2.8w nutrient solution bonus chapter, I'm waiting for you to come back.
Chapter 107
Meng Yingying was stunned when she heard this. She was about to speak when Qi Donghan did not play by the rules.
He kissed me right after I asked the question.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, the touch was fleeting, yet it caused both of them to blush instantly.
Meng Yingying didn't dare to look at Qi Donghan; she twisted and rubbed the hem of her clothes.
Qi Donghan was similar. He clenched his fist and coughed lightly, "Um, the weather is really nice today."
Even though his lips had long since left, the two of them remained frozen in place, like wooden stakes, neither daring to move.
Meng Yingying was the first to come to her senses. She touched her lips with her fingers and found them burning hot, as if she had been scalded by a spark. She quickly put her hands behind her back, as if afraid that someone would see them.
Qi Donghan was even more exaggerated, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his knuckles turning white.
He dared not lower his head, only glancing sideways at the sky, but the sky was so dark that it made his face appear bright red.
As the runners beside him marched past in perfect unison.
Under the cover of night, Meng Yingying went to see Qi Donghan by the dim light of the lamps.
Look at his embarrassed appearance.
Meng Yingying couldn't help but burst out laughing. She quickly bit her lower lip to swallow the laughter, but the corners of her mouth were still twitching, she couldn't hold it in at all.
Blushing, she pressed him for an answer, "Qi Donghan, is this your first kiss?"
After saying that, their ears turned even redder.
Qi Donghan was reluctant to admit it, but ultimately didn't want to lie to her, so he finally hummed in agreement after a long pause.
No response was received.
He looked up and stole a glance at her, only to find that Meng Yingying was also stealing glances at him. Their eyes met, and they immediately looked away, like thieves, each turning their gaze to the ground. But there was nothing on the ground except for the snow that was about to melt.
"you……"
"you……"
They both spoke at the same time, and then stopped at the same time.
The air was silent for three seconds, then suddenly a series of "thump thump thump" sounds rang out.
One was from Qi Donghan's chest, and the other was from Meng Yingying's chest. Their heartbeats were in complete chaos, like two drumsticks striking the wrong beat.
Rushing around recklessly.
Meng Yingying couldn't help but raise her hand and pat his chest, complaining softly, "Stop jumping, or you'll jump out."
When Qi Donghan heard this, he tried to pat her chest, but as soon as he reached out, Meng Yingying glared at him and stopped him.
"Try taking a picture of me then?"
Despite the gentle tone, Qi Donghan inexplicably detected a murderous aura in his voice.
He raised his hand and then lowered it again, patting his own chest, saying in a rather evasive manner, "I'm patting myself."
Seeing his large frame and the way he patted his heart, Meng Yingying couldn't help but laugh. "Silly boy."
This broke the ice between the two, and they both laughed. But just as the laughter began, they heard that there were still people practicing ahead.
He then braked at the same time—afraid that the laughter would be too loud and shatter the secret he had just revealed.
After they finished laughing, they looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
Qi Donghan took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and stretched out a large hand, palm up, in front of her. His voice was so low it was almost inaudible, "Um? Can we hold hands again?"
Meng Yingying lowered her eyes, her fingertips lightly touching his palm, then quickly withdrew like a dragonfly skimming the water.
But the next second, she put her whole hand into his palm and hummed softly.
That "hmm" was like a silent encouragement to Qi Donghan.
His fingers immediately closed, enveloping that soft little hand, but he dared not use force, only holding it loosely, afraid that he would squeeze too hard and hurt her.
Under the cover of night, the moon was hazy and indistinct, and the fog shrouded the ground, obscuring the road ahead.
But this is the best cover-up for the two of them.
Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan walked hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, their steps light and airy, as if they were walking on cotton.
The snow started falling again, flakes landing on their hair and their clasped hands, but no one reached out to brush the snowflakes away.
When Meng Yingying turned around and saw the patch of white on Qi Donghan's buzz cut, she couldn't help but laugh. "Qi Donghan, don't we look like we've turned white-haired?"
Qi Donghan inexplicably found those words quite pleasant to hear.
He turned his head to look at Meng Yingying and saw that her hair was covered with a thin layer of snow, her lips were red and her teeth were white, and her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting.
Meng Yingying is like a piece of crystal.
This made Qi Donghan's breath catch in his throat. "It's like that."
"Yingying, we will grow old together."
It was stated in a declarative tone, yet it was very certain.
Meng Yingying remained silent, as did Qi Donghan, neither wanting to disrupt the atmosphere.
The distance from the cultural troupe's dormitory to the family compound was barely a kilometer, but the two of them weren't going back to the dormitory; they were going home.
They went back to their newly built home.
Thinking of this, Meng Yingying felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
After walking all the way into the family compound, Qi Donghan finally managed to utter a sentence, his voice hoarse but as earnest as a vow, "Yingying, I... I will practice hard from now on."
Meng Yingying looked up, somewhat puzzled, "Practice what?"
“Practice…” Qi Dong coughed, his ear tips almost glowing red, but the streetlights in the private courtyard illuminated him clearly. He said in a hoarse voice, “Practice kissing you.”
Good heavens, Qi Donghan had never said anything like that before in his life. So much so that he didn't notice his surroundings when he said it and bumped into a telephone pole.
Meng Yingying tried to pull him away but couldn't, yet she was shocked to see the usually cold and aloof Qi Donghan acting so childish.
She paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh so hard she bent over. As she laughed, she tiptoed and quickly pecked Qi Donghan's chin, her voice as light as a feather, "No need to tell me, just kiss him secretly. I'll teach you how to do it like me."
After saying that, she turned and ran, all the way to the entrance of her family compound.
Qi Donghan stood there, touching his chin where she had pecked him; it was burning hot and carried a sweet fragrance.
This made Qi Donghan's lips curl up slightly.
Meng Yingying ran ahead. Their house was located downwind, so the wind at the door was like a knife, whipping up snowflakes that seemed to pierce their necks.
Meng Yingying gasped for breath from the cold. She didn't have her keys with her; they were with Qi Donghan. So she waited a couple of steps for Qi Donghan to come out with the keys.
Seeing that she was cold, Qi Donghan took out his keys and pulled Meng Yingying closer to him, turning up the collar of his coat to shield her from the wind and snow.
"It's so cold when we get home, I'll make you some ginger soup in a bit—"
He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking.
Under the streetlights, Yang Jie was wrapped in an old woolen coat, her nose red from the cold, clutching a telegram she had just received, her knuckles blue from gripping it so tightly.
When she saw the young couple, it was like seeing a savior. She ran up to them, her voice a little hoarse, "Yingying!"
As soon as she walked, Yang Jie noticed that the soles of her feet were numb from the cold, and she gasped.
Meng Yingying was still immersed in the sweetness with Qi Donghan when the shout made her heart sink. She subconsciously broke free from Qi Donghan's arms and ran over to ask, "Teacher? What are you doing here?"
It was so cold in Harbin that night that when she opened her mouth, a puff of white mist came out.
Even the eyelashes were covered in snow-white shards of ice.
Yang Jie rushed forward, but seeing the loving couple, she didn't know how to say the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Meng Yingying also stamped her foot anxiously, "What's wrong with the teacher?"
She directed Qi Donghan to open the door, wanting to pull Yang Jie inside to talk. Their doorway was downwind of the passageway, and the cold wind was howling inside their clothes, chilling them to the bone.
Qi Donghan and she had this much in common, and he opened the door quickly.
After leading them into the house, he closed the door again, then turned around, picked up the tin thermos, poured two enamel mugs of hot water, handed one to Meng Yingying and the other to Yang Jie.
Yang Jie drank some hot water and then felt a bit warmer. "The troupe just issued an urgent notice that the express train departs for the capital at 8:50 tonight."
Buzz—
It felt like someone had hit Meng Yingying's ears; all the sweetness and ginger soup were instantly blown away by the north wind.
She took the telegram in a daze; the words on it were written clearly.
She couldn't even begin to deceive herself.
Meng Yingying had expected news from the capital, but she didn't expect it to come so quickly.
She clutched the telegram, her knuckles turning white from gripping it so tightly, but her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and she couldn't utter a single word.
"Yingying".
Yang Jie was a little worried. Holding the enamel mug, the warmth in her hands calmed her mind a bit. "If there were any other way, I wouldn't be here looking for you at this hour."
But there's nothing we can do.
They had no connections, but Song Fenfang managed to open up a new path for Meng Yingying.
That's why she had no choice but to come and find Meng Yingying.
Meng Yingying did not speak.
In that short time, Yang Jie had already come up with several ideas as she watched Meng Yingying struggle.
She tentatively suggested, "If you feel reluctant to leave your home after getting married, I can help you refuse."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Yingying looked up abruptly, "No."
The momentary struggle in her eyes had turned into determination: "Teacher, I'll go."
She knew that this opportunity to move from the Harbin troupe to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe was hard-won.
This was the future she had longed for, the result of countless nights of practice; how could she bear to refuse it?
"Teacher, I'll go."
This was the second time she had spoken, and it took her less than a minute for her tone to shift from hesitant to firm.
They had already made their decision.
She was hesitant to look back into Qi Donghan's eyes, afraid that she would see disappointment and sadness in them.
Qi Donghan stood a meter away from the two of them, holding an enamel basin filled with hot water, intending for Meng Yingying and Yang Jie to wash their hands and warm themselves up.
However, before he could even get there, he overheard this conversation.
Then, the rim of the basin clattered against his coat button and fell to the ground, spilling hot water all over the floor and creating a cloud of white steam.
It also obscured most of the man's expression, making it difficult to see clearly.
He didn't speak, but his jawline suddenly tightened, like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to be released.
Yang Jie then noticed that Qi Donghan's expression was not good, and she lowered her voice, sounding apologetic.
"Commander Qi... I know you're newlyweds today, but the news from the capital came too quickly. The registration for the Capital Song and Dance Troupe has already closed. Shen Meilan and Li Shaoqing, who went to the Soviet Union for exchange and study with Yingying, have already been accepted. Only Yingying and Tong Jialan are still missing and have nowhere to go."
"Now that news has finally arrived from the capital, if Yingying doesn't go, it's tantamount to giving up."
Qi Donghan stood there without saying a word.
The cold wind outside the window whipped the stray hairs at Meng Yingying's temples into a frenzy. She looked up at Qi Donghan, her throat dry, "I..."
Despite her quick agreement with Yang Jie, she still felt somewhat guilty when facing Qi Donghan.
To the point that he couldn't even utter a coherent sentence.
The man lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the back of her hands, which were red from the cold. He only asked one question, "How long will it take?"
Nobody knows.
Meng Yingying subconsciously looked at Yang Jie.
Yang Jie hesitated for a moment, "No one knows yet. Yingying needs to go first. We'll find out what the schedule is like once we get to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe."
"It may take a few days, or it may take a month or even longer."
At this point, Yang Jie herself was a little embarrassed to speak.
Because it's really too much.
The young couple had just held their wedding banquet during the day and hadn't even entered their bridal chamber yet, and she was already calling the bride away.
It just doesn't seem right.
As soon as Yang Jie finished speaking, the room became even quieter. Outside the window, the north wind howled, making the tree branches rustle.
Meng Yingying raised her hand and tugged at Qi Donghan's sleeve. "Qi Donghan, I've always wanted to go to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe."
Otherwise, she wouldn't have participated in the competitions all the way, and even went abroad to study in the Soviet Union.
Qi Donghan nodded, naturally knowing.
Looking at Meng Yingying like this, he simply couldn't bring himself to refuse her.
Qi Donghan took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was hoarse beyond belief, "Then let's pack our luggage first."
“Yingying, I have never stopped you from pursuing your future.”
However, Qi Donghan did not expect this day to come so soon.
He had originally thought that the two of them could still have some tenderness between them.
Meng Yingying pursed her lips, "I didn't expect that either."
"But military orders are absolute, and Qidong is fierce; you should know that better than I do."
Similarly, if Qi Donghan were to receive orders to go on a mission outside, Meng Yingying would not refuse.
Because there was no other way; their positions and missions set the tone for them from the very beginning.
Qi Donghan grunted in response and stepped into the courtyard, his pace quicker than usual, the snowflakes crunching under his feet.
Meng Yingying froze for a second, then caught up with him, grabbing his sleeve. She looked up at him, "Qi Donghan—"
Qi Donghan stopped, without turning around, and slowly pulled his sleeve out of her palm, then wrapped his hand around her cold fingers, holding them tightly, as if he wanted to transfer warmth to her all at once.
"Don't get cold." He swallowed hard and said in a hoarse voice, "Go to your room and change into a thick sweater. I'll go buy you something to eat on the train."
Yang Jie stood there, watching the young couple reluctantly parting at the door. She suddenly felt like a villain who was breaking up a loving couple. The telegram in her hand rustled in the wind, as if mocking her.
No, even the "double happiness" character on the door was mocking her.
Qi Donghan went out, and Meng Yingying had no time to wallow in self-pity. She quickly went back to pack her luggage.
Sweaters, dance costumes, hair clips, gloves, scarves, enamel mugs.
She packed all of these into her luggage.
Yang Jie stayed by her side, asking, "Are you reluctant to leave?"
Meng Yingying paused in packing her luggage. Her eyes reddened slightly, but she still nodded.
She was never like this before; no matter which performance she went to, she always left very decisively and efficiently.
Never before have we felt so reluctant to part.
Yang Jie paused for a moment, then said, "This is the price of marriage."
"Because people will have something to care about."
"Yingying, if we could do it all over again, would you still get married?"
In fact, she was not only asking Meng Yingying, but also asking her past self.
Meng Yingying packed her luggage, slung it on her back, and whispered, "Teacher, given my current situation, I might still get married."
"If Qi Donghan becomes a heartless man in the future, or disappoints me, I might regret it—"
She paused, shook her head, and said firmly, "No, even if that day comes, I won't regret it."
"Because experiencing one thing, liking one thing, and accompanying one person is enough."
Yang Jie looked somewhat stunned upon hearing this.
To be honest, Meng Yingying was much more decisive and clear-headed than her. She wondered if things would have turned out differently if she had been as clear-headed and decisive as Meng Yingying when she was young.
Yang Jie didn't know that; all she knew was that youth never returns.
"Yingying".
She called her name, and Meng Yingying, who was about to put her luggage on her back, looked up.
"You are much braver than me, so go forward boldly."
Because she has so many people supporting her.
Meng Yingying nodded and smiled brightly, "Thank you, teacher."
Under the lights, she seemed to be glowing.
Even Yang Jie was momentarily dazed.
Meng Yingying was ready when Qi Donghan quickly returned after buying the items.
I brought back a bag of peach shortbread, a packet of milk candy, two jars of canned yellow peaches, a bottle of snow frog oil, and some grain and meat coupons in exchange.
I have no idea where Qi Donghan got so many things in just over ten minutes.
Seeing that Meng Yingying had already packed her luggage, Qi Donghan paused for a moment, "Give me your bag, I'll help you put these things in too."
Meng Yingying said instinctively, "There's no room left."
Qi Donghan didn't explain, he just took her luggage, and no one knew what he did, the luggage was already stuffed full.
They were stuffed back into canned yellow peaches, peach shortbread, and a bag of milk candy.
"It's easy to get a sore throat on the train, so remember to eat the canned yellow peaches."
"When you're so hungry you can't stand it anymore, eat a peach shortbread. When you're tired from practicing and don't have time to eat, carry some milk candy with you. Remember to eat it so you don't collapse from exhaustion. The weather in the capital is dry and lacks moisture, so remember to use snow frog oil."
"I've put the money and tickets in two places for you, one at the very bottom of your luggage and the other in your pocket. That way, if you lose either of them, you won't be caught off guard."
“If you go to the capital and don’t have enough money or tickets, send a telegram back and I’ll figure something out for you.”
Such a large, cold person, yet his rambling words of advice were somewhat heartbreaking.
The more he acted this way, the more guilty Meng Yingying felt.
She hugged him from behind, pressing her face against his back, her voice trembling, "Qi Donghan, please don't do this..."
She would rather Qi Donghan scold her a couple of times.
They said she was irresponsible, abandoning him on their wedding day.
Instead of things being so perfectly arranged now.
The man stiffened for a moment, then slowly turned around, pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and after a long while uttered a sentence, "Yingying, I just can't bear to see you go."
"but--"
At times like these, being reluctant to let go is the most useless thing.
He lifted Meng Yingying's chin, and their eyes met.
The man lowered his head and kissed her forehead restrainedly. "Yingying, take care on your journey."
Meng Yingying felt a pang of sadness, as if a sunny day had suddenly turned into a rainstorm.
She gave a soft "hmm," and said, "I'll call and telegraph you when I get there."
The two parted with reluctance.
Yang Jie had already tactfully gone outside to wait.
Qi Donghan had already said goodbye to Meng Yingying, but seeing her leave, he felt very reluctant and chased after her despite the cold wind.
"Do you have a car? Would you like me to take you to the station?"
Meng Yingying was unaware of these things, as Yang Jie had arranged them all. She paused for a moment, then said, "There are tarpaulin trucks."
Qi Donghan also changed his clothes, his usual military overcoat, with the top button fastened tightly. When he heard Yang Jie mention the tarpaulin truck, he frowned, "The tarpaulin truck is too cold."
The man was a man of few words, but he reached out and took the bag from Meng Yingying's body. His palm was pressed against the back of her hand, which was surprisingly hot. "I'm going to borrow a jeep, it's on my way."
"You guys wait for me at the entrance of the garrison."
Yang Jie watched from behind, wanting to urge him but too embarrassed to do so, so she could only pull her scarf up as if to block the wind and cough lightly.
I thought the young couple would be reluctant to part, but I didn't expect Qi Donghan to leave so quickly this time.
No one needs to urge them at all.
Seeing Qi Donghan's decisive manner, even Yang Jie couldn't help but sigh to Meng Yingying, "Qi Donghan is indeed a good person."
He is thoughtful, efficient, clear-headed, and able to consider the big picture.
She's practically the perfect wife for any woman.
Meng Yingying was originally quite sad, but after Yang Jie said that, she tilted her head and thought for a moment, "He does seem to be quite a good wife."
Money, clothing, food, even the car for travel and face cream were all arranged by Qi Donghan.
It didn't require her to put in any effort at all.
Meng Yingying couldn't help but laugh at these words. "Teacher, no, we can't describe him like that. If we keep going, Qi Donghan's tall and imposing figure will turn into a virtuous wife and loving mother in my eyes."
Yang Jie, “…”
Linking the tall and imposing Qi Donghan with a virtuous wife and loving mother is just utterly vulgar.
"Never mind, we can't talk about Commander Qi like that. He's had a tough time."
When Meng Yingying and Yang Jie arrived at the entrance of the garrison, it was already completely dark. It was only a little past six o'clock.
The sky over Harbin was already overcast. "Will it snow?"
Meng Yingying looked up at the sky, and as soon as she finished speaking, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
The snowflakes were like shards of glass, stinging a little when they hit my face.
Meng Yingying hunched her shoulders, burying most of her face in her scarf, and walked with Yang Jie, one in front of the other, to the entrance of the garrison.
There were no obstructions at the entrance, so the wind picked up even more.
He Chang arrived early and stood ramrod straight, but he was still freezing and his teeth were chattering. When he saw the two of them coming over, he cursed with a bitter face, "This damn weather, even pee would freeze into an icicle!"
That was far too rude.
However, Meng Yingying and Yang Jie seemed to have gotten used to it.
As soon as she finished speaking, two bright headlights pierced through the foggy snow, and with a whoosh, the jeep was thrown in front of them.
Qi Dong flung open the car door, jumped out, his coat collar turned up high, revealing only his eyes, and called out in a muffled voice, "Get in the car quickly, don't just stand there."
The three of them scrambled into the carriage, which, because it was enclosed, was just like a room, with heat hitting their faces.
Director He finally breathed a sigh of relief, put his luggage away, and then patted the chair, exclaiming, "It's so much easier to get things done if you have connections in the imperial court. Otherwise, I'd be sitting at the door eating the northwest wind right now."
Given their rank, where would they possibly borrow a Jeep?
Qi Donghan didn't respond, shifted gears and stepped on the gas, the jeep crunching through the thin layer of snow particles.
The car started moving faster.
No one spoke in the car. Everyone's teeth ached from the cold, and now they didn't even want to open their mouths.
Half an hour later, we arrived at the train station.
As soon as the car stopped, He Chuchang, being sensible, grabbed Yang Jie with one hand and carried their luggage with the other, got off the car, and slipped into the station, leaving the young couple alone.
At the ticket checkpoint at the train station entrance, the snow fell even more heavily, as if a layer of salt had been sprinkled on the ground.
It makes a dull creaking sound when you step on it.
Meng Yingying pulled her scarf down a little, revealing her nose, which was red from the cold. She smiled at Qi Donghan with pursed lips and said, "Qi Donghan, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself at home."
Qi Donghan hummed in agreement and reached out to brush the snow off her shoulder. His movements were a little clumsy, but you could see the care he showed.
After he finished taking the picture, he had nowhere to put his hands, so he put them in his pocket and then took them out again.
It seems like I touched something.
Qi Donghan instantly remembered what these were. He had gone to the supply and marketing cooperative where he was stationed to buy things, and they had given him some small change.
Thinking of this, he took everything out of his pants pocket and stuffed it all into Meng Yingying's hand, saying, "Keep it with you, it'll be convenient to use."
"They're all just small bills; it's not a big deal if they get lost."
"However, don't sleep too soundly in the car. Be careful of thieves. If you encounter one, it's better to lose the money than let someone else suffer a loss, understand?"
Meng Yingying laughed at his nagging, but clutching the tattered bill, she neither refused nor argued. She nodded and turned to walk towards the car door.
She had only taken two steps when her wrist was grabbed, and she turned around.
Qi Donghan pursed his lips, his Adam's apple bobbing for a long time before he finally managed to utter a few words, "When you get to the capital... send a telegram so I won't worry about you."
Meng Yingying didn't dare to turn around, afraid that if she did, she would be reluctant to leave. She could only give a soft "hmm" and drag her luggage, walking even faster.
Qi Donghan watched her retreating figure, let out a soft breath, cupped his face in his hands, and shouted loudly at her, "Meng Yingying, have a safe journey."
"I'm waiting for you to come back!"
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Author's Note: Bonus chapter for 28,000 nutrient solutions! The more I write, the more I feel like Qi Tuan is a little wife, hahaha.
The next chapter will focus on the female lead's career, as she goes to fight in the arena.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
