Chapter 16 Urgent Mission, Leaving Without Saying Goodbye

After returning from the retirement home, the car remained suffocatingly silent. Huo Tingxiao closed his eyes, his profile hard and stern, as if the unexpected defense he had shown at Minister Li's house had just been an illusion on Su Wanqing's part.

Su Wanqing's heart, however, couldn't immediately calm down. Her fingertips still seemed to linger on the burning sensation of him bandaging her. Her ears echoed with his earth-shattering words, "She doesn't like too much noise" and "She's helping me organize the materials."

What is this?

Give a slap and then a sweet date?

Or is there really a tiny crack hidden under the iceberg that even he himself has not noticed?

She had no way of telling the truth and didn't dare to think too much about it.

The car drove back to the quiet little building. Huo Tingxiao got out first and strode into the room. Without waiting for her or exchanging any words, he went straight to the study on the second floor, as if the journey they had just shared in the car had never happened.

Su Wanqing followed behind him, looking at his cold and distant back, and the slight ripple that had just arisen gradually subsided.

Perhaps, she really just wanted to maintain a decent appearance. She shouldn't have any unrealistic fantasies.

For the next two days, life returned to normal. Huo Tingxiao continued to leave early and return late. Even when he was home, he mostly stayed in his study. The two of them rarely saw each other, let alone talked. That brief, seemingly innocent gesture of support was like a pebble dropped into a deep pond, sinking to the cold bottom without even a splash.

Su Wanqing continued her regular yet lonely life. The rumors seemed to have died down somewhat thanks to Huo Tingxiao's public "statement," but the inquiring and scrutinizing gazes hadn't completely vanished. She tried to ignore them, spending more time reading and tending to household chores. She even began to think about clearing a small area in the yard to plant some flowers and plants, to keep herself occupied.

It was early morning, just after dawn. Su Wanqing hadn't slept well the night before, so she woke up earlier than usual. She put on her coat and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

As she passed the living room, she subconsciously glanced at the entrance.

This glance made her stop abruptly.

Huo Tingxiao's black backpack once again sat quietly and heavily in the corner of the entrance. Next to it were his polished military boots.

Her heart sank suddenly, and an extremely familiar, bad premonition instantly gripped her.

He is leaving again.

Without even telling her in advance.

She stood there, looking at the backpack that symbolized separation and unknown risks. Her heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, making her feel a little stuffy and cold.

Just then, the door of the study on the second floor was opened.

Huo Tingxiao emerged. He had changed into combat fatigues, the dark green fabric embracing his tall, muscular frame. His epaulettes were sharp, and his features held a lingering trace of fatigue, yet they were also shrouded in a cold, steely, and poised aura. He held a sealed file envelope in his hand, quickly scanning the last few pages.

Hearing the noise downstairs, he looked up and his eyes met Su Wanqing who was standing in the middle of the living room.

His eyes were still deep, but they were colder and more focused than usual. They were the eyes of someone about to enter a mission state. There was no personal emotion in them, only absolute calmness and decisiveness.

The two looked at each other for about two seconds.

The air was stagnant.

Su Wanqing opened her mouth, wanting to ask, "Are you leaving?", "Where are you going?", "Is it dangerous?", and "How long will it take for you to come back this time?"

But all the words were stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word. She knew she had no right to ask, and she also knew he wouldn't answer.

Huo Tingxiao's gaze lingered on her for a brief moment, seemingly passing over her slightly pale face and slightly furrowed brows. However, he said nothing, only frowning his brows extremely slightly, almost imperceptibly, before retracting his gaze and continuing to look down at the documents, walking down the stairs without stopping.

He walked to the entrance, sat down neatly, put on his combat boots, and tied his shoelaces quickly and forcefully.

Then he stood up and put on the heavy marching backpack.

During the entire process, he did not look at Su Wanqing again, nor did he leave a single word.

As if she was just an insignificant decoration in the living room.

He opened the door and the crisp morning air rushed in instantly.

A military off-road vehicle slid to the door silently like a ghost and stopped, its engine roaring softly.

The orderly jumped out of the car and respectfully opened the door.

Huo Tingxiao bent down and got into the car without hesitation.

The car door slammed shut, the sound particularly harsh in the quiet morning.

The off-road vehicle accelerated without stopping, its tires rolling over the road, making a slight friction sound, and quickly disappeared into the hazy morning mist.

The whole process, from the discovery of the backpack to his departure, probably took no more than five minutes.

It was so fast that people couldn't react.

Su Wanqing was still standing there, holding the empty water cup in her hand, her fingertips cold.

She was alone in the room again.

It was emptier and quieter than ever before.

The air still seemed to linger with the faint smell of gunpowder and the cold breath from him, as well as the smell of off-road vehicle exhaust.

She slowly walked to the door and looked at the end of the deserted road. The icy lake in her heart, which had just shimmered because of his maintenance, quickly froze again, even harder and colder than before.

Leave without saying goodbye.

Again.

To him, she was always excluded from his plans, someone he didn't need to be informed of or worried about.

Urgent tasks are always his priority.

And she will always be the one he can abandon at any time without hesitation.

She lowered her head, looked at her cold fingers, and slowly clenched them.

So, what does that short period of maintenance matter?

Maybe, it really doesn't matter.

She turned around and closed the door, isolating herself from the cold morning breeze and the even colder reality.

This time, she wouldn't even prepare that cup of slightly burnt porridge.