Chapter 11 Confession! His reaction was one of overwhelming heartache!
When I returned from the military hospital, it was already getting dark.
The orange-red sunset painted the western sky ablaze, bathing the entire military compound in a warm glow.
The two walked side by side in silence.
But this silence is different from before.
Lu Zhanting took long strides, and Su Wanqing almost had to jog to keep up.
But the hand that held her wrist was hot, dry, and covered with thick calluses, and he never let go from beginning to end.
That scorching heat traveled down her skin and burned all the way to the deepest part of her heart.
Back home, the courtyard gate creaked shut, completely shutting out the twilight and the hustle and bustle.
The room was quiet, with only the two people's shallow breathing mingling.
In Su Wanqing's mind, the image of Lu Zhanting protecting her from behind in the hospital corridor kept flashing through her mind.
It was wide and solid, like an insurmountable wall.
And then there was his resounding defense: "If you weren't blind and mistook a pearl for a fish eye, such a good wife wouldn't have been mine, Lu Zhanting's."
The undisguised pride and appreciation in his words struck Su Wanqing's heart like a bullet.
This man, in the most direct and domineering way, crushed her grievances and resentments from two lifetimes to dust.
She looked at the man in front of her who was taking off his military jacket. His profile was strong and cold, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly because of the shoulder injury.
This man gave her a home, stability, and all the dignity a wife deserves.
She received protection and respect from him, but kept her biggest secret from him.
Once this thought arises, it grows wildly like a vine, and can no longer be suppressed.
Su Wanqing's heart pounded heavily against her chest.
That secret was both her trump card and her fear.
He was a staunch soldier and a thorough materialist.
What would his reaction be if he saw something beyond reason?
Treat her like a monster? Distance yourself from her out of fear?
But when she thought of his fury and protectiveness in the hospital, as if his territory had been invaded, Su Wanqing felt that her suspicion was an insult to him.
If she can't even trust the man who is willing to protect her with his life and future, who else in this world can she trust?
Su Wanqing clenched the hem of her clothes and made a decision.
Dinner consisted of plain porridge with side dishes, and the atmosphere remained quiet.
Su Wanqing could sense that Lu Zhanting's gaze would always fall on her unintentionally, with a look of inquiry and a hint of depth that she couldn't understand.
After finishing the meal, Lu Zhanting took the initiative to clear the dishes and went into the kitchen.
The sound of rushing water came from the water. Su Wanqing sat in a chair in the living room, her palms already sweaty.
When Lu Zhanting came out of the kitchen, his body damp with moisture, Su Wanqing suddenly stood up.
"Lu Zhanting".
Her voice was strained, trembling without her even realizing it.
"Hmm?" Lu Zhanting stopped and turned to look at her.
Under the dim light, her face was somewhat pale, and her usually calm eyes were now churning with complex emotions, like the surface of a lake tossed with a boulder.
"I... have something I want to show you." She spoke each word with great emphasis.
Lu Zhanting's brows twitched almost imperceptibly. He didn't speak, but gestured for her to continue with his eyes.
"Come with me."
Su Wanqing led him into her study, then closed the door behind her.
The atmosphere in the small space instantly became heavy.
She turned around and faced him.
"Before you watch, I want to ask you a question." Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear, "Lu Zhanting, will you always believe in me? No matter... what beyond your comprehension you see?"
Lu Zhanting looked at her.
The girl's eyes were filled with trepidation, unease, and a resolute determination to go all out.
Without the slightest hesitation, he answered in his usual deep and firm voice.
"meeting."
A single word carries immense weight.
Su Wanqing's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
“Okay.” She nodded and held out her hand to him. “Give me your injured hand.”
Lu Zhanting did as instructed and extended his right arm.
Su Wanqing didn't touch him, she just kept him in the position, and then she closed her eyes.
My mind sank into that mysterious space.
The next second, Lu Zhanting's pupils suddenly contracted!
A clear ball of water, shrouded in a light white mist, floated above Su Wanqing's palm.
It defies all common sense in physics, exuding the fragrance of grass and trees and a coolness that penetrates to the bone.
The instincts honed through years of life-or-death struggles caused Lu Zhanting's muscles to tense instantly, assuming a defensive stance.
That's a reaction ingrained in your bones when facing the unknown and danger!
"Don't be afraid," Su Wanqing said softly as she opened her eyes.
She controlled the water sphere, slowly moving it above Lu Zhanting's shoulder. With a slight thought, the water sphere transformed into a clear stream, gently covering his hideous scar.
An indescribable feeling of comfort instantly dispelled the deep-seated soreness.
Lu Zhanting froze completely.
He could clearly feel his skin and muscles greedily absorbing the cool, warm vitality, which was rapidly repairing his damaged tissues.
What's this? !
"This is just... the tip of the iceberg of my secret." Su Wanqing looked at his shocked expression, her heart leaping into her throat.
She knew the most crucial moment had arrived.
She stretched out her hand again, palm up: "Lu Zhanting, give me your hand."
Lu Zhanting's gaze shifted from his shoulder to her slender, fair hand, and then slowly to her face, which was filled with tension.
He remained silent for a few seconds.
Then, as if making some important decision, he placed his large palm over hers.
"Close your eyes, don't resist, trust me." Su Wanqing's voice trembled.
She gripped his hand tightly.
A sudden dizziness.
When Lu Zhanting opened his eyes again, he found that the world had changed.
It was no longer that cramped and dimly lit study.
What lay before him was a vast expanse of black soil stretching as far as the eye could see.
On the land, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbages, radishes... all kinds of crops, whether he recognized them or not, grew wildly in a way that completely defied the natural order of the seasons.
Not far away, there is a simple wooden house, and next to it, a spring is steaming with white vapor.
The air is filled with the fresh scent of earth and plants; inhaling it brings a sense of comfort to every part of the body.
The sky was bathed in a constant, soft white light; though there was no sun, it illuminated every corner.
Where is this place...?
Even a man with a will of steel like Lu Zhanting had his brain completely shut down at this moment.
He released Su Wanqing's hand and, like a sleepwalker, took a few steps forward.
He squatted down, picked up a handful of black soil, and felt the moist, fertile texture was terrifyingly real.
He then walked to a tomato plant with several large, plump, and bright red fruits hanging on it.
This is not an illusion.
"Where...is this place?" He finally found his voice, dry and hoarse.
Su Wanqing kept her eyes fixed on his back, and only when she saw that he did not show any fear or disgust did she feel a little relieved.
“I call it ‘space’,” she said softly. “I don’t know where it came from, it’s like… it’s grown inside my body.”
She explained, half-jokingly, that it was an heirloom jade pendant that had melted into her body when she was critically ill with a high fever.
She told him that time flows differently here than outside.
It can grow any crop and grows extremely fast.
There is a miraculous spring that can heal injuries and illnesses.
There is also a warehouse that can never be filled.
Like a child confessing her mistakes, she revealed her biggest secret to him without reservation.
"The vegetables, rice, and meat we eat after we got married... all come from here."
"The vegetables in the yard were also transplanted from here, which is why they grow so fast."
"And today... the water that healed your wounds is from that spiritual spring."
After she finished speaking, she quietly awaited his trial.
Time seemed to stand still.
Lu Zhanting had his back to her, his tall figure like a silent stone sculpture.
Su Wanqing couldn't see his expression, and her heart sank little by little.
Was he frightened?
Does he feel like he's a monster?
Just as she was about to be crushed by the deathly silence, Lu Zhanting finally moved.
He slowly turned around.
His face showed none of the expressions Su Wanqing had expected. There was no fear, no disgust, and certainly no greed.
Those unfathomable eyes churned with shock and realization, but even more so with an intense, overwhelming heartache.
He walked step by step back to her.
Then, to Su Wanqing's astonishment, he stretched out his long arm and suddenly pulled her tightly into his embrace!
The hug was so tight it almost broke her bones.
"fool."
His rough, hoarse voice rang out above her head, trembling almost imperceptibly.
Su Wanqing's body stiffened, and her mind went blank.
"Why...why didn't you tell me sooner?" He buried his face in her hair, his hot breath brushing against her ear. "Weren't you scared, keeping such a big secret all by yourself?"
Are you scared?
Those three simple words, like a heavy hammer, smashed open the long-sealed gates in Su Wanqing's heart.
The fear, loneliness, anxiety, and pretense accumulated over two lifetimes burst forth at this moment.
Tears, no longer able to be held back, silently surged down his cheeks, instantly soaking the stiff fabric of his military uniform.
She didn't cry out, but buried her face tightly in his broad chest, her body trembling violently, using all her strength to hold him tightly.
Feeling the person in his arms trembling violently and her hot tears, Lu Zhanting's heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by a hand, the pain making it hard for him to breathe.
He finally understood.
I understand her use of out-of-season fresh ingredients, I understand her composure in the face of adversity, and I understand the hint of wariness and aloofness that always lurks deep within her calm eyes.
This silly girl.
How tiring and terrifying it must have been for her to carry such a shocking secret all by herself.
"Don't be afraid." He repeated it clumsily over and over, his hands gently stroking her trembling back. "I'm here for you."
"Wanqing, I'll take care of you from now on."
After a long while, Su Wanqing's emotions gradually calmed down.
Lu Zhanting released her, cupped her tear-streaked face, and gently wiped away her tears with his rough fingertips.
That action carried an unprecedented sense of reverence.
"Thank you, Wanqing." He looked into her eyes, utterly earnest. "Thank you... for believing me."
With red eyes, Su Wanqing shook her head and choked out, "You deserve it."
Lu Zhanting's heart was struck hard by these three words.
He gazed at her, his eyes burning with passion, and with each word, he made the most solemn promise he had made as a soldier.
"From today onwards, this secret belongs to both of us."
"I'll stay here with you."
"Anyone who wants to touch it, anyone who wants to hurt you, will have to step over my dead body first."
There was no false romance, but it carried the weight of blood and fire, deeply imprinted on Su Wanqing's soul.
She knew that from this moment on, she was no longer alone.
This man, with his life, accepted all her differences.
The last vestige of distance between them was completely erased.
Lu Zhanting took her hand, their fingers intertwined.
“Come on, take me to see our home,” he said in a hoarse voice.
Su Wanqing smiled through her tears and nodded heavily.
"good."
She led him across the fertile black soil, past the vibrant vegetable fields, to the spring that had changed her life.
The constant light in the space gently shone on their tightly clasped hands.
A brand new world, belonging only to the two of them, slowly unfolded at this moment.
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