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墨書 Inktalez
The ship slowly docked, and when stepping onto the ground, it felt surprisingly soft, giving a sense of unreality.
Cheng Yi looked at Shangguan Shaoyi's slightly sharp features, intending to ask him what conclusion he had come to, but ultimately held back his words. Cheng Mo Su gently grasped his large palm; the thin calluses rubbed against her delicate skin, causing her to involuntarily blink.
"Mo Su." He spoke slowly, and she paused in silence, hoping he wouldn't say anything further. Seeing her tense expression, he smiled, "Back when I was in college, my mentor was an American. I believe I still have his address; I want to pay him a visit."
She let out a sigh of relief; it turned out that Shaoyi wasn't insisting on returning to the country immediately. This was good; she wouldn't have to be caught between Shaoyi and her father anymore. Lip Corners held a faint smile, her eyes bright, "Then I'll go with you."
He nodded. Cheng Yi sighed softly and took out a note from his pocket. "This is the address of my apartment in America. After visiting the teacher, you can find me there." Suddenly, he glanced at Shangguan Shaoyi as if reminding him to make a decision quickly. However, Shangguan Shaoyi seemed oblivious to that look and took Cheng Mo Su's hand to bid farewell to Cheng Yi.
The two strolled along the wide street in silence, simply holding hands and sharing warmth.
After walking for a while, he stopped in front of a moderately sized villa. Cheng Mo Su looked up at the house; it was quite standard with no extravagance, resembling a military residence.
Shangguan Shaoyi's voice broke the silence, mingling with the breeze. "If I remember correctly, it should be here."
He knocked on the door, but no one responded. They waited at the entrance for a while without seeing anyone. Just as they were about to leave, they spotted a sprightly elderly man with white hair running toward them. He appeared to be around sixty but showed no signs of aging. Upon seeing them, he paused in surprise, his eyes lighting up as he stopped.
Shangguan Shaoyi suddenly released her hand and stood at attention in salute, displaying a respectful demeanor. The man smiled and returned the gesture, waving his hand and saying, "I've already retired at home; there's no need for salutes anymore."
"Yes." He pulled Cheng Mo Su closer and introduced her, "This is my mentor, Mr. Smith; this is my wife, Cheng Mo Su."
"Hello." He extended his hand, and she politely accepted it while also greeting him back.
Smith seemed to recall something and nudged Shangguan Shaoyi's shoulder. "Why did you suddenly appear here? I saw in the newspaper a few days ago that you seemed to have encountered quite a situation."
He frowned slightly. "It's a long story. I will be returning to my country shortly and wanted to pay a visit to my teacher first."
"Oh, is that so? Is Consort Shangguan going back with you?" Smith's casual remark caused both of their expressions to turn silent. She hadn't considered whether she would return or not; she only thought about being wherever Shaoyi was. However, her father was alone in America, which made her uneasy. Initially, she hoped that Shaoyi might decide to stay in America, but now it seemed she had overthought it; Shaoyi would not neglect such important matters.
Smith couldn't figure out what he had said wrong and, seeing no reaction from them, assumed they hadn't heard him. He asked again, and only then did Shangguan Shaoyi lift his bright eyes and respond, "No, the situation is too dangerous right now. My wife and father-in-law may stay in America for a while."
Her heart sank at that moment, and she no longer looked at Shangguan Shaoyi, merely lowering her gaze to the ground as she mechanically followed the two into Smith's house.
The room was spotless, with all the furniture arranged neatly. At first glance, it appeared simple and uniform, but upon closer inspection, it felt somewhat devoid of human warmth. Smith gestured for them to sit down and personally made coffee for them. Although she didn't particularly enjoy drinking it, having spent two years in France had accustomed her to the taste, and she sipped it lightly.
"Look," he said, picking up a newspaper from the coffee table. "This is the current situation."
Shangguan Shaoyi took it over, his pitch-black eyes slowly scanning the page. Cheng Mo noticed his pupils tighten and his hands tremble slightly, feeling an ominous sense of foreboding. He quickly set down his coffee and leaned closer, feeling alarmed.
All of Shaoyi's troops had defected; the hot province of Zha Province had already surrendered.
He seemed deflated; his calm demeanor was on the verge of breaking down as the fire in his dark eyes threatened to consume all dust around him. She remained silent, looking down at the fine patterns on her coffee cup, unsure how to comfort him. She didn't even know if he still wanted to see her at this moment. If her father hadn't intervened back then, would their situation be different now?
"What do you plan to do? Returning now is like throwing yourself into a trap," Smith said after taking a sip of coffee and frowning slightly. "But remember what I told you: soldiers can only die on the battlefield. If you choose to be a deserter..." He threw the pistol from his waist onto the table. "Then I'll shoot you myself."
"Rest assured, teacher; your teachings are etched in my heart." He suddenly stood up without even looking at Cheng Mo, saying, "I will return home now; this matter cannot wait."
Cheng Mo Su hurriedly followed him as he rushed outside. His steps were extremely fast, and she struggled to keep up. Wearing high heels made it inconvenient, so she simply took off her shoes, which allowed her to close the distance slightly. However, even though his figure was within reach, it felt as distant as the sky; she could stretch out her hand to grab him but couldn't soothe his anxious heart at that moment.
He suddenly stopped, and she couldn't halt her pace in time, colliding directly into his back.
He turned around and embraced her tightly, more forcefully than any previous hug, nearly taking her breath away. She pressed against his chest and felt his strong heartbeat gradually calming down, which made her sigh in relief as she pulled away from his arms. He frowned slightly, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness, "I'm sorry, I was too anxious just now and didn't realize you couldn't keep up."
She shook her head and said, "It's fine. I understand how you feel; anyone would struggle to stay calm in this situation."
His bright eyes fixed on her, and she trembled under the weight of his gaze. Suddenly, he picked her up and placed her on his lap, taking the shoes she had been holding and putting them on for her.
"Shaoyi..." Her gaze fell on his striking eyebrows, causing her to momentarily lose focus as she lightly bit her Rose-Colored Lips. "I know you have to go back; I..."
"Stay here." He interrupted firmly, looking at her as she hesitated to speak. "Your father is getting older; can you really leave him alone in America? Moreover..." His expression darkened along with his voice. "The situation is getting worse; if I go now..."
"Don't say that." Her cool Fingertips pressed against his lips, stopping him from continuing. He paused in surprise, tightening the grip of her fingers against his lips as he met her tender Water Eyes.
Cheng Mo Su knew he had made up his mind to leave and that there was no point in trying to hold him back. She looked up at the blue sky with a faint smile at the corners of her lips. "Shaoyi, take me back to my dad. Before we got off the boat, I asked him to help you buy a ticket. I know you will definitely go back..."
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