Xue Xingzhou looked at Gu Kai Zhi. "You’re injured?"
Gu Kai Zhi smiled. "It’s just a scratch."
Then he said to Mr. He, "Uncle, it’s nothing. I can have a drink with you."
Mr. He waved his hand dismissively. "Since you’re injured, you shouldn’t drink. We can drink together once you’ve recovered."
Gu Kai Zhi said with a smile, "That works too."
Xue Xingzhou had a sharp eye. Watching Gu Kai Zhi’s movents, he could tell the injury was on his arm.
"You haven’t even found a wife yet, kid. You’d better take good care of yourself."
Gu Kai Zhi shot Xue Xingzhou a look. "I’m in perfect health."
This was a man’s pride for you—you could say anything else, but you could never say he wasn’t in good shape.
Mr. He also chid in, "Kid Xue is right. Young people must take care of their health, especially you soldiers. You have to look after yourselves and be careful. Otherwise, when you get older, you’ll have all sorts of problems."
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "You’re right, Uncle. I’ll be careful."
Xue Xingzhou shot him a glance, a smile in his eyes.
Xue Yue had prepared a whole table of food, and everyone chatted as they ate.
During the al, Mr. He asked about Gu Kai Zhi’s family background, and Gu Kai Zhi told him everything in detail.
The conversation was relaxed and everyone got along well. Ti flew by, and enjoying so tea after the al felt nice too.
Since the child had school the next day, the gathering broke up before long.
Before leaving, Xue Xingzhou clapped Gu Kai Zhi on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Go for it. I’m rooting for you."
Gu Kai Zhi couldn’t help but chuckle, but he nodded anyway.
Xue Xingzhou left with his child and his wife. Gu Kai Zhi glanced at Daya, then said his goodbyes as well.
They all walked him to the door and watched as he slowly walked away.
Once they were back inside, Mr. He said, "That Mr. Gu seems like a good man."
"Mm."
The next afternoon, Gu Kai Zhi arrived on ti to pick up Daya from work to go see a movie.
On the way to the theater, Daya asked Gu Kai Zhi, "Is your arm feeling any better?"
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "Much better. Don’t worry, these are just minor wounds. I’ve survived life-threatening injuries before."
"You still can’t be careless."
Gu Kai Zhi smiled. "Alright. Whatever you say."
Daya’s ears turned a little red, and her hand clutching her bag tightened.
When they got to the movie theater, Gu Kai Zhi went to buy the tickets while Daya waited off to the side.
"Okay, let’s go in."
The two of them entered the theater. Their seats were in the middle section. After they found their spot and sat down, Gu Kai Zhi glanced around and saw that so people were holding snacks.
He turned to Daya and said, "You wait here, I’ll be right back."
Daya nodded and said okay.
This was Daya’s first ti seeing a movie in a theater, and it felt very different from watching TV at ho.
She glanced toward the entrance. People were streaming in endlessly, mostly n and won in pairs.
Gu Kai Zhi returned a mont later.
He handed Daya a bag filled with candy and cookies. They were also selling soda, but Gu Kai Zhi thought it would be too cold, so he didn’t buy any.
Daya stared blankly at the items in her hands.
Gu Kai Zhi told her, "I bought these for you. Go ahead and eat. I saw other people had so."
Daya looked around and saw that people were indeed holding snacks. "Thank you, Brother Gu."
Gu Kai Zhi said with a smile, "It’s nothing. This is my first ti at a movie theater too, so I have no experience. I can only copy what others are doing."
Looking at the items in the bag, Daya felt a little touched.
The movie they were watching today was a war film, which made many in the audience angry, and so even sobbed quietly.
Although Daya didn’t cry, she gained a deeper understanding of what it ant to be a soldier.
They were in the theater for over an hour. When they ca out, Gu Kai Zhi suggested they get sothing to eat. Daya was actually no longer hungry after eating the candy and cookies, but she didn’t refuse his invitation.
"What do you want to eat?" Gu Kai Zhi asked.
"Noodles, I guess."
Gu Kai Zhi chuckled and said, "Noodles again? Are you trying to save money? Don’t worry. I may not be a rich man, but I still have enough to treat you to a al."
Daya shook her head. "No, it’s because I’m not hungry. The cookies filled up." As she spoke, she showed Gu Kai Zhi the bag, where the half-eaten bag of cookies was nearly empty.
Gu Kai Zhi burst out laughing, his whole body shaking with mirth.
Daya watched him, biting the corner of her lip. "Is it really that funny?"
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "How can you be so cute? You’re full already? You’re too easy to please, you know?"
Daya blinked and said in a low voice, "These cookies are kind of tasty."
Gu Kai Zhi couldn’t hold back his amusent. He grinned and said, "If you like them that much, I’ll go buy you so more."
Daya shook her head. "No, that’s okay."
"Are you thirsty after eating all those cookies?" Gu Kai Zhi asked.
"A little."
"Then let’s go. We can get sothing to drink."
They ordered two bowls of atball soup and a stear of buns. However, Daya only drank the soup, unable to eat the buns, so Gu Kai Zhi polished them all off.
Since they had just eaten, the two of them didn’t take a bus but instead walked slowly along the road to aid their digestion.
Gu Kai Zhi watched Daya walking silently beside him. He hesitated for a mont, then decided to confess.
"An Xin."
Daya looked at him. "Huh?"
Gu Kai Zhi stopped walking and gazed at Daya, his eyes deep and intense.
Seeing his expression, Daya suddenly grew flustered.
"Brother... Brother Gu, wh-what is it?"
"An Xin, I like you."
Daya’s pupils trembled. As her eyes t Gu Kai Zhi’s, her heart clenched.
Gu Kai Zhi continued, "I’ve already told you about my situation in my letters. I originally thought there was no hurry, that I could wait for you patiently. But this ti, when I ca back from my mission and read your letter, I suddenly started to panic. That’s why I ca. You’re so wonderful, and I’m scared that soone else will fall for you. We live so far apart and don’t get many chances to see each other. I’m afraid that by the ti I’m free, the opportunity will be gone. So I want to make things certain between us. It would put my mind at ease. Of course, you can tell your thoughts. I know you don’t dislike ... but do you like now, even just a little?"
Daya slowly lowered her gaze, her fingers digging tightly into her palms.
A hand reached out and gently lifted Daya’s chin. "An Xin, I just want an answer. Do you like ?"
Gu Kai Zhi’s eyes were pitch-black, holding a captivating power that made Daya unable to stop herself from nodding.
But she imdiately added, "We don’t know each other that well yet. Isn’t this too fast? I—"
Gu Kai Zhi stopped her next words with a finger to her lips. He smiled.
"As long as you like , that’s enough. We can take our ti with the rest. I just need to know that you like , and that gives confidence. I’m officially informing you now: I’m going to pursue you. You don’t have to do anything. You just have to accept it."
Now that Gu Kai Zhi had confird Daya’s feelings, he was overjoyed and beca much more talkative.
"The bullet necklace I gave you last ti, do you still have it?"
Daya nodded. "I still have it."
"Do you like it?"
"I do."
"If you like it, you can wear it. I’ll make you an even better one next ti."
Daya looked at him. "You know how to do crafts?"
Gu Kai Zhi said, "Back when I was still at ho, there was a carpenter in our village. I used to watch him whenever I had free ti and slowly picked up a few things. I thought maybe it could be a way to make a living soday, but I ended up joining the army instead."
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