The two walked through the deep mountains at night. It was pitch black, and even the faint moonlight couldn't penetrate it. The wind howled through the forest, sending chills down their spines.
Ling Ruoke felt nothing at all, because he was right beside her. Nothing, no matter how fierce, could compare to this dreadful blade. The temperature in the mountains was low at night, but her abdomen was pressed against his broad back, and his scorching body heat warmed her.
Huo Qingfeng's steps were very steady, as if he were walking on a broad highway. He had walked this road countless times, and he knew exactly where the small potholes were.
On the way, Ling Ruoke asked him several times, "Are you tired? Can you put me down?"
He said, "You're so light, you're not even as heavy as my backpack."
Ling Ruoke giggled foolishly on his shoulder, her clear laughter echoing through the mountains and forests.
Huo Qingfeng walked much slower than usual, so it took him almost twice as long to reach the military base. He only put her down at the gate.
When she landed, Ling Ruoke felt like she couldn't even walk anymore. Looking at the guards, she suddenly realized how incredibly reckless she had been!
"Let's go."
It was getting late, but people were still training.
Ling Ruoke walked close to Huo Qingfeng, feeling a mix of emotions.
They arrived at his dorm quickly, and Ling Ruoke was ushered into the bathroom. "Go take a shower, I'll make you noodles." He said, and kissed her.
There were no bathtubs in the military, so Ling Ruoke took a shower and came out, drying her hair as she leaned against the kitchen door watching him make noodles. After watching for a while, she stopped drying her hair, ran over, hugged his waist, and rubbed her face against his back.
Soon, the steaming hot egg noodles were ready. They were also sprinkled with cilantro, making them smell delicious.
"Go outside and sit down."
Ling Ruoke then let go of his hand and obediently sat down at the table, waiting for him to bring the noodles. The eldest son's bowl of noodles clearly showed that he was also hungry.
Each person had their own pair of chopsticks, sharing a bowl of noodles. They ate while looking at each other and grinning foolishly. Ling Ruoke, in particular, seemed several years younger.
Huo Qingfeng looked at her and found it quite strange, but he didn't say anything.
After eating noodles, Huo Qingfeng held her and watched TV for a while before going in to take a shower.
Ling Ruoke opened her document and started writing. He showered very quickly; she hadn't written much before he came out. She obediently turned off the computer, climbed into bed, and snuggled into his arms. Writing her novel was important, but he was the most important person to her.
Huo Qingfeng held her close, his large hand stroking her hair, watching her nestle lazily in his arms like a cat. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, an expression of pure enjoyment on her face.
Ling Ruo didn't want to talk, so she just lay in his arms without moving. His touch felt very comfortable to her, and she became drowsy.
"Tired?" Huo Qingfeng saw her eyes squinting and then opening again, clearly too sleepy to stay awake any longer. Her adorable appearance made him chuckle softly.
Ling Ruoke struggled to open her eyes and looked at him. "What are you laughing at?"
They even launched a surprise attack in the middle of the night, but Ling Ruoke slept peacefully, only muttering something under her breath before falling into a deep sleep again.
Huo Qingfeng shoved the pillow into her arms and made her hold it. Then he jumped out of the window and disappeared into the night.
Ling Ruoke slept until the bugle call sounded before slowly waking up. She opened her eyes groggily and saw him quickly getting dressed. "Husband," she called softly, her voice slightly nasal, full of coquettishness.
Huo Qingfeng bent down and kissed her forehead. "I'm going to training now, you can continue sleeping. When I get back, I'll take you out for breakfast, okay?"
"Hmm." Ling Ruoke watched him jump out of the window, then closed her eyes and fell asleep soon after, sleeping quite soundly.
However, due to long-standing habits, she didn't sleep very late. She got up before Huo Qingfeng returned. She stretched lazily, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. Leaning against the headboard, she hugged the blanket and stared blankly at a vague spot on the floor.
When Huo Qingfeng came in, he saw her looking rather silly. He smiled indulgently and shook his head slightly. "Awake?"
Ling Ruoke then came to her senses and jumped off the bed, only to be caught and held in his arms. "You're back! Hmm, you smell of sweat, but I like it!" she said, chuckling.
Huo Qingfeng kissed her lips tenderly until she was breathless before letting go. "Go wash your face and brush your teeth, I'll take you to have breakfast."
Ling Ruoke rubbed against him and then obediently went to brush her teeth and wash her face. She hopped and skipped around like a little rabbit.
Ling Ruoke dodged, and when she got a chance, she ran away laughing. Back in her room, she went to the window, looked at the scenery of the military base, and felt that life was truly wonderful!
When Huo Qingfeng came out of the shower, he saw his wife wearing his oversized t-shirt, standing by the window in the breeze. He hugged her from behind, pulling her slightly cool body into his arms. "Don't you feel cold?"
"My heart is burning with passion." Ling Ruoke turned around in his arms, looking at him with a silly grin.
Huo Qingfeng kissed her lips, raising an eyebrow slightly. "I feel like you're different from before. Are you a fake? No, I have to confirm!"
Huo Qingfeng teased her for a while, then stopped and reached out to wipe away her tears. "Let's go, I'll take you to get something to eat. Let's change your clothes."
Ling Ruoke hadn't brought any other clothes, so she had to take out the clothes from yesterday and put them on again. But it was quite cold in the mountains in the mornings and evenings, so she was forced to wear Huo Qingfeng's jacket as well. Although it looked a bit out of place, warmth was more important than style.
In the military, the appearance of any woman always causes a stir. A woman as beautiful and gentle as Ling Ruoke attracts even more attention.
Huo Qingfeng glared at her and shouted fiercely, "This is your sister-in-law, what are you doing making a fuss about!"
The soldiers didn't seem to care, laughing and munching on their breakfast; it was clear they were used to being scolded.
Ling Ruoke felt uncomfortable under so many intense gazes. She kept her head down, focusing on eating her breakfast. Occasionally, she would look up and smile at him, which would elicit whistles.
Ling Ruoke has a very leisurely breakfast at home, but here she has to "do as the Romans do," so she quickly finished her breakfast.
Back in the dorm, Huo Qingfeng held her close for a while and said, "Are you alright staying here alone? Or should I take a day off to keep you company?"
Ling Ruoke shook her head. "I'm writing my novel here, you go and do your thing. Will you be back tonight?"
"Yes." Huo Qingfeng smiled and stroked her face, fond of her bright eyes. "I'll tell the orderly that if you feel bored, he can take you around for a walk. He'll also bring you lunch."
"Okay!" Ling Ruoke reached out and hugged his waist, looking up at him with a proud smile. "As long as I know you'll be back tonight, I don't feel like the time is dragging on. I'll write something, take a nap, and then write some more, and you'll be back soon, right?"
"Hmm." Huo Qingfeng didn't have much time, so he lingered with her for a while longer before jumping out the window and running away.
Ling Ruoke stood by the window, watching him disappear from sight in a moment, yet she felt at peace. She knew he would be back that evening.
She turned around and took out her phone to call Xia Mo, telling him that she had things to do for the next two days and wouldn't be coming to the company.
Xia Mo laughed on the other end and said, "Sister Ruo, aren't you worried that I'll abscond with the money?"
"Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust," Ling Ruoke replied with a smile, exchanging a few more words with him before hanging up. In the last sentence, Xia Mo brought up the year-end bonus again, leaving her both amused and exasperated.
After hanging up the phone, she turned on her computer and replied to each message. This was Ling Ruoke's greatest joy in writing novels; she enjoyed interacting with readers and resonating with their emotions. Therefore, she replied to every message carefully, even those that criticized her writing.
Ling Ruoke didn't know what it felt like for others to stay at home. For her, as long as she was in a good mood, she felt fine spending all day in front of the computer. Thinking about the plot, writing, revising—a morning passed in the blink of an eye.
The orderly knocked on the door right on time and brought her lunch.
"Thank you!"
"Sister-in-law, you're too kind!"
After lunch, Ling Ruoke went downstairs for a walk to help with digestion. Downstairs, she ran into someone she knew—the captain's wife.
"Sister-in-law," Ling Ruoke greeted her with a smile. She had come to her rescue during the wedding night festivities, so Ling Ruoke had a good impression of her. Huo Qingfeng had also said that a woman who was willing to accompany the army and stay there was a good woman.
The brigade leader's wife, Cai Yaqin, was a very forthright woman from the north. She smiled at everyone she met and was incredibly friendly. "Ruo Ke, when did you arrive?"
“Last night.” Ling Ruoke liked her very much, or rather, she liked people who were generous and not pretentious.
“Then stay a few more days this time, so you can keep your sister-in-law company. By the way, have you had lunch yet? I’ve already cooked the rice and I’m about to stir-fry the vegetables. Let’s have lunch together?” As she spoke, she pulled Ruoke’s arm and started to lead her home.
Ling Ruoke hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, I've already eaten. Next time, I'll definitely try your cooking."
"Don't wait until next time, just today. I also made a pot of corn and bone soup. If you've had lunch, go and have a bowl of soup. You're so thin, you need to eat more to nourish yourself." With that, he practically pulled Ling Ruoke inside.
Ling Ruoke couldn't refuse her kindness, so she stayed.
The team leader hasn't returned yet, and the children are at school and don't come home for lunch, so it's just the two of them for now.
Cai Yaqin was busy in the kitchen; all the dishes were ready, just waiting to be cooked.
Ling Ruoke couldn't help either, so she could only watch her busy herself at the kitchen doorway. "Sister-in-law, you look like a master chef."
Cai Yaqin looked at her and smiled. "Hey, what kind of chef am I? I've heard for a long time that Ruoke's cooking is the real deal. Those guys have been talking about it for ages since they came back. If they weren't so busy, they would have already gone to your house for a free meal."
"That's an exaggeration. I heard from Qingfeng that soldiers find anything edible delicious." Huo Qingfeng's original words were that soldiers are as easy to feed as pigs, and they'll eat anything as long as they can eat it.
Cai Yaqin laughed heartily. "That's true. These people are very easy to please. Whatever you cook, they eat it with relish, which makes the cook feel satisfied."
As soon as the last dish was put into the pot, the team leader walked in right on time.
"Hey, Xiao Xing's here." The battalion commander called to Gao E. He had a love-hate relationship with this woman who had caused his best soldier to break discipline time and again. She was definitely a good woman—gentle, considerate, and understanding—but she had completely captivated his headstrong soldier, making him increasingly unruly.
"Captain." Ling Ruoke always felt awkward and unsure of what to do with her hands and feet or where to look in front of men. This was especially true since the person in front of her was her husband's superior, making her even more reserved. She had always felt that she lacked the potential to be the socially adept, charming woman she was.
Gao E waved his hand. "Don't be nervous, I don't eat people."
It was said in jest, but the expression on his face remained serious, so Ling Ruoke didn't relax because of his words. Some people are born with an air of authority and lack the potential to joke.
Ling Ruoke didn't know how to respond to his joke, so she just smiled at him. If her sister-in-law hadn't been home, she probably would have fled in panic. The brigade leader was like her general father-in-law, his face alone making people keep their distance. So if Yang Ziyun hadn't been there, Ling Ruoke wouldn't have dared to be in the same space as her father-in-law.
Ling Ruoke forced herself to drink a small bowl of soup, stayed for a while, and then made an excuse to take a nap and went back.
Gao E watched in astonishment as she ran out, then turned to his wife and asked, "Am I that scary?"
Cai Yaqin pouted. "Look at your face, it's practically screaming: I'm fierce, stay away from me! If I were a little girl, I would have run far away by now."
"Then why didn't you run away back then?" Gao E asked, hugging his wife's waist with a somewhat roguish air.
Cai Yaqin glared at him and said, "I didn't run away! I just couldn't run as fast as you, so I couldn't escape!"
"I thought you were deliberately running slowly, waiting for me to catch up." He had a roguish smile on his face, all traces of his previous intimidating aura gone.
If Ling Ruoke had seen this side of him, she probably wouldn't be afraid. The battalion commander and her colonel were the same type of people.
Ling Ruoke returned to her dorm. Because she had drunk soup, her stomach was still full, so she typed on the keyboard for a while longer. Once her stomach had calmed down, she changed her clothes and went to bed.
Perhaps it was the familiar, comforting scent of the blanket that made Ling Ruoke sleep soundly until Huo Qingfeng returned, waking her up.
Disturbed from her sweet dream, Ling Ruoke frowned slightly, let out a soft moan, and slowly opened her eyes. Her mind wasn't fully clear, and her gaze was clearly unfocused. After a moment, her eyes settled on his face, and a smile immediately bloomed on her face. "You're back."
His hand was stroking her face, and she grabbed his hand and rubbed it against his palm.
"Did you sleep well?" Huo Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh when he saw her curled up like a kitten. If she hadn't already showered and only washed her hands, he would have wanted to hug her.
Ling Ruoke smiled smugly. "Okay, if you don't bother me, I can sleep until tomorrow."
"Get up first, eat before you sleep. I'm going to take a shower." He gently stroked her lips with his thumb, then reluctantly withdrew it and went to the bathroom to shower.
Ling Ruoke sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard in a daze. She exuded a lazy aura, completely unwilling to move. Even after he came out of the shower, she remained in a daze, as if her soul had left her body.
"What are you thinking about?" Huo Qingfeng sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled her onto his lap. "Still not awake?"
Ling Ruoke rubbed her face against his neck. "I don't want to move. Let's not go to the cafeteria for lunch, can you make me noodles? Okay?"
Huo Qingfeng was always helpless against her coquettishness, so there was no way he could refuse. "I'll have the orderly bring back the food and make you a bowl of noodles. You can have rice or noodles if you like."
"Okay! Hehe..." Ling Ruoke clung to him, giggling foolishly. She didn't know why, but seeing him made her want to act cute.
Huo Qingfeng told the orderly to buy food, and went into the kitchen to cook noodles.
Ling Ruoke lingered in bed for a while, then got up and sidled into the kitchen, hugging his waist and clinging to him. No wonder he used to love hugging her from behind and teasing her when she cooked; it felt so good.
Huo Qingfeng was busy with his work and didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth remained turned up. She used to be very obedient, but never like this, making him so clearly feel her deep dependence. Although soldiers generally prefer wives who are independent and can endure loneliness, every man likes his woman to rely on him, and he was no exception. This feeling of being relied upon by her was so wonderful.
"Husband?" Ling Ruoke pouted and called him.
Huo Qingfeng turned to look at her and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
Ling Ruoke blinked. Like a puppy, she rubbed against his arm. "If I really become a lazy bum someday, will you dislike me?"
"Don't worry, no matter what you become, I'll love you!" Huo Qingfeng knew all too well that his Ruoke would never become someone others disliked; he was absolutely certain of that. If she was just being a little temperamental and acting cute, that was exactly what he wanted to see.
Ling Ruoke grinned, looking somewhat smug like a child. That expression made Huo Qingfeng's heart itch. Unable to "take her right there and then," he still managed to kiss her several times.
By the time Huo Qingfeng's noodles were ready, the orderly had already brought back the food. He put the food down, then left with a smile.
Ling Ruoke almost burst out laughing when she saw the enormous lunchbox. She called out to the kitchen, "Huo Qingfeng, do you usually use this lunchbox to get your food?" Although she had always known he had a large appetite, she had never seen it measured in such a specific way. Now, seeing it, she was truly astonished.
Huo Qingfeng had just served the noodles when he saw her overreacting and chuckled. "I only eat it occasionally. But don't you know how much your husband eats?"
Ling Ruoke stuck out her tongue. "I know, but this lunchbox is just too obvious, it looks terrifying." It can no longer be called a lunchbox, it should be called a rice cooker!
Huo Qingfeng leaned down and kissed him, then picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and brought it to her lips. "Alright, let's eat. I'll feel bad if you get hungry."
Ling Ruoke put the food in her mouth, sat in the chair, and swung her legs like a child. After finishing, she pointed at the food. "I want to eat this."
Huo Qingfeng didn't say anything, he just fed her like a child. The two of them took turns eating, finishing their dinner.
After finishing their meal, Huo Qingfeng washed the dishes.
Ling Ruoke paced back and forth in the kitchen, rubbing her round belly, waiting for Huo Qingfeng to finish washing up so they could go for a walk together. She was stuffed; she needed some exercise.
"Go change your clothes, I'll be right there."
Before the two even left the house, soldiers rushed up to Huo Qingfeng and reported that something had happened.
Upon hearing this, Huo Qingfeng frowned, threw down the rag in his hand, and walked out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com