A Marshmallow: Chapter 43
Chapter 43: I want to take care of An
It's as if the person who spoke such ambiguous words isn't him...
Gu An's thoughts didn't need to wander. Just thinking about the literal meaning of the words, "Brother has let you touch before," sent shockwaves through her nerve endings, short-circuiting her brain, rendering it a useless piece of scrap metal.
Jiang Yan straightened up. The little girl had probably been bullied severely. She hung her round head and refused to look at him. From his perspective, all he could see were her curled eyelashes quivering pitifully, her petite and upturned nose, and the tip of her teeth biting her lip.
He couldn't bear to tease her any longer, so he patted her head, treating her like a child. "Brother will do it himself."
Gu An spent one night at the hospital, needing to return home for a bath and a change of clothes. As she pedaled her little bicycle back home, her cheeks were still rosy, and it was unclear whether it was due to the heat or because of Jiang Yan...
After she finished her bath and changed her clothes, she leaped onto her small bed in a "big" style, burying her cheeks in the pillow. The SpongeBob SquarePants plush pillow by the bedside gazed at her, its eyes filled with affection.
In the next moment, Gu An "biu" sat up again, crossed her legs, wrapped in a small blanket, only exposing her silly, furry head, looking like a triangular rice dumpling.
The triangular rice dumpling held her phone, and her slender white fingers typed quickly.
【Gu An: Is Ning Ning there?!!!】
【Jiang Ning: Yes!】
【Gu An: I feel like he might like me!】
【Jiang Ning: Tell me more!】
【Gu An: It's just that I was looking at Shen Ran's abs, and he had this cold face. He said, "If you want to see, I'll show you in the future...】
【Gu An: And then this morning, he was shaving... I was afraid he might cut himself... He said, "How about you try it and help me...】
【Gu An: Can you imagine? It was so, so close!!!】
【Gu An: He even said, "Brother has let you touch before...】
Gu An repeated that scene, her face turning crimson, her heart racing like she had just run an 800-meter sprint. The person on the other side stayed silent for a moment, then a message came back in a flash in her mind:
【Jiang Ning: Likes it! Definitely likes it! Give it to me!!!】
Gu An packed up quickly and left home.
When she arrived, Nurse Xiao Zhao was changing Jiang Yan's bandage.
Jiang Yan kept his head down, his soft black hair falling across his forehead, his upper body exposed to the air, and the gunshot wound on his left arm.
There used to be a 7.62mm bullet that severed his arm artery, and at that time, he was chasing fugitives in the tropical rainforest of the southwestern border, a life-or-death moment, and he was airlifted to the hospital.
Jiang Yan's side profile was pale and cold, without much emotion, just beads of sweat on his forehead, and his thin lips tightly pursed.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Gu An clenched her lunchbox tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Jiang Yan looked up at her with clean and gentle eyes.
The person he liked stood there, still wearing her pink little helmet, and stared at his wound as if she had just walked out of an anime.
He softly said, "A bit."
With a wound that deep, it couldn't be just "a bit."
Gu An placed the lunchbox aside and leaned in close to Jiang Yan. The sweet scent of fruit entered his nostrils.
Her eyes were wet, and she looked at him seriously, speaking very slowly, as if talking to a kindergarten child, "Weren't you scared back then? Didn't you think to dodge? It must have hurt a lot..."
"I wasn't scared back then, but I am now."
Jiang Yan's gaze moved from her soft brows to her rosy lips.
After a moment, he smiled gently and said, "I'm afraid I won't see you again."
Gu An took a deep breath and slowly raised the corners of her mouth.
But her nose couldn't help but tingle, and her eyes started to turn red.
-
The calendar flipped to August with a rustling sound. Jiang Yan's body had mostly recovered, and though he couldn't immediately return to the frontline of criminal investigation, he would be discharged soon. The nurses at the station were happy for him but also regretful that they might not see him again.
Gu An skipped over to deliver food. As she passed by the nurse's station, she happened to overhear the pretty ladies gossiping, and her ears were particularly sensitive to a certain handsome guy's name. She urgently stopped in her tracks.
"I think the girl next to Officer Jiang is his sister; she looks so young, like she hasn't graduated from high school."
"Right, right, I feel the same way. I've met her a few times, and every time, the little girl calls him 'brother.'"
Nurse Xiao Zhao was extremely frustrated, her CP was just a fallacy. "Calling him 'brother' makes her his sister? Maybe it's just a playful nickname! Don't be so jealous!"
"Come on, how could they be boyfriend and girlfriend? They've been together day and night for a whole month! Not a hint of inappropriate behavior! Have you ever seen them holding hands, hugging, or kissing?"
"That's true, I don't care, but I must catch Officer Jiang's heart before he leaves the hospital..."
Holding hands, hugging, kissing...
The topic-focused classmate Gu An rubbed her nose quietly when she thought about these behaviors in relation to herself and Jiang Yan. Her face turned red all of a sudden.
Before this, her thoughts had always been at the confession level, and she hadn't dared to think about what to do after confessing.
And just at that moment, the nurse who had been shouting about chasing Jiang Yan suddenly noticed her. She smiled and said, "Cutie, tell big sis, does Officer Jiang have a girlfriend?"
Gu An bit her lip and clenched her small fist silently.
It only takes ten minutes for Gu An to ride her bicycle from home to the hospital, but today, it's been fifteen minutes, and Gu An was nowhere to be seen. Anxious, Jiang Yan walked out of the hospital room and saw a little kid wearing a pink helmet standing next to the nurse's station, surrounded by a group of nurses.
Gu An felt the collective gaze of the group fixated on her, waiting expectantly for her to say the word "no," as if they were about to rush into Jiang Yan's room the next second.
Gu An took a deep breath and then said slowly, "He does have one."
After she said that, the air became heavy, and she turned to run but was caught by the strap of her overall dress and couldn't move.
Telling a lie made her face turn bright red, and Gu An, with a pitiful look, asked, "What's wrong? Do you still need something?"
The young nurse didn't give up and squinted at the obviously guilty little kid in front of her. "If he has a girlfriend, why hasn't he come to visit him in the hospital all this time?"
"Because..." Gu An clenched her fists, and with courage, she looked into the nurse's eyes, her neck stiff, her face red, and her words incoherent, "I am his girlfriend, not his sister. I'm a sophomore, majoring in fine arts..."
After she finished speaking, the nurse in front of her blushed so much that she seemed to be a riot of colors. Nurse Zhao's mouth almost reached her ears.
Yes! The ship I'm shipping is real! It's real!
Gu An had never told a lie from childhood to adulthood, and the first lie she told was so exciting. She was flushed with excitement, turned around and walked towards the hospital room, her little short legs practically bursting with a nearly 6'0 ft. confidence.
In reality, Jiang Yan didn't have a girlfriend.
Roughly three months remain until her birthday, and at that time, she will send him a postcard. If she's lucky enough, three months later, his girlfriend will be called Gu An.
But what if she's not so lucky?
Jiang Ning said he likes her, and she could feel that it's a bit different, but she's afraid it might be a misunderstanding.
For someone who had been lost and found again, she didn't want to risk alienating him again due to an abrupt confession.
However, people are always greedy. When he disappeared, she only prayed for his safety. When he returned safely, she started hoping that he would like her.
With this in mind, Gu An felt so lost that it was hard to add on, and her heart was filled with dark clouds, brewing a storm.
She sighed softly, slowed her pace with a sense of frustration, and didn't even notice the tall and handsome guy standing in front of her.
Not until her little head bumped into his chest.
"Sorry..." She looked up, unexpectedly colliding with his smiling eyes.
Jiang Yan's 1.87-meter height, combined with years of police experience, exuded a strong sense of oppression up close. He now gazed down at her, his deep black eyes filled with ambiguous emotions.
Gu An already had a round face and round eyes, and because of her pink helmet, she looked even more soft and cute. "How did you come out?"
"I couldn't see you," Jiang Yan lowered his body so that she didn't have to strain her neck. "I was a bit worried."
Gu An's fair and delicate ears were made warm by his gentle tone. "So when did you come out?"
She felt extremely guilty, like an elementary school student who didn't do their homework and got caught by the teacher.
"From the moment they asked if Jiang Officer had a girlfriend." His lips almost formed a mischievous smile, thin lips parting, and every word was pronounced clearly.
Gu An's heart leaped to her throat. She felt like the unluckiest person in the world. She wanted to find a hole to hide in, considering what she had said earlier.
"You heard everything?" She pouted, turning into a strawberry mochi with wrinkles, soft and squishy.
Jiang Yan blinked his eyes; his eyelashes were unbelievably beautiful. When he pretended to be innocent, he looked pure and handsome. He also seemed exceptionally gentle and harmless, making it hard to blame him.
"Hmm? What did you say?"
Gu An mumbled and said softly, "Well... I think you've just recovered from a serious illness, and being in love can be taxing on the mind, which might not be good for your health..."
The little kid was obviously very shy but still tried to act nonchalant, which was excessively cute. Jiang Yan suppressed a smile and locked eyes with Gu An, pursing his lips slightly and lightly nodding his chin, indicating for her to continue.
Gu An courageously told a fabricated story, much like when one answered a comprehensive exam question; even if they didn't know the answer, they would tenaciously fill the entire paper.
"I was afraid that Miss would disturb you, and it would be inconvenient for you to deal with, so when she asked if you had a girlfriend..."
"And then?" Jiang Yan's eyelashes drooped, the color of his pupils was gentle, and his handsome features and clean temperament indeed lived up to the phrase "worldly beauty."
The next sentence was quite difficult to utter, and Gu An hung her head, pretending to examine the SpongeBob SquarePants on her mustard-yellow short-sleeved shirt. "Since there were no other girls around you, I had no choice but to take on the responsibility and pretend to be your little girlfriend..."
The experience of impersonating a girlfriend and being caught red-handed was quite thrilling. After Gu An finished speaking, time seemed to stand still, and the air became scorching, with heat in every direction.
What if... Jiang Yan wanted to find a girlfriend?
Although he said he wouldn't look for it before, but who knows, a trip to the gate of the underworld might change his mind? Suddenly, he realized that not having been in love is something particularly regrettable...
What if he takes a liking to one of the gentle and pretty nurses at the nurse's station?
Gu An's cautious heart was suddenly gripped tightly by someone, unable to supply blood.
Why...why isn't he talking now!!!
Will he think I'm meddling too much?
Is he about to say, 'You should mind your own business about your brother in the future...'
Her drooping little head was slowly lifted, but she found that there was not a hint of anger on that clear and handsome face...
Not only was there no anger, but he was even smiling, the corners of his lips curved, with beautiful dimples that could captivate anyone.
Gu An felt her confidence waver as he looked at her. She was embarrassed, annoyed, and sad. She took a step to walk away as if nothing had happened, but the next second, he caught the strap of her sundress and gently pulled her in front of him.
Her shoulder bumped into his embrace, and the clean, minty fragrance on him replaced the hospital's distinct smell of disinfectant, wafting into her nostrils.
She was held loosely by him and didn't dare to move. His clean and cool voice, tinged with a smile, brushed close to her ear:
"Then you better grow up quickly."
-
In late August, Jiang Yan finally completed the discharge procedures and welcomed an enthusiastic group of visitors, including leaders from the municipal bureau, police school classmates, members of the criminal investigation team, and a group of fresh police school students.
These young men and women, who had spent four years at the police school and hadn't seen much of the outside world, were filled with excitement on the way, expecting to meet their idol. They had heard that this senior had an illustrious career, and countless criminals trembled at his name. He was the hero of the nationwide "Case 629."
For a few minutes, they imagined a scruffy, sharp-eyed, and unrefined old detective, and when they entered the hospital room, they stood there politely, like a group of kindergarten children.
But when they passed the Mediterranean-style room of the municipal bureau leaders and saw the senior who had achieved great success, their eyes involuntarily widened, and their mouths formed an "O" shape.
The man had a crew cut, a slightly lean face, and he was young and handsome. When he walked down the street, you wouldn't think of him as a police officer. However, when he raised his eyes to look at people, his dark and bright eyes contained a cold light, the fearless and calm gaze of someone who had survived a rain of bullets.
"After organizational consideration, when your injury heals, you have two choices. One is to work at the police school, where you can have a stable job."
Jiang Yan looked up, and Director Shen continued, "The second is to stay in the criminal investigation team and be promoted to deputy team leader out of turn."
"During this time, you should rest well and think about the general direction of your future life."
Jiang Yan nodded, wearing a loose black short-sleeved shirt and black sportswear that revealed his slender ankles, looking casually handsome.
Director Shen changed the subject, "In addition, you should consider settling down. I heard that Director Wei's daughter has returned from abroad and is working locally now. Give it some thought?"
"I have a fiancée."
"Oh?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Who is it?"
Not only the leaders, but also the comrades in the Criminal Investigation Detachment who had grown up with Jiang Yan were all shocked. This guy had almost captured the hearts of all the female students in the police academy, and he had been introduced to numerous potential partners by enthusiastic citizens after joining the police force, but he showed no interest in any of them. He was like a textbook version of abstinence when it came to women.
Everyone had guessed back then that someone from a prestigious family like Jiang Yan must have a suitable match for a marriage of family interests, and they would likely marry first and then fall in love.
As expected!!!
If you don't want to enter this marriage, the Criminal Investigation Detachment will raise you!!!
Just when everyone felt sorry for Jiang Yan, he bypassed the topic of his "fiancée" and said seriously, "I choose to stay in the Criminal Investigation Detachment."
Director Shen seemed to have anticipated this, "Do you have any requests?"
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, his deep black eyes clear, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth, and he said word by word:
"I kindly request the organization to grant me leave to pursue my fiancée."
-
After Jiang Yan was discharged from the hospital, it seemed like time had turned back to the past. Those life-and-death moments seemed to have never existed.
It was already late summer, and it had just rained outside. A rainbow stretched from one end of the community to the other. Gu An's eyes sparkled as she tugged at his shirt cuff, "Big brother, want to go out for some fresh air?"
Jiang Yan nodded.
Gu An wiped the park benches in the community park back and forth three times before allowing the young master to sit down. "I'm going to take a picture of the rainbow. I'll be right back!"
"Sure."
When Gu Zhen finished work, he saw Jiang Yan sitting there alone, which was quite unusual. Normally, his little sister would stick to Jiang Yan like a shadow and couldn't be peeled off.
"Where's Gu An?"
"She went to take pictures."
Gu Zhen sat next to Jiang Yan, with his long legs spread out comfortably, "I heard that Director Shen went to the hospital earlier and mentioned the idea of you joining the police academy because of the injury."
Jiang Yan responded with a nonchalant "Hmm" and his handsome face remained emotionless.
"It's probably a protective policy, and in the future, you can have a nine-to-five job, regular hours," Gu Zhen said, tilting his head, "So, what do you think?"
The sky had been washed clean by a heavy rain, revealing a deep blue color.
But for him a year ago, such a moment was simply unimaginable.
Jiang Yan leaned back, reclining in his chair with an air of nonchalance, "If your grandfather were still alive, how do you think he would choose?"
"My grandfather would definitely stay on the front lines of criminal investigation. He even solved a kidnapping case the day before he retired," Gu Zhen's lips twitched, and he furrowed his brow, "Do you know my grandfather?"
Jiang Yan remained quite indifferent, "Yes, kidnapping case, I do."
- Why become a policeman?
- I was saved by someone once. When I encounter a case, I wonder what he would do.
Gu Zhen was momentarily stunned, "So you assigned me the mission? Got me transferred out?"
Jiang Yan's lips curled slightly, his voice cold, his eyes fixed on someone in the distance, "I was the more suitable candidate from the beginning."
Countless emotions welled up, difficult to express in words. Gu Zhen took a deep breath, "Tell me, what do you want."
"Cover your shift for a year?"
"Do your laundry and iron your police uniform?"
"Or maybe work overtime and add extra ham sausages to your ramen?"
He racked his brain, not knowing how to repay his brother.
He had long realized that Young Master Jiang might appear cold and aloof, nearly wearing "stay away from me" on his face, but in reality, he was a soft-hearted little angel.
Gu Zhen looked at the young and handsome face of the little angel and thought that maybe, instead of covering shifts and extra sausages, there were more pressing matters. So he asked, "Or introduce you to a new girl every week, to help you get out of the single life sooner?"
Jiang Yan raised his gaze; the little girl at the end of the rainbow probably took a satisfactory photo, with a bright, smiling eye, sharp tiger teeth. She was running toward him; the sunlight was warm, casting a soft halo on her, making her vivid and lifelike, as if she would leap into his arms in the next second.
Someone asked by his side, "Come on, what's your wish? Bro will make them all come true for you."
Jiang Yan smiled rarely, and it was the kind that could incite crimes. He turned to look at Gu Zhen, his pupils deep, and said straightforwardly, "I just want my fiancée."
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