Abstinence Pei, don't be too sweet when chasing your wife

Chapter 527 Red Bean Paste and Daisies in the Morning Light

The morning light at the ruins is always softer than in the city, casting a pale gold glow on Gu Fanxing's hair through the tent's gauze curtains.

When Pei Luonan woke up, he remembered what he had said last night about "sleeping in," and he couldn't bear to wake Gu Fanxing—it was a rare day when he didn't have to rush to the exploration site early, so he should let her rest a little longer and make up for the time she had spent staying up late to organize materials for the lecture the previous few days.

The dew outside the tent hadn't dried yet; the water droplets on the grass blades reflected the morning light, shimmering with tiny sparkles.

Pei Luonan went to the temporary kitchen, took out the milk that his mother had sent a few days ago from the insulated box, poured it into a small saucepan and slowly boiled it on a very low flame, afraid that the boiling sound would wake Gu Fanxing.

He then rummaged through his backpack and pulled out slices of whole wheat bread, toasting them in a small oven until the edges were slightly browned—he remembered Gu Fanxing saying that this way they would have a wheaty aroma and wouldn't be too dry.

After baking, he carefully spread strawberry jam on it, controlling the thickness of the jam just right, afraid that it would be too sweet for her stomach.

Once the milk had been boiled and emitted a faint milky aroma, Pei Luonan carried the breakfast back to the tent.

Gu Fanxing sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was a little messy, like a kitten that had just woken up.

"Awake?" He gently placed the plate on the small table, reached out to smooth her bangs, and brushed his fingertips against her cheek, carrying the slightly cool scent of the morning light. "Have some warm milk first to fill your stomach. We'll go to the county town to buy red bean buns later. If we go too late, Zhang's will be sold out of the less-sugar ones."

Gu Fanxing took the milk, the warm cup against her palm, the warmth spreading from her fingertips to her heart.

She took a small sip of her drink and looked up at Pei Luonan: "When did you get up? Why didn't you wake me? I was hoping to prepare breakfast with you."

“You’re sleeping so soundly, I can’t bear to wake you,” Pei Luonan said, sitting down beside her. He picked up a loaf of toast and handed it to her, his fingertips touching the back of her hand. “Eat up, the bread is still warm. It won’t taste as good when it gets cold.”

After finishing breakfast, the two packed their things and set off.

Pei Luonan drove the SUV, with Gu Fanxing sitting in the passenger seat, fiddling with the printed PPT slides from the lecture Kong Haoyu had mentioned yesterday, her fingertips occasionally brushing against the photo of the "Qingning Kiln Porcelain Bowl".

"Professor Wang said the special exhibition will open on the 5th of next month."

She flipped through the pages and said softly, "The 'Qingning Kiln Porcelain Bowl' will be placed in the center of the display case, and I'll have to go to the site to give two presentations every day. I'm a little nervous and afraid I won't be able to answer the audience's questions well."

Pei Luonan freed one hand and gently took hers in his. The warmth of his palm reassured her: "Don't be nervous. You know more about the history of the porcelain bowl than anyone else—from the depth of the soil to the characteristics of the glaze. Even Professor Wang praised you for 'keeping the story of the porcelain bowl in your heart'."

If you're really scared, I'll go with you every day. I'll stand in the corner of the exhibition hall, and when your eyes meet mine, you'll know I'm cheering you on.

As the car entered the county town, the streets were already bustling with activity. The steam from breakfast stalls and the shouts from fruit vendors mingled together, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Pei Luonan parked his car in front of Zhang's Dim Sum Shop with practiced ease. As soon as he opened the door, the owner greeted him with a smile.

"Mr. Pei, Miss Gu, it's been a while! Would you like two baskets of red bean buns with less sugar today? I specially saved some freshly steamed ones for you, they're still piping hot!"

A look of surprise flashed in Gu Fanxing's eyes, and she raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Does the boss still remember our taste?"

"of course I remember!"

The owner said with a smile as he deftly packed the red bean buns.

"Miss Gu said last time that less sugar isn't too sweet and goes perfectly with porridge, so I wrote that down in my notebook. These are fresh out of the pot, so please try one first; they're best when they're hot."

Pei Luonan took the red bean bun and handed one to Gu Fanxing.

"Try it, it still tastes the way you like."

Gu Fanxing took a bite, and the delicate red bean paste mixed with the soft dough spread in her mouth. The sweetness was just right, without being cloying at all. It was still the familiar taste.

She looked up at Pei Luonan, her eyes full of smiles.

"This restaurant you found is much better; it suits my taste better than any other place I've eaten at before."

After leaving the pastry shop, the two went to the flower shop on the street corner.

The proprietress was bending over arranging fresh daisies when she saw Gu Fanxing. She immediately straightened up and greeted her warmly.

"Girl, how are the daisies you bought last time? I heard you say you like light white ones, so I specially kept this batch. The petals are thicker, and they can bloom for half a month. They're perfect for a white porcelain vase."

Pei Luonan walked to the flower stand, carefully selecting flowers with plump buds and upright stems. He would occasionally pick up a flower and smell it to make sure there was no strange smell: "I want these kinds. The vases in her tent are narrow-mouthed white porcelain, and the stems that are too long or too short don't look good. These are just right."

The proprietress smiled as she packed the food, saying, "Mr. Pei is so thoughtful. He understands her preferences even better than she does herself. It's not easy to find someone like him."

Gu Fanxing stood beside him, watching Pei Luonan carefully picking flowers, her heart filled with sweetness.

She suddenly noticed a small stall in front of the flower shop, displaying various handmade porcelain shards, and pulled Pei Luonan over there.

“This is beautiful,” Gu Fanxing said softly, picking up the pendant and gently running her fingertips along the patterns. “It looks just like our ‘Qingning Kiln Porcelain Bowl,’ small and exquisite.”

Pei Luonan took the pendant and asked the vendor, "Can you engrave words on it? I'd like to have two names engraved on it."

The vendor nodded: "I can carve it for free. I'll use a fine knife so as not to damage the design."

Pei Luonan thought for a moment and said, "Carve 'Luonan' and 'Fanxing' separately on both sides of the pendant. Make the font smaller so that it doesn't block the intertwined branches pattern."

After the vendor finished carving the words, Pei Luonan handed the pendant to Gu Fanxing.

"Hang it in your canvas bag where you carry film. When you go to explore the square to take photos or go to the museum to give a tour, take it with you. It'll feel like I'm with you."

Gu Fanxing took the pendant and carefully examined the handwriting on it. It was neat and unobtrusive, and she felt a warmth in her heart: "I want to wear it every day and never take it off."

On the way back, Gu Fanxing said softly, "Luonan, when I was little, Grandpa always took me to the county town to buy red bean buns. At that time, I felt that being able to sit on the back of Grandpa's bicycle and eat a hot red bean bun was the happiest thing."

Now that you're with me, buying red bean buns and picking daisies together, I'm even happier than when I was a child.

Pei Luonan held her hand tightly and whispered, "From now on, I'll accompany you every day to eat red bean buns, look at daisies, excavate porcelain shards at ruins, and give tours at museums."

I'll do everything with you that makes you happy, and I'll make your happiness double.

When the car returned to the ruins, Ling Jiu'er and Du Fei were already waiting at the entrance.

Ling Jiu'er's eyes lit up when she saw the daisies in Gu Fanxing's arms: "Xingxing! You bought daisies! Quickly put them in the white porcelain vase in the tent, let's grow them together. I'll water them every day, and I guarantee they'll bloom beautifully!"

Du Fei took the red bean bun from Pei Luonan and said with a smile, "We're both starving, so this is a good opportunity for us to share two red bean buns and try Zhang Ji's flavor."

The four sat in Gu Fanxing's tent, sharing red bean buns around a small table, looking at the daisies that had just been arranged on the windowsill, and chatting about the special exhibition next month.

Gu Fanxing showed the engraved porcelain pendant to Ling Jiu'er, who held it enviously and said, "President Pei is so romantic! Even the pendant has two names engraved on it."

As the sun set, Gu Fanxing placed the daisies on the tent's windowsill, and sunlight filtered through the petals, casting soft shadows.

Pei Luonan then hung the porcelain shard pendant on her film bag and gently patted the bag: "That's good. From now on, when you take the film bag out, you'll see it and remember me."

Gu Fanxing leaned against Pei Luonan's chest, watching the sunset gradually set outside the window, her heart filled with a sense of peace and happiness.

She knew that such simple days—with her loved one by her side, friends by her side, and a career she was passionate about—were the most precious happiness.

And this happiness, like the daisies on the windowsill, will slowly bloom over time, lasting and warm.