A Marshmallow: Chapter 11

 

Chapter 11: Tony Gu

Jiang Yan, from a young age until now, has no idea how many times he has been the school's heartthrob. His forbidding, god-like face once caused a nationwide love drought at the police academy, and the girls pursuing him could orbit his jurisdiction three times. However, no one has ever come close to him.

But now, he's bending down to look at her. His fair and handsome face, with curved eyes and long eyelashes, and his clean and gentle dimples at the corners of his mouth.

Gu An is defenseless, directly bewitched by his good looks.

Wuwuwu, I just wanted to make you smile, don't scare people with that stern face.

But I made you smile! See, isn't this great?

This police officer has set off fireworks in my heart!

She lowers her little head, quietly taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart, actively reassuring herself:

Jiang Yan's face is actually quite ordinary.

It's not that long; he only has eyes and lacks a mouth.

Don't look so inexperienced, with such a fast heartbeat...

"Can you walk?"

Gu An nods with a dazed look.

It's only now that she remembers how she got to the school clinic.

It was this person who carried her...

A textbook-perfect princess carry.

Just as she had finally regained her normal heartbeat, it now beats erratically.

The main culprit making her blush and her heart race is nonchalant. He gently touches her hair and says, "Then go home with your gege."

---

After October, this northern city transitions into winter in an instant, with temperatures dropping below ten degrees.

On a Saturday morning, just as the day was breaking.

When Gu An sits at the dining table, Gu Zhen is frying eggs, and Jiang Yan is serving porridge.

The two young police officers had clear assignments, worked methodically, and it was evident they were good partners in both work and life.

Her pajamas had transformed from pure cotton long sleeves to a fuzzy material, entirely adorned with little green dinosaurs, making her appear round and chubby with short arms, short legs, and a little tail at the back.

The little dinosaur wandered downstairs in a dreamy state, rubbing her eyes, "It seems like my hair has grown long again."

Her cute bangs, through her own efforts, had successfully grown past her eyebrows by November.

Gu Zhen and Jiang Yan exchanged glances, simultaneously choosing to focus on their meal.

They couldn't scold or laugh; this human toddler was too good at sniffing and needed comforting. Silence was the way to keep the peace.

The little dinosaur exhaled, and her bangs flew astray. "Why aren't you both talking?"

Gu Zhen's lips curved as he used his public chopsticks to pick up a fried egg for Jiang Yan. He lifted an eyebrow and said, "Jiang Sir, try the egg I fried this morning. I've controlled the heat perfectly, crispy outside and tender inside."

Young Master Jiang, in an unusual moment of cooperation, bent his head and took a bite, lazily saying, "Hmm, excellent."

"Is it?" Gu An quickly picked up an egg pancake and, with a mouthful, exclaimed, "Wow! So delicious!"

To avoid upsetting the little crybaby again, Gu Zhen and Jiang Yan quickly left the scene after their meal.

Raising a child wasn't easy, and as they stepped out of the house, they decided to relax at the community's market.

-

The experience of the last haircut was truly painful. The hairdresser could never grasp how little "a bit" meant.

Fall into the moat and you'll be wiser next time, Gu An had purposefully collected a stack of tutorials, including but not limited to: "Seduce a Male God with This Airy Bangs," "Effortless French Bangs," "Korean Drama Heroine's Manga Bangs"...

After two long months of waiting, her bangs had finally grown down to eye level.

It was the perfect time for some artful styling.

Gu An hummed a song while washing her hair, cheering and leaping as she blew it dry.

The lighting in the attic bathroom wasn't particularly good. She moved the dressing mirror from the attic to the living room balcony and found a small stool to sit in front of the mirror.

Anyway, Gu Zhen and Jiang Yan wouldn't be back anytime soon.

Little classmate Gu An was eager and excited.

Little classmate Gu An was raring to go.

"Today, we'll give ourselves an air fringe."

Tony Gu carefully combed and wet the fringe, picked up her online-purchased hairdressing scissors, and looked so delicate that anyone unaware might think she was conducting a highly advanced experiment.

"Hmm, it's a bit long."

"Let's trim it a bit."

Huh? The lengths on both sides seem uneven?

Trim a bit.

Adjust a bit.

It still doesn't look quite right.

Trim, trim, trim.

Adjust, adjust, adjust.

Tony Gu had a keen eye and professional technique.

She was determined to be the hottest kid on the block.

"Gu An, what are you doing?"

Gu Zhen's voice suddenly rang out, making Gu An's heart leap.

She inadvertently shook the scissors, which made a crisp "click" sound.

The air instantly froze, and the world fell silent for a moment.

Seeing something, Gu Zhen's pupils shook, and his mouth started twitching. After a moment, he covered his face with one hand, looking like he was in excruciating tooth pain, patted Jiang Yan's shoulder, and shivered all over as he went back to his room.

Jiang Yan turned around, and Gu An sat dumbfounded in front of the balcony mirror.

On the small table were a comb, scissors, and a small spray bottle, with towels neatly arranged on the shelf beside it.

As if playing house, she had unexpectedly set up a makeshift barber shop for herself.

Gu An glanced lovingly at his Brother Yan, not knowing what whim had seized him.

Just when he was interrupted by Gu Zhen, her hair seemed to accidentally fall into her eyes, making them itch.

She rubbed her eyes, and the discomfort in her eyelids worsened. She could only squint with one eye and keep the other one open, looking up at Jiang Yan.

If she were to look in the mirror right now, she would definitely cry out in amazement.

If she were to push open her older brother's door right now, she would find a handsome guy, laughing uncontrollably, like a sieve.

But right now, before her stood Jiang Yan.

Her young mind easily went blank for a moment.

Jiang Yan was wearing a loose, short white down jacket, light-colored jeans, and white Air Force Ones. He looks really good in white, Gu An silently thought.

Clean, tall, and with a youthful aura that was perfectly fitting.

Jiang Yan leaned down to look at her, with his clear and refined eyes just inches away, "Your hair got into your eyes."

Before her eyes were his straight lip line, fair chin, and beautiful contours disappearing into the shirt collar.

The zipper of the down jacket was not fully closed, revealing the light blue denim shirt he was wearing underneath. His scent was subtle yet crisp, like the aftermath of a snowfall.

He leaned forward and used a damp towel to help her wipe her eyes.

"Still that icy young master's face, but his actions are surprisingly gentle."

Gu An unconsciously clenched the sleeve of her nightgown.

"Open your eyes."

Gu An obediently opened her eyes. "It still feels a bit itchy."

Her eyes were round and innocent, like Bambi, with clear, dewy eyes. She blinked without blinking, staring at him.

"Big brother will take a look," Jiang Yan's cold voice involuntarily softened.

He gently lifted her face by curling his finger joints.

Because he had just returned from outside, his fingertips were cool. Gu An couldn't help but shiver.

The person in front of her had low-hanging eyebrows and long, tender eyelashes, casting a curved shadow beneath them.

It seemed like if they got a bit closer, his nose would touch hers.

She could even see his faint stubble.

Gu An's not-so-bright brain had gone blank. The air seemed to ferment suddenly, and seconds stretched infinitely. The warmth spread from Gu An's cheekbones to behind her ears, her heart pounding more intensely, even trembling slightly.

But she couldn't help but wonder if she looked like an overripe tomato.

"That's enough."

Only when his shallow breath landed in her eyes did Gu An realize that at such a close distance and in this position, it was almost like they were about to kiss.

What would he be like when he falls in love in the future?

Would he be like the male lead in a novel, enclosing a girl in his arms and kissing her?

Stop, stop, stop! Gu An, what are you thinking!

The towel returned to its rack, and Jiang Yan stood up straight.

Gu An's heart had stopped pounding completely. She turned slowly to look at herself in the mirror.

Jiang Yan bit his lower lip, instinctively feeling that it wasn't suitable to stay here for long.

"Oh," Gu An looked at her bangs above her eyebrows again and was utterly distressed, covering her forehead, on the verge of tears.

A vexed, childish voice sounded behind him, causing Jiang Yan to pause.

The little girl's face had wrinkled into a frowning dumpling, her puppy dog eyes moist, and her shoulders slumped.

Jiang Yan pursed his lips and couldn't help but smile as he lowered his head.

Gu An finished trimming her bangs, decided to turn her grief into motivation, study hard, and make progress every day.

She came down from the attic with a stack of exercise books.

Sunlight streamed in through the French windows, and in the living room, two handsome guys, one engrossed in a game and the other holding a book titled "Criminal Psychology," made for a tranquil and pleasing sight.

"Wow! Hahaha!" Gu Zhen thought he was done laughing in his room and was now numb, but when he saw Gu An with her fluffy hair, he couldn't hold back, "Gu An, you're truly talented!"

Gu An looked at him with a touch of resentment and muttered softly, "High school students have homework to do, please don't disturb me, thanks."

She took a deep breath and opened her math exercise book.

Not long after, a chair opposite her at the dining table was pulled out, and Jiang Yan sat down with a book in hand.

He had his shirt cuffs unbuttoned, revealing a section of his cold, pale, and slender wrist, while the book "Criminal Psychology" completely concealed his handsome face.

Gu An lowered her head and focused on her exercises.

Jiang Yan quietly lowered the book in his hand as the girl across from him seemed to have encountered a problem.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed into a wavy line, her left hand clenched into a fist, and her right hand gripped the pen.

In his mind, he counted silently, three, two, one...

"Brother Jiang Yan, I can't solve this geometry problem."

She extended her arm, pushing the exercise book in front of her under his nose, her chin resting on the table as she sighed, and her fluffy pajamas made her look like a little dinosaur.

Jiang Yan closed the book in his hand, his long lashes drooping, his demeanor cool and aloof.

But the corners of his mouth secretly curled up, dimples appearing subtly.

"Jiang Yan gege, are you in a good mood today?" 

Jiang Yan's lips lightly curled, and he replied indifferently, "No."

He glanced at her, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Gu An watched with wide eyes as the handsome guy's smile grew deeper.

Gu An, with a cute little fringe and a slightly resentful expression in her eyes, asked, "Then what are you smiling at?"

Jiang Yan, whose previously attractive mouth had now returned to its usual straight line, lowered his head to look at her math problems and said, "Nothing."

Gu An pulled her own bangs and said, "Are you laughing at me?"

Jiang Yan shook his head, but there was a hint of an upward curve in the corner of his mouth, "No."

Gu An thought to herself, "I don't believe you at all!"

A person who usually wore an icy expression, a person who never smiled, suddenly laughed for no reason... what else could it be if not a joke on her?

Her childish temper flared, and she leaned in close to Jiang Yan's eyes, her voice soft and unthreatening, "Is my bangs so funny?"

Their eyes met, and Gu An looked into the handsome guy's curved eyes and long eyelashes. Her face turned as red as the sweetest bite of a watermelon.

"Haha," Gu An furrowed her little eyebrows and looked up.

Gu Zhen choked on his water, coughing and laughing with tears, "Sorry, sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at Jiang Yan! He looks so funny, hahaha!"

If those girls who had chased him during his school days knew that their cool male god was actually such a childish primary school kid, they wouldn't know how to react.

Gu An clenched her fists and wished she could capture Gu Zhen's ridiculous expression and send it to his class group.

"Hahaha," Gu Zhen was on the verge of collapsing from laughter.

Jiang Yan gave him a cold look, and Gu Zhen tried his best to stifle his laughter.

Gu An stood in front of him, her baby face tense, but her ears had turned red.

Her mouth was always curved down, and her round, watery eyes made her look like a little kid who had been wronged.

Cute and unaware.

Gu An tightly pursed her lips.

How could Gu Zhen keep laughing at her like this!

Most importantly, when! In! Jiang! Yan's! presence!

Her nose couldn't help but feel a wave of sourness, and Gu An reached up to rub her eyes.

"Gu An, come here," Jiang Yan's voice was clean and cold, sounding in her ear.

The emotionally battered little crybaby struggled to hold back her grievances and took a step forward.

She was standing, and he was sitting. Jiang Yan tilted his face upward, looking at her very seriously.

Those eyes were extremely attractive, clear and warm when he smiled at people, making you want to be lost in them forever.

The dimples at the corners of his mouth were shallow, and the curvature of his lips was beautiful. They were so close, and she could clearly read his lips:

"Beautiful."

---

Note:

If y'all forgot, Tony was the one who cut her hair from the previous chapters and ended up in a disaster. Now she's called Tony Gu, because it's still gonna end up in a disaster 😭

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