Long live understanding!
The family had all arrived, but the dishes wouldn't be ready for a while. Li Sheng entrusted the children to the old lady and pulled Gao Junxiao to move the tea tray to the back courtyard.
A simple light bulb hangs from the empty flower stand, just enough to illuminate the two people sitting there drinking tea. Li Sheng pours Gao Junxiao a steaming cup of tea.
Holding his teacup, Gao Junxiao's thoughts had already flown upstairs. Perhaps noticing that he hadn't drunk any tea for a while, Li Sheng asked him what he was thinking earlier, why he had gone to provoke someone for no reason.
What else could he think? He just wanted her to look at him more. Gao Junxiao looked up at the lit room on the third floor and sighed helplessly.
"Come on, give me a break! Why should she look at you? You're making a fool of yourself." Li Sheng casually pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, scolding her with a pained expression, "Sigh, all my teaching was for nothing. Didn't you see she got even angrier?"
Two soft coughs were heard, and Li Sheng's hand trembled as he pressed the lighter. Following the sound, Gao Junxiao found Mrs. Li standing on the small balcony with an unfriendly expression.
"One is fine." Li Sheng took the cigarette and grinned, but the smile was extremely unnatural.
"If you've smoked, don't come to the table to eat. Wash off the smell of smoke before you come out in public." Mrs. Li propped herself up on her arm, her tone calm but leaving no room for negotiation.
Across from him, Li Sheng scratched his face, unsure whether to sit or stand, and finally wisely put his cigarettes back in the pack. Mrs. Li then turned and went back to her room, satisfied.
Even Gao Junxiao, an outsider, could feel the awkward atmosphere. The legendary virtuous Mrs. Li was actually so fierce, not even giving men face. Li Sheng hurriedly avoided his sympathetic gaze and instead sipped his tea.
For a moment, Gao Junxiao's firm belief in getting married wavered slightly, but when he thought that he neither smoked nor had any other bad habits, he held onto a sliver of hope.
Suddenly, Li Sheng chuckled and covered his mouth to explain, "You scared me? My wife is very virtuous. She's doing this for my own good and wants me to quit smoking."
Smoking is indeed bad, and Gao Junxiao can understand Mrs. Li's good intentions. However, with outsiders present, she should at least save face for her husband.
At that moment, the glass back door was pushed open, and a light flashed in Li Sheng's eyes. He saw the maid bring in a fruit platter and place it on the table, conveying Mrs. Li's instructions: "Madam told you to smoke less and eat more pears and mangoes, which can moisturize the lungs and stop phlegm."
Both of them admired the platter, and looking at the juicy fruit sliced into windowpane shapes, Gao Junxiao felt a burning shame on his face. What did pride matter? Some things money couldn't buy; how could he dare complain? Mangoes were a seasonal delicacy, not meant for long-term storage, and were all air-freighted from the southwest to Shanghai—they were quite rare.
“If you feel uncomfortable being controlled by your wife, not getting married is also an option. You can do whatever you want on your own.” Li Sheng generously invited him to taste the mango. “Actually, marriage will bring both gains and losses for both people. Only by letting go of half of their true nature can they work together to form a new family.”
"I'd rather she were in charge of me, but she's He Qingcheng. She has too many people to manage. I reckon she'd be on the waiting list for ten years." Gao Junxiao absentmindedly picked up a piece of mango. The mango had a pleasant aroma, but a slightly astringent taste spread through his mouth.
"Ptooey! What's that taste?" Gao Junxiao spat out the fruit, only to realize that he had chewed the mango peel raw as well.
"Oh dear, why did you eat the skin too? You should have eaten that in Guangzhou." Li Sheng dragged the trash can to his feet, looking puzzled.
After clearing away the trash, Gao Junxiao lost all interest in the fruit platter. He had indeed eaten plenty of it back in Guangzhou, but the thought of He Qingcheng made him...
“I advise you to stop eyeing Miss He. She refuses to resign and loves to travel around. When you come home, it’s cold and quiet, with no hot meals or dishes. What’s the point?” Li Sheng’s eyes revealed a hint of inquiry.
"I love her magnanimity! I admire her concern for the country and its people, and her kindness to everyone. No matter how virtuous other women are, it has nothing to do with me. My wife is He Qingcheng," Gao Junxiao retorted confidently.
Li Sheng could no longer suppress his smile and pressed his shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, with your insight, you'll definitely be able to marry Miss He. But you need to rein in your selfish desires. If you do, you'll discover an even more wonderful Miss He."
"Thank you for your kind words, but I'd better apologize sincerely first." Gao Junxiao made up his mind that he could no longer shirk responsibility. He was the one who provoked Dai Yunong in the first place, and he shouldn't let his wife suffer.
As they drank and chatted, the maid informed them that the meal was ready. When they returned to the hall, the entire Li family, young and old, sat down in a row. Qingcheng, persuaded by Mrs. Li, did not leave.
Li Sheng thoughtfully left the empty seat next to He Qingcheng for Gao Junxiao, and sat in the last empty seat himself. He Qingcheng had no expression on her face, and ate her food by herself, completely ignoring Gao Junxiao.
Gao Junxiao resisted the urge to serve her food, and the meal felt like chewing wax. Only when the warm, spicy liquor went down his throat did he find some flavor.
After the meal, Li Sheng warmly gave Qingcheng a bag of mangoes to thank her for helping to deliver the items. Qingcheng thanked him in return, said goodbye, and left.
Seizing the opportunity, Qingcheng got into the driver's seat, while Gao Junxiao casually opened the door and sat in the passenger seat. Qingcheng's face darkened, and she glared at him with sharp eyes. He simply fastened his seatbelt and decided to carry on with his shamelessness: "Why are you looking at me? We're going the same way, let's hitch a ride."
Qingcheng was too lazy to waste any more words with him, and coldly said that she was getting off the bus.
"Miss He, just think of it as kindly giving a neighbor a ride." Gao Junxiao slumped back in his seat, weakly pressing his temples. "I've been drinking and don't want to be bounced around in a rickshaw, I'm afraid I'll throw up. I really didn't mean anything by it, or do you have something else in mind?"
He heard a series of heavy gasps in his ears. Qingcheng seemed to be trying to compose herself. Gao Junxiao closed his eyes, betting that she wouldn't kick him out of the car.
A moment later, the car body trembled slightly. Gao Junxiao opened her eyes, unable to hide her excitement. In the end, she softened. As the engine spun, the scenery outside the window changed from alleyways to empty streets.
The streetlights cast an even glow on the black asphalt road. Inside the car, the two sat side by side, but the overwhelming silence kept them at a distance. A bitter taste rose in Gao Junxiao's mouth. He turned his head, pretending to look at the scenery, but all he saw was Qingqing's profile reflected in the car window, her lips pursed, staring intently at the road ahead.
When did she stop smiling? His hand unconsciously touched the car window, and Gao Junxiao drew a crescent moon in the reflection from memory.
Suddenly, Qingcheng turned her head slightly, and Gao Junxiao, as if he had been caught stealing something, tensed up and shrank back, the heat lingering on his ears from the abruptness.
Fortunately, Qingcheng was just looking at the road. She turned a corner and continued straight. Gao Junxiao secretly glanced at Qingcheng, then quickly looked away.
Whether it was unnecessary or not, he pulled up his sleeve and wiped away the dust on the window. A clean side window would make the interior of the car brighter and make it easier to see his side of the rearview mirror clearly.
As the car turned past Fuxing Park, Gao Junxiao knew that he didn't have much time left to prepare.
"We've arrived. Get off." Qingcheng's expression was indifferent, but her tone left no room for refusal.
The car was parked in the alleyway opposite the apartment, its dark body completely hidden in the darkness. Just as Qingcheng took out the key and was about to push open the door, Gao Junxiao, fueled by alcohol, suddenly grabbed Qingcheng's wrist and blurted out without thinking, "You drive really well."
"Thank you, let go!" Kiyosumi was startled, then tried to pry his hands off.
Gao Junxiao had so much to say to her, but his mouth was sealed shut, and he couldn't utter a single syllable. Sigh, if he didn't say anything, she would definitely get even angrier.
The car door opened slightly, and a cool breeze rushed into the carriage through the gap. If he let go this time, Gao Junxiao didn't know when he would find a chance to explain. In desperation, he grabbed Qingcheng, who was struggling, with one hand.
The pounding of his heart drowned out all his shame. Gao Junxiao's voice tightened: "I'm sorry, I crossed your line. I'm old-fashioned, I'm not progressive enough, and I'm hindering your progress. You have your own circle of friends, and you shouldn't have given them up just because you're with me. It's all my fault."
With his struggle weakening, Gao Junxiao lowered his head and pressed his advantage: "I clearly don't have the skills to handle family conflicts, yet I still took on that difficult task, making you unhappy. I should have taken the initiative to deal with the real culprit in the family, instead of trying to smooth things over and shifting all the blame onto you, making you bear the consequences. Please give me a chance to make amends."
The car fell silent. Gao Junxiao mustered his courage and looked up to observe. Their eyes met. A thin mist rose in Qingcheng's eyes, and her expression made him feel a chill, yet he couldn't discern her thoughts.
The wait before being slowly sliced to death is the longest. Bang! The car door slammed shut again. Finally, Qingcheng spoke: "Your reflection is not profound at all. I don't accept it. Who knows if you will do it again in the future?"
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Gao Junxiao suppressed his excitement and forced himself to remain calm: "Of course you don't have to accept it right away. You've been angry with a jerk like me for so long, you need to calm down. I'll talk to my mother-in-law and my parents and persuade them properly. You just go to work as usual and wait to see me solve the problem."
"How do you want to solve this?" Qingcheng's tone was very similar to when Commander Xiong asked him for details, but with her fair face, she always gave people a feeling of being deliberately mature, and Gao Junxiao couldn't help but smile.
He already had a general plan in mind. Gao Junxiao said confidently, "Eliminate powerful enemies from the outside and traitors from within. I will definitely get justice for you."
"Be more specific!" Qingcheng's tone was crisp and decisive, unlike her usual sweet and gentle manner.
This question stumped Gao Junxiao. He touched the back of his neck, trying to make up a solution on the spot, but his mind was a mess and he had no concrete ideas. He chuckled a few times, quickly rubbed his face against Qingcheng's hand, and said shamelessly, "It's too late today, and I've been drinking. I'll tell you tomorrow, okay?"
"Are you crazy? Your face is like sandpaper, and my hands are peeling." Qingcheng withdrew her hand and shouted, blowing on her hand as if it hurt. Gao Junxiao wanted to pull her over to blow on it for her, but Qingcheng slapped him away in disgust, and he didn't dare to move for a moment.
"You mean you have no plan?" Kiyosumi glanced at him.
"I just can't think of anything right now. I'm worried about your safety. I haven't slept for days. Let me get some sleep, and I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out." Gao Junxiao leaned back in his chair, finally able to relax a bit from the pressure that had been building up over the past few days.
Perhaps fearing that Qingcheng wouldn't believe him, Gao Junxiao met her probing gaze and said seriously, "I'm not making excuses. If this matter isn't resolved completely, I won't have a good life in the military. Who would joke about their future?"
The air seemed to freeze. Qingcheng looked down at him for a while, scrutinizing him before asking bluntly, "How much do you know about Dai Yunong?"
Unexpectedly, Qingcheng directly asked about the key person. Gao Junxiao realized that Huahua still cared about him, and ripples spread in his heart. He stared straight at Qingcheng and admitted that he knew almost nothing about that person, only some basic information written in the file, such as age, family situation, and education.
"Do you know the difference between the ten-person group and CC?" He Qingcheng asked another question he hadn't expected.
They were all intelligence agencies, and he hadn't studied them carefully. Gao Junxiao obediently shook his head. Something seemed to surface in his mind, flashing by like a firefly, but he couldn't grasp that strange thing.
"How much do you know about the conflict between Xu Qiao and Dai Yunong?" Qingcheng spoke clearly, her voice lingering in the air.
In the quiet carriage, the question echoed in Gao Junxiao's mind. Suddenly, a jolt made him sit up straight, and with lightning speed, he kissed Qingcheng's hand with a "smack." He knew what to do.
"Who told you to kiss me? I haven't forgiven you yet." Qingcheng pulled his face hard with both hands, no longer afraid of his beard pricking her.
"I only did it by hand because I knew you hadn't forgiven me. Actually, I wanted to kiss your cheek more," Gao Junxiao stammered nervously.
With a relieved expression, Qingcheng released him and tapped his chest, saying, "You're still feeling wronged? I'm warning you, don't you dare lay a hand on me until I forgive you. Keep a normal social distance, or you'll be sorry."
He always lost out to Qingcheng's advances, and Gao Junxiao reluctantly accepted them, feeling aggrieved: "I'm going to grow a beard to show my resolve. I won't shave until you forgive me."
"Tch! Go ahead and grow it then." Kiyosumi raised the corner of her mouth, looking nonchalant. "Come to my room to pick up the documents after nine o'clock tomorrow night."
So late, is this just a half-hearted invitation? Gao Junxiao's mind wandered for a moment, and before he could even get close, the beauty ruthlessly pushed him away. Qingcheng seemed to see through his thoughts and added disdainfully, "Take Team Leader Dai's personal information, and leave your plan behind. Don't make unnecessary assumptions."
"Why this time? If you eat earlier, I can cook dinner for you, and then we can chat longer," Gao Junxiao asked, puzzled.
"You don't need to worry about all that, just do as I say." Qingcheng said and shooed her out of the car. Gao Junxiao noticed that she hadn't taken the mangoes from the back seat, so he quickly brought them to her.
The apartment building corridor was as dark as ever. Qingcheng covered her head and plunged in. She wasn't afraid of the dark at all, but Gao Junxiao was worried that she would get hurt, so he rushed upstairs and pressed the switch. The corridor lights on the second and third floors lit up one after another.
The warm yellow light shone on Qingcheng's gentle face, making her look like a Western sculpture veiled in a thin gauze, elegant yet mysterious. She blinked as if adjusting to the light. Gao Junxiao's Adam's apple bobbed, and he reached out to hand the bag to Qingcheng. Qingcheng nodded politely, her attitude quite distant.
"Wait a minute." Gao Junxiao mustered his courage and called out to Qingcheng, taking out a savings book from his chest pocket. "Making money isn't easy. I've saved all the money you sent me."
Seeing that Qingcheng was frowning and didn't seem to be taking it, Gao Junxiao hurriedly explained, "This is our joint account. Whatever you deposited, I deposited the same amount. It's not for individuals, um... it's for our... home."
Under Qingcheng's scrutiny, he spoke haltingly, his voice growing softer and softer, his gaze fixed on the ground. Despite trying to reassure himself that being rejected was no big deal, his arm, which wouldn't even falter when holding a submachine gun, was now trembling slightly uncontrollably.
The two were only a short distance apart when a gust of wind blew through his hair. He saw Qingcheng's pretty, pink fingertips quickly brush past him, but before he could feel the light, comfortable touch, his hand was already empty.
She answered it! She answered it!
In just a few seconds, Gao Junxiao's mood went from the underworld to the celestial realm, and his boiling blood surged aimlessly in his chest.
Opening the savings book, Qingcheng's long-lost dimples rippled with an irrepressible smile: "Stand up straight! Now that you're in, be tough. What I want is equality, not disguised privileges."
Her words were so powerful that Gao Junxiao couldn't help but look at her with new respect. His eyes could no longer see anyone else, and he reached out to touch her head. However, remembering his previous warning, he didn't touch her head with his hand in mid-air. He silently withdrew it to his side and said seriously, "Go to sleep early."
"Okay, goodnight. See you tomorrow," Kiyosumi replied with a smile.
After watching Qingcheng go upstairs, Gao Junxiao returned to his room. He leaned against the door, then suddenly burst out laughing. His ears, which had been burning hot, turned bright red. He was secretly looking forward to tomorrow, hoping it would be even better.
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