Back home, sleeping in her own bed, under her own blanket, and in her own comforting embrace: Ling Ruoke slept soundly all night.
I woke up just as dawn was breaking the next day, but I didn't want to get out of bed. Autumn is the perfect season for sleeping.
She had barely stirred when Huo Qingfeng woke up. He held her close, nuzzling his chin against the top of her head. "What's wrong?"
"I really want to keep sleeping, but I have to get up," Ling Ruoke muttered in frustration. Yang Ziyun and Yuan Meng had prepared yesterday's feast, and she hadn't even helped with the cleanup. If she didn't get up to make breakfast this morning, it would be a real problem.
Huo Qingfeng tightened his arms around her, pulled her over, and lay on his side, pressing her into his embrace. "It's okay, you can keep sleeping. Mom won't say anything." He knew his wife was just too sensitive.
The temptation was too great, and Ling Ruoke stayed in bed for a while longer, but finally couldn't resist. "I'd better get up," she said, nudging his shoulder.
"No. Be good and go to sleep! If you've had enough sleep, we'll do something else!" He said, grabbing her little hand and pressing it down.
Ling Ruoke gasped, the burning heat in her palms making her blush. Looking up, she saw his mischievous smile and his dark eyes that seemed to draw her in. She couldn't help but swallow, her tongue unconsciously licking her lips.
Huo Qingfeng's eyes suddenly changed color. He let out a low growl, flipped her over, and pinned her down, sealing her tempting lips with a kiss. "You little vixen!" he said in annoyance.
Ling Ruoke wanted to refuse, but she really needed to get up!
But Huo Qingfeng wasn't about to let her go so easily. He held her tightly in his arms, using both his lips and hands. It was morning, the time when the little snake was awakening, and besides, he'd already let her go once last night. Under her unconscious teasing, how could he possibly resist? If he didn't devour her completely right away, it would mean there was something wrong with his function!
Ling Ruoke was bitten twice so badly that she completely forgot about getting up. As soon as he stopped, she fell into a deep sleep in his arms. After all, she hadn't recovered her strength yet. Being tormented by him for over two hours, it was no wonder she was exhausted!
After eating and drinking his fill, Huo Qingfeng washed up and came downstairs feeling refreshed. He happened to run into his mother, who was sitting on the sofa drinking warm milk. She smiled when she saw him come down. "Mom, so early."
Yang Ziyun gestured with her chin to show him the clock on the wall. "It's eight o'clock, it's getting late." She said it in a very ordinary way, but it always sounded a little teasing.
Huo Qingfeng understood perfectly well; his mother was a shrewd woman, and she must have seen through everything. "Mom, where are Grandpa and Father?"
"I took Fu'an out for a stroll."
Huo Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. "Mom, then I'll go to the gym. If Ruoke stayed up late last night, let her sleep a little longer."
Yang Ziyun glanced at him with a half-smile. "I think it's not that you went to bed late last night, but that you've exhausted you. You've had enough exercise, so don't bother going to the gym anymore."
Huo Qingfeng touched his nose, feeling somewhat helpless at his mother's audacity in speaking.
"Oh, still shy? You brat, what are you pretending for? Your mother knows exactly how many hairs you have on your body!" Yang Ziyun was unaware that she also had a bit of a youthful vibe.
Huo Qingfeng knew that once his mother got serious, he would be in for a world of hurt. So he gave a shout and ran off.
"You little rascal, you're lucky you ran fast!" Yang Ziyun said with a laugh.
Ling Ruoke slept until the sun was high in the sky. By the time she finished washing up and went downstairs, it was almost noon. Yuan Meng and Yang Ziyun were already preparing lunch, and the aroma of food filled the living room.
Touching her nose, Ling Ruoke felt incredibly embarrassed, as if everyone knew what had happened that morning.
"Ruo Ke, get up. Come here, come to Grandpa and finish this game for Grandpa." Huo Zhenbang beckoned to his granddaughter-in-law, making way for her.
Ling Ruoke jogged over and glanced at the stalemate in the chess game. "Grandpa, why did you stop playing? Are you tired?"
"Just do as I say, don't ask so many questions." The old man spoke sternly, but his face was still all smiles.
Ling Ruo didn't dare say anything more, so she focused on the chess game and started playing against her father-in-law. By the time the two had decided the winner, lunch was ready to be served. She had won this round, and Huo Zhixun's face was very serious. She didn't know if he was unhappy, so she said a few polite words and hurriedly ran away.
Huo Zhixun stared at her back, wondering if he was really that scary.
At the lunch table, Yang Ziyun brought up the wedding arrangements. "You've been married for a while now, it's time to have a wedding ceremony. Our relatives and friends are all in B City, so I think we should hold the wedding there. Dad, what do you think?"
Huo Zhenbang looked at Ruoke and Huo Qingfeng and smiled kindly. "This is a matter for the young people; let them make their own decisions." He wasn't particularly attached to the wedding; he wasn't a show-off.
"Ruo Ke, Qing Feng, what do you say?" Yang Ziyun felt that since he only had one son, she hoped for a grand wedding to celebrate. Their Huo family hadn't had a happy occasion in a long time; as people get older, they crave excitement and celebrations.
Ling Ruoke glanced at Huo Qingfeng and whispered, "I'll listen to Mom." She didn't actually want a wedding. She'd already had one grand wedding in her life, even though it ultimately became a joke. But precisely because of that, she wanted a peaceful and stable life; all those fancy things were ultimately meaningless.
Huo Qingfeng grasped Ruo Ke's hand, which was resting under the table, and squeezed it slightly. "Mom, let's postpone the wedding for now. I have a lot on my plate and can't spare the time for the moment. Ruo Ke has only just recovered, and I don't want her to overwork herself."
Yang Ziyun smacked Huo Qingfeng's hand with her chopsticks, her almond-shaped eyes glaring. "I'll handle the wedding arrangements. You just need to show up on the wedding day. If Ruoke has no objections, why are you making so many demands!"
"Mom, Ruoke and I will try our best to give you a healthy grandson. Let us discuss and decide on the wedding ourselves, okay?" His mother didn't think much of it, but Huo Qingfeng knew perfectly well that the grand wedding that had once broken his heart was a terrible nightmare for Ruoke! Although it had been a long time, it didn't mean she had completely forgotten. If all she wanted was a simple, peaceful life, why would she need such a glamorous facade?
Yang Ziyun was furious and slammed the chopsticks down.
Ling Ruoke hurriedly tugged at Huo Qingfeng's sleeve. "Qingfeng, listen to your mother. She's doing this for our own good. Don't make her angry." Although she was reluctant, if it would make Yang Ziyun feel better, then she would do it.
"Honey, don't worry about this. Let me talk to Mom." Huo Qingfeng was absolutely willing to do anything, no matter how small, to reopen that wound in her heart. She had already suffered too much; he couldn't bear to see her suffer again!
"But……"
Huo Zhenbang put down his chopsticks and looked at everyone present one by one. "Qingfeng feels that it's not suitable to hold a wedding for the time being. As long as Ruoke has no objections, let's postpone the wedding. The most important thing in marriage is that the two people have a good relationship and stay together for a long time. Nothing else matters."
With the patriarch having spoken, Yang Ziyun couldn't say anything more. However, her expression wasn't good, which made Ling Ruoke feel uneasy. The atmosphere at the dinner table was also affected, becoming less relaxed and pleasant.
After dinner, Huo Qingfeng used an excuse to take Ling Ruoke out. They drove all the way to the outskirts of the city before stopping.
"Wife." Huo Qingfeng leaped out and gestured for Ling Ruoke to jump out as well.
Ling Ruoke closed her eyes and leaped, landing steadily in the colonel's arms. Her breath carried his masculine scent. She wrapped her arms around his neck, looked at his expressionless face, kissed him, and asked, "Are you still angry with Mom? Actually, she's only doing it for our own good. Besides, you're her only son; it's understandable that she wants to see you get married."
“I know. But I know you don’t want a wedding, and if you don’t want it, we absolutely won’t do it.” Under a big tree, he put the person in his arms down.
Ling Ruoke's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, rubbing her face against his chest. He understood her! "Huo Qingfeng, you're so good to me! You're going to spoil me rotten!"
"I'm just afraid I won't spoil you!" Huo Qingfeng cupped her face, looking at her earnestly, and said, "Ruo Ke, I'm your husband. With me, you can be willful and unreasonable. You don't need to always be so considerate, to the point of sacrificing your own happiness. You are the only woman I want to cherish in this life. I only want you to be happy, even if it means sacrificing yourself for me, that's something I don't want to see. Sometimes I'm proud of your kindness, consideration, and understanding, but more often I feel sorry for you having so many concerns, always wanting to do your best. Ruo Ke, in front of me, you don't need to say things against your conscience. Laugh when you want to laugh, cry when you want to cry. What I've always wanted is not a perfect woman, but you, only you!"
Ling Ruoke looked at him and began to cry silently, tears falling one by one like beans.
As Huo Qingfeng gently picked up the fallen beans, he continued, “Ruo Ke, those past misfortunes were never your fault, nor should they be a burden. I don’t mention them not because I’m taboo, but because I don’t want you to feel sad when you think about them. Don’t think that because you’ve had those experiences, you have to work harder to be better in order to win my love and the affection of more people. It’s not like that. I don’t deny that I love your kindness, tolerance, and strength; in fact, that’s why I fell in love with you. But no one is obligated to be kind, gentle, and considerate forever. Everyone has emotions, and occasionally there are things they don’t want to do or people they don’t like, and you’re no exception. Just like how you get up early every day to make breakfast and serve everyone well—it’s not mandatory. If you don’t want to get up, then don’t get up. You’re the mistress of this house, not a maid!”
He reached out and took her hand, placing it on his chest, his eyes filled with unfathomable affection. "This man belongs to you, he is yours. You can smile at him when you're happy, and scold him, even hit him, when you're unhappy. He won't blame you, and no one else has the right to! You cause trouble, and he cleans up the mess—he's happy to do that! If you'll agree, promise me you won't wrong yourself anymore!"
Ling Ruoke nodded while sobbing, hugging his waist tightly and hiding herself in his arms.
Huo Qingfeng held her tightly, his heart aching, wishing he could melt her into his own body. She had always been so careful, hoping to do better and better, as if only in this way could she continue to be liked by everyone. She brought joy and comfort to others, but at the expense of herself.
Every man longs for a gentle, kind, considerate, and tolerant woman, but only if she doesn't have to suffer.
Ling Ruoke cried silently in his arms for a while, then stopped sobbing. Her face was still buried in his chest, and she didn't say a word.
Huo Qingfeng didn't say anything, his arms remaining wrapped around her waist, giving her strength. He had always hoped that she would treat his embrace as her own private world, a place where she could do whatever she wanted.
Later, Ling Ruoke stopped crying and just stayed quietly in his arms. Her face was pressed against his chest, her eyes staring blankly at an uncertain point, lost in thought.
Huo Qingfeng let her immerse herself in her own thoughts; she needed quiet, so he said nothing. Ultimately, she had to figure some things out for herself.
After a long while, Ling Ruoke lifted her head from his chest, looked at him with her big, moist eyes, and said pitifully, "My legs are numb."
Huo Qingfeng almost couldn't help but laugh. He bent down, picked her up, and found a dry spot to sit down. He placed her on his lap and gently massaged her calves. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Mmm," she responded, her voice still slightly nasal from crying. Like a child who had just finished crying, she looked pitiful, making one's heart melt.
Huo Qingfeng loved this feeling. He loved it when she showed her truest emotions in front of him; it was her right, and his privilege. Only he could see this side of her. She was his woman, his darling.
Ling Ruoke was still not fully recovered and was a little dazed, just like a child.
Huo Qingfeng massaged her legs for a while, then used his fingers to lift her chin and face. Her lips, nose, and eyes were red from crying, making her look like a little rabbit. He lowered his head and kissed her delicate lips, then released his fingers and held her silently.
After a while, she whispered, "Mom is very angry if we don't have a wedding. What should we do?"
Huo Qingfeng gently rocked her body, coaxing her like a child. "Let her be angry. How long can she stay angry? It'll only be a day or two. Although she's our mother, we can't always give in to her. We have our own ideas, and we can't force ourselves to change just to make her happy, right?"
“She’ll definitely scold you for being an unfilial son, hehe…” Ling Ruoke pinched his cheek and laughed.
Huo Qingfeng let her small hands do whatever they wanted on his face, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "So what if I'm an unfilial son? It's not like it's the first time I've been scolded. If I were to obey her in everything, how could we be together, right? Don't worry about the wedding; leave it to me. Wife, you continue being your obedient daughter-in-law; let your husband be the bad guy!"
These weren't sweet words of love, yet they moved Ling Ruoke to tears in an instant. "If Jiao Zhongqing could be like you, there wouldn't be the classic 'The Peacock Flies Southeast'."
"Tch, a fool like him isn't even fit to carry your husband's shoes, so he's destined for tragedy!" Jiao Zhongqing's story wasn't just a historical one; Huo Qingfeng had also witnessed it, some of it involving his comrades. As an outsider, he couldn't say anything, but he always opposed blind filial piety! Parents are like children when they get old; listening to a child in everything—what is that if not foolishness?
Ling Ruoke chuckled. "You always manage to come up with a reason."
"Your husband is a reasonable person, isn't he?" He rubbed his forehead against hers, and she tried to dodge, but he chased after her.
Ling Ruoke jumped out of his arms and ran away, turning back to shout at him: "You're such an unreasonable bad person, hehe..." For the time being, she treated herself as a child and played this childish game with him.
Huo Qingfeng sprang up and rushed over to grab her. Startled, she screamed and darted around like a little rabbit.
The two of them, in the wilderness, forgot everything and simply enjoyed their quiet moment. The world is full of troubles; we must learn to find happiness for ourselves.
After playing around for a while, Ling Ruoke, panting, was caught and picked up by Huo Qingfeng, who carried her back to their original spot. He raised his hand and wiped the sweat from her face with his sleeve. "Are you thirsty?"
"A little." Ling Ruoke was still a little out of breath, it seemed that her body had not fully recovered, at least her physical strength had not fully recovered.
Huo Qingfeng put her down and ran to the car. "I'll get you some water." He returned shortly with a bottle of water and a bag of snacks.
Ling Ruoke took the bag, opened it, and saw that there were quite a few kinds of snacks, even some small bread rolls. She picked up a bucket of potato chips and waved it in front of him. "Honey, when did you buy this?" She clearly remembered that he had pulled her out the door.
Huo Qingfeng raised his chin and smiled smugly. "I've always been prepared. I was just afraid that one day I'd suddenly feel like taking my wife out for a trip, and then I'd have to rush off to buy food. That would be so boring!" As he spoke, he handed over a bucket about 10 li in diameter from behind his back.
"What's this?" Ling Ruoke took it suspiciously; it wasn't light at all. Seeing his mysterious manner, she was genuinely curious. She opened the lid and exclaimed in surprise! "An ice pop! An ice cream cone!"
It turned out to be an ice bucket, with popsicles and ice cream cones neatly arranged on top.
Ling Ruoke looked at him with delight, her eyes sparkling. "How was this preserved? Won't the ice melt?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Anyway, there's nothing your husband can't do," he said with a grin, a little smugly.
Ling Ruoke chuckled, picked up an ice cream cone, and put the lid on. While unwrapping it, she looked at him and said, "I feel like you're doing magic, hehe..."
"Yes, your husband does magic tricks. The trick is called: Just to Make My Beloved Wife Smile!" He used to despise men who did silly things to please women. But now that he has a beloved wife, he finds himself unconsciously wanting to do things to make her happy.
Ling Ruoke smiled faintly, her face slightly flushed. She peeled open the ice cream cone and brought it to his lips. "Here!"
Huo Qingfeng took a bite, then reached out to stroke his wife's delicate, flower-like face. It turned out those sentimental song lyrics about "loving you more every day" were true. Every time he looked at her, he felt his love grow, seemingly endless. Now, he was even more sentimental than those educated youth he used to despise!
Ling Ruoke also took a bite, and the crisp, sweet taste made her eyes crinkle with joy. "So delicious!"
"Really? Then I'll have a taste!"
Just as Ling Ruoke was about to say, "Aren't you eating?", he kissed her, his domineering tongue swirling and lingering in her mouth before finally letting go.
"Mmm, it's really delicious!" Huo Qingfeng's lips were sweet, and his face was full of intoxication. He looked so irritating.
Without a second thought, Ling Ruoke slapped him hard. Hearing the loud sound, he was stunned. He rushed over and touched his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I was just playing around—"
Huo Qingfeng sealed her lips with a kiss, but only briefly. "Silly girl, I'm your husband. You can hit me if you want, no reason needed!" This face and this mind wouldn't allow anyone to act wildly, except for her.
Ling Ruoke still felt quite upset, because hitting someone in the face is the worst thing you can do. She puffed out her cheeks and was angry with herself inside.
Huo Qingfeng put his arm around her and chuckled as he stroked her face. "Alright, don't be so formal with your husband. He's your man, and his face is yours too. You can do whatever you want with him. But I suggest we go to bed and do it instead, what do you say?"
"You scoundrel!" Ling Ruoke cursed, reaching out to pinch his cheek, and immediately forgot about the previous incident.
Huo Qingfeng let her pinch him, and even shouted loudly, "I'm a hooligan, who am I afraid of!"
"Pfft, cough cough cough..." Ling Ruoke burst out laughing. How could this guy be so good at being silly!
Having amused his beloved wife, Huo Qingfeng stretched out his strong arm and pulled her into his embrace. "Wife, feed me."
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