Chapter 23: Return

At the gate of the military family compound, Cheng Jinghao and Zhao Zhigang had just completed their mission report and were heading home.

“Old Zhao, support me a bit.” Cheng Jinghao draped his arm over Zhao Zhigang’s shoulder.

“But didn’t you just say you’re fine?” Zhao Zhigang gave him a confused glance. Just moments ago, Cheng Jinghao had been walking energetically, but now he looked as if he had been severely injured.

“Make sure to have my wife come out to help me later.” Cheng Jinghao patted Zhao Zhigang’s shoulder.

Zhao Zhigang finally understood.

“I was wondering why you insisted on wearing that mission gear. So this is the plan, huh?”

“Heh heh.”

Meanwhile, at home, Lin Momo was busy knitting a sweater for Cheng Jinghao.

There was a knock at the gate.

“I’m coming!” Lin Momo opened the gate to find Zhao Zhigang supporting Cheng Jinghao, who was covered in mud and blood, his eyes slightly closed.

“What… What happened?” Lin Momo was so startled that she stammered.

“Little sister-in-law, come on, help him.” Zhao Zhigang pushed Cheng Jinghao toward Lin Momo and then turned away, leaving to take care of his own wife.

“Cheng… Cheng Jinghao.” Lin Momo helped him into the house.

She didn’t care about the dirt on him, quickly helping him onto the bed.

“You… you’re hurt?” Lin Momo looked at Cheng Jinghao, who seemed to be covered in injuries, unsure where to begin.

Hearing the quiver in her voice, Cheng Jinghao opened his eyes and instantly felt guilty.

“Mo Mo, I’m fine, don’t cry.” He sat up quickly, realizing that he had messed up.

Lin Momo stared at him, dumbfounded. Just a moment ago, he seemed so weak, but now he was sitting up, and everything clicked into place.

“Cheng Jinghao, are you out of your mind? You scared me to death!” Lin Momo suddenly burst into tears, crying loudly.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Cheng Jinghao scrambled to wipe away her tears.

“I think you’re the one with the problem.” Lin Momo punched him with all her strength.

“Ugh.” Cheng Jinghao groaned in response.

Lin Momo stared at him, tears still hanging on her face. “Are you really injured?”

“I’m fine, just small injuries.” Cheng Jinghao gave a faint smile.

“Let me see.” Lin Momo reached to pull up his shirt.

“Mo Mo, don’t.” Cheng Jinghao tried to dodge her hands.

“Don’t move!” Lin Momo’s voice was firm, and Cheng Jinghao immediately stopped moving, sitting still on the bed.

Lin Momo began to unbutton his shirt. She saw a large bruise on his chest, likely from being struck by a heavy object, and many scratches on his body.

Lin Momo bit her lip, and her loud crying earlier became silent, replaced by steady tears.

She suddenly understood what Cheng Jinghao had meant when he said, “I’m afraid I can’t give you a lifetime.”

“Mo Mo, don’t cry. I have spiritual spring water; it’s just that I’ve been with Old Zhao for the last few days and didn’t have a chance to use it.”

He wasn’t lying; Zhao Zhigang had seen him get injured, and these injuries, to them, were nothing serious.

Cheng Jinghao had been soaked through in the rain, so he grabbed a pillow to help Lin Momo wipe away her tears.

Lin Momo’s tears flowed like a broken dam, unstoppable no matter what.

“Mo Mo… don’t cry, it breaks my heart,” Cheng Jinghao said, holding her.

“Cheng Jinghao, I… I like you. I really like you,” Lin Momo cried, throwing herself into his arms.

“Momo, I…” Before he could finish his sentence, the two of them disappeared from the room together.

On the first floor of the space mall, they stood in an embracing position.

[Ahem, could you two separate for a moment?]

A water droplet-shaped entity floated in front of them.

“Who are you?” Cheng Jinghao instinctively placed Lin Momo behind him.

[I am the one who gave you that jade, the one that holds your spiritual spring.]

“Did you bring us to this world?” Lin Momo, who had read countless novels about time travel, finally asked.

[Yes.]

“So what is our mission?” Cheng Jinghao asked directly.

[This is a parallel time and space in Huaguo. Let me show you the lives of both of you.]

On the large screen on the first floor of the mall, the brief lives of the two hosts began to play.

Cheng Jinghao’s life ended at the age of 28, sacrificing himself in a border conflict. He had already become the youngest regiment commander in Huaguo.

Lin Momo’s life ended at the age of 21, when she went to the Tibetan region to help with its construction. She died in a snowstorm while saving several Tibetan children.

“Since we’re here, does that mean they will survive their respective fates?” Lin Momo asked.

[Yes.]

“Then what do you need us to do?” Cheng Jinghao eyed the droplet.

It couldn’t be that they were given a chance to live again without any reason. After all, they had both died in that time and space.

[Follow your hearts, Colonel.] The droplet addressed Cheng Jinghao by his former military rank.

[From now on, both of you can access this space. You can also use the spiritual spring water.]

[However, from now on, only the first and second floors of the mall will be open. The other floors will be closed. What happens next depends on your actions and opportunities.]

[If you use the spiritual spring and space for actions that harm this country and society, the spring and space will disappear immediately.]

[Alright, I’m done speaking. You can continue with your hugging and kissing.]

As soon as the words were spoken, the droplet turned into a spiritual spring, located in the center of the mall on the first floor, resembling an indoor fountain.

The two of them were instantly transported back to the room, still in their previous embrace.

“…!” Lin Momo quickly realized and hurriedly pulled away from his embrace.

“Momo.” Cheng Jinghao, of course, would not let her go so easily. He held her tightly in his arms again.

“Momo, in this life, let’s not miss each other again, okay?”

Lin Momo stayed in his arms without saying anything, just quietly listening to the strong beat of his heart.

“In this life, I’ll hold your left hand, salute with my right, defend the country, and protect you.”

Lin Momo looked up at his eyes. His dark and deep gaze was full of sincerity and hope.

“Okay.” Lin Momo nodded, agreeing.

“Heh.” Cheng Jinghao smiled happily, like a child.

“You look silly.” His expression made Lin Momo laugh too.

Lin Momo took out some ointment from the medicine store. Luckily, the mall’s pharmacy was on the first and second floors. She also took a bowl of spiritual spring water and handed it to Cheng Jinghao.

Actually, if Cheng Jinghao used the spring water to soak his wounds, they would heal instantly.

But since Zhao Zhigang and the rest of the team had seen him injured with their own eyes, he couldn’t allow them to suspect anything.

“There’s hot water in the pot. Go wash yourself and apply the ointment.” Lin Momo placed the ointment on the bed.

“Aren’t you going to help me apply it?” Cheng Jinghao looked at her with a slightly aggrieved expression.

“Go wash yourself quickly!” Lin Momo urged.