Meng Yan was taken aback for a moment, then met her sincere and earnest eyes.
"But I haven't given you anything yet..."
"You've already given me the best!" Huo Jiayuan blushed and smiled gently.
To her, he was the best gift in the world.
"Come on, let's not stand in the blazing sun!" She grabbed his hand. "You'll be my driver today, I want to travel all over Southeast Asia!"
"This wish seems a bit difficult," he said with a indulgent smile.
"No matter what my grandma's wish is, my grandpa will help her fulfill it!"
"I know." He patted her head. "Grandpa is Grandma's superhero."
"So what about you?"
"I..." Meng Yan thought for a moment, "I'm your Doraemon, okay?"
Huo Jiayuan smiled sweetly.
After Meng Yan fastened her seatbelt, they set off. The car sped along in the sunlight, and their laughter echoed in the wind.
...
Huo Jiayuan told Meng Yan about her plan to go to the fireworks factory to complete her graduation project.
Meng Yan's brow twitched slightly, and he turned to smile at her. But she could tell that his smile was forced.
She couldn't help but think of what Zhu Rong had said, about PTSD...
What did he go through to develop PTSD related to fireworks?
Huo Jiayuan pursed her lips, gently took his hand, and continued forward. They had arrived at the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia is a country surrounded by the sea, with a very low altitude. This mountain is even less than a small hill in other countries.
However, the scenery is still very beautiful.
They parked their car at the foot of the mountain and hiked up. Along the way, there were countless bright wildflowers, rabbits hopping through the bushes, and beautiful butterflies fluttering around them.
Huo Jiayuan felt the atmosphere was too silent, so she quietly changed the subject: "I heard that this used to be an active volcano, but it hasn't erupted for a long time."
Meng Yan laughed and said, "I guess it won't erupt again in the future."
How did you know?
He paused, then remained silent. He used to come to this mountain often to run, climb, and exercise; he knew every corner of it intimately.
“Meng Yan, I feel that you’ve been acting a bit strange since you arrived in Southeast Asia…” Huo Jiayuan thought for a while before finally voicing her doubts, “Sometimes you don’t like to talk, and even when you do, you only seem to say half of what you’re saying, as if you’re hiding something from me.”
“Yuan Yuan…” Meng Yan was taken aback.
“It’s okay,” Huo Jiayuan chuckled. “Everyone has secrets, and it’s fine if you don’t want to tell me. But… I still want you to know that no matter what happens, I’m willing to share it with you.”
"As for my graduation project, I originally wanted to invite you to watch it with me." She forced a smile. "The professor said that we'll be setting off fireworks of our own design at the graduation ceremony, and my parents will be there. I really hope you can come too. But your reaction to the fireworks last time was a bit too strong... I think you probably didn't like them, right? If you don't like them, then forget it. Don't force yourself."
Meng Yan looked at her quietly.
It felt like a needle had pierced his most vulnerable spot. He knew he'd been acting strangely ever since he came to Southeast Asia, and he was trying his best to act normal.
But sometimes, stress disorder is beyond his control.
He was already hostile to Southeast Asia.
The fireworks that bloomed in the night sky were more like ropes to him, dragging him into the hell of war.
It's not that he doesn't like it, it's that he really can't get over it.
He could tell that Huo Jiayuan was clumsily trying to please him, doing everything she could to make him happy. He felt sorry for her and also guilty.
He didn't know how to tell her about his past.
Those ugly scars are something he himself doesn't want to touch.
"Meng Yan, what's wrong?" Seeing him standing there in a daze, Huo Jiayuan's heart skipped a beat. "Was...did I say something wrong?"
"No." He gently stroked her face. "Yuan Yuan, it's my fault."
"Why are you saying such stupid things!"
"It's really my fault."
Huo Jiayuan tiptoed and ruffled his hair. Just then, a muffled sound came from the distant sky. The weather in Southeast Asia is unpredictable; just moments ago, the sky was clear and blue, but soon dark clouds gathered, and the air was filled with a damp smell.
Before she could react, large raindrops began to fall in a pattering sound.
Meng Yan quickly pulled her into his arms and ran with her in a certain direction.
"Where are you taking me?" Huo Jiayuan asked anxiously, "Our car isn't here!"
"The car is at the foot of the mountain, and with this heavy rain, the road down is difficult to navigate!" Meng Yan looked at her. "There's a cave over here, let's go in and take shelter!"
Huo Jiayuan was stunned for a moment, but the rain was getting heavier and heavier, so she could only follow him for the time being.
Unexpectedly, there really was a cave in the direction he pointed out.
The cave was partially hidden by bushes and was difficult to spot. The inside was relatively clean, and further in, you could even hear the dripping of water.
“This hole leads outside, and it connects to the stream, so you can hear the sound of water.” Meng Yan smiled and took off her clothes to wring them out.
Huo Jiayuan had been protected by him the whole time, so she didn't get too wet. However, she was already wearing very little, and her short skirt was soaked by the rain and clung to her body, revealing her exquisite curves underneath.
Meng Yan coughed twice, withdrew his gaze, and turned away.
"This kind of rain comes quickly and goes quickly." He tried to make conversation to cover up his embarrassment. "After the rain stops, I'll carry you down the mountain."
"I... I can walk by myself."
Huo Jiayuan's voice was soft.
She knew that Meng Yan was avoiding her gaze, but she couldn't be as self-aware as he was with his.
She glanced at him every now and then. Every muscle in his bare upper body was clearly defined, and his wheat-colored skin exuded a primal wildness.
She had never seen this man so closely before.
He had many scars on his body, probably from his time fighting in underground boxing rings.
but……
Huo Jiayuan frowned. Some of the scars were shaped like small holes, as if they had been pierced by bullets.
"Yuan Yuan, come sit here and rest for a while." Meng Yan cleared out a clean spot for her to sit, but when he turned around, he saw her staring blankly at him.
Huo Jiayuan snapped out of her daze, her face flushed and her heart pounding. She felt dizzy and feverish. Reason told her to stay put, but an uncontrollable force compelled her to move closer to him.
Meng Yan quickly turned around again.
Huo Jiayuan suddenly hugged him from behind!
Her soft little face was pressed against the bullet scar on his back. That bullet had almost killed him.
“Yuan Yuan…” Meng Yan’s voice was hoarse, and every inch of her skin was taut.
He took her hand, and the instant his touch was intensely hot, spreading through his palm.
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