“We’re here.”
He took out the key and opened the door. It was a small two-room bungalow. Stepping inside, there was a living room. Not very big, much smaller than her apartment back home.
But it was neatly arranged. There was a table with a few stools and Su Wan’s large packages; besides that, there wasn’t much furniture.
This family house had originally been applied for Gu Xingyao to live in, but she no longer stayed here.
Gu Huaizhi placed her suitcase against the wall. Both of them stood silently for a moment. He cleared his throat, grabbed an enamel cup, and poured her a glass of hot water from the thermos.
Su Wan took the cup and looked around the room, then stepped into the bedroom. “Huaizhi, Xingyao doesn’t live here anymore?”
Gu Huaizhi followed her inside. “No, she got into the Art Troupe. She’s staying in the dorm now.”
“Oh. I want to take a shower. Is there hot water?” Su Wan had felt dirty on the train; she had secretly used the train restroom space to wash herself last night.
But after sitting on the train all day today, she still wanted a proper shower.
Gu Huaizhi rolled up his sleeves and headed toward the kitchen. “I’ll boil the water. You rest for a bit first.”
Su Wan didn’t stay idle. She had just touched the blanket on the bed—it was coarse army-issued cloth. She wanted to use her own blanket.
Thinking back, she realized she hadn’t really cared about Gu Huaizhi’s life here. She had only felt wronged: even though they were married, he hadn’t stayed with her in Shanghai.
He had insisted on joining the army, so she caused trouble, ignoring his feelings, just wanting him to follow her wishes.
Whenever she called him, it was to demand he come home and argue with her. She had never considered whether he was comfortable or struggling here.
Looking at this modest room now, Su Wan suddenly understood that being a soldier here must be very tiring and hard.
He just never mentioned it before.
She replaced the blanket with the silk cover she had brought; it was soft and comfortable.
Gu Huaizhi came to the bedroom door and saw the blanket. He wasn’t surprised. “The water’s ready. You can take a shower.”
Behind the kitchen was a small partition—the bathroom.
Su Wan carried her shower gel and shampoo inside.
A large wooden basin was steaming. It looked new. He must have prepared it in advance, knowing she liked to sit and soak in the bath.
The water was already mixed; she tested it with her hand. Slightly hot, just the way she liked it.
She hated cold. Even during normal baths, she preferred slightly hot water.
Her two years in Beidahuang had made her even more sensitive to cold—it seemed ingrained in her bones.
Su Wan took her shower and sighed in comfort.
She changed into pajamas and returned to the bedroom.
The man was sitting at the only table in the room, writing something. She entered with the scent of her shower, and his back stiffened for a few seconds before relaxing.
Su Wan, with dripping hair, wrapped her damp, slightly wavy hair in a towel, drying it slowly.
She sat on the edge of the bed, watching his back, wanting to say something but finding no words.
Her hair was so thick it took forever to dry. She yawned, feeling sleepy.
He turned to her. “Why are you washing your hair so late?”
Su Wan glanced at him. “I felt a little dirty.”
Then she worried he might think she was being fussy—washing hair so late would keep her from sleeping.
She dried her hair roughly. He got up, came to her side, and gently took the towel to help her dry her hair.
She stole a glance at him. His brow was furrowed, as if slightly impatient.
Su Wan’s “lady” temper flared. She pouted. “I’ll do it myself.”
He didn’t stop but continued gently drying her hair.
She didn’t know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was already noon.
The past few nights on the train had been restless; this sleep was deep and refreshing.
Sitting up, she felt completely comfortable. She put on slippers and went to the living room. The man wasn’t there—probably out for training.
Her stomach rumbled. There was nothing on the table. She thought she could just get something from her space to eat.
The front door opened, and the man walked in carrying two lunchboxes.
Seeing Su Wan still in her pajamas, he frowned. “You just woke up? Haven’t eaten breakfast?”
She shrank her neck. “I… didn’t sleep well on the train.”
There wasn’t any breakfast anyway; the table was empty.
He put the lunchboxes on the table and went into the kitchen.
Su Wan hurried to her room, changed clothes, and tied up her hair before coming back out.
Carrying her toothbrush and towel, she headed to the kitchen. Scanning the table, she saw a bowl of millet porridge, a bun, and a boiled egg.
So he had prepared breakfast for her in the morning—probably left it in the kitchen.
She decided to wake up early tomorrow to make sure she could eat breakfast.
She had always disliked this about him—his disciplined habits made him act like a strict officer, always managing her.
Even more controlling than her father. She liked to sleep in and could nap until noon.
Breakfast and lunch were usually combined. After marrying him and living in the apartment for a month, he liked waking her up for breakfast.
She had been annoyed and scolded him once, making him furious.
But her stomach had never been very good. Skipping breakfast sometimes caused pain.
He must have known this. Perhaps the reason he liked waking her up for breakfast was that he knew her stomach wasn’t well.
Thinking back, she and him had known each other for five years, married for two.
Yet she didn’t really understand him. She used to live on the third floor, he and Gu Xingyao on the second.
They hardly went upstairs. Sometimes when she pouted and refused to eat, a housemaid would bring her food upstairs.
They had all been in school then, in the same school but not the same class.
He had always been busy, sometimes following his father on business.
At first, she didn’t like the siblings much. Spoiled by her father, she felt they were taking his attention.
So she ignored them. Later, because of Zhao Mengxue, she gradually paid attention to Gu Huaizhi.
But Gu Huaizhi was different from other boys. He was always calm and indifferent toward her.
Su Wan couldn’t stand it and often said hurtful things.
Her father had scolded her several times, making her dislike Gu Huaizhi even more.
Yet she was uncontrollably drawn to him. A young girl’s crush—she couldn’t help being attracted to his handsome face.
Her way of expressing affection was awkward. Gu Huaizhi was cold by nature, so they rarely spoke peacefully.
Whenever they met, it was either arguments or ignoring each other.
Now that she had a second chance at life, she had decided to get rid of her spoiled “lady” habits and live properly with him.
Looking at the man sitting at the table, waiting for her to eat, she said—