Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Can’t Bear to Let Him Go

Hot water bottles in this era were rather plain, without any patterns or decorations, but they worked very well.

"The weather is getting colder, Zhaozhao. Since I won’t be around, you won’t have anyone to warm the bed for you. If you feel cold, just fill this hot water bottle. You can fill it before your shower and stick it right under the covers; they’ll warm up in no time."

Su Zhaozhao hadn’t expected Xie Huaizheng to be so thoughtful, that he’d even think of this.

She was incredibly touched.

"You too. The weather is so cold now, so you have to make sure you stay warm. When you’re out on your mission, don’t push yourself too hard. No matter what, you have to put your safety first, okay?"

"Don’t worry. I’ll definitely come back safe and sound." At this, Xie Huaizheng reached out and gently rubbed Su Zhaozhao’s cheek.

In the past, he might have been reckless and impulsive, always charging straight ahead.

But now he had a family. When he was on a mission, he would think things through more carefully.

Xie Huaizheng knew that he couldn’t afford to act rashly unless he was absolutely certain of success.

After all, he still wanted to spend many, many more years with Su Zhaozhao.

So, no matter what, Xie Huaizheng would do everything in his power to make it back safely.

He couldn’t bear the thought of Su Zhaozhao crying her eyes out over him.

After they finished dinner and cleaned up, Xie Huaizheng picked up an apple from the table.

The bright red, fragrant apple was one that Su Zhaozhao had secretly retrieved from her space.

Now that Xie Huaizheng was okay with apples, Su Zhaozhao felt comfortable leaving them out on the table with the pears.

Fruit was very hard to come by in the winter, and it was much more expensive in the markets.

But in Su Zhaozhao’s space, she had an endless supply of such fruits.

All she needed was the right opportunity to bring them out.

"An apple... a symbol of peace and safety," Xie Huaizheng said, then smiled and took a bite.

The sweet and tart apple juice exploded in his mouth.

He had long since emerged from the shadows of his past.

The feeling was simply wonderful.

Seeing Xie Huaizheng take and eat an apple of his own accord, Su Zhaozhao felt a thrill of pleasant surprise.

"You... if you really don’t want to, you don’t have to force yourself."

"No, Zhaozhao. I’m truly grateful to you. It’s because of you that I was able to emerge from the shadows of my past."

After getting together with Su Zhaozhao, he no longer had constant nightmares like he used to, and he wasn’t always lying awake at night.

As for apples, he had gone from fear and repulsion to actually enjoying them.

Su Zhaozhao had discovered the shadows he kept hidden in the corners of his heart, the ones he never dared tell anyone about. And she had taken his hand and led him out of them.

Xie Huaizheng reached out, pulled Su Zhaozhao into his arms, and held her tight.

"While I’m gone, Zhaozhao, if you run into any trouble, you can go to Aunt Wang or Aunt Yun, okay?"

"Okay. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on your mission."

’Even though I’m saying that, I know I’ll be incredibly worried about him.’

’My life is routine and stable. Here on the military base, there’s no danger.’

’But it was different for Xie Huaizheng.’

’I don’t even know where he’s going for his mission, or how dangerous it will be.’

’But I have a feeling that the missions he takes on are always the high-risk ones.’

Su Zhaozhao packed medicine, daily necessities, and some food for him.

But Xie Huaizheng couldn’t carry much, so Su Zhaozhao could only pack the essential emergency supplies for him.

She even secretly retrieved some warm, insulated clothing from her space. The style was very plain, but the fabrics were modern and high-tech.

They were quick-drying and very warm.

If Xie Huaizheng was on a mission in the wilderness, these clothes would help keep him from freezing.

’There wasn’t much else I could do.’

Before he left, Xie Huaizheng shouldered his heavy pack. Su Zhaozhao only walked him as far as the doorway.

Xie Huaizheng glanced back and saw her standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with worry and a reluctance to see him go.

In the sunlight, her deep, dark eyes glistened faintly.

’She’s so sad, but she’s trying her best to hold it in.’

Xie Huaizheng pressed his lips into a thin line, strode forward, and pulled Su Zhaozhao into his arms.

Then he leaned down and kissed her lips.

He kissed her until she was breathless, only then letting her go.

After his kiss, her lips were like rose petals—plump, red, and alluring.

A flirtatious glimmer bloomed at the corners of her eyes.

Xie Huaizheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. ’She’s so damn captivating.’

’But what could he do?’

’He had to suppress the desire stirring within him.’

His voice was hoarse. "Zhaozhao, don’t be sad. It makes my heart ache to see you like this."

"It’s nothing. I’m just not used to this yet. It’ll be fine once I get used to it," Su Zhaozhao said, dropping the pretense. Her little face crumpled.

’That’s right. We’ve been together for so long, and he hasn’t actually gone away on missions very often.’

’Maybe I’ll get used to it in the future, when he goes on missions?’

"I’ll try to stay by your side more in the future," Xie Huaizheng said, lowering his gaze and kissing her forehead.

’In the future, as my rank gets higher, the missions should become less frequent.’

After Xie Huaizheng left, Su Zhaozhao still felt a pang of longing. With him gone, the house suddenly felt cold and desolate.

Su Zhaozhao leaned against the sofa, hugging a throw pillow, and then sighed deeply.

’I really rely on him too much. With him gone, I feel so unsettled.’

’Back in my old world, I lived alone too, but I never felt this way then.’

’But now it’s different.’

’What exactly is so different?’

Su Zhaozhao couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

’I guess I’ll just have to endure it.’

That afternoon, on her way to class, Su Zhaozhao ran into Zhou Xiaoyun. The moment Zhou Xiaoyun saw her, she called out, "Zhaozhao! Come over to my place for dinner tonight! Old Liu went to the provincial capital for a conference and won’t be back for a couple of days. And didn’t Huai Zheng leave for a mission, too? So let’s just the two of us eat together."

Surprised by Zhou Xiaoyun’s enthusiastic invitation, Su Zhaozhao replied, "Oh, sure! Aunt Yun, what a coincidence. Uncle Liu went to a conference?"

"That’s right. I figure it’s a pain to cook for one, so just come eat at my place tonight."

"Okay. Thank you, I hope it’s not too much trouble."

At this, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but smile. "Did Huai Zheng put you up to this?"

’Xie Huaizheng must have asked Zhou Xiaoyun and Wang Anning to look after me.’

Zhou Xiaoyun smiled and nodded. "Yes, he did. That husband of yours really dotes on you. He was worried you’d be lonely all by yourself, so he asked me to keep an eye on you. But don’t you feel like it’s a bother. It’s really no trouble just to feed one more person."

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