When Lu Yanbei's plane landed, Su He was still lost in dreams.
He had decided to leave early on a whim and hadn't had time to tell her.
After resting for two hours on the plane, Lu Yanbei felt much less tired by the time he disembarked. Remembering that Su He was still staying at her parents' house, he instructed the driver to change their destination to Hua Jing Yuan.
Su He was woken by the sound of voices downstairs.
Drowsily, she washed up and went downstairs in her pajamas.
At her parents' home, she was exceptionally lazy, not bothering to change out of her pajamas or put on makeup.
"Su Su, what are you standing around for? Come help me carry the dishes," Tang Jiaojiao said, her smile widening as she spotted her.
Su He saw the familiar figure in the living room and rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Why was he back?
Was she dreaming?
Lu Yanbei heard the movement behind him and slowly stood up.
Su He pinched her thigh hard and instantly woke up.
She wasn't dreaming!
Lu Yanbei had really returned!
"Honey~" Su He happily bounded down the stairs and ran into Lu Yanbei's arms.
Lu Yanbei reached out and caught his precious wife, holding her tightly.
"It really is you! Why didn't you tell me you were coming back early? I was planning to pick you up at the airport!" Su He hooked her arms around Lu Yanbei's neck and wrapped her legs around his waist, a rather ungraceful pose.
However, no one minded.
Especially Lu Yanbei, who greatly enjoyed Su He's warmth and forwardness.
"I came back as soon as I finished my business. It was too early, and I didn't want to disturb your rest, so I came straight here," Lu Yanbei said, stealing a kiss from her lips and patiently explaining.
Tang Jiaojiao came out of the kitchen and couldn't bear to look at Su He, who was clinging to her son-in-law like an octopus. "Su Su, Yanbei, come and have breakfast!"
Su He responded and then got down from Lu Yanbei.
"I didn't know you were coming, so I didn't prepare much. Just make do with what we have," Tang Jiaojiao said, looking at her daughter and son-in-law's loving interaction with great satisfaction.
"Aren't we waiting for Dad?" Su He asked curiously, looking around for any sign of Su Dazhi.
"He went out fishing with someone. Don't worry about him," Tang Jiaojiao replied while serving Lu Yanbei.
Su Dazhi had retired as soon as he said he would. Without his busy old days, he had recently become obsessed with fishing, leaving before dawn and returning in the evening.
His enthusiasm was comparable to when he was dating Tang Jiaojiao.
At first, Tang Jiaojiao was a little jealous, but later she felt it was good that he had something to do. At least he wasn't like other men, either goofing around outside or smoking and playing cards.
Fishing was a hobby that benefited both mind and body, a very good thing.
Occasionally, when she had free time, she would accompany him.
"You have no idea, your dad has gotten so addicted to watching people fish lately, he says he wants to apprentice, and nothing can stop him!"
"He stays by the lake all day, too lazy to even eat..."
"Fishing is good. Can we have some for dinner?" Su He said vaguely, taking a bite of a crab roe bun.
Tang Jiaojiao snorted. "With his skill, do you think he can catch anything? He's probably lost more on bait than he's caught!"
Su He laughed along after hearing that. "Then he really needs to learn properly!"
"Grandpa Lu also loves fishing. We can ask Dad to go with him." Su He remembered the elder living in the old house and thought about finding him a companion.
"That's a great idea!" Tang Jiaojiao nodded repeatedly.
Mother and daughter chatted and ate porridge. Lu Yanbei didn't find it noisy; instead, he felt that this kind of domestic atmosphere was life itself.
Immersed in this atmosphere, he finally felt a sense of home.
After the meal, Lu Yanbei helped Su He pack her luggage, and they returned home.
Tang Jiaojiao didn't keep them, but instead gathered a pile of local specialties from friends for them to take back. "This black chicken was raised by a friend's family. They say it's very nourishing."
"And this box of abalone was air-freighted in yesterday. It's very fresh. Take it back to make soup."
"Mom, that's enough, it's enough. The trunk is already full," Su He said, laughing and crying as she stopped her mother from stuffing more fruit into the car. "We can't possibly eat all this. It'll go bad."
"If you can't eat it all, take it to honor the elder! You haven't visited him in quite a few days, have you?"
Su He lowered her head guiltily.
She really hadn't been back much recently.
"Thank you, Mom. I just spoke with Grandpa on the phone. We'll go back this weekend," Lu Yanbei said, holding her hand to help her out of the situation.
"The old man is getting on in years and likes liveliness. In my opinion, you could completely bring the elder to live with you. Anyway, your house is big enough." Tang Jiaojiao, like many mothers, liked to nag.
Her mouth hadn't stopped until Su He and Lu Yanbei left.
Fortunately, both of them were filial and didn't feel annoyed.
Upon returning to their residence, Lu Yanbei closed the door and carried Su He to the bed. "I didn't sleep all night yesterday. Come sleep with me for a bit?"
Su He tenderly cupped his face and kissed him. "Sleep. I'll stay with you."
Lu Yanbei returned her kiss with a passionate one, embracing her as they drifted off to sleep.
Perhaps it was the comfort of being home, Lu Yanbei slept very soundly. Listening to his familiar heartbeat and steady breathing, Su He also slowly closed her eyes.
They slept embraced, waking up in the afternoon.
Su He woke up hungry.
It was winter, and energy was consumed quickly. She was hungry again before mealtime.
The man beside her was still fast asleep. Su He gently moved his arm, carefully slipping out of bed.
Su He glanced back at him. Seeing that he hadn't woken up, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"He must be really exhausted!" Su He thought.
She tied her hair up in a bun, deciding to go downstairs and prepare dinner for him herself.
During her stay at her parents' house, Su He occasionally helped with cooking. Although Tang Jiaojiao wouldn't allow it, saying the kitchen fumes were bad for her skin, Su He was too bored and learned to cook from the family's cook.
That cook, who reportedly used to work in a hotel, was an excellent cook. Not only were her dishes varied, but they also tasted good. Su He learned a lot while assisting her.
Today, she would have a chance to showcase some of the dishes she had learned.
When Lu Yanbei came downstairs, Su He was preparing the last dish.
Lu Yanbei leaned against the doorframe, watching the busy figure in the kitchen. The emptiness in his heart was instantly filled with happiness.
"Wife, you've worked hard!" Lu Yanbei stepped forward and hugged her from behind.
Su He, still holding a spatula, was startled. "I'm cooking. Go wash your hands first, and then help me take the soup pot off the stove."
Lu Yanbei, being ordered around, had no complaints and obediently followed instructions. "Yes, my wife!"
Su He gave him a playful glare, but a smile couldn't be suppressed at the corners of her lips.