Abstinence Pei, don't be too sweet when chasing your wife

The morning light meandered along the patterns of the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the photo album on Grandma Gu's lap.

The girl in the photo squatted in the courtyard of the old house, her chubby little hands clutching half a broken piece of pottery, her nose stained with mud, yet she smiled brightly. And at this moment, the thrilling scene in the entrance hall last night replayed in her grandmother's mind: Gu Fanxing knocked over the antique display case as she retreated in panic, and amid the crisp sound of the celadon incense burner shaking, Pei Luonan almost instinctively opened his arms to protect her in his arms. The moment they fell on the Persian carpet, Pei Luonan subconsciously turned his head to protect the back of her head with his shoulder, and even the thunder outside the window became a gentle accompaniment.

Grandma Gu, who was hiding at the corner of the stairs with a bowl of lily porridge in her hands, saw everything.

Moonlight streamed through the hollow railing onto the young man. Pei Luonan's fingers trembled slightly as she gripped Fanxing's wrist. The emotion surging in her eyes was even more intense than the aged daughter's red wine she treasured. And her granddaughter's blushing face was very similar to her panic when her husband secretly kissed her.

"I finally got it."

The old lady looked at Pei Luonan's profile in the moonlight at that time, and found that the upstart businessman who had taken off his suit and tie had a bit more worldly tenderness between his eyebrows. His cautious and passionate eyes were exactly the same as the way her husband looked at her when she was young.

She even noticed that when Pei Luonan stood up, he secretly tidied up Gu Fanxing's messy hair, his movements as light as if he was touching a rare treasure.

At this moment, the keystrokes of the old phone were particularly clear in the silent room. Grandma Gu deliberately cleared her throat before dialing the number.

The background music coming from the other side of the ocean was very lively, with the sound of the spatula stirring and the melody of "The Most Exciting National Style": "Mom! Is there any new progress between Fanxing and Xiaopei?" Gu's mother's shouting was mixed with the sound of Gu's father hurriedly turning off the radio.

“It’s more than progress!”

Grandma Gu lowered her voice and excitedly patted the armrest of the wicker rocking chair, "Yesterday's heavy rain trapped Xiao Pei here, the two of them were in the porch..." She repeated the story vividly, and suddenly heard a "crash" sound from the receiver - it turned out that Mother Gu was so excited that she knocked over the teacup at hand.

"Really?" Gu's father's voice rose an octave, and the rustling of notebook pages could be heard in the background. "Our little cotton-padded jacket has finally let go and moved on from the pain of the past."

Mother Gu sniffed at the side, her voice nasal: "In the last video call, Fanxing insisted that we were just ordinary friends. I was worried that she would imprison herself in the siege of the past and couldn't get out."

Thinking of her daughter's hardships at an archaeological site in a foreign country, Gu's mother's voice was hoarse. "Thankfully, Xiao Pei has always been there for her. Fei'er told me that when Fanxing suffered from heatstroke at a desert site, he canceled three international meetings, chartered a plane to send her medicine, and personally supervised the doctors who cared for her for two full days and nights."

“That’s right!”

Grandma Gu looked downstairs and saw Pei Luonan half-kneeling on the lawn, patiently loosening Fanxingxing's shoelaces. When he looked up and spoke, the corners of his mouth raised in a gentle curve that seemed to drip water.

"He's the CEO of the Pei Group, and he personally serves as Fanxing's chef and bodyguard. The last time we were exploring an ancient tomb and there was a flash flood, he dispatched a helicopter overnight, and when he landed, he was still clutching a glass of ginger tea."

“What courage!”

Gu Dad's exclamation was mixed with the sound of slapping his thighs.

"When I was pursuing you, I only gave you an umbrella in the rain. I'm nowhere near as good as others! Xiao Pei, that kid, even the rare ancient book that Fanxing casually mentioned she wanted to read, he was able to use his connections to borrow it from a foreign library."

"Oh, Xiao Pei said he'd take Fanxing to Dunhuang after her Han Dynasty lacquerware restoration exhibition is over!"

Grandma Gu recalled the scene in the kitchen last night. Pei Luonan was wearing a pink apron with little ducks printed on it. While cooking yam porridge, she said seriously that she would arrange for an archaeological expert to explain the whole process to Fanxing.

"He's even secured sponsorship for the exhibition. The newly established Cultural Heritage Protection Fund has Fanxing as the initiator! Not only that, he's also planning to build a cultural relic restoration center at the group's headquarters specifically for Fanxing's research."

Gu's father's voice was filled with longing. "Maybe one day, we can see the cultural relics exhibition curated by Fanxing on the top floor of Pei's Building, with national treasures restored by her own hands displayed in glass display cases! At the opening ceremony, we will stand in the front row and tell everyone that this is my daughter! I will also pull little Pei over and proudly introduce him as my son-in-law."

"I'm just looking forward to them getting married soon." Aunt Gu smiled through her tears, "Once Fanxing settles down, we can go back home and hug our grandchildren with peace of mind. But seriously, when we go back, we have to make a good meal of hometown food for Xiao Pei. This kid has done so much for Fanxing, we have to let him experience the treatment of being a son-in-law..."

After hanging up the phone, Grandma Gu walked towards the kitchen humming a little tune.

She walked over slowly and reached out to poke her granddaughter's burning ear. "Isn't Xiao Pei a good kid? There aren't many boys who are so affectionate these days. You'd better seize the opportunity and don't let him be seduced away by other girls. It will be too late for you to regret it then. Look how much he cares about you. He even remembers your preferences clearly."

Gu Fanxing almost dropped the can in her hand and stammered, "Grandma, what are you talking about! We are just... ordinary friends!"

"Will an ordinary friend stay up late to bring you midnight snacks? Will an ordinary friend turn down a multinational meeting for you?"

Grandma Gu smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into slits.

She took out a jade pendant tied with a red string from her apron pocket and put it in her granddaughter's hand. "This is a wedding gift from your grandmother. I'm passing it on to you now. I hope..."

"grandmother!"

Gu Fanxing stomped her feet and ran away, her hair brushing against the bell on the door frame, and the jingling sound startled Pei Luonan outside the door.

The flowers in the courtyard are in full bloom, and their fragrance wafts over with the autumn breeze.

Pei Luonan leaned against the porch pillar, the sliced peaches in the fruit plate in his hand still dripping with juice.

He looked at Gu Fanxing's red ears, his Adam's apple rolling unconsciously, and suddenly said: "Fanxing."

When Gu Fanxing turned around, the ends of her hair brushed against the wind chimes hanging in the corridor, and the crisp sound penetrated the stagnant air between the two of them.

Her fingers pinching the corner of her clothes trembled slightly. Although they were only a few steps away, she felt that the tenderness in Pei Luonan's eyes was about to drown her.

Pei Luonan walked forward slowly, brushed his slender fingers across her hot cheek, and gently wiped away the loose hair from her ears with his fingertips.

This action was so natural as if it had been practiced thousands of times, causing Gu Fanxing's heart to beat like a drum.

"I'll pick you up from work tomorrow. Wait for me."

His voice was low and hoarse, with an irresistible tone, and his warm breath sprayed on her ears.

"From now on, I will be responsible for saying good morning and good night every day."

Gu Fanxing looked up at him. The morning light cast tiny shadows on his eyelashes, dyeing his always calm eyes amber.

She recalled the countless late nights of overtime work, and the ginger tea that was always warm he left at her workstation; she recalled the sunshade tent that suddenly appeared in the wind and sand at the archaeological site.

At this moment, all the memories surged up and turned into the burning temperature on my cheeks.

"Who, who wants you to pick me up..." She turned her face away, but Pei Luonan gently turned her chin with his fingertips.

The tips of their noses were almost touching, and he looked at her as if he was gazing at the most precious treasure in his life.

"Gu Fanxing, stop hiding."

His thumb stroked her red lips, his voice so low that it seemed like he was whispering in his heart.

"I've waited so long for you, now it's your turn to run to me."

The wind outside the corridor suddenly became gentle, blowing up the hair that was scattered on Gu Fanxing's shoulders.

Pei Luonan took advantage of the situation and held her in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and heard her panicked but strong heartbeat.

At the kitchen door, Grandma Gu quietly raised her mobile phone to capture this sweet scene - the morning light in the photo was gentle, and the figures of the two young people hugging each other were more touching than any treasure.