Chapter 63: Escaping the Warm Harbor 2

The two of them stood in place, embracing for a while, feeling there was nothing left to say.

After the warmth faded and emotions settled.

Lin Qingya took the initiative to lift her face from Cheng Minghao’s chest.

She gently raised her right hand, softly wiping away her tears, tearstains, and tear marks.

“We should go back.”

She spoke, turning to walk down the road toward home.

They reached the curb together, waited for a taxi, and rode back side by side.

—

When they returned home.

Midnight.

The bedroom was dimly lit. Cheng Minghao was still in a deep sleep. Lin Qingya lay on her pillow, quietly opened her eyes, and studied Cheng Minghao’s face in the faint light.

She slowly raised her hand, as if wanting to touch his cheek one last time.

But she withdrew, forcing a bitter smile, then quietly slipped free from Cheng Minghao’s arms.

She rose from the bed with bare shoulders.

The silk quilt slid silently from her smooth skin as she braced both hands on the mattress, about to leave.

She turned her head again, glancing back at the sleeping figure.

After a silent moment, Lin Qingya leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the corner of Cheng Minghao’s lips.

A brief touch, then gone.

She smiled and slipped off the bed.

Sitting at the edge of the single bed, with her back to Cheng Minghao, she quietly began to dress.

Suddenly—

“Where are you going?”

The man who had been asleep spoke up without warning.

Hearing his voice behind her, Lin Qingya paused as she was fastening her bra.

She laughed softly.

“It’s cold. I’m putting on clothes to get up in the night. Otherwise, I’ll catch a chill.”

“Turn on the light.”

Cheng Minghao spoke as he lay on his side, facing Lin Qingya’s back, his expression emotionless.

“Oh~ Okay.”

Click~

The wall lamp flicked on, lighting up the room.

“Alright,” Lin Qingya continued, “I’m just getting dressed to go to the bathroom.”

She pulled on her underwear, then the clothes she’d taken off earlier in the day.

“The room’s warm enough. Do you need to wear your coat?”

Cheng Minghao asked calmly, watching Lin Qingya’s graceful figure as she dressed.

“Mm, yes. I like the feeling of being dressed.”

She replied softly.

“You don’t usually like wearing clothes.”

Cheng Minghao paused, then added, “Or you like certain… playful ones.”

“…”

Lin Qingya paused, halfway through pulling up her jeans, then turned abruptly and pressed a kiss to Cheng Minghao on the bed.

She leaned over, kissed him to comfort him.

“Alright~”

Lin Qingya forced a smile.

“I’ll be back soon. You go back to sleep for a bit. What do you want to eat tomorrow? We’ll buy it together.”

She stared intently at his face, as if she wanted to etch his gentle, calm expression into her memory.

After a moment’s hesitation.

“Tangyuan.”

Cheng Minghao replied.

“I remember during Reunion, we always ate tangyuan.”

“Tangyuan? Reunion?”

Lin Qingya suddenly turned, gaze drifting to the left as she stood.

With her back to Cheng Minghao, she rubbed the corner of her eye, trying to sound light and cheerful.

“That’s nice. Whenever you want tangyuan, just call me. Even if I’m at work, anywhere, anytime, I’ll come back right away.”

As she spoke, Lin Qingya smiled and added seriously,

“Remember—anytime, anywhere. If you miss me, just call, and I’ll return!”

“Did you remember?!”

Lin Qingya fixed her gaze seriously on Cheng Minghao.

“…”

Cheng Minghao was silent for a long time, then suddenly got up from the bed.

He began searching for things.

First, bank cards, papers with account numbers and passwords, then all sorts of Lin Qingya’s clothes for every season.

As he searched, Cheng Minghao explained,

“If you’re going out, take enough stuff. Don’t make things hard on yourself.”

“Running off with nothing… what kind of sense does that make?”

He spoke quietly, squatting on the ground with his face hidden in the shadow as he searched through the wardrobe.

Watching Cheng Minghao busily gathering things, Lin Qingya sat on the edge of the bed, her left hand stroking the mattress where they had shared so many moments.

She smiled softly, cherishing how much Cheng Minghao cared, understood, and looked out for her.

But as she smiled, tears slipped down her face.

Maybe some roads, no matter how beautiful the scenery, always have an end.

Has the station arrived?

How could someone lost in the scenery know?

Maybe it has, or maybe there’s another journey ahead.

Lin Qingya lifted her right hand, quietly wiping away the tears that had unknowingly fallen.

She walked toward the door.

“I’m going to wash up. Don’t bring too many clothes—I can’t carry them all.”

She explained.

“…Mm. Then take more money.”

Cheng Minghao replied from the floor, listening to Lin Qingya’s footsteps grow distant.

Her slippers went tap tap tap as she walked away.

When her footsteps finally faded, Cheng Minghao paused his frantic search.

He turned his face toward the door, facing the glow of the bedside lamp.

In the light, his face was shadowed, lips pressed thin.

Looking closer, there were no sparkling tears, only the red eyes and bitterness left by sorrow and reluctance.

He didn’t want to probe Lin Qingya’s secrets, or uncover her possible ‘wounds.’

If Lin Qingya didn’t want to say anything, if she chose to leave without taking anything—

If she had already decided to leave, even temporarily—

Rather than letting her go empty-handed, pretending she was just going to the bathroom, it was better to help her face reality.

He would help her prepare, at least so her journey would be a little easier, so she could feel a little more of his care.

Maybe, when Lin Qingya finally figured things out, or on a sudden impulse, she would come back herself.

Maybe she’d never leave at all.

—

In the bathroom.

Lin Qingya fixed her makeup, splashed her face with cold water, and looked at the damp hair by her right ear.

She smoothed her hair down, then smiled at herself in the mirror.

Come to think of it, this bathroom mirror was something Cheng Minghao had specially bought, so she could fix her hair and appearance.

Every part of the house was full of memories she wanted to hold onto.

If it weren’t for Cheng Minghao’s so-called ‘family’ threat, maybe she could have kept pretending and lived on in secret.

She calmed herself in the bathroom, lingering one last time, remembering the more intimate moments that happened in the small space…

Lin Qingya’s face flushed.

At least, she let herself go one last time.

But today…

She didn’t even know what day it was, or if it was safe.

She hadn’t made Cheng Minghao use protection; she just let it happen.

“…”

She walked out of the bathroom, lips pressed, face calm.

In the living room, Cheng Minghao had already packed a bulging pink backpack, waiting for her.

“…Where are you going?”

Facing each other—one standing, one sitting—they stared for a long time before Cheng Minghao spoke.

Lin Qingya hesitated.

“I don’t know. Maybe to the next city first, then… somewhere overseas I pick for myself. I haven’t decided yet. Just work hard and earn money. Wait for me…”

“When you miss me, call me back.”

Lin Qingya explained with a strained smile.

Cheng Minghao was silent for a long time.

“Why does it feel like the real problem is… me? Is there something I can’t get past?”

Lin Qingya was quiet for a while, then just smiled and shook her head, as if that was her answer.

“But I already miss you now.”

Cheng Minghao said.

“…Then… one more time?”

Lin Qingya understood what Cheng Minghao meant—he wanted her to stay.

But she deliberately licked her lips, then walked toward him with a hint of mischief.

She stood before Cheng Minghao.