"Uh-huh! Shuangshuang, I’m back..." Lu Yuanfeng’s voice trembled a little.
The warmth of the person held in his arms reminded Lu Yuanfeng again and again that he had truly returned.
The one he held was his most beloved girl.
The girl he vowed to protect at all costs.
"Fengzi, am I... am I dreaming? Aren’t you still in Xing City? I’m just asleep here?"
Lu Yuanfeng’s appearance was too sudden.
It felt like a dream—Mu Shuangshuang still couldn’t believe it.
"You’re not dreaming! I’m not in Xing City anymore; I’m really back!" Lu Yuanfeng’s voice was so tender it could melt.
Hearing the familiar voice, Mu Shuangshuang finally believed, Fengzi had truly returned.
She no longer needed to long day and night, yet couldn’t see him.
She no longer needed to pray day by day for his early return.
"Fengzi..."
Mu Shuangshuang called his name, equally tender, equally soft-spoken.
The two of them held each other like that for a long, long time.
His gaze was fixed on Mu Shuangshuang the entire time.
Afraid to blink, as if she’d disappear!
Wasn’t Mu Shuangshuang the same? The warmth was his, and her heart kept beating wildly.
"When did you come back?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"Sixteen days ago, Mr. Xue allowed me to return! He gave me a two-month leave; in a month and a half, I have to be in the Capital!" Lu Yuanfeng replied.
"Sixteen days? You returned from Xing City in just sixteen days?" Mu Shuangshuang was stunned.
"Yes, the earlier I come back, the earlier I can see you!" Lu Yuanfeng said.
After hearing those words, Mu Shuangshuang felt an ache deep in her heart.
When she came back nonstop, it took her over twenty days.
Did he travel day and night?
Mu Shuangshuang’s eyes were full of heartache.
This silly boy, why is he so silly?
What if he came back later?
"You’re really a fool, little fool..." Mu Shuangshuang’s voice was somewhat choked.
Upon hearing her words, Lu Yuanfeng’s heart nearly broke.
"Don’t worry about me, my body is strong, I can handle it! Look at me, am I not standing perfectly well in front of you?"
As he spoke, Lu Yuanfeng took a step back, cupping Mu Shuangshuang’s face, trying to comfort her.
Their gazes met, but in his eyes, Mu Shuangshuang saw countless red veins.
"Heavens, how long has it been since you rested?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"Not long!" Lu Yuanfeng replied.
He wouldn’t tell Mu Shuangshuang that for the last stretch, he hadn’t closed his eyes for three days and three nights.
Sitting on the horse, eyelids almost refusing to lift.
Xing Beichen even said traveling with him was pure agony.
"You say ’not long’! Do you think I’m a fool?" Mu Shuangshuang was both angry and anxious.
Lu Yuanfeng remained silent, sincerely listening to Shuangshuang’s rebuke.
If possible, he wished this voice of admonishment could accompany him for a lifetime.
This way, she’d surely be beside him.
"Why aren’t you speaking?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"Everything Shuangshuang says is right; I have no rebuttal!" Lu Yuanfeng replied.
Upon hearing his words, a warmth surged deep in Mu Shuangshuang’s heart.
"Come, let’s go inside! I’ll cook for you!" Mu Shuangshuang pulled Lu Yuanfeng’s hand to guide him inside.
Without Lu Yuanfeng needing to say, she already knew he hadn’t eaten.
This boy, who won’t rest, how would he have eaten?
Leading Lu Yuanfeng into her room, Mu Shuangshuang said to him, "You sleep for a while first; I’ll call you later!"
"No, I’m dirty, haven’t washed in days!" Lu Yuanfeng refused.
In the last stretch of the journey, he only focused on traveling day and night.
Not even time for changing clothes.
Now, he felt how grimy he was.
"You’re not dirty! Sleep in my bed; I won’t mind!" Mu Shuangshuang said, as she pushed Lu Yuanfeng onto her bed.
Ultimately, he couldn’t refuse Shuangshuang’s kindness.
Lu Yuanfeng sat down on Mu Shuangshuang’s bed, the soft mattress was worlds apart from the hard saddle.
Moreover, this bed belonged to Shuangshuang, making it even more precious to Lu Yuanfeng.
"You rest first, I’ll make some food for you!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Don’t bother too much, some coarse grain porridge will do!" Lu Yuanfeng replied.
He was indeed hungry, but now that he’d seen Shuangshuang, any hardship seemed worthwhile.
"I’ll cook some sour and spicy noodles; we have sweet potato noodles at home, and there’s still plenty of meat leftover from tonight for toppings!" Mu Shuangshuang said and headed out.
As she left, Lu Yuanfeng began to take in Shuangshuang’s new room.
When he left, the room hadn’t yet finished renovation.
Now that he returned, everything was complete inside.
A large bed, furniture, and the vase and dressing table that Shuangshuang insisted on having.
The whole room, at a glance, was thoroughly tidy.
The quilt was the same neatly folded style he’d seen before; before he sat, there wasn’t a single crease on the bed.
Even a faint floral fragrance lingered in the room.
Smelling this floral scent, sleepiness gradually overtook him.
He struggled a bit, got off Mu Shuangshuang’s bed, then sat on a chair in her room, resting his head on the table.
So when Mu Shuangshuang entered, Lu Yuanfeng hadn’t slept on her bed, but was napping at the table.
She was holding a steaming bowl of sour and spicy noodles.
For a moment, she found it hard to wake him.
He was indeed exhausted; otherwise, he wouldn’t have slept like this.
Mu Shuangshuang put the bowl on her dressing table, initially planning to cover Lu Yuanfeng with a quilt.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she held the quilt and was about to cover him, he woke up.
Under the candlelight, Mu Shuangshuang saw even more clearly.
He was darker, thinner, and the red veins in his eyes looked even scarier than from outside.
Mu Shuangshuang felt inexplicably heartache.
"Did I fall asleep?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.
"Uh-huh! Now that you’re awake, eat some noodles first. It’s too late, I didn’t dare to add too much vinegar, worrying it might upset your stomach!"
As she spoke, Mu Shuangshuang was about to get the noodles for Lu Yuanfeng.
But Lu Yuanfeng was quicker, saying, "I’ll get it, you rest!"
The spicy noodles were brought up, and the smell almost made Lu Yuanfeng’s mouth water.
Just smelling it, he knew it must taste good.
"Are you hungry?" Before eating, Lu Yuanfeng didn’t forget about Shuangshuang.
"I’m not hungry, hurry up and eat!" Mu Shuangshuang urged.
Only then did Lu Yuanfeng start eating.
A bowl of sour and spicy noodles topped with a layer of red oil, large chunks of braised pork laid on top.
A faint vinegar aroma could still be detected.
Lu Yuanfeng used his chopsticks to stir it, intending to mix the toppings, but accidentally fished out a poached egg hidden inside.
"Shuangshuang, thank you! So late yet you made so many dishes!" Lu Yuanfeng was full of gratitude.
"Silly! Whenever you come back, I’ll cook for you, so just eat!"
Upon hearing that, Lu Yuanfeng felt inexplicably warm and cozy.
No matter the difficulty, seeing Shuangshuang made it seem trivial.