Chapter 108: A Reassuring Kiss (2)

At the moment Zhou Zhongshan saw Jiang Rou gently nod, he lowered his head and kissed her.

He claimed those soft, rosy lips.

The faint light in front of Jiang Rou was blocked by the man’s tall figure.

She was enveloped in the darkness created by Zhou Zhongshan, yet she did not feel afraid at all.

On the contrary, she felt extraordinarily at ease.

Unconsciously, Jiang Rou slightly parted her lips.

What began as a deep, forceful kiss from the man transformed into an intertwining of the two.

Her fingers, once again tense, clutched onto Zhou Zhongshan’s military uniform, her fingertips turning a light shade of pink from the pressure.

Compared to the moment before, her emotions had completely changed.

It was mostly due to shyness and frustration.

She could still catch a faint scent of gunpowder, but more than that, she felt the constant warmth radiating from Zhou Zhongshan.

This man was alive, fiercely present, with an indomitable spirit and vitality.

The flames of war had failed to take his life before, and in the days to come, it would surely remain the same.

…

Jiang Rou did not know when, but at some point, Zhou Zhongshan had carried her onto the bed and tucked her into the blankets.

Ever since they had begun sleeping separately from their two children, the bed had seemed much larger.

Zhou Zhongshan, reluctant to part, placed one last peck on her lips.

“Wife, I’m going to take a bath. Wait for me.”

The man got up, his towering figure turning off the light before striding out of the bedroom and heading to the bathroom.

Jiang Rou lay under the covers, surrounded by darkness that conveniently concealed her flushed body.

At that moment, she could hear the steady thumping of her own heartbeat inside her chest.

That night was long and filled with warmth.

…

The next morning.

“Xiaochuan, take care of your sister at home. I have to go out for a bit. Stay in the courtyard to play, and if anything happens, go find the aunt next door. I’ll be back soon.”

“I understand.”

After giving her instructions, Jiang Rou entrusted Zhou Xiaohua to Zhou Xiaochuan, picked up a bamboo basket, and stepped out the door.

Inside the basket was the remaining half of the Sesame Oil Duck she had specifically saved from the day before.

It was finally time to put it to use.

A short while later, Jiang Rou arrived at Song Qingqian’s doorstep.

The same spot as before.

She raised her hand and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

This time, Jiang Rou was certain she wouldn’t have to wait long for Song Qingqian to open the door.

Because Song Qingqian knew that if anyone else needed her, they would never knock on the door. Instead, they would go find He Donglai first and have him pass along the message.

In recent days, the only person who had knocked on their door was Jiang Rou.

And Jiang Rou was someone who did not know how to give up.

Last time, when Song Qingqian refused to open the door for such a long time, Jiang Rou had simply waited outside.

Now that she knew Song Qingqian was inside the house, she had no intention of leaving until she saw her.

She would keep knocking. Keep knocking. Keep knocking…

Song Qingqian had already witnessed Jiang Rou’s persistence.

To end this silent standoff sooner, she knew she should just get up and open the door.

Besides…

Last time, He Donglai had brought home the green rice cakes.

Song Qingqian knew that it was Jiang Rou who had made it.  

No one else had received an extra portion—only He Donglai did, and he had been told to take it home.  

Thinking of the green rice balls…  

Thinking of Jiang Rou’s gentle smile…  

This time, Song Qingqian opened the door much faster than before.  

With a creak—  

The wooden door swung open.  

Jiang Rou’s figure appeared before Song Qingqian, along with that same warm and completely non-threatening smile.  

When Jiang Rou looked at her, it was no different from how she looked at the others in the compound.  

As if she had never heard the rumors about her.  

As if she didn’t know about her questionable status.  

As if she didn’t understand why the others in the compound isolated and rejected her.  

Did Jiang Rou not fear that by associating with her, she too would be labeled the remnant of a capitalist family and be ostracized along with her?  

With doubts in her mind, Song Qingqian opened the door.  

She looked at Jiang Rou, her gaze still filled with arrogance.  

Ever since the Song family had fallen into trouble, it had been a long time since she had encountered someone who wanted to approach her like this.  

Song Qingqian was like a porcupine covered in sharp quills, rejecting any goodwill from others.  

“Why is it you again?”  

Song Qingqian frowned, sounding like she was complaining in irritation.  

But in the next second—  

Her expression changed in an instant, as if something had flashed before her eyes.  

It was an enticing aroma.  

Familiar.  

Mouthwatering.  

Though her expression remained tense, her nose twitched involuntarily.  

It seemed to be… Wenzhou Sesame Oil Duck!  

A nearly imperceptible ripple crossed Song Qingqian’s face.  

She knew that even the chef her family had employed in the past couldn’t prepare this dish well—they had always bought it from a specialty shop.  

How could someone as young as Jiang Rou possibly have such skills?  

Just as Song Qingqian was caught in disbelief—  

Jiang Rou got straight to the point.  

“I heard from Sister Yulan that you graduated from a fashion academy and know how to make clothes. I’d like to learn from you. This—” she lifted the dish she had been holding in her hands: “—is my gift for becoming your apprentice.”  

Song Qingqian’s eyes flickered as she lowered her gaze toward the basket.  

Sure enough, inside was a fragrant, glistening Sesame Oil Duck.  

For a brief moment, she was lost in thought.  

It was as if she had been transported back to the villa in Shanghai City.  

As if she were still in her warm, familiar home.  

Memories and the rich aroma intertwined.  

But the salty scent of the sea breeze quickly pulled her back to reality.  

She was no longer the daughter of a department store tycoon. Instead, she had become the daughter of a capitalist—someone everyone despised.  

The grand villa and her large family were gone. All she had now was a small house on this isolated island.  

Still in a daze, Song Qingqian furrowed her brows deeply.  

She refused: “I don’t—”  

“I’ve been carrying this all the way here. My hands are sore. Let’s go inside and talk.”  

Jiang Rou deliberately ignored Song Qingqian’s rejection. Holding the fragrant Sesame Oil Duck, she cut off Song Qingqian’s words before they could leave her lips and walked straight inside.  

The aroma of the Sesame Oil Duck was not only enticing, but it also stirred up too many suppressed emotions within Song Qingqian.  

So much so that she kept losing herself in her thoughts.  

By the time she snapped back to reality, Jiang Rou was already standing in the courtyard that she had carefully tended to.  

This time, Jiang Rou had truly stepped into Song Qingqian’s home.  

She could see everything more clearly.  

The courtyard had a pebble pathway, and beside it, in a broken clay pot, grew a single rose.  

A pale pink rose, blooming beautifully.  

This was a world that belonged solely to Song Qingqian.  

She was rejected by everyone, yet in this little world of hers, she bloomed like that rose—resilient and radiant.  

How could someone so beautiful and stubborn not be likable?  

…  

Jiang Rou took it all in, then stepped inside the house.  

Song Qingqian, however, was still in a trance.  

It had been the same with the millet last time, and now, with the Sesame Oil Duck, it was happening again.  

Time and time again, she had tried to reject Jiang Rou, but for some reason, when the words reached her lips, she could never say them.  

Jiang Rou always managed to take the upper hand.  

Like a cat caught by the scruff of its neck—  

She had no way to deal with Jiang Rou.  

At this moment, Song Qingqian still naively believed that it was Jiang Rou who had control over her.  

But in reality—  

This so-called helpless compromise—was it not, deep down, her yearning for the world outside?  

Song Qingqian was waiting for someone who could lead her out of this courtyard.