Howard was sitting in a chair with his back to the door, setting out bowls and chopsticks at a small square table near the kitchen door.
He moved somewhat clumsily, clearly finding it inconvenient to move between the narrow kitchen and the small yard in a wheelchair.
Two bowls of steaming white rice, a plate of bright green stir-fried vegetables, and a small dish of thinly sliced braised beef were already laid out on the table.
Howard turned around when he heard the door open.
A thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead, and the resolute lines of his face appeared somewhat softened in the warm light emanating from the kitchen.
Seeing Mingzhao, he smiled slightly: "You're back? Perfect timing for dinner!"
These few simple words were like a key, gently unlocking a hidden valve in Mingzhao's heart.
During the days when Howard was away on missions and she was alone, this kind of warmth, full of life, was missing.
She can cook porridge and eat steamed buns by herself, maintaining her body's functions with minimal energy intake.
But at this moment, looking at the steaming food on the table, and at the man in the wheelchair who had prepared all of this for her, a strange yet warm feeling, like a tiny electric current, quietly flowed through the depths of her meticulously functioning mind.
She didn't say anything, but simply followed the instructions and went to the water tank to scoop water to wash her hands.
The cool water washed over my fingers, but it couldn't take away the strange warmth in my heart.
The food was simple and the taste wasn't particularly good, but it was clean and hot.
The two ate in silence, the only sound being the soft clinking of their bowls and chopsticks.
Howard ate quickly, his movements as swift as a soldier's.
Mingzhao chewed slowly and carefully, each bite seeming like a precise analysis.
Sunlight filtered through the grapevines, casting dappled shadows that fell upon the two of them, creating a strange sense of tranquility.
After finishing his meal, Howard put down his chopsticks and, as was his habit, went to clean up.
Mingzhao was a step ahead of him, standing up and reaching for his empty bowl.
"I'll do it." Howard's voice was firm, and he reached out to take it.
Their hands touched the rough enamel bowl almost simultaneously.
Mingzhao moved faster, her fingers already gripping the rim of the bowl. Howard's hand was a step too late, landing on the back of Mingzhao's hand.
It was warm to the touch, with a thin, calloused texture.
Mingzhao's movements froze instantly!
It felt like a tiny electric current shooting up from the back of my hand to my arm!
For the first time, a clear trace of astonishment flashed across her usually calm and composed eyes.
She instinctively tried to pull her hand away.
Howard recoiled as if he'd been burned!
The movement was so fast that it created a gust of wind.
He coughed lightly to cover his mouth, and his ears turned a suspicious red in the sunlight.
He looked away, his voice a little strained: "Tell me and I'll do it."
Mingzhao didn't say anything, but stubbornly held onto the bowl, while reaching for her own bowl on the table with her other hand.
Seeing her insistence, Howard stopped arguing and just silently watched as she awkwardly stacked the bowls and chopsticks, picked up the plates, and turned to walk towards the sink by the kitchen door.
There is a small threshold at the entrance to the kitchen.
Mingzhao was carrying a bowl and plate, and her view was partially obstructed. In addition, the strange touch on the back of her hand seemed to be still disturbing her sense of balance. When she took a step, her toes were slightly tripped by the threshold!
My body instantly lost its balance!
"Ah!" A short, sharp cry escaped Mingzhao's lips, a sound that even he found unfamiliar!
The bowls and plates in her hands flew out!
She couldn't control herself and fell backward!
In a flash, Howard didn't have time to think! It was purely a battle instinct reaction! He endured the excruciating pain in his left shoulder, and suddenly stretched out his uninjured right arm to catch Mingzhao's falling body!
The force of the impact caused the wheelchair to slide backward a short distance! Bowls and plates crashed to the ground with a loud crash, shards of porcelain scattering everywhere!
Mingzhao threw herself into Howard's arms! Her forehead slammed heavily against his strong, broad chest!
Howard groaned as the wound on his left shoulder was aggravated, and the tearing pain instantly made him break out in a cold sweat!
But his arm around Mingzhao was as firm as an iron hoop, protecting her tightly in his embrace and preventing her from falling directly onto the broken porcelain shards.
The chaos lasted only a few seconds.
The room was a mess. Broken porcelain, soup, and food were spilled all over the floor.
Mingzhao nestled in Huo Hua's arms, his nose filled with a strong masculine scent, mixed with a faint smell of sweat and medicine.
Her cheek was pressed against the fabric of his shirt, and she could clearly feel the outline of his hard, hot muscles rising and falling slightly with his breath beneath the fabric.
In the instant she fell, she instinctively tried to grab onto something to steady herself.
In her panic, her right hand, through Howard's faded old military green T-shirt, pressed firmly against the left side of his chest!
Beneath the palm lies a full, firm, and elastic texture.
That's the pectoralis major muscle, forged through long-term, high-intensity training, and brimming with explosive power.
That solid and vibrant touch was completely different from the cold metal that her fingertips were familiar with!
Mingzhao even... in that moment of chaos, perhaps out of some instinctive exploration of unknown materials, unconsciously... clenched his fingers and squeezed them hard!
"Ugh~~!" Howard's body stiffened abruptly! A suppressed groan escaped his throat, a sound filled with pain and a strange tremor.
That muffled groan was like a bucket of cold water, instantly waking Mingzhao up!
She suddenly looked up and met Howard's face, which was inches away from hers!
That usually resolute and stern face was now covered in cold sweat, his sword-like eyebrows were tightly furrowed in pain, and his lips were pressed together until they were white, but his deep eyes were churning with extremely complex emotions.
There was the pain of being forced to endure, the momentary shock, and even a hint of... a dark and indistinct flame ignited by that sudden pinch!
Mingzhao's gaze instantly shifted downwards, landing on his left chest, which was being pressed down by her hand!
Through the thin T-shirt, she could even see the indentation left by her fingers!
She immediately realized what she had done! She also instantly understood the source of his muffled groan—it wasn't just the impact of the fall! It was also from her unconscious, almost indecent, touch!
Mingzhao remained expressionless, inwardly cursing herself: Why did I suddenly pinch him?
An unprecedented feeling called embarrassment instantly overwhelmed Mingzhao's mind like a tsunami!
For the first time in her life, a thin blush rose uncontrollably and clearly onto her cheeks!
The blush spread quickly, even tinging the roots of her ears with pink!
She jerked away from Howard's arms as if she had been burned!
The movement was so fast it almost left a blur! He staggered back two steps before barely managing to regain his balance.
"I'm...I'm sorry!"
Mingzhao's voice carried a rare hint of panic and urgency, completely lacking its usual calmness.
Looking at Howard's pale face and the cold sweat on his forehead, she felt as if her heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand!
It wasn't because he was embarrassed, but because he realized that she had hurt him when he fell!
"Come inside, let me see your wound!"
Mingzhao opened the bedroom door and invited Howard.
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