Lu Huaihai had suffered several figurative “duds” in his exchanges with Xie Miao’er.
So when she threw something his way again, he instinctively caught it without any defense.
He didn’t expect that this time, it wasn’t a dud.
He was caught off guard by the explosion.
Lu Huaihai slightly raised his jaw. Normally composed and expressionless, this time, his surprise was evident.
“Xie Miao, do you know what you’re saying?” He fixed his gaze on her, attempting to discern her intentions from her eyes.
His gaze was complex, as if trying to strip her layer by layer until everything became clear. Xie Miao’er flinched and subconsciously shrank her neck.
Was she being too abrupt again?
But she just… couldn’t suppress her desire to embrace his living, breathing self.
In the few months of his absence, when she awoke from her long dream, the emptiness by her side left her restless. Even though he had returned, the hollow space in her heart remained unfilled.
She had initially planned that when he returned, the first thing she would do when she saw him was hold him tightly.
But their encounter under the shadow wall last night had been so sudden that Xie Miao’er wasn’t prepared at all. She froze stiff, and when Lu Huaihai stepped under her umbrella, all she could do was follow him in a daze.
Having missed the best opportunity, she couldn’t summon the courage again. But the thought lingered persistently in her heart. She was never one to hold back her words. Once he poked her, she finally said it aloud.
Since she’d already said it, Xie Miao’er wasn’t going to back down. Straightening her back, she solemnly declared, “I know.”
She knew exactly what she was saying.
She was asking him for a hug.
The atmosphere froze. Outside the window, the wind howled noisily, but no one in the room paid it any mind.
Lu Huaihai’s gaze remained dark and unfathomable, filled with emotions Xie Miao’er couldn’t decipher.
Suddenly, he let out a soft chuckle and casually spread his arms, a gesture of complete acquiescence.
Why was he laughing?! Xie Miao’er, trying to maintain her composure, felt her hands tremble. She extended her index finger and gestured, “Just once, just one time.”
It wasn’t clear whether she was explaining to him or mustering courage for herself.
After speaking, she closed her eyes, held her breath, and dove straight into his arms. Mindful of the injury on his back, she didn’t dare move her hands too much, only lightly leaning her weight against him.
Like a little mouse stealing lamp oil, she took a tiny taste and fled.
The warmth of their bodies didn’t even have time to seep through their clothes before she pulled away.
Xie Miao’er’s face was flushed, perhaps from holding her breath or from being embarrassed by her own boldness. Either way, she declared, “There, I hugged you.”
She had hugged the living General Lu!
Lu Huaihai raised an eyebrow and looked at her, his gaze growing darker and deeper.
If he were blind, he might’ve believed someone telling him that just now, it was the wind that crashed into him.
His voice was low and husky. “Come closer again.”
Still immersed in her excitement, like a pilgrim achieving enlightenment, Xie Miao’er didn’t have the spare mental capacity to analyze his expression. Her natural trust in him led her to step closer.
”Come closer,” he coaxed gently.
Xie Miao’er lifted her head in confusion. In the next moment, Lu Huaihai had suddenly closed the gap between them, his arm encircling her back tightly, forcing her to snap back to reality.
His movement was so abrupt that Xie Miao’er couldn’t react in time. Her forearms were caught between them, pressed against both their chests, unable to move.
She was far too delicate. Even through her winter clothing, her arms felt bony and stiff. Lu Huaihai frowned slightly, yet he kept holding her close while freeing one hand to patiently guide her arms down, placing them around his waist.
Xie Miao’er instinctively wanted to resist, but his firm grip gave her no chance. If she didn’t comply, he would simply take her hands himself and put them where he wanted them—at his waist.
Her heightened nerves amplified all her senses. She was no stranger to his presence after spending so much time together, but she had never been this close, never experienced him this vividly.
It all felt like a dangerous signal.
The proximity was overwhelming. Xie Miao’er’s heart pounded erratically, and her hands resting on his waist trembled slightly. Her gaze darted around nervously, avoiding his eyes. She wanted to lower her head, but as his arm tightened around her, lowering her head would only bring her face closer to his chest.
Lu Huaihai couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but he could feel her little, panicked movements in his embrace. Without anyone teaching him, he instinctively raised his hand and gently stroked her shoulder and back, attempting to calm her.
To her surprise, his clumsy yet gentle touch actually soothed her. She mustered her courage, stood on her tiptoes, raised her chin, and said with difficulty, ”I… can’t breathe…”
His embrace was too tight, enveloping her entirely in his warmth, making her head feel hot and dizzy.
Was she getting a fever? Xie Miao’er wondered hazily.
Her mind was becoming foggy, as if it were slipping away.
If she could turn back time, she would never dare provoke him again.
But, but… Xie Miao’er also thought, even though his embrace was so tight, it wasn’t unpleasant.
Perhaps, staying like this for a little longer… wouldn’t be so bad.
Hearing her words, Lu Huaihai reluctantly loosened his hold just a little, allowing the cool strands of her hair to rest against his neck and ears, stirring the remnants of his rationality and sending them scattering to the wind.
Lu Huaihai thought, he was clearly not some virtuous man immune to temptation.
After all, she was already his, in name and in truth. Whatever passion and sincerity she offered, no matter the reason, he would accept it all without hesitation.
She was the one who came to him.
Lu Huaihai lowered his head slightly, finding her delicate face so close. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her long lashes casting a dense shadow on her cheeks, as if she were troubled by something.
He said, ”This is what a real hug is like. Do you understand?”
Xie Miao’er obediently nodded, her voice already soft and delicate: ”I understand now.”
Hearing this, Lu Huaihai ruffled her hair in satisfaction before finally letting her go.
Xie Miao’er wasn’t just soft in voice; her limbs had gone completely weak from his embrace. The moment he released her, she staggered back several steps.
When she came back to her senses and saw Lu Huaihai’s calm and composed demeanor—even sitting down leisurely to scoop up a bowl of porridge—she suddenly felt utterly humiliated.
It was clearly her who had taken the initiative, so how did he end up holding the upper hand? She couldn’t understand!
With a sour tone, she said, ”Hmph, looks like you’re naturally talented at this. Since you’re already fine now, there’s no need for me to take care of you anymore. I’m leaving.”
Hearing this, Lu Huaihai’s hand paused, and the porcelain spoon clattered into the bowl with a soft thud.
Xie Miao’er tilted her head in confusion, staring at him. Lu Huaihai looked at her with a serious expression and said solemnly, ”I’m injured. I have no strength.”
This time, even Xie Miao’er, as naïve as she was, could tell he was deliberately teasing her. She shot him a glare and said, “Then don’t eat it! You don’t even like it anyway.”
Her puffed-up cheeks made her look so adorable that Lu Huaihai felt an itch to poke her. However, he had already teased her plenty today, so he managed to restrain himself.
When the afternoon dragged on, Lu Huaihai had something to attend to. He was just about to explain his plans to Xie Miao’er when she suddenly lifted the hem of her skirt in a hurry and headed for the door.
Lu Huaihai stopped her and said, ”I’m heading out.”
Xie Miao’er responded with a casual ”Mm,” and then added, ”Alright, I’m going to find Sister Zhu’er (Lu Baozhu).”
Lu Huaihai had been contemplating whether to take her out for a walk that afternoon, but it seemed unnecessary now.
Xie Miao’er gave a bashful smile and said, ”Young Master, I’ll be taking my leave then!”
With that, she scurried off, leaving Lu Huaihai behind without the slightest hesitation.
From a distance, Lu Huaihai thought he heard her stifling a giggle.
His lips twitched, and he left as well.
—
By evening, it began snowing again. This time, the falling snowflakes were no longer the half-hearted mix of snow and rain from before. Instead, large, fluffy snowflakes descended gracefully, turning the world into a silver-clad dreamland.
Xie Miao’er, emboldened by her now-healthy body, indulged in the snow outside the courtyard. She didn’t even bother with an umbrella, letting the snow fall freely into her hair.
In the end, it was Lu Huaihai who, with a dark expression, dragged her back inside.
However, that night, after helping him change his bandages, Xie Miao’er adamantly refused to stay any longer.
With a righteous tone, she said, ”Last night, I stayed because I was worried you’d develop a fever during the night. Young Master, since you’re fine now, I’ll be going back. Goodbye!”
This was the second time today that she had said goodbye to him.
Lu Huaihai, feeling rather displeased, simply replied, ”Alright.”
Xie Miao’er didn’t notice what was on his mind; she had her own plans.
The snow was falling heavily now, and in about an hour, it would likely accumulate enough for her to build a snowman in her own courtyard.
She couldn’t stay here, lest he drag her back inside again.
It was fortunate that Lu Huaihai didn’t know he had already lost to her younger sister earlier in the afternoon and was now losing to a snowman. Otherwise, he might have been even more frustrated.
As soon as Xie Miao’er left, the room felt noticeably colder.
The sudden drop in atmosphere left Lu Huaihai unaccustomed.
People are inherently greedy. Just half a year ago, Lu Huaihai wouldn’t have cared at all about not speaking unless it was necessary with his colleagues. But now, after experiencing her warmth, he found the current silence suffocating.
Lying on the bed, Lu Huaihai tossed and turned, unable to find peace. He felt like something was missing by his side.
Perhaps she really cast some kind of spell on me, he thought, sighing softly as he grabbed his coat and quietly headed out.
He told himself that by this hour, she was probably already asleep.
Just one glance, that’s all.
The snow-covered night was quiet, and the paths were slippery with accumulating snow, making them harder to traverse. But for someone like Lu Huaihai, who had marched through far worse terrains, a bit of snow posed no challenge.
From a distance, he noticed that the lights in Xie Miao’er’s courtyard were still on.
The sound of silvery laughter grew louder and clearer as he approached.
What is she up to? Lu Huaihai quickened his steps, curiosity brimming.
—
Footnotes:
- “Dud (哑炮)” referring to a firework or explosive that fails to go off. Metaphorically, it describes attempts or actions that end in failure or achieve no result.