Chapter 202: Let’s Give It a Try

Zhao Ping’an, who had been silent all this time, finally chimed in,

“He’s making sacrifices for you. You only feel guilty because you like him. If you didn’t, you’d just think it was all his own choice.”

He paused, then added, “You might even find it a burden, annoying, really.”

An Nan mulled over his words for a moment.

Though she always ran away in a panic, she’d never actually felt annoyed by Gu Zhiyu.

She didn’t dare dwell on that thought, so she changed the subject reflexively. “Why are you all so interested in Gu Zhiyu these days?”

Zhao Ping’an replied, “Interested in him? We’re worried about you.”

An Nan was puzzled. “Worried about me? What does that have to do with him?”

Zhao Ping’an was amazed at how dense she was. “Of course it’s because we want you to be happy!”

An Nan looked even more incredulous. “Happy?”

To them, Gu Zhiyu was someone who could make her happy?

Hu Cuilan, folding dumplings at the table, laughed. “I always thought you were a smart kid. How come you’re so clueless about this stuff?”

An Nan pouted. “In times like these, just being alive already feels like happiness.”

Hu Cuilan shook her head, her tone full of meaning.

“We don’t come into this world just to breathe a few more years and call it happiness. Sometimes, a single beautiful minute is worth more than a whole year of dullness.”

She gave An Nan a meaningful look. “This life, it’s all about those few moments.”

Hearing this, An Nan’s mind suddenly replayed the scene from last night—

That moment when her heart pounded like crazy.

She’d never felt anything like it before.

The three of them dropped the topic and went back to making dumplings, chatting about the acid rain outside.

Zhao Ping’an said, “Looks like this rain isn’t stopping anytime soon.”

An Nan nodded. “Yeah. Someone even came to my door today asking for food. I scared them off.”

Hu Cuilan frowned. “Scare them off once, they’ll just come back. There’s no food left in the building. When people get desperate, they’ll set their sights on us.”

An Nan thought for a moment. “Actually, there might still be something to eat…”

Mother and son exchanged a glance, knowing what she meant.

Hu Cuilan sighed. “Good thing these are veggie dumplings. Otherwise, I’d lose my appetite.”

Zhao Ping’an, pinching a dumpling, said, “First the floods, then the heat, now acid rain. Who knows what’s next?”

An Nan knew, but couldn’t say.

Hu Cuilan put some dumplings aside to freeze, then said, “Let’s hope nothing else happens.”

By the time they finished making dumplings, it was almost dusk.

An Nan was about to head home, but Hu Cuilan stopped her. “You’re not just working—you’re eating with us, too. Stay and eat before you go.”

An Nan waved her off. “No need, Auntie Hu.”

Hu Cuilan smiled at her. “What, someone waiting for you at home?”

An Nan blushed. “Auntie Hu, don’t tease me.”

She sat back down. “Fine, I’ll stay and eat with you.”

Hu Cuilan just smiled and said nothing more.

When the dumplings were ready, Zhao Ping’an handed her a thermal lunchbox.

An Nan was surprised. “What’s this?”

Hu Cuilan grinned. “We’re out of bowls. Take it home and eat.”

She winked. “It’s enough for two.”

An Nan knew she was doing it on purpose. How could they not have enough bowls? Still, after hesitating a moment, she said her goodbyes and left.

1402.

As soon as An Nan walked in the door, her three little pets ran out to greet her.

She poked her head into the dining room.

Gu Zhiyu was sitting there alone, dinner already set out on the table.

Was he… waiting for her?

She’d left without a word and disappeared all afternoon. He must have felt a bit lost.

Watching Gu Zhiyu sitting there by himself, looking so lonely and quiet, An Nan suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.

She was about to bring the dumplings over when Hu Auntie’s words echoed in her mind—Love is always feeling you owe the other person.

So… did she really like him?

Gu Zhiyu saw An Nan change her shoes and linger by the door, not coming over. He spoke first,

“You’re back?”

An Nan nodded. “Mm.”

Gu Zhiyu didn’t ask where she’d been. He just glanced at the lunchbox in her hand. “What’s that?”

An Nan walked over and opened the lid. “Dumplings Auntie Hu made.”

Gu Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. “Did you already eat?”

An Nan shook her head. “Not yet.”

Gu Zhiyu immediately looked pleased. “So you brought them back to eat with me?”

An Nan glared at him. “Go get some plates.”

Gu Zhiyu chuckled softly. “Okay.”

They ate quietly together, then moved to the couch to watch TV.

An Nan didn’t pay any attention to the show. All she could think about was how present the man beside her felt.

The nth time she snuck a glance at him, Gu Zhiyu suddenly leaned in.

He braced his hand on the back of the sofa, caging her in his arms.

“An An, what’s happening on TV?”

An Nan stared at his face, so close to hers, and blurted out the truth. “I don’t know.”

Gu Zhiyu laughed quietly. “Me neither.”

He gazed at her for a moment, then leaned down and kissed her.

His lips were warm and soft, their breath mingling.

All An Nan could think of was Auntie Hu’s words—You only live for those few moments.

She reached out, hooking her arms around Gu Zhiyu’s neck.

Gu Zhiyu froze, as if startled, his breath suddenly ragged.

After a long moment, he reluctantly pulled away, looking into her eyes.

“An Nan.”

“Yeah?”

“You have to take responsibility for me.”

An Nan burst out laughing. “You’re a grown man. What’s there to take responsibility for?”

Gu Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. “Who said anything about my body?”

An Nan looked at him. “Then what?”

Gu Zhiyu took her hand and placed it over his heart. “This.”

She could feel his heart pounding under her palm.

An Nan couldn’t help but give his chest a squeeze.

Wow, those muscles were solid.

Gu Zhiyu twitched his lips. This woman wasn’t moved by him at all!

She just wanted his body!

That’s fine.

He leaned in closer. “An Nan, you have two choices right now.”

“One, give me a title. Two, I’ll just follow you around with nothing.”

Normally, An Nan would have called him shameless.

But this time, she looked at him seriously. “I choose one.”

Gu Zhiyu was stunned, as if he hadn’t expected her to answer so readily.

Seeing him dazed, An Nan reached out and cupped his face.

“I said, I choose one.”

She suddenly didn’t want to run anymore.

The apocalypse, the space, the secrets—those could wait.

Right now, she just wanted to go a little crazy.

“Gu Zhiyu, let’s give it a try.”

The man finally snapped out of it, eyes shining with joy. “An An…”

Before he could finish, An Nan suddenly pushed him down onto the sofa."