Together Forever - Chapter 34
Volume 2, Chapter 34: Missing You (1)
As Shen Yao put it, everyone else was just background, completely oblivious, unperceptive background… So, using the excuse of her admiration for Teacher Gu, Tong Yan managed to wheedle the discarded photo from the class president.
While transferring the photo to Tong Yan’s computer, Shen Yao even gave her a quick tutorial on cropping images using Photoshop.
Sitting at his desk, Tong Yan meticulously edited the photo, her concentration rivaling that of her C++ exam. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice him approach. “What are you doing? You’ve been staring at the computer for over an hour.”
Tong Yan looked up, pleased with her progress. “Cropping the photo, just the two of us, as a keepsake.” She pointed to the date stamp in the corner. “It’s February 14th… Do you really have to leave tomorrow?”
“The sooner I go, the sooner I’ll be back.”
He was right, of course, but his sudden decision made her wonder just how bad his checkup results were. And the abrupt change from Beijing to the US, while potentially offering better treatment, only increased her anxiety.
She tried subtly probing him all afternoon, but he brushed off her concerns, simply promising to return to her, completely healthy, within six months. Six months wasn't a short time.
Knowing his personality, he probably wouldn’t reappear until he had fully recovered.
Gu Pingsheng leaned closer, one hand on the desk, the other on the back of her chair, looking at the photo. He was wearing a light pink plaid cotton shirt… The color, surprisingly, didn't look frivolous on him, but rather… what was the word? Elegant? Refined?
Tong Yan chuckled, tugging at his collar. “Mr. Gu, did you dress up in pink especially for today?”
Seeing her teasing smile, he calmly leaned down and gently nibbled her lower lip. “Don’t you like it?”
“…I do.”
She mumbled, her voice muffled.
He didn’t bother reading her lips, simply scooping her up from the chair. “Mrs. Gu, you’ve been staring at the computer all evening. It’s bad for your eyes, and it’s not conducive to fostering marital affection.”
She had simply wanted to edit their photo and print it out tonight to put in his wallet.
He carried her towards the bedroom, kissing her deeply. Her knees felt weak, and she clung to him, returning his kisses. As they reached the doorway, she reached for the light switch, but suddenly, she felt herself falling, her arms instinctively tightening around his neck as he set her down.
He had put her down too quickly, and she stumbled, her foot hitting the floor painfully.
But in the next instant, she understood what had happened.
“What’s wrong?” Even though she knew he couldn't hear her, she asked anxiously.
Gu Pingsheng leaned against the doorframe, seemingly aware that he had startled her.
Unable to hear her question, he simply patted her head. “It’s okay.”
Her hands trembling slightly, she fumbled for the light switch.
The warm yellow light illuminated the room.
Apart from leaning against the doorframe, he seemed fine, but he hadn’t moved a muscle since setting her down, which meant something was definitely wrong.
Tong Yan wanted to help him, but she wasn't sure how. She stood there helplessly, barefoot, her heart aching with worry. “What’s wrong? Can you please tell me the truth?”
She couldn't control the tremor in her voice.
Thankfully, he couldn't hear her.
Gu Pingsheng smiled, but before he could speak, tears streamed down her face. She was partly startled, partly consumed by a fear she couldn’t control. She was afraid he was hiding more serious side effects, afraid the treatment wouldn’t be successful…
Her anxiety, overwhelming and intense, consumed her.
He hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. He put his arm around her. “It’s just… a sudden pain here.” He pointed to his hip and thigh. “It’s better now.”
“Does it hurt a lot?” She hesitantly touched his hip, then gently ran her hand down his thigh. “Will rubbing it help?”
She gently massaged the area.
“It helps. A lot.”
His eyes held a mixture of amusement and something… hotter.
“Really?” She still looked at him anxiously.
“Really,” his voice softened, his eyes reflecting the warm glow of the wall lamp, a hint of playful sensuality in his smile. “But Mrs. Gu, if you keep rubbing, Mr. Gu might not be able to… control himself.”
His meaning was clear.
And she wasn’t stupid…
Tong Yan felt both exasperated and amused.
She pulled back her hand and wiped away her tears. The underlying anxiety, however, lingered.
But she couldn’t make a fuss now, not the night before he was leaving, not when she didn’t want him to worry about her.
“I’m tired. Let’s go to sleep, okay?” Gu Pingsheng reached for her.
“Okay,” she evaded his embrace and quickly climbed into bed. “I’ll get in myself. Please don’t try to carry me again.”
Although the floor was heated, it was still winter.
Once under the covers, she warmed her cold feet with her hands, watching him approach.
He seemed fine now, his expression normal, his gait steady… She scrutinized him, wondering if he was pretending to be okay so she wouldn’t worry. Even as he took off his jeans, she continued staring at his hip and thigh, observing closely.
Then she realized she had been staring for a while.
“Done checking?” he sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for the covers.
She quickly held them down. “Maybe you should sleep in the guest room tonight. You’re… not really in a suitable condition to… share a bed.” She tried to sound tactful, but her words only made him chuckle.
“Don’t worry.” He pulled back the duvet, effortlessly scooping her into his arms. “I can handle this.”
A man’s ability to “handle” sharing a bed was not something to be questioned directly. Tong Yan spent a few seconds mentally reprimanding herself, then wrapped her arms around his waist, her face buried in his shoulder. After a moment of silent struggle, she looked up at him and mouthed, Maybe… I should take the lead?
She finally realized the one downside of his deafness.
Words that should have been whispered shyly, barely audible, had to be spoken while looking directly into his eyes.
There was no hiding her expressions, her thoughts, her flickering gaze…
The immediate result was that Gu Pingsheng thoroughly demonstrated his… abilities. They tossed and turned all night, the duvet discarded on the floor, their bodies slick with sweat, the cool air from the air conditioner a welcome contrast to the heat between them.
Her arms, weak and limp, could barely cling to him as she drifted off to sleep, her head resting on his shoulder.
When she finally succumbed to sleep, she wasn't even sure if dawn had broken.
She only had two classes the next day: Physics.
Unexpectedly, for the first time in her university life, she skipped class to see Gu Pingsheng off. And it was Zhao Yin’s class, no less.
“If Teacher Zhao takes attendance and I’m not there, will she put me on her blacklist? Not that it matters. With you around, I’m probably already on it…” she joked at the departure gate, trying to mask her sadness.
Gu Pingsheng didn't reply, taking out his wallet and handing her a photo.
It was face down.
She turned it over. It was the photo they had taken on their forced trip to the Great Wall. Her cheeks were flushed, her forehead dotted with sweat. He was standing beside her, bathed in sunlight, smiling brightly.
They hadn’t been intimate yet, so their poses were a bit stiff.
Although they were standing close together, their expressions were deliberately serious. Looking at it now, she found it amusing. How had they ended up together? She couldn’t pinpoint any specific event; it had all happened so unexpectedly, yet so naturally.
She slipped the photo into her bag and took his hand, intertwining their fingers. A wave of reluctance washed over her.
She didn’t want to let go.
“Will you run into your first love in the US? Or any of your blonde, brunette exes?” she teased, trying to pull her hand away, but he held on tight.
His grip was firm, but his smile was relaxed. “Probably not. My schedule is packed. I’ll barely have time to leave the hospital and my apartment.”
“Alright, I’ll believe you.” Unable to free her hand, she tightened her grip. “You promised to be back in six months. You better keep your promise, or… you’ll be out of luck.”
What she really wanted to say was:
You don’t have to be perfect, you don’t have to be completely recovered.
Take your time with the rehabilitation…
But she hesitated, the words unspoken.
They stood there, hands clasped, surrounded by people saying their goodbyes, the air thick with farewells. It felt like she should be saying something, doing something more, but she couldn’t find the words, simply forcing a smile, her worries buried deep within her heart.
As he approached the gate, her vision blurred with tears. Just as she was about to turn away, Gu Pingsheng stopped and looked back.
She thought he was going to say something.
He simply smiled, raised his left hand, touched his lips to the ring on his finger, then lowered his hand and walked through the gate.
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