Chapter 7: Boarding the Train

Lying in her mother’s arms, Lin Momo had the sweetest sleep she’d had in years. In that moment, all the motherly love she had missed over the past eight years was finally filled.

The next morning, Cheng Jinghao arrived early, accompanied by his parents. They had come to see the young couple off at the train station.

Lin’s parents went along as well. By the time they arrived at the station, Lin’s brother and sister-in-law were already waiting there.

“Didn’t I tell you not to come?” Lin Momo couldn’t help but cry when she saw them.

In her previous life, she had been an only child. But in just a few days, this family had given her feelings she’d never experienced before.

“We couldn’t bear to see you off just once, so your sister-in-law and I agreed to come again,” Cao Shulan said with a smile, though tears were already rolling down her cheeks. After marrying into the Lin family for a few years, she had truly come to see Lin Momo as her own sister.

“Remember to write to us,” Zhang Hui said, gripping her hand tightly, tears streaming nonstop.

“Okay,” Lin Momo nodded through her tears.

Cao Shulan couldn’t stand to see her cry and, crying herself, gently wiped away Lin Momo’s tears with a handkerchief.

Seeing the warm relationship between the three Lin women, Cheng’s mother nodded to herself. The more she saw, the more satisfied she was with her daughter-in-law.

“Take good care of Momo. If I find out you mistreat her, just wait until you get back—I’ll deal with you then,” Cheng’s mother said to Cheng Jinghao.

“I will,” Cheng Jinghao promised. He pursed his lips as he looked at Lin Momo, who couldn’t stop crying.

“Jinghao, we’re entrusting Momo to you,” Lin’s father and brother said, handing her over. Cheng Jinghao nodded earnestly.

“Remember what I told you: protecting the nation is the duty of every man,” Cheng’s father looked at him meaningfully.

“Yes, sir.” Cheng Jinghao stood straight and gave a solemn nod.

The train was about to depart, and the conductor had already begun urging passengers to board.

Carrying his military backpack, Cheng Jinghao had one hand pulling Lin Momo, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and the other hand holding her two suitcases. He also had bags of dry food prepared by both mothers slung over his shoulder.

“Stop crying, or you’ll flood the whole train car,” he said, settling her into a lower berth once they boarded. Fortunately, they had the whole sleeping compartment to themselves.

“Cheng Jinghao…” Lin Momo sniffled, looking at him.

“I’m here. What is it?” Cheng Jinghao pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

“My heart hurts…”

“Have some candy. White Rabbit milk candy—it’s from this era, and the flavor is rich.” He pulled out a piece from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.

“More,” Lin Momo said, eyes shining as she sucked on the candy.

“There’s more, there’s more,” Cheng Jinghao said, pulling out another piece and feeding it to her again.

“Mmm…” Lin Momo finally looked satisfied, cheeks puffed as she covered her mouth, afraid the candy might fall out.

“Feeling better now?” Cheng Jinghao smiled helplessly. This habit of hers hadn’t changed a bit over the years.

Mouth full of candy, Lin Momo couldn’t talk, so she just nodded.

“You’ll sleep in the top bunk tonight—it’s safer. I’ll stay below to keep watch,” Cheng Jinghao said as he arranged the luggage.

“Okay.”

“Momo.”

“Hmm?” Lin Momo looked up at him.

“The conditions in the military district are tough, but don’t worry — I’ll do my absolute best to make sure you live well.” Cheng Jinghao suddenly turned to look at her.

“Mm.” Lin Momo nodded vigorously, a piece of candy still in her mouth.

Although the two of them had grown up together since childhood, it was usually her bullying him. On the contrary, Cheng Jinghao had gotten into quite a few fights with other kids because of her.

Finally, after Lin Momo finished her candy, Cheng Jinghao handed her a mug of water.

“You didn’t go out to get water?” Lin Momo looked at him curiously.

“Drink it. The road is long, I was worried it’d be too much for you.” Cheng Jinghao pushed the mug closer to her.

Lin Momo instantly understood — this was spiritual spring water. She immediately picked up the mug and drank.

“So sweet,” she murmured after taking a sip, and quickly finished all the water. She instantly felt her body lighten, as if the fatigue from earlier in the morning had vanished.

“This is good stuff,” she couldn’t help but sigh.

“Cheng Jinghao, what’s the military district like? Are we living in a courtyard house or…” Lin Momo asked curiously, unsure how to describe the buildings in the border region.

Cheng Jinghao sat beside her and looked at her. “The house was something I applied for before I came back. It’s a newly built courtyard, not long finished. Before I returned, I had already asked my comrades to help tidy it up — we can move in right away.”

“I haven’t interacted with any military families before, but don’t worry — with me here, we won’t cause trouble, and we won’t be afraid of it either.”

“Mm.” Lin Momo nodded at his words.

“Isn’t it really dangerous when you go on missions?” she asked, glancing at him. Her understanding of these things came only from novels and TV dramas.

“Momo, I’m a soldier.” I was in my last life, and I still am in this one.

Lin Momo looked at him. Most of her memories of Cheng Jinghao were from before she turned 18.

After he joined the army, he would occasionally update her via text, but mostly she was the one talking, and it would take a long time for him to respond.

After both of their parents passed away, he rushed back to help her with the funeral arrangements. Soon after, someone came to take him away — she only found out later that he had joined the special forces.

Later, she got busy with school and work, and they lost touch more and more. But every birthday and holiday, Cheng Jinghao never failed to send her a message and a red envelope.

If not for that massive fire, and Cheng Jinghao suddenly appearing before her, she had no idea when they might’ve seen each other again.

“Cheng Jinghao, do you know? After Dad, Mom, and Uncle and Auntie passed away, I wanted so badly for you to hug me… but you just left.” Lin Momo suddenly burst into tears.

As if she were finally releasing eight years of sorrow from her past life — all the hardship she had endured alone.

“Momo, I’m sorry.” Cheng Jinghao looked at her helplessly. He wanted to reach out and hug her but was afraid she would push him away. In the end, he could only clench his fists.

“But why did you have to die with me?” The original sadness and resentment turned to the last scene of their past life — fading into nothing.

“Momo, listen to me. I’m a soldier — I have my duty. I was wrong in our last life; I shouldn’t have left you behind. In this life, I’ll protect both my country and you, okay?”

In his previous life, Cheng Jinghao had been recruited by the special forces as soon as he joined the military. Due to closed training, he had few opportunities to communicate with the outside world and nearly lost his girl.

Since Heaven gave him another chance, this life — he wanted both his country and Lin Momo. Even though this girl didn’t yet understand his feelings for her, at least he could stay by her side now, couldn’t he?

Lin Momo sat up from his arms and blinked at him. What did he mean by that? Why did it sound so awkward?

Cheng Jinghao averted his gaze. “Do you want an egg? My mom boiled some and sent them with me.”

“You eat the yolk, I’ll eat the white.” As expected, Lin Momo’s thoughts were immediately derailed.

“Okay.” Cheng Jinghao took out a boiled egg from a small bundle and began peeling it. Ever since they were little, Lin Momo never ate the yolk — only the whites.