Chapter 11: If the Childhood Sweetheart Wants to Sleep Well, the Bamboo Horse Has to Suffer a Bit

When Cheng Jinghao came back, Lin Momo was already in her room taking a nap.

He chopped the firewood and neatly stored it in the empty room. After washing up, he entered the room and quietly watched Lin Momo sleeping soundly on the kang bed.

In his previous life, he was afraid of dying during missions and ruining her life, so he never dared to confess his feelings. Eventually, they lost touch.

But in this life, he had a “golden finger”—the spiritual spring water—and he wanted to be selfish just this once.

He hadn’t told Lin Momo about the situation outside of Southern Tibet. Because the Southwest Military Region was stationed there, Southern Tibet was the safest place in the whole Tibetan area.

Border conflicts were at their peak in this era. Even in later, more peaceful years, many of his comrades had died defending the border.

Bandits in the Tibetan area had only been wiped out a few years prior, and many of them had connections to the south. No one could guarantee how many hidden threats remained.

There were no special forces yet. In addition to being the company commander of First Company, his original self was also the leader of the Southwest Military Region’s combat team—essentially the equivalent of modern special forces.

“If Heaven has given us another chance to live again, I won’t let go this time,” Cheng Jinghao whispered. He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on Lin Momo’s forehead before leaving the room.

When Lin Momo woke up, Cheng Jinghao was in the kitchen making food.

“What delicious thing are you cooking?” Lin Momo asked, poking her head around his back.

“I steamed some egg custard and will stir-fry some greens later. If you want to eat something else, decide for yourself. Or I can go to the canteen and get some meat dishes?”

“No need. It’s too far—lazy to go,” she replied. She could just grab something from her mall (space) later anyway.

“Go change your clothes—it’s going to get cold soon.” Cheng Jinghao frowned when he saw how thinly she was dressed. Even in Southern Tibet, the temperature difference could be over ten degrees Celsius.

“Got it. Aren’t you just wearing one layer too?” Lin Momo pouted at him and went back to her room.

Cheng Jinghao smiled as he watched her leave.

After dinner, Cheng Jinghao asked Lin Momo to take out a big wooden tub from her space for bathing.

Watching the spiritual spring water flow from Cheng Jinghao’s fingertip, Lin Momo looked amazed.

“You’d better go into your space’s bathroom to wash, and prepare hot water. Rinse yourself several times,” Cheng Jinghao reminded her.

“Got it.” Once the tub was full, Lin Momo carried it into her space.

Half an hour later, she finally understood why Cheng Jinghao had told her to rinse several times.

Was that spiritual spring water? More like ditch water!

Another half hour later, she stepped out of her space, now wearing pajamas she had taken from the mall.

Since she had entered her space from the main hall, she reappeared there upon coming out.

Just in time to see Cheng Jinghao walking in from the backyard, shirtless and with wet hair—he had just finished bathing.

“Y-you—why aren’t you wearing a shirt?” Lin Momo quickly covered her eyes.

“How would I know when you’d come out? It’s not like you didn’t see it when we were kids. Come on, stop pretending. In your last life, you were a 28-year-old single woman. Never seen it in real life—what about on TV?” Cheng Jinghao pulled her hand away from her eyes.

“Heh. You know what, Cheng Jinghao, you’ve got a decent body. Eight-pack and everything.” Lin Momo laughed awkwardly and poked at his chest muscles.

“Hiss—” Cheng Jinghao grabbed her hand, stopping her antics. “Go to bed. Why are you wandering around in pajamas?”

“Stingy. Won’t even let me touch,” Lin Momo pouted but obediently went back to the room. Even though no one would be visiting at this hour, it was better to be cautious.

Seeing her behave for once, Cheng Jinghao sighed, picked up the cigarette pack on the table, and stepped outside.

When he came back, Lin Momo was already sitting inside the kang bed, hugging one quilt and watching him. Another quilt had been laid out near the outer edge.

“We’re really sleeping together?”

“What else?” Cheng Jinghao pulled on an army-green tank top and stepped onto the bed in slippers. “You afraid I’ll take advantage of you?”

“It’s not like that. I used to sleep with you when we were kids.” Lin Momo muttered, forgetting that was before they were eight.

“Go to sleep, the procurement truck leaves early, we have to wake up early.” Cheng Jinghao turned off the light, lay down, and closed his eyes.

“Okay.” Lin Momo stopped overthinking. The bed was so big, so she just needed to sleep on her side. She shouldn’t end up squeezing him off the bed, right?

The sound of steady breathing came from beside her. Cheng Jinghao opened his eyes, turned to his side, and, using the moonlight, looked at Lin Momo’s sleeping face.

How is she still like when we were kids, so carefree, without any guard? How did she become a manager at the mall?

There was a rustling sound beside him. Before Cheng Jinghao could react, a person had appeared in his arms.

“Momo?” Cheng Jinghao softly called her name.

“The blanket, it’s cold.” Lin Momo murmured, eyes still tightly shut.

Cheng Jinghao had no choice but to cover her with his own blanket. Could this habit of hers, not being able to sleep properly, follow her even through time travel?

Not long after covering her, Cheng Jinghao started to doubt whether sleeping together was the right decision.

Since they were both lying on their sides, Lin Momo’s leg was already pressing between his two legs.

“Lin Momo, am I here to repay you in this life?” Cheng Jinghao reached out and moved her leg away, but a few minutes later, she started squeezing again. Unable to get in, she kept muttering in her sleep.

“Ugh…” Cheng Jinghao let out a muffled groan. He was almost losing it. Lin Momo’s hand suddenly touched his abs.

With her face so close, Cheng Jinghao closed his eyes, refusing to look.

Her small hand was still playing with his abs, and Cheng Jinghao clenched his fist, eyes shut tightly. His mind wandered, recalling the crude words his comrades had said before and earlier today.

“I’m going crazy.”

In the end, Cheng Jinghao wasn’t sure when he fell asleep. His biological clock woke him up before dawn.

They were still in the same position from last night. Didn’t they used to roll around as kids? Why didn’t she move last night?

Cheng Jinghao moved his leg, but this woke Lin Momo up.

“Mmm…” Lin Momo opened her eyes and saw his handsome face. “Didn’t you sleep last night? Why do you have dark circles?”

“You’re awake? Get your leg off me.” Cheng Jinghao’s voice was hoarse.

“Ah.” Lin Momo only then realized she was already in Cheng Jinghao’s arms.

“Sorry, sorry. I don’t sleep properly.” Lin Momo quickly moved away from him.

“Phew.” Cheng Jinghao sighed in relief and quickly got up, not daring to stay any longer.

When Cheng Jinghao came back in, he was still wearing the military green vest, with steam rising from his body.

“Where did you go?” Lin Momo asked. In August, the mornings in southern Tibet were only in the teens, how could he be steaming like that?

“Took a shower.” Cheng Jinghao glanced at her.

“Taking a shower early in the morning? Are you crazy?”

“You have medicine.”

“Huh? Are you talking about the medicine from the mall? Are you not feeling well?” Lin Momo jumped out of bed and reached out to touch his forehead.

“Enough, enough.” Cheng Jinghao quickly stepped away from her. He didn’t want to take another shower this early.

Cheng Jinghao poured a cup of spring water, shaking off the fatigue from not sleeping much last night, then filled the thermos in the room.

“The thermos outside is just regular water, you drink the one in the room when you’re at home.”

“Okay.” Lin Momo nodded.

“I’m going to make breakfast.” After saying this, Cheng Jinghao put on a military shirt and left the room.