A Marshmallow: Chapter 18

 

Chapter 18: You're a little kid

The time for the art training has been set.

Gu An wants to get into the best national art college, so even though her academic scores are considered good among art students, the pressure is still immense.

Art training is the first hurdle. She chose a studio in the neighboring city. Gu An heard from the previous year's senior that they used to paint until the early morning, and not a single person would leave first. Even during break times, there was no relaxation. Going home was simply a luxury.

The day before leaving home, Gu An squatted in the small attic to pack her things.

A year ago, she had come from the south to Jing City and encountered human traffickers at the train station, as well as Jiang Yan.

A year later, she had to leave briefly.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Gu An sent a WeChat message to Gu Zhen: "Brother, are you coming home for dinner tonight?"

Gu Zhen took a long time to reply: "Overtime, just have instant noodles, and make sure to lock the door."

Previously, Gu An went to the police station to deliver meals to Gu Zhen and noticed that this guy stocked up on instant noodles by the boxloads. Even Jiang Yan, that rich young master, did the same - no preferences, just a quick meal of instant noodles during overtime. They even developed their expertise in it, enough to use Jiang Ning's Weibo account for an instant noodle review.

No wonder these young folks were all getting digestive problems at such a young age.

But when they were really busy, it seemed like there was no other option.

Gu An went to the pharmacy downstairs to replenish her stock of stomach medicine, bought various ingredients from the neighborhood supermarket to stuff the fridge, and cleaned every nook and cranny of the house inside and out. Finally, she arrived with Zaizai, leaving behind her worries.

She put on a small apron – a special one that Gu Zhen had bought for her, with SpongeBob SquarePants pattern – and stood at the cooking counter.

Sweet and sour pork, Chinese yam and pork rib soup, stir-fried shiitake mushrooms, sautéed cabbage with mushrooms, and they needed some staple food too, so she made corn, sweet potatoes, and taro.

She also took out the whipped cream, baked cup cakes and egg yolk pastries all afternoon. With the remaining glutinous rice flour and egg yolk floss, she made green rice balls. After counting, she had enough to share with the whole team, so she packed them into separate categories and headed out.

Gu An submitted layers of reports at the police station and could only wait in the corridor, afraid of disturbing her brother and Jiang Yan at work.

Although it was already quitting time, only a few people in police uniforms were heading to the canteen. The office building was brightly lit, as if the machines were still running tirelessly.

Finally, it was the alert operator, Chu Hang, who had previously noticed Gu An.

"Gu Zhen, your sister's here!"

Gu An finally dared to approach the office where Gu Zhen was. She knocked on the door and then saw a certain person.

He was wearing a blue police uniform, with the shoulders fitting perfectly, and the long pants highlighting his straight, slender legs. He looked pale and handsome from the back; it was evident that he was a textbook example of a forbidding figure.

Apart from meetings or important events, Gu An seldom saw Jiang Yan in regular attire, so this sudden sight was quite a shock. He was basically an epitome of an abstinence course!

Sensing the gaze behind him, Jiang Yan turned around, still holding a stack of case files.

If one ignored the police uniform, he looked quite refined, like a university professor.

As their eyes met, the crease on his forehead smoothed out, and his gaze softened visibly. "Why are you here?"

"Well! I was afraid that you and my brother would eat instant noodles," Gu An put their lunchboxes on the table, "Eat while it's hot, and if it's good, be sure to praise it. If it's not, just bear with it!"

Gu An grinned, revealing her small tiger teeth, but there was a slight bitterness in her heart.

This should be the last time in a very long while that she would come to deliver food to her brother and this person.

In the future, it wouldn't be so easy to enjoy Gu An's delicious treats.

Moreover, both of them were too introverted, and she didn't know how well they got along with their colleagues. In critical moments, they would have to look out for each other, right?

Gu An distributed the heartwarming snacks to the team in the Criminal Investigation Division. She had made a bunch of egg yolk pastries and green rice balls, and she made two or three trips back and forth.

"Thank you, sister!"

"Sister, you're amazing. When you open a store, we'll all be your customers!"

Gu An scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed by the compliments. She touched her little nose and said, "No need to be so polite, please take good care of both of my big brothers from now on!"

Jiang Yan, who had invited Gu An to have dinner together, was slightly taken aback.

So, was it because of this that she had made all these snacks for everyone?

Gu Zhen also heard it and leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed.

"Gu An is very sensible," Jiang Yan said thoughtfully.

Gu Zhen whispered, "Having gone through hardships, she's naturally become more mature. A girl who was pampered by her family since childhood could never know so much."

Jiang Yan lowered his gaze to look at Gu An.

She seemed so small, both in stature and size.

But she could cook very well and make various snacks.

For a girl her age, if she were with her parents, it would be the critical time for preparing for the college entrance exams. How could she have learned all this?

So, what kind of life had she gone through before?

"Don't be fooled by her tendency to cry easily."

"She's only like this in front of those she relies on."

"When I'm not around, she's as tough as they come."

The members of the Criminal Investigation Team were absolutely envious. Chu Hang, munching on an egg yolk pastry, let out a sigh of envy:

"Having a sister is so great!"

"I wish I had a sister like Gu An!"

"But it seems like I can't have a sister anymore."

"So, I'm thinking about waiting for Gu An to grow up, so I can..."

He was only able to get halfway through his sentence when two icy glares simultaneously shot his way. Gu Zhen and Jiang Yan both turned to look at him with chilling gazes, silently warning:

"You, say, it, again, and see what happens."

Chu Hang shivered and quickly made a zipping gesture over his mouth, then scurried away with his snacks.

In that moment, Jiang Yan suddenly recalled what Gu Zhen had mentioned earlier, how his classmates had said they wanted to wait for Gu An to grow up and had ended up being beaten up by him.

And now, he had experienced the same impulse.

Had he started to consider Gu An as his sister, just like his brother did? (T/E: Hehe 😏)

-

The following day, early morning.

From Jing City to Linshi City A, it's a distance of over fifty kilometers, nearly an hour and a half drive.

Jiang Yan held the car keys and waited on the side, "Is everything packed?"

"Yep, all set." Gu An sat on the 28-inch suitcase, swaying as she waited for her big brother to finish packing.

"Think carefully if you've forgotten anything."

Gu An curled her lips, feeling that Jiang Yan now resembled her real brother more than ever.

"Forgotten something?" Gu An pretended to think, counting on her fingers before finally looking at the person in front of her.

He had just gotten a haircut a few days ago, with a very clean crew cut that showcased his jet-black, slender eyebrows and beautiful eyes. His sideburns were meticulously trimmed, making him look cool and stoic when he had a straight face. But when his eyes curved even slightly, he immediately looked like a bright young man, incredibly handsome and full of youthful charm.

Gu An said softly, "Seems like... I have."

"What is it?"

I want to take you with me.

Can I bring you?

Meeting Jiang Yan's calm and emotionless gaze, Gu An shook her head and smiled, "I didn't forget, I misspoke!"

Gu Zhen had worked the night shift yesterday, so when he returned home, he showered, changed his clothes, and did his laundry. It was already 8 PM when he finished all that. He picked up Gu An's suitcase and gently ruffled her hair, much gentler than usual. "Leader, shall we go?"

-

An hour and a half later, the black SUV arrived at A City's most prestigious art studio. Every year, students from here managed to get into the country's top art schools.

In theory, having a period of pure, undistracted time to draw and having a group of like-minded friends working together toward their dreams should be a happy thing. But for some reason, Gu An's mood had been in a prolonged state of melancholy.

Gu Zhen and Jiang Yan stood among a group of parents, and they were excessively young and eye-catching, earning the attention of both young girls and female teachers. Gu Zhen played the role of a responsible father, asking the host about all the essentials.

The head of the art studio was named Zhao Wan, and she lived up to her name. She wore a light-colored qipao and looked ageless due to her exceptional maintenance. According to Gu Zhen, she used to be Jiang Yan's calligraphy teacher in his childhood.

Jiang Yan was currently speaking to her with his head slightly turned. He was a head taller than the teacher, dressed in a simple white short-sleeved shirt and black athletic pants. He revealed his slender ankles and wore a pair of white sneakers. In this light, he looked more like a college student discussing academic perspectives with a teacher.

"She's my good friend's younger sister, quite young. Please take good care of her."

"You specifically mentioned it," Zhao Wan looked in Gu An's direction. "Don't worry."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Zhao Wan smiled.

The first time she saw Jiang Yan, he was a silent and aloof child. Now, after more than ten years without contact, that aloof child had grown into a handsome and poised police officer. She had worried about the psychological trauma he might have suffered from the kidnapping, as he was just a teenager at the time and came back covered in wounds. It was hard to imagine what kind of torment he had endured, but he remained silent, and she couldn't tell if it was a defense mechanism after the trauma or if he had completely moved past that stage.

After that, he stopped calligraphy classes and started learning martial arts and shooting.

Then it was heard that he applied for early admission to the best police academy in the country for his college entrance exam.

Once everything was settled, parents began giving instructions to their children. Some tearful girls who hadn't left home yet rushed into their mothers' arms.

Gu An stared blankly.

She seemed to have forgotten what her mother's embrace felt like.

Snuggling with their mothers like this was a distant memory for girls like her.

She took a deep breath, clenched her small fists, and made up her mind not to cry today.

Jiang Yan bid farewell to his teacher and turned to see Gu An standing in a small corner, watching a girl who was snuggling with her mother.

The girl should be about the same age as her, both in their second year of high school, but the girl was snuggling with her mother while her father was comforting her.

At this moment, Gu An seemed to sense his gaze. Through the students and parents, she smiled at him, her eyes curved, and her little tiger teeth were lively and cute.

However, the curve of her mouth seemed forced.

It was as if she might suddenly droop in the next second.

Gu An trotted over to Jiang Yan and her older brother. "You two should head back early. I'm worried about you driving in the dark. Going back early will let you get a good night's sleep. It's not easy to get a day off like this..."

"And also, I bought a lot of groceries in the refrigerator. If necessary, you and Jiang Yan can use the rice cooker recipes I left. It's easy, and it's quick. Don't keep eating instant noodles; it's really bad for your digestion..."

As she spoke, the bitterness in her heart began to well up.

"And, just do your best at work. Don't rush into danger when you see a bad person. Stay healthy and safe..."

She lowered her head, and her tone was not as cheerful as usual.

The surrounding students, whether boys or girls, all seemed taller than her. She was like a little kid thrown into a group of older children.

Unfortunately, she was still rambling, making the two adults look after themselves.

Gu Zhen, who would usually tease his little sister mercilessly, never held back. He always comforted her just before her emotions collapsed, and Gu An would immediately go from tears to smiles without holding grudges, following him loyally...

In the current situation, he suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed.

At such a young age, why did he feel like an old father?

If he had known, he wouldn't have let her study art. He could have just kept her at home; he and Jiang Yan could surely take care of a little kid together, right?

"Brother, you should go now!"

Gu An waved her small hand, signaling them to leave.

She suddenly remembered a line from Dickinson's poem: "If I never saw the sun, I could bear the dark."

The years at her aunt's house, the years she had lived alone, had been just fine.

But now that her brother had taken her in, her defenses had crumbled, and she didn't feel strong at all.

Because there was someone to rely on.

Gu Zhen stood at the door of the art studio, his expression as usual, a bit arrogant. It seemed as if everyone owed him five million. "Fine, Jiang Yan and I are leaving. You should go back too."

"Brother, take good care of yourself. Don't skip breakfast, and Brother Jiang Yan, don't avoid medical treatment. If you get injured, go see a doctor in time, or it could get infected and leave a scar. That won't look good..."

She muttered softly, and Gu Zhen pursed his lips. "Turn around, march."

Gu An nodded but seemed rooted to the spot, standing still.

It wasn't until Gu Zhen frowned at her that she moved.

The moment Gu An turned around, tears fell unexpectedly.

She discreetly wiped her tears, her figure small and fragile, looking pitiful.

Gu Zhen recalled the time when his parents divorced, and he left in a car, seeing a similar silhouette.

His eyes suddenly felt warm, and he pressed his tongue against his teeth, reaching for a cigarette in his pocket, only to remember that he had quit smoking a long time ago.

The scene before her gradually blurred, as Gu An, who had held back her tears all day, found a way to let them flow.

In the past, going to school from her aunt's house was the happiest thing for her.

Now she understood the classmates who cried secretly in the dormitory, missing home.

It turned out to be this kind of feeling, both happy and reluctant.

"Gu An," Jiang Yan's cold and clear voice echoed in her ears.

Gu An's breathing hitched. "What's wrong..."

She had always been petite and innocent, like a young deer that had mistakenly entered the human world. Now, with teardrops clinging to her eyelashes, she was doing her best to hold back her tears, looking utterly wronged.

Previously, when he saw others cry, he would just feel annoyed. But when Gu An cried, he was completely helpless, and it felt like his heart was being squeezed.

The young girl, who had been keeping her head down, took a step closer to him without a word, getting a bit closer.

"Can you shield me for a moment? I feel like crying a bit..." she said with a heavy nasal tone, her voice already carrying a hint of tears. "But I don't want anyone to see me cry..."

Amidst the bustling crowd, the two stood face to face.

He lowered his eyes, and she covered her face with her small hand, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Yet she still had to suppress her urge to cry, and her subdued sobbing sounded even more pitiful.

"Be good," Jiang Yan gently tapped her forehead, his tone full of helplessness. "Don't cry."

Gu An didn't want to cry.

But when she did, she was most afraid of the sudden tenderness from the person in front of her.

She felt that her grievances were like a cloud heavy with moisture, rapidly expanding and brewing a downpour.

So she couldn't hold back even more.

Jiang Yan remembered earlier when she had watched the little girl snuggle in her mother's arms. He asked softly, "Do you need a big brother hug?"

Gu An, with teary eyes, looked at him with a misty gaze and after a while, she managed to say, "Yes..."

He reached out and embraced her, her cheek resting against his shoulder. His arm held her gently, with his white short-sleeved shirt before her, and the faint scent of mint on him, all providing a silent comfort.

As Gu An cried, it was as if a rainbow had suddenly appeared after the rain.

Jiang Yan finally released her, lowered his head to look at her seriously, and handed her a tissue to wipe away her tears.

Why is this person so gentle? Sniffle, sniffle...

Jiang Yan's fingers traced along Gu An's eye corner, eyebrows, down to her cheeks, and her nose tip, wiping that fair baby face carefully. But the child's eyes were still red, and her nose was too, making her watery eyes seem even more dewy.

She pursed her lips and began to speak, her voice nasally and muffled.

"It's so embarrassing..."

"Everyone saw me crying and sniffling..."

"They didn't cry at all..."

Gu An finally looked around and her mouth twitched pitifully. She realized how embarrassing it was and felt both cute and pitiful. "Not only did they not cry, they even seemed happy..."

"They are high school students, so they can't just cry easily."

Jiang Yan leaned down to meet her gaze, his fingertips gently brushing away teardrops from her eyelashes. In the depths of his pupils, there was a tiny image of her being absentminded and his clean, gentle smile. As his lips curled, her favorite dimple appeared.

"But you're a little kid, so it's okay."

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