TLDMDTBS Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Two days later.

Weekend.

The spring sun is warm, the grass is growing, and the orioles are flying.

Gu Xiuyi was stuck in traffic on the main road of the suburban ring road, crawling along with a bunch of colorful private cars.

Spring has arrived, and it seems that the city’s residents are all eager to rush into the suburbs, taking their families out for a spring outing.

Gu Xiuyi’s fingers tapped impatiently on the steering wheel as he glanced at the time; it was eleven oh five. Thankfully, it wasn’t too late yet.

But if he was stuck a bit longer, it would be unpredictable; he still had to pick up Ji Ruan for lunch.

“The road ahead is congested, re-routing in progress…”

The navigation kept trying to recalculate a new route every few minutes, but in the five minutes, he hadn’t moved more than ten meters—there was no way to go anywhere, what’s the point of recalculating?

Gu Xiuyi raised his hand and precisely turned off the navigation.

Quiet.

The night before, after he brought Ji Ruan home from the hospital, the little one had curled up in the quilt, his rosy cheeks clutching at Gu Xiuyi’s sleeve, saying he wanted to discuss something.

The sleepy little one’s small wish before sleeping—forget discussing it; if he had already made a decision, just informing him, how could he refuse?

He would pluck the stars from the sky without hesitation if it were asked of him.

That’s what Gu Xiuyi said.

Of course, his wording was more restrained and polite, in line with his calm image in Ji Ruan’s eyes.

So, Ji Ruan said that Cheng Yunxiu wanted to take him as a disciple, and he had already agreed to it.

Just a few hours ago.

He would come to the bar to find him, partly because of this.

When Gu Xiuyi heard it, there was a slight sound of heartbreak.

But it didn’t matter; it was just part of the reason. Moreover, Ji Ruan specifically came to the bar to seek his opinion, which was enough to show his importance in Ji Ruan’s heart.

This was actually a good thing.

Ji Ruan could find something he liked to do, and Gu Xiuyi had no reason to refuse; he would fully support him.

He also told Ji Ruan this.

Then he coaxed Ji Ruan to sleep soundly.

But Gu Xiuyi didn’t expect Ji Ruan to act so quickly.

That night he agreed to apprentice, and the next morning he rushed to perform the apprenticeship ceremony.

The renowned Master Cheng and Ji Ruan, who was always slow like a little snail, unexpectedly had an impressive execution ability in this matter.

Master Cheng was too fond of Ji Ruan and was afraid that her little disciple would slip away.

And Ji Ruan…Gu Xiuyi didn’t understand why Ji Ruan was in such a hurry; he hadn’t even fully recovered from his stomach issues before stepping out, having to lean on the edge of the bed due to pain for a while after getting up.

Ji Ruan’s speed gave Gu Xiuyi the illusion that he wanted to leave him.

This fleeting yet shocking thought made Gu Xiuyi lose interest during the meeting all morning.

Now stuck in traffic, he felt even more anxious.

The short forty-minute drive actually took two hours due to the congestion, and by the time he arrived, Ji Ruan’s apprenticeship ceremony had long ended.

Upon arriving, Ji Ruan was standing by the door, looking down at the small stones on the ground with his head lowered.

Cheng Yunxiu had a small yard in the suburbs, filled with numerous stunning flowers blooming fervently beyond the fence.

Ji Ruan wore a simple white shirt and a gray knitted jacket, looking especially fresh and elegant amidst the vibrant flowers.

This noon, Cheng Yunxiu had an appointment with another teacher and had initially planned to take Ji Ruan along, but since they were having seafood and Ji Ruan’s stomach wasn’t feeling well, he didn’t go with them.

President Gu knew about this and volunteered to come pick him up, but after promising to arrive at noon, he ended up being half an hour late.

If it weren’t for Ji Ruan having eaten two slices of peach blossom cake at Cheng Yunxiu’s house, he would have truly fainted from hunger.

Gu Xiuyi got out of the car, quickly walked to Ji Ruan’s side, first checking his complexion, and without saying anything, shoved a piece of candy into his mouth before gently wrapping his arm around his shoulders.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“…I’m starving.” Ji Ruan said weakly.

He pressed the candy against the roof of his mouth, the faint sweetness spreading through his lips and teeth, but the dizziness wasn’t immediately alleviated, so he could only lean against Gu Xiuyi, feeling soft all over.

“My fault.”

Gu Xiuyi’s palm pressed through his clothing onto Ji Ruan’s stomach; that originally flat abdomen felt a bit sunken, and touching it felt pitifully tight.

He moved his hand up a few inches, gently pressing on Ji Ruan’s stomach: “Does it hurt?”

It didn’t hurt too badly; it was just the hunger that caused a gnawing sensation, sometimes accompanied by acid reflux. Ji Ruan closed his eyes, his lips pale: “A bit…”

Seeing this, Gu Xiuyi didn’t dare delay further, half-hugging Ji Ruan into the passenger seat. Luckily, the road was somewhat clearer now; he didn’t take much time to choose a very clean beef bone soup restaurant.

With meat, vegetables, and rice, and the rich and fragrant beef bone soup, after just a few bites of hot soup, Ji Ruan’s faintly colored lips finally regained their original light red hue, which had seemed unreachable even with the fruit candy.

Although this restaurant specialized in beef bone soup, it was adorned with simple, elegant decor that had a pastoral feel. The private room on the second floor offered a view of the flowers and white butterflies in the courtyard.

Ji Ruan picked up a seasonal vegetable and slowly chewed it with the soft, sticky rice. Regardless of how hungry he was, he wouldn’t abandon his dining etiquette; he ate elegantly and quietly without making any sound.

As expected, at this moment, no topic was sufficient to spark a conversation; Ji Ruan would only respond with “mm,” “ah,” and “oh” to the dishes in front of him. If Gu Xiuyi wanted him to say something, he would have to wait until the lengthy chewing and swallowing cycle was over.

But usually, after a few exchanges, he would send another piece of meat into his mouth, followed by the next long stretch of chewing, waiting, and perfunctory responses repeating endlessly.

Gu Xiuyi was well-versed in this dining process. At first, he didn’t attempt to chat about trivial matters; he only occasionally reminded Ji Ruan to be careful of the heat. The private room was devoid of other sounds, merely the bubbling of the soup pot steaming.

This dining mode initially suited Gu Xiuyi’s taste; perhaps because of his rough father as a contrast, he had always admired those with elegant and cultured manners when eating.

When they had just married, Ji Ruan had seemed like the delicate and difficult type, not exactly a perfect marriage partner.

Yet from the beginning, Gu Xiuyi had rarely considered anyone other than Ji Ruan, largely thanks to the fact that on their first meeting, he had the fortune to have dinner with Ji Ruan, appreciating his elegant demeanor while eating.

Gu Xiuyi remained silent, habitually watching every move Ji Ruan made, feeling refreshed as he did so.

Finally, Ji Ruan finished his small bowl of rice, ladled some soup into a spoon to cool it down, propping his chin up with one hand as he gazed at the butterflies outside:

“By the way, there’s something I keep forgetting to tell you.”

He spoke leisurely, seeming to exhale a bit as he talked, his tone sounding comfortable and pleasant, appearing quite fond of the butterflies dancing gracefully around the flowers outside.

This tone, slightly rising at the end and imbued with a lazy weariness, made Gu Xiuyi a bit wary.

Though Ji Ruan looked beautiful like this, when he mentioned apprenticing the night before, he had spoken with similar subtle charm, even his intonation was identical.

“What’s that?”

Gu Xiuyi asked with a calm tone.

Ji Ruan turned his head, the spring scenery reflected in his eyes as he smiled: “There’s an event next week. The teacher wants to take me and my senior with her; it’s the biannual grand event.”

Gu Xiuyi had already anticipated this, nodding: “Sounds good. It’s nice to go out more when the weather is good; it’s beneficial for your health too.”

“That’s wonderful! I can start packing my things when I go back.”

Gu Xiuyi looked up: “Packing?”

“Yeah, it’s in another city; I have to go on a business trip!”

Holding a soup bowl, Ji Ruan scooped a small spoonful into his mouth, his actions flowing gracefully, the loose sleeves of his white shirt revealing a glimpse of his wrist.

He rarely wore shirts, making this the second time Gu Xiuyi saw this shirt, the first being on the day they registered their marriage—its cuffs embroidered with a small dark bamboo, adding a touch of quiet scholarly demeanor.

Almost a year had passed, and Ji Ruan’s brows were relaxed; his already exquisite features looked even more enchanting and vibrant than when they first met.

Gu Xiuyi felt a moment of blankness, belatedly realizing that Ji Ruan had already become an adult who could go on business trips by himself.

He could not articulate the feelings inside him; alongside the joy, the notion of “Ji Ruan leaving him” unwittingly gained prominence in his mind.

He dropped his chopsticks back against the chair’s armrests, his legs crossing naturally.

After a long moment of calmness, he casually asked, “Sounds interesting. Will there be any exhibitions of your works?”

Ji Ruan, who had always been enthusiastic about things he liked, responded excitedly: “Yes! Many collectible-grade embroideries will be displayed, not just Han embroidery; the masters of the four great embroideries will be there, and there’s an auction, too. The teacher and senior will also send a couple of their pieces to be auctioned.”

His cheeks slightly flushed, Ji Ruan’s eyes sparkled: “But I don’t have any. I just became an apprentice and haven’t formally stepped into the industry yet; this will be the first time the teacher brings me into the circle. It’s great just to go and broaden my horizons.”

Gu Xiuyi gazed at Ji Ruan with tender eyes, occasionally nodding along with his words, looking earnest as he listened: “It’s certainly meaningful. Do you need me to help prepare anything?”

“No need! I’m just a little apprentice,” Ji Ruan, moved by Gu Xiuyi’s support for his passion, thanked him: “Thank you.”

Gu Xiuyi chuckled lightly and casually asked, “Where’s the business trip? Is it far?”

“Not far, just to the neighboring B City, Qing Xi Mountain.” Ji Ruan shared enthusiastically.

Gu Xiuyi thought for a moment, sipping his tea: “The scenery there is lovely.”

“Right? I’ve wanted to go see it for a long time.”

Unlike Gu Xiuyi’s chair, Ji Ruan was sitting on a little sofa and grew a bit drowsy after finishing his meal. The cushion behind him was quite soft, and he rubbed his full stomach as he leaned back, his eyelids slowly drooping.

“Can we rest a bit longer before we go…” he murmured.

When his eyes fully closed, Gu Xiuyi’s low, gentle voice reached him: “Of course.”

As Ji Ruan napped, Gu Xiuyi maintained his position, supporting his chin with his fingers.

He sat at the junction of the window and wall, slightly leaning back into the shadow, his eyebrows deep in thought.

After a long time, he moved his gaze to Ji Ruan’s face, watching the gentle flutter of his eyelashes as he slept.

Then his gaze shifted, suddenly focusing on Ji Ruan’s stomach.

He stared for quite a while, seeming to want a clearer view, even whispered as he sat beside Ji Ruan.

Ji Ruan was very thin, with hardly any flesh to him, completely without a belly; his waist and abdomen were hidden under his shirt, just a thin layer—nothing could be seen.

But the cardigan he wore resembled the fur color of a cat at home.

Gu Xiuyi remembered quite clearly when Xiao An was just brought home, still palm-sized; after feeding, he would sprawled out like this, willingly letting him rub his belly.

Gu Xiuyi gazed for a long time, then, as if bewitched, he reached out to touch that poor little belly.

Hmm? Why does it feel a bit round?

Not sure, he touched again.

It really has a little bump!

…And it’s kind of cute.

That little belly that had been sunken from hunger now felt slightly curved, and Gu Xiuyi was amazed—hadn’t Ji Ruan hardly eaten? Could a bowl of beef bone soup and a few pieces of meat really fill him?

This was an impressive economy of resources.

Gu Xiuyi felt inexplicably that Ji Ruan didn’t seem so difficult to take care of; in fact, taking care of him felt even more rewarding than keeping a cat.

Like someone spellbound, he couldn’t stop himself from touching it again and again.

Suddenly, his palm felt cold as Ji Ruan’s delicate white fingers slowly lifted his hand:

“What are you doing?”

His eyebrows were slightly raised, and there was still a hint of drowsiness in his eyes.

Gu Xiuyi froze like he had just woken from a dream.

…He also wanted to know what he was doing.

How could he engage in such an indecorous act as touching someone’s belly while they were asleep?

How was he going to explain this?

Would the gentlemanly image he had painstakingly maintained in front of Ji Ruan topple?

What would Ji Ruan think of him?

Would he feel that he was no different from any other ordinary wealthy thirty-year-old man?

In an instant, Gu Xiuyi’s heart surged with a tumult of emotions, like raging waves and thunderstorms, forcing him to rely on the mental resilience honed over decades of battling in business and navigating mutable social hierarchies to steady himself and retract his hand.

And all of this happened in just a brief moment in Ji Ruan’s perception.

What he could only see was President Gu pulling his hand back smoothly, then folding his hands over his chest, his expression calm enough to be considered cool.

Ji Ruan sat there dazed for a while, rubbing his eyes, then asked again: “Why did you touch my belly?”

Gu Xiuyi’s body was tense, the muscles of his slightly forceful arms evident beneath his shirt from how hard he was holding himself.

The air was quiet for a few seconds; he tilted his head to look at Ji Ruan, his expression as usual:

“Did you not notice just now that your stomach was uncomfortable?”

“…?”

“You seemed a bit nauseous while sleeping; I was rubbing it for you.”

“…Really?”

“Yep.”

Gu Xiuyi said in a tone that even he believed wholeheartedly.

Because of his health issues, Ji Ruan’s intelligence significantly dipped in the first few minutes after waking up.

Gu Xiuyi maintained his honest, gentlemanly gaze, and it entangled with the suspicious and self-doubting look in Ji Ruan’s eyes, ultimately, Gu Xiuyi emerged victorious with a shameless attitude.

Ji Ruan lowered his head and touched his own belly.

He had eaten more this meal than usual, and his little belly felt bloated; he indeed didn’t feel too good.

He gently traced the rounded curve with his palm and looked at Gu Xiuyi: “It seems… a bit bloated.”

People with beautiful eyes, when they just wake up, often have slightly red rims that are the most lethal weapons of charm, striking straight at Gu Xiuyi’s heart.

Gu Xiuyi swallowed, barely visible, pulling Ji Ruan closer to him by the waist.

Ji Ruan was so light, still holding a little cushion in his hand; when Gu Xiuyi lifted him, he felt like a doll, effortlessly bringing both him and the cushion to his side.

Gu Xiuyi’s palm rested on his rounded little belly: “It’s okay. Let’s rub it a bit more to aid your digestion; it’ll feel better soon.”

That sentence sounded like something a skilled technician with years of experience would say. Ji Ruan was deeply moved by the service awareness of the technician and gave him a thumbs up.

“I’m touched: are you guys really not planning on expanding into the service industry anymore?”

If it were to really expand, with Gu Xiuyi leading by example, what a strong corporate belief would that establish from the top down, from the boss to the employees!