A Marshmallow: Chapter 33
Chapter 33: Three years, two children
Go ahead and paint.
Brother will be free for you alone.
Jiang Yan leaned in and spoke by her ear, enunciating very clearly.
Because he spoke with a slightly lowered pitch and a heavy nasal tone, it was like having a subwoofer at close range.
Gu An's ears tingled as if they'd been electrified, and she couldn't resist the urge to touch them, but she didn't dare.
... This is so unfair!
She couldn't help but suspect he was flirting without any evidence!
Her already not-so-smart little brain had turned into a pile of jumbled metal parts, grinding slowly, unable to function properly, teetering on the edge of collapse.
With her friend's beauty by her side, being a model in the art studio would probably be invaluable.
If he didn't do it for free, she'd have to pay off a debt for all the times she painted him. She might not be able to afford tuition or meals in the future...
"First prize only gets a trophy." Gu Zhen came back from outside, threw the car keys into the hallway cabinet, and said, "Hey, Gu An, why is your face so red? Sunburn?"
Gu An, in a daze, raised her eyebrows, trying to maintain a calm exterior. Her lips curved awkwardly.
Jiang Yan's brows and eyes lowered slightly, and the face of the little friend in front of him had turned red, with her ears even redder than her cheeks.
Her eyelashes trembled gently, and she bit her lip, trying to appear indifferent and pitiful.
His cold, straight lips couldn't help but turn up, and he reached out to ruffle her hair.
Gu An turned up the corners of her mouth and, in front of the handsome guy who made her blush and her heart race, displayed a pure, pretty, innocent look, even smiling with a little dimple.
However, in the face of her resentful gaze, his lips returned to their straight line within a second, making him look both obedient and innocent.
He seemed like a pitiable henpecked husband who wanted to laugh but didn't dare to.
She, in that moment... couldn't even raise her hackles.
Gu Zhen didn't think of anything else either.
As an iron-willed man, he couldn't tell the difference between a shy blush and a sunburned one. He was just thinking about whether he needed to buy skincare products and such for the young girl as she grew up.
He didn't understand, so he'd have to ask his classmate next time.
He heard that his classmate was now at Gu An's medical school.
The May Day holiday lasted three days.
On the first day, two detectives completed a basketball game and didn't even have dinner at home before they were urgently called back to the unit.
On the second day, only Gu An and Zaizai were at home, like two latchkey kids waiting for their parents, feeling aggrieved with no one to take care of them.
On the third day, Gu An got up early, went to the morning market, bought fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood, and then came home, rolled up her sleeves, kneaded the dough, prepared the filling, and made enough dumplings to last for about a week, which she stored in the refrigerator.
The rice in the rice cooker exuded a delightful aroma, and the cold dish of vegetables was refreshingly crisp. In the clay pot, corn and spare ribs stewed, only needing to be heated up when her big brother returned.
After doing all of this, she packed her little backpack and took the subway back to school.
She hoped that next time she came home, Jiang Yan wouldn't have to work overtime.
Because his birthday was in June.
A very, very cute June 1st.
-
"Ning ning, what do you think is a good gift for a guy's birthday?"
After dinner, Gu An and Jiang Ning sat on the bleachers at the school field, with Gu An propping up her chin and a worried expression on her face.
Jiang Ning, had successfully come out of singledom this semester and was evidently a very reliable advisor.
A man, a 25-year-old man, roughly the same age as her younger uncle. Her younger uncle, the textbook version of a forbidding guy, who had never shown any romantic interest in the countless girls who had chased after him since childhood, now seemed to have faint signs of being affected by spring fever.
Jiang Ning carefully suggested, "Well, for a 25-year-old man, how about confessing your feelings and giving him a girlfriend as a gift?"
Gu An's face instantly flushed, turning as red as an apple.
She had thought about it before.
But she was afraid.
Afraid that the timing was not right, and that she wasn't mentally mature enough.
Originally, she could rely on her relationship with him and her brother, treating him like an older brother.
After working hard to get a little closer, if she suddenly confessed, and he distanced himself from her, what would she do?
She even felt lucky that someone had advised her not to pursue Jiang Yan when she had just finished high school.
Jiang Yan, despite his cold demeanor, was actually very gentle and courteous, to a fault. If a high school graduate like her confessed to him, he would definitely reject her without hesitation.
Her current mindset was completely different from when she was eighteen. Would twenty-year-old her next year have a better approach?
"Confession, just thinking about it makes me so nervous that I can't breathe," Gu An's face crumpled into a frown. "I can't..."
Jiang Ning placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then maybe your brother, as someone of the same age, knows him better? Ask your brother what he likes!"
Gu An's eyes instantly brightened, and she quickly typed on her phone: "Big brother, what kind of gift would you most like to receive for your birthday this year?"
Gu Zhen was probably just free, and he replied instantly: "Girlfriend, the kind who studies medicine."
-
June 1st happened to be a Saturday. Gu An skipped two classes on Friday afternoon and took the subway home.
As soon as she opened the door, the imposing black and yellow German Shepherd, despite its regal appearance, came bounding over joyfully.
"Our little one has become even more handsome!" Gu An laughed, crouching down to pat its fur. "Are Jiang Yan and Gu Zhen not at home?"
It seemed that way.
She didn't want to disturb her police comrades at work, so she waited until dinner time to send a WeChat message to Gu Zhen.
Around 9 o'clock, Gu Zhen replied: "On a mission, lock the door."
Gu An had never mentioned it, but every time Gu Zhen didn't return home at night, she couldn't sleep soundly. Even if she dozed off, she would suddenly wake up and run downstairs to see if he had returned.
In the end, she decided to cover herself with a Pikachu blanket and huddled on the living room sofa, watching TV.
From food shows to local news and late-night movies... her eyelids got heavier and heavier.
When Jiang Yan came home in the middle of the night, Gu An was already curled up and asleep in the corner of the couch.
He didn't know she would be back.
His heartbeat suddenly became irregular.
She was already petite, and now she looked even smaller, like a finely crafted sticky rice dumpling. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her bun crooked, her long eyelashes cascading down, and her lips curved like a cat's.
"Gu An."
The sleeping child drowsily rubbed her nose and, clutching her Pikachu pillow, snuggled further into the couch to continue sleeping.
Jiang Yan lightly pursed his thin lips, bending down to lift her up.
The distance suddenly closed, her shallow and warm breath carrying a sweet scent of honey and citrus enveloped them.
With soft features now within arm's reach, his long fingers gently clasped hers, and his throat moved smoothly with a clean and sharp contour.
He had held her before.
When she was injured while playing basketball.
When she wouldn't come out from under the broken carousel.
Back then, she was only a high school sophomore.
He asked himself, and his conscience was clear.
But now, he was clearly not as composed as before.
"Gu An, wake up."
When Gu An opened her eyes, the person she liked was right in front of her.
She was nestled on the sofa, and he was half crouched beside her.
Moonlight filtered through the glass window, casting a soft glow on his face, softening his cool features.
After a month apart, he seemed to have lost some weight. His hair had just been cut, and his clean sideburns framed his face perfectly.
His eyes were pure black, devoid of any emotion, but an unexpected glance could still make hearts tremble.
Wrapped in her little blanket, she looked like a tiny triangular dumpling, with only her adorable round face peeking out.
She blinked sleepily and spoke softly, "When did you come back? I didn't hear anything."
Jiang Yan raised his gaze and glanced at the wall clock. "About ten minutes ago."
"Ten minutes ago, and you've been sitting here with me the whole time?" Gu An had just woken up, and her voice sounded particularly soft, with a childlike tone, as if she was still in a dream.
"Yeah," Jiang Yan casually rested his arm on his knee, his chin lightly propped on his arm. "I've been watching you for a while."
It was already three in the morning, and Gu An, who had been abruptly awakened, was still very groggy, her head filled with mush. "Why are you looking at me?"
She yawned, and a layer of mist immediately formed before her eyes. After her vision cleared, she happened to meet Jiang Yan's gaze.
He had a slight smile in the corners of his eyes and looked at her for a few seconds. His tone seemed a bit helpless, "Look at this little kid in front of me. When will she ever grow up?"
"I'm already nineteen, okay? And you say I haven't grown up?" Gu An's soft voice had a slight lilt to it, and she looked genuinely exhausted. However, she hadn't forgotten the purpose of her trip home. "Brother, do you have plans for tomorrow?"
Jiang Yan paused for a few seconds, then his lips curled and he shook his head.
"Then, can we go out?"
"Sure."
-
The next day, in the afternoon.
Jiang Yan had no particular thoughts about celebrating his birthday and went along with whatever was arranged.
The Criminal Investigation Division had organized a birthday dinner for him in the evening at a city restaurant, scheduled for 8 o'clock.
So, all the time leading up to that belonged to Gu An.
Under the pretext of celebrating his birthday, Gu An indulged in eating whatever she liked, strolling down the streets she wanted to explore, and trying her hand at claw machines.
Jiang Yan followed behind her, watching her frolic around, unable to do anything but indulge her.
"Brother, look at that shop!" Gu An held an ice cream in one hand and pointed at a stylishly decorated store not far away. "It's for sending postcards to the future!"
Jiang Yan didn't quite understand the things that little girls liked. "Hmm?"
"I know about this. You write postcards and send them at a fixed time, like one month later, half a year later, or even several years later."
Gu An spoke with a serious tone, as if she were a teacher giving a lecture to kindergarten children. She also had the scent of her ice cream and naturally held onto his wrist, leading him to the store. "Let's go take a look!"
Gu An and Jiang Yan arrived at the store's entrance, and a young couple walked out, holding hands.
The girl swayed her boyfriend's arm and coquettishly said, "What did you write? Why won't you let me see?"
The boyfriend reached out to hold her hand, their fingers interlocking. "You'll find out next year."
"I envy them," Gu An quietly said in her heart.
If only next year, she could hold hands with the handsome guy beside her.
"I want to send a postcard too," Gu An thought, and she nervously touched her small nose.
When she gets nervous, she tends to do this.
Jiang Yan lowered his gaze, and she quickly picked up a few postcards, using them to shield her own reddening face. "I just feel like they're quite unique and attractive..."
By this time next year, she'd be twenty years old.
At that time, would she have the courage to confess to him?
Gu An sneakily glanced at the person next to her. Jiang Yan picked up a postcard and examined it carefully, his profile fair and aloof. He was wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt with no logo patterns, black sport pants revealing slender ankles, and simple black sneakers. He looked to be in his early twenties, a clean and slender young man.
She discreetly moved a step to the side, thinking, "Gu An, if you still don't have the courage to confess in a year, I'll do it for you..."
You see, a fine young man like this one must be seized!
She crouched down in a small corner, placed the postcards on her bag, and opened the pen.
"What are you writing, and who is it for?"
Jiang Yan stood against the backlight, while she crouched down, and every move was captured in his eyes.
"You're not allowed to look..." Gu An quickly raised her hand to block Jiang Yan's view, her other hand writing nervously, bracing herself.
Thinking about confessing, with each word she wrote, her heartbeat quickened.
By the time that sentence was written, it felt like she had already confessed once, and her palms were slightly sweaty.
That small card carried the feelings she had never openly expressed in her teenage years.
The soft, cute handwriting clearly read:
"Jiang Yan, I like you."
Recipient: Jiang Yan, Criminal Investigation Division, Jing City Public Security Bureau
Sent on: November 22, one year from now
On her eighteenth birthday, she had made a wish that when she turned twenty, Jiang Yan would be her boyfriend.
And this postcard with "I like you" written on it would be sent on her twentieth birthday.
Gu An's heart thumped, causing her chest to tremble.
Before she could change her mind, she quickly turned over the postcard and handed it to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper, a pretty young lady with a low ponytail, looked at Gu An with a knowing smile, then turned to the young and handsome man in front of her. "Aren't you writing, young man?"
Jiang Yan gave a slight nod and responded coolly, "Mm."
Gu An's gaze instantly stuck to Jiang Yan.
Was he going to write?
Was he going to send a postcard too?
She thought... only immature college students like her would send this.
She was still dazed when she noticed someone placing a postcard on her head.
She looked up, and someone lightly tapped her head. Jiang Yan's voice carried a hint of a smile, "Don't move."
Gu An stood still, and Jiang Yan placed the postcard on top of her head to write, and the height difference was just right.
They faced each other, and in front of her were his white short sleeves, and his scent enveloped her.
Curiosity itched in her heart, and she wished she had X-ray vision in her head. Gu An strained to look up but could only see his distinct Adam's apple and fair jawline.
"Big brother, what are you writing?"
"I'm not telling you."
Jiang Yan wrote quickly, and in no time, she heard the sound of the pen cap closing.
He handed the postcard to the shopkeeper, paid for both of them, and turned to leave.
Gu An sneakily moved to the shopkeeper's side to try to peek but was caught red-handed by Officer Jiang's sharp eyes. He smiled and said, "Gu An, let's go."
"Welcome, till next time."
The shopkeeper, a young lady, supported her chin, lowered her head to look at the two postcards with completely different handwriting styles in her hand, and unexpectedly got a dose of dog food.
The combination of a cute and soft girl and a handsome, aloof young man was truly delightful.
And things like mutual secret admiration were just too envy-worthy.
-
At 8 PM, at the private room reserved by Gu Zhen, everyone had arrived.
There was cake, drinks, and a table full of dishes.
The room was filled with brothers who had gone through life and death together in the Criminal Investigation Team. Most of them had gotten to know Gu An because of her frequent deliveries of meals and snacks, so she didn't feel as nervous as when she had just arrived in Jing City.
It was unbelievable that it had all happened three years ago; time had passed so quickly.
"Pick what you like to eat," Jiang Yan sat beside her, whispering softly.
"Yan ge, you're even more like a real brother than Zhen ge!" Chu Hang laughed with deep meaning.
Jiang Yan's face remained cold and expressionless, and he raised an eyebrow without speaking.
"Yan ge, do you have any birthday wishes?"
"Like, changing from a blue shirt to a white one sooner?"
"Adding one more olive branch early!"
"How many years will it take for that, or is it better to 'get off the single train' three years earlier to make it more realistic?"
Jiang Yan replied in a subdued tone, "A bit too early."
Everyone was just joking around, creating a lively atmosphere.
Jiang Yan is usually as cold as ice, a lofty young master.
She didn't expect this ice prince to respond to such a personal question, but he did.
Gu An turned to look at him, and the cold white light from above illuminated Jiang Yan's expressionless face. There was only a slight curve at the corner of his lips.
She replayed the phrase "a bit early" in her head several times, showing her skill in dissecting words.
"A bit early" meant he already had thoughts in that direction, maybe he was considering finding a girlfriend soon...
As she thought this, a cloud of worry quietly settled in her heart.
The noisy chatter around her had nothing to do with her. Gu An quietly nibbled on her cake, distancing herself from the crowd.
No overtime calls, no standby notifications. It was a rare gathering, and the young men from Chu Hang had a bit too much to drink.
After dinner, Gu Zhen, who had abstained from alcohol, drove his inebriated brothers home. He whispered to Gu An, "You go home with Jiang Yan."
Gu An nodded obediently, "Brother, please drive slowly."
Their home was not far from the city center, only a fifteen-minute walk away.
Gu An watched the two figures walking side by side, and she still felt a sense of inexplicable sadness in her heart.
"Didn't the dinner suit your taste?" Jiang Yan reached out and lightly tapped the back of her head.
Gu An shook her head. She wasn't a picky eater. As long as she could eat, she found it delicious and was easy to please.
"Then why haven't you eaten anything?"
Throughout dinner, he had been the center of attention.
Gu An hadn't expected him to pay attention to her.
"No, I ate a lot of cake..." She tilted her little face, conjuring a smile for him. "Happy birthday, Brother Jiang Yan."
"Thank you, Gu An."
Jiang Yan had some alcohol, but he wasn't heavily intoxicated, and his pale skin remained cold. However, there was a subtle rosy tint at the corners of his eyes, making him more captivating when looking at people, as if he had a hook in his gaze, even more alluring than usual.
He had his hands in his pockets as he walked behind her, tall and slender, irresistibly attractive.
Gu An walked backward, facing Jiang Yan. Would it be too late if she sent the postcard a year from now?
Should she confess her feelings earlier, just in case he gets into a relationship before she has a chance?
Her cute face furrowed, like a freshly steamed little dumpling without visible fangs.
"Is there anything else you want to say to your brother?" Jiang Yan stood in front of her.
He half-lowered his eyes when looking at people, and his eyelashes appeared even denser. The bridge of his nose had a slight gleam due to its prominent shape.
"Brother Jiang Yan," Gu An held her hands behind her back, her fingers nervously entwined, "everyone wishes for you to find a partner soon. So... do you want a girlfriend?"
Her round, distinct black-and-white eyes glistened with a watery sheen, and she stared at him without blinking.
Jiang Yan squinted his eyes, looking mysteriously mischievous, and asked in a low voice, "So, do you want your brother to find a partner?"
Gu An was taken aback by how the topic suddenly shifted to her. She cleared her throat and said, "I have some humble opinions, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate."
Her gentle tone sounded very serious, and her childlike face remained impassive, concealing all emotions.
Jiang Yan found her cute, like watching children playing house. Following her lead, he lightly tapped his chin and said, "Please go on."
With permission granted, Gu An cleared her throat and began to ramble, "I think you're still young and it's a good time to build a successful career. You should be an ideal and ambitious Republic police officer... and you shouldn't focus too much on love and relationships. Three years dating or something like that is too time-consuming... so, don't rush into finding a girlfriend or anything..."
As she spoke, it became more apparent that she had a personal agenda.
Gu An's voice became softer, her head lowering even further, until she was almost retracting into her shell.
Jiang Yan lowered his gaze, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his eyes.
He watched her for a moment, and after a couple of seconds, he couldn't help but bite his lower lip and chuckle.
When he laughed, the light in his eyes was dazzling, clear and pure under the moonlight.
"What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong..."
Gu An's voice quivered, the hand behind her back was sweating, and her knuckles turned white.
Jiang Yan's long fingers landed on the top of her head, gently rubbing.
In this posture, he bent down to meet her gaze, and the light scent of mint surrounded them.
"Gu An says not to look for one."
"Then, Brother won't look for one."
Gentle and resolute, like a knight making a promise to his princess.
-
The postcard shop owner finished a day's work and, based on the sending time, sorted today's postcard orders into different categories.
One of the postcards had elegant and stylish handwriting, impossible to ignore.
On it was written:
To 20-year-old Gu An,
Should you consider dating Brother?
Recipient: Gu An, Art University A
Sending Time: November 22, a year from now
T/E:
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