Han Yu wasn't entirely proficient in sign language and didn't understand what Cheng Xiaorui was trying to convey.
"I... I don't get what you mean," he said.
As Cheng Xiaorui heard Han Yu's words, the bright stars in her eyes gradually faded, leaving them dim and lifeless.
She smiled, lowered her head, picked up her basket and cleaver, and walked away.
"Wait!"
Han Yu chased after her, handing her the chilblain cream he had bought.
Noticing her hands were full, Han Yu tucked the cream into her pocket before stepping aside to let her leave.
Cheng Xiaorui looked down at the cream in her pocket and then back at Han Yu.
Her dark, bright eyes were filled with gratitude and helplessness.
She left.
He didn't chase after her again.
After spending some time at Meng Jingwei's home, they packed up and prepared to leave.
Meng Jingwei wanted to stay with her adoptive parents, so she didn't return to Lancheng with them.
As they parted, Qing Muye pulled Meng Jingwei into her bedroom.
"What are you doing, being so secretive?" Meng Jingwei couldn't help but laugh.
Qing Muye closed the door and turned to face Meng Jingwei. He took her hand with one of his and cupped the back of her head with the other, leaning in to kiss her lips.
His heavy breath mingled with Meng Jingwei's, carrying a familiar scent, and she immediately succumbed.
Her hands, which had been hanging by her sides, slowly rose to circle his waist, and she tiptoed to kiss him back.
Lost in the river of love, parting was the hardest thing.
As they kissed, reluctant to let go, there was a knock on the door.
Meng Jingwei pushed Qing Muye away and asked, tilting her head, "Who is it? Just a moment."
Then, there was silence from outside.
Meng Jingwei turned to look at Qing Muye, noticing a tiny, glistening droplet of moisture at the corner of his lips.
Her cheeks flushed, and she reached up to wipe away the moisture, saying with a hint of shyness, "I need to stay and spend time with my parents. I'll return to Lancheng in a few days."
Qing Muye held Meng Jingwei's hand, his thumb gently caressing the skin on the back of her hand. "I have to rush back to Country C to handle some matters. By the time you return to Lancheng, I should be back too."
"Alright. Take good care of yourself over there."
"You too."
"And also..."
Meng Jingwei's expression suddenly turned serious, and she pointed at his nose, warning him, "If I ever find out you've lied to me again, we're finished. I can't tolerate any flaws, let alone lies and betrayal."
"Yes, Madam," Qing Muye replied with a wicked smile. He raised Meng Jingwei's hand and gently kissed the back of it.
"Get lost. Who's your Madam? We're not even engaged yet. Hurry and go."
Meng Jingwei shook off Qing Muye's hand and opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, Meng Tianhua and Du Juan stumbled forward, nearly falling to the ground.
"Dad, Mom, what are you doing?"
Meng Jingwei's brow furrowed, though she knew the answer.
What were they up to?
These two adults were eavesdropping.
"Ah? No, nothing. I was just by the door discussing something with your mother, and I didn't expect you and Muye to be in the room," Meng Tianhua said, his mind spinning as he came up with an excuse.
"Yes, yes. I was just discussing with your dad how much of a red envelope Muye should receive for his first visit," Du Juan said. Suddenly remembering a red envelope in her pocket, she immediately took it out and handed it to Qing Muye.
"Auntie, there's no need," Qing Muye waved his hand.
"Oh, don't be silly. It's our token of appreciation for your first visit," Du Juan insisted, forcing the red envelope into Meng Jingwei's hands.
"Take it, take it. It's from my mom," Meng Jingwei urged Qing Muye.
The man had no choice but to accept the red envelope.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries at the door, they each went their separate ways.
After they left, Meng Jingwei was pulled away by the old trainer and taken to his home, where she was subjected to another round of training.
From the first day of the lunar new year to the fifteenth, she endured twelve hours of high-intensity training daily. Meng Jingwei was so exhausted she longed to return to Lancheng, but the old trainer beat her soundly.
On the eighteenth of the first lunar month, Meng Jingwei finally escaped the "sea of suffering" and returned to Lancheng.
As she stepped out of the car upon arriving in Lancheng, Qing Muye, holding a bouquet of flowers, walked towards her. "Awei, this is for you."
It was a large bouquet of blue roses, adorned with baby's breath and green leaves, entwined with several colorful threads as fine as hair. It was exceptionally beautiful.
However, Meng Jingwei took the flowers and turned, tossing them into the car.
This scene cast a shadow of disappointment over Qing Muye's face.
But just then, Meng Jingwei turned and leaped, hugging Qing Muye tightly like an octopus.
The man instinctively held her by the hips, cradling her.
Meng Jingwei rested her chin on Qing Muye's shoulder and wailed, "I'm finally back. Qing Muye, do you know the old trainer almost broke me? Every part of my body aches..."
Qing Muye, who had felt a bit dejected after Meng Jingwei threw away the flowers, couldn't help but smile with relief and feel pleased by her active embrace and tearful complaints.
He held the slender Meng Jingwei with one arm and gently patted her back, comforting her. "Yes, my silly girl has been through a lot."
"I've been through so much. If Lv Sen hadn't called me to say I needed to be at work tomorrow, the old trainer wouldn't have let me leave."
Speaking of which, Meng Jingwei considered her boss, Lv Sen, her savior.
Qing Muye knew about her signing with Huayu Media as a model, and therefore knew that Lv Sen was the boss of Huayu Media, so he didn't ask further.
"Do you want to go get something delicious to eat?" he asked.
"No, I'm too tired. I just want to rest."
"Alright."
Qing Muye closed the car door for Meng Jingwei and carried her upstairs.
If it hadn't been for Meng Jingwei's repeated insistence that he not pick her up, Qing Muye would have driven straight to her house to fetch her.
"Wow, they're so in love."
"This guy is so handsome and has such great stamina. Oh my god, I love it, I love it."
"Tsk, in a public place, not caring about their image at all. Aren't they ashamed?"
"The beautiful woman is so happy. I'm so jealous, so jealous."
...
After driving all the way, Meng Jingwei was a bit tired and, lost in her romance, just wanted to rest her head on Qing Muye's shoulder.
It wasn't until she heard the discussions of passersby that she suddenly realized Qing Muye was holding her in an awkward, overly intimate position, making it unbearable for onlookers.
She immediately straightened up and struggled a bit. "Put me down."
"No."
"Oh, so many people are watching. This is so embarrassing." Meng Jingwei patted Qing Muye's shoulder while glancing around. Noticing people in the residential area pointing and whispering, she shyly covered half her face with her hand. "Put me down quickly."
"What others say is their business. I spoil my woman."
Qing Muye held Meng Jingwei tightly with both arms, refusing to let her down. Under the gaze of many, he swaggered with her into the elevator.