A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 68

Shen Sisi wondered if she was just exhausted; otherwise, why would her chest ache so inexplicably?

“Mom, don’t worry. I, Shen Sisi, walk a straight path. Those people can say whatever they want; it’s not like they can bite a piece of flesh off me.”

“We live our lives for ourselves, not for others. As long as you don’t care, rumors and gossip can’t hurt you.”

Shen Sisi’s mindset was exceptionally healthy. After all, what else could she do? She couldn’t exactly sew everyone’s mouths shut.

Xu Hongying glanced at her. This young girl wasn’t very old, but she certainly had a way with words.

Gu Chengfeng remained silent for a moment, as if he had made a decision. A sincere light shone in his deep eyes. “Mom, I know you mean well, but if Sisi likes it, then we should support her.”

Turning his gaze toward Shen Sisi, his eyes turned profound and steady. “With me, you can do whatever you want. I will support you unconditionally.”

A sudden warmth flooded Shen Sisi’s heart, like a gentle spring rain washing away all her worries.

“Thank you…” She smiled brilliantly, two shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks.

After dinner, Gu Chengfeng took a flashlight and continued working on the small handcart. Xu Hongying went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, telling Sisi to spend some time reading with Niuniu while she prepared some malted milk for the little one.

Only then did Shen Sisi notice that two cans of malted milk had appeared in the cupboard, along with a set of storybooks, a drawing pad, and a box of colored crayons.

“Mom, did you buy these?” Sisi asked.

Xu Hongying laughed. “How would I know to buy these things? Chengfeng prepared them all.”

“Don’t let his big, tall stature fool you. He’s usually quiet, but he’s actually very meticulous…”

Shen Sisi nodded in agreement. He really was quite thoughtful.

She took out the crayons, intending to teach Niuniu how to draw animals, only to find that Niuniu had already started. Following the cover of a storybook, the little girl had drawn small mountains, a river, and a very large house.

“What are you drawing?” Sisi leaned in curiously, accidentally startling the little one.

Niuniu hurriedly covered the drawing pad with both hands, throwing her whole body over the table. “Mommy is not allowed to look! I’m not finished yet. I’ll show you when it’s done.”

Shen Sisi playfully ruffled Niuniu’s hair. The child wasn’t old, but she already had her own secrets. “Fine, keep drawing. I’m going to the backyard to help.”

Shen Sisi picked up Gu Chengfeng’s enamel mug, filled it with warm water, and carried it carefully to the backyard.

“Gu Chengfeng, take a break. Have some water…”

The small cart was beginning to take shape; only a few final adjustments were left. Gu Chengfeng wiped away his sweat and reached for the mug. Their fingers accidentally brushed, sending a jolt through both of them—like a static shock, leaving their fingertips tingling.

“Um, I’ll go check the cart…” Sisi let go of the mug, feeling awkward as she walked toward the wooden frame.

One look and she let out an exclamation of wonder. “Gu Chengfeng, you’re amazing! This cart is exactly like my drawing…”

Gu Chengfeng sipped the plain water, but it tasted as sweet as if it were full of sugar. This is amazing? he thought. He had even “more amazing” things she hadn’t seen yet…

Shen Sisi was like a curious kitten, crouching by the cart, touching and inspecting every joint. It wasn’t an exaggeration—Gu Chengfeng’s craftsmanship was no worse than that of a master carpenter.

“Gu Chengfeng, when did you learn carpentry?” Sisi asked.

Gu Chengfeng sat down to rest for a moment, his gaze turning distant. “Back in the barracks. My master taught me.”

Before his master joined the army, he had been a carpenter with top-tier skills. Sadly… the man was no longer around.

Shen Sisi felt that marrying Gu Chengfeng was like finding a hidden treasure. “As they say, ‘the master leads you through the door, but the practice is up to the individual.’ You really are skilled and have a lot of potential…”

She didn’t hold back her praise, making the tips of Gu Chengfeng’s ears turn red again.

“My master said that if I didn’t make it as an officer, I’d eventually have to retire and change careers. Since I called him ‘Master,’ he taught me a trade so I wouldn’t starve out there.”

“He was a good master. You’re lucky…”

“Yeah…” Gu Chengfeng sighed, lost in old memories for a moment. Then, he put down the mug and returned to the cart, picking up a piece of sandpaper for polishing. “Don’t touch it yet. The wood hasn’t been sanded. Careful of splinters…”

Before the words were out of his mouth, Sisi hissed in pain, her features contorting. Her hand had brushed against a wooden barb!

“It hurts…” She clutched her right index finger.

“Don’t move!” Gu Chengfeng grabbed her hand, holding it under the light of the flashlight. The splinter was too small; it was impossible to pull out with fingers alone.

Seeing Sisi sweating from the pain, he didn’t even think before opening his mouth and taking her finger into it to suck out the splinter.

“It hurts…” Sisi let out a soft whimper that made Gu Chengfeng’s very bones feel weak.

“Don’t move, it’ll be over soon…” He tried to control his breathing, but his heart rate still skipped several beats.

A few seconds later, the sharp pain vanished, replaced by the relief of the foreign object being removed. With the pain gone, the sensations she had ignored before came rushing back like a tide.

Gu Chengfeng’s lips were so soft. His tongue was soft too…

The warm tip of his tongue brushed lightly against her fingertip, as nimble as a little snake. She couldn’t tell if it was an illusion or if he was doing it on purpose, but it felt like he was teasing her.

Terrified, she snatched her hand back. Her fingertip glistened with a faint dampness. “I… I’m fine now.”

Her face flushed a deep crimson, the heat spreading from her cheeks to her neck. Her almond eyes and peach-like complexion made Gu Chengfeng’s mind reel.

She was fine, but he was not…

“Go wash up and put some medicine on it,” he said hoarsely.

“Okay…”

Shen Sisi fled like an escaping soldier, forgetting even to take the enamel mug. Once her figure disappeared around the corner, Gu Chengfeng stood there stiffly, the courtyard echoing with the sound of his racing heart.

He worked until the middle of the night before the cart was finally finished. Gu Chengfeng tested it by lifting a hundred catties of firewood; it worked perfectly. He leaned the cart under the eaves of the backyard and swept up the wood shavings, planning to use them for kindling the next day.

After tidying up, he shook the sawdust off his clothes. He was about to grab a change of clothes when he saw Shen Sisi slumped over the arm of the sofa, fast asleep.

She’s so tired and yet she didn’t go to bed, he thought.

Gu Chengfeng leaned down, one hand supporting her thin back and the other hooking under her knees. He lifted her into the air effortlessly.

Shen Sisi was exhausted. She let him carry her, merely mumbling a few words as she nuzzled into his chest like a small cat.

Gu Chengfeng’s body, already warm from labor, felt like it was about to catch fire.

“Don’t move,” he whispered. “Behave yourself…”