whether it was unresolved feelings or messy entanglements, none of it mattered.
Right now, she was worried about him. That was enough.

Besides, she had even laid hands on that bastard He Wenqing — maybe she really didn’t feel anything for him anymore.

Even if there were lingering feelings… he could wait. They had a long road ahead, and he was confident he’d make his way into her heart.

“Youyou…”
He loosened his arms slightly, bending down so his eyes could meet her beautiful almond-shaped ones.

That familiar nickname, spoken in Gu Xiao’s deep and magnetic voice, somehow made her ears feel itchy.

“…What?”
She looked up at him, and their gazes locked.

It was dusk now, and the lights inside the house hadn’t been turned on.
In the dim light, the intensity in his eyes seemed darker than usual, making her heart skip a beat.

“I’m on a week-long vacation this time,” he said.

“…Oh.”
Vacation was good — time to rest.

“It’s marriage leave,” he added.

His deep eyes, like the dimly lit room, were dark and unreadable — carrying an inexplicable sense of danger.

“…M-marriage leave?”

“Mhm. Marriage leave.”
His voice dropped even lower as he repeated the words.

Song Youyou’s fingers clenched tightly in an instant.

Right. He had mentioned before — that the next time he got marriage leave…
They would get married.

Not just legally — but the real wedding, the banquet.
In the traditional sense, once the banquet was held and everyone knew they were husband and wife, then the marriage would truly be considered complete.

“You… you know what marriage leave means, right?”

Of course she knew… but that didn’t stop her ostrich-like desire to stick her head in the sand.

“Why are you quiet?”

Song Youyou: “…”

What could she say?

“It’s fine if you don’t answer. I miss you… can I kiss you?”
He asked gently, sincerely.
Before she could even think, he added, “It’s been so long. Don’t you miss me too?”

“!!”
Song Youyou stiffened, her voice sharp with embarrassment: “Stop asking stuff like that!”

Gu Xiao chuckled, knowing she was just shy and flustered.
He no longer pushed for an answer, just said softly, “Shall we go to the room?”

“?”
To the room?
Why?

She didn’t say anything aloud, but between the two of them — one was used to taking the lead, and the other used to following.

In the quiet house, the only sound was the soft tap, tap, tap of their footsteps from the door to the bedroom.
The sounds were so clear that Song Youyou didn’t dare raise her head, just followed him like a bashful ostrich.

Once inside, they still didn’t turn on the light.
But the dim lighting and enclosed space made the atmosphere feel thick with intimacy.

Song Youyou stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

But Gu Xiao’s restraint had long been pushed to its limit.
The moment he closed the door, he let go of all pretense.

He immediately pulled her into his arms, and found her soft, red lips.

Her face flushed pink, her eyes like a startled fawn — wet, dazed, flustered…
And it was precisely that look that stirred the predator in him.

Gu Xiao’s body tensed even more, and he kissed her deeper.
His hand on her lower back slid slightly under her shirt.

When his fingers brushed the bare skin of her waist, Song Youyou shivered involuntarily.

“Wait… mmm…”

He slipped the tip of his tongue into her mouth, cutting off her protest, greedily exploring her sweetness.

No one knew how long the kiss lasted —
It wasn’t until Song Youyou let out a soft whimper that the man finally lifted his head, putting some space between them.

“What’s wrong? Did I suck too hard?”
His eyes were tinged with red, voice hoarse from desire.

Song Youyou took the opportunity to gulp in breaths of air, not knowing how to respond.

Gu Xiao didn’t need an answer.
Instead, he lifted her legs around his waist and held her facing him.

The next moment, Song Youyou felt her back land softly on the only large bed in the room.

She drew in a sharp breath — but his kisses were already falling again, more urgent and intense than before.

Tonight’s closeness was unlike any they’d shared before.

Gu Xiao felt like a beast finally unleashed, dangerous and overwhelming.

And deep down, Song Youyou knew exactly what was coming next.

Her whole body trembled. Her hands had nowhere to go, so she clutched his back tightly.

It was then that her palm felt a sudden warmth — wetness that soaked through the fabric and touched her skin.

Her eyes instantly cleared, becoming sharp again.

“Gu Xiao.”