After bidding farewell to Doctor Liu, Xu Zhuohua and Xinghua went straight back to the inn.
The night in Dongzhou was cool, with heavy frost and dew, and a chill permeated the air, causing Xu Zhuohua to shiver involuntarily.
With both hands full of local specialties she had bought, she couldn't free her hands to tidy her clothes, so she quickened her pace toward the inn.
As dusk settled, the entire cobblestone path became even more gloomy and dark.
From afar, Xu Zhuohua saw a tall figure leaning against the entrance of the inn, appearing and disappearing in the night wind, like a shattered silhouette.
The figure stood alone, out of place with the surrounding noise, exuding an indescribable loneliness and mystery.
The lanterns hanging from the eaves of the inn swayed gently in the night breeze, their dim yellow light flickering and enveloping the person within them.
He was wearing a finely crafted black cashmere coat, the soft cashmere shimmering subtly under the light. His black top hat was pulled low, almost completely obscuring his face, leaving only a faint outline of his jawline, which added to his enigmatic appearance.
Xu Zhuohua, however, could not make out the person's face.
In the darkness, the man's back was slightly hunched, pressed tightly against the mottled earthen wall. His thin figure appeared even more lonely in the interplay of light and shadow, as if he had been standing there for a long time, and even time had stood still.
Xinghua quickly stepped in front of Xu Zhuohua, watching the figure warily, and said in a low voice, "Miss, this person is very strange, it's not Zhang Qi."
Xu Zhuohua slowly approached with small, quick steps, her gaze fixed on the person, her tone certain: "It's definitely not Zhang Qi. This person is taller and has broader shoulders."
Xinghua tilted her head, looked him over carefully, and suddenly lowered her voice and said, "He looks a bit like the son-in-law."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves in Xu Zhuohua's heart.
"No, Cheng Muyun isn't that thin; he's very strong."
However, her voice trembled slightly, her gaze fixed on the person in front of her, her heart filled with mixed feelings, unsure whether it was relief or disappointment.
I wonder if Cheng Muyun lost weight after his injury, and whether Cheng Yuguang still keeps him in prison.
The two didn't stop walking because it was so cold at night that Xu Zhuohua was about to freeze.
The moment Xu Zhuohua brushed past that person, a cold wind suddenly blew in a familiar scent and rushed into her nostrils.
She turned her head as if possessed—in the shadow of the hat brim, a pair of eyes filled with scattered stars were quietly gazing at her, and the smile lines at the corners of his mouth were made even more gentle by the warm yellow light.
It's Cheng Muyun.
Xu Zhuohua felt as if her throat was blocked by cotton wool, and she suddenly froze on the spot.
The fingers that were carrying the local specialties lost their strength, and everything in their hands fell to the ground.
A sudden wave of bitterness washed over her, and her eyes burned with pain. Gazing at the face she had longed for day and night, a broken sob escaped her throat: "Cheng Muyun!"
That cry was heart-wrenching, carrying the bewilderment of being alone in this precarious situation in recent days, and the longing of countless sleepless nights filled with anxiety.
Xu Zhuohua staggered and rushed into that familiar embrace. The warmth from the chest beneath the cashmere coat was the most comforting source of warmth in her memory.
She gripped the fabric of the man's shirt tightly at the back of his neck, tears streaming down her face, soaking the front of his clothes: "Cheng Muyun! It really is you!"
Cheng Muyun gently placed his palm on her trembling back, his calloused fingertips stroking the top of her head.
Xu Zhuohua buried her face in his shoulder, and the pretense of composure she had been maintaining for days crumbled.
She wished she could melt herself into this chest, into the very bones of the man she longed for, and never be separated from him again.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Muyun's voice was warm and gentle, like a fireplace burning on a winter night. He gently stroked Xu Zhuohua's thin shoulders and back, trying to comfort her.
Xu Zhuohua buried her face in his neck and sobbed uncontrollably, her voice filled with unbearable grievance: "I miss you so much, Cheng Muyun."
Her knuckles were white as she gripped his clothes, as if he would vanish into thin air if she let go.
Cheng Muyun's ribs were constricted and ached terribly, each breath a sharp, piercing pain, yet he still gently rested his chin on the top of her head, his breath carrying a smile as he whispered in her ear: "I missed you too. Let me see, have you lost weight or gained weight?"
His palms, calloused from years of holding guns, gently cradled her face.
The warm yellow light of the lanterns swayed on Xu Zhuohua's face, and Cheng Muyun's gaze traced the features of the person in front of him inch by inch.
Her forehead, reddened by the cold wind, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, her almond-shaped eyes still trembling with tears, and the tip of her pert nose glistening with tears that finally fell onto her lips, glistening with tears, like flower petals holding morning dew.
Cheng Muyun gently placed his thumb on the bright red spot he had been longing for.
My thumb glided over the corners of my lips and the cupid's bow; it felt warm and soft.
Cheng Muyun lowered his head and kissed Xu Zhuohua's soft lips, expressing his longing of many days.
The kiss started so suddenly that Cheng Muyun himself didn't react, and Xu Zhuohua's eyes widened in surprise.
She had never seen Cheng Muyun so frantic; he was biting and sucking like a desert traveler about to die of thirst.
Xu Zhuohua opened her mouth, and the man moved closer, pressing his large hand against Xu Zhuohua's head and deepening the intrusion.
After a struggle, the man's movements finally slowed down as he savored the strawberry-like softness.
He opened his eyes, looked at the person he deeply loved, and lost himself in passion.
Xu Zhuohua nestled in Cheng Muyun's arms, breathing rapidly in the chilly air, which stung her lungs as she inhaled it.
She then remembered Cheng Muyun's injuries.
"Cheng Muyun, are you badly injured?"
Cheng Muyun cupped Xu Zhuohua's face in his hands, his fingers gently rubbing her soft earlobe.
"It's not serious, just superficial injuries."
Xu Zhuohua held Cheng Muyun's hand, their breaths mingling.
"Let's go in. I received some excellent tissue-regenerating medicine today from a direct disciple of the Liu family, a renowned family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Beiping. It's guaranteed to be effective. He even patted his chest and assured me that it would heal in seven days."
Cheng Muyun said, "Zhuohua, I'm here about arms."
Xu Zhuohua's heart sank, and she pressed her finger to Cheng Muyun's lips. "Whether you support me or not, I've already taken over. If you insist on saying discouraging things when you're so happy, I'm not going to talk to you anymore."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
