5 Chapter 4: The Borrower_1

The atmosphere at dinner was relatively harmonious, marking the first time they had dined at the same table since they got married. Lu Zhanguo sighed as he ate the noodles, it really was delicious. He gulped down three large bowls. Gu Xiaobei, on the other hand, was poking at her food, somewhat absent-minded. Alas, why did she have to enter a pregnant body when she crossed time and space? How was she supposed to seduce the man across the table tonight?

If Lu Zhanguo knew what was going through Gu Xiaobei's mind, he would probably be startled. He was about to ask her why she wasn't eating when he heard a knock at the door. He was about to get up, but Lu Zhanguo was already on his feet, saying, "Go ahead and eat, I'll get the door."

The person at the door turned out to be the deputy captain from next door, Zhang Lijun. Seeing Gu Xiaobei's back as she was eating, he was also somewhat surprised, but he said nothing.

Instead, he pulled Lu Zhanguo out the door and spoke softly, "My aunt is accompanying her mother-in-law on a visit. Could they stay at your place for a few nights?"

Without hesitation, Lu Zhanguo nodded, "Of course." Zhang Lijun glanced inside and asked, "She agreed?"

Lu Zhanguo was also unsure, but judging from the way things were today, she probably would. He assured Zhang Lijun: "Don't worry. Let them come."

Zhang Lijun looked at Gu Xiaobei inside the house and said, "Alright, my house is small, and I have two children. I'll sleep at the office, we don't have enough space. Let Fenghua come over for a while."

Lu Zhanguo said unconcernedly, "Okay, we're done eating too, she can come over anytime."

Gu Xiaobei, eating inside the house, was keenly aware of the discussion outside the door. As she heard about the visiting guest, she was delighted. She'd been worried about how to get this man into bed.

When Lu Zhanguo came back in, Gu Xiaobei had already started cleaning up the table. Lu Zhanguo glanced at her and said, "Lijun's younger aunt is coming to stay for a few days."

Upon hearing that she had to share living space with another woman, Gu Xiaobei balked. How could something interfere with her plan? After some thought, she said: "You can install a curtain in front of the small bed outside. Let her sleep there." And then, without waiting for anyone to reply, she took the dishes to the sink to wash them.

It was cold outside, and the water was unbearably chilly. When she finished putting away the dishes, she rushed back inside to warm her red, freezing hands by the furnace. She saw that Lu Zhanguo had indeed hung a curtain between two nails on the wall. Her eyes curved into delighted crescents.

Once her hands were warm, she went back inside, carried the big quilt outside, and brought Lu Zhanguo's blanket onto the small bed. His blanket was not to be shared with any other woman.

Lu Zhanguo raised an eyebrow at these actions, but did not comment. He helped her cover the new bed sheet she brought out. Meanwhile, Zhang Lijun's wife, Fengmei, came in with her younger sister. Both Zhang Lijun and his wife were from Shandong, and Fengmei had the cheerful demeanor typical of their fellow Shandong natives. Her voice was loud. As soon as she entered the house, she greeted, "Captain Lu, sister-in-law, sorry for causing you trouble."

Although Fengmei usually didn't like Gu Xiaobei, she had to make small talk because she needed a favor. Seeing a woman much older than herself calling her 'sister-in-law', Gu Xiaobei was a little embarrassed. On the other hand, it seemed that Fenghua had met Lu Zhanguo before. She grinned and teased, "Brother Zhanguo, I'm causing you trouble again."

"No need for formalities," Lu Zhanguo responded casually. However, Gu Xiaobei sensed something strange and scrutinized Fenghua. She was twenty-five or six years old, slender, and tall, probably about one meter seventy. Her almond-shaped eyes slightly uptilted as she looked at Lu Zhanguo, with a unique light glinting in them. Her high nose, thin lips, and long, shiny black braid draped over her chest. She glowed in her red button-front cotton-padded jacket and black pants. Her posture was graceful and seductive. Gu Xiaobei's heart immediately rang an alarm.

After Fengmei delivered her younger sister, she didn't stay long and left after some polite exchanges. As for Fenghua, she was slightly taken aback upon hearing that she was to sleep outside, but she didn't protest.

When Lu Zhanguo followed Gu Xiaobei back into their room, he was somewhat uncomfortable. Since Gu Xiaobei arrived with the army, he rarely came to this room. At this moment, Gu Xiaobei was cheerfully up to something. Seeing Lu Zhanguo standing still, she said, "I'll heat up some water for you to soak your feet. You should sit down." Hearing this, Lu Zhanguo immediately turned around and said, "I'll fetch it, you stay here." But before he could step out, his hand was grabbed by Gu Xiaobei. She pointed to the outer room and said, "She's there, you going in and out would not be appropriate, I'll get it." And she went out immediately.

Lu Zhanguo felt as if his hand had been scalded. It was getting hot. The soft touch from the small hand lingered for a long time. By the time Gu Xiaobei came back, Lu Zhanguo was already sitting on the edge of the bed in a calm, indifferent manner. Xiaobei placed the bowl filled with water in front of Lu Zhanguo. "You wash first, I'll fetch more water later." Lu Zhanguo mumbled, "No need, you wash first, I'll use the same water."

Gu Xiaobei looked at Lu Zhanguo, didn't play coy, took off her shoes and socks, washed and dried her feet before climbing into bed. By the time Lu Zhanguo finished washing, Gu Xiaobei had already taken off her sweater and cotton pants. Now, only dressed in her thermal underwear, she snuggled up close in the bed, revealing a fraction of her face, her eyes brightly trained on Lu Zhanguo. Seeing her so unabashed, Lu Zhanguo became a bit tense. Even the toughest assignments were not as torturous as this moment.

In the end, Lu Zhanguo steeled himself, stripped down to his thermal underwear and shirt, and slid under the quilt. Their quilt was one and a half meters wide and two meters long, just like an army quilt. So if they lay too far apart, it wouldn't cover them. After Lu Zhanguo laid flat, he rest his hands on his stomach, careful not to make any sudden moves. Gu Xiaobei was a bit shy as well and lay still in bed.

But Gu Xiaobei couldn't keep still for too long. She tossed and turned, causing a great deal of distress to Lu Zhanguo. The faint scent from her body wafted into his nostrils, and her soft body was pressed against him.

After a long day, Gu Xiaobei eventually grew drowsy. She turned over, facing Lu Zhanguo, using his arm as a pillow, resting her head in the hollow of his shoulder. Only then did she calm down. Soon, her breath became steady. But poor Lu Zhanguo, the softness of her breasts pressed fixedly against him almost sent him into flames.

In the end, Lu Zhanguo also turned over to face Gu Xiaobei, pulling her tiny, soft body into his arms. Maybe they really could try to live a good life.

In the outer room, however, Fenghua had restless sleep. Since the first day she set eyes on Lu Zhanguo, she had always liked him. She heard about his unhappy marriage but decided to follow him anyway. But seeing Gu Xiaobei's gentle demeanor shattered her hopes. She couldn't help feeling bitter. Why didn't she end up with Lu Zhanguo, even though she had met him first?