Together Forever - Chapter 43
Volume 2, Chapter 43: Warmth (1)
“I think… I do.” He narrowed his eyes slightly.
“I have a question I’ve been wanting to ask.”
“Ask away.”
“Are you truly completely deaf? Can you wear a hearing aid?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist, her hand resting on the thin fabric of his shirt.
“Yes, I can. I just… choose not to, at least not yet.”
So it wasn’t irreversible.
Tong Yan’s spirits lifted instantly. She placed her leg over his, and he shifted, resting it on his hip. A simple gesture, yet incredibly intimate.
He absently tapped his fingers on her bare calf, lost in thought.
The light touch sent shivers down her spine. She closed her eyes, then opened them again. He hadn’t moved. “What are you thinking about?” she asked. “You,” he replied.
“Thinking what about me?”
“I can’t explain,” he said, then, after a moment of serious contemplation, asked, “Do you want to intern at a law firm, or at a court?”
“I don’t know.” She had always considered herself mature, but when faced with questions about internships and career choices, she felt lost. Perhaps five years from now, looking back, these wouldn’t seem like such big decisions.
But now, they were.
“Maybe I’ll just be a happy housewife,” she sighed. “Mr. Gu’s beautiful wife.”
He repeated “beautiful wife,” his pronunciation slightly off.
Tong Yan giggled. “I’m finally witnessing a cultural gap, Teacher Gu. You should stick to teaching law, preferably international law.”
He suddenly smiled innocently, his hand sliding under the covers, his warm palm caressing her waist. Tong Yan’s throat tightened, and she pouted, gesturing for him to turn off the light. He ignored her, continuing his gentle caress, then suddenly pinching her where she was most ticklish.
She bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
She couldn't escape, squirming under his touch, but he was too strong. Finally, her face flushed, her body slick with sweat, he released her, and she rolled to the other side of the bed. “Gu Pingsheng!”
“Yes?” he answered.
He was still propped up on one elbow, his hair falling softly across his forehead, partially obscuring his eyes.
“Mei Ren Sha?” she said suddenly, realizing the nickname truly suited him.
He smiled faintly, not responding.
“Have I ever told you…” Fearing another tickle attack, she carefully inched closer, wrapping her arms and legs around him. “…I love you.” She then buried her face in his chest.
She felt his arms tighten around her waist.
“I don’t think so,” he said, his voice above her.
Such a serious answer.
Tong Yan had expected a more… romantic response. She was about to protest, but he began kissing her forehead, then her lips. Touched, she tilted her head back, returning his kiss. Just as things were escalating, he suddenly stopped, wrapping her in the duvet. “Nothing is foolproof. Go back to sleep. We have plenty of time.”
She understood, humming in agreement, and obediently returned to her room.
Thankfully, she only had two final exams. When Shen Yao told her the exact dates, she also mentioned the rumors circulating about Tong Yan. “Just ignore them,” Shen Yao grumbled. “After graduation, we’ll all go our separate ways; you’ll never see these people again.”
Tong Yan chuckled softly. “Okay.”
There was no ignoring them; most of the rumors were true.
She told Shen Yao about their failed attempt to register their marriage. Shen Yao gasped. “You need a household registration booklet to get married? I was planning to just grab my ID card and fly to Beijing after graduation…” Tong Yan laughed. “Clearly, you haven’t watched enough dramas. Don't they always steal the household registration booklet?”
Shen Yao expressed her disdain for dramas, then, after a moment of wistful sighing, shared another piece of gossip. “Apparently, Zhou Qing Chen and Jing Jing tried to register their marriage recently, but the department stopped them. Even though the official policy has changed, our dean is old-fashioned. Even the student council president couldn’t get away with it. You should probably wait; Teacher Gu isn't going anywhere. He doesn't seem like the type to run away.”
Tong Yan hummed in agreement.
After hanging up, she calculated the time; it was almost time to return to Shanghai.
Gu Pingsheng didn’t need to return to Shanghai, and someone needed to stay and take care of her grandmother… Thinking about the word “family,” she remembered something that had been bothering her: she had never been to his family home. Although his mother had passed away and his father seemed like a distant figure, his grandfather was still alive.
He had never mentioned it, and she hadn’t asked.
Her grandmother had asked her about his family, and she had vaguely mentioned his mother’s passing and his father’s infrequent contact. Perhaps because of her own family situation, her grandmother hadn’t pressed her, simply sighing and saying, “You two have had it rough.”
“Actually, it hasn't been that rough,” she murmured, lying on the sofa, feeling incredibly happy.
It had been so easy to meet again, so easy to be together, so easy for him to recover.
Lost in thought, she went downstairs to the fruit stand to buy him some fresh fruit. The owner, already familiar with her, greeted her warmly, pointing out the best and freshest produce. As she browsed the displays, she saw familiar figures at the entrance.
They saw her at the same time.
Fang Yun Yun, holding a parasol, smiled at her. Lu Bei’s gaze hadn’t left her since he saw her.
“Mrs. Gu, this honeydew melon is the freshest today…” the owner continued his enthusiastic sales pitch, oblivious to her reaction. Tong Yan, feeling awkward, shook her head. “I forgot my wallet; I’ll come back later.” The owner cheerfully picked out a melon for her. “No problem, you’re here every day. You can pay tomorrow.”
As the owner continued selecting fruit, blocking her path, she walked to the entrance to greet them. “Auntie, Uncle.”
When she and Lu Bei were dating, due to his parents’ indulgence, he had insisted on bringing her home for dinner, and they had grown fond of her. After the accident, when Lu Bei refused to accept help from Fang Yun Yun’s family, his mother had asked Tong Yan to persuade him.
So, to some extent, they felt indebted to her.
But it had been a teenage romance, a youthful folly, long in the past.
Lu Bei’s parents greeted her warmly, asking perfunctory questions, their tone still familiar and affectionate.
“Yan Yan, have you moved?” Fang Yun Yun lowered her parasol. “We’ve been looking at apartments. We heard this complex is nice.” Tong Yan hummed in agreement. “It’s quiet.” The real estate agent standing beside them immediately launched into a lengthy description of the complex, extolling its virtues.
Just as she was wondering how to escape, the fruit stand owner handed her a bag of fruit.
A colorful assortment of yellows, reds, and greens.
As she took the bag, she heard Fang Yun Yun suggest they take a look at the apartments. Lu Bei’s parents seemed reluctant, but swayed by Fang Yun Yun’s persistence, they entered the complex. Tong Yan suspected Fang Yun Yun was up to something; she was worried she might impulsively buy an apartment there.
She didn’t like Fang Yun Yun, but Lu Bei wasn’t to blame; she wanted him to be happy.
She deliberately lagged behind, and as soon as she got home, she received a message from Gu Pingsheng: Mr. Gu is taking you shopping. TK
Tong Yan replied immediately: More clothes? Why?
Her phone buzzed with his reply: To boost Mr. Gu’s ego. TK
…
Coincidentally, her grandmother was out that evening. Since her illness, she had become more socially active. Tong Yan had initially been concerned, but after Gu Pingsheng, their resident medical expert, assured her that it was beneficial, she had stopped objecting. They now had more time alone together.
He was already there when she arrived at the designated meeting spot.
Since he had given a lecture at his friend’s university that afternoon, he was dressed impeccably, a black suit jacket draped over his arm, his tie loosened and held in one hand. Even in the summer heat, he looked cool and composed.
And yet, this same man… had playfully tickled her in bed last night.
Tong Yan smiled, enjoying the view from afar.
Her phone buzzed. She looked down: Seen enough? Come here. TK
She smiled and, putting away her phone, ran towards him.
The mall had two floors dedicated to women’s clothing: youthful and romantic styles on one, mature and professional attire on the other. To match his look, she suggested they start with the professional section, but after five minutes, they both agreed it wasn’t her style, and they headed downstairs, browsing through various stores. Finally, exhausted, they bought iced cola at McDonald’s.
They chatted, stealing glances at their reflections in the glass.
She hadn’t had a haircut in months, just trimming her bangs herself, and her hair now reached past her waist. She had tied it back in a ponytail to keep cool, making her look even younger.
He didn’t look old though, their eight-year age difference barely noticeable.
“I ran into my ex-boyfriend this afternoon. He and his wife were looking at apartments,” she said, looking at him. “Would you be upset if they moved into our complex? Jealous?”
“Probably.”
“Probably?”
She studied his expression, trying to gauge his sincerity.
“Tell you what,” he glanced at his watch. “It’s still early. Let’s go apartment hunting too. We’ll move tomorrow.”
Seeing the gentle smile in his eyes, she knew he was teasing and playfully kicked him under the table. They laughed, continuing their lighthearted banter, enjoying the afternoon.
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