A Marshmallow: Chapter 16
Chapter 16: "Come here, let me hold you."
I'll, take, care, of, her.
It was the usual cold and icy voice, but every word was pronounced with such clarity and tenderness that it could enchant anyone's heart when it landed in the ear.
Not to mention, his wrist lightly rested on her shoulder, close enough but not overly so. His entire presence was shrouded in that delightful scent of mint.
After repeating these five words in her head a few times, Gu An's face began to emit a warm blush.
Thanks to these five words, that night, Gu An lay on her small bed, staring at the summer night sky with no sleep in sight. The little stars twinkled like someone's eyes filled with light.
She rolled around, wrapping herself like a cocoon. She pulled the small blanket up to her nose, but in her mind, she could see Jiang Yan saying those words, and her face started to heat up again.
At that moment, she had her back to him, and she couldn't actually see his expression. She just imagined the corner of his lips lifting when he said those words, and she felt the restraint and coolness that was strangely enticing.
What does this 'I'll raise, I'll raise' mean, ah...
Does it mean raising one more cub, or... or...
Or what? Hmm?
Gu An, what are you thinking?!
Blushing, she rolled out of bed, slipped into her little lamb slippers, and sat at her desk. She took out the hand-drawn tablet that Gu Zhen had given her, turned on the computer, and quickly sketched a four-panel comic.
First panel: J Officer coming back from a night run, with a strong cumin aroma all around him.
Second panel: Chibi Gu An and J Officer's fateful encounter at a barbecue stall.
Third panel: Darkened antagonist Officer G ruthlessly attacking little Gu An.
Fourth panel: J Officer hugging little Gu An and saying, "I'll take care of you."
The chibi characters on the paper blushed like hawthorn candy balls, their shoulders hunched, and their little fists clenched.
But the subtitles in her mind read: "You'll take care of me! Please take care of me quickly!"
She wished she could jump onto J Officer as a human pendant...
After finishing the coloring, she uploaded it to her own Weibo account, and the comments section immediately exploded.
"Grandma! The big update you've been waiting for is here. 🐶"
"Wow, J Officer is so amazing!!!"
"Get together! Hurry up and get together! Auntie is getting sour. 🍋"
"Your big brother is about to become a lonely old man. How pitiful, hahaha."
Gu An closed her computer, resting her chin on her hands, feeling troubled.
When will she be able to turn the person she likes into her boyfriend?
Time, please move faster.
Grow up faster, finish the high school entrance exam, and get into university quickly.
Faster... until she becomes outstanding enough to stand by his side.
-
Unconsciously, the summer vacation of her second year in high school arrived with the sound of cicadas. But Gu An felt no joy because as an art student, she had to participate in the school's joint entrance exam for art. She was about to attend an art training session at the studio, which would continue until the joint entrance exam was over.
Time would be tight, days would be quite busy, but devoting herself to what she loved and fulfilling her childhood dreams was a happy thing.
It's just that she wouldn't be able to see Jiang Yan often in the future.
Gu An sat at the dining table, diligently doing her summer homework, but her mind wandered. She would write a few words and then sneak a glance at the handsome guy sitting opposite her.
Jiang Yan sat across from her, wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt and black sweatpants. He was holding investigative books. When he wore his deep blue police uniform, he appeared cool and forbidding. But in white, he looked exceptionally clean and youthful, like a beam of light.
Gu An propped up her chin with a pen, silently analyzing.
Jiang Yan had been single for twenty-four years with no girlfriend, which meant that in the realm of dating and relationships, he was a challenging and non-competitive prospect. So, it wasn't that easy to win his heart, right?
It seemed like waiting another year wouldn't hurt.
Hold on for another year, and little Gu An would make sure you have a girlfriend!
Thinking of this, Gu An's face brightened, and she wrote with enthusiasm.
"Jiang Yan, about this elliptical equation..."
Gu An began to speak but noticed that Jiang Yan's book was upside down, and he had dozed off with his head resting on his arm.
It seemed like it was starting to rain outside, the sky becoming overcast. Even the room's lighting dimmed, a weather she didn't like.
But in front of her was the person she liked, and the air seemed to be filled with sweetness and tranquility.
When he closed his eyes, his eyes turned into graceful curves, his eyelashes hanging densely. The arch of his nose was perfect, and his lips had a clear, moist outline...
With her head resting on her arm, her right hand wrist leaned on her left forearm, Gu An looked at his slender arm and delicate wrist bones, her eyes slightly bright.
Look at the smooth, fair skin of this handsome guy, it's like a rare and precious sheet of Xuan paper!
Gu An quietly took out a pen, tiptoed over to Jiang Yan.
He sat, and she stood, the pen's tip touching his fair wrist, starting to draw a circle.
"You always watch me do my homework every day, and I'm almost going bald from it..."
She muttered softly, meticulously marking a scale. "Are you the tutor that Gu Zhen hired?"
Jiang Yan's eyelids twitched, and his eyelashes trembled lightly.
"Such good weather, we should go out."
"If you don't take me out soon, I'll have to go to the art training camp."
Gu An pouted, sighing gently, and she had drawn a cartoon watch with great craftsmanship.
She didn't notice that the person beside her had already opened his eyes. At an extremely close distance, he watched her quietly, listening to her grumbling, "In the future, you won't see me very often. You shouldn't regret it..."
Her fair side profile with visible tiny, soft hair, and the mouth that kept curling up slightly when she spoke. When she lowered her head, her long hair brushed against his arm, carrying the sweet scent of honey and citrus.
So, what was this curious little mind of hers thinking all day?
She really was a child who refused to grow up, only capable of such childish actions.
While misbehaving on his wrist, she softly complained about his bad behavior.
...Very cute.
Gu An turned Jiang Yan's wrist over, aligned the two watchbands, fastened the buckle, and a lifelike Gu An branded diamond watch appeared on Jiang Yan's wrist. "Perfect!"
She smiled, revealing a small pair of fangs on her doll-like face, full of the tiny joys of mischief. But when she raised her head, she collided with Jiang Yan's smiling eyes.
Gu An froze, like a startled fawn. But his beautiful eyes, when curved, suddenly accelerated her heartbeat.
"You were quite proud a moment ago. Why aren't you speaking now?"
Jiang Yan was probably really tired. He leaned on his arm, half-closed his eyes, his voice carrying a lazy nasal tone, sounding inexplicably...sensually magnetic.
His face had a clear jawline, with no deformation from the pressure. From her perspective looking down, his long and dense eyelashes covered it like raven feathers.
Seeing her stunned, he reached out to touch her nose, with a very affectionate strength that showed a hint of indulgence. Her nose had the warmth of his fingertips, and Gu An held her breath, not daring to exhale.
After a long while, she scratched her head with a pen and forced out a dry, fawning smile.
Just as her slow-witted brain was figuring out how to disappear from under Jiang Yan's eyelids without him noticing...
"It's raining today, how about tomorrow?"
-
The next day, a downpour washed over the clear blue sky, and the soft, fluffy clouds resembled cotton candy.
Due to its excellent geographical location, this northern city had early summer temperatures in the low twenties, envied by most cities in the country.
Gu An woke up early, tied her hair up, let it down, and then braided it into a twist. Her outfits ranged from T-shirts and jeans to floral dresses, denim pinafore dresses, and doll dresses. She also went through a range of shoes from white sneakers to ginger canvas shoes, and finally, creamy white leather shoes. At last, she reluctantly posted on Weibo:
【Question for everyone: What should I wear when going out with my crush? Waiting online, quite urgent!!!】
Because of her cute and unique style, her crush-worthy posts were highly relatable, and Gu An had gained tens of thousands of followers on Weibo in less than six months. Before long, message notifications appeared as small red dots.
【Ah, Ah, Ah! An An, are you going out with Officer J?】
【Sis An An! Look your best! Make him cry with your beauty! Get him!】
【Ahh, is this a date? When you get back, remember to report the progress to us, the older ladies!!!】
At this moment, her deskmate, Jiang Ning, sent her a private message.
【Jiang Ning: Cops, well, there's a high chance they're straight-laced. A skirt is probably the best choice, either with long flowing hair or a ponytail... Go for it, babe!】
【Gu An: Fist bump! Thanks, buddy! How come you're up so early?】
【Jiang Ning: Don't mention it. My little uncle called me early in the morning, asking where little girls like to go and what they like to do, and he wanted me to make a strategy... It's really terrifying. You should know he's been single for over twenty years!!!】
【Jiang Ning: I suspect that I'm about to get a little aunt very soon / dog head】
Gu An chuckled and messaged him, asking, "Can you send me the strategy, please? Cute.jpg"
She changed into a knee-length dress, beige with red polka dots. The skirt was slightly puffy but not overly so, making her appear exceptionally delicate. Her hair was half tied up with a cherry-red butterfly bow, giving her a lively look befitting her age.
"What are you wearing?" Gu Zhen gave her a once-over, frowning.
Gu An lowered her head to look at the small polka dots on her skirt, feeling a bit indignant yet somewhat guilty. "What's wrong? Doesn't it look good?"
It wasn't a matter of whether it looked good or not.
It was too good.
Thinking that other guys would be staring at her when she went out, Gu Zhen felt a surge of anger.
But then he thought about it; she was with Jiang Yan, and Jiang Yan would take good care of the little fool.
"We're going to see giant pandas this morning. If we go early, we might see the panda cubs... After coming out of this gate, we can take the subway to the amusement park."
I must say, Jiang Ning's plan is perfect and reasonable.
Jiang Yan replied with a faint "Hmm." He was dressed in a light-colored shirt and washed blue jeans. He looked clean and slender, with an upright posture, resembling a university student more than a police academy student.
From Intercontinental Manor to the zoo, it would take about half an hour by public bus. Fortunately, it was a direct route, and Jiang Yan decided to follow Gu An's lead and didn't drive or take a taxi.
Gu An found seats at the back of the bus, with her by the window and him by the aisle. It was at this moment that she realized it was somewhat unfair for Jiang Yan and his long legs on a public bus.
The early summer sunlight streamed gently through the bus windows, not too bright, and it made her suddenly feel drowsy. After all, she had woken up at five o'clock, and by five-thirty, she had started pondering what to wear.
She yawned, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Jiang Yan asked, "Want to take a nap?"
Gu An was extremely tired, so she nodded like a little chick pecking for grains.
The challenge was how to sleep comfortably.
Resting her head against the window might result in a painful jolt if the bus braked suddenly. Leaning against the seat in front of her seemed somewhat intrusive.
"If you want to lean on me," the handsome guy next to her, his face as cold as snow, spoke with a chilly tone but a soft voice, "it's not a problem."
Gu An bit her lip to suppress the urge to smile and gently rested her head on Jiang Yan's shoulder.
His clothes smelled really nice!
She was on the verge of drifting off to sleep when she felt Jiang Yan's shoulder move slightly, and he reached out, closing the window. However, he didn't retract his hand. She couldn't help but be curious, so she opened her eyes just a crack...
Before her was his slender fingers, pale to the point of near translucence, with prominent blue veins.
And now, on her side, his hand was peacefully blocking the sunlight coming through the window.
Gu An's heart raced suddenly.
-
Since they left early and avoided the morning rush hour, what should have been a half-hour ride took less than twenty minutes. Jing City Zoo was now right in front of them.
Gu An was walking briskly, even skipping every now and then. Jiang Yan followed behind her like a knight guarding a princess, gentle and quiet.
Inside the zoo, there were kids waiting in line to see the attractions, as well as tourists from out of town. Amidst the crowd, occasional sounds of people being charmed could be heard.
"Brother! Look! The baby panda is so cute when it eats bamboo slowly!"
"That one looks like an emoji, the 'I'm so angry' one..."
Gu An held Jiang Yan's wrist and, as they walked around, her talkative nature couldn't be concealed. "Brother, how do you become a panda keeper? How do they divide their work internally?"
There was no need for Jiang Yan to respond; she started counting on her fingers. "Do they need a bamboo-cutting department, a baby panda feeding department, a poop-scooping department... I really love pandas! After I graduate from college, I want to take care of pandas too!"
Jiang Yan's lips curved slightly, and due to the sunlight, his narrow eyes squinted slightly, creating a beautiful curve. His pupils were black and clear.
"Look, look," she shook his wrist, "the baby panda is hanging from the tree and won't come down!"
Gu An raised her sun hat, revealing her somewhat chubby, innocent face. "I envy panda cubs. They eat and sleep, and as long as they act cute, lots of people love them..."
After not receiving a response from Jiang Yan for quite a while, she turned to ask him, "Don't you think so?"
Her eyes were curved, full of surprise and curiosity, clean as can be.
From his perspective, her eyelashes had an innocent, upward curl.
She was still a child, and she looked at every problem from a different angle, seeing a world that was probably endlessly beautiful, different from what he saw.
Jiang Yan lowered his body, his eyes on her, and the unexpected close gaze made Gu An's heart skip a beat.
He reached out to touch her head. In the sunlight, his pupils looked extremely gentle. "You can do that too."
Because she was overly cute.
She could make a living by acting cute.
-
After lunch, Gu An's exuberant mood remained undiminished. She raised her hand and clenched her fist. "Now, let's go to the amusement park!"
At the entrance of the amusement park, there was a shooting range, and in the center, there was an incredibly cute baby panda cub wearing a tiny superhero cape, looking exceptionally cool.
Gu An really wanted to have one and carry it with her during the art training.
No matter where she was in the future, no matter when, she could always remember today.
Jiang Yan lowered his gaze, and the young girl's eyes were fixed on the toy figurines at the shooting range. Her lips slightly parted, forming a "wow" shape.
"Want to take a look?"
Gu An nodded vigorously. Heh heh heh, making her go shooting would undoubtedly cost her all her travel expenses, but having Officer Jiang go was a different story!
Standing at the shooting range, Jiang Yan raised his hand and rubbed his nose, seeming somewhat helpless. He had been exposed to live ammunition shooting since his sophomore year, but this was the first time with toy guns.
He picked up the toy shooting gun with his slender, pale, and cool fingers. With his incredibly handsome face, he playfully raised an eyebrow at Gu An, "Tell me, which one do you like?"
"The little panda, the little panda!"
Gu An cheered joyfully, and the surrounding glances were filled with envy.
Not for any other reason, but the young man by her side was just too eye-catching.
Jiang Yan squinted his eyes and took aim.
Gu An couldn't help but imagine how he would be on a mission. The only time she had seen him on a mission was when she went to deliver food. At that time, he had just returned from a mission, wearing a bulletproof vest and police combat boots. The scene was so awe-inspiring that 'handsome' was an understatement.
Officer Jiang's shooting skills were indeed impeccable. Gu An picked a few of her favorite toys, and he effortlessly won them for her.
In the end, as more and more girls gathered around, and some even wanted to exchanged contact information with him, Gu An decided to leave and quickly dragged Jiang Yan away from the scene.
-
Gu An watched Jiang Yan's tall, slender figure and secretly wished that today's time could be longer, just a bit longer.
After playing several activities, the sun had gradually set, and the amusement park's lights came on. The carousel in front of her resembled a music box from a fairytale.
Jiang Ning said that, no matter whether a girl had a girlish heart or not, she had no resistance to things full of fantasy.
Jiang Yan lowered his eyes to look at Gu An beside him, and sure enough, her eyes were wide with astonishment.
He hooked his lips and said, "Go ahead. Big brother will wait here for you."
Gu An, full of anticipation, asked, "Aren't you coming to sit?"
Jiang Yan smiled and shook his head, "Big brother won't go."
The moonlight was beautiful, and the breeze was gentle; today's itinerary could be considered perfect.
If only the carousel didn't suddenly break down and lose power...
The children around her were all brought down from the carousel by their parents, and even the little girls with their boyfriends were carried away like princesses.
Gu An looked at the distance to the ground while sitting on the carousel, which was in the "up" position at the moment, and her lower legs were still quite far from the ground.
She could only helplessly call out to Jiang Yan, "Big brother, I can't get down..."
Her position was indeed very high, and Gu An was at a loss. If she jumped down, it would be awkward and potentially unsafe, especially in the pretty dress she was wearing today.
The other option was to ask Jiang Yan for help to bring her down, but the latter seemed completely impossible.
Jiang Yan stood in front of Gu An, hands in his pockets, and looked at her with an amused expression.
Suddenly, he understood why Gu Zhen always enjoyed teasing her.
The child looked helpless, with her big round eyes moist and pitiful, like a little deer.
He had never had the mischievous desire to tease girls during high school. But now, he found himself innocently asking Gu An, who was stuck and couldn't go up or down, "So, what do we do?"
You, hold, me.
Gu An's mind instantly responded with these words.
She tightly held the unicorn's head, her joints turning white from the force.
It's just three words!
Gu An, be bold and say it!
She wanted the handsome guy to hold her!
With the moonlight as her cover, she summoned the courage to meet his gaze directly. He still appeared clean and aloof, devoid of any emotion.
She had a feeling that speaking those words might lead to his usual response, "Everything is in your dreams," because every time Gu Zhen made a request, he responded in a similar manner.
She opened her mouth, but in the end, she felt deflated. She couldn't say it.
"Miss, I'm very sorry for any unpleasant experience you've had. Do you need any assistance?"
The staff arrived promptly to help Gu An, this child who seemed to have no one to claim her.
And at that moment, the person standing in front of her, the one she liked, extended his arm towards her.
His long and gentle eyelashes, his eyes sparkling, and his initially cool voice now carried a hint of tenderness.
"Come here, let big brother hold you."
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