Tan Peishi followed Xuan Yuanqi on a trip to Z City overnight, only to find that Ruo Ke had already been taken away.
These past few days, she has been feeling uneasy.
Fortunately, Xuan Yuanqi quickly confirmed that Ruoke was indeed in Cang Weiwo's hands and was not in immediate danger. This finally put his mind at ease.
But perhaps because Fu Peigang's mission this time was too long, Tan Peishi had a bad feeling. She had difficulty falling asleep at night, and when she did, she was always startled awake.
As soon as she entered the office, Tan Peishi picked up the calendar on the desk and circled the day's date. As the number of circles increased, her mood worsened.
"Hey beautiful, good morning. Have you had breakfast yet? My treat!" Lu Yiming ran over swaggeringly, carrying a bag of breakfast in his hand.
Tan Peishi didn't even bother to look at him, and shouted fiercely, "Don't bother me!"
Lu Yiming didn't know if he was just thick-skinned or oblivious to social cues, but he didn't move. "Don't be so heartless. I have several breakfast options here, which one would you like?"
He placed the breakfast bag on her desk and opened it.
Tan Peishi was already in a bad mood, and his antics only fueled her anger. With a flick of her wrist, a bag of breakfast flew out of her hand.
Lu Yiming stared at her in astonishment, and everyone else in the office looked over as well, their eyes wide with confusion as they watched the spectacle unfold.
Tan Peishi suddenly stood up, glared at him fiercely, and said, "I'm in a bad mood today. If you bother me again, I'll castrate you!"
Lu Yiming was stunned for a moment. "Okay, okay, I won't bother you." He slunk into his office.
Tan Peishi's fierce gaze swept over everyone, and they quickly lowered their heads, pretending to eat breakfast or busy with work. She took a deep breath, realizing she had gone too far.
Tan Peishi wasn't in the mood to work all day. Fortunately, it wasn't the busiest time yet, and there wasn't any work to be done. She only needed to answer a phone call and communicate some important matters with a client.
Around 3 p.m., my phone suddenly rang; it was an unknown number.
"Hello?" Tan Peishi answered the phone casually, tapping her pen on her notebook.
The other person only said three sentences before Tan Peishi screamed and stood up, her face drained of color. "What... I'm coming right now!"
After hanging up the phone, Tan Peishi's mind went blank; she even forgot to breathe normally. Only one sentence echoed in her mind—
Fu Peigang is in trouble!
Her eyes widened in shock. After a moment of stunned silence, she suddenly grabbed her bag and ran out! Like a gust of wind, she disappeared from the office, leaving everyone staring at each other in astonishment.
She took the elevator down, and as she ran out of the building, she stumbled and tumbled down the stairs. Without caring whether she was hurt or injured, she got up and ran.
Fu Peigang, you can't get hurt! You promised to stay with me for life!
As she ran, she finally broke down in tears.
...
In the days that followed, Ling Ruoke hardly spoke to Cang Weiwo, not wanting to hear him say anything unpleasant.
Fortunately, I was also very busy. The two of us basically didn't have a chance to sit down and talk for more than a few minutes, so there was no time for us to argue.
Ling Ruoke spent all her time writing. When her thoughts flowed smoothly, she couldn't stop writing, and a day would pass in the blink of an eye. Cang Weiwo didn't have anyone make things difficult for her, and life was relatively peaceful, but she had something on her mind that prevented her from being truly happy.
Night after night of insomnia, lying in bed enduring every second, trying desperately to fall asleep but unable to—it was an unbearable feeling. The long-term insomnia and depression left her looking extremely haggard.
The female doctor came a few times. Her chest wound had almost healed, but it was said that it would leave a scar.
A noticeable scar on her fair chest—it's absolutely horrible! That's what the female doctor said. She always said Ling Ruoke's breasts were beautiful, the perfect size and firm, but this scar completely ruined their beauty. She even strongly recommended plastic surgery to remove it.
Ling Ruoke simply smiled, not caring at all. She had too many people and things she cared about, so she had no time to care about this small scar.
The female doctor said it a few times, but then she got bored and stopped.
"It's all healed now. I don't need to come back starting tomorrow," the female doctor said, looking at the wound on her chest.
Ling Ruoke hurriedly pulled her clothes up, not expecting that she would later give her opinion on her chest again.
"You really don't plan to get plastic surgery? Cang Wei, if I saw such a beautiful chest with a scar, I'd cry my eyes out!" The female doctor looked pained, as if the scar was on her own body.
Ling Ruoke initially didn't want to pay attention to her, but as she listened to her increasingly outrageous remarks, she finally couldn't help but reply: "He doesn't even care about my life or death, do you think he would care about such trivial things? I have to get to work, you can leave."
The female doctor stared at her in astonishment, then touched her forehead and said, "Cang Wei, I don't care about you? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard."
Then she shrugged and walked away nonchalantly. Just as she disappeared from sight, she uttered, "That bottle on the table helps with sleep."
Ling Ruoke heard her words clearly and was slightly surprised. She then shook her head, dismissing the thought, and pretended not to hear. She sat down at the computer and continued typing.
She's now essentially a full-time writer, updating over 20,000 words daily, much to the delight of both editors and readers. The countless comments she receives daily also bring her great satisfaction. In short, everyone's happy.
When she reached the part about the supporting character's death, Ling Ruoke slowly stopped typing. She recalled the day Cang Wei told her that Qingfeng had died in the line of duty. She didn't want to believe it, but a knot remained in her heart, so she almost never slept at night.
The female doctor could tell just by looking at the medicine on the table.
Ling Ruoke slowly stood up, walked out of the French windows, and onto the balcony.
The sun was blazing in the sky, and summer was fast approaching. But she felt a chill, a coldness that emanated from her heart, and even the intense sunlight couldn't dispel it.
"What are you thinking about?" The sudden voice from behind startled her.
Ling Ruoke knew it was Cang Weiwo without turning around, so she remained silent and continued to lean on the railing, gazing absently at the flowers and plants in the garden.
Cang Wei narrowed his eyes and strode over. He was actually very tired; he had been busy with matters at the gang and the company for the past few days. He could have gone to Ru Mingyue's place to rest, but he couldn't resist rushing back to Yuntian Villa.
As soon as I got back, I saw her giving me a cold shoulder, and I became quite irritable.
He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her into his embrace and holding her close.
"What are you doing?" Ling Ruoke was most afraid that Cang Weiwo would suddenly hug and kiss her, so she struggled violently.
Cang Wei didn't answer, but lowered his head and kissed her. The next second, she bit his tongue hard. He grabbed her chin and fiercely entangled his tongue with hers.
Ling Ruoke kicked and struggled frantically, but her tongue couldn't bite his; instead, it bit her own, and the taste of blood began to fill her mouth.
Cang Wei also smelled the blood, so she released her. Looking at her disheveled hair and moist eyes, she wanted to tear her apart and devour her! Her thin lips parted, and she uttered cold words: "Huo Qingfeng is dead. No matter how steadfast you are, he can't see it! No matter how much you resist and persevere, it's all in vain. He will never know!"
"You're talking nonsense!" She wouldn't believe it no matter what!
Cang Weiwo grinned cruelly. "Since you're so eager to give up, then I'll send you back to verify it yourself. I'd like to see if you can still utter those three words then!"
Since she's willing to take this blow, then let her bear it.
Ling Ruoke only heard the news she wanted to hear, grabbing his collar tightly. "You really want me to go home?"
His words, to her, only conveyed the message of "going home"! Cang Wei was so angry she wanted to strangle her, just to save herself the trouble of getting angry again. "I'm only asking you to go back and see Huo Qingfeng's grave. Afterwards, you still have to come back to me. I said you'd stay by my side for the rest of your life!"
Ling Ruoke ignored the bad news and hurriedly ran into her room. She had to go back! She needed to find the key quickly!
Completely ignoring the murderous gaze behind him.
The next day.
Even as she sat on the plane bound for Z City, Ling Ruoke still felt like she was in a dream. But even she didn't realize that the closer they got to Z City, the more panicked she became.
She had been deliberately ignoring the unpleasant feelings in her heart. But as the distance between them shortened, these feelings grew stronger and stronger, filling her entire heart.
Ling Ruoke clutched her clothes, taking deep breaths and silently repeating in her heart: Cang Wei, I'm talking nonsense. Qingfeng is fine, he'll be fine. He's still waiting for me to come home...
After getting off the plane, a car was already waiting for her. Without thinking much, she got in.
The car sped along, and slowly, familiar scenery came into view.
Ling Ruoke gripped her clothes with her left hand, staring unblinkingly at the scenery flashing past the window. Her posture remained almost unchanged from the moment she sat down in the car.
When the car stopped downstairs, she suddenly started breathing heavily, as if she had been holding her breath the whole way. She slowly got out of the car, not rushing out and running upstairs as she had imagined.
At this moment, Ling Ruoke truly understood the feeling of "feeling apprehensive upon approaching home".
The stairs weren't high, but she walked slowly, step by step. All she could hear was the sound of her own footsteps. Reaching the top of the first flight of stairs and seeing the door, she finally sprinted up. She pulled the key from her pocket, but in her nervousness, she couldn't immediately put it in the lock.
With a click, the lock opened.
Ling Ruoke gripped the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open. The familiar layout, but the room felt cold and empty.
My heart felt like it had been stabbed, and it started to hurt.
Ling Ruoke closed the security door and slowly walked in. She casually touched the sofa, her hand covered in dust. It seemed Qingfeng hadn't been home in a long time.
Ling Ruoke looked around, standing there for a while with a sense of loss. Suddenly, she rushed into the bedroom, took out the clothes she used to wear when cleaning, and changed into them. She removed the sheets and duvet cover and stuffed them into the washing machine. Grabbing a rag and a basin, she began a thorough cleaning.
The three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment wasn't big. But just cleaning the floor thoroughly was enough to break a sweat, not to mention wiping it clean with a rag and washing the furniture. So by the time Ling Ruoke finished cleaning and hung the sheets and duvet covers up to dry, it was already dark.
Ling Ruoke, panting, poured herself a glass of water. As she drank, she looked around her bright and clean home and smiled. She walked over to the sofa, sat down, and rubbed her aching back—she was truly exhausted!
After resting for a while, it was already 8 PM. She picked up the landline to call, but Qingfeng's phone was still switched off. She figured he wouldn't be coming home today.
Ling Ruoke took a deep breath and jumped up from the sofa. It's okay, I just got back. I'll go see Peishi. Anyway, home is here, she'll wait here, and Qingfeng will always come home.
She closed the door and went downstairs, only to find the car that brought her still downstairs. As soon as he saw her, the driver got out of the car and opened the door.
Ling Ruoke didn't ask any more questions and sat down. Pei Shi's house was very close to theirs, and they arrived in no time.
When Ling Ruoke reached Pei Shi's building and saw the lights were on, she smiled. She ran up the stairs, then slowed her pace when she reached Pei Shi's door.
Ling Ruoke smiled mischievously. She knocked lightly on the door twice before using normal force. Imagining Pei Shi's surprised expression, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh even more happily.
The security door took quite a while to open, but it wasn't Pei Shi who opened it.
"Mother Tan?"
"If that's alright?"
Both of them were somewhat surprised.
As soon as the door opened, Ling Ruoke rushed in and gave Mrs. Tan a hug. "Mrs. Tan, it's been so long!"
However, Tan's mother was not as agitated as she was; she looked haggard, and her eyes were somewhat swollen.
Ling Ruoke quickly realized something was wrong. She glanced around the living room and saw that Peishi wasn't there. She was about to ask...
The door to the master bedroom opened, and Tan Peishi came out. "Is that alright?"
“Peishi…” Ling Ruoke stared in astonishment at her friend’s haggard face, not understanding what was going on.
"Ruo Ke, you're really back!" Tan Peishi rushed over, her smile mingled with tears. "Ruo Ke..."
Tan Peishi called Ruoke's name several times, then she started laughing uproariously, and then burst into tears...
Ling Ruoke broke free from her embrace, and before she could even look up and ask a question, Pei Shi's body fell backward. Startled, she screamed and caught her, and the two of them fell to the ground together.
Tan's mother rushed over and, together with Ruoke, helped Tan Peishi up. "Ruoke, are you alright?"
“I’m fine. Aunt Tan, let’s help her to bed.”
"good."
During this process, Ling Ruoke noticed that Pei Shi had lost a lot of weight. She began to realize that something bad must have happened. Cang Weiwo's words flashed through her mind again. She began to feel a chill rise from her heart, which then spread to every part of her body.
“Mother Tan…” Ling Ruoke began with difficulty, hesitant to ask. “What…what exactly happened? Peishi, she…she…”
Looking at her, Mrs. Tan didn't speak, but tears welled up in her eyes first. "Xiao Fu, Xiao Fu died in the line of duty..."
After she finished speaking, Tan's mother couldn't help but cover her mouth and start sobbing.
Ling Ruoke's eyes widened suddenly, and she staggered back a step, grabbing the table for support. "That..."
"And what about Qingfeng?" she wanted to ask, but no sound came out. It was as if a hand was squeezing her throat, making it impossible for her to speak, and even breathing became difficult.
"Aunt Tan, I... I want some water!" Ling Ruoke suddenly turned around and quickly walked out of the room. She found a disposable cup, poured herself several glasses of water, and gulped them down. Her hand holding the cup was trembling violently.
Ling Ruoke couldn't ask, nor did she dare to!
"Ruo Ke, are you alright?" Mrs. Tan came out and asked with concern.
The old woman's eyes were red and swollen, and her voice was hoarse. She had lost her husband young and raised Tan Peishi alone. Just when her daughter was finally happy, her son-in-law suddenly passed away. The old woman was so worried that her hair turned white overnight, and she looked more than ten years older.
Ling Ruoke hurriedly shook her head, almost crying as she begged her, "Aunt Tan, please let me have some peace and quiet, okay..."
Mrs. Tan seemed to understand, nodded, and turned to go back into the master bedroom.
Ling Ruoke walked to the sofa and sat down, holding the cup, her body trembling violently. The water in the cup spilled out, soaking her pants, but she didn't even notice.
My mind went blank; perhaps I had subconsciously let my mind wander. I just stared blankly at the person opposite me. My body was trembling, and I could almost hear my teeth chattering.
Tan Peishi was unconscious for only a short time before she woke up calling out to Ruo Ke.
"Mom, what about Ruoke?" Tan Peishi asked in a hoarse voice.
"He's outside."
Ling Ruoke heard this and tried to stand up and go into the room, but she couldn't move at all. It was as if she had been frozen in an ice cellar for a long time, her hands and feet completely frozen.
A moment later, Tan Peishi, supported by her mother, slowly walked out. She stopped at the doorway and stared intently at her.
“Peishi…” Ling Ruoke’s lips trembled as she uttered a weak sound, which she could barely hear herself.
Tan Peishi's dry eyes immediately welled up with tears again. She cried out, "Ruo Ke! Fu Peigang is dead, the captain, the captain, he, he's dead too... Ruo Ke, we, we're all widows..."
After yelling those words, she slid softly to the ground again, but luckily, her mother caught her.
Ling Ruoke didn't help her; she couldn't move at all, and she wasn't even aware of it. This devastating news struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving her mind blank and motionless like a puppet.
Tan's mother was unable to support her daughter.
Tan Peishi knelt on the ground and cried her heart out once again.
Ling Ruoke stood there stunned for a long time, without uttering a sound. Slowly, tears welled up in her eyes, more and more, faster and faster, until her entire face was wet…
After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly stood up and walked towards the door.
"Ruo Ke, where are you going?" Tan's mother called out.
Upon hearing this, Tan Peishi also looked up, wiped away her tears, and looked at her. "Is that alright?"
"You must be lying to me! I must have forced you to lie to me! I won't believe it, this isn't true, Qingfeng will be alright..." Ling Ruoke muttered to herself, opening the door to walk out.
"Ruoke!" Tan Peishi scrambled to her feet, lunged forward, and hugged her tightly from behind. "Ruoke, don't do this! It's all real, you have to accept reality, Ruoke..."
But in reality, she still refuses to accept the truth. These were words her mother had used to persuade her, and now she's using them to persuade Ruoke…
"No, you're lying! This isn't true, this isn't true..." Ling Ruoke finally screamed in anguish, kicking and trying to push Tan Peishi away.
The neighbors all opened their doors to see what had happened.
Tan Peishi dragged Ruoke inside and closed the door. Ruoke continued to struggle, so Tan Peishi suddenly turned her around and slapped her hard across the face. "Ruoke, the captain is dead! Wake up!"
Ling Ruoke was stunned by the slap, staring blankly at her, not reacting for a long time.
Tan Peishi held her shoulders, crying, "Ruo Ke, the captain is dead, he died in X country, they can't even find his body. Ruo Ke..."
After calling out repeatedly, she couldn't make a sound anymore. Looking at her stunned friend, both of them felt equally desolate.
Ling Ruoke pushed her away, staggering backward and shaking her head repeatedly. "Why? Why is this happening..."
She murmured a question, then suddenly clenched her fists, raised her head and screamed at the ceiling, "Ah—" her eyes turning bloodshot.
Ling Ruoke slowly closed her eyes, feeling all the energy in her body drained away in that instant. Slowly, her legs gave way, and she knelt on the ground.
Tan Peishi also knelt down with a thud.
The two women held each other tightly, venting their deepest pain on each other's thin shoulders.
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