Chapter 31 – Midnight Entry to the Capital

“…Doggy!” Gu Xiaobao said in his sweet, childlike voice.

Su Nianmei, momentarily taken aback, looked over to see little Gu Xiaobao pressed up against the train window, gazing outside.

It was the little bun’s first time on a train, and he couldn’t help feeling excited.

He looked soft and adorable as he pointed out at the window,

Gu Xichao sat on the opposite bunk, holding a book.

Su Nianmei peeked out—stealing glances at the man, revealing just the top of her head and two eyes,

The man wore a military uniform, his posture upright, his back perfectly straight, and his every move was marked by a disciplined precision that only came from long-term training.

He wasn’t wearing a cap, and his military haircut added a layer of masculine charm.

As soon as she glanced his way, Gu Xichao lifted his eyelids slightly, turning a page in his book. Feeling the brush of his gaze, she withdrew her own as though scalded, quickly closing her eyes.

She buried herself deeper under the covers.

Gu Xichao’s eyes flicked up slightly, amused by her obvious attempt to hide.

The train swayed and jolted, producing a rhythmic “clunk-clunk” sound.

Her heart, too, thumped along with the train’s motion.

It was just… so embarrassing…

She had heard stories about people who, after drinking too much, confessed to an entire street or lay down in the middle of the road singing love songs.

She’d always thought these tales were exaggerations or jokes. Yet, here she was, realizing that after drinking, she also had a tendency to confess to people.

And she’d said things like “chubby”… and “puppy”…

Su Nianmei wanted to slap her past self into oblivion.

Apparently, she’d even bitten Gu Xichao twice!

She squirmed further under the covers, feeling a chill down her neck.

Gu Xichao pretended to read his book, all the while sneaking glances at Su Nianmei. Ever since she had woken up this morning, his little wife had been avoiding him, and the moment they got on the train, she’d buried herself in sleep.

She had been boldly professing her feelings for him just yesterday, yet today, she seemed so distant.

Seizing this moment, Gu Xichao noticed her shuffling further into her bed. He immediately set his book down, stood up, stepped over, and sat down right beside her.

He sat beside his wife with a quiet but decisive presence.

Feeling the weight beside her, Su Nianmei shivered slightly.

Gu Xichao gently patted her back, his voice low and soothing, “Be good, dear, don’t be scared.”

His hand on her back only seemed to make her shiver even more.

After holding her breath for a long time under the covers, Su Nianmei started to feel suffocated and slowly peeked her head out.

The instant she did, she found herself locked in his gaze.

His phoenix eyes held a timeless warmth as though a single glance could last an eternity.

He sat there as if he hadn’t moved, his hand still on her back.

The military coat enhanced his striking features, lending him a rugged handsomeness. Yet the faint smile at his lips softened his stern demeanor, transforming him from cold steel to tender affection.

The words she had been meaning to say were caught in her throat.

Gu Xichao withdrew his hand, picked up the water cup on the small table, and turned to face her. Supporting Su Nianmei, he brought the cup to her lips, saying, “You drank last night. Drinking more water today will help you feel better.”

Su Nianmei leaned against his chest, her head resting right over his heart, and her heartbeat started racing along with his.

Gu Xichao held the cup steady, his fingers occasionally brushing against her lips.

The sensation made her lips tingle, and she felt a little restless. She raised her hand, intending to take the cup herself.

Gu Xichao said, “Be good!”

His eyes compelled her to let her hand drop back down.

With Gu Xichao’s steady hand holding the cup, Su Nianmei drank the water sip by sip. The lingering ache of her hangover seemed to ease with each mouthful.

Years later, she would ask Gu Xichao why he had chosen to love her.

His answer would be vague yet complete: “Because I felt that you’re the one. There’s no other reason.”

—o—o—o—

After two days on the train, they finally arrived in the capital.

When they got off, Su Nianmei held a sleeping Gu Xiaobao in her arms, his little head resting against her shoulder in peaceful slumber while Gu Xichao carried their luggage.

Huo Guangchuan—Gu Xichao’s old friend was waiting for them at the station, who had left the military to dive into the business world.

In his twenties, Huo Guangchuan was a striking young man with slicked-back hair, a leather jacket, and broad shoulders.

As soon as he saw Gu Xichao, he stepped forward and hugged him, greeting him with, “Squad leader.”

He then helped load their luggage into the trunk of his car.

Once they settled in, Gu Xichao took Gu Xiaobao and sat down beside Su Nianmei. Smiling, he introduced her, “This is my wife, Su Nianmei!”

Huo Guangchuan had already been sneaking glances at her in the rearview mirror.

She wasn’t the kind of beauty that struck you immediately. Still, her features were gentle and pleasing, with a soft, graceful demeanor. He’d heard about Gu Xichao’s marriage—a traditional arrangement from his family, and he’d assumed she was just an ordinary girl from the countryside, likely not a match for his friend.

But seeing them together now, he thought maybe it was Gu Xichao who’d gotten lucky; they did make quite a fitting pair.

With a wide grin, Huo Guangchuan said, “Hello, sister-in-law! You can just call me Chuanzi. Let me tell you, the rumors don’t do justice—you’re like a fairy that came to life. Honestly, sister-in-law, only a kind-hearted person like you could have taken my Brother Gu in. Otherwise, if you let him do it on his own, he’d have stayed single forever.”

Su Nianmei smiled as she replied: “Xichao is also an outstanding man.”

Su Nianmei blushed a little. Praising Gu Xichao in front of others felt like praising herself.

Huo Guangchuan noticed that Su Nianmei still seemed a bit reserved, so he kept the conversation lighthearted, chuckling as he said, “Oh, definitely. Back in the day, my Brother Gu here could run a twenty-kilometer weighted run, carrying a five-kilo pack, without even breaking a sweat. His stamina is something else.”

Su Nianmei glanced at Gu Xichao, catching onto the words’ stamina is something else, and found herself thinking about his abs, which made her feel a bit thirsty.

Just then, Gu Xiaobao stirred awake, and as soon as he opened his eyes, he wiggled to get into Su Nianmei’s arms, his little voice buzzing as he called: “Mom, hold me.”

Su Nianmei gathered the little bun up in her arms, and as he settled, he began curiously glancing around—he then realized that the surroundings were unfamiliar.

Seeing how attached Gu Xiaobao was to her, Huo Guangchuan felt reassured. He snapped his fingers to catch the little boy’s attention.

Gu Xiaobao slid down onto the car seat, standing up to look around but resisting the urge to touch anything, his gaze locked on the steering wheel.

Huo Guangchuan turned his head and asked, “Wanna touch it?”

Gu Xiaobao nodded earnestly.

With a grin, Huo Guangchuan teased, “Call me godfather, and I’ll let you touch it.”

Gu Xiaobao made a face in the rearview mirror, gave a little huff, and then promptly turned back to Su Nianmei for another cuddle.

Huo Guangchuan laughed, “Hey, kiddo, I was the first one to hold you when you were born, you know. Your Dad passed you to me right after.”

But Gu Xiaobao ignored him, uninterested in the banter.

Losing his enthusiasm, Huo Guangchuan turned to Gu Xichao and asked, “Heading back to Suiyuan?”

Gu Xichao gave a brief nod.

Suiyuan was in the suburbs, but its location was convenient, close enough to everything. It was a small, traditional courtyard home that Gu Xichao had bought a few years back when property prices were still affordable.

When Su Nianmei saw the courtyard house, she suddenly felt like her recent frugal habits were as futile as saving water for the ocean.

Once he had dropped them off, Huo Guangchuan bid them farewell and drove away.

Gu Xiaobao ran up to the doorway to touch the wooden door before turning back to Gu Xichao and asking quietly, “Dad, is this really our house?”

Gu Xichao nodded, and only then did Gu Xiaobao push the door open and go inside, eagerly exploring every room.

A few days earlier, Huo Guangchuan had arranged for someone to clean the place so everything was spotless.

With a grin, Gu Xiaobao hurried off to check out his room.

Seeing him dash off, Su Nianmei was about to follow, but Gu Xichao held her back, saying, “Our room’s even better.”

Su Nianmei’s curiosity piqued.

Drawing her into his arms, Gu Xichao leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Our bed is even bigger.”

In response, he felt a pinch on his arm.

Over the next few days, Gu Xichao was busy reporting to his new post and getting Gu Xiaobao settled into school.

After dropping Gu Xiaobao off, he and Su Nianmei went to the mall to pick up some household necessities.

Su Nianmei had made a list in advance, so she read out each item while Gu Xichao gathered them.

As they headed up to the second floor, Su Nianmei was pleasantly surprised to see a vertical lift in the mall. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Noticing that no one else was around, she hurried forward, making it onto the elevator just before Gu Xichao, who was walking slower due to the bags he was carrying.

Su Nianmei looked around, then waved her hand impatiently, urging him, “Hurry up!”

Gu Xichao stepped onto the elevator, asking, “What’s the rush?”

But the young woman remained silent, glancing around with a secretive smile.

Taking advantage of the elevator’s position, Su Nianmei was finally at eye level with Gu Xichao.

She clenched her hands so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. She took a few deep breaths, her cheeks flushing as she gathered her courage.

In one bold move, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

The kiss and her faint, sweet fragrance settled softly onto his lips.

It was warm and gentle.

Gu Xichao froze for a moment, his eyes filling with a gentle warmth.

Noticing someone approaching, Su Nianmei quickly straightened, cheeks burning, looking like a child caught doing something mischievous.

With a half-squint and a smile, Gu Xichao praised her, “Look at you, already declaring your sovereignty.”

Su Nianmei turned away, mumbling softly, “I wasn’t trying to…”

Gu Xichao stepped beside her, matching her stride, and whispered just for her ears, “Meaty loves puppy too.”

—o—o—o—

With Huo Guangchuan’s help, Su Nianmei’s school enrollment was also quickly arranged.

She would be attending Kyoto No. 2 High School—a well-regarded private institution, slightly less prestigious than the city’s top school but well-funded and highly respected for its excellent teachers.

After Qin Huai left, Su Nianmei struggled on her own with her studies, often stumbling through her revisions without much guidance.

When she enrolled, she chose to keep her “military wife” status a secret—attending classes just like any other student.

She was given her uniform in advance: a blue top paired with black pants.

On her first day, Su Nianmei decided to put a little extra thought into her look, tying her hair into two braids and carrying a small white shoulder bag, adding a touch of charm to her school attire.

She looked fresh and full of energy.

After admiring herself enough in the mirror, Su Nianmei finally approached Gu Xichao and cautiously asked, “Do you think this outfit looks good on me?”

Gu Xichao glanced down, replying, “It’ll do.”

Dissatisfied, Su Nianmei tugged on his arm, shaking it playfully, “Take a closer look! Don’t you notice anything different about me?”

Gu Xichao scrutinized her, frowning slightly.

Gu Xiaobao piped up, “Mom changed her hairstyle!”

Gu Xichao narrowed his eyes; the new look made her seem even younger. Her skin was fair, her peach-blossom-shaped eyes rounded and bright, and her lips…well, they looked downright tempting.

He bit down, suddenly struck by the urge to keep her at home. The idea of his little wife heading off to school, where others would see her, didn’t sit well. He wanted to lock her away, his own little bird in a cage, to be his treasured jewel.

Feeling a tug on his shirt hem, he looked down to see her smiling up at him, her eyes curved with mischief as she asked, “The outfit’s just okay…but do I look good?”

Taking a step back, Gu Xichao finally admitted, “Yes, you look beautiful.”

He needed a bit of distance to maintain his composure.

Receiving his answer, Su Nianmei headed off to school, content and cheerful.