Chapter 85: Spark

“Yaoyao, I have to leave tonight.”

Lu Qingyun’s voice was low, his eyes revealing a deep sense of reluctance. The time spent together always passed so quickly, fleeting in an instant.

He wished time could stop at this moment, allowing him and Yaoyao to be together forever, never to be separated.

“What time are you leaving?” Ling Yao looked at Lu Qingyun. Now she realized that she was reluctant to part with Lu Qingyun too.

“Nine o’clock departure.” Lu Qingyun glanced at the watch on his wrist, his mood heavy as he started the car. It was almost eight thirty now.

 After dropping Yaoyao off, he would have to leave her. He didn’t know when they would see each other again.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his gaze occasionally drifting to Ling Yao, his eyes filled with longing.

“Yaoyao, Jianfei told me you found your father?” Lu Qingyun knew that Ling Yao’s father was Ji Yanting.

 When he learned that the Ji family had repeatedly targeted her and her mother, his anger was almost uncontrollable.

He had almost gone to the Ji family to seek justice for them.

Ling Yao nodded slightly, “He came to find me and my mom.” At first, she thought Ji Yanting had abandoned them.

After spending time with him, she realized that he hadn’t had an easy time these past years. He had been searching for them desperately.

This persistence and dedication gradually dissolved her resentment, and she finally chose to forgive him and call him Dad.

“Is he good to you?” Lu Qingyun knew about Ji Yanting’s situation these past years. Since his injury, he had never left the house.

 Even at their family gatherings, Ji Yanting never attended.

“He’s pretty good.” Ling Yao thought of Ji Yanting and a faint smile appeared on her face.

Since Ji Yanting came to their house, her mother had been smiling more, and she looked radiant. And Ji Yanting was indeed a good father.

The car drove steadily along the dark road. It was quiet all around.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out from the side of the road like a ghost, breaking the silence.

Lu Qingyun quickly slammed on the brakes and quickly reached out a hand to shield Ling Yao’s forehead, preventing her head from hitting the windshield.

His action was so natural, as if he had practiced this protective move countless times in his mind.

Ling Yao looked at Lu Qingyun with gratitude.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll go take a look.” Lu Qingyun’s voice was calm and firm.

He reached out and gently squeezed Ling Yao’s hand, as if trying to transmit some strength and comfort through this brief contact.

“Okay.” Ling Yao nodded and gave him a gentle smile.

Lu Qingyun opened the car door and got out quickly.

He looked cautiously at the dark figure on the ground in front of him. He walked steadily towards it.

 As he got closer, he realized it was a small, injured dog.

 Its body looked so frail in the moonlight. It trembled slightly, as if it would die at any moment.

Lu Qingyun bent down and picked up the dog. He checked its injuries and found that its head was bleeding.

The dog seemed to sense his kindness and let out a weak whimper.

Ling Yao sat in the car, her gaze fixed on Lu Qingyun’s figure. She saw him walk back with a small bundle in his arms.

She looked closely and realized it was a thin little dog.

Ling Yao opened the car door and got out, “It’s injured?”

“It has a head injury. Let’s take it to the hospital first.” He didn’t know if the hospital treated animals.

“I have some medicine. Give it to me.” Ling Yao reached out to take the dog. The dog opened its eyes.

They were like blue oceans, watery and looking at Ling Yao with a hint of joy.

“Its eyes are blue.” Ling Yao was a little surprised.

Lu Qingyun leaned over and looked, “They are.” He had never seen a dog with blue eyes before.

Ling Yao held the dog and got into the car. She took a pill she had refined from her bag and put it near the dog’s mouth.

 She thought she would have to feed it to him, but the dog swallowed the pill in one gulp.

After eating the medicine, the dog rubbed against Ling Yao’s hand affectionately.

The ticklish feeling on her hand made Ling Yao laugh involuntarily, “You’re so good! I’ll give you a name.”

“Woof!” The dog barked happily, as if expressing its joy.

“What should I call you?” Ling Yao turned and looked at Lu Qingyun with a questioning gaze, “Brother Lu, help me think of a name.”

“Wangcai, or Goudan.”

Hearing those two names, Ling Yao rolled her eyes in exasperation.

The dog also barked in dissatisfaction. It didn’t want to be called such a rustic name.

Lu Qingyun gave an awkward smile. He thought to himself, “Don’t all dogs have names like Wangcai and Goudan?”

Ling Yao thought for a moment, her eyes lit up, “Then I’ll call you Xinghuo.”

“Woof! Woof! Woof!” Xinghuo barked happily, rubbing against Ling Yao’s arms affectionately.

Lu Qingyun glared at Xinghuo in dissatisfaction, feeling a little jealous, “I haven’t even rubbed against Yaoyao like that. This damn little dog!”

Lu Qingyun drove Ling Yao to her doorstep. He stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on her, as if he wanted to etch her image deep in his heart.

“I’m going.”

Ling Yao nodded slightly, her eyes revealing the same longing and reluctance. She opened her lips and said softly, “Be careful.

Call me when you get to the army.”

Lu Qingyun’s lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately he didn’t.

He took a step forward and pulled Ling Yao into his arms.

His embrace was broad and warm, as if he could shield her from all the storms.

 Ling Yao nestled quietly in his arms, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat.

The heartbeat was like a low drumbeat, pounding in her heart, making her feel incredibly safe.

At this moment, time seemed to stand still. They seemed to forget everything around them, only each other.

“Woof!” Until a dissatisfied bark rang out, they snapped out of it.

Lu Qingyun slowly released Ling Yao and looked down at her with tenderness and passion, “I’ll miss you.”

Ling Yao’s eyes began to well up. She sniffed and tried to hold back her tears. She smiled at Lu Qingyun, “I’m willing to be your girlfriend.”

“What did you say?” Lu Qingyun’s eyes lit up with joy. He looked at Ling Yao in disbelief. He had been waiting for this day for so long.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Ling Yao mischievously made a face at Lu Qingyun and quickly ran into the house.

Lu Qingyun stood at the door for a long time. When he could no longer hear Ling Yao’s footsteps, he walked towards the entrance of the alley, feeling happy.

Ling Xuemei saw Ling Yao come back with a dog. She frowned slightly, “Yaoyao, where did you pick up this dog?”

“I found it on the road just now. It was injured, so I picked it up. Feel it. It’s very good.” Ling Yao stroked Xinghuo’s head and handed it to Ling Xuemei.

“Woof!” Xinghuo barked in agreement. The dog is good. The dog never bites.

Ling Xuemei looked at Xinghuo, her eyes showing a hint of hesitation. Finally, she reached out and gently stroked Xinghuo’s head.

Xinghuo rubbed against Ling Xuemei’s hand and barked affectionately.

Ling Xuemei saw how well-behaved Xinghuo was and couldn’t help but laugh, “I’ll go get some food for it.”