Seeing that Ling Ruoke seemed to be in a better mood, both mother and daughter were very happy. Tan Peishi even snuggled up to Ling Ruoke and clung to her. Ping An, seeing this, was displeased and wanted to argue with her, telling her to leave her mother!
Tan Peishi is also a playful person, so she deliberately went against Ping An, and the two of them started arguing. In the end, Ping An couldn't win, and since he's not a child who likes to cry, he complained to his mother.
"This little devil! He already has so many clever ideas now, who knows how amazing he'll be when he grows up!" Tan Peishi concluded with a laugh.
Ling Ruoke smiled. Every mother thinks her child is the most beautiful and intelligent, and loves to be praised for their child; she was no exception. Turning to look out the window, she watched the sun set, another day gone. The day after tomorrow, she would be meeting Gu Tianze. She wasn't afraid, only worried that Gu Tianze wouldn't release Chen Xinyi and Li Chen.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the evening of the second-to-last day. Whether Ling Ruoke and Huo Qingfeng liked it or not, the time had come.
This time, Ling Ruoke has to go.
Lying in bed, Huo Qingfeng held his wife, wanting to disregard his military status and flee with his wife and child to another country. But his last shred of reason remained, and the ingrained beliefs were still there, so he could only endure it.
Ling Ruoke didn't think as much as Huo Qingfeng, or rather, she didn't even consider it. If the situation couldn't be changed for the time being, then they would temporarily comply with the enemy's wishes. As long as they found an opportunity, they could launch a counterattack.
Slowly sitting up, Ling Ruoke looked into her husband's dark, deep eyes and smiled slightly. "Qingfeng, I know you want to rescue me from Gu Tianze as quickly as possible. But please promise me one thing: I'll wait for you to save me, but don't risk your life to do so. You must calmly wait for the right opportunity and prioritize your own safety, because: if you're not in this world, I will never live alone."
If you are not here, I will never live alone.
Each word was powerful and resonant, deeply moving.
Looking into those deep, affectionate eyes, Huo Qingfeng almost burst into tears. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, breathing deeply into the back of her neck. "If it's alright, I promise you, because I want to grow old with you."
The two faced each other, their eyes filled with boundless affection and unwavering determination. Then, their lips slowly drew closer and pressed together.
On the night before their separation, the two clung to each other passionately, each wanting to remember that feeling forever. In the days leading up to their parting, they relied on those memories to sustain their strength and patience as they waited for the crisis to pass and for the moment they could embrace again!
I didn't sleep a wink all night. Dawn broke so quickly.
Ling Ruoke held Tan Peishi's hand and smiled faintly. "These next few days, please keep an eye on the little guy for me. If he misbehaves, please bear with him; I'll punish him when we get back."
Tan Peishi's eyes instantly reddened. "Nonsense. Why are you being so polite with me? Your son is my son. If he misbehaves, I'll just beat him up. Why bother waiting for you to come back and punish him?"
Ling Ruoke smiled and gave her a hug. "No problem, you can discipline her however you want. But at least keep her alive, otherwise I won't allow it."
She let go of her, then turned around and picked up Ping An. The little guy, unaware of what was happening, continued to play wildly with Lele. When his mother picked him up and kissed him, he instinctively kissed her back, then giggled triumphantly. Ling Ruoke couldn't resist kissing him a few more times, quite forcefully, leaving several marks before reluctantly putting him down and letting him play by himself.
He reached out and patted Tan Peishi on the shoulder, then walked out the door without saying a word. It was still a sunny day, as if she wasn't going on a dangerous mission, but rather on a leisurely outing.
Huo Qingfeng stood outside the door, quietly watching her. He didn't look worried or show any expression; he just stared at her intently. Then he reached out his hand to her without saying a word.
Ling Ruoke placed her hand in his and held it tightly. For the first time, the two of them walked downstairs hand in hand so openly in front of others. This was their business, and most of the neighbors didn't know, so they just thought it was a young couple on a date and happily greeted them.
Once in the car, Ling Ruoke sat quietly, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. She thought to herself, "What a beautiful day. I hope I have good luck too."
Ling Ruoke kept her eyes closed and rested the whole way, without saying a word. She had already said everything that needed to be said, and saying another word at this point would only add to her troubles, so she simply remained silent.
6 p.m.
Ling Ruoke arrived at the banyan tree outside Xinghai Park on time, but didn't see the person she was looking for. She stood alone under the banyan tree for a long time, but no one she was hoping to see appeared.
Her phone rang. She answered it; it was Huo Qingfeng. "He's not coming. Let's go back."
Ling Ruoke returned to Huo Qingfeng's car. Gu Tianze's absence didn't bring her any relief; instead, she felt even more uneasy. Was Gu Tianze deliberately absent, or was he preoccupied with other matters? If it was the latter, that would be fine. But if Gu Tianze's absence was intentional, it meant he already knew Huo Qingfeng and his group had set a trap for him. What would he do? Would he really kill Li Chen and Chen Xinyi?
Ling Ruoke didn't go back to the military base with Huo Qingfeng; instead, she suggested returning to the villa. She had a feeling that something would definitely happen tomorrow.
Huo Qingfeng naturally wanted to stay with his wife; otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease. The house hadn't been lived in for a long time, but thankfully the blankets and clothes were still in the closet, and there was a faint scent of incense.
Ling Ruoke and Huo Qingfeng were talking on the bed after taking a shower, naturally about the fact that Gu Tianze had not appeared.
"Qingfeng, I'm very uneasy. I'm afraid Gu Tianze will really..." Ling Ruoke didn't finish her sentence. The ending was too terrible, and she dared not say it.
Huo Qingfeng held her tighter, his eyes fixed on a vague spot, seemingly deep in thought. "Don't overthink it. Maybe he's preoccupied with something. Chen Xinyi and Li Chen are his bargaining chips; he won't kill them so easily."
Ling Ruoke breathed a sigh of relief and nestled tightly against his chest. The heat emanating from his body made her feel a little more at ease. No wonder some people say that waiting for a possible bad outcome is far more terrifying than the outcome itself. Lately, she seemed to be living this kind of life all the time, her nerves stretched to the breaking point.
"Don't think about it, go to sleep early. I'm here, don't be afraid." His deep voice was very gentle, right next to her ear, making her feel at ease. His large hand patted her back rhythmically.
Ling Ruoke obediently closed her eyes, a jumble of thoughts flashing through her mind. She could hear his strong heartbeat beside her. Their bodies were pressed together, burning hot. And the gentle rhythm of his large hands felt like a hypnotic touch. Slowly, she truly drifted off to sleep.
The air conditioning was set a bit too low, so Huo Qingfeng pulled the blanket over her, wrapping her up completely. He knew his wife loved sleeping with the air conditioning on and the blanket covering her; apparently, it was the most comfortable way to sleep. He also enjoyed this feeling, because at this time she would snuggle close to him, absorbing his warmth.
Huo Qingfeng looked down tenderly at the person in his arms, lost in thought. After a while, he slowly raised his head and gazed out the dark window. Huo's eyes were deep and sharp, like a sword yet to be drawn, its gleam undiminished by the sheath.
Night deepened. Summer insects and animals are particularly active, and strange cries could be heard from time to time, some of which were quite frightening.
Huo Qingfeng turned off the lights and remained in the same position in the darkness. The curtains were drawn, leaving only a small corner through which a faint light shone. He was completely hidden in the darkness, unable to be seen at all, except for his pair of eyes, which were so bright that their presence could not be concealed.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from outside, not loud. If you didn't listen carefully, it would be completely missed if it were mixed in with the chirping of insects.
Huo Qingfeng quietly pulled himself out, slipped his clothes on, and leaped out of the window. Like a black cheetah, he vanished into the night in an instant.
The person buried in the brocade quilt on the bed seemed to sense that something was missing beside her, and stirred restlessly, but did not wake up. He had added something to the glass of milk he brought her before bed, which explained her peaceful sleep.
Ling Ruoke slept soundly until dawn. When she woke up, she was still a little groggy and didn't know how she had fallen asleep. Looking at the light streaming in through the window, she sat up, still clutching the blanket, lost in thought.
Half-asleep, she felt something was missing. Turning her head, she was shocked to find her husband wasn't beside her. Panicked, she threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and rushed out. Just as she opened the door, she bumped into the man coming towards her, carrying a steaming breakfast.
Ling Ruoke relaxed, leaning weakly against the door, her eyes filled with tears and a hint of grievance as she looked at him.
Huo Qingfeng hurriedly put down the breakfast, picked her up, and sat her down on the edge of the bed. He brushed the hair from her cheek and stroked her slightly dark circles. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Ling Ruoke pressed her face against his chest and said in a muffled voice, "I thought I had lost you."
Huo Qingfeng knew she had been under a lot of stress lately; everything Gu Tianze had done was pushing her psychological limits. This was also Gu Tianze's most effective way of tormenting her—mental torture was far more terrifying than physical torture, especially for someone as kind as Ruo Ke. "No. I said I would stay by your side for life, I would never leave."
"Hmm." She felt a strong unease in her heart, not knowing how to tell him, nor wanting to tell him. She just wanted to stay with him like this, not going anywhere else.
"Alright, eat breakfast first, don't go hungry."
Ling Ruoke nestled in his arms like a child, letting him feed her. He happily obliged, taking turns feeding her, and ate with relish. The bowl of porridge was finished in no time.
After breakfast, Ling Ruoke was still lazy and wouldn't move an inch while snuggling in his arms.
"How about we watch a movie?" Huo Qingfeng gently stroked her hair, thought for a moment, and then offered his suggestion.
Ling Ruoke pouted. "I don't want to watch. There aren't any good movies." She didn't like watching movies; she preferred reading.
Huo Qingfeng knew she was in a bad mood, and even the best movies wouldn't interest her. He sighed inwardly, not knowing what else he could do to cheer her up except hold her tight.
"Do you think Gu Tianze might kill them?" After a long silence, Ling Ruoke finally couldn't help but voice her concerns.
Huo Qingfeng sighed helplessly. "No. They are Gu Tiance's bargaining chips. Gu Tiance wouldn't be stupid enough to destroy his own chips. He didn't come yesterday just to create a fuss and try to make us panic."
Ling Ruoke listened without saying a word. She hugged his waist tightly, as if only in this way could she feel a little more at ease. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and wished she could stay in his arms like this, even if she didn't say or do anything.
Huo Qingfeng carried her to the computer. Luckily, they didn't care about the money, so they had always paid the internet fee for convenience when they occasionally came back. He had heard some of his married comrades talk about how their wives really enjoyed watching a relationship counseling program—it dealt with love and romantic disputes, and women just love that.
Ling Ruoke wasn't in the mood at first, but nestled in his arms, she gradually became engrossed in watching. Each episode was about an hour long, and after watching three episodes, it was almost noon.
Huo Qingfeng reached out and pressed pause. "Let's buy groceries and cook first, then we'll watch it again when we get back."
Ling Ruoke stood up with him and stretched. It was indeed good to have something to distract her.
The two went to buy groceries hand in hand. Surprisingly, even after so long, the vegetable vendors still remembered her and chatted with her for a bit. They even insisted on giving her extra vegetables while they were buying them.
Huo Qingfeng, carrying groceries in one hand and with his other arm around her shoulder, said with a smile, "My wife is so adorable, everyone loves her, flowers adore her, and cars gravitate towards her!"
His strange accent made Ling Ruoke laugh. "Are you trying to indirectly praise yourself as someone everyone loves, someone flowers adore, and someone cars gravitate towards?"
Huo Qingfeng pretended to be surprised and exclaimed, "Oh dear, you actually saw through me."
Ling Ruoke laughed and pinched his waist. He pulled her close, bent down, and scooped her up in his arms. They were at the bustling market entrance, and many people were staring, making her blush.
Startled, Ling Ruoke quickly grabbed his neck. "Put me down! People are watching!"
"Let them see, I'm carrying my wife, let them be envious!" he said, carrying her and swaggering home.
Ling Ruoke blushed and glared at him.
He raised an eyebrow and gave a smug look.
Ling Ruoke released one hand and pinched his nose hard. He opened his mouth and took her finger in his mouth. "Ouch, my hands are still dirty from picking vegetables."
"Oh, really? Then I'll lick it clean!" he said, actually pretending to clean it for her.
Ling Ruoke quickly pulled her finger back and punched his shoulder hard. "You're so dirty, aren't you afraid of getting sick?"
The two of them, playfully bickering, walked into the house under the watchful eyes of others. The door closed, blocking out the envious glances.
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