A Marshmallow: Chapter 35

Chapter 35: I'll show you

Jiang Yan started the car and drove back. Moonlight fell on his handsome profile, outlining extremely cold lines.

That year in the South, the gangster was a serious criminal personally sent to prison by Mr. Jiang. He had spent decades in prison and, upon release, was not interested in money or wealth; he was only seeking revenge.

He became the outlet for his decades of prison life, enduring inhuman torment for days and nights, and Grandpa couldn't accept the news in an instant.

Jiang Yan was hospitalized, taken to the ICU, then transferred to a regular ward, all cared for by the old police officers who were saving him. The old man stood his last shift before retiring, completed the case handover, and then retired. He had come to the hospital in uniform the day before, and on the next day, he was in civilian clothes, with a little girl following him.

She was quiet the first day she saw him, her grape-like eyes blinking non-stop, but after that, her true nature as a chatterbox was revealed. She talked incessantly like a little trumpet, making his head ache.

"Big brother, are you hurt?"

"Big brother, are you still in pain?"

"Big brother, I can share one of my candies with you, but only one..."

She held out a candy box like a treasure, carefully pouring out two colored candies into his palm, and she nervously took one back, with a little expression of "Look how generous I am to treat you to candy" on her face.

She was both stingy and adorable.

Jiang Yan's lips curled. Gu An was still the same, the last time she accidentally spilled an extra candy while giving him medicine, her little face instantly wrinkled up, and he felt so sorry for her.

Later, when he recovered from his injury, the old man brought him back to his own home. One day, at mealtime, the most enthusiastic eater didn't return home as usual, so Jiang Yan went out to find her.

The little girl was squatting by the small river, wearing a bright yellow cartoon short-sleeved shirt and shorts, looking like a small custard tart from a distance. The custard tart had round eyes that blinked incessantly, and her mouth was shaped like a "wow," completely engrossed in watching someone catch crayfish, and it looked like her saliva was about to flow out.

Jiang Yan rubbed his nose and restrained his laughter while looking at her.

"Is that aloof young man your new guest at home?"

The custard tart shook her head like a rattle, speaking with a lisp due to her missing teeth, "Not guest, not guest!"

"Then who is he, and why is he staying at your house all the time?"

The custard tart chuckled, her round face showing a glutinous texture, and her mouth chattered, "He's my boyfriend that I'm keeping for myself! I'll have him as my boyfriend when he grows up!"

Jiang Yan burst out laughing, picked her up by the back of her collar like a little cat, and carried Gu An back home...

-

Both Jiang Yan and Gu Zhen were not at home, leaving Gu An bored and deciding to embark on a thorough cleaning, displaying her gentleness and domestic skills.

Her long hair was neatly tied into a bun, and she used hairpins to secure her bangs. Wearing an apron and gloves, she was petite and looked like a child laborer hired for the job.

A young worker with headphones humming a song, with brisk steps, moved from the kitchen to the dining room, and then to the living room, leaving no corner untouched.

On the coffee table next to the sofa, there was the military magazine that Jiang Yan had flipped through yesterday.

She stopped and suddenly remembered that she had touched Jiang Yan's head here yesterday.

The feel of his hair was entirely different from the face of the cold, aloof young master, very soft. It was just a bit prickly because of its shortness. She touched it briefly, and her heart tingled.

"Gu An, no one has ever dared to tease me like this."

"You're the first and the last."

His cold and solemn demeanor was drawn in, and he looked at her with a smile at the corner of his mouth, gentle and innocent.

Gu An didn't dare to follow his words further, fearing to think too much, afraid of being overly imaginative.

She shook her little head, shaking away all those thoughts and reached for his magazine and Gu Zhen's criminal investigation professional books, stacking them together on the shelf beside the sofa. As she did, a photo floated down and landed on the floor.

The graduation photo of the 201X Detective Department.

In the photo, all the personnel were in their regular police uniforms, against the backdrop of a clear blue sky and the entrance of the police academy.

At that time, Gu Zhen had only one crutch on his shoulder. He looked at the camera with a slightly bad and rebellious attitude, his demeanor untamed.

Standing beside him was a handsome face as cold as snow, with sharp, clear-cut features and bright, clean eyes, exuding youthful energy through the photo.

It was Jiang Yan at the age of twenty, six years ago.

Tall and slender, with a fair complexion, he looked fresh and clear like a beam of light.

Gu An gazed at that handsome, young face, her heart pounding, unable to look away. His eyebrows and facial features were unchanged compared to before, but in the photo, he had a 20-year-old's sharpness, aloofness, and a straight, unsmiling mouth that made it impossible to imagine him smiling.

Gu An took her phone out of her apron pocket.

Jiang Yan's social media profile was completely empty, with not a single picture of himself.

And the few pictures she had secretly taken during the basketball game only showed a slender figure with an obscured face.

She had wanted to capture a screenshot during the previous video... but always got too nervous and forgot.

So, she didn't have a single clear photo of his face.

Gu An suppressed her racing heart, feeling as nervous as a child cheating during a final exam.

The camera on her phone opened, and on the screen was Jiang Yan's handsome face, focusing...

At that moment, her ears suddenly felt cold as the headphones were removed.

His clean, cold voice replaced the song "Banana" by the Minions.

"Is it good-looking?"

Gu An froze. Jiang Yan had somehow stood behind her at some point, slightly bending over, and the mesmerizing face was hanging at her shoulder.

Her entire body's blood surged upward as if receiving a command, and her little heart pounded violently, almost giving her a heart attack.

How could this be so coincidental!!!

She had just taken out her phone to take a picture of him, but how did she get caught red-handed by the main character!!!

On the phone screen was still his handsome twenty-year-old face, pure and beautiful, making Gu An feel so shy that she almost wanted to cry, and she simply wanted to hide under the sofa.

"Hmm?"

He leaned closer, lowering his body, his clear and magnetic voice tingling her ears.

Gu An's face had turned unbelievably red, and she looked around, dryly laughing and saying, "Uncle Policeman, how could there be an unattractive one? Of course, you look good, in this uniform, in this posture..."

Jiang Yan had a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, glancing at her but not saying anything.

The young girl seemed frozen in place, keeping her head low and avoiding eye contact, a faint pink blush spreading from her cheeks to her earlobes. She had her hair tied in a bun, a doll-like face with no obstructions, only a few strands of hair falling on her neck, completely defenseless.

It seemed like she had grown a little since he last saw her three years ago. In the warm-colored light, her long hair was soft, the fine hairs on her face clearly visible, and her upturned lips had a rosy hue.

"That one looks the best."

Gu An tilted her head, and her gaze met Jiang Yan's clean eyes. Jiang Yan's eyebrows raised slightly, as if he was genuinely seeking her opinion.

Just a moment ago, as long as her movements were a little more pronounced, her nose would have brushed against his cheek. Her gaze descended from his lowered eyelashes to his straight nose and clearly defined lips...

Jiang Yan was tall, standing behind her, looking at the photo in her hand.

Although the back of her hand was behind her, it still felt like... he was embracing her from behind, and her nostrils were filled with his faint, sweet scent of mint.

Gu An was short of breath and breathless, "They all look good..."

"Is that so," his gaze fell on her phone screen, "then who do you want to take a picture of?"

Jiang Yan's voice was pleasant and innocent, his pronunciation lazy yet clear, sending a shiver down her spine.

The living room was warmly lit, and his pupils had a soft, warm hue, even clearer and brighter than the moonlight outside the window. With those little hooks, he quietly and irresistibly bewitched her.

At this close distance, Gu An's back stiffened, and she was so nervous that she was afraid she might actually end up in his embrace if she wasn't careful.

Her face heated up at a perceivable speed, and her childish temper flared up. She muttered, "What's the big deal about taking a picture? I've seen it before, and if I think it looks good, why can't I take a picture..."

Why did he always catch her at embarrassing moments!

She had been caught drawing him in secret!

Now, he had discovered her secret photography too!

Thinking about her own behavior, she was a major infatuated case!!!

If Jiang Yan were to find out that she had coveted his beauty for so long, what would he think...

The more she thought about it, the more despairing she felt. She muttered for a while, but there was no response from Jiang Yan, and the air became tense.

After a long while, she clenched her small fist and looked up.

She saw those beautiful eyes that blinked without blinking, looking at her, black and deep. She could see the curve of his lips slowly lifting at the corner of his mouth, naughty and gentle, and even a bit sexy.

And the voice in her ear was very low, with a hint of a nasal tone, and indistinct affection that couldn't be explained.

"That, you turn around."

"Brother will show you the real thing."

-

At ten o'clock in the evening, the lights on the seventh floor of the Jing City Public Security Bureau were brightly lit.

The suspect in the "629 murder case" that had occurred some time ago was arrested. Everyone's tense nerves had not yet had a chance to relax when the special task force suddenly called for an emergency meeting.

The captain of the Criminal Investigation Support Team had a serious expression. "The suspect in the 629 murder case has been captured, but the drug test came back positive. This likely isn't a simple murder case. Based on preliminary judgment, it might be related to the 711 major case from five years ago."

Everyone in the room fell silent, and a chill crawled up their spines. The quiet meeting room had people gasping for breath.

"The Criminal Investigation Support Team has experience in drug enforcement," the captain's gaze swept over Gu Zhen. "Gu Zhen, the organization has decided to send you to the southwestern border. You'll depart in three days."

Gu Zhen arrived home around half-past eleven at night. No matter how late he returned, the rice cooker was always in "keep warm" mode, emitting a cozy warmth.

Gu An, wearing a fried egg pajama, rubbed her eyes as she ran down from the small attic and pounced on him. "Brother, you're back! Hey? What are you holding?"

Gu Zhen lowered his gaze and handed her the paper bag.

"Wow, it's all my favorite snacks! Having a brother is great!" She smiled with her cute little fangs.

She was always like this, no matter how harshly he scolded her, buying some delicious food and saying something nice would make her forget the past and continue following him eagerly.

"Look at you being so spoiled." He rested his hand on her head. Gu An was on guard, even expecting the excruciating brain freeze, but Gu Zhen lightly touched her head.

"I'm going to serve dinner," Gu An reluctantly released her grip on the tasty snacks. "I'll ask Jiang Yan if he wants a late-night snack."

"Wait a moment."

Gu An looked up, hardly believing she saw something resembling a "gentle" expression on Gu Zhen's face. "I'll teach you how to change the light bulbs at home."

"Huh?" Gu An furrowed her brow, tilting her head, and whispered a complaint, "The light is too high. I can't reach it. I just need to know how to use a candle. Can't the light bulb wait for you to come back?"

Gu Zhen pursed his lips, his hand hanging by his side, and softly said, "Hmm."

"The fridge has your favorite ice cream and popsicles, but don't eat too much at once."

"They say girls should be well taken care of, don't deprive yourself. Don't always think about saving money."

"Also, those young boys pursuing you, if you have any interest, remember to let Jiang Yan screen them for you. Don't let yourself be deceived."

Gu An rushed off to prepare dinner, and Jiang Yan came out of his room at some point, watching Gu Zhen thoughtfully.

He pulled out a chair and sat across from Gu Zhen, his indifferent gentlemanly face unchanged. "When are you leaving?"

Gu Zhen leaned back on the chair, maintaining his usual dignified posture, and said, "Three days later."

"Take care of Gu An for me. Given our relationship, can you care for her until she graduates from college?"

"I'll give you my bank card, help me send her money monthly."

"Watch over her, don't let her be fooled by young boys. Men are not good people."

Jiang Yan looked up; the young girl next to the kitchen counter was serving food.

With their backs turned to them, their shoulders slender, heads down, she still looked like a child.

"For how long?"

"Don't you know yet?" Gu Zhen's lips curled lightly, in his usual teasing tone. "Maybe I'll come back, or maybe I'll never return."

Gu An couldn't hear what her brothers were saying.

Suddenly, mist rose before her, making everything blurry.

Being siblings by blood, she and Gu Zhen had an innate understanding. How could she not comprehend his sudden tenderness?

That year, before he graduated from the police academy and went to the southwestern border to become a drug enforcement officer, he took her to the amusement park and played every game she wanted to play. He never showed impatience, took her shopping, and bought her new clothes, wishing she could grow from a teenager to a young adult in a blink.

A surge of bitterness filled her nostrils, and Gu An tried to hold back tears as she served the food to Gu Zhen.

Before he looked up at her, she yawned and rubbed her eyes in a very natural manner. "Oh, I'm so sleepy; my eyes are tearing up. I'm going to bed."

Gu Zhen didn't raise his head, but his tone was gentle. "Go quickly, get some more sleep to grow taller."

Gu An turned around and couldn't help but sneak a glance at Gu Zhen's back.

As he ate, he had broad shoulders, a straight posture, long, unruly hair, and a black training uniform he hadn't had time to change. He had said to her during their parents' divorce not to cry, that big brother would come to pick her up, and he had indeed fulfilled that promise.

In his early twenties, while others were drinking and boasting, he was thinking about buying a house, bringing her to live with him to attend high school, taking care of her like a child until she grew up, paying a substantial amount for her art education, and becoming a parent more than a decade ahead of schedule.

Clearly, he was such an arrogant and carefree person, yet he never lived a day for himself.

More poisonous than anyone with words.

Softer at heart than anyone.

Gu An led the way to the attic door, tears streaming down.

She didn't know how long she had cried when the door was knocked. "Gu An, it's me." 

Gu An fought back her tears, enduring until her eyes were red. "Jiang Yan, brother..." 

She sniffled, afraid that she would break into tears as soon as she spoke. Who knew that as she talked, tears kept falling. "Is my brother, is he in danger... Will he come back... What should I do..."

She was not yet nineteen.

She was so frightened that crying was the only way.

Those eyes that used to smile so brightly were now filled with moisture.

She looked at him through tear-filled eyes, looking fragile and delicate.

"Be good, don't cry."  He reached out to wipe her tears, displaying a lifetime of patience. From the corners of her eyes to her cheeks, until her porcelain-like face was clean and dry.

Gu An hiccupped as she cried, looking pitiful.

Jiang Yan leaned down to meet her gaze, just like countless times before. Even the bright moon in the sky probably couldn't compete with the tenderness in his eyes at this moment.

"Perhaps, Gu Zhen doesn't need to go." 

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