The mother and son chatted for a while longer. When Ling Ruoke returned, Yang Ziyun was about to leave. "Ruoke, why don't you come back with me? This hotel isn't as comfortable as home."
Before Ling Ruoke could speak, someone else was even more anxious than her.
"Mom, my wife wants to stay here with me, you can't break us up!"
Yang Ziyun glared at him, both amused and exasperated, and then left.
Ling Ruoke closed and locked the door, then returned to the bedside somewhat dazed, saying, "Colonel, every time I see your mother so kind, I always feel like it's not real."
The colonel chuckled foolishly and beckoned to her. When she drew near, he pulled her onto his lap with a sudden movement, gripping her delicate chin and asking, "Stop calling me 'your mother,' she'll be your mother too. And when did I change my name to colonel? I didn't know that."
Ling Ruoke's eyes darted around, considering possible escape routes. But the colonel was injured, and she was afraid of aggravating his wound.
"Um?"
Ling Ruoke hugged his arm in a pleading manner, her expression saying, "I was wrong." "Okay, okay, I was wrong. I won't do it again, okay?"
"Then say something nice?"
Ling Ruoke opened her mouth, but didn't utter a sound. It was strange how things were; normally calling him by his name felt fine, but when she was specifically asked to do it, it felt awkward. "Qing...Qingfeng!"
"My name isn't Qingqingfeng," the colonel said, turning his face away.
Ling Ruoke blushed and called out again, "Qingfeng."
"That's not enough, I want something even better." What's this called? Pushing the limits! The colonel demonstrated this term with his own actions!
Ling Ruoke could tell what he wanted to hear just by looking at him. She hesitated for a while, her face flushed crimson, but she remained silent. The colonel continued to stare intently at her, showing no sign of letting her off the hook.
Ling Ruoke reached out and pinched him, then lowered her eyes and quickly called out, "Husband." Then, she buried her face and refused to look up.
Huo Qingfeng dug her face out and looked deeply into her eyes. Gently, he called out, "Wife."
Ling Ruoke's face flushed even more, and she didn't dare to look at him. Her skin was already fair, but now it had a rosy glow, making her especially beautiful. Like a crabapple blossom, she was radiant with beauty.
Huo Qingfeng felt as if a hand was caressing and teasing him, and he couldn't help but embrace her and kiss her deeply. Often, women go to great lengths, with candlelight dinners and sexy lingerie, to arouse a man's interest. But what's truly alluring is often the unintentional charm.
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then began to respond shyly.
Just as Ling Ruoke was about to succumb, she suddenly snapped back to reality and pressed down on the colonel's large hand through his clothes. "No, you're injured!" she gasped, her lips a vibrant red, clearly challenging the man's self-control.
"Then you do it." The colonel's voice was terribly hoarse, and his tense body exuded a sense of oppressive power.
After a moment of stunned silence, realizing what he meant, Ling Ruoke's face immediately burned. "No, let's talk about it after your injuries have healed!"
"I can't wait, wife, I can't wait." The colonel buried his face in her neck, breathing deeply.
Ling Ruoke's body was stiff, and you could feel how hard he was trying to endure it from his tense body.
"Wife?" The colonel nuzzled against her neck, his voice growing increasingly hoarse.
Ling Ruoke suddenly pushed him down onto the bed, though with controlled force, and straddled his waist as if she were going all out. After she finished, she looked down and saw the colonel's bright black eyes, and her face flushed. She stared at him blankly.
Huo Qingfeng was practically bursting with laughter inside, but his face remained impassive as he looked at her expectantly. "Wife?"
Ling Ruoke looked down at his waist, not daring to look into his eyes again.
The affair ended, but the colonel still felt unsatisfied, yet completely content. Holding his wife in his arms, it seemed as if every pore of his skin relaxed.
Later, Ling Ruoke was forced to wipe his body and put his clothes on before the two of them fell asleep in each other's arms.
...
Because of the guzheng's harassment, Huo Qingfeng was extremely annoyed and insisted on being transferred back to the military hospital in Z City to continue his recuperation.
Ling Ruoke was initially worried about the colonel's health, but after hearing from the doctor that there was nothing seriously wrong, she agreed. After all, having a woman constantly hovering around under your nose, declaring that your man loves her, is unbearable for anyone!
Grandpa and her father, a general, had no objections, but Yang Ziyun was reluctant to part with her son and wanted to spend more time with him. However, she noticed Guzheng's persistent requests and had no choice but to agree.
Gu Zheng was well-informed and rushed over just as they were about to leave the hospital. After a heated argument, she pointed at Ling Ruoke, completely losing her composure, and demanded, "Is she really that good? Better than me?"
Hearing this, Ling Ruoke sighed helplessly to herself. Gu Zheng, like Gu Miaomiao, didn't understand what love was. If love required such a selective approach, could it still be considered love?
Huo Qingfeng looked at her with a pitiful expression. But his tone remained indifferent. "She's not as pretty as you, nor does she have your illustrious family background. She only surpasses you in one aspect."
"What?" Gu Zheng asked, stunned.
Huo Qingfeng clenched his fist and gently pressed it against the injured area. "She has planted a seed in Huo Qingfeng's heart, and will take root here for the rest of her life."
After saying that, he had the doctor push him away.
Ling Ruoke snapped out of her daze and hurriedly chased after him.
Gu Zheng stared fiercely at their retreating figures, her hands clenched tightly, a sharp pain shooting through her palms. Piled up stakes? So what? Even if it grows into a towering tree, so what? We can just uproot it!
She must have what she wants! If she can't have it, then she'll destroy it, and no one else will get it!
...
On the way to the military airfield, Ling Ruoke looked at her colonel with a smile. She found that the colonel was becoming more and more enchanting, absolutely captivating.
"Wife, are you trying to seduce me?" With outsiders present, Huo Qingfeng whispered in her ear.
Ling Ruoke smiled but remained silent, grasping the colonel's large hand and pinching it lightly in the palm. Then, she slowly slipped her fingers between his, tightening her grip until their fingers were intertwined.
Holding your hand, we will grow old together.
The people around them looked at the young couple and then shifted their gaze elsewhere.
The colonel, taking advantage of the situation, took her hand and kissed it.
Ling Ruoke tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn't let go. Blushing, she could only look out the window. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the colonel.
On the plane, Huo Qingfeng remembered something. "Oh right, my wife."
"Hmm?" Ling Ruoke was reading a book when she heard the sound and turned to look at him in confusion.
Huo Qingfeng grasped her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "Once I'm healed, we'll get married."
Ling Ruoke smiled. "Okay."
The romantic proposal happened so long ago; it's time to get married. If it weren't for someone interfering, she would have been a married woman long ago. Although, it doesn't really make a difference now.
"What kind of wedding do you want?" Huo Qingfeng knew that most men didn't care much about weddings, but women took them very seriously. Perhaps it was because women's youth faded more easily, or perhaps it was because women were too emotional.
Ling Ruoke's eyes darted around, and she raised an eyebrow, saying, "Are you sure you're free?"
"I'll try my best. If I don't have time for a wedding, will you not marry me?" The colonel looked serious, his brow furrowed in feigned nervousness.
Ling Ruoke glanced at him mischievously and smiled. "That depends on your performance. If you perform well enough, maybe I'll consider it."
"What if I don't perform well?" Does that mean he'll have to sleep in the guest room for the rest of his life?
Ling Ruoke's almond-shaped eyes widened, and her willow-leaf eyebrows rose. "You dare!" she said in a sinister tone.
Huo Qingfeng quickly grabbed her hand and kissed it repeatedly. "I wouldn't dare. Nothing else matters, my wife is the most important!"
"Smooth-talking!"
"The truth is always the most pleasing to the ear."
"..."
Sometimes you'll find that as long as two people are together, the journey never feels too long.
Before we knew it, after a few banter and a few words, the plane had arrived in Z City. Unlike the bustling and crowded B City, Z City was a picturesque place with lush green mountains and clear waters, and the air was exceptionally fresh.
"It's still more comfortable at home!" even the colonel couldn't help but say.
Ling Ruoke chuckled and glanced at him, saying, "Big brother, it seems your home is in B City."
The colonel pulled her into a tight embrace and declared resolutely, "Home is where my wife is!" He wasn't just saying this to appease her; it was the truth. What is home? It's a warm place where someone has the lights on, waiting for you to return.
"Is B City your maternal home? Why do I feel like you married me?" Ling Ruoke pinched his cheek, looking at his shameless expression.
The colonel raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" As long as there's a wife, lights on, cooking, and a warm bed, does it matter who marries whom? As for the home in B City, that's where the mother waits for the father.
"There's nothing wrong with that. But since you're marrying me, I'll be in charge from now on. No objections, right?" A son-in-law who marries into the family has to listen to his wife.
The colonel innocently moved his head from side to side and said, "Aren't you the one in charge of our family now? My wife has always been my highest superior, there's no doubt about that!"
Ling Ruoke clapped her hands together, trapping his restless head. "Then remember to carry out this noble mission. Otherwise, I'll make you sleep under a bridge!" But, it seems the doors and windows can't keep the colonel out, can they?
"Yes, sir!"
Ling Ruoke rubbed his spiky hair with both hands. "What a good boy!"
With a "pfft," the colonel spat out his drink.
Ling Ruoke couldn't help but burst into laughter, collapsing into the colonel's arms, whereupon he swept her up in his embrace. Startled, she tensed up, afraid of bumping into his wound.
Once the colonel was admitted to the hospital and settled in, Ling Ruoke went home. She hadn't been back for several days and didn't know what the house was like. She wasn't worried about the company, though, since Xia Mo was there.
"Mommy!" The little guy was much more enthusiastic than usual when he saw her, leaping up like a little leopard.
Ling Ruoke quickly scooped up his little bottom. The two of them then kissed each other affectionately at the doorway.
Yuan Meng watched from inside the room and said helplessly, "Can you two just shut up for a bit?" If it weren't for the man's height and age, one would think they were long-lost lovers.
Ling Ruoke chuckled foolishly. The little guy giggled happily. It was a sight that made one both amused and utterly exasperated.
"How is Huo Qingfeng? Is he alright now?" Yuan Meng only received a phone call from Ling Ruoke, who said that he was out of danger.
Ling Ruoke put the little guy down and shook her head with a smile. "He's fine now, he just needs to rest. That's good, he's so busy every day, it's good to let him rest for a while." This time, once the injury is completely healed, he won't need to go on missions for at least two or three months.
"That's good. I've got some soup simmering in the pot. I'll go to the hospital with you later."
"I want to see Daddy too!" The little guy squeezed through the crowd, expressing his request. He had also heard from his mother that Daddy was injured, and he was very worried.
Ling Ruoke pinched his little cheek. "Okay, let's go together."
The little guy got a positive answer and happily went off to play again.
Ling Ruoke and Yuan Meng sat down on the sofa, and Yuan Meng poured her a cup of tea. "Why did you suddenly want to move over here? Isn't all this moving around bad for your wound?"
Ling Ruoke pouted and waved her hand. "Don't even mention it. It's all Huo Qingfeng's troubles with his bastard girlfriends. His old flame came back from abroad and wants to take him back. She's been harassing him every day. We had no choice but to transfer to another hospital."
Hearing her explanation, Yuan Meng couldn't help but laugh, but her face showed worry. "But this doesn't solve the problem, does it?" They can transfer to another hospital, and the other person can come with them.
Liu Mei frowned, looking quite troubled. "There's no other way but to get married quickly and put an end to her hopes. It's all Huo Qingfeng's fault in the end. If he doesn't resolve this, I'll make him a bachelor!"
Yuan Meng laughed out loud. "You'd really be willing to let him stay single?"
"What's there to be reluctant about? Men are a dime a dozen on the street. I'm not bad either, right?" She was joking, but she made it sound so convincing.
"He doesn't mean what he says. If he really goes with someone else, you'll be devastated."
"He dares? If he dares, I'll—" She waved her hand, making a snapping motion. Afterward, she couldn't help but laugh. Whether to snap her neck or her lower body, she needed to think carefully!
Yuan Meng just smiled. After a while, she said again, "Seriously, you should put in some effort to prevent anyone from taking advantage of you. Huo Qingfeng's people are definitely safe, but you can't be sure that woman might use tricks."
"Then what can I do? I can't keep an eye on Huo Qingfeng every day, nor can I keep an eye on that woman every day. To be honest, I know how to assassinate me if she wants to, but if she wants to steal my man, I really have no way to stop her." Gu Zheng looked quite crazy!
Yuan Meng couldn't help but sigh. Relationships were the hardest things to resolve. "That's true. But you two still need to think it over carefully and communicate well. The consequences of emotional entanglements are unimaginable."
"Thank you, Yuan Meng, I understand." Ling Ruoke placed her hand on the back of Yuan Meng's hand. It was strange, really; she and Yuan Meng had only known each other for a short time, but they got along remarkably well. Perhaps this was fate.
"I didn't do anything, I just talked about it."
"But there's genuine concern behind all that talking."
"..."
After having dinner and taking a shower, the three of them, carrying the dinner and chicken soup for the colonel, set off for the hospital.
As usual, the colonel stayed in a single room.
Huo Fu'an took the lead and, upon reaching the ward door, shouted and pounced onto the bed.
Ling Ruoke and Yuan Meng tried to shout, but it was too late. Their hearts leaped into their throats.
Fortunately, the colonel was quick and caught him with one hand, then placed him on the right side of the bed.
"Daddy, Daddy, I miss you so much! Daddy, it hurts!" The little guy first expressed his longing, and then became concerned about his father's injury.
Huo Qingfeng smiled and patted his little head. "Daddy missed you too. It's okay, Daddy's not in pain anymore, the pain has flown away."
"Really?" She stared wide-eyed in surprise, her eyes blinking adorably.
"Really." He lowered his head and kissed the boy's chubby, fair face. The little guy immediately took the initiative, hugging his neck and showering him with kisses.
The three adults looked at him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Fu'an, come down quickly, let Daddy eat." Yuan Meng hurriedly picked him up, afraid that if he kept laughing, he would bump into Huo Qingfeng's wound.
Grandma's voice rang out again immediately. "Daddy, time to eat! Chicken soup! There's chicken soup!" She had a very proud expression on her face, as if she had made the chicken soup herself.
"Okay, let's eat and drink the chicken soup." Huo Qingfeng took the lunchbox; he was indeed hungry. Opening it, he smelled the familiar aroma. His wife's cooking was something he was bound to eat several large bowls of!
However, because Yuan Meng and the little one were there, the colonel couldn't rely on his wife to feed him, so he had to obediently eat by himself.
The little one was being very fussy, and luckily there was a TV in the ward, so Yuan Meng turned it on and tuned it to the animation channel. The little one grabbed the remote and started watching with great interest.
The ward fell silent, and for a moment, no topic of conversation came up.
Finally, Yuan Meng felt the time was right, so she told her about her idea of taking the little guy with her to T City.
"Why?" The colonel's reaction was strong. Although he rarely spent time with the little guy, the child was already his son, and that thought had never changed from the beginning. Although he had expected Yuan Meng to leave, he still couldn't accept it calmly.
Ling Ruoke quickly slapped him. "Why are you being so fierce? Yuan Meng has her own ideas, just listen to her first."
Huo Qingfeng glanced at her, then at Yuan Meng, calming himself down. "That's not what I meant. Okay, go ahead."
Yuan Meng let out a heavy sigh. She felt that some of her words were not quite right and she didn't know how to express them in a way that would make people understand.
"Originally, I planned to never let the little guy know I was his mother, and just let him be your happy child. Now that I've recognized him, I understand that you also want him to stay with me. However, if I continue to live in your house, as he grows up, he'll inevitably wonder why he has two mothers. He might even wonder why I entrusted him to you in the first place, which will cause many problems. Besides, since I am his mother, I should fulfill my responsibilities as a mother and raise him with my own abilities. Perhaps you'll say that I can raise him just as well if I stay in Z City. But this place holds too many heavy memories, and I also want to go out and see the world. I... I'm sorry, I don't know what to say."
Yuan Meng quickly looked away, tears already welling in her eyes. She also had many concerns, fearing she couldn't provide a good life for her children. But they also needed to live their own lives, and she couldn't selfishly burden them for the rest of their lives. She was responsible for her own life!
Although she no longer had the energy to think about relationships, she still wanted a new life. No one can live in the past forever. She believed that Kaiyi wouldn't want to see her like this either!
Ling Ruoke remained silent, only looking at the colonel. She was also reluctant to part with Yuan Meng and the little one, but she could understand Yuan Meng's thoughts.
Huo Qingfeng stared at Yuan Meng for a long time, then at Huo Fu'an in front of the television, remaining silent for a long while. The boxed lunch in his hand slowly grew cold.
For a moment, the ward was eerily quiet, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
Huo Qingfeng didn't comment on the matter until Yuan Meng took the little one home.
Ling Ruoke sat down by the bed and hugged his head like a child. Qingfeng's feelings for Fu'an were very complicated. In addition to his love for the little guy, there was also gratitude, guilt and nostalgia for his comrade-in-arms... Because so many feelings were mixed together, it was difficult for him to separate them.
With her chin resting on the colonel's head, Ling Ruoke let out a heavy sigh. She spoke her thoughts in a low voice.
"Actually, I think Yuan Meng's idea is not wrong. You see, she has always been worried that her criminal record will be discovered. Now that she is willing to step out, it shows that she is also overcoming psychological barriers, which is a good thing. She does need a new life, especially in terms of relationships. She can't stay with the people of the past forever. She also needs a good man and a home of her own."
For a woman, home is where her husband and children are; everything else can be temporarily ignored.
"I know, I just... Honey, you should go back too, I want to be alone for a while."
"Okay." Ling Ruoke kissed him and left.
Ling Ruoke left the hospital; it wasn't late yet. So instead of driving, she slowly walked along the road.
She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't realize it until someone was right in front of her.
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