Chapter 398: Chapter 397: Gu Kai Zhi and Daya (8)
On the third day, Gu Kai Zhi showed up again after work.
"Want to get dinner together?"
Daya nodded.
While they were eating, Gu Kai Zhi told Daya, "I’m heading back to the base tomorrow."
Daya looked at him. "What time tomorrow?"
"In the morning."
Daya’s hand, holding her chopsticks, paused for a moment. "I see."
Gu Kai Zhi had already been in Beijing City for five days, and the round trip took two days.
"Is your arm better?"
Gu Kai Zhi lifted it slightly. "It’s fine now."
Although it hadn’t fully healed, it didn’t hinder his movement.
The two finished their meal in silence and started walking.
"After I get back, I’ll write to you. I’ll still send a letter every two weeks. If you don’t hear from me for a while, it just means I’m on a mission, so don’t worry."
Daya nodded.
"You can also call me if you need anything. Just give my name, and the guard will inform me."
"Okay."
When they reached the entrance to the alley, the two of them stopped.
Neither spoke. Gu Kai Zhi watched Daya, whose eyes were downcast.
"An Xin."
Daya looked up. "Yes?"
Gu Kai Zhi reached out and pulled her into a hug. "Wait for me. I’ll come see you as soon as I have time."
Daya nodded. "Okay."
Gu Kai Zhi gently released her and looked at her earnestly. Then he lowered his head and gave her a quick peck on the corner of her lips before pulling away just as fast.
Daya’s eyes went wide as she stared blankly at Gu Kai Zhi.
Seeing her expression, Gu Kai Zhi finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He lowered his head and kissed her again.
The intense sensation on her lips left Daya standing frozen, at a complete loss for what to do.
Gu Kai Zhi reached up and covered Daya’s wide-open eyes.
Now that she couldn’t see, her other senses became even more heightened.
"Breathe."
Gu Kai Zhi murmured, his lips still pressed against Daya’s.
Daya, who was already blushing from holding her breath, let out a deep exhale, only to have her lips captured again.
Daya’s hands slowly wrapped around Gu Kai Zhi’s waist as she gradually began to respond.
They stood there at the entrance to the alley, kissing for a long time, until the sound of movement in the distance made Gu Kai Zhi finally stop.
He rested his forehead against Daya’s. Both of them were breathing a little unsteadily.
Hearts thumped wildly—it was impossible to tell whose was whose.
"I should go back now," Daya mumbled.
Gu Kai Zhi straightened up, looked at her, and caressed her cheek.
"Okay, go on. Remember to write to me."
Daya nodded.
"So... I’ll be going now."
Gu Kai Zhi nodded.
Under Gu Kai Zhi’s watchful gaze, Daya went home.
After getting back, she closed the door and leaned against it, her hand rising to touch her lips, as if the feeling still lingered there.
She remained in a daze for a long while before slowly walking over to the bed and sitting down.
She pulled the necklace out from under her clothes and fiddled with the bullet casing. In that moment, Daya was sure she liked Gu Kai Zhi—and not just a little.
With Gu Kai Zhi gone, Daya returned to the routine of her daily work.
Meanwhile, just as Gu Kai Zhi returned to the base, he ran into his regiment commander.
"Kai Zhi, I heard you went home?"
"Yes."
"You’re back just in time. Come over to my house tonight. Your sister-in-law wants to have you over for dinner."
Gu Kai Zhi asked, puzzled, "Your wife is treating me to dinner? Is there a special reason?"
"Yes, she wants to introduce you to a young woman. She’s the daughter of the political commissar from the Second Regiment."
As soon as Gu Kai Zhi heard this, he quickly shook his head.
"Regiment Commander, please don’t let your wife go to any trouble. I already have a girlfriend."
The regiment commander frowned. "Since when? Didn’t I ask you last time, and you said you didn’t have one?"
Gu Kai Zhi smiled and said, "Regiment Commander, like you said, that was last time. I have one now. To be honest with you, I didn’t go home this time. I went to Beijing City to see my girlfriend."
Gu Kai Zhi didn’t mention that he was still in the process of pursuing her. He felt that Daya had already yielded. They had held hands and kissed—things only a couple would do.
"You’re not trying to pull a fast one on me, are you, kid?"
Gu Kai Zhi chuckled. "Regiment Commander, why would I lie to you? I know your wife means well, but I really do have a girlfriend."
The regiment commander nodded. "Alright then. I’ll go back and tell her, so she doesn’t have the young lady come over."
Then he looked at Gu Kai Zhi again and said, "You really know how to make big moves on the quiet, you kid. When did you find a girlfriend in Beijing City? Beijing City? It wasn’t from that mission you went on there last time, was it?"
Gu Kai Zhi smiled and nodded. "That’s right."
The regiment commander pointed at him in surprise, then laughed as well.
"Alright. Bring her over for us to meet when you get the chance."
"I definitely will when the opportunity arises."
News that Gu Kai Zhi had a girlfriend quickly spread through the regiment. His comrades would tease him whenever they saw him. "Deputy Battalion Commander Gu, we hear you’ve got a girlfriend now. When are you going to bring her by for us to see?"
"There’ll be a chance."
Wen Kai, who was quite close with Gu Kai Zhi, slung an arm around his shoulders and gave him a shake. "You’re not a very good friend, you know that? Secretly finding a girlfriend without me, your closest buddy, even knowing about it."
Gu Kai Zhi just smiled.
"Hey, come on, tell your brother here, what does your girlfriend look like? Is she pretty? I heard the daughter of the Second Regiment’s political commissar has a crush on you. I’ve seen that girl, and she’s not bad looking."
Gu Kai Zhi replied, "My girlfriend is prettier than her."
Wen Kai looked at him, astonished. "For real?"
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "Of course."
Wen Kai clicked his tongue. "You’re a lucky man, you are."
Although Gu Kai Zhi had never met this political commissar’s daughter, in his heart, Daya was the best.
Two weeks later, Daya received a letter from Gu Kai Zhi.
In the letter, he told her about what had happened. He also made a point to emphasize that he had only told people he had a girlfriend to stop others from trying to set him up.
Daya didn’t blame him. She just felt a little shy, knowing that, according to Gu Kai Zhi, everyone in his regiment now knew about them.
In March, Gu Kai Zhi finally found an opportunity and came to Beijing City again.
When Daya suddenly saw him, she could hardly believe her eyes.
"Brother Gu?"
Gu Kai Zhi, dressed in his military uniform and carrying his luggage, walked up to Daya and gave her a gentle flick on the forehead.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"Brother Gu, what are you doing here?"
Gu Kai Zhi looked at her and said, "I missed you a lot. Writing letters wasn’t enough to express how I feel, so I came."
His words were so direct that Daya’s heart skipped a beat.
"Brother Gu..."
Gu Kai Zhi took Daya’s hand. "I just got off the train. I haven’t found a place to stay yet."
Daya looked around and said, "There aren’t any hotels nearby."
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "I know. We can go to the one I stayed at last time."
With that, he took her hand and started walking. Daya noticed people around them were staring. It was because Gu Kai Zhi was in uniform. It was also the first time she had seen him in it, and it gave her a completely different feeling.
She tried to pull her hand back. "People are watching."
Gu Kai Zhi had no choice but to let go of her hand, but he slowed his pace, and the two of them walked together to the hotel he had stayed at last time.
