One Sweet Life

Chapter 19

An Yin Zhu lets go of Gu Tian Tian. She pulls the bedsheet over her body, and he regrets scaring her too much.

An Yin Zhu looks out the window while Gu Tian Tian dresses under the bedsheet.

‘I’ll take responsibility,’ An Yin Zhu says.

Responsibility? Gu Tian Tian wants to bite An Yin Zhu to death.

Gu Tian Tian kicks An Yin Zhu’s body twice, and he holds onto her legs.

‘I’ll let you kick me as much as you want after we’re married,’ An Yin Zhu says.

‘Marry your little sister,’ Gu Tian Tian mumbles.

Gu Tian Tian prefers hitting her head than believing An Yin Zhu.

‘Let go of my legs,’ Gu Tian Tian orders.

An Yin Zhu knows Gu Tian Tian has reached her limit. He lets go of her legs, and runs to the living room to let her escape.

Gu Tian Tian walks to her pink bedroom, and sleeps.

The next morning, An Yin Zhu wakes Gu Tian Tian up.

‘How did you get in here?’ Gu Tian Tian asks.

‘I opened the door,’ An Yin Zhu says.

Gu Tian Tian hates being woken up early in the morning. She opens her eyes, sees the man who groped her last night sitting on the bed and wants to kick him out of her bedroom.

‘Get up, we’re going mountain climbing,’ An Yin Zhu says.

‘Who said I want to go mountain climbing?’ Gu Tian Tian asks.

‘Do you want us to stay in bed?’ An Yin Zhu asks.

Gu Tian Tian hates morning exercise, but she’s scared of being on the same bed with An Yin Zhu more. Last night, she knew he wouldn’t go all the way with her, but she doesn’t want to provoke him in bed again. She quickly gets out of bed, and changes clothes in the bathroom.

Gu Tian Tian yawns, and walks downstairs to look for Mrs. An. But she finds out Mrs. An isn’t home, Mrs. An went out to friend’s place last night after walking in on her and An Yin Zhu. She feels like last night she escaped by the skin of her teeth.

An Yin Zhu sees the stubborn Gu Tian Tian wearing a dress instead of hiking clothes and smiles. He picks up the packed hiking bag from the sofa, and holds Gu Tian Tian’s hand.

‘I’m not going,’ Gu Tian Tian says.

‘Do you want to do a different exercise activity this morning?’ An Yin Zhu asks.

Gu Tian Tian considers calling Mrs. An, but Mrs. An will tell her that exercise is good for her health.

‘I’ll go change clothes,’ Gu Tian Tian says.

‘Hurry up,’ An Yin Zhu says, and lets go of Gu Tian Tian’s hand.

Gu Tian Tian changes into hiking clothes, and curses An Yin Zhu. She lost sleep last night because of him. Thinking about marrying him gives her a headache, and being forced to exercise early in the morning gives her a bigger headache.

Gu Tian Tian remembers a month ago, An Yin Zhu didn’t hug her and kiss her in public freely. But now he’s openly affectionate toward her in private and public.

In the car, An Yin Zhu focuses on driving and Gu Tian Tian’s rational voices gives her advice in her head.

Gu Tian Tian’s common sense speaks up first. ‘Gu Tian Tian, you can’t rush into marriage.’

Gu Tian Tian’s logic agrees. ‘That’s right. An Yin Zhu suddenly kisses you, says he likes you then he says he loves you and proposes to you. He’s not sincere.’

Gu Tian Tian’s family voice sighs. ‘Gu Tian Tian’s family won’t side with her. Mr. and Mrs. An knows Mr. and Mrs Gu wanted to marry Gu Tian Tian off to An Yin Zhu years ago.’

Gu Tian Tian’s vision cries. ‘Did everyone forget who An Yin Zhu is?’

Gu Tian Tian glances at An Yin Zhu driving. She doubts that he loves her. He looks like a bandit who kidnapped a maiden.

Gu Tian Tian sighs. Whether she and An Yin Zhu loves each other, they need at least another couple of years being together before considering marriage.

At half past nine in the morning, Gu Tian Tian finds out it’s an outing with An Yin Zhu’s work colleagues. Everyone puts their hiking bags in the boot of Yi Qi Cheng’s car.

‘I’ll meet everyone on top of the mountain,’ Yi Qi Cheng says.

Gu Tian Tian climbs the mountain with An Yin Zhu for a while before she’s suspicious why everyone over packs for a morning mountain climb.

‘We’ll be spending the night at the cabin, and going back home tomorrow afternoon,’ An Yin Zhu explains.

Gu Tian Tian feels like fell into another trap.

‘You didn’t ask sooner,’ An Yin Zhu says.

Everyone has friendly chit chats with Gu Tian Tian, except for Bai Lu who is jealous of Gu Tian Tian’s close relationship with An Yin Zhu.

Gu Tian Tian wants to pull her hand away from An Yin Zhu’s hand. He holds on tighter, and she digs her fingernails into his palm.

An Yin Zhu looks affectionately at Gu Tian Tian like he’s doting on a child, and she thinks it’s another hallucination.

One hour later, Gu Tian Tian feels drained. She leans on An Yin Zhu for support.

Ye Qi Cheng waves to everyone at the top of the mountain. Gu Tian Tian finds a bench, and drinks half a bottle of water.

Bai Lu, Zhang Xiao Man and another female staff are grilling food while Gu Tian Tian rests on a bench.

Gu Tian Tian feels better, and wants to help cook. But An Yin Zhu gives her a chicken leg to eat.

‘You’ll only hinder them,’ An Yin Zhu says.

Gu Tian Tian doesn’t open her mouth because she knows her cooking limitations.

‘What do you want to eat?’ An Yin Zhu asks. ‘I’ll grill it for you.’

‘Yin Zhu, I didn’t expect you know how to take care of someone,’ Zhang Xiao Man teases.

‘I took care of her since I was a boy, it’s a habit,’ An Yin Zhu says.