After their eyes adjusted to the darkness for a moment, they gradually saw more clearly than before.
The large tree in front of the window blocked a large portion of the moonlight, and the dappled shadows of its leaves were reflected through the glass onto the concrete floor.
The room was quiet except for the sound of two people breathing.
Mao Xiangling leaned against Yuan Qiang, holding his hand in one hand; there was no distance between them anymore.
Yuan Qiang felt hot inside and his mind was very clear; he couldn't possibly feel sleepy.
Mao Xiangling turned to look at Yuan Qiang's facial features and was wide awake.
She let go of his hand and slid her fingers down his forehead, nose, and lips little by little.
Then it went down to the Adam's apple and down to the round neck of the vest on her chest.
Yuan Qiang took a deep breath; he could no longer contain himself, and the heat in his heart surged upwards to his brain.
He turned sideways, panting heavily, to face Mao Xiangling.
The two locked eyes, and in the dark of the night, it seemed as if they could see the light in each other's eyes through the darkness.
Mao Xiangling placed her hand on his cheek and pinched his face. She had memorized his handsome face a thousand times over.
Neither of them spoke, and Yuan Qiang was breathing unevenly.
He reached his hand under the covers and touched Mao Xiangling's underwear.
She held her breath, but her heart wouldn't allow her to say "no."
Yuan Qiang lowered his breathing and slowly moved his hand up through the bra.
Their breathing had already become shallow and disordered.
Until his large hand touched that soft spot.
Mao Xiangling then grabbed his arm.
Yuan Qiang stopped, swallowed hard, and waited quietly.
Mao Xiangling was breathing rapidly. After a moment, she let go of his hand and rested her head back on Yuan Qiang's shoulder.
"Yuan Qiang, I...I am yours. Forever!"
"Xiangling, aren't you afraid? Afraid of your mother...?"
Mao Xiangling covered his mouth to stop him from continuing.
If you already know this is an unsolvable problem, then why bother trying to find the answer?
She leaned close to his cheek, pressing her forehead against his, and said:
"I'm willing, I'm not afraid. Instead of thinking about those vague and uncertain futures, why don't we cherish the gentleness of the present moment?"
Yuan Qiang, you're already thirty years old, and I'm no longer a girl in my early twenties.
What are we waiting for? Another twenty years?
My mentor once said, "Don't let anxiety about the future affect your happiness in the present."
Mao Xiangling kissed his lips and then reached down to touch him.
The moment he touched her, Yuan Qiang shivered and exhaled deeply.
The two of them had gone completely mad, under the shade of the trees.
The long-dormant feelings between the two young people were finally released.
Their burning souls intertwined, oblivious to the nature of heaven and earth.
The shackles that bound their emotions were now being broken down one by one, like rotten wood.
Rapid breathing filled the entire room.
Her twisting body appeared and disappeared in the moonlight.
It was as if the repeated actions were a declaration of war against the authority within the family.
**
The two of them got up exhausted early the next morning.
After Mao Xiangling helped Yuan Qiang wash up, she took him out for breakfast.
The two hurriedly arrived at the train station.
Just moments before boarding the train, Yuan Qiang held her tightly in his arms.
The two took one last breath of each other's familiar scent.
Mao Xiangling, her eyes red-rimmed, whispered in his ear:
"Remember! Wait for me in Yongning City."
As the train slowly pulled away, Mao Xiangling started running along the platform.
Yuan Qiang hurriedly rolled down the car window, leaned out, and shouted:
"Xiangling, go back! I'll wait for you!"
Mao Xiangling stopped and called out in the direction they had gone:
"Yuan Qiang, remember to wait for me. I only have one more year until graduation!"
The train disappeared around the bend at the end of the platform, and Mao Xiangling wiped away the tears on her cheeks.
She won't regret what happened last night.
**
Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.
That night, Xia Enruo, Gu Yicheng, and Gu Xiyao couldn't sleep in the living room.
A fierce wind was blowing outside, and the few flowers and plants in the yard looked as if they were about to be uprooted.
Her thin, soft body swayed precariously.
Gu Xiyao nestled in her mother's arms and asked:
"Mom, why didn't Dad come home today? Where did he go?"
Xia Enruo stroked her daughter's head, then hugged her son tightly to comfort him:
"Dad and the others have an important mission to take care of. They'll be back tomorrow during the day. If you two are sleepy, you can sleep in Mom's arms!"
"Mom, I'm not sleepy. Let's wait for Dad together!"
The lightning outside shone so brightly that it made the curtains appear white.
Gu Shaoxuan called me early yesterday morning to tell me that their regiment had received orders from their superiors.
They were told they needed to go out on an important secret mission, but they didn't say what it was.
I just mean I won't be able to go home for the next two days.
Xia Enruo was very agitated after receiving the phone call. She couldn't sleep at night and was always on edge.
The thunderstorm outside was exceptionally heavy today; the muffled thunder sounded like a giant axe cleaving through the night sky above Yongning.
Even the two children were woken up and couldn't sleep, so they insisted on going downstairs to play on the sofa.
She was wide awake anyway, so she readily agreed to go downstairs and keep him company.
The three women didn't feel the room was too spacious.
Suddenly the phone rang, and the sudden buzzing sound made Xia Enruo shiver.
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