“You cannot do this!”
The strange and stimulating sensation made Gu Wenshan hastily remove his hand, if not for the darkness, his face would surely have been bright red.
“You cannot do this,” he controlled his breathing and repeated the words one by one. Speaking, he lowered his eyes to see the naive Xiangzhi, she had not anticipated his reaction would be this strong.
“If you did not cover my mouth, I would not have done this,” Xiangzhi could not help but indulge in tasting him, with no sound argument behind it.
Reconsidering, she thought Gu Wenshan always managed this and that. He covered, I licked—was that not quite fair? Thinking about it, her small waist straightened up again, glaring at him fiercely.
“It is my fault?”
The little flower spirit’s beast-like demeanor made Gu Wenshan laugh in frustration, he flicked his finger toward her forehead with a “thud,” and Xiangzhi covered her head in disbelief as he said: “This time let it pass, next time I will not go easy on you.”
I have already gone easy on you many times.
The little flower spirit wanted to say this. But she had no strength, she could only hold it in.
This world itself was the strong prey upon the weak… survival of the fittest, wasn’t it?
Sigh, being illiterate was so annoying!
“I… I should go now,” Gu Wenshan looked at her deeply, not understanding how her small expression had become so expressive.
“Oh. See you, see you,” Xiangzhi gazed after the culprit as he hurried away from home. Hoping they could meet again soon.
But after he left, they did not see each other for a week.
Gu Wenshan was on a business trip.
The little flower spirit went to work and came home each day, working hard on literacy classes. When she received her first paycheck of fifteen point eight yuan, she almost cried with joy.
She suddenly felt like she was living like a human! She had come to eat people, not to work, heavens above.
Still, she sat at the small table in the greenhouse and counted the wages twice.
“I was paid two yuan too much!!”
Though Xiangzhi wanted to keep it, thinking she had endured so much hardship and earned this pittance by rolling her eyes every day, if someone else was short even this little, how would they live? She closed her notebook and ran to find Old Zhou in the duty room: “Too much money.”
Old Zhou, as the greenhouse manager, even had a telephone system installed. Now he put down the phone and cheerfully picked up a newspaper: “Not too much.”
Xiangzhi said: “Gave me eighteen point eight… no wait, gave me seventeen point eight—two yuan extra.”
Old Zhou said cheerfully: “Count again, perhaps I gave you five yuan extra.”
Xiangzhi was unhappy, she was honest about money, worried others were dishonest.
She found a corner to carefully count out fifteen point eight, then the remaining “one, two” she counted twice, holding up two yuan high: “Just two yuan extra, do not deceive me, I know addition and subtraction now.”
Old Zhou said with satisfaction: “Those two yuan are a bonus for performing well—extra pay I am giving you.”
Xiangzhi’s eyes lit up, she ran over with admiring eyes: “Leader, you can give me a raise?”
Now she knew he was a leader.
Old Zhou coughed.
The little flower spirit ran to pour him Da Hong Pao, brewed it well, and ran back to place it before him, fanning it with the cup lid.
Old Zhou gestured twice in the air: “You, you—look long-term, respect your leader more at ordinary times, and look, you have benefits now.”
What the little flower spirit wanted was not just that. She proudly pulled out all her wages and gave them to Old Zhou: “Can leader exchange all this for sesame oil tickets?”
Old Zhou said sternly: “Know sesame oil prices rise before year-end, planning to profiteer?”
Xiangzhi said angrily: “What? Sesame oil gets more expensive before year-end?!”
Old Zhou said surprisingly: “You do not know this and still want sesame oil? Anyway, I cannot exchange it.”
Xiangzhi: “Tsk.”
Old Zhou: “…Watch your civility.”
Xiangzhi said cheekily: “Did not bring it from home.”
Old Zhou waved: “Go go go, hurry and learn your characters, exams come after the year, if you fail, do not come crying to me.”
An old man and a young girl parted unhappily, Xiangzhi could not exchange sesame oil and was not happy holding her wages. She sat slumped at the desk making sentences.
Previously when punished to write two hundred times, Gu Wenshan and Old Zhou’s characters were beautifully written, the teacher, seeing them, actually let her go and even gave her a new notebook.
Now she struggled on that notebook using “materialism” in sentences.
‘I am a firm materialist.’
‘Materialism makes the world more scientific.’
‘There are no demons or ghouls, only materialism.’
Soon, the telephone in Old Zhou’s duty room rang again. Old Zhou’s booming voice said: “Little Gu, how are you? Everything is fine here.”
Who else could “Little Gu” be but Gu Wenshan?
Xiangzhi teased the leader and did not dare approach, she just took a small shovel and pretended to work near the window.
Old Zhou knew Gu Wenshan was concerned about Xiangzhi, this girl sometimes had a screw loose. But before the child, he still gave her high praise, helping by saying a few insincere compliments.
Hearing Old Zhou praise her, Xiangzhi felt bad for him. Just now upset and frowning, now she felt deeply ashamed.
Old Zhou told Gu Wenshan about Xiangzhi’s work and studies, assuring him everything was fine while they talked. Looking out the window, he saw a small hand insert through the crack, grab a large shrimp cracker, and toss it by the telephone, then quickly retract.
Small and miserly but with a touch of cuteness.
A bribe?
Old Zhou smiled, his double chin appeared again. He had never truly been angry with her, he hung up and ate the shrimp cracker, as if returned to courting his late wife. She also liked eating shrimp crackers, her pockets were always full.
“Are you done with the call?”
Xiangzhi stood outside twisting shyly, seeing Old Zhou come out, she resisted the urge to touch his round belly and asked softly: “When does Gu Wenshan come back?”
Old Zhou said: “Another three days. He will take you shopping for New Year supplies.”
Xiangzhi had not gone out since arriving at the military unit. Hearing this, she was delighted: “That is wonderful, I need to clean my shoes before going to the city.”
Old Zhou smiled: “How come your face turned red when I praised you to him?”
Not only red and flushed, but with lovely pink.
Xiangzhi became nervous!
She was a gardenia flower, pure white like jade fat, how could she change color?!
She hurriedly ran into the greenhouse, holding a small mirror to her face, not noticing Old Zhou’s thoughtful expression behind her.
“Winter is so hard to endure,” Xiangzhi attributed her pink cheeks to heaven.
Old Zhou napped at midday, each time during his rest, Xiangzhi would transform into her original form in the greenhouse to enjoy a while. Today was the same, she beautifully stretched her leaves, the Faxian petals swaying gently, if one looked carefully, one would see half her petals missing.
She was embarrassed to let the other small flowers and plants know, so she stayed in a corner, only exerting herself when transformed, hoping they would grow out soon.
The day Gu Wenshan was to return, Xiangzhi was in a good mood early.
Next-door Wu Zhaodi greeted her, she unusually nodded her head.
At the flower house, she unwound the scarf wrapped around three times and hung it, then put on a work apron over her quilted jacket. Today several flowers needed repotting, she held a shovel planning to loosen the soil first.
Outside the greenhouse, people waited in line. Xiangzhi saw Hongwu holding marigolds inside. Before opening time, she went to take the marigolds and check their condition.
Hongwu wanted to invite Xiangzhi to the show, coming early, he had not expected so many people, so he stammered to Xiangzhi: “Do not hurry away after work, I have something to tell you.”
Xiangzhi said directly: “No time.”
The young men waiting behind heard and started teasing: “What can’t Colonel Hong say in front of us?”
Others said with a sour tone: “Oh, is Xiangzhi the kind of girl you think you can just ask out? I asked her to watch our ball game and she would not go, our class still won the company championship.”
Xiangzhi glanced at him and said: “Whether I go or not has nothing to do with you. Return the pot you borrowed first before talking.”
The sour one was an office civilian worker named Ge Yuanjian. Like Hongwu, he was a company-level cadre, from behind his back, he produced a pot of bright red scarlet lily.
Xiangzhi tried to take it, Ge Yuanjian said cheerfully: “The pot edge is dirty, let me carry it in for you.”
Xiangzhi released her hands, let Ge carry it into the greenhouse and set it down.
Actually, those who frequently borrowed flowers could see Xiangzhi’s temperament: as long as you were good to the flowers, she respected you. Poor treatment meant rolling eyes.
They had no recourse, this year’s flowers displayed everywhere were beautiful, all due to Xiangzhi’s work.
Hongwu said nothing on the side, figuring Xiangzhi would wait after work once she heard he wanted to talk… maybe.
She worked hard all day, at quitting time, she swept the ground and leaned the broom against the wall: “I am leaving now.”
Old Zhou, busy at year-end apparently, was taking a call in the duty room, hearing this, he nodded.
Xiangzhi was about to leave when Hongwu appeared breathlessly at the flower house entrance.
He held crumpled spring festival show tickets, just as he was about to speak, Xiangzhi brushed past him.
“Wait,” Hongwu caught up and walked a few steps, calling her back: “Xiangzhi comrade, I have something to say to you.”
Xiangzhi was very sensitive about this, she was not particularly happy wasting time. She still had to go home and wait for Gu Wenshan, she had promised to treat him to sesame pastry with her wages.
Hongwu blocked her at the gate, stammering: “Xiangzhi comrade, I want to ask—do you have a boyfriend? If not, would you go watch a show with me?”
Xiangzhi looked up at the tall, bear-like Hongwu. Actually, Gu Wenshan’s build was not much smaller, but looked much more spirited than Hongwu. Hongwu was like an elm wall blocking before Xiangzhi.
“I do not have a boyfriend.”
Hongwu, hearing this, immediately became happy. But right after, Xiangzhi said: “But I do not plan to watch the show with you.”
Hongwu, a bit dull, was stunned: “Then who are you going with?”
He was not Gu Wenshan, why should he manage her affairs? Xiangzhi said unhappily: “This is my business, it has nothing to do with you.”
Hongwu watched as Xiangzhi was about to leave, he chased two steps and cut her off: “I, I like you, Xiangzhi comrade. If you agree, I can immediately file a marriage report!”
His voice was like a bell, a few people passing after work heard and looked over curiously. Some gazes falling on Xiangzhi had ambiguous meaning that made her uncomfortable.
Ever since she came here, she was the center of gossip in the family compound. Later, Gu Wenshan’s arrangement to work with Old Zhou greatly reduced her troubles. No one dared spread rumors.
No one dared offend Gu Wenshan or Old Zhou.
But eyes had labeled her as “flower house beauty,” and quite a few male comrades showed interest. Today being cornered at the flower house entrance guaranteed it would be dinner chatter. Sounding nice was that she had charm, not so nice, it would be “fickle” or “seductive.”
Xiangzhi was also angry at Hongwu coming today after she had refused him.
She came here not to follow the army, how could he misunderstand like this? As if any man would do—why did not Hongwu understand this?
Xiangzhi had no interest in Hongwu and did not want to eat him: “Colonel Hongwu, please move aside, I am in a hurry to go home.”
“Oh, in such a hurry to go home—who is waiting? My son spoke to you, did you not hear? What is going on?”
A shrill, high voice came from behind Xiangzhi, Hongwu’s mother stood at the gate with her hands on her hips, an expression of stern inquiry as she studied Xiangzhi.
Oh, what a slender willow waist, so seductive.
Hongwu’s mother, seeing Xiangzhi’s appearance, was convinced the country girl was a troublemaker, many male comrades around her, no need to say. Originally Hongwu was an obedient boy, but because of her he talked back to his own mother, insisting on involving with a village girl.
But this village girl did not understand politeness, when Hongwu spoke to her, she ignored him. His mother could not stand it anymore and had to step out and put her in her place.
“I do not even know you, you had better move aside. If I get upset, I have no medical fees to pay you.”
Xiangzhi saw no need to answer Hongwu’s mother’s questions, this kind of elder did not deserve respect.
Hongwu’s mother wore old-fashioned hair braids, looking like a quarrelsome rooster. She had raised her son alone, how could she let him get tangled with this little spirit?
Hongwu’s mother, seeing Xiangzhi show no courtesy or shame, frustrated and exasperated, said: “You are a country girl, have you even seen an urban ration book? What gives you the right not to respect our Hongwu? I am asking—will you go or not?”
Xiangzhi said very directly: “No, no, no.”
Hongwu’s mother lost face. She had not been in the family compound long, many wives called her “Auntie Hong” respectfully when they saw her. None were this disrespectful.
Hongwu’s mother walked forward with her hands on her hips, pointing at Xiangzhi’s nose: “Girls like you, so coquettish and pretty, are just eye-high but hands-low. Do not think I do not know—recently you clung to Regiment Commander Gu. He did not want you! With your attitude, even village bride prices would be cut. I feel bad for my son, how could he take a liking to you?!”
Xiangzhi did not know about village bride prices, anyway it was not a compliment. She faced Hongwu’s mother unlike other young people, afraid of being scolded at the gate, that is why she respected.
Xiangzhi straightened and reasoned with Hongwu’s mother: “If you care for your son, keep him at home to care for him. He wore this uniform, so he belongs to the country and people. As a cadre’s direct family, you are promoting urban-rural class divides? I will report you to leadership.”
Xiangzhi suffered through literacy classes daily and picked up some knowledge in her head. Compared to true illiterates, she was half-literate now. Enough to handle Hongwu’s mother.
Sure enough, threatening to report to leadership made Hongwu’s mother’s voice drop. Facing the young girl’s threat, she could not maintain her composure, rambling on: “Do not try to scare me, nobody from our street office manages me either, I am respected here. Which leader manages such trivial matters—”
“I do.”
Gu Wenshan, carrying gifts from Beijing meetings, looked level at the silent Hongwu: “Colonel Hong, three or four times a week here, not training properly, spending your mind on pursuing female comrades?”
Hongwu’s mother seeing Regiment Commander himself appear, her slack facial skin trembled. She wanted to say a good word for her son, but the Regiment Commander did not even look at her, not giving her a chance to speak.
Hongwu had told his mother many times not to interfere. She would not listen, always thinking outside women were there to seduce him, and would give them a hard time the moment she saw them.
Because of his mother’s forceful personality, several matchmaking attempts with female comrades had fallen through. Hongwu was older than Gu Wenshan, twenty-eight this year, finally he liked Xiangzhi and his mother messed it up.
“Regiment Commander, I, I just wanted to invite Xiangzhi comrade to watch the show.”
Hongwu opened his palm, the ticket was dampened by sweat. He said carefully: “I did not harass her. I—”
Gu Wenshan turned to ask Xiangzhi: “Did you refuse?”
His words carried anger he himself had not discovered. And a jealousy—that a delicate little flower kept safe in his palm would be so easily plucked by others.
He had let him off once, this time his audacity was great.
“I refused!” Xiangzhi, seeing Gu Wenshan had come, straightened her back even more: “I said I would not watch with him.”
Hongwu hung his head, holding the show ticket in utter shame. His tall frame’s shoulders shrank, he looked very pitiful.
People leaving work had gradually gathered around them. Gu Wenshan could not scold the cadet here, suppressing his anger, he said: “Tomorrow come to my office to talk properly. Also, your mother’s conduct is improper, I will inform the family committee head, whether to stay or leave is for the head to decide.”
Those watching gossiped behind them.
To say today’s trouble was Hongwu’s mother’s doing—if Hongwu was rejected, he should have just left. Why did she have to make a fuss and insult Xiangzhi?
Hongwu shrank his neck, looking scared of Gu Wenshan, he had no reason to argue, his face was completely lost: “Commander, my mother, she will leave soon, I will send her away quickly.”
He turned to apologize to Xiangzhi: “Sorry, I will never do this again. I scared you, I am not usually like this, it is my mother—”
“Enough,” Gu Wenshan cut him off: “You and your mother remember: do not take others’ tolerance as a place to run wild. Next time, you transfer immediately!”
“Transfer? I cannot transfer, if my son transfers he is no longer an officer!”
Hongwu’s mother, desperate, her legs grew weak, hands slapping her thighs wanting to sit and wail, but Hongwu grabbed her: “Is this not enough shame? Get up, go, hurry.”
Gu Wenshan did not look at them, his gaze fell on Xiangzhi, quickly scanning over to check she was unharmed. Softening his tone, his manner exceptionally gentle: “My mother brought you many things, she thinks of you often. Can I carry them back for you?”
“Yes,” Xiangzhi watched him with longing eyes. This was the first time seeing Gu Wenshan angry, very frightening. Felt like anytime he could grab someone’s neck and snap it.
Inside, Old Zhou heard the commotion outside, walked out seeing Gu Wenshan, and said lightly: “Oh, raging like thunder on my turf.”
Gu Wenshan handed over the tea and liquor his father had sent for Old Zhou, was about to be polite, but Xiangzhi blocked him, speaking softly: “I also work here inside, the turf is partly mine.”
Old Zhou laughed heartily: “Alright, alright, I give you face.”
Turning to look at Hongwu: “You do not come again.”
Hongwu hurried nodding: “No, no, I do not dare.” Pulling at his teary mother as they left.
Gu Wenshan and Xiangzhi also exited the gate heading to the bungalow, walking shoulder to shoulder for a while. Xiangzhi said excitedly: “I got paid!”
She had not mentioned before because there were a few people at the gate who often borrowed flowers, if they knew, they might ask her to treat them. She was shrewd, only after they had gone far did she finally blurt it out.
Gu Wenshan pressed his lips in a smile: “Treat?”
“Yes!” Xiangzhi patted her chest: “I also got a bonus! I can add an egg for you!”
The little flower spirit got a bonus in her first month? Very commendable.
Gu Wenshan accompanied her to the back entrance of the family compound, Xiangzhi quickly paid two jiao eight fen plus grain tickets to buy four sesame pastries. Then to the supply store, Gu Wenshan paid three jiao to buy two bottles of Beijing soda.
To Gu Wenshan’s surprise, Xiangzhi had bought walnut crackers, calcium milk cookies, fruit candies, cigarettes, and liquor for You Xiu and Wu da-ge from Yanxia Village. Other sent-down youth also got some. She even set aside a package of large shrimp crackers, wanting You Xiu to carry it into the flower valley to give to Yeshanyinying. She drew a crooked map.
“The soldier who borrowed the orchid will pass through the village, she can help me send it. Two dried persimmons for her to chew on the road.”
Xiangzhi separated her purchases into small packages at the counter, tomorrow when the soldier came, she would pick them up directly.
Gu Wenshan helped tie the packages, smiling: “You have connections now.”
Xiangzhi was very proud, puffing her chest: “Quite a few.”
Gu Wenshan said: “Next time you can let me deliver, we have supply teams that often travel the national highway.”
Xiangzhi said: “Good, then you are also my connection.”
Gu Wenshan could not help but laugh.
Xiangzhi paid again to buy tea and fabric: “The tea is for Old Zhou, the fabric is for Aunt Qin. They are used to fine things, this is how I show my sincerity with a light gift.”
Gu Wenshan smiled: “Exactly. You are good.”
After finishing shopping and spreading his hands, seventeen point eight yuan was reduced to fifty-eight fen remaining.
Fifty-eight fen bought letter paper, envelopes, and stamps for writing to You Xiu—not a cent left.
“How did the money disappear so quickly?” the little flower spirit said dejectedly on the way home: “I have not even brought any home.”
All month, she had only earned herself ten large shrimp crackers, two crackers per day! Alas.
Gu Wenshan now understood why Xiangzhi only agreed to treat him to sesame pastry with sesame oil. The little spirit’s wages were meager.
The two walked to the cafeteria entrance, Gu Wenshan had Xiangzhi wait at the door while he quickly returned from the cafeteria with an aluminum lunch box. Before he could even open it, Xiangzhi already exclaimed: “Braised pork!”
Gu Wenshan smiled: “The supply director personally cooked it, today you are blessed with fine food.”
At home’s entrance, next-door Wu Zhaodi stood at her gate.
Seeing Xiangzhi and Gu Wenshan return together, she said ingratiatingly: “Xiangzhi comrade, you got a letter from home, I put it on the windowsill for you.”
Gu Wenshan said: “Thank you, but from now on her mail should be received by her or me, we will not trouble you anymore.”
“Ah… okay,” Wu Zhaodi awkwardly touched her hair and smiled: “Then eat, I am going inside too.”
Entering the house, hearing the noise next door, Wu Zhaodi thought of what her cousin Wu Lili had said, a cold smile on her lips.
See how smug you get!
Xiangzhi was happily sipping Beijing soda, the sesame pastry was crispy and fragrant, brushed with a thin layer of sesame oil, wrapped with braised pork—positively delicious.
The Gu Wenshan sitting across from her did not know the flower spirit loved sesame oil so much, it left him confused about her intentions.
Xiangzhi, tasting sesame oil for the first time, found it delicious. Looking at Gu Wenshan, she swallowed hard and said: “Do you have connections to help me exchange for sesame oil? If so, next month’s wages are all yours.”
Gu Wenshan thought she simply loved to eat, the jar of sesame oil should be enough for her through year-end. So he said: “Materials are tight by year-end, what you have should be sufficient, if not enough, I will help you get more.”
This meant when she had eaten it would she ask.
Xiangzhi shrugged her shoulder, continuing to hug the giant sesame pastry.
Gu Wenshan knew Xiangzhi was popular with the soldiers at the military unit, her past troubles aside, Old Zhou had warned him many male comrades hovered around her.
If the little flower spirit was tricked away by someone, had all her petals plucked and given away, what then?
After Gu Wenshan finished dinner and washed the bowls, he gave her an apple sliced in eight pieces arranged in a bowl at the tea table, his mood complex, he said: “If you want to court other officers, I am afraid it cannot work.”
“Why?” Xiangzhi blurted out.
Her innocent curiosity took on a different meaning in Gu Wenshan’s ears, he said quietly: “Remember this: romance without intent to marry is just playing with someone. If you court someone, you must marry. But military marriage requires political review, you are still a black household.”
“Ah?” Xiangzhi’s small hand rested on Gu Wenshan’s arm, her cherry-red lips urgent: “You already ate my mouth, cannot you help me solve the household registration?”
She had nearly been deceived by Cao’s family because of household registration. Walking through human society required proper household registration!
After covering her mouth that night, Gu Wenshan tossed and turned half the night unable to sleep. Now hearing her say this, he poked her forehead: “You promise me two things and I will help you solve the household registration.”
Xiangzhi said: “What things?”
Gu Wenshan said: “First, you are not allowed to eat anyone else’s mouth.”
Thinking she might eat Hongwu’s or whoever’s mouth, he could not bear it.
Xiangzhi nodded like she was pounding garlic [1]nodded like she was pounding garlic (diantou ru dao suan, 點頭如搗蒜) Idiom, to nod vigorously and repeatedly, as if pounding garlic in a mortar jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3398893_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3398893_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });: “I have no interest in others.”
This soothed Gu Wenshan’s complex mood, he said: “Second, stop mentioning eating mouth.”
Xiangzhi hugged Gu Wenshan’s arm, negotiating: “But you already ate mine and will not let me say? How about you eat somewhere else instead, I am scared of pain—be gentle.”
“…” Gu Wenshan’s complicated mood returned: “I will not eat you.”
He simply wanted her to stay at the military unit longer. Keeping her elsewhere, he was not at ease. Better under his eye.
Xiangzhi carefully studied his face: “But what did you mean by political review?”
Gu Wenshan patiently explained: “Political review means checking social and family background, investigating if you have any problems. As a black household, you cannot pass it. Cannot pass political review means no military marriage possible.”
Xiangzhi thought and asked: “If I wanted to marry you, would that count as military marriage?”
Gu Wenshan paused slightly, his heart nearly burst. He carefully studied Xiangzhi’s eyes and softly said: “If so—yes.”
Xiangzhi wanted to say something but suddenly covered her own mouth and held it in. She turned and hugged Gu Wenshan’s lean waist, bumped her head into his chest, and coquettishly looked up: “Then hurry and get it done.”
Gu Wenshan’s heart raced, afraid Xiangzhi would hear. He subtly created distance, his throat moving as he lowered his head to see her eyes shining with stars: “You sit properly, stop being coy. Do you understand what military marriage means?”
The little spirit was about to run her mouth again.
“I am not being coy, moreover, I understand military marriage.”
Xiangzhi straightened her body, longing in her eyes: “Military marriage means marriage, once married, many things become possible. You and I willingly do them.”
She had no idea how much stimulus these words gave Gu Wenshan.
“Your audacity is too great,” Gu Wenshan pressed his lips, quietly watching her a moment, speaking restrained: “Do you remember our relationship?”
Every time his mood grew cold, no matter man or woman, they would keep distance. Yet Xiangzhi grabbed an apple slice and stuffed it in Gu Wenshan’s mouth, speaking intimately: “Friends.”
She wiggled her eyebrows: “Relax, I understand—all this is me doing it.”
“If I truly act, I will take responsibility,” Gu Wenshan said quietly.
The pure friendship was overlaid by her own hand with a cover-up, only their breathing audible in the small living room.
Under lamplight, Xiangzhi’s entire being saturated with gardenia scent, like an invisible flame burning through Gu Wenshan’s reason. Her sweet voice soft by his ear, eyes flickering, her tender body tempting and unaware.
Her small hand fell on his thigh, stroking from his lean waist up his shoulders. She circled his neck, softly leaning into his embrace, sniffing in the hollow of his neck.
“Stop fooling around.”
Gu Wenshan jolted as an indescribable heat surged from below upward, trying to burst through his reason. His large hands tightened into fists on his knees, several times he wanted to speak but found his voice terribly hoarse.
Xiangzhi traced the man’s jawline and ear, observing behind his cold, hard brows an impulse nearly bursting forth.
“Gu ge-ge, stop being proper, okay?”
References[+]