Volume 1, Chapter 9: Gu Hanxiao, Acting Like a Little Hoodlum, Wanted to Kiss Her

“My clothes—ahhh!!!”

Seeing Song Nian Nian bend down to pick them up, Su Nuan stifled a laugh and stopped her.

“They’re all dirty now. Don’t bother with them, Nian Nian. Wait here, I’ll go get you some clean clothes right away.”

“No, Su Nuan, don’t leave me!”

Song Nian Nian didn’t have the courage to face a dozen or so disdainful gazes alone, but Su Nuan was already gone as fast as the wind, disappearing without a trace.

Only a few steps outside, Su Nuan suddenly felt someone lightly tug her braided hair.

Back in school, the boys often teased her by pulling her braids, asking how much she cost for a night. Su Nuan had lingering trauma from those days and hated having her hair pulled.

She turned around, ready to scold whoever it was, only to find it was Gu Hanxiao, who had just returned after buying tickets.

Out of courtesy to her lifesaver, Su Nuan held back her annoyance and greeted him. But when she tried to walk away, she found Gu Hanxiao blocking her path, unmoving.

“...Captain Gu, do you have any instructions?” she asked cautiously.

Su Hanxiao suddenly stepped closer. Whenever she took a step back, he took one forward, gradually cornering Su Nuan against a solid wall.

Back when she was stationed in the city, Su Nuan had been treated this way by mischievous ruffians uttering lewd words. She was well acquainted with their routine and knew what was coming next—the dreaded kiss.

What Su Nuan didn’t expect was that Gu Hanxiao would be no different from those hooligans, trying to kiss her.

She was both shocked and embarrassed.

“I—I know you saved me twice, but you can’t use that to blackmail me into something like this...” The distance between them was barely a fist’s length. Su Nuan could distinctly feel Gu Hanxiao’s warm breath mixed with a fresh scent of soap nut washing over her face. “Gu Hanxiao, if you dare to act like a—”

Before she could finish the word “scoundrel,” Gu Hanxiao bent down and pressed against her.

“!!”

The man’s cold aura and imposing figure left Su Nuan powerless to resist; she even shut her eyes tightly in fright. Yet the anticipated kiss never came. Instead, she felt a tight grip around her waist.

“...?”

Su Nuan slowly opened her eyes and saw Gu Hanxiao stepping back several paces, his shirt now tightly tied around her waist.

Noticing her confusion, Gu Hanxiao expressionlessly gestured behind her.

“There’s blood.”

“—?”

As if in response to his words, a sudden warmth flooded Su Nuan’s body. She immediately realized that her period had unexpectedly arrived, staining her pants and visible to Gu Hanxiao.

The sudden embarrassment made her want to disappear into the ground. She buried her face in her palms, pretending not to notice. Fortunately, after tying the shirt around her, Gu Hanxiao left first; otherwise, Su Nuan felt she might have died of shame on the spot.

With the commotion, Su Nuan had no time to worry about Song Nian Nian. After changing her pants, she looked at the bundle of too-short clothes with a troubled expression.

With her curvaceous figure, wearing short clothes meant any large movement would risk exposure. Since the Gu family were all elders, anyone catching sight would likely think Su Nuan was a shameless woman.

Having barely shed her bad reputation from the city, Su Nuan naturally didn’t want the people of Peng City to misunderstand her again. Unfortunately, she had been in a hurry, her neck was injured, and it was inconvenient to alter her clothes now.

“Sigh, I guess I’ll have to figure it out once I get to the Gu residence...”

...

Meanwhile, in the women's restroom, Song Nian Nian waited half an hour without seeing anyone and reluctantly put on a temporarily washed dress. Though cleaned, the dress still carried a strong urine smell, causing everyone to keep their distance as soon as she boarded the carriage. Su Nuan and Huang Guixiang even found excuses to slip away to the next compartment.

“Brother Gu, you really are kind not to mind me.”

Song Nian Nian looked at Gu Hanxiao, who appeared shy. But before she finished speaking, he stood from his seat and walked away to the adjoining compartment. Watching his retreating back, Song Nian Nian felt as if she had been slapped hard, her eyes reddening with humiliation and anger.

Many onlookers were nearby. The adults only dared to chuckle quietly, but children spoke without restraint. A naked-bottomed child toddled up to Song Nian Nian, sucking his thumb innocently and asked:

“Sis, you’re so big, why are you still wetting your pants? And why didn’t you change? It smells so bad!”

Song Nian Nian was so mortified she covered her face and ran into the restroom, hiding all the way.

Without the annoying presence of the little white lotus in front of her, Su Nuan even felt the long journey on the train was a bit brighter.

After traveling south for over sixty hours, the train finally reached near Peng City.

Since transportation wasn’t developed, they had to transfer by boat after disembarking. Su Nuan, feeling seasick and still on her period, combined with the hot and humid climate of Peng City, became dizzy and nauseous. After getting off the boat, she was so unsteady she could barely stand, swaying with each step.

Seeing her plight, Huang Guixiang kindly offered, “Comrade Su, let me carry you.”

“Thank you.”

Su Nuan was truly unwell and not one to make a fuss, so she didn’t refuse. Unexpectedly, Gu Hanxiao blocked her path with a stern expression, preventing her from moving forward.

Huang Guixiang slapped her forehead, teasingly pushed Su Nuan into Gu Hanxiao’s arms, and said, “Oops, my mistake. This flower guardian’s job definitely belongs to Captain Gu~”

He hoped to play matchmaker for Su Nuan and Gu Hanxiao, but Gu Hanxiao had no such intentions. He feared Su Nuan was faking illness to mooch off him. Huang Guixiang was his subordinate, and with the mentality of “If I don’t go to hell, who will?”, Gu Hanxiao reluctantly carried Su Nuan with a cold face.

Huang Guixiang, looking delighted, waved farewell to them before leading the team to report back.

Meanwhile, Song Nian Nian, nursing her grudge from the restroom incident and jealous that her crush was carrying Su Nuan, taunted along the way, “Su Nuan used to be so tough, why has she turned into a weakling as soon as we reached Peng City?”

Su Nuan, feeling unwell, ignored her and turned her head away.

“...”

Song Nian Nian’s poised punch landed harmlessly on cotton, leaving her chest tight with frustration.

Su Nuan remained silent, and Gu Hanxiao also preferred not to speak. Song Nian Nian, with no way out, was both embarrassed and angry, stomping her feet in frustration.

On Gu Hanxiao’s back, Su Nuan didn’t say a word but couldn’t hide her smile. In the past, she had pandered to Song Nian Nian like a sycophant, while she herself had gained no favor. This time, she was getting her revenge, and couldn’t have been happier!

Su Nuan had a bad habit: when happy, she became hyperactive. Forgetting herself, she hummed a little tune and swayed on Gu Hanxiao’s back.

Her curvaceous figure pressed tightly against him through her clothes, stirring an unprecedented heat within him. This warmth coursed through his veins, concentrating in one place.

Realizing the long-dormant feelings were quietly awakening, Gu Hanxiao’s breath tightened. He swiftly set Su Nuan down beside the road and grabbed her bundle as a cover.

Su Nuan was surprised, Song Nian Nian jealous.

Gu Hanxiao sensed the awkwardness and quickly said, “We’re here.”

His words drew Su Nuan’s and Song Nian Nian’s gaze to a small stone-walled courtyard behind them.

At this time, Peng City was still a remote fishing village, with most residents living in low brick-and-tile or thatched houses. The presence of this small courtyard was thus a sign of considerable status.

Gu Hanxiao stepped forward and knocked on the door while Su Nuan and Song Nian Nian tidied their clothes behind him.

Soon the door opened, revealing a slightly plump elderly woman with silver hair.