Volume 1, Chapter 5: She Grabbed His Pectorals Again...
From Song Niannian’s perspective, Gu Hanxiao had been staring at Su Nuan continuously since a while ago. Fearing that Gu Hanxiao might develop feelings for Su Nuan, Song Niannian hurriedly pulled out a few lobster-shaped candies that Su Xunan had given her before their trip and presented them like a treasure to attract his attention.
“I heard that the sweetness of candies in the North is different from that in the South. Brother Gu, you should try one.”
“Thank you, no need.”
Gu Hanxiao declined without taking the candy. Song Niannian felt awkward and quickly tried to find a way to keep the conversation going, asking him questions one after another.
Unfortunately, Gu Hanxiao was naturally disinclined to engage in small talk; besides brief replies like “hmm,” “okay,” or “no need,” he rarely spoke.
Their exchange, overheard by Su Nuan, made her think that Song Niannian resembled what later generations would call a “simp.”
“Brother Gu, do a lot of people in Pengcheng speak Hakka?”
“Hmm.”
“Brother Gu, are you hungry? When the train stops, I’ll go buy you some peanuts.”
“No need.”
“Uh... Brother Gu, do you not like talking with me? Then, I’ll just keep quiet.”
“Okay.”
“...”
Song Niannian’s warm enthusiasm met with cold indifference, causing Su Nuan and Huang Guixiang to quietly chuckle. Realizing she had made a fool of herself, Song Niannian blushed deeply, covered her face, and dashed toward the restroom.
Su Nuan, having laughed her fill, withdrew her gaze, only to suddenly find Gu Hanxiao staring at her intently. The silent, unwavering look was quite intimidating.
Mustering courage, Su Nuan spoke up, “Um... Captain Gu, may I ask what advice you have for me?”
Gu Hanxiao preferred to speak with intelligent people. Unless necessary, he was too lazy to make things difficult for a young girl. His voice was cold: “I don’t care how you behaved before in the city, but if you dare cause trouble in the Gu family or Pengcheng from now on, don’t blame me for disregarding the Su family’s face and dealing with you.”
“...”
Su Nuan knew her reputation wasn’t good, and she was aware she had offended many people in the past with her straightforwardness. Especially since Gu Hanxiao had seen how she acted toward Song Niannian earlier, he must now misunderstand her deeply.
If she wanted to establish a solid foundation in Pengcheng, she could not afford to offend the Gu family’s mighty tree. So, Su Nuan obediently nodded and smiled brightly: “Captain Gu, rest assured, I have reformed. I promise you I will not act recklessly.”
Her eyes, shimmering like pools of water, blinked at him gently. Thick lashes fluttered like two delicate fans, stirring an itch in Gu Hanxiao’s heart. That itch grew into a burning sensation when he noticed her moist, red lips.
The strange, unfamiliar loss of control annoyed Gu Hanxiao greatly.
He remained silent, and Su Nuan felt embarrassed; the two just stared at each other.
Huang Guixiang, seeing this, leaned toward Gu Hanxiao with a teasing grin: “Captain Gu, why are you staring at Comrade Su like that? Tsk tsk, don’t tell me... you fancy the young lady?”
“...”
Her words stunned both Gu Hanxiao and Su Nuan.
Gu Hanxiao was the first to react, frowning with disgust and turning Huang Guixiang’s head aside.
Su Nuan snorted quietly. An old man didn’t fancy her? Hah, she hadn’t even rejected him for impotence yet!
Unaware of their thoughts, Huang Guixiang exclaimed, “Captain Gu, don’t be shy! A man should marry when grown, and a woman should marry when grown!”
These words reached Song Niannian as she returned, nearly causing her to bite her nails in anger.
Hmph, she refused to believe Gu Hanxiao could like a seductive fox like Su Nuan—it had to be that Su Nuan was shamelessly flirting with Gu Hanxiao while she was away!
With this in mind, Song Niannian deliberately squeezed beside Su Nuan and, under the pretense of picking up some enamel cups on the table, bumped into her forcefully.
Su Nuan narrowed her eyes in displeasure, but before she could speak, Song Niannian smiled brightly and said, “On the way back, I saw the train attendant carrying a kettle. Brother Gu, I’ll go get water for you.”
Without waiting for a response, Song Niannian quickly left.
However, she did not head straight to the attendant. Instead, she turned and ran down the corridor of the carriage they had just passed.
There, a few men were squatting, smoking hand-rolled cigarettes.
Song Niannian knew that besides official personnel with letters of introduction, there were also some local ruffians on the train. But since she was plain-looking and slightly hunched, she wasn’t worried they would harass her.
She braved the pungent smoke, stepped inside, and pulled out two yuan.
“Little brother, I’ll buy your medicine.”
The scar-faced leader’s expression changed, then he snarled, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. This is a place for real men to smoke. Girl, scram!”
But Song Niannian didn’t leave.
Before coming to the Su family, she had struggled alongside Feng Lan in the underworld and knew these small-time thugs carried a special kind of powder used to bully girls.
“I know the rules on the street. Don’t worry, I won’t say a word outside,” Song Niannian said, pointing coldly at Su Nuan in the opposite carriage. “This woman is a notorious flirt from our hometown. She seduced my man, and I’m too angry to bear it. I want you brothers to help me out.”
The thugs glanced over and saw Su Nuan’s ample figure, swallowing hard one after another.
The scar-faced man’s angry expression turned to a grin, and he quickly pulled a packet of powder from his pocket. “Hey, girl, you came to the right place! We’re always ready to draw our knives when we see injustice. This medicine works at night.”
With the powder in hand, Song Niannian smiled slyly and left, slipping into a corner where no one was watching to quickly pour the powder into the enamel cup.
“Heh, you flirtatious vixen, you like seducing men, huh? Tonight, you’ll seduce all you want!”
Having accomplished a great deed, Song Niannian gleefully returned to her seat.
“Brother Gu, Comrade Huang, here’s your water.”
She placed each enamel cup down one by one, then handed the spiked one to Su Nuan. “Little sister Su Nuan, my mother and I admit our past mistakes. I apologize to you and Aunt Man. I hope this flood can wash away all the past unpleasantness so we can have a brand-new start.”
Su Nuan would have believed this in the past, but having lived two lifetimes and witnessed Song Niannian’s hypocritical and malicious ways, she didn’t trust that a person born with bad blood could truly change. She guessed Song Niannian simply wanted to cling to the Gu family’s powerful branch by currying favor in front of Gu Hanxiao.
Thinking this, Su Nuan took the cup, lifted the lid, and glanced inside. After confirming there was no suspicious phlegm or urine, she forced a smile and said thank you. Her period was coming soon, and her stomach was upset, so she quickly drank the warm water.
Song Niannian watched silently, inwardly thrilled.
...
The bumpy train carried everyone into a deep slumber.
In the middle of the night, Su Nuan was suddenly awakened by a burning pain in her abdomen. Worried that her period had started, she hurriedly rummaged through her bundle for sanitary cloth and dashed to the restroom.
Most places had no electricity, and only a few kerosene lamps burned on the train. Su Nuan, unable to see clearly, stumbled several times and grabbed onto something elastic and warm.
“Hiss—”
In the darkness, Gu Hanxiao’s sharp intake of breath followed.
Su Nuan immediately realized she had grabbed his chest muscles again.
“...”
This was embarrassing, and with the train dark and quiet, Su Nuan planned to slip away. But Gu Hanxiao already gritted his teeth and called her name.
“Su... Nuan.”
“...”
She hadn’t expected to be caught so quickly.
“What exactly do you want to do?!”
What did she want to do? She just wished Gu Hanxiao would lose his memory and she could find a hole to hide in!
Feeling the cold and sharp gaze burning above her head, Su Nuan tearfully apologized, “Captain Gu, I really wasn’t groping intentionally... it’s dark, and I can’t see clearly.”
Gu Hanxiao said nothing, and Su Nuan thought she was forgiven. She hurriedly got up, but again, unable to see, she stumbled and fell onto Gu Hanxiao.
This time, she not only groped his chest muscles all over but also sat squarely on his thigh.
“I-I’m sorry, Captain Gu, I really didn’t mean to!”
The man’s low voice was mixed with anger, and his heated breath brushed against Su Nuan’s neck, making her shiver uncontrollably. She twisted her body, trying to jump out of his embrace.
“You...”
Sensing the changes Su Nuan was provoking in his body, Gu Hanxiao was shocked and ashamed; his voice trembled, “Don’t move anymore...”
“I’m trying my best!”
Startled, Su Nuan scrambled to her feet, steadied herself, and dashed out of the carriage. But before she could clear the lingering colored thoughts from her mind, a large hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and covered her mouth.