Xie Yanlai didn’t turn back: “I understand.”
Having said this, he gritted his teeth again. What was he saying? One was her father, one was her mother—who was he to say he understood? What business was it of his!
He strode out quickly, then strode back quickly. Without speaking, he grabbed the little rabbit from the crevice by the bed and strode away again.
Chu Ling didn’t inquire about his return; he only smiled.
The room returned to quiet, though Chu Ling’s ears were not quiet. He listened to footsteps receding, then heard delicate footsteps approaching—
The delicate footsteps stopped at the doorway, as if not daring to take another step forward.
“Come in,” Chu Ling said. “At this point, there’s no need to dwell on the past or feel anxious and hesitant.”
Following his words, the halted footsteps fell like urgent rain, rushing from outside straight into the inner chamber—
Mu Mianhong stood by the bed, her slender figure swaying in the dim light. She looked at the man lying on the bed, and more than ten years of the past instantly flooded her heart—
She covered her face with both hands and knelt down.
“When it started, I don’t know,” she sobbed and murmured.
Chu Ling’s expression was calm, neither joyful nor angry: “What would it matter if you knew? Can you bring the dead back to life?”
Mu Mianhong cried and said: “General, you still speak so harshly.”
Chu Ling fell silent.
In the quiet room, the past churned up.
It seemed like a long time, yet also just an instant, before Chu Ling broke the silence, pressing down the past.
“The reason I’m letting you see me.”
“Is because you saved Ah Zhao’s life.”
“Whoever saves my Ah Zhao is my benefactor.”
“Since my benefactor has a request, and the request is merely to see me once, I naturally consent.”
Only a benefactor, only because she saved his daughter—nothing more.
Mu Mianhong knelt by the bed, looking at the man before her who was both strange and familiar, tears streaming down like rain.
……
……
“He said he was waiting for you by the kitchen.”
A’Le searched inside and outside the kitchen, asking the servants and guards. The servants and guards all shook their heads, saying they hadn’t seen Xie Yanlai.
“Ignore him,” Chu Zhao said. After tasting the chicken soup and preparing to serve it, Xie Yanlai came back from outside.
“Where did you go?” Chu Zhao asked.
Xie Yanlai didn’t speak, just patted his chest—
Chu Zhao immediately spotted the little rabbit bulging from his chest and pounced: “It’s mine! Despicable—you actually used a diversionary tactic!”
Xie Yanlai turned to dodge, raising his eyebrows: “It’s mine. I discovered it first.”
Chu Zhao didn’t care and reached into his chest to snatch the little rabbit.
Xie Yanlai extended his hand to press against her forehead: “I can give it to you, but there’s a condition. I already told your father about it, and your father said there should be a condition.”
Father? Had he just gone to speak with Father? Chu Zhao giggled: “What sweet talk did you feed my father this time?”
Xie Yanlai said: “General Chu is just and fair. He agreed I could take the rabbit, but you have to make me a bowl of soup, and then I’ll give you the rabbit.”
Chu Zhao scoffed: “Fine! I dare make it—as long as you dare eat it.” She actually went to wash her hands and make soup.
A’Le pursed her lips, ignoring their bickering, and went to stand by the door. Xie Yanlai leaned against the doorway waiting for his soup, listening to Chu Zhao’s endless chatter.
“Is my father still awake?” “What did you say to him?” “You’ve been on patrol all night—why don’t you go sleep?” “When you have free time, come talk more with my father.”
He answered her questions intermittently. As they were talking, a commotion came from outside, voices like thunder.
“—Why are you here! Someone—”
This was Zhong Changrong’s voice.
Xie Yanlai’s expression changed. Chu Zhao dropped her bowl with a clatter and lifted her foot to rush outside.
“Chu Zhao.” Xie Yanlai reached out to stop the girl who had rushed to the doorway. “Wait.”