"Daddy—" little Huo Fu'an called out loudly, leaping up like a little leopard.
Huo Qingfeng caught him and tossed him into the air. The father and son's game never faltered, no matter where they were.
Ling Ruoke hurriedly tugged at his arm. "Qingfeng, stop right now!"
Huo Qingfeng quickly stopped, catching Xiao Fu'an in his arms, and looked at his wife with confusion. "Wife, what's wrong?"
"What if the children see this and try to imitate it?" Children are very curious, and they will imitate whatever they find fun.
Huo Qingfeng looked around and saw that quite a few children were looking at them with bright eyes, as if they wanted to come and experience it too.
A family of three, with the child in the middle holding the hands of the two adults, even taking steps with more effort than usual. Looking at his smug expression, he really resembled a little peacock.
Now that the colonel was back, the vegetables he had prepared that morning were definitely not enough. So the car turned around and went to the market, where they bought a lot more vegetables.
Mei Yanting was already home and had cooked dinner. Hearing the sound of the key turning in the door, she hurriedly ran over to open it. "Sister Ximeng, ah, brother-in-law is back too!"
Huo Qingfeng nodded, his face expressionless. He picked up the groceries he had bought and strode into the kitchen to put them down.
Mei Yanting was a little scared and swallowed hard. "Sister Ximeng, I've already cooked the rice. But my brother-in-law is back, so it might not be enough. I'll cook it again."
"Hmm, it's alright, no rush." Ling Ruoke put down her bag and brewed a pot of tea. She washed the colonel's cup and filled it completely. She also brought out the snacks and fruits she had made earlier so they could have something to eat first.
The colonel came out of the kitchen.
"Eat something first, I'll cook right away, it'll be ready soon. Would you like to take a shower first?" Anyway, the colonel's shower time is very short, it won't delay the meal.
The colonel sniffed his clothes and responded with a soft "Hmm."
"Yanting, come and help me."
"Okay." Mei Yanting hurriedly followed, which was what she had been thinking too. Her brother-in-law's aura was too cold; she didn't dare to be alone with him.
"Honey, let's rest for a bit before we start cooking. I'm not hungry yet." The colonel was very worried about tiring his wife out and felt very sorry for her.
Ling Ruoke rolled up her sleeves and smiled at him. "It's okay, it's not like we're coming back from doing hard labor. Just wait patiently, dinner will be ready soon."
There weren't many varieties of vegetables, but the portions were generous. The two of them worked together and quickly washed and chopped the vegetables; all that was left was to cook them.
Mei Yanting accidentally got her clothes wet while washing vegetables.
"Go change your clothes, it'll be just in time for dinner when you come down."
Mei Yanting then went out.
She had just disappeared when the colonel burst in, his arm firmly gripping Ling Ruoke's waist. "My wife's cooking is so delicious!"
Ling Ruoke giggled; the colonel's words were getting sweeter and sweeter. "If you keep clinging to my back, what if we both end up in the pot together?"
"Don't be afraid, wife, your husband will cushion your fall! Then we'll smash this broken pot. How dare you hurt my wife? You'll be killed without mercy!" The colonel not only didn't let go, but also kissed her neck a few times.
Ling Ruoke shrank back, glanced at him, but couldn't help laughing. "It's not even a living thing, why kill it without mercy!"
That's the colonel's skill; he always manages to make her happy.
"Perhaps it's retorting right now: Who says I'm not alive! You just can't hear me."
Ling Ruoke turned her head and kissed him on the cheek. "You think you can talk nonsense!"
The colonel, having been kissed, was immediately overjoyed. "Honey, is your friend planning to stay and develop his career in Z City?"
"Yes. She's an orphan, and her boyfriend has disappeared. He borrowed money from loan sharks, and they're pressuring her to pay it off, so she fled here. I hope she can settle down here; it's been tough for her. Once she can forget her boyfriend, I'd like to introduce her to your soldiers. She's a good person, kind-hearted, and has a good personality."
The colonel chuckled. "To the unseen part, it sounds like you're promoting your own sister."
"I wasn't exaggerating, she's a really good person. I was even worried she wouldn't want to be with your soldier!" Although they meant well, the long-distance relationship was hard for a woman to bear.
The colonel, afraid she would get angry if she continued, quickly hugged her tightly. "Yes, my wife is right! Has she started looking for a job yet?"
Ling Ruoke pouted; this was indeed a troublesome matter. "She's looking, but there's no good news yet. She only has a vocational school diploma and was previously a primary school teacher; she doesn't have any other useful work experience. I took her to visit various primary schools, but none of them could accept her with her educational background. There are already few job opportunities in Z City, and other jobs are even harder to find."
The colonel listened attentively, then frowned and asked, "Do you need me to help you talk to the school?"
"No!" Ling Ruoke refused outright. Just then, a dish was finished cooking, so she turned off the stove, turned around, and looked at the colonel. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips. "You dislike using connections the most, and I don't want you to be unhappy. Besides, I believe I can handle it."
She knew, of course, that the colonel's connections were far more useful than hers. However, soldiers are known for their pride, and the colonel especially so; asking him to pull strings and ask for favors was tantamount to slapping him in the face. At first, she didn't understand, but now she did, and naturally, she refused to let him get involved in these matters again.
Huo Qingfeng was deeply moved, but didn't know what to say, so he hugged her and gave her a deep kiss.
Outside the kitchen.
Mei Yanting changed her clothes and came downstairs. Just as she was about to go into the kitchen to see if there was anything else she could help with, she overheard a conversation.
“She’s looking, but there’s no good news yet. She only has a vocational school diploma and was previously a primary school teacher; she doesn’t have any other useful work experience. I took her to visit various primary schools, but none of them would accept her with that diploma. There are already few job opportunities in Z City, so it’s even harder to find other jobs.”
"Do you need my help to talk to the school?"
"don't want!"
Mei Yanting didn't listen any further; the word "no" sent a chill down her spine. So, Sister Ximeng wasn't incapable of helping her after all!
Mei Yanting slowly walked back to the sofa and sat down, stunned, her mind blank, her heart in turmoil. She couldn't describe the feeling; it was too painful.
A short while later, the colonel came out carrying the dishes. "Huo Fu'an, hurry up and wash your hands, it's time to eat!"
"Okay!" The little guy jumped off the sofa and ran into the bathroom.
Ling Ruoke couldn't help but smile as she watched his hurried footsteps. "Yanting, come and eat."
"Oh," Mei Yanting responded, pretending to be watching TV, and taking deep breaths to calm herself down.
At the dinner table, Ling Ruoke noticed that Mei Yanting's mood was off. "Yanting, are you alright?"
Mei Yanting quickly shook her head and forced a smile. "I'm fine, really fine."
Ling Ruoke could tell her smile was forced, and she figured it must be about work. Her job search these past few days had been a huge blow. "Yanting, don't worry about work. I've thought about it, you can come work for our company."
"But I don't know anything!" If Mei Yanting hadn't heard those words, she would definitely be happy. Now, however, it sounds different. The company was originally hers; getting someone in wouldn't be a big problem, but…
Ling Ruoke smiled gently. "It's alright, the position I've arranged for you isn't difficult. I've thought it through; even if I could get you a job at a school through connections, it wouldn't be a long-term solution. As society develops, the requirements for teachers' academic qualifications and abilities will only increase. If you can't continue to pursue higher degrees, the same problem will arise sooner or later. Therefore, I suggest you go to a training center to learn a skill, such as computer skills. These skills, combined with your work experience, will be an asset no matter what, as long as you persist in learning. Don't you agree?"
"Mm!" Mei Yanting forced a smile. "Sister Ximeng, you're so thoughtful, thank you!"
"Then eat well. Things will only get better, not worse, don't worry." Ling Ruoke patted her shoulder.
Mei Yanting hummed in agreement, then buried her head in her food, concealing the emotions in her eyes. Her nose stung with tears.
Huo Qingfeng kept staring at her without uttering a sound. His gaze was piercing, seemingly able to see right through her. This was also why Mei Yanting dared not look at him.
At the dinner table, the family of three chatted happily.
Mei Yanting barely spoke, and even her smiles were very strained.
Ling Ruoke looked at her and sighed inwardly. She simply placed a piece of meat on her plate. "Eat more vegetables, don't just focus on the rice."
"Thank you, Sister Ximeng." Mei Yanting quickly looked up and smiled.
Ling Ruoke could clearly see that her eyes were wet, and she was obviously crying. This made her feel a little choked up, but she didn't know what to say.
After the meal, Mei Yanting insisted on washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, refusing to let Ling Ruoke help.
Ling Ruoke understood that she needed to calm down, so she let her be. As soon as she turned around, the colonel pulled her back to the bedroom. She glanced at him and saw that the colonel didn't seem to be in a good mood either.
The door slammed shut.
"What's wrong?" Ling Ruoke quickly hugged his waist, kissed him, and smiled sweetly. She finally understood that the best way to appease the colonel was to be incredibly affectionate! "Is it because of Mei Yanting?"
The colonel snorted coldly and remained silent. He wouldn't even say a harsh word to his wife, let alone tolerate any outsider giving him attitude.
Ling Ruoke chuckled; her colonel was becoming more and more childish. "Alright, she's suffered a lot these past few days, it hasn't been easy for her. She wasn't deliberately putting on a show, she's genuinely upset."
The colonel pursed his lips, lowered his head to kiss her neck, and said sullenly, "I don't like her."
Ling Ruoke couldn't help but laugh again, hugging his back without saying anything. The colonel's likes and dislikes were formed at a glance; if the first impression was bad, it was hard to change later. "Alright, take a break and go take a shower; you're all sweaty."
"Wife, you despise me!" the colonel complained, feeling wronged.
"No, I just wanted you to take a shower to feel better. Don't you feel uncomfortable?" However, they seemed to be used to it.
"It's not uncomfortable, I'm used to it." The colonel buried his face in her neck and kissed her again. If he hadn't just finished eating, he would have wanted to hug his wife.
Ling Ruoke rolled her eyes. "Fine then, I won't wash it."
"If you want to wash, I'll wash if you help me scrub my back."
Ling Ruoke couldn't help but laugh out loud this time, a bitter smile playing on her lips. Had he somehow categorized her age as the same as Fu'an's? "You think you're Fu'an's younger brother?"
"So, will you help or not?" The colonel straightened up, put one arm around her waist, and gripped her hand threateningly with the other hand.
Ling Ruo was terrified of being tickled, so she didn't dare say no. She quickly shrank back and agreed loudly, "Help, of course I'll help!"
"That's more like it." The colonel pecked her and then wrapped his arms around her waist.
Ling Ruoke nudged his arm. "Alright, I should go now. I need to talk to that young lady to prevent her from overthinking things."
The colonel reluctantly let go, knowing his wife's kind heart. However, his dislike for Mei Yanting only intensified. Ultimately, the colonel disliked anything and anyone that might capture his wife's attention!
Ling Ruoke came downstairs and saw the little guy hogging the TV watching cartoons, so she went straight into the kitchen.
Mei Yanting had almost finished tidying up and was wiping the stove with a soft cloth. She was clearly preoccupied and moved very slowly, not even noticing someone come in.
Ling Ruoke sighed silently, walked over, picked up another rag, and began tidying up. "Yanting?"
Mei Yanting screamed in fright, but her expression stiffened when she realized it was her. "Sister Ximeng, it's you?"
"What are you thinking about? You're so focused!" Ling Ruoke was sometimes quite afraid of this situation. Because we can't get into other people's hearts, we can't see through their true thoughts, and we don't know what to say or do to get what they want.
Ling Ruoke felt a pang of guilt towards Mei Yanting, besides past affection and her kindness. If she hadn't gone to Y City, perhaps Xu An and Mei Yanting could have lived a lifetime together. Therefore, she couldn't help but want to do something to make amends to Mei Yanting.
Mei Yanting smiled, shook her head, and went back to her work. "No, I wasn't thinking about anything."
"Yanting, I don't know if you'll listen to what I'm saying. But I know that no matter how much I say, it's not as good as you figuring it out yourself. I just hope you won't get stuck on this."
Mei Yanting's attitude towards Xu An reveals that she is a very stubborn person. Such people often get stuck in dead ends.
"I know, Sister Ximeng."
Ling Ruoke didn't say anything more, and took the rag from her hand. "Go back and take a shower, and go to bed early. I'll take care of the rest."
"I'm going back to my room now." She ran out.
Ling Ruoke watched her retreating figure and let out a deep breath.
Mei Yanting bumped into Huo Qingfeng on the stairs. When she met his eyes, which seemed to see right through her, she was so frightened that she couldn't even take a step. "Sister, brother-in-law."
The colonel glanced at her, nodded, and remained expressionless.
As the two brushed past each other, Mei Yanting felt as if a blast of cold air hit her. She barely missed them before turning and running uphill.
Even after returning to her room, closing the door, and pressing her body against it, Mei Yanting's heart was still pounding! Those eyes were truly terrifying!
Once she calmed down, she couldn't help but think, "He's so handsome! Much better looking than any other man I've ever seen! And he's so tall and strong, like a mountain! Being with a man like that must make me feel so safe."
Mei Yanting couldn't help but smile bitterly. Such an outstanding man would never be hers! If she weren't so poor, perhaps even Xu An wouldn't have taken a liking to her!
Mei Yanting, you're just an unwanted and unloved child! No one will truly treat you well!
With her legs bent, Mei Yanting slowly slid to the ground, leaning against the door and burying her head between her legs. Slowly, many tears welled up in her eyes again.
All she wants is a stable job, a home, and a man who loves her—that's all! Why is it still so difficult?
Is it true that no matter how hard she tries, she's destined to never find happiness? But why do others seem to have everything so easily, while all her efforts seem in vain? Why!
Is she not good enough? But what's wrong with her? Can anyone tell her? Or is everything just fate? If she wants happiness, does she have to die and be reincarnated?
...
After cleaning up the kitchen, the family of three sat on the sofa to watch TV and chat.
Ling Ruoke was a little absent-minded; she was worried about Mei Yanting, that young girl. But she really didn't know how to help her.
She had already thought of that; the company has a large number of invoices that need to be pasted, and the settlement process is often delayed due to invoice pasting issues. If a dedicated invoice pasting staff were assigned, the settlement process would be faster, and other staff would not need to spend time pasting invoices.
I just don't know what Mei Yanting is thinking, or whether she's willing to do this job.
Huo Qingfeng pulled his arm away from her waist. "Don't keep thinking about other people's business, or I'll get jealous."
This was the first time the colonel had so directly admitted to eating something wrong, so Ling Ruoke couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, I don't want to think about it anymore."
However, Ling Ruoke remembered something else: Fu'an's mother. Should she ask? Or wait for the colonel to explain himself?
"Wife, something's wrong with your eyes." The colonel had such sharp eyes that he could tell at a glance that his wife's eyes were different from usual.
Ling Ruoke chuckled at his antics. "What's wrong? Have you been doing something wrong lately, that's why I'm getting creeped out by your gaze?"
"A guilty conscience? Let me think." The colonel then thought very seriously. After a long while, he shook his head. "It seems I really haven't! Honey, could you give me a hint?"
"No way! Think about it yourself, or you'll be sleeping on the floor tonight!"
The colonel screamed in anguish.
When Huo Fu'an saw his father get the short end of the stick, he laughed too, and the little duck quacked loudly, making all three of them laugh.
"Honey, do you think he understood?" The colonel hugged his wife, pointed at the little duck next to them, and looked very troubled.
Ling Ruoke chuckled and shook her head. "I don't know either. Anyway, he always laughs along whenever the adults say something funny."
The little guy laughed when he heard his mom laugh.
Suddenly, the couple couldn't hold back anymore. They both thought to themselves: the world of children is indeed incomprehensible.
The colonel was in a hurry to get into bed with his wife, so before the appointed time, he took Huo Fu'an into the bathroom to wash up and put him to sleep in the room. Fortunately, little Huo Fu'an was very strong and didn't cry.
Ling Ruoke was dragged into the bathroom by him. She didn't even have the right to refuse. The colonel stripped her naked and then pulled her into the bathtub.
"Colonel, are you crazy!" Ling Ruoke couldn't stop laughing.
The colonel lowered his head and began to kiss her, his movements rhythmic and muffled. "With my wife in my arms, I can't help but go crazy!"
Ling Ruoke initially felt itchy from being teased, but later her mind became hot and she couldn't think of anything.
After the passion subsided, the colonel embraced his wife and whispered in her ear, "Honey, I'll take you somewhere tomorrow."
"Mmm." Ling Ruoke didn't even open her eyes, and after vaguely responding, she fell asleep.
The colonel embraced her, and just as he was about to close his eyes in the darkness, he suddenly heard a sound coming from the stairwell. Listening closely, he realized it was footsteps, though very softly and slowly. He deduced that someone was going up to the roof.
The colonel narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, then gently put his wife down from his arms and tucked her in. He opened the door and silently went upstairs.
...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com