"Surprised?" Zhuang Yicheng smiled slightly.
Ling Ruoke smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "It's unexpected, but also fortunate. May I ask why?" Although she didn't understand why it was him, she was glad it wasn't Cang Wei.
"Can I choose not to answer?" He mimicked her tone, revealing a hint of mischief that didn't suit his age.
Ling Ruoke thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay."
Zhuang Yicheng smiled as well. "Anyway, it's for your own good. You should rest and recover. Once you're better, you can go back to Z City."
"Hmm." Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then responded. "Mr. Zhuang, I'm sorry to have troubled you like this. I think I'll be better soon, so you don't need to worry about me. Just focus on your work."
She didn't reveal her true intentions. After all, they weren't very familiar with each other yet.
Zhuang Yicheng frowned, looking quite hurt. "Can I interpret this as 'crossing the river and then burning the bridge'?"
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then thought about it and couldn't help but laugh. Her words did indeed sound somewhat like she was abandoning someone after they'd served their purpose. "I'm sorry, I didn't say it well. But I know you're very busy, and the journey from Z City to here alone wastes a lot of time, which will definitely increase your workload. So..."
"I'll let you in on a secret, I'm using this as a pretext for something else. I happen to be in Y City on a business trip, and this is also a good opportunity to see you. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?" Zhuang Yicheng found the girl's bewildered expression quite endearing.
Ling Ruoke couldn't figure out if he was joking or serious, so she just smiled and said, "Then I need to record this quickly. I can use it to blackmail people if I need it later."
"Welcome." He had an expression that said, "It's my honor, come and extort me," which was quite different from his usual serious demeanor.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"How are you feeling?" Zhuang Yicheng sat down in the chair, took off his coat, and asked with a smile.
Ling Ruoke smiled and nodded. "Much better, I reckon I'll be discharged soon. By the way, how's Zhuang Yuqi doing?"
"He's doing fine. He just keeps saying why school hasn't started yet, and he wants to see Teacher Ling." Even on New Year's Day, he kept making a fuss about wanting Teacher Ling to spend the holiday with him, and he almost got a beating.
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then smiled awkwardly. "It's alright. Children adapt very quickly; he'll soon like his new teacher."
"Yes, I hope so. But he really likes you, and this is the first time I've ever seen him like a teacher like that." In Zhuang Yuqi's heart, she was more than just a teacher.
Thinking of the mischievous but adorable Zhuang Yuqi, and then of that group of lovely children, Ling Ruoke felt uneasy.
"The person you're thinking of is a good person, don't worry."
Ling Ruoke stared at him in astonishment, and it took her a while to realize he was referring to Qingfeng. She responded with a grateful smile to his revelation. She believed he had no reason to lie to her.
Zhuang Yicheng didn't stay long; he was indeed very busy, so he left in a hurry.
After he left, Ling Ruoke's smile vanished instantly, and she leaned against the bed, lost in thought. Back to Z City? Could she even go back? Her presence would only bring disaster to Qingfeng; why should she go back and drag him down with her?
The hospital was quiet at night. She lay in bed, looking out at the pitch-black night. She spent the entire night sleepless.
...
Ling Ruoke spent the following days undergoing rehabilitation. Because she had been in a coma for so long, her limbs were affected and somewhat stiff, so she needed to do some rehabilitation exercises.
Perhaps it was because Zhuang Yicheng had given instructions, or perhaps because he was such a powerful figure, that the nurses took excellent care of her and kept trying to make her laugh. But most of the time, Ruoke wasn't in the mood to laugh. She felt awkward watching the nurses finish telling jokes and laughing until she realized Ruoke hadn't laughed, and she felt quite sorry for them.
Ling Ruoke's favorite thing to do is to take a walk on the lawn downstairs from the hospital and chat with the nurses.
Y City is located in the south of China, and it's neither too hot nor too cold throughout the year. Winters here are only slightly cooler than autumns in Z City; you don't even need a thick coat, it's very comfortable.
Sometimes she would sit on the lawn for a whole morning or afternoon. Her thoughts would drift away, and she would smile when she thought of Qingfeng, Fu'an, Peishi, and the soldiers.
Many times, the nurse asked her what she was smiling about. She even said that her smile was really beautiful and that she should smile more.
Ling Ruoke desperately wanted to know if Qingfeng had recovered and was doing well. But she didn't know how to confirm it. She couldn't call Qingfeng, nor could she call Peishi; there was no news about him on television news, military channels, or military newspapers. Sometimes she would comfort herself by thinking that no news was good news.
One day, Ling Ruoke was sitting on the grass, lost in thought. The nurse was called away by a phone call; her friend was waiting for her at the hospital entrance and wanted to talk to her about something.
After a while, the nurse returned. She brought a bag of fruit, several magazines, and a newspaper. The nurse enjoyed reading newspapers and magazines, so Ling Ruoke was used to it. Sometimes when she felt bored, she would pick one up and read it, because most of the time she didn't want to talk.
The nurse talked to her for a while, but when she realized the girl wasn't very interested, she stopped talking. She sat down next to her and picked up a magazine to read.
Ling Ruoke stared blankly at the sky, lost in thought, before slowly snapping back to reality. Looking down, she saw the nurse beside her, engrossed in reading. Her gaze slowly shifted to the magazines and newspapers placed between them, wondering if she should also look at them for a while.
Suddenly, her eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at the top of the newspaper. That picture, that person… was it Qingfeng?
Ling Ruoke reached out with trembling hands and slowly picked up the newspaper.
The nurse looked up at her, smiled, and then looked down again to continue reading her magazine.
Ling Ruoke's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest, and her breathing was slightly heavy. Slowly, little by little, she unfolded the newspaper. The front page featured a large photograph. The person in the photograph was the man she had always longed for; he looked well. Nestled beside him was a familiar face—Gu Zhenzhen.
It was a wedding photo; a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect couple.
Qingfeng, dressed in an army uniform, looked dashing and handsome. He was already outstanding, but the crisp uniform accentuated his striking good looks, making him impossible to look away from. It was said that this uniform was only worn on important occasions, so this was the first time she had ever seen it.
So beautiful… Ling Ruoke silently praised in her heart, pursing her lips, but her eyes still welled up with tears.
She gently traced his face across each photograph with her finger. Slowly, tears welled up, finally dripping onto the newspaper, blurring the surface. She sniffed, trying to stop the tears.
Hearing the noise, the nurse turned around and saw her crying. Startled, she quickly dropped the magazine she was holding and rushed over. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Wait here, I'll call the doctor right away!"
Before he finished speaking, he was already about to run out.
Ling Ruoke quickly grabbed her arm, shook her head with a smile, and wiped away her tears. "I'm fine. I just felt touched because these two people looked so happy."
The nurse returned, half-believing, and took the newspaper from her hand. "Those two are indeed a perfect match. But you're quite the romantic; you scared me to death."
Ling Ruoke took a deep breath and exhaled, still smiling. "I'm sorry."
I looked up and saw the blue sky and white clouds, a clear and deep blue.
Qingfeng, I finally know you're doing well, and that's enough! The marriage between the Huo and Gu families, with their combined power, will surely pave a bright future for you. Gu Zhenzhen is beautiful and gentle; she'll definitely give you a warm home. If you can live a peaceful and healthy life, then even if we never see each other again, I'll be content.
Mom and Dad, I will live well and will not give up on life easily. Because I know this is what you would want to see. Because the person I love deeply is alive and well.
Just as I was thinking, I suddenly heard someone wailing.
Looking over, Ling Ruoke knew that one of their loved ones had left this world. Life is always a cycle of coming and going, and no one can change that. All she hoped for was that Qingfeng could live a peaceful and healthy life.
That day, Ling Ruoke understood for the first time that there really is a kind of love in this world called letting go. This kind of love causes excruciating pain, yet one still grits their teeth and endures it.
...
That day, Ling Ruoke went to the grass again to sit and breathe in the fresh air. She liked the smell of the soil.
As she gazed at the sky in a daze, she suddenly heard a child's sweet, childlike voice beside her. Curious, she sat up and turned her head to see a small yellow ball at her feet. Looking up again, she saw a delicate-looking little boy.
Her soft, slightly wavy hair lay flat against her round head, her forehead full, her skin as white as snow, her big, dark eyes, and her long eyelashes trembling beneath her thin, delicate eyelids. She had a pert little nose and a red little mouth. Her skin was indeed as delicate as paper, and you could even see the pale purple capillaries on her cheeks. Her whole little body was white and soft, and she smelled wonderfully of milk.
So cute!
Ling Ruoke's eyes lit up. She reached out and picked up the small ball, shaking it in her hand and asking, "Little friend, is this yours?"
"Yes... Auntie, here, um, here..." Her big, dark eyes looked at Ruoke, her bright red lips were incredibly cute.
Ling Ruoke returned the ball to him and asked, "Little friend, what's your name?"
"Dudu, my name is Dudu... umm, what's your name..." and then mimicked her, speaking in a childish voice.
Ling Ruoke chuckled at his words, thinking how clever he was. "Me too, my name is Dudu."
"Uh-huh..." The little boy got anxious and turned his big head to ask his mother for help.
"Dudu, Auntie was just teasing you, don't worry." Ling Ruoke looked at the woman in the hospital gown and the man behind her. "Your child is so cute!"
"Thank you." The woman's sickly face broke into a bright smile. Every mother is like that; whenever someone praises her child, she feels like she has received a priceless treasure.
The man nodded to her and caught up with the mother and child jogging across the grass. His arms were in a protective stance, ready to catch the child or mother if they fell.
Ling Ruoke watched the family of three playing on the grass, listening to their joyful laughter, and missed the gentle man and the lovely child in distant Z City. She also recalled the first time at Nuanting Pavilion, when the child rushed in calling for his mother without a care in the world.
She once had such happiness, but it was too short-lived. But at least her life wasn't a barren wasteland, and that was enough to make her feel better.
She forced a smile, lay back down on the grass, and looked at the blue sky. Slowly, images of the past, happy and warm, began to appear in the sky…
Time slips away unnoticed, and the longing grows stronger, yet it can only be suppressed in my heart.
...
After the New Year, Huo Qingfeng returned to the military unit he loved.
With Huo Zhenbang backing him up, and the Fengyun Gang being too preoccupied to deal with him, his problem was quickly resolved.
Huo Qingfeng did not become depressed or give up. He was still as stern and unsmiling as before, still the black-faced devil who made people grit their teeth in hatred but also had to admire, still the most ruthless instructor.
Moreover, he has recently developed a fascination with IT technology, especially the "business" of stealing information.
However, these elite soldiers still keenly noticed his change. He used to be stern and unsmiling, but now he never smiles again, not even that smile that concealed a knife. His face was always dark and menacing, making him even more frightening than before.
The only thing that hasn't changed is that he's still relentlessly tormenting them. At the same time, he's also relentlessly tormenting himself.
Everyone saw worry in the captain's eyes.
"Captain." Fu Peigang, who had been entrusted with an important task, appeared in front of Huo Qingfeng with a chill running down his spine.
Huo Qingfeng, with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth like a cigarette, glanced at him coldly, his face expressionless and silent. It was as if he were looking at a wisp of air, not a person.
In the past, he would have kicked him and yelled, "If you have something to say, keep it to yourself, or get lost." But now, he simply ignores him, completely ignores him. He lives in his own world, oblivious to everyone else.
“Captain, you can’t do this—” Fu Peigang was about to muster up the courage to finish speaking when he was interrupted.
"You have three seconds to run, or else—"
"Captain! Help!" Fu Peigang could only run away with his head in his hands; the captain was serious. He ran a distance and looked back. The captain was already sitting in the same spot in the same position, the blade of grass still dangling from his mouth, bobbing up and down. His broad back looked so lonely.
Fu Peigang dared not go back, because he knew that unless Ruoke returned, the captain would not open that door.
A few days later, the team had a new mission. The list of those to be sent on the mission didn't include Sharp Blade.
Huo Qingfeng stormed into the captain's office like a locomotive. "Report, why wasn't I included in this mission?"
The captain glared at him fiercely. "Do you think you're fit for a mission in this state?" He wasn't afraid he wouldn't complete the mission, he was afraid he'd overdo it!
"The report, I think it's perfect!"
"Suitable? Suitable my ass!" He had every reason to suspect that this brat would use real people as targets to practice his marksmanship!
Ultimately, the captain still included Huo Qingfeng in the mission. In fact, this mission was extremely difficult, and only a sharp blade could complete it. The reason he hadn't included him on the list initially was simply to remind him not to let his emotions get into the mission and ruin things. Turning a perfectly good blade into scrap metal was something he didn't want to see!
Before heading off on his mission, Huo Qingfeng went home. This mission involved overseas operations and he didn't know how long it would take. He needed to clean the house thoroughly before leaving, otherwise it would be covered in a thick layer of dust when he returned. If Ruoke came back and saw the house so messy, she would definitely be angry with him!
While Huo Qingfeng was busy, Gu Miaomiao appeared. He heard footsteps and thought Ruo Ke had returned. But when he saw it was Gu Miaomiao, his face fell.
"Brother Huo..." Gu Miaomiao was very afraid of Huo Qingfeng, but she still liked him. Besides, Aunt Ziyun said that as long as she tried hard, Brother Huo would definitely fall in love with her!
"Get out!" Huo Qingfeng coldly spat out a single word, no longer glancing at her. His feelings towards the Gu sisters had changed from indifference to utter disgust.
Gu Miaomiao bit her lip, her big eyes almost brimming with tears. "Brother Huo, I—"
"Get out—" This time, the voice was louder and the tone more aggressive. However, he still didn't glance at her.
"Brother Huo..." Gu Miaomiao pouted, tears welling up in her eyes, but dared not utter a sound. She had already sensed that Brother Huo would no longer tolerate her as before.
She stood at the door for a while, then mustered up her courage and went inside.
Just then, Huo Qingfeng put down the rag and took the basin to change the water.
Gu Miaomiao picked up a rag and wiped the things on the TV cabinet. There were many small trinkets there, none of them expensive, but they were very cute. The place gave a warm and cozy feeling, like home.
"What are you doing? Put it down!" Huo Qingfeng held the water, looking at him coldly. His voice was as cold as a thousand-year-old iceberg, devoid of any warmth.
Gu Miaomiao bit her lip, clutching a piggy bank in one hand and a rag in the other. "Brother Huo, you must be tired. Take a rest, I'll help you."
Huo Qingfeng's eyes were practically spitting ice. He slammed the basin down and strode over.
Startled by his appearance, Gu Miaomiao backed away, and in her haste, her piggy bank rolled to the ground and shattered with a thud. Coins scattered all over the floor, jingling incessantly.
The next second, another "snap" sounded.
That was Huo Qingfeng slapping Gu Miaomiao. "Get out!" This was the first time in his 33 years that he had hit a woman.
Gu Miaomiao was stunned by the beating and stared at him in disbelief for a long time. Then she let out a sob and ran out quickly.
Huo Qingfeng went over and closed the door, then squatted down and picked up the shards piece by piece. The entire pile of shards formed a small mountain in his palm. He stared at it for a moment, then slowly tightened his fingers, and then tightened them even more.
After a long while, he released his grip, the white porcelain shards tinged with blood. He walked to the trash can, slowly spread his five fingers, tilted his hand, and let them fall into the trash can, leaving only the tiny specks embedded in his palm…
Looking at his gleaming home, Huo Qingfeng slowly closed the door.
Honey, I hope I'll hear from you when I get back from my mission.
My dear wife, I don't know what I would do without you.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com