When Ling Ruoke heard that Yang Ziyun wanted to share a room with her, her heart clenched. After what happened last time, she was no longer as naive as before, thinking that Yang Ziyun was just a loving mother. Yang Ziyun wouldn't mince words with a divorced woman who was now with her son. Especially after what happened with Gu Miaomiao, her judgment was clouded.
But could she refuse? She couldn't, so she would have to spend a sleepless night, and probably face the sting of cold words.
Huo Qingfeng grasped her hand. "Mom, let's talk about it tomorrow. Ruoke hasn't been feeling well these past few days, she hasn't slept well for days, look at the dark circles under her eyes. Besides, look at Father's face, I reckon he'd kick me right out of the window."
"Good to know! You brat, I wish I could kick you to death!" The general was still as fiery as ever. His roar was like a thunderclap, quite frightening.
Seeing the situation, Yang Ziyun did not insist any further.
Huo Qingfeng turned his head, raised an eyebrow at his wife, and looked a little smug. It was as if he were saying: Honey, aren't I amazing!
Ling Ruoke was both amused and exasperated, and pinched his palm. Unfortunately, there were too many calluses, and she couldn't pinch it. However, as long as she didn't have to sleep in the same bed as Yang Ziyun, she relaxed. So she hurriedly went to prepare her toiletries and change the sheets and blankets.
Fortunately, Ling Ruoke has a hobby—she loves buying four-piece bedding sets and pajamas! Whenever she browses websites or shops, she can't help but buy anything that looks nice.
Huo Qingfeng found his hobby somewhat amusing, but never considered stopping him. Ruoke didn't have many interests, and it was rare for her to enjoy something, so of course, he was happy as long as she was happy.
Once everything was ready, we started lining up to take showers. It was a long process.
Xiao Fu'an was the first to shower; as the hosts, they had to wait for the guests to shower before it was their turn. However, the general and his guards, being soldiers, showered very quickly, while only Yang Ziyun took some time.
Huo Qingfeng was the last to shower. He had just entered when Ling Ruoke was pulled into the room by Yang Ziyun.
Ling Ruoke was extremely uneasy, but she couldn't refuse, nor did she have any reason to. Sitting on the edge of the bed, her heart felt like it was pounding with anxiety. Yang Ziyun's gaze, though not particularly sharp, was still quite chilling. Subconsciously, she twisted her fingers, anxiously waiting for the other to speak.
"Ruoke, I think you already know what I'm going to say. Don't blame me for being heartless. Put yourself in his shoes. If it were your son, wouldn't you want him to marry a decent, innocent girl?"
Ling Ruoke wanted to retort, but Yang Ziyun stopped her with a gesture.
“I know that whether a person is good or not has nothing to do with whether she has been divorced. But every mother in the world thinks her son is the best, and naturally she also thinks he deserves a girl who is completely his. You can’t deny that, can you? I know that you love each other, and that’s more important than anything else. But now it’s not a question of whether you love each other or not, but that Qingfeng may have to give up his favorite career for you! Do you know how much he has sacrificed to achieve what he has today?”
“I know,” Ling Ruoke replied softly. Although she hadn’t witnessed his growth firsthand, she could imagine it. She never believed that his achievements were easily attained. “Every wound on his body is a testament to his hard work.”
Yang Ziyun nodded. “That’s right, those scars are proof of his sacrifices. But what you see are only the healed wounds; you haven’t seen them bleeding. You’ve never experienced the shock of suddenly receiving a phone call saying your son was injured in a mission. But I have, so I understand his sacrifices even more. I’ve advised him more than once to transfer to civilian life and become an officer, so I wouldn’t have to worry about his safety anymore. But he refused, saying that being a soldier was what he loved. And now, he’s going to give up his favorite career for you! Can you bear it? Do you really love him?”
“I love him! No one can deny that!” Ling Ruoke retorted loudly, looking at her with a hint of tears in her eyes. She admitted that Yang Ziyun’s words had struck a chord with her.
Yang Ziyun nodded and patted her shoulder. "If it's alright, I won't deny it. But isn't your love a bit selfish? Think about how much Qingfeng has sacrificed since you two got together. He's always been aloof, and you could say that being a soldier is the only thing he loves. But now, he can't be a soldier because of you. And what about you? What have you sacrificed?"
Ling Ruoke remained silent, unsure how to refute him. In truth, everything Yang Ziyun said was true, and she couldn't refute it.
On her way home from work, she kept thinking about it. She kept asking herself if she was being too selfish if Qingfeng really couldn't be a soldier anymore. But Qingfeng said she was the most important person to him, and she believed that wasn't just comforting words. However, he had sacrificed so much for her; what could she do for him in return? Was it really as he said, that loving him was enough? And compared to his love, was hers too light and insignificant?
Must we really force her to leave Qingfeng? Why is everyone pressuring her?
Ling Ruoke slowly closed her eyes, suppressing the tears that were about to well up. She let out a sigh and asked in a hoarse voice, "If I leave Qingfeng, will he be able to continue serving in the army and won't be demoted?"
Yang Ziyun was overjoyed. Judging from Ruoke's reaction, she knew the matter would be resolved soon. She knew that Ruoke was soft-hearted, and as long as she appealed to her emotions, she would definitely agree to leave Qingfeng.
“It’s not that simple. But as long as you leave him, we can find a way to prove that the so-called moral issues don’t exist at all. I will persuade Qingfeng to marry into the Gu family, and with the Gu family’s power, we will definitely be able to keep him. But if you insist on staying by his side, Cang Wei’s forces will not give up, and the Gu family will also stand by and watch, and I’m afraid…”
Ling Ruoke suddenly wondered if things had been planned from the beginning, since everything seemed to be going so smoothly. She was just one of the discordant notes, and removing her would result in a perfect ending.
Qingfeng doesn't like Gu Zhenzhen, nor does he like Gu Miaomiao. But for the sake of his career, and the pressure from his family, he might compromise...
Ling Ruoke staggered backward, looked at Yang Ziyun, and said with difficulty, "What if I refuse?"
Before Yang Ziyun could answer, there was a knock on the door.
"Open the door if you can. Open the door now!" Huo Qingfeng shouted from outside. His tone was urgent, as if he was about to kick the door open if it wasn't opened soon.
Yang Ziyun glanced at Ruoke, said nothing, and went to open the door. "What's the rush? Do you think I'd eat someone?"
"I was afraid you'd scare her." Huo Qingfeng passed his mother and strode over to Ruo Ke. Seeing that his wife wasn't crying, but was clearly very upset, he knew his mother had said something unpleasant again. He hugged her tightly, his heart aching.
Yang Ziyun watched the two embracing, sighed, and closed the door. She wasn't keen on being the villain who broke up the couple; in truth, she had no other choice.
"Did my mom say something nasty again? Don't worry about what she says. Even though she's my mom, she's not me, so don't take it to heart." He pressed his face against hers, gently nuzzling her. "Honey, I'm sorry, I've made you suffer."
Although Ling Ruoke was still upset, seeing Huo Qingfeng like this made her feel much better. She was lucky; how many mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in this world live in harmony? At least Qingfeng never asked her to please Yang Ziyun; he always stood by her side and thought of her best interests.
She leaned completely against him, relaxed her body, and took his hand, stroking the calluses on his palm. "Qingfeng, if one day your mother and I argue, whose side will you take?"
"Of course I'm helping my wife," Huo Qingfeng answered without hesitation, his smile faint but full of doting affection.
Ling Ruoke stared at him, slightly surprised by his unwavering decision. "But she's your mother." Most men would choose to side with their mothers, or at least hesitate for a moment before saying something to please their wives.
Huo Qingfeng looked at her expression and pinched her rosy cheek. "Of course I'll cherish my wife. As for my mother, Grandpa will naturally cherish her. I cherish my wife, and Grandpa cherishes his wife, isn't that great?"
Ling Ruoke was taken aback for a moment, then laughed at his words. But upon closer reflection, she had to admit that this was the best possible situation.
"So, don't you think your husband is the most handsome, best, and most loving man in the world?" Colonel Huo grinned, his head bearing an injury that made him look somewhat comical.
Ling Ruoke touched the spot where he had been hit, feeling a pang of heartache. Hearing his words, she smiled, pursed her lips, and nodded earnestly. "Yes. I also think I'm the luckiest woman in the world."
"Silly girl." Colonel Huo felt sorry for her and hugged her tightly. This was what made Ruoke different; she could always reveal her uniqueness unintentionally, making you unable to resist.
Ling Ruoke just looked at him and smiled, without refuting him.
Colonel Huo was aroused by her teasing, so he pulled her into the bed and showered her with kisses.
Ling Ruoke was initially a little stiff as she received his enthusiasm, but she gradually relaxed.
...
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ling Ruoke had to get up to prepare breakfast.
Huo Qingfeng reached out his strong arm, pulled her into a hug, and tucked her back into the blankets. "Wife, sleep a little longer, it's still early."
"You go back to sleep, I need to get up and make breakfast. It gets light late in winter, and if we wait until it's light, it will already be past seven o'clock." Ling Ruoke patted his back through the blanket like she would a child.
Colonel Huo grumbled in dissatisfaction, kissed her, and then let her go. He knew his wife well; if he didn't let her get up, she would start wondering what his parents would think of her.
Ling Ruoke got up quietly, changed her clothes, and washed up. Then she went out to buy materials.
She returned with bags and bags of groceries, only to find Huo Qingfeng and his father already jogging around the neighborhood. They had just passed by; all she saw were their backs. Both were equally tall and upright. Behind them followed two bodyguards. The four of them moved in perfect unison, creating a formidable presence.
Ling Ruoke couldn't help but smile as she walked up the stairs. The bedding had been neatly folded and placed at one end of the sofa. That's how soldiers are; they always maintain the tidiest state.
Ling Ruoke smiled and walked into the kitchen. She planned to make steamed buns and dumplings, cook a small pot of porridge, and grind some soy milk. However, she was making much more than usual, since there were three burly men with her, and soldiers are all big eaters.
By the time the steamed buns and dumplings were all ready, Ling Ruoke was covered in sweat and her arms ached terribly.
By the time breakfast was ready, the runners had returned, and those who had been sleeping had gotten up. A simple, home-cooked breakfast was laid out, covering the table in abundance. The steamed buns were plump and white, looking incredibly soft and delicious. The dumplings were beautifully wrapped, with skins so thin you could almost see the filling inside, and they smelled wonderfully fragrant. The soy milk was still steaming, but not too hot—just the right temperature to drink. Millet porridge was also on the side, along with several small dishes of pickles, making it all look incredibly appetizing.
The two guards raved about Ling Ruoke's cooking, showering her with compliments. It was unclear whether they were intentionally trying to liven things up or genuinely loved Ruoke's breakfast.
Yang Ziyun and the general didn't say anything, but their expressions were relatively good, and they didn't say anything unpleasant.
Little Fu'an was as lively and active as ever. He was delighted when someone praised his mother, babbling incessantly. He would occasionally utter some adorable words that made everyone laugh. Because of him, the atmosphere at the breakfast table was much more pleasant.
After breakfast, Huo Qingfeng took the mother and son to work and school. He dropped the little one off at kindergarten first, and then took his wife to the school gate.
Colonel Huo kissed Ruoke's cheek and said, "Honey, I'll come pick you up after get off work. Come on in."
Ling Ruoke looked at him grinning in the cold wind, revealing his white teeth, and suddenly kissed him on the cheek before running inside quickly.
Colonel Huo grinned even wider, his white teeth gleaming, and drove home with an air of nonchalance. There, another war awaited him. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but composed himself, his expression turning serious.
As expected, as soon as he got home, his father and two guards made an excuse to leave, leaving only his mother waiting for him. Last night's conversation hadn't convinced him, and today would certainly be another round of bombardment. He preferred a direct confrontation with his father's tough stance to his mother's gentle tactics.
Huo Qingfeng washed his hands, made himself a cup of tea, and then sat down opposite his mother. "Mom, go ahead and tell me, I'm listening."
Yang Ziyun immediately got angry, picked up the apple beside her, and threw it at him. "You brat, why do you act like your mother owes you millions!"
Colonel Huo caught the apple, wiped it, and took a crunchy bite. "I know you all want to owe me a wife. But I won't agree."
"Why are you so stubborn? Do you really not want your future? If you can't join the army, what will you do? Don't think things are so simple, and don't be so naive. You've been in the army all this time, what can you do? Do you want to be a security guard, watching people's doors, running around every day, worrying about three meals a day? How long do you think you can live like that? If that's the case, how long can Ruoke stay with you? Haven't you thought about these things?"
Yang Ziyun's face was scrunched up like a steamed bun, as if she wanted to cut open her son's head to see what was inside.
Huo Qingfeng remained unhurried, still munching on an apple. "Mom, don't worry, I'm not so badly unable to make a living. Don't underestimate your son."
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