The awkwardness of the little incident upon waking up gradually faded after a delicious breakfast.
Huo Qingfeng and Fu Peigang had to rush back to their units to report for duty.
Before leaving, Huo Qingfeng said to Ruo Ke, "I'll take you somewhere when I get back tonight. Also, keep that dog and raise it yourself; you don't need to give it away."
Although Ling Ruoke was puzzled, she didn't have time to pull him aside and ask him clearly. This led to her spending the whole day speculating.
"What did the captain say to you?" Tan Peishi asked, placing her paw on her shoulder and waving to her husband.
"It's nothing, he said he'd take me somewhere tonight."
Can a dog be kept as a pet? He said "our home" yesterday, does he really want to give her a home? Can he really give her a home and shelter her from the wind and rain?
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
The claw on her shoulder patted her hard, bringing Ruoke back to her senses. "N-nothing."
...
That evening, Huo Qingfeng returned with Fu Peigang as expected. After dinner, he took Ruoke out with him.
Ling Ruoke followed beside the man and asked, "Where are we going?"
The man gave her a mysterious smile. "You'll find out soon enough."
After walking for a while, the man led her into a quiet residential area, their destination a certain building.
Ling Ruoke's heart was pounding. Did he really want to give her a home? Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to break free from its confinement.
The two stopped at a doorway on the second floor. The man took out his key, opened the door, and led her inside. "This will be our home from now on. Do you like it?"
"This...this is yours?" Ling Ruoke looked at the three-bedroom apartment under the light, somewhat incredulous. He thought he was just talking, but it turned out to be a reality so quickly.
The house is renovated, but unfurnished. It's a simple three-bedroom, one-living room apartment with a square layout; the master bedroom is so large it's like a living room. The decor isn't luxurious, but the warm color scheme makes it feel particularly comfortable and cozy.
Huo Qingfeng put his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "Wrong, this isn't mine!"
"Who...whose is that?" Hearing this, Ling Ruoke was slightly disappointed, but she didn't dare to show it.
Huo Qingfeng smiled wickedly and pecked her lips. He took her hand, placed the key in her palm, and held it tightly.
"This is our home, this is our home! Ruoke, do you like it?"
Ling Ruoke looked up at his gentle eyes and smile, her heart overflowing with warm tears. But could she really accept it without hesitation? "This... I have no reason—"
"Shh—" The man pressed his calloused index finger to her lips, stopping her from saying things he didn't want to hear. His gaze was tender and unfathomable.
"If you'd like, this is my and my wife's home, and you're the woman I've chosen. So, don't say anything else, just tell me if you like it or not. If you don't like it, then we'll get a different place?"
Ling Ruoke panicked. "No, no! I don't dislike it, I like it, I really like it! I just..."
She was already homeless and destitute; for someone to give her a home was an immense blessing. She was simply afraid, terrified from the bottom of her heart. Cang Weiye had once given her a magnificent home, only to have it destroyed and her family ruined. She didn't know if this time, she could truly live a peaceful life from now on…
The man gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Ruoke, don't be afraid. I am who I am, Huo Qingfeng, unlike anyone else!"
She's completely different from your ex-husband!
Someone understood her fear, which deeply moved Ling Ruoke, and her nose tingled with tears. She should have known sooner that he and Cang Weiwo were different. It was unfair to him to project her past misfortunes onto his present life with speculation and worry.
He has been working hard for their future these days, and the house has obviously been bought some time ago; she was probably already preparing for it when she first arrived in Z City.
And she seems to have done nothing yet! She shouldn't be so timid because of the past; she should leave those bad memories behind and work hard with him!
She pried his arms off, turned around in his arms, and looked up to face him. Her bright eyes were filled with tears.
The man simply raised his hand and brushed his thumb across the corner of her eye, waiting. Because he saw in her eyes the same awe-inspiring strength she had shown when she was rescued from underground.
"I'm so sorry, I've been wallowing in self-pity these past few days, while you've been trying so hard. To be honest, I still have some fear in my heart because that marriage destroyed my family. But... from this moment on, I'm willing to be the strong Ling Ruoke again, and work hard for our future! You believe me, right?"
A tear finally seeped from the corner of her eye, but it wasn't because she was sad or upset.
The man didn't answer, but simply pressed her face against his chest. His thunderous heartbeat was the best response he could give her.
In the long river of life, we will always encounter various kinds of pain, which may make us hesitate for a time. However, we must eventually overcome them and move towards a longer and better future, so as not to waste the precious life our mothers gave us.
"But you've done so much for me. I feel like I can't help you with anything. I...I..." She couldn't finish her sentence, feeling helpless and unsure how to express her feelings.
Suddenly, he grabbed her flailing hands, forcing her to look up into his eyes, which were filled with seriousness. He sighed first. "Yes, you really can't help me with my problems. But there is one thing you can do for me, and only you can do it."
"What?" she asked, stunned and muffled. "Love me." He smiled, then said seriously. "That's the only thing you have to do, and you absolutely must do well."
As Ruoke looked on, tears welled up in her eyes again. He had whispered the most beautiful words of love in the world to her. She held him tightly, smiling through her tears.
The man's strong arms held her tightly in his embrace. Looking around the still-empty house, he smiled and said, "I'm a roughneck; I know nothing about decorating. So, I'm leaving the decorating of our home to you. You don't mind, do you?"
"Mmm." Their eyes met, and Ling Ruoke smiled through her tears as she gazed at his tender gaze.
The man solemnly placed the key in her palm again, then took out a bank card from his pocket.
"This is my salary card. You can use the savings in it to buy things. From now on, your monthly salary will be deposited into this card. From this moment on, I'm broke. Do you mind supporting me, honey?"
Ling Ruoke, her eyes brimming with tears and a touch of embarrassment, suddenly winked mischievously, put her hands behind her back, and smiled sweetly. "You eat so much, I'll have to think about it!"
He giggled and ran away.
Huo Qingfeng was aroused by her playful antics, and in a few strides he caught the mischievous little vixen, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her fiercely. "See if you dare to be naughty again!"
Ling Ruoke's eyes were brimming with tears, and she was panting heavily. Suddenly, she remembered that she still had something to verify with him.
"I ran into Gu Miaomiao and her sister yesterday. She said that both sets of parents approve of her as your daughter-in-law, this—"
Huo Qingfeng took her hand and played with her slender fingers. "That's just an old person's idea. I've never agreed to it, not even tacitly approved of it. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"Then, that day at the amusement park, I saw you playing with a woman and a child, and you were even wearing matching outfits. What was that all about?"
She tried her best to pretend she didn't care, but her tone was still sarcastic.
Huo Qingfeng paused for a moment, then laughed. It turned out that they had gone to the amusement park the day the little one arrived. Because they couldn't refuse the little one, they bought matching outfits for them, and unexpectedly, Ruoke saw them.
"So, my Ruoke is jealous!" No wonder she's been acting strangely since that day.
Ling Ruoke was mortified and punched her in the chest. "Don't try to change the subject, just tell the truth."
"That woman is Gu Zhenzhen, who is Miaomiao's older sister. And that child is my son. The little guy saw other children wearing matching outfits and insisted on wearing them too, so we had no choice."
"You have a son?" A chill ran through Ling Ruoke's heart, her almond-shaped eyes widening in shock. She loved children, but suddenly becoming a stepmother...
Huo Qingfeng grabbed her fingers and kissed them.
"Yes, I have a son. I'll tell you his story when I have the chance. But don't worry, he's definitely not evidence that I betrayed you."
...
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