Chapter 25: Climbing the Mountain

It was like honey melting into water, sweet enough to penetrate the heart.

The night was very quiet.

So quiet that Gu Xichao could only hear his own heartbeat and the soft breathing of the person beside him.

The bed was narrow, and the breaths of the person beside him were deep and shallow, brushing against his ears and sinking into his heart.

One moment heavy, the next light, a restlessness he could not suppress.

Gu Xichao turned over, accidentally rubbing his calf against Su Nianmei’s toes. Her round, warm toes sent a tingling sensation through him, yet the person behind him remained unaware. Soon enough, an arm and a leg wrapped around him.

It was like a baby searching for warmth.

Heat surged from his abdomen to the top of his head. Helpless, Major Gu could only raise his head to look at the sky outside the window.

The moon was full and beautiful.

He quietly lifted his hand and clasped his wife’s hand into his palm, pulling it close to his chest.

She was too obedient, too pure, like the moon in the sky, enchanting him but too sacred to defile.

It made his teeth itch, and his heart tremble, wishing he could pull her into his embrace, meld her into his bones, and mix her into his blood, leaving no strand of her untouched. Yet, he was also afraid that if he did, he would never be able to return.

He held Su Nianmei’s hand, gently kissing her fingertips. In the end, he even extended his tongue to lightly lick them.

The person behind him trembled slightly and let out a soft murmur.

Gu Xichao clutched his chest, feeling as if ants were gnawing at his bones, his ears turning red.

The rain grew heavier in the middle of the night, and the people in the room sank deeper into sleep.

At around six in the morning, Su Nianmei was woken by the sound of rain outside. The weather was gloomy, and after getting dressed and tidying up, she headed to the entrance of the family compound. The two elders and Xiaobao had played hard the day before and had not yet gotten up.

The rain from the northwest was mixed with wind, and the cold crept up from her legs to her body. Although her large umbrella couldn’t withstand the fierce wind, the rain poured down on her like someone throwing water. From a distance, Su Nianmei saw a military truck slowly driving toward her. She couldn’t see the person inside the vehicle clearly, so she pushed the umbrella down a bit more.

She heard two honks, and only then did she look up to see the truck stopped across from her. As she looked up, she noticed Gu Xichao sitting inside, waving at her and pulling the car door open.

The front of the truck had three seats, and Su Nianmei sat in the far right one, shaking the water off her umbrella before closing the door.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Before Gu Xichao could respond, the young soldier on the far left spoke up. “Hello, sister-in-law! You can call me Xiao Wu. I’m here to take you shopping. We just happened to be short-handed at the procurement office today, so Major Gu came to lend a hand.”

Xiao Wu was thin and dark, with a charming Shandong accent that made him particularly amusing.

Su Nianmei laughed and chatted with him for a few moments.

Gu Xichao, wanting to join the conversation, opened his mouth to say something but wasn’t sure what to contribute. So, he closed his mouth again, his demeanour unchanged.

Xiao Wu, sitting beside him, felt a bit intimidated. It was said that Major Gu was excellent in combat training and a bit serious.

Even Xiao Fang came over that morning to remind him to help lighten the atmosphere and assist their captain in pursuing his sister-in-law.

To his surprise, Major Gu remained so serious that he didn’t even change his expression when seeing his sister-in-law.

Xiao Wu turned the key to start the vehicle and heard a voice say, “Amei.”

His hand gripping the steering wheel trembled slightly.

He sneakily glanced in the rearview mirror.

Who would dare say that Major Gu wouldn’t pursue his wife?

Xiao Wu saw Major Gu gently push Su Nianmei’s bangs aside.

Through the rearview mirror, Xiao Wu’s gaze met Gu Xichao’s, and he immediately turned his eyes away, focusing intently on the road ahead.

In his mind, he repeated to himself that he was just a wooden post who could only drive, seeing nothing else. One must not look at what is inappropriate in the land of Confucius.

Su Nianmei’s damp bangs stuck to her forehead. Water droplets trickled down her hair, and Gu Xichao pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket, reaching out to gently wipe her forehead. He felt a surge of longing for a moment, wondering if she looked just as alluring after a shower.

This handkerchief was a gift from Gu Xiaobao. The little guy had insisted on giving it to Gu Xichao on his fourth birthday, saying that Dad trained too hard and sweated too much, so he needed something to wipe his face. However, Gu Xichao had never used it, treating it like a treasure and carrying it in his pocket every day.

The space in the vehicle was small, and Gu Xichao naturally took Su Nianmei’s umbrella and draped his coat over her shoulders.

Su Nianmei felt a bit shy and tried to pull the coat off.

Gu Xichao frowned. “Don’t move; it’s cold. You just got blown by the wind.”

The coat, carrying his scent, inexplicably made Su Nianmei feel restless. She replied with a soft “Mm” and did not move again.

The olive-green coat wrapped around Su Nianmei tightly, making her skin appear even whiter and more delicate. Gu Xichao’s hand, without her noticing, slipped inside the coat to hold Su Nianmei’s hand.

The warmth from his palm immediately seeped into hers, bringing back the warmth that had been lost to the cold wind.

Gu Xichao and Xiao Wu discussed various matters, exchanging one sentence after another. Beneath the coat, Gu Xichao’s hand lightly brushed against Su Nianmei’s fingertips. Her gaze wandered toward the window; the rain had lightened, and the temperature had begun to rise.

Su Nianmei felt flustered inside the car. Her fingers were pinched and prodded by Gu Xichao, who appeared completely serious on the outside, creating a sense of secret intimacy.

As she listened, she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep before she knew it.

When she woke up, only Gu Xichao remained in the car. She found herself half-reclined in her seat, the seatbelt fastened in front of her, and her legs felt slightly numb.

Watching Gu Xichao drive, his hands gripping the steering wheel with intense focus, Su Nianmei felt a slight thrill. She had a bit of a hand fetish and stared at his hands for a long time—his slender fingers, clearly defined knuckles, neither too delicate nor too rough, bore the calluses of long-term training, making them pleasant to touch.

Su Nianmei smiled but was startled by her own thoughts.

“Awake?” Gu Xichao asked.

She nodded and snapped back to reality, sitting up straight. “Where’s Xiao Wu? Haven’t we arrived yet?”

As he turned the steering wheel, Gu Xichao replied, “Xiao Wu just went to the town to finish the procurement and has gone back. We’re heading to another place now.”

“Oh,” Su Nianmei said, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had come for work yet ended up sleeping. She realized that she had always been prone to drowsiness in the rain, but this body seemed even more susceptible.

She whispered, “Um, I’m sorry.”

Gu Xichao didn’t catch what she said and asked for clarification.

Feeling more alert as she gazed at the road ahead, Su Nianmei noticed the rain had cleared, although the sky remained overcast. She changed the subject, asking, “Are we going up the mountain?”

“Right,” Gu Xichao confirmed. “We’re going to visit Grandpa Ge’s house. Every time we received supplies, we would send a portion to them. Since you’re here this time, I wanted to bring you along to see them.”

Su Nianmei was a bit curious about Grandpa Ge’s family but didn’t ask further questions. Gu Xichao drove steadily, just like his demeanour, navigating the mountain roads at a relaxed pace.

Nearly halfway up the mountain, Gu Xichao found a clearing to park the car. After getting out, he walked over and opened the door on Su Nianmei’s side.

Su Nianmei thought to herself that she wasn’t that delicate, but she still reached out and held Gu Xichao’s hand to get out of the car.

“Be careful; the mountain roads are all dirt, and it just rained. Don’t slip,” Gu Xichao warned.

Listening to him, Su Nianmei replied with a cheerful “Okay” and subtly leaned against him, her face breaking into a smile.

Gu Xichao took a bag of noodles and a bucket of oil from the trunk, and when Su Nianmei offered to help, he gently stopped her.

The two of them walked along a narrow path into the mountains.

Gu Xichao led the way. The mountain was overgrown with weeds, and worried about Su Nianmei getting caught, he stepped on the grass first to clear a path for her to follow.

Noticing Gu Xichao’s thoughtfulness, Su Nianmei held up the bag of noodles, wanting to lighten his load.

Standing at the door, Ge Weihong saw Gu Xichao and called out to him, turning to greet her husband.

Gu Xichao went inside and set down the items while still holding Su Nianmei’s hand tightly.

Su Nianmei followed Gu Xichao in, calling out to them. She heard Gu Xichao say, “This is my wife, Nianmei. I brought her here to meet you both.”

Su Nianmei shyly bit her lip.

The couple, Ge Weihong and his wife, looked over Gu Xichao and Su Nianmei, exchanging smiles, though they complained, “Every time Xiao Gu comes, he brings so much stuff with him.” Then, they turned their attention to Su Nianmei.

Ge Dama, Ge Weihong’s wife, took Su Nianmei’s hand, beaming broadly. “Xiao Gu is really fortunate to have married such a beautiful girl. I heard that he got married, but my legs aren’t doing well, so I haven’t been able to come down to see you two. Now that I’ve met such a lovely girl, it feels like I’ve fulfilled a wish.”

Only then did Su Nianmei notice the cane resting nearby. “Oh no, you’re the elder; it should be us visiting you!”

Ge Weihong remained silent and quietly slipped out of the room.

Ge Dama invited Gu Xichao and Su Nianmei to sit down. The three of them settled on bamboo chairs, chatting about everyday life. Ge Dama praised Gu Xichao throughout, saying, “Xichao is such a good kid. Every time it rains, he comes here to help us. When he didn’t have a car, he would ride his bicycle over and always bring us something.”

However, as she spoke, she felt uneasy, worried that Gu Xichao bringing gifts every time might upset Su Nianmei. Unable to take back her words, she kept an eye on Su Nianmei’s expression while subtly changing the subject.

Seeing that Su Nianmei had no reaction and was still smiling, she felt a bit more at ease.

Gu Xichao raised an eyebrow at Su Nianmei as if to say, “Your man is quite excellent.”

Su Nianmei pretended not to notice him while watching Ge Dama talk, gently squeezing Gu Xichao’s pinky under the table.

Gu Xichao chuckled softly, feeling the pressure of her touch, which was akin to a cat’s pawing.

As their conversation continued, it shifted to the topic of having children.

Ge Dama remarked, “Though you two just got married, you should start thinking about having kids. We’re all experienced in this; having a child strengthens the foundation of a marriage.”

Su Nianmei took a sip from the porcelain jar, her mind racing. Having kids meant doing that kind of thing, right? She had barely started her relationship with Gu Xichao, and it felt too early. According to her views on romance, they should hold hands first, then…

She paused, feeling that something wasn’t quite right. She shook her head and remembered how she had seen Gu Xichao’s abs earlier. She had been too shy to count how many there were and swallowed hard.

Gu Xichao watched the steam rising and noticed how it made Su Nianmei’s face flush a bright red. He couldn’t tell if she was embarrassed or just warm, but he found her utterly adorable. “We’re not in a hurry; we can take our time.”

Just then, Ge Weihong entered through the door, having overheard, “What’s not urgent?”

Gu Xichao saw the dishes Ge Weihong was carrying and stepped forward to take them from him, placing them on the table with a smile. “Uncle, you misheard us. We’re actually very eager for your delicious food!”

Ge Weihong beamed in response. “Well, it’s raining today, so your aunt and I prepared the dishes early, waiting for you to arrive. At one point, the rain was really heavy, and we worried you might not make it. We even had to keep the food warm in the pot, but look at that—you arrived this afternoon after all.”

The four of them sat around the table, chopsticks in hand. Gu Xichao waited for the older couple to start before he picked up a piece of chicken and placed it in Su Nianmei’s bowl. “Go ahead, give it a try. Uncle Ge’s chicken is exceptional.”

Ge Weihong added, “I usually wouldn’t let just anyone eat this dish. Girl, make sure to savour it. If you like it, I’ll make it for you again next time you come.”

As the four of them chatted back and forth around the dinner table, a loud rumble of thunder suddenly sounded. Ge Weihong stood up to peek outside. The sky was even gloomier than it had been at noon. “It’s been years since we’ve seen autumn thunder like this. It looks like heavy rain is on the way. How about you two—if the weather gets too bad, why don’t you just stay here for the night?”

Gu Xichao looked at Su Nianmei, waiting for her opinion.

Su Nianmei nodded.

Su Nianmei noticed that Ge Dama seemed even happier than before. Living up in the mountains, the two elders inevitably felt a bit lonely.

After finishing their meal, Ge Weihong took the plates away while Ge Dama went to the next room to tidy up the space for Gu Xichao and Su Nianmei. When Gu Xichao and Su Nianmei offered to help, Ge Weihong gently pushed them back down.

Su Nianmei stood by the window, watching Ge Weihong and Ge Dama. She spoke up, “Do you think we’ll be like Uncle Ge and Auntie Ge when we get old?” Then she recalled something. “Do they have kids? I haven’t seen any.”

Before she could finish her thought, she turned to look at Gu Xichao.

At that moment, she spun around and found herself in his embrace, her ear pressed against his chest, just in time to hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump.