After dealing with Lin Jiaman and having some peace and quiet, Guan Wenru finished tidying up and left the room.
She knew this compound so well, she could walk there with her eyes closed.
After leaving Courtyard No. 1, she walked straight ahead.
The morning air carried the dry chill characteristic of the Northwest, and the wind felt biting on the face.
She wrapped her slightly worn navy blue cotton-padded coat tighter around herself, carried a faded cloth bag, and walked with her head down.
She needs to go to school; in this life, she is a teacher.
After the school reopened, it was the teachers and other staff who overcame all objections and insisted that she become a teacher.
Although she didn't like being a teacher at all, she tried it last night, but she had no space and not much money on her.
This was still during that turbulent decade, so she couldn't just do whatever she was told.
She needs to make a living, so she has to continue being a teacher, hoping to find a way to return to that world as soon as possible.
She missed her lover, her children, and her family so much!
She hadn't walked far from the gate of the compound, and had only walked about a hundred meters along the dirt road, when she subconsciously stopped.
Beneath the bare poplar tree by the roadside, where all the leaves had fallen, a tall and upright figure stood quietly.
The military green wool coat accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, while his deep-set eyes were framed by the brim of his hat.
It was He Yanzhi.
He seemed to have waited for a while; his nose was red from the cold.
Upon seeing her emerge, He Yanzhi seemed to instinctively straighten up, his gaze fixed on her with an almost imperceptible focus.
Guan Wenru's heart skipped a beat!
The intertwining of memories from her past and present lives made her throat tighten and her nose sting.
They were already inseparable lovers, yet she couldn't throw herself into his arms.
She remembered that at this exact moment, she was mindful of her status as 'Han Haoxian's widow,' and also because she was heartbroken and didn't want to drag him down...
Every time he tried to approach her or offer help, she would harden her heart and refuse him with the most distant and polite words.
But now…
Seeing that she had stopped, He Yanzhi strode over.
His steps were steady and powerful, with a rhythm unique to soldiers.
He stopped in front of her, took a military-grade aluminum mess kit from his coat pocket, and handed it to her.
The lunchbox seemed to still carry the residual warmth of his body.
His expression remained as serious as ever, even a little uneasy, and his voice was low, "I made a little too much porridge this morning, and also... I made an extra fried egg, thinking you might not have eaten it, so take it with you on the way."
This statement is somewhat awkward and even riddled with flaws.
How come there's exactly one extra serving of porridge and fried egg from a meal I cooked myself?
This was an awkward way of showing concern that he had repeated many times over this period of time, only to be repeatedly rejected.
In the past, a heartbroken Guan Wenru would have immediately lowered her eyes and said in a low but firm voice, "Thank you, Commander He, but no need, I've already eaten." or "Don't bother me, I'm not hungry."
Then she left in a hurry, leaving him alone with his lunchbox, watching her retreating figure with a dim look in his eyes.
He Yanzhi seemed prepared to be rejected again, and the hand that handed over the lunchbox even showed a hint of hesitation.
However…
This time, Guan Wenru did not immediately avoid his gaze as she usually did.
Her eyes, made clear by last night's tears and the surging emotions of the moment, were exceptionally bright, like pearls that had finally been wiped clean of dust.
Suddenly, the corners of her lips curved into a bright and radiant smile.
That smile was like sunshine suddenly pouring down from a sky that had been gloomy for many days, instantly dispelling the gloom and paleness that had shrouded her brows for years, making her look vibrant, lively, and radiant!
She reached out her hand, no longer hesitant or refusing, but generously... even eagerly, and took the lunchbox that still carried his warmth.
The warmth of the aluminum box seeped through the gloves into my palms, warming me all the way to my heart.
He Yanzhi was visibly stunned by her smile!
Then she said in a clear voice, "Brother Yanzhi, thank you!"
Brother Yan...
I think that's what she called him when he was little!
But she hadn't called him that in a long time.
All of this was completely beyond He Yanzhi's expectations!
He was completely stunned, as if struck by an invisible electric current.
His heart started pounding wildly out of control without warning, so fast that he almost lost his composure.
A surge of heat uncontrollably rushed to my ears, thankfully shielded by the brim of my hat.
Looking at the unprecedentedly bright smile on her face... all the words he had prepared, all the responses he had prepared for rejection, were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.
He just stared at her blankly.
His usually calm and sharp eyes, seen on the battlefield and in training, now seemed somewhat bewildered and flustered.
He even subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed the tip of his nose with his finger to cover up his embarrassment.
He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally found his voice, but it was dry and even a little stuttering. "No...you're welcome. It was just...it was nothing. You should go to class now, don't be late."
Looking at his unusually clumsy appearance, Guan Wenru felt a mix of tenderness and bitterness, and her smile deepened.
She hugged the lunchbox to her chest. "Okay, I'm going to school now. Goodbye, Yanzhi!"
After she finished speaking, she smiled at him again, then turned around and walked briskly toward the school.
That silhouette seemed to have more vitality and energy than usual.
He Yanzhi remained frozen in place, not moving for a long time.
Only after that slender figure disappeared at the end of the road did he slowly raise his hand and press it against his still wildly beating heart.
His deep eyes were filled with immense confusion and a strange, throbbing feeling that he himself had never experienced before.
What's wrong with her today?
He had been back from the battlefield for several months. Even if he didn't know that she was Lan Tian, he would still take good care of her because of the relationship between their families and his friendship with Han Haoxian.
Unfortunately, he already knew she was Lan Tian, so he had to take even better care of her.
But she seemed reluctant to interact with him and didn't want people to misunderstand or gossip, so he tried his best to avoid crowds and do what was best for her.
Even so, she still refused.
But he didn't give up, because he heard that Lin Jiaman was not feeding her properly, and that because she had lost her family and was affected by her family background, she had become very weak and dared not resist Lin Jiaman.
So, in order to make sure she was well-fed, he had been sending her things for the past few months, but she refused to accept them even once.
Today… she actually… accepted it!!!
So... could this be considered... a happy ending after hardship?
Thinking of this, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, a somewhat silly smile.
If his soldiers saw this, who knows what kind of rumors they would spread!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
