Ling Ruoke watched helplessly as the red booklet disappeared, replaced by a green divorce certificate. Just as the staff member raised the stamp, about to affix it, she finally couldn't help but shout, "No!"
Huo Qingfeng suddenly opened his eyes, saw the person in his arms shout, and then sat up abruptly, breathing heavily. "What's wrong? Had a nightmare?"
He pulled her into his arms and wiped the sweat from her face. "It's alright, your husband is here, it's alright."
Ling Ruoke caught her breath for a moment, then turned her head to look at him blankly. Her eyes were moist, and she said with a mix of grievance and pity, "I dreamt that we got divorced."
"Silly girl!" Huo Qingfeng hugged her tightly. "I went to great lengths to marry you, there's no possibility of divorce." Otherwise, wouldn't he be contradicting himself? That's not something he would do.
Ling Ruoke looked at him, remaining silent for a long time, before burying her face in his neck. Perhaps the events of the past had frightened her from the bottom of her heart, which was why she had such a dream.
"It's alright, baby. I've taken care of the guzheng." Huo Qingfeng felt extremely distressed, and his hatred for the guzheng deepened even further.
Ling Ruoke wriggled out of his arms and stared straight at him. "Resolved? How did you resolve it?" She woke up to find it resolved after a nap—could it be that he…? A sudden chill ran down her spine… "You didn't…"
Huo Qingfeng chuckled and touched her suddenly pale face. "Silly girl, I would never do something as illegal as murder. I just had Xuan Yuanqi send her back to B City. Then I had Mom visit the Gu family and ask them to keep a close eye on Gu Zheng. Don't worry, Mom can get anything done."
Ling Ruoke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Is Mom really that amazing?"
"Of course. Most of the time she doesn't really mean it, but when she does, there's nothing she can't do." Huo Qingfeng understood his mother quite well. She liked to fool around, not because she was stupid, but simply because she wanted to have fun.
Ling Ruoke couldn't believe her ears. "Then what she did to us before..." If Yang Ziyun was that powerful, how could the Gu sisters' situation have ended like that?
Huo Qingfeng smiled slightly. "Don't be fooled by how much effort Mom put in back then; she didn't use any drastic measures." He understood very well that his mother didn't actually want to cross his bottom line.
Ling Ruoke felt a little confused. That seemingly unreasonable Yang Ziyun was actually quite shrewd. That's right, her words when she went grocery shopping that day were enough to show her. With considerable experience, a person always accumulates certain things. "I... I feel like I'm the dumbest one."
"Yes, you're the silliest, silly girl." Huo Qingfeng kissed her repeatedly and said with a smile, "But I like you being silly the most. Being too shrewd isn't a good thing. Look, my mother doesn't seem shrewd at all."
Ling Ruoke pouted. "But your mom is faking it." How can a fake be the same as the real thing!
"What do you mean, 'your mom'? She's officially your mom now too. You'll be punished if you say it wrong next time." He said, reaching out to pinch her nose.
Ling Ruoke stuck out her tongue. "Okay, it's Mom. Sigh, did Mom really resolve the matter? The Gu family spoils Guzheng so much, will they not listen to any advice? If they really cared about her, they wouldn't have let her do such a thing."
"Perhaps the Gu family has other plans. We don't care about that. As long as that woman doesn't appear in front of us or disturb our lives anymore, what she does is none of our business." He never wanted to see Gu Zheng again in his life!
Ling Ruoke nodded. As long as the guzheng didn't bother them, whether she did good or bad deeds, there would naturally be people to take care of it.
The two of them snuggled together for a while longer before getting up to exercise and then having breakfast.
Yang Ziyun called while we were still at the breakfast table.
Huo Qingfeng pressed the speakerphone button so Ling Ruoke could listen to the call too, just to put her mind at ease. "Hello, Mom?"
"Son, I've already warned the Gu family. I believe they'll keep a close eye on Guzheng. Honestly, they think our Huo family has no one left!" Her tone was still somewhat angry.
Ling Ruoke suddenly felt that Yang Ziyun was even more likable this way. No matter who she was, once she tried her best to protect someone or something, she became more real and relatable.
Huo Qingfeng looked at Ling Ruoke and blinked. "Thank you, Mom."
Ling Ruoke covered her mouth and laughed, watching the colonel act cute.
Yang Ziyun scoffed at his thanks, yelling, "Don't just say it! If you really want to thank your mother, then hurry up and give me a big, fat grandson. Your grandfather is getting impatient too. If you're any slower, he'll probably whip you."
"Mom, this isn't something you can just decide to have whenever you want, is it?" Huo Qingfeng retorted helplessly. It's not like growing vegetables, where you can just sow seeds and take good care of them and they'll grow.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with your health? Son, don't scare your mother!" Her voice was raised considerably.
Huo Qingfeng almost choked. "Mom, your son is perfectly healthy, there's nothing wrong with him at all. Mom, I'm hanging up now, I'm going to make you a grandson."
Ling Ruoke covered her mouth tightly, giggling in her palm. She thought Yang Ziyun was really cute, even having such thoughts.
Huo Qingfeng hurriedly hung up the phone, afraid that his mother would recommend doctors or medicines to help him regain his virility. Looking at his wife secretly pleased on the other end of the line, he itched to kiss her and then pulled her close.
Ling Ruoke let go of her hand, laughing so hard she bent over backwards, thinking Yang Ziyun was really too cute.
"Laugh again, and I'll drag you off to make a baby!" Huo Qingfeng threatened through gritted teeth, taking a bite. He'd embarrassed himself, and she was just this happy!
Ling Ruoke quickly stopped laughing, but after only a moment, she couldn't help but burst into laughter again. It wasn't her fault; it was just too funny!
Huo Qingfeng held up five fingers, threatening, "If you laugh again, I'll hit you." Using tickling as a threat was the most effective.
"Pfft... Ouch, no, I won't laugh anymore, really I won't laugh anymore, hee hee..." She hurriedly threw herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest.
Since the beauty had thrown herself into his arms, how could he not take advantage of her? Huo Qingfeng didn't punish her anymore, and quickly embraced her and gave her a deep kiss, kissing her until she was breathless and had no strength left to laugh.
Ling Ruoke looked at him with seductive eyes, her wet gaze silently pleading for mercy.
Huo Qingfeng pressed his forehead against hers and asked with a smile, "Do you still dare to make fun of your husband?" Even if she said she did, he couldn't bear to punish her. Every time he was looked at by her big, wet eyes, his heart would melt.
Ling Ruoke shook her head, wrapped her arms around his neck, and snuggled into his arms, rubbing against his chest.
The two remained silent for a while, then Huo Qingfeng suddenly said, "Ruo Ke, let's go see your parents. Let them see their son-in-law, don't you think?"
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then nodded after a long pause. "Okay. But do you have time?"
"Okay. It'll be tiring for us to go back and forth in one day, is that alright?" He knew that the death of her parents was a wound in Ruoke's heart. If this wound were to be covered up like this, it might hurt for the rest of her life. It needed to be exposed to the light of day to heal.
Ling Ruoke naturally had no objections.
So Ling Ruoke went to get her documents and belongings, while Huo Qingfeng immediately booked round-trip tickets online. Luckily, it wasn't a holiday, otherwise there definitely wouldn't have been any tickets.
Ling Ruoke took a small bag and put the things inside.
Huo Qingfeng only took the keys, put his arm around her, and went out the door, driving his Hummer all the way to the airport.
On the plane, Ling Ruoke sat by the window, remaining silent the entire time. She just stared blankly out the window, lost in thought. If her eyes hadn't been open, one would have thought she was asleep.
Huo Qingfeng held her hand, understanding her feelings, and didn't disturb her.
The plane landed, but Ling Ruoke was still in a daze until Huo Qingfeng hugged her and kissed her forehead. Only then did she manage a forced smile, feeling much better with him by her side.
Whether it was divine intervention or mere coincidence, it started raining as soon as they arrived in City A. It wasn't a torrential downpour, but rather a gentle, continuous drizzle, like a light spring rain.
The two of them left the airport and took a taxi directly to the cemetery.
Ling Ruoke remained silent, as if she had suddenly lost the ability to speak. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes clearly revealed her sorrow.
Huo Qingfeng did nothing but hold her. Words of comfort seemed too weak and ineffective; it was better to remain silent and simply be there for her. If her parents hadn't died because of Cang Weiwo, perhaps Ruoke wouldn't have been unable to face it for so long. The guilt and remorse she felt for her parents' regretful departure due to her own feelings were too deep for her to forgive herself.
The airport is far from the cemetery; it took more than an hour and a half by taxi. And the incessant drizzle showed no sign of stopping. For them, it had a touch of the poem "A drizzling rain falls on the Qingming Festival, the mourners on the road are heartbroken," their hearts heavy with sorrow.
During the journey, Huo Qingfeng asked the driver to stop the car, got out, and bought a large umbrella and a large bouquet of carnations.
After getting out of the car, Huo Qingfeng opened the large umbrella. He let Ruoke hold the flowers, while he held one of her hands the whole time, walking quietly with her. She walked extremely slowly, as if her legs weighed a ton.
Before even reaching the cemetery, Ling Ruoke's eyes were already misty, tears streaming down her cheeks. She bit her lip hard, trying to suppress a sob. If she made a sound, she wouldn't be able to hold back anymore.
But when she brought Huo Qingfeng to her parents' gravesite, she discovered that their graves were gone! After her parents passed away, she chose to bury them together, so it was a joint grave. Although she hadn't dared to come here for a long time, she was absolutely certain she hadn't misremembered.
Huo Qingfeng saw the shock and then anxiety on her face, and quickly grabbed her and asked, "Ruo Ke, what's wrong?"
"My parents' graves are gone!" They were right here, but now they've become someone else's tomb. "They used to be right here, but now they're someone else's."
Huo Qingfeng frowned slightly. "Are you sure you haven't misremembered?"
"I can't be mistaken." Although she hasn't been close to anyone recently, she's dreamed about this place countless times. She dreams of kneeling alone in the rain in front of her parents' graves for an entire day until she faints.
"Don't worry. Let's find the cemetery manager and ask first. Don't rush." The burial plot was purchased before the burial, so the cemetery won't dig up the grave without permission.
Huo Qingfeng led her to the cemetery manager. There were so many graves that the manager couldn't remember them all. They had no choice but to take the manager to the exact location of each grave.
Upon reaching the location, the caretaker remembered. "Oh, I recall. About a year ago, a man came, claiming to be their son-in-law. He chose another auspicious burial site for them, also in this cemetery. Shall I take you there?"
"Okay, thank you for your trouble." Huo Qingfeng tightened his grip on Huo Qingfeng's arm.
Ling Ruoke leaned almost entirely against him. It was obvious that the man was Cang Weiwo. Perhaps she wanted to make amends to her parents after realizing it was all a misunderstanding. But they were already gone; what meaning did a so-called auspicious burial site hold after their deaths?
They followed the caretaker for a while and arrived at a completely different cemetery. At first glance, it was clear that this place was much more upscale than the other one.
"This is it." The caretaker stopped in front of a very grand tomb.
Ling Ruoke slowly approached, her legs trembling. Her parents' names were clearly written on the tombstone. Her legs gave way, and she knelt down.
Huo Qingfeng thanked the manager and let him leave. He then knelt down beside Ruo Ke.
Ling Ruoke's hands trembled as she slowly touched the tombstone. She had specially chosen the photo on it; the two of them were nestled together, their smiles gentle and radiant. She seemed to see them again, watching TV together on the sofa, and finally, she couldn't help but cry out, collapsing to the ground. "Dad, Mom, Ruoke has come to see you..."
Huo Qingfeng held an umbrella for her and didn't stop her from crying. He kowtowed three times to the person on the grave, looking at the photo. "Dad, Mom, I am Huo Qingfeng, Ruoke's other half. I will definitely take good care of Ruoke and make her happy, so please don't worry."
The people in the photo have kind faces and gentle smiles. It's as if they are really there, looking at their son-in-law with satisfaction, entrusting their daughter to him with peace of mind.
Huo Qingfeng silently repeated his vow in his heart once again: In this lifetime, he would make Ruoke happy!
Ling Ruoke lay on the ground, crying loudly, her sobs heart-wrenching. It was as if she was releasing all the grievances, sorrows, regrets, and other emotions she had accumulated over the years through this one outburst of tears.
Huo Qingfeng's heart ached so much it felt like it was being torn apart, but he still refrained from helping her up or comforting her. She had been holding back so many emotions, and finally found an outlet for them.
In the misty drizzle, the heart-wrenching cries added to the already desolate atmosphere of the cemetery.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but Ling Ruoke's voice gradually lowered and became hoarse. Because she was too sad and had cried too hard, she was already somewhat exhausted.
Huo Qingfeng then reached out and embraced her, brushing aside her disheveled hair and wiping away the tear stains. "It's alright, Ruoke, stop crying. Your parents will be at peace knowing you're doing well."
Huo Qingfeng couldn't find any better words of comfort; in the face of life and death, words are utterly inadequate.
Ling Ruoke leaned on his shoulder, no longer sobbing loudly, but still silently shedding tears. The smiling photo on the tombstone was like a knife cutting into her heart. Not a clean cut, but a slow, dragging pain, the dull ache gradually turning into a scathing, bone-chilling agony…
Huo Qingfeng put his arm around her waist and helped her up; her knees were already soaked. Her legs seemed to have no strength left, and she couldn't stand up at all.
Huo Qingfeng switched the umbrella to his other hand, slipped his arm under her knees, bent down, and lifted her up. He silently glanced at the person on the tombstone, then turned and walked away.
In the light drizzle, the people in the photo seem to be smiling even more happily; their daughter has found happiness.
As they approached the cemetery entrance, a man dressed in black approached, holding an umbrella alone. He stopped when he saw them.
Huo Qingfeng subconsciously looked down at the person in his arms; she had her face pressed against his chest, her eyes closed. Raising his gaze, he didn't even glance at Cang Weiwo before striding away.
Cang Wei took a step forward, wanting to speak. But when he saw the person in his arms with tears streaming down their face, he finally let them leave without saying a word.
In the drizzle, his tall and slender figure appeared somewhat forlorn.
One wrong step, and there's no turning back. This step was a terrible mistake. In the dead of night, it struck his heart like a hammer blow to its most vulnerable spot.
Once outside the cemetery, the driver was still waiting. Huo Qingfeng would pay him for the wait, so he didn't leave.
The driver opened the back door, and Huo Qingfeng carried Ruo Ke inside. She remained pressed against his chest with her eyes closed, as if she were asleep. He asked the driver for tissues, gently wiped away the tears on her face, and held her even tighter.
Baby, I will never let you cry again.
"I want to go see the Xing family mansion." After driving for a while, Ling Ruoke suddenly made the request. Her eyes were still moist.
Huo Qingfeng naturally wouldn't refuse. "Okay." Then, he gave the driver the address.
Ling Ruoke didn't close her eyes again. Instead, she adjusted her position in his arms and looked out the window. Slowly, the car drove onto a familiar road, and familiar scenery came into view. But her heart was filled with only sorrow. Perhaps she had cried long enough, because she didn't shed any more tears, only staring blankly.
The Xing family mansion wasn't luxurious, but it occupied a considerable area. The mansion had already been sold, so cars could only be parked outside the gate and couldn't be brought inside.
Huo Qingfeng wanted to get out of the car to talk to the owner and ask them to go in and take a look, but Ling Ruoke stopped him.
She shook her head and gave a bitter smile. "No need. Things have changed, and seeing this will only add to the sadness. Let's go home."
"Okay, let's go home." Huo Qingfeng closed the car door, hugged her, and kissed her forehead.
Ling Ruoke turned around and stared until the door disappeared from sight before slowly turning back. She looked up and met his worried gaze. She smiled and pressed her face against his chest. Listening to his strong heartbeat, she felt she still had the strength to face the days to come.
They finally arrived home around 7 p.m.
As soon as they got home, Huo Qingfeng carried her into the bathroom, knelt by the bathtub, and carefully bathed her. Although the weather was still hot, it was easy to catch a cold after a shower.
Normally, Ling Ruoke would have been shy. Even though they had already consummated their marriage, she was still not used to being so naked together. But now, her mind was wandering, and she didn't even notice the current situation.
Huo Qingfeng had no other thoughts but to give her a good soak in hot water to prevent her from catching a cold.
After showering, I tucked her into bed. "You sleep for a while, I'll go cook." I kissed her and went downstairs to buy groceries and cook.
Ling Ruoke lay in bed for a while, then suddenly got up, moved her computer over, and started typing. Everyone's novel reflects their own personality, so a supporting character in her new work was basically modeled after herself. She had so much to say, but couldn't express it verbally, so it became words.
Thoughts flowed freely, and she silently shed tears as she typed. By the time she finished, her already swollen eyes ached from crying. She sent it, and soon, messages sprouted like bamboo shoots after a rain. So many people were crying with her…
Huo Qingfeng returned from grocery shopping and, feeling uneasy, washed his hands and went to check on her in the bedroom. He found her staring blankly at the computer screen, her face streaked with tears. He sighed inwardly, went over, and moved the computer away from her.
Ling Ruoke then came to her senses, staring blankly at him, her eyes blurry with tears.
Huo Qingfeng went to the bathroom to get a towel, soaked it in hot water, and came out to wipe her eyes. "Baby, be good, don't cry anymore. Close your eyes and sleep for a while, I'll go make dinner." He laid her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket.
Huo Qingfeng cooked the dishes and served the rice before coming up to call her. When he opened the door, he saw the blankets were off and she wasn't in bed. He assumed she was in the bathroom, but when he opened the bathroom door, she was still gone. Immediately, he panicked.
"If it's alright!" Huo Qingfeng was about to go to the guest room when he suddenly turned around and ran to the rooftop. Seeing the figure by the railing, he was terrified.
"If it's possible, what do you want to do?"
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