Chapter 42 His promise weighs a thousand pounds
The sharp mountain breeze rustled the hems of their clothes, dispelling the heavy, subtle silence in the air. That brief yet soul-touching conversation under the starry sky was like a key, quietly unlocking a crack in the deepest ice of each other's hearts.
Su Wanqing's heart was still reeling from the shock and pain of Huo Tingxiao's heavy past, and she felt sorry for the pain and self-blame he carried. She looked at his cold, hard profile, and for the first time, she felt clearly: beneath that icy exterior lay a soul wrapped in layers of pain and responsibility, yet still struggling in the darkness.
She didn't know how to comfort him, and any words seemed pale and powerless at this moment. She could only stand beside him silently, using this silent companionship to convey a faint warmth.
Huo Tingxiao withdrew his gaze from the distant lights. He seemed to take a deep breath, and the emotions that had been violently fluctuating due to memories gradually calmed down, and were replaced by a deeper, almost solemn calm.
He turned and faced Su Wanqing. In the night, his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, but no longer as cold and repulsive as before. Instead, they carried an extremely complex and elusive undercurrent.
"I'll deal with those rumors," he began, his voice low and steady, yet carrying an undeniable power.
Su Wanqing was slightly startled and looked up at him. He was referring to the vicious rumors about her pre-marital affair.
"The source has been found," he continued, his tone calm but with a chilling chill. "It was a family member of the logistics department who was instructed to spread the rumor intentionally."
Su Wanqing's heart suddenly tightened. Being ordered to do this? Was it Lin Weiwei? She was almost certain of it.
"The person is under control." Huo Tingxiao's voice was calm, as if he was stating a business matter that had nothing to do with him. "She will receive the appropriate punishment and publicly apologize within the compound. Anyone who spread the rumors will have their case recorded, affecting their and their family's future performance evaluations and promotions."
His approach was decisive and powerful, brimming with the iron-blooded efficiency of a soldier. Without detours or compromise, he employed the harshest disciplinary measures to nip the rumor at its source and meted out the most practical punishments to serve as a warning to others.
Su Wanqing's heart was shaken when she heard this. She hadn't expected him to act so quickly, or use such force! This wasn't just to clear her name; it was also, in an almost overbearing way, announcing to everyone that anyone who slandered Su Wanqing would pay a heavy price!
"As for Grandpa," Huo Tingxiao paused, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, "Don't worry. I've already explained it to him. He won't believe that nonsense."
He…had already explained it to Grandpa? Without her knowing, he had already quietly cleared the biggest obstacle for her. Su Wanqing's nose felt sore, and her eyes became hot again.
"Thank you..." She choked, not knowing what else to say except thank you.
Huo Tingxiao looked at her in silence. The night blurred his expression, leaving only his eyes exceptionally bright and sharp. He seemed to be considering something. After a few seconds, he spoke again, his voice even deeper and more... solemn.
"Su Wanqing." He called her by her full name. This was a rare occurrence.
Su Wanqing's heart couldn't help but rise, and she looked at him intently with bated breath.
"Our marriage began as a transaction, a replacement." His voice was calm, as if he was stating an objective fact, but it made Su Wanqing's heart sting slightly. He finally pointed out this cruel reality so directly.
"I know this is unfair to you," he continued, his gaze fixed on her gravely. "You shouldn't have been involved in these disputes, much less endured such unwarranted malice."
Su Wanqing's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. Was he... admitting her grievance?
"I can't change what happened in the past." His tone was filled with a very faint, almost imperceptible bitterness. "But from now on, as long as you still bear the name 'Mrs. Huo'," he paused, each word spoken clearly and slowly, with a weight of weight, "I will fulfill my responsibilities as a husband."
"It is my responsibility to protect you. It is my dereliction of duty to let you suffer any injustice."
"That's my promise."
His voice was not loud, but it seemed to contain tremendous force. Every word he spoke clearly struck Su Wanqing's heart, making her eardrums buzz and her whole soul tremble!
promise……
Protect you...
It's my responsibility...
It wasn't sweet talk, a promise of eternal love, or even a hint of tenderness. It was a calm, controlled, even military-esque declaration. It was grounded in responsibility, in identity, and in his understanding of his role.
But it was this unsentimental statement based on responsibility and commitment that shocked Su Wanqing and made her feel more...reassured than any gorgeous oath.
Because it's true. Because it comes from Huo Tingxiao. Because this man is a man of his word.
He might not love her, and he might never love her. But he promised to protect her and fulfill his responsibilities as a husband. This meant that from now on, he would be her strongest support, her most reliable barrier. He would protect her from any attack, from the sword, the spear, the arrow.
This was enough. For her, in a marriage that had started out cold, this was the best promise she could have.
A huge wave of warmth and bitterness surged through her heart, breaking down her last line of defense. Tears finally flowed uncontrollably, streaming down her cheeks. She didn't wipe them away, but simply tilted her head back, looked at him, and nodded vigorously, her voice choked but clear: "I understand... Thank you."
Huo Tingxiao looked at the tear marks on her face, his brows furrowed slightly, a subtle change in his eyes that he himself hadn't noticed. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out his hand. With a somewhat stiff movement, he quickly and roughly wiped her cheek with his fingertips, wiping away the tear.
His fingertips were calloused and rough to the touch, and his movements were stiff, even hurting her delicate skin.
But this clumsy and abrupt action made Su Wanqing's heart feel like it was hit hard by something, and it was beating unbearably.
He withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, turned and walked towards the car: "The wind is strong, let's go back."
"Yeah." Su Wanqing responded softly and followed him.
On the way back, the two remained silent. But the atmosphere in the car was completely different from when they arrived. The heavy, cold barrier between them seemed to have dissipated, and an indescribable, subtle, and stable tension quietly flowed in the air.
Su Wanqing watched the dazzling lights swiftly receding outside the window, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. She knew that the iceberg between them was still enormous, that the wounds in his heart would not heal overnight, and that the road ahead was still long and uncertain.
But at least tonight, he made her a promise. A promise that was as heavy as a thousand pounds, a promise that she could rely on with peace of mind.
That's enough.
For her, this is a new and hopeful beginning.
She closed her eyes gently, and the corners of her lips involuntarily rose slowly into a very shallow but real arc.
Heart-to-heart talks under the starry sky, frozen promises.
It is as heavy as a thousand pounds, but as warm as spring water.
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