Chapter 68: “he Is My Love”
Gu Chenghuai frowned tightly, using his slender, clean fingers to press against Lin Zhao’s red lips.
“Zhaozhao!” His voice was slightly stern, his dark eyes showing faint visible pain, “You’re digging out my heart.”
Every word Zhaozhao said, he didn’t dare think deeply about; even a single thought would make him writhe in agony.
It was as if a hand aimed at his chest, coldly piercing through, dragging his heart back and forth.
Over and over.
Even more so.
What she said… seemed like it had happened at some moment.
Making his heart and guts shatter.
Just one thought drained all his strength.
Those deep dark eyes locked tightly on his wife, as if wanting to rub her into his heart.
He was truly, terribly afraid.
Lin Zhao felt Gu Chenghuai’s tone was a bit heavy, lifted her eyes to look at him, her gaze clear and calm, “Gu Chenghuai! Are you yelling at me?”
She only called his full name when angry; her usual nicknames were varied—Comrade Gu, Gu Commander, kids’ dad, the children’s father, Gu San… all depending on her mood.
Gu Chenghuai placed both hands on his wife’s shoulders, his eyes focused and intense as he lowered his head to look at her, his voice steady yet tinged with depression, “I’m not yelling at you, I just…”
His words paused slightly, his voice a bit hoarse, “Those words you said, I can’t bear them, Zhaozhao.”
It was so hard to meet once; Lin Zhao was reluctant to waste time on sulking. As long as he was willing to coax… she would instantly calm down.
Her eyes curved slightly, hooking Gu Chenghuai’s hand, her right hand encircled in his palm.
“Alright, I won’t say it!” She had just vented her emotions casually, not thinking it would upset kids’ dad.
Gu Chenghuai’s tense expression instantly softened, his gaze always on his wife, gentle and affectionate, “Does your head still hurt?”
“If it hurts, I’ll take you to the hospital to get it checked.”
Lin Zhao’s expression softened, also looking at the man, unable to tear her eyes away for a long time, “It stopped hurting long ago!”
This was her man; after so long apart, naturally she missed him.
Even if there was a bit of unfamiliarity, it would be overwhelmed by the intense emotion of wanting to cherish every second with him… crumbling into defeat.
Noticing Gu Chenghuai’s hands were empty, without even a cloth bag, she asked curiously, “Did you come back without luggage?”
“I brought some.” Gu Chenghuai was always gentle and patient in front of his wife, speaking at an unhurried pace, “It’s at Yang Junzhi’s place.”
He glanced at Zhaozhao’s forehead again; there wasn’t even a red mark left, so she should be fine.
“The money for the previous work, bicycle, and watch that you borrowed?” Lin Zhao worried Gu Chenghuai owed someone a favor, lightly furrowing her brows.
“No.” Gu Chenghuai shook his head in denial, explaining, “Withdrawn from the task bonus passbook.”
He had two passbooks: one for allowance, one for task bonus. When they first married, he proactively handed both passbooks to his wife. Lin Zhao only took the allowance one; she didn’t take the task bonus passbook, letting Gu Chenghuai keep it himself.
She felt it was money earned through his blood and sweat, not for her to take.
“Good as long as no favors are owed.” Lin Zhao said.
Gu Chenghuai’s deep dark eyes looked at her, containing hidden expectation, “Weren’t you afraid I’d give money to Gu Xing’er? Will you take the other passbook too?”
Lin Zhao’s brows and eyes showed helplessness, her voice soft, “Whether you keep it or I do, it’s the same. Who complains about having too much money? Keep it handy and take it when needed.”
“I don’t need it.” Gu Chenghuai said in a low voice.
He didn’t want Zhaozhao to treat him as an outsider.
He worked hard outside just to give her and the children a good life; allowance or task rewards were the same to him—just numbers to make family live better.
“You brought it back?!” Lin Zhao raised her brows.
Gu Chenghuai promptly pulled the passbook from his pocket and handed it to her.
Proactive and willing.
“You’re the head of the household; you keep it.”
“You stuff the passbook in your pocket.” Lin Zhao chided him in astonishment, taking it without a word, not even looking, quickly stuffing it into her bag, “Not afraid of losing it!”
This was kids’ dad’s hard-earned money!!
Gu Chenghuai’s brows relaxed, his dark eyes brimming with laughter, his whole body light-hearted.
His gaze on his wife grew even more indulgent.
He really liked Zhaozhao managing him.
It made him feel Zhaozhao cared about him; she wasn’t the type to take the meat, get his body, and then deny the account.
“What are you laughing at!” Lin Zhao patted his arm; that arm was like iron, all strength— he could lift her with one hand, walk from the county back to the brigade, then to Dongfeng Brigade.
“I’m happy.” Gu Chenghuai’s voice carried laughter.
His voice was already low and pleasant; with laughter, it was even more seductively teasing, making one’s ears heat up.
“Silly, happy to give away money.” Lin Zhao was delighted inside but grumbled on her lips.
Gu Chenghuai saw through her words-not-matching-heart, his mood even better, saying, “Giving it to you makes me happy.”
“Gu Commander, you’re hopeless!” Lin Zhao took his hand, striding forward.
Gu Chenghuai looked at her profile, smiling without speaking.
He’d been hopeless since the first glance at Zhaozhao.
After walking further, Lin Zhao suddenly stopped, slapping her forehead, “…Forgot the bicycle!!”
Gu Chenghuai pulled down her hand, gently touching her forehead, his tone helpless, “Forgotten is forgotten; no one dares steal it.”
Bicycles now all had plates and needed registration; stealing meant going inside.
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Gu Chenghuai proactively invited, “It’s still early; want to watch a movie?”
Lin Zhao suddenly recalled before, when they had just started dating, he had said exactly that.
It was winter then; that year’s Comrade Gu wasn’t as commanding as now, still a bit green, not daring to look at her openly, only stealing glances.
If caught by her, he’d even blush, ears red, pretending calm as he answered her questions.
“Yes, it’s been so long since we watched a movie together!” Lin Zhao laughed.
“Then let’s go.” Gu Chenghuai led her toward the movie theater; on the road, if they met people, he immediately let go; if no one, he held hands, his eyes fixed on his wife, unable to look enough.
“What if the little ones are waiting for me at the village entrance to come home.” Lin Zhao hesitated a bit, her conscience aching for an instant.
“It’s fine; family is watching them.” Gu Chenghuai didn’t mind.
He never thought of using the four kids to tie down his wife; Zhaozhao was Lin Zhao first, then his wife, then the four children’s mother, then the Gu Family’s daughter-in-law.
“You don’t miss them.” Lin Zhao said casually.
“I do; how could I not? They’re the priceless treasures you birthed through so much hardship and blood; I couldn’t not miss them.” Gu Chenghuai wasn’t reticent in front of his wife, saying whatever he thought, afraid Zhaozhao would think him taciturn.
“There’s plenty of time tonight to bond with them; right now, I just want to be alone with you.” His gaze was focused and earnest.
Under the sunlight, his whole person glowed.
Lin Zhao tilted her head up slightly, just in time to see his sexy, alluring Adam’s apple, lips perfect for kissing.
She beamed, her voice joyful in response: “…Me too.”
Gu Chenghuai lowered his eyes, wanting to kiss her, but no.
He reluctantly withdrew his gaze, leading her to the movie theater.
“That day we talked on the telephone, I took Da Zai and Er Zai to see a movie; they were so thrilled, telling the brigade’s little friends about it for days.” Lin Zhao recalled taking her sons to the movie, sharing the fun with kids’ dad.
An image surfaced in Gu Chenghuai’s mind.
His gentle, beautiful wife holding two sons’ hands: the eldest steady and quiet, not talkative, smiling sweetly at his mother; the second bouncing and jumping, mouth nonstop, asking this and that, curious about everything, eyes bright and clear, just like Zhaozhao’s when she first saw him.
Making one’s heart instantly melt, suddenly soft.
“You’ve worked hard.” His expression serious, he tightened his grip on Lin Zhao’s hand slightly, guilt and heartache flashing in his eyes.
He couldn’t be by their side, letting down Zhaozhao and the four kids, and his parents.
Lin Zhao shook her head, her smile sweet and clear, “It’s okay; you know Da Zai and Er Zai are very well-behaved, no trouble for me; you’re the one who’s hardworking.”
Long apart, the couple had endless words; especially Gu Chenghuai, full of questions about his wife’s changes, wanting to ask but afraid of stepping on a mine, making Zhaozhao think he blamed her for not managing the children before, so he kept it bottled up, planning to observe first.
“Used to work? Tired?”
Lin Zhao’s eyes curved softly upward, “Don’t you know about salesperson work? So easy, gets off early too; I love it super much.”
She shook Gu Chenghuai’s arm, her tone light and cheerful, “Kids’ dad, you don’t know, back in school I envied salesperson comrades so much.”
“I just thought, how is there such a comfortable job? Just arrange goods, greet when someone comes, otherwise do whatever—nap, knit a wool sweater—all fine, good pay too; simply a dream job.”
“Never thought I could get in.”
“Not afraid to tell you, the night before my first day at work, I was so excited I barely slept, wanted to talk to someone but…” no one.
Gu Chenghuai caught the implication in her words, his heart suddenly tightening.
Lin Zhao didn’t need the kids’ dad’s guilt; from the moment she accepted Gu Chenghuai’s proposal, she knew he was a soldier, unlike other husbands and fathers who could stay by their side.
The conversation had reached this point.
She curved her eyes in a smile, subtly changing the topic with a joyful tone, “Chenghuai, I’m very happy.”
Waves rose in Gu Chenghuai’s eyes, “As long as you’re happy.”
“Happy; being a salesperson was my ultimate goal in high school.” Lin Zhao looked up at the branches glistening under the light, shadows casting a soft glow on her profile.
“Unlike others with grand ideals; isn’t that weird?” She withdrew her gaze, looking at Gu Chenghuai, her tone lightly teasing.
“Not weird.” Gu Chenghuai shook his head, his gaze bright and sincere, “To each their own aspirations; everyone has the right to choose their lifestyle; you’re great.”
Lin Zhao’s smile widened, “You always know how to make me happy.”
In Gu Chenghuai’s heart, she was great no matter what.
“Not coaxing; it’s sincere.” Gu Chenghuai emphasized.
“I know.” That’s why it’s even more precious.
Talking, their feet didn’t stop, heading straight to the movie theater.
At the ticket window, the ticket seller was still Guo Meizhu.
Some had no queue awareness, seeing the crowd deliberately squeezing forward, several hands reaching in, infuriating people.
Guo Meizhu’s pretty face cold, she bellowed loudly, “What are you doing, what? All adults, don’t know to queue? Worse than kids one by one; that hand with the mole, still squeezing, still squeezing—trying to fish in troubled waters? I see you!”
While scolding.
Her hands kept moving.
Her eyes sharp; no fishing in troubled waters could cheat a ticket.
Lin Zhao took in everything at the ticket window, couldn’t help laughing lightly.
“You know her?” Gu Chenghuai asked.
“Yeah, my junior high classmate.” She answered.
Seeing Guo Meizhu notice her, Lin Zhao waved at the ticket window, then pointed at the movie theater, indicating she wanted to see a movie, save two tickets.
Guo Meizhu nodded to confirm, then got busy again.
Gu Chenghuai saw his wife’s lips dry, had her wait in the shade, and quickly left to buy soda.
Even after long apart, their tacit understanding remained; Lin Zhao knew what he was doing, her eyes and brows full of smiles.
After Guo Meizhu finished, she came with two tickets.
“Zhaozhao, your tickets.”
Lin Zhao took them, gave money, and slipped a chocolate into her hand.
“Chocolate?! It’s chocolate, right Zhaozhao?!” Guo Meizhu hadn’t eaten chocolate; her cousin from the provincial capital bragged about it, saying it was especially delicious, better than all the supply and marketing cooperative’s candies combined.
“Yeah, chocolate.” Lin Zhao nodded.
“Heard it’s expensive, not even available at the supply and marketing cooperative; didn’t expect you to have it, and so generous to give me; thank you.” Guo Meizhu smiled gratefully.
“No need; you saved tickets for me.” Lin Zhao said.
Speaking of saving tickets, Guo Meizhu thought of the person she saw from afar, eyes lighting up, “Zhaozhao, who was that next to you just now? Your third brother?”
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned, shook her head, “No, he’s my husband.”
These words happened to reach Gu Chenghuai’s ears.
The young soldier, stern as a cold moon, suddenly lost the chill in his dark eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Ah…?!” Guo Meizhu exclaimed in shock, her expression suddenly complex and odd.
This was the countryside person classmates privately said was rustic and ugly?
Rustic?
Ugly?
Blind!!
“What’s wrong?” Lin Zhao furrowed her brows lightly.
Guo Meizhu didn’t want baseless rumors to affect Zhaozhao’s mood, quickly shaking her head, “Nothing, nothing. Your husband looks really good.”
Worthy of being Lin Zhao’s classmate.
She always said, “self-debasement” was far from Lin Zhao; she was always clear-headed, knowing what she was doing.
“Oh.” Lin Zhao didn’t pursue, bid her farewell, and entered the movie theater with Gu Chenghuai.
While this long-separated-like-newlyweds couple just entered the movie theater, enjoying their sweet two-person world, at the village entrance the four kids and two dogs were waiting anxiously.
“Bro, why hasn’t Mom come back yet.” Er Zai couldn’t wait to ask.
He and his brother had just washed clothes; now their hems and trouser legs were damp, sandals caked in mud.
Da Zai’s eyes fixed on where Mom usually appeared, not relaxing a moment, his brows lightly furrowed.
Si Zai tilted his head, blinking his moist, clear big eyes, suddenly blurting two puzzled words: “…Lost?”
Er Zai grinned, bursting into loud mocking laughter, deliberately dragging his tone, “You think Mom is you…?”
“Hahaha!!”
“Mom’s an adult! Adult!! How could an adult get lost? Dumb Si Zai!”
The little milk bun flushed red with anger, his lotus-root-like arms whirling like a pinwheel propeller, whole body like a bristled kitten… charging with a yowl.
“Bad brother!”
