Wu Sicheng took firewood and the two cleaned wild rabbits, found a flat spot, and began to build a fire.
When An Moxue returned with the wild spices she had found, she didn't see Wang Wei and Li Deren, and asked, "Where are they?"
“They’ve gone. I sent them back to report. I’m sure everyone will be happy to hear that you’re safe and sound. Come on, have a seat.” Wu Sicheng made room for most of the seat he had just set up.
An Moxue walked over and sat down next to him.
He looked at her and asked, "How have you been these past ten days?" Although she didn't look much thinner and her complexion was still okay, being trapped in the underground river meant that if she wasn't careful, she would be stuck with nowhere to go, and there would be no one to help her.
"So long?" An Moxue was surprised. There was no day or night in this space, and the flow of energy was different from outside. Also, she was so focused on how she got out that she didn't pay much attention to the time.
Wu Sicheng asked with concern, "You didn't know?"
"It was pitch black inside, so I just instinctively looked for the sound of water and followed the strongest current. I ate when I was hungry, drank when I was thirsty, and slept when I was tired. I didn't pay much attention to the time, but it felt like it had been a while." An Moxue tried to be as truthful as possible, her big eyes full of innocence.
He felt even more heartbroken upon hearing this. What incredible luck it must have been to walk through endless darkness and emerge, only to encounter him, the one who had been searching for her, not long after.
He smiled at her, his eyes filled with relief at surviving such an ordeal, and said, "Our little girl is so lucky; she managed to come out unscathed."
An Moxue said proudly, "That's right, it's all thanks to the good deeds of our ancestors. All the good luck has come my way." If it weren't for the space, she would have suffocated there. It's all thanks to the space left by our ancestors.
He chuckled softly, then his laughter grew louder and louder until it finally turned into a hearty laugh.
An Moxue laughed along with him, and after she finished laughing, she looked at him pitifully and said, "Wu Sicheng, the fire is almost done. Hurry up and grill the fish and rabbit for me. I'm starving."
He busied himself quickly, "Grill! Grill right away! Actually, it would be best to eat some porridge or soup at this time, but since we don't have any, you can eat slowly later."
“I have an aluminum lunchbox, shall we use it to make a fish soup?” An Moxue said, taking a lunchbox out of her backpack and handing it to Wu Sicheng. She also took out a small packet of seasoning from it and looked at Wu Sicheng expectantly.
She hadn't eaten her cooking in a long time, except for the barbecue after their reunion.
Wu Sicheng took the things and then took out some seasonings from his bag, saying, "This time we can make a fish soup."
An Moxue watched expectantly as he scooped some water from the river, returned, put a fish in the lunchbox, added some seasonings, covered it, and buried it in the fire. He then started roasting the fish and rabbit on top, with their wet clothes hanging nearby.
"Isn't it almost Chinese New Year?" she asked uncertainly.
"Hmm, soon. Will I be able to spend the Spring Festival at home this year?" He thought to himself with anticipation, but his words came out calmly.
"I'm afraid that won't work. There's a ton of stuff waiting for me to handle over there! Ah! I really want to stay!" she said, sounding dejected.
Wu Ge Cheng looked at her with amusement. She only showed this unrestrained side of herself in front of people she knew and trusted; normally, she was calm and rational.
"These past few years, while I've been away, haven't you prepared any gifts for me?" An Moxue thought of gifts during the New Year and felt she had been cheated.
“I’ve prepared them. Every year, there are gifts for the Lunar New Year, birthdays, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s a pity I haven’t given them out for several years. I don’t know if the recipients like them or not. After all, they’ve seen the world’s splendor.” Wu Sicheng said, glancing cautiously at An Moxue.
An Moxue chuckled inwardly, thinking, "He's testing me!"
She said, "No matter how prosperous the world is, home is where my heart is at peace!" After saying that, she gently rested her head on Wu Sicheng's shoulder.
"Gifts are gifts! There's no such thing as a bad gift; the more the merrier. You're not just trying to fool me without any preparation, are you?" she said, looking at her suspiciously.
"How could I dare? It was all prepared according to your preferences. But you send blessings to Old Ma and his wife every year, why couldn't you tell me?" Wu Sicheng couldn't help but complain.
"Really? But if you really wanted to, you could find out from Uncle Ma! My company sends all my monthly receipts to Uncle Ma, as well as some of my benefits. If he receives them, he'll know I'm safe and sound. What do you think of this method?"
What she didn't say was that she didn't care for relationships that required her to painstakingly maintain. What she wanted was a pure, heartfelt affection that could withstand the test of separation and time—the kind that was unique.
If he cared about her, he would find a way to know if she was safe. Besides, didn't she leave him a message? If he put his mind to it, he would find out. If he didn't go to Uncle Ma, then it wasn't her fault.
"Great!" Although she's getting more and more beautiful, she's also becoming more and more cunning, and he's finding it hard to keep up with her.
He only realized later that Old Ma, as a veteran scout, wouldn't let slip a single word if he didn't want him to know anything about An Moxue.
How are Uncle Ma and his wife doing lately?
"She's doing well! It's just that I keep thinking about you whenever I go there. Aunt Ma is in good health too, and she makes you clothes all the time. They're so beautiful, mostly cheongsams and qipaos! Most of them are traditional clothes. She said you like them, so she also made some Western-style dresses. They're all very pretty styles."
What Wu Sicheng didn't say was that the old couple didn't look like they came from the countryside. After spending time with them, you would know that they must have seen a lot of the world.
What exactly is the relationship between Mo Xue and them?
He was starting to get curious, and he hoped she would tell him more, which would mean their relationship was getting closer.
"Really? Aunt Ma's cooking is so good, I'm just afraid of troubling you. That old couple is so stubborn. I don't know if they're drinking their milk powder and malted milk properly, they have so many illnesses, I'm really worried about them."
"They're eating well and saying they need to take good care of themselves, waiting for you to come back! They're hoping you'll take them out for a walk! Don't worry! They're all in good health."
The fish was grilled, and Wu Sicheng handed it to An Moxue, saying, "Eat up, see if you like it? If you do, I'll get a few more to take with you later."
An Moxue took a bite and exclaimed with delight, "This meat is so fresh and tender, you should have a bite too."
As she spoke, she tore off a piece of boneless fish meat with her right hand and held it to Wu Sicheng's mouth.
Wu Sicheng looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness and satisfaction.
"Eat up!" An Moxue said, stuffing the fish into his mouth, then lowering her head to eat the fish. She didn't dare to look at Wu Sicheng anymore, feeling her face burning hot, unsure how to face him.
I thought to myself, "This is too hasty, too unreserved."
Wu Sicheng chewed the fish repeatedly, feeling a satisfaction he had never experienced before.
Just like the years of waiting, he hadn't told her a single word about the hardships he had endured, but at this moment, all of that was comforting.
No matter how bitter or difficult it is, it's all worth it.
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