After starting the car, Huo Qingfeng turned to look at her and asked, "What did you talk about while you were inside for so long?" He wasn't actually that curious or trying to find out; he was just asking casually.
Ling Ruoke smiled and relaxed in her seat. "She didn't say anything, just listened to her thoughts. If she hadn't thought she liked you before, maybe we could have become good friends. Unfortunately, fate played a trick on us. But you're right, going through all this might be a good thing for Gu Miaomiao; she's really growing up."
Huo Qingfeng reached out and patted her head. "Alright, we've done all we can. The rest is up to her. Do you want to go shopping, or just go home?"
"Let's go home, I don't need to buy anything. What about you?"
Huo Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. "I'll listen to my wife."
Ling Ruoke looked at him and smiled sweetly. "Huo Qingfeng, seeing Gu Miaomiao makes me feel so lucky. I feel like I've said this so many times, but I still can't help but say it again."
"It's okay, we're all lucky. So we should live our lives to the fullest, so as not to waste the good fortune God has given us!"
"Um!"
When the two returned home, Yuan Meng was already preparing dinner.
Ling Ruoke went to help in the kitchen, but was turned away by Yang Ziyun, who said she wasn't fully recovered. Yang Ziyun also helped her, shooing Ling Ruoke out.
Ling Ruoke simply pulled Huo Qingfeng along to the courtyard to look at the stars and the moon. The recliner in the courtyard was set up by Ling Ruoke for reading, and there was a rain canopy overhead.
Huo Qingfeng lay down on the recliner, pulled Ling Ruoke up, and she fell into his arms.
Ling Ruoke nestled obediently in his arms, gazing at the stars in the sky. "Hmm, it looks like tomorrow will definitely be a good day."
"It's okay, even if the weather is bad, we have sunshine in our hearts." Huo Qingfeng smiled at her, saying something that sounded a bit cheesy.
Ling Ruoke chuckled. "You don't look like a soldier, you look more like a poet or writer!"
"You're only just realizing your husband is such a talented man!"
Ling Ruoke pinched his chin. "You're shameless! Shameless, shameless..."
Huo Qingfeng held the back of her head and kept pecking at her lips. The two of them played around for a while, their laughter ringing out.
Ling Ruoke, still making a fuss, remembered what they had talked about during the day. "Hey, do you really want to change careers? Don't you feel it's a pity and you'll miss it?"
Huo Qingfeng took her small hand and kissed it. "Of course I'll miss you, but I'll miss you all alone at home even more. When we have children, I don't want to miss their growth. I'm afraid it'll be like what people say, that by the time I have time to be with them, they'll already be old enough to not need a father anymore. What, don't you want that?"
"Of course I want to! But I don't want you to regret it in the future. Let's think it over carefully. We're not in a hurry to make a decision, are we?" Ling Ruoke felt that he had already given up a lot for her and done many things that he would never have done before, so she didn't want him to give up even the career he loved.
“Okay, let’s think about it carefully.” Huo Qingfeng understood her thoughts very well and knew her concerns, so he didn’t dwell on the issue.
Ling Ruoke chuckled. Every time they discussed something, the outcome seemed to be based on her wishes. Aside from not being able to be with her often, he had become the most devoted husband imaginable.
"Dinner's ready!" Huo Zhenbang called out to them from outside the door.
Ling Ruoke hurriedly pulled Huo Qingfeng back. "Grandpa."
"Ruoke, go in first," Huo Zhenbang said with a smile.
Ling Ruoke knew he had something to say to Qingfeng, so she quickly ran inside.
"Grandpa," Huo Qingfeng called out, waiting for his grandfather's reply. He knew that his grandfather had overheard their conversation about transferring to civilian work.
Huo Zhenbang patted his grandson on the shoulder. "As a man, being able to take things on and let them go is what makes a real man. No matter what you choose, Grandpa will support you. However, I don't think now is the best time for you to change careers. Don't forget, there's still a tiger lurking in the mountains, so be careful."
He patted him on the shoulder again, and then Huo Zhenbang went inside.
Watching his grandfather's retreating figure, Huo Qingfeng knew in his heart who the fierce tiger referred to. As long as Gu Tiance remained uncaptured, he was a ticking time bomb. He couldn't allow his wife and children to continue living in constant danger! After a moment's thought, he strode inside.
At the dinner table, Yang Ziyun mentioned going back tomorrow.
Yuan Meng also took the opportunity to suggest that she and Fu An should return to T City. She had already taken several days off, and if she took any more, she was afraid she would lose her job.
Although Ling Ruoke and Huo Qingfeng were worried about them, they couldn't keep them tied to their sides. Their only option was to find a way to send more people to protect their safety.
While taking a shower, Ling Ruoke took the opportunity to make a phone call to Wild Wolf.
"Baby, you missed me?" The sleazy voice came quickly, as if he had been waiting for her call.
Ling Ruoke rolled her eyes helplessly. "Where's Mo Ran? Did he pull your ear?" Mo Ran is so tough, I wonder if he'll really beat her up.
"She dares!"
Ling Ruoke chuckled. "Seriously, I want to ask you for a favor."
"You never call me unless you need something from me. Baby, you've broken my heart!" Wild Wolf said, clutching his chest, looking extremely heartbroken.
Ling Ruoke paused, too embarrassed to say anything. He was telling the truth; she only seemed to call him when she needed something. It wasn't that she didn't care about him, but she didn't want the colonel to misunderstand, so she avoided contacting him. But whenever something happened, it seemed he was the only one who could be there to help. "I...I'm sorry!"
She hated people like that the most, yet she herself unintentionally became one of them.
The wolf sighed softly on the other end and said, "Baby, didn't you realize I was joking?"
“But you’re not wrong.” Because it was the truth, even if it was expressed as a joke, it didn’t change the fact. Ling Ruoke suddenly hesitated; perhaps she shouldn’t ask him for this favor again.
Wild Wolf sighed softly again, with the helplessness of an adult facing a child's stubbornness. "Baby, you don't need to feel bad. I know you consider me an older brother from the bottom of your heart, so you instinctively think of me when you're in trouble. You don't usually call me because you're afraid that Blade will get jealous, right?"
“I…” He was right, but Ling Ruoke didn’t know whether she should admit it. She didn’t like the feeling of having taken advantage of someone; it was awful.
"Honey, there are countless kinds of feelings between people. Some people need to call, meet, and eat together often, otherwise the feelings will fade away; others can have no contact at all, but they will definitely be there for each other when needed. You and I belong to the latter. The difference is that my Sky Wolf Gang is very powerful and doesn't need your help right now. If we do, I won't be polite. So, honey, don't feel bad. You're a good girl."
What Wild Wolf feared most was that Ruoke would become timid and fearful in his presence; he loved the feeling of her daring to challenge him. It's a terrible feeling when someone's been in a high position for too long and everyone is wary of them. Wild Wolf regretted making that harmless joke.
Ling Ruoke thought it made sense, but she still felt a little sad. Perhaps she wasn't magnanimous enough. After a moment of silence, she said pitifully, "If you never need my help in your entire life, you'll be at a huge loss."
The wolf on the other end let out a rather frightening laugh, which didn't subside for a while. "Baby, when you're with Huo Qingfeng, do you often think about how much he's done for me? Do I have to try my best to be good to him?"
"Yes." Ling Ruoke honestly admitted. She felt that Qingfeng had done so much for her, so she didn't want him to have any worries and always hoped that she could do everything well.
The wolf's sigh was longer and more profound this time. "My dear, your thinking is wrong. Whether it's love or friendship, you can't realistically judge who gives more, because giving is something that can't be specifically measured. Let me give you an example: if a golden hamster and a dog become good friends, it's the same if the hamster gives the dog a piece of meat and the dog gives the hamster a sunflower seed—because it meets each other's needs. Understand?"
Ling Ruoke said in a muffled voice, "Just a little bit."
The wolf chuckled. "Baby, can you not talk to me in such a pitiful tone? It makes it sound like I'm bullying you!"
"I understand what you mean, but even though I understand, I still feel like I'm being a bit unfair." Ling Ruoke herself felt this wasn't right, but when it came to the crucial moment, it seemed like the only person she could turn to was Wild Wolf. She also knew that Qingfeng would definitely send people to protect her and her child, but she was just worried about a repeat of the Guzheng kidnapping incident and wanted to add another layer of protection for them. Compared to Qingfeng, Wild Wolf, who was in T City, would be easier to manage.
“Honey, you don’t need to be clear about everything in life. Sometimes it’s best to be a little oblivious. You are a person, not a machine, so be open-minded when asking your loved ones and friends for things. They will ask you for things when they need them too. Let go of your burdens. If you have to carry these things in front of the people who love and care about you, wouldn’t that be too tiring?”
The wolf rubbed his temples, thinking that he had never said so many sarcastic things before.
Ling Ruoke listened quietly. Qingfeng had said those words, and now Wild Wolf was saying the same. Was she really carrying too much on her shoulders? She raised her hand to touch her forehead, unable to understand for a moment. It all seemed so natural, and she hadn't done anything particularly deliberate. But everyone seemed to think she was being too hard on herself. Was she really?
Maybe it really is true. She always felt incredibly lucky to have met Qingfeng, Peishi, Wild Wolf, and a group of others who rescued her from her nightmares. Now that she has the happiness she wanted, she subconsciously wants to do better and bring more to everyone, as if that's the only way to repay them. Shouldn't it be like this?
"What are you thinking about?" came a sudden voice.
Ling Ruoke screamed, and her phone flew out of her hand.
Huo Qingfeng caught the phone quickly and saw that the contact name was "Big Bad Wolf." He put one arm around her waist and handed the phone back to her with the other. "Hmm?"
Ling Ruoke took the phone in a daze and hung up immediately. She looked up at Huo Qingfeng, her face filled with panic. Had he...had he misunderstood? "Qingfeng, I...I..."
Huo Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. "You're trying to tell me not to misunderstand, that there's nothing between you and him, right?"
Ling Ruoke wanted to nod, but didn't move, her hands gripping the phone tightly as if she wanted to crush it. "Are you... are you angry?"
"Yes, I'm angry, very angry." His face was expressionless, but he seemed genuinely angry.
"I..." Ling Ruoke was anxious, her eyes immediately welling up with tears. She reached out and grabbed his collar, wanting to explain, but didn't know how. "Qingfeng, I called him just because I wanted to..."
Huo Qingfeng sighed helplessly; how could he bear to see her cry? He reached out and took the phone. "Wife, you're such a silly girl. Do you think I don't see through your little scheme? At the dinner table, as soon as Yuan Meng mentioned going back, you looked so anxious. You're worried that someone might kidnap them again like Gu Zheng did, right? So you want to ask Wild Wolf for help to protect them, isn't that right?"
"Mmm!" She nodded, her lips pursed, her vision slightly blurred. "Don't be angry. I know you'll definitely send people to protect them. I just wanted to make sure Wild Wolf was in T City; if he was willing to help, it would provide an extra layer of protection. Fu'an and Yuan Meng are Lei Kaiyi's last remaining attachments in this world. You want to ensure their safety more than anyone else, so I..."
Huo Qingfeng hugged her, his heart aching for her. Although he trusted her, he had still felt a little annoyed just now, but that feeling had vanished. This silly girl, she always wanted to do everything to the extreme.
He cupped her face in his hands, looking tenderly into her dark, watery eyes. "Ruo Ke, you've forgotten what I said today again. I'm your man. Try to trust me and rely on me, okay? I know you wouldn't do anything to betray me, but I'm still unhappy when you contact other men. I'm jealous!"
She asked, looking rather naive, "Then, what should we do?"
Huo Qingfeng nearly suffered internal injuries. What a silly girl! "How about you help me take a bath as an apology?"
Ling Ruoke hummed in agreement, her face flushed. It wasn't the first time she'd been fooled by him, and she knew perfectly well how this bathing incident would end up.
"Wife, I only asked you to help me take a bath, why are you blushing?" Huo Qingfeng immediately laughed, kissed her face, and thought to himself: Only he will ever know how beautiful Ruoke is! Thinking this, he didn't care so much about that guy Wild Wolf.
Ling Ruoke glared at him playfully, pushed him away, and scurried into the bathroom. "I'm going to run the water."
Huo Qingfeng laughed heartily, glanced at his phone, and then tossed it onto the table. He turned and went to the bathroom to tease his beloved.
Ling Ruoke obediently filled the bathtub with hot water, her face flushed.
"Wife, help me take off my clothes." Huo Qingfeng, with both hands on his body, enjoyed his wife's service. Looking at her flushed face, he thought that perhaps it was because she remained as shy as ever, which was why he couldn't help but tease her. This pure girl was his, belonging only to him! Huo Qingfeng felt his chest was completely full, with no room to spare.
Ling Ruoke blushed as she helped him take off his shirt, unbuckle his belt, and pull down his trousers. By the time she was down to the last piece of clothing, her face was hot enough to boil an egg. Even though they had been naked together so many times before, she still felt incredibly uncomfortable.
"Wife, hurry up!" Huo Qingfeng suppressed a laugh, admiring her blossoming beauty. Only he could witness such a captivating sight! Wild Wolf, Zhuang Yicheng, Cang Weiwo—they can all fucking get lost!
Ling Ruoke looked up at him, and when she met his gaze, it felt like she was being burned; her body temperature rose another notch. Gritting her teeth, she closed her eyes and finished peeling his clothes.
"Wife, are you going to ruin your happiness for the rest of your life?" Huo Qingfeng complained after a muffled groan.
Ling Ruoke really thought something had happened to him. She opened her eyes, her face instantly turning red with embarrassment, and she punched him hard. "You're so bad! You filthy scoundrel!"
Huo Qingfeng smiled, loving his wife's shy innocence the most.
"What are you doing?" Ling Ruoke grabbed his hand that was unbuttoning her clothes and looked at him warily.
Huo Qingfeng smiled wickedly and breathed into her ear. "Take off your clothes, or you'll get them wet."
"So what if it's wet?" Ling Ruoke gripped even tighter; she couldn't let him lead her by the nose every time. He was the worst kind of person!
"Won't it be uncomfortable if you get wet?" He withdrew his hand and instead wrapped his arms around her waist. His dark, unfathomable eyes locked onto her beautiful face, burning with an alarming intensity.
Ling Ruoke quickly shook her head. "It doesn't hurt. Sit down quickly, I'll wipe it for you!"
"Okay!" Before he finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her. He suppressed her struggles, his large hands skillfully and quickly performing the actions he often did.
When Ling Ruoke was released, she was shocked to find herself completely naked, held in his arms like a newborn baby. Her misty, watery eyes met his, driving him mad.
Huo Qingfeng picked her up and they both lay down in the hot water. The warm liquid washed over their bodies, so comfortable that they couldn't help but make a sound.
Ling Ruoke lay on top of him, angrily biting his chest. But the hard muscles left no mark no matter how hard she tried. She patted it, hearing a series of popping sounds. "Is this flesh or stone?!"
"That's flesh as hard as stone." Huo Qingfeng chuckled, shifting her body up a little higher until their faces were touching. He took her small hand and pressed it against his chest. "This is all yours alone. Don't you like it? Or do you prefer the muscular physique of a bodybuilder with bulging muscles?"
"No way, I like you just the way you are!" Ling Ruoke blurted out, her face flushing again as she finished speaking. This guy was deliberately setting her up!
"Haha..." Huo Qingfeng laughed happily. "Wife, you are so cute, always so cute!" A beautiful face may fade with time, but a cute nature can remain unchanged through the years.
Ling Ruoke bit his lip in anger, leaving a clear imprint when she released him, and she raised her chin smugly.
Huo Qingfeng felt a tickle in his heart at her playful manner, and said with a smile, "Wife, you finally remembered that this is a good spot to bite."
Before Ling Ruoke could unleash her fury, Huo Qingfeng cleverly kissed her red lips, their kiss lingering and passionate. He knew his wife all too well; as long as he kissed her, her mind would go blank, allowing him to do whatever he wanted.
After a long and passionate encounter in the bathroom, the two lovers fell silent with a low growl. Their heavy breathing echoed in the bathroom, conveying an ambiguous message.
Ling Ruoke slumped in her husband's arms, not wanting to move a single finger. Her whole body was limp, utterly devoid of strength. A rosy blush spread across her skin, making her look exquisitely beautiful. Her fair face, tinged with pink, was even more alluring.
Huo Qingfeng kissed her lips gently with satisfaction and then washed her body. He pulled a bath towel over her and carried her back to the room. He grabbed a hairdryer, carried her to a recliner, and let her lie on top of him.
"Sweetie, go to sleep." Seeing that she could barely keep her eyes open but was still struggling, he gently coaxed her.
Ling Ruoke slowly closed her eyes. To the hum of the hairdryer, she drifted peacefully into sleep. In her dream, she saw his gentle smile, his burning chest, and his deep love.
Huo Qingfeng dried his wife's hair, gently placed her on the bed, and covered her with the blanket. Just as he was about to take a sip of water and then cuddle with her to sleep, his phone rang. He glanced down—it was the Big Bad Wolf.
After thinking for a moment, Huo Qingfeng answered the phone.
"You waited until you'd had your fill before calling, I'm pretty smart of you, aren't I?" Wild Wolf's lazy voice had a smug, almost punchable quality.
Huo Qingfeng said irritably, "Spit it out if you have something to say."
"Such a strong sour smell, can you smell it?"
Huo Qingfeng checked the time. "I'll give you ten seconds. I'll hang up immediately when the ten seconds are up."
"How unromantic. I'll do what she asked me to do; after all, she's my darling. You keep an eye on my darling too, and don't let that rat from the Gu family sneak into her hole."
Huo Qingfeng didn't reply with a single word, decisively hanging up the phone with a slight frown.
After a while, he threw away his phone, went to bed, and cuddled his wife to sleep.
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