Chapter 41: Heart-to-Heart

Qin Lang said, “Do you remember the day we first met?”

“At that time, you had already been living in the Qin family for several days. During that summer vacation, I was training in the military with my father, preparing to apply for the military academy.”

“When I returned home, I saw a high school girl in a white dress and a high ponytail planting flowers in the yard.”

“My dad told me that this girl was named Lin You and that she would be my wife in the future. The moment I saw you, I was very pleased with your appearance, after all, you were prettier than any of my friends’ girlfriends.”

“Actually, from that moment on, I knew you would definitely be my wife.”

“The boys in the yard all knew that a girl had come to our house, and some said she was a child bride brought back by my mother from the countryside.”

“I knew that wasn’t true, but as a teenager full of pride, I loudly rebuked them, saying, ‘Don’t talk nonsense! She’s not a child bride, she will be my wife!’”

Qin Lang chuckled softly.

“My classmates laughed at me for being obsessed with my ‘wife.’”

“As time went by, you began to appear in public, and everyone gradually discovered your beauty and excellence not only in looks but also in your academic performance.”

“You had more and more friends, including some boys pursuing you. During that time, I was filled with jealousy and anger. One night, I even killed all the flowers you had planted with hot water.”

Lin You, hearing about something so long ago, nearly forgot it herself. She had planned to plant peonies in the yard, but one day she suddenly discovered that they had all died. Professor Song had said it was due to the unsuitable soil, never realizing it was his doing.

Qin Lang looked down and kissed her forehead, pulling her back into his embrace.

“When you were in high school, I had already gone to the military academy. I could only return home for a few days during holidays. At that time, I slowly began to understand what it meant to like someone. I always wanted to be alone with you, so I took you hiking, but I never thought your physical condition was so poor. After a few steps, you would get tired. That’s why when you finished the college entrance examination and your mother suggested you apply to the military medical university, I strongly opposed it.”

Lin You chuckled softly in his arms and burrowed in closer.

Qin Lang noticed her movement, lowered his head, and kissed her hair, asking, “Are you cold?”

Lin You shook her head.

He pulled her tightly into his embrace and continued, “Later, you left home to study at a medical university in City A. One time when I came to pick you up, I saw many male classmates around you. They were all vibrant and youthful, unlike me, I had a dark complexion, not particularly tall or handsome, and too mature.”

Lin You gently patted his chest and softly confessed, “No, I think you’re the best looking. I can’t stand guys who look like pretty boys.”

Qin Lang laughed heartily, and Lin You lightly punched him, signaling him to continue.

“When I heard you tell them I was your brother, I was actually very angry. So when you were nearing graduation, I tricked you into applying for your mother’s graduate program, bringing you back to her side. At that time, I also decided to marry you.”

“I never expected you would agree. During that time, I was really happy, happier than when I was selected for the special forces, because it meant we would be together more often and never be apart.”

“When we first got married, because of my special status, we didn’t have a proper wedding. I always felt I owed you something.”

“However, life in the military is very busy exercises today, training tomorrow, and missions on other days. That’s why our wedding night only happened when you graduated from your master’s program.”

“I always thought you were too young and was afraid to touch you, fearing it would scare you. The night you graduated, seeing you so happy with your classmates made me realize you had grown up and that there were suitors around you, so that day, I took you.”

“From that day on, whenever we were apart, I would start to think of you, wondering when this separation would end. Whenever I missed you to the point of madness, I would come here to watch the sunset and the sea, feeling like you were beside me.”

Lin You felt heartache hearing about his years of solitary longing. She had enjoyed the love and care of his parents for so many years but had never considered his loneliness and suffering.

She had always thought he didn’t like her, but he had long placed her in his heart.

To ease his worries, she buried her head deeply in his embrace and held him tightly.

Qin Lang gently lifted her head, gazing into her eyes, and said tenderly, “Yoyo, I love you, deeply, and I’ve loved you for a long time. The time you spent in the station has been the happiest days of my life because I can see you often.”

“In the past three years, I never considered your feelings. I only wanted to be close to you when I saw you because that was the only way to ease my longing and the ache of not having you by my side. Only when I truly held you did I feel you cared for me too. Yoyo, will you forgive me? Please?”

Lin You buried her head back into his embrace, and Qin Lang held her tightly.

“I’ve never truly been angry with you or rejected your touch. I’ve known since childhood that I would marry you, so I never dared to accept anyone else’s affection, feeling it would be unfair to you.”

“The time I spent in the station has been the happiest because I can feel your concern for me. As for Qiong Hua, it was caused by my lack of trust in you. I will never be silent again, nor will I ever hurt you without cause. I will wholeheartedly trust you.”

Lin You lifted her head and looked into Qin Lang’s dark, shining eyes, asking, “Qin Lang, will you give me this opportunity?”

Qin Lang didn’t expect her to say that. He was deeply moved, and his black eyes sparkled in the moonlight. He took out a jewelry box from his pocket and placed it in Lin You’s hands, urging her to open it.

When Lin You opened it, she found a pair of diamond rings.

Qin Lang carefully put one on her finger, saying, “Our previous rings are too old fashioned and not trendy anymore. This is a custom made set I had made for you. Do you like it?”

Lin You looked at the large diamond, sparkling in the moonlight, and threw herself back into Qin Lang’s arms.

He carried her to the car, preparing to head down the mountain.

Holding hands, they entered the room and found a birthday cake on the dining table. It was at that moment that Lin You realized it was her birthday.

Qin Lang emerged from the bedroom with a bouquet of Aisha roses, kneeling on one knee to wish her, “Wife, happy birthday. You are all I have in my heart.”

Lin You looked at the flowers in front of her, his words, and the ring on her finger, tears streaming down her face from the overwhelming emotion. She supported him to stand up and said, “I really like it. Thank you, husband.”

Qin Lang, upon hearing her call him that, could no longer contain the impulse he had been holding in all evening. He eagerly kissed her lips, exploring her mouth, not missing any corner, letting his breath fill every part of her.

Lin You responded with equal eagerness.

They kissed from the entrance to the sofa, then from the sofa to the bedroom, from the bedroom to the bathroom, and finally back to the bed.

The birthday cake that had been left on the table and the clothes strewn everywhere were testament to their fervor.

The bedroom was filled with the sounds of a woman’s gasps and a man’s low, suppressed voice.

“Wife, I love you.”

“Do you love me?”

“Husband, I love you too.”