GHLCS Chapter36

The weather was getting warmer. Chan Yi was sitting on a small stool doing needlework in the morning, and she kept muttering, “The Commander has been gone for seven days already…”

 

Coincidentally, today is the day Duan Yelin returns, and it is also the day Duan Zhanzhou and his group are preparing to move out of Qiyuan.

 

Xu Hang originally didn’t want to go to the train station, but Duan Zhanzhou both pushed and dragged him, so he had no choice but to follow him.

 

There was no one else in the train station. This train was for military personnel only. Apart from Duan Zhanzhou, Xu Hang, and Cong Lin, there was only a row of soldiers standing in the distance on the platform.

 

Following a long whistle, the rumbling train entered the platform with great momentum. Xu Hang looked at the dust raised by the rolling wheels and thought of himself when he had rushed here from Shucheng in a dusty manner.

 

Same itinerary, but a completely different state of mind.

 

With several empty carriages and Duan Yelin’s carriage positioned in the middle, the train took a long time to fully enter the station before coming to a stop.

 

Xu Hang stood motionless, staring at the train in a daze. Perhaps he was too at ease, completely unaware of the pair of hands slowly reaching for his back.

 

Suddenly, a powerful shove from behind sent Xu Hang stumbling forward, nearly colliding with the moving train!

 

Just as Duan Zhanzhou turned his head to gaze into the distance, he heard Xu Hang’s startled cry. His heart clenched with fear as he instinctively reached out, but he knew the distance was too great. If Xu Hang hit the train and tumbled onto the tracks, he would be caught between the wheels and gears—there would be no chance of survival!

 

At that critical moment, Xu Hang instinctively tried to shield himself with his arm, hoping to at least lessen the impact like a hero. But before he could react, a slender arm seized his and yanked him back!

 

Xu Hang was just inches from colliding with the train when the sudden force sent him off balance, causing him to stumble and fall. Fortunately, the hands behind him caught him just in time.

 

“Physician Xu, don’t get too distracted.” A low, hoarse voice, rough as an old chimney, murmured in his ear. It was the most unpleasant voice Xu Hang had ever heard—if evil spirits existed, their voices would probably sound just like this.

 

The volume was so low that only the two of them could hear it. Xu Hang turned his head and saw Cong Lin’s clown-like face.

 

“You’re not mute.” Xu Hang’s heart was pounding, and he also replied in a low voice.

 

Cong Lin forced a smile and said, “You and I are both pretenders.” After saying this, Cong Lin quickly withdrew his hand, stepped aside, and pretended to stand obediently.

 

Duan Zhanzhou rushed over and helped Xu Hang to his feet. “Are you alright? How did you just fall out of nowhere? You nearly scared me to death! If you died here, my brother would have dragged me straight to the railway tracks! Luckily, someone was there for you this time!”

 

Xu Hang glanced at Cong Lin out of the corner of his eye, then dusted off the dust on his body: “I didn’t sleep well, I feel a little dizzy.”

 

He wouldn’t betray Cong Lin because he already understood his intent—Cong Lin was warning him that if he revealed what he had seen, he would be killed.

 

As for the deeper meaning of the following sentence, whether it is a deliberate exploration or is truly based on confidence, it is still worth pondering.

 

At least he has understood that Cong Lin is not a hidden arrow but an open wolf[mfn]In this context, it typically refers to someone who is straightforward, bold, and not hiding their intentions, much like a wolf that is open and visible rather than secretive[/mfn].

 

The train went slower and slower, and finally, like an old horse, it let out a long sound and stopped completely. The door slowly opened, and a team of soldiers came out one after another.

 

The last one to come out was Duan Yelin. The stubble on his face had grown longer, and he was a little darker. He probably didn’t expect to see Xu Hang coming to pick him up, and his eyes lit up instantly.

 

Duan Zhanzhou went up to him and exchanged fistfights. Seeing his expression, he became proud and said, “What do you think? Aren’t I, as a little brother, very considerate?”

 

“Alright, I’ll give it to you.” Duan Yelin teased him with a smirk, removing his cloak and tossing it into his hands. He then turned to Xu Hang and asked, “What are you doing here?”

 

He had been gone for seven days, and for those seven days, he and Xu Hang had been in a cold war. Duan Yelin had spent that time calming down and reflecting. Eventually, he thought, Forget it. What can he do with Xu Hang’s personality? He can’t beat or scold him, so I’ll just have to bear it.

 

While in Shucheng, he ran into an old classmate he hadn’t seen in years. After having a drink, they talked about love between men and women. The classmate, now married, patted Duan Yelin on the shoulder and said that for a couple to stay together long-term, the key is tolerance. “You can’t marry her and then start disliking her for this or that. You have to tolerate her.”

 

They’re simple words, but the logic is true. There are so many people with good tempers in the world, but Duan Yelin only likes this one, so how can he not be patient?

 

Xu Hang coughed twice and said, “If you’re back, then go back quickly. Why are you standing here breathing in the dust?”

 

This was already a very good invitation from Xu Hang.

 

“Are you not angry with me anymore?”

 

Xu Hang asked back, “Aren’t you the one who’s angry?”

 

“Fine, it’s me, it’s me.”

 

Duan Yelin took Xu Hang’s hand and led him toward the direction where the car was parked. After walking for a while, Xu Hang glanced back secretly and saw that Cong Lin was standing too close to Duan Zhanzhou, which had annoyed him once more. As a result, Cong Lin was being harshly scolded by Duan Zhanzhou.

 

Later, when the convoy set off, Cong Lin was left alone at the train station, and Duan Zhanzhou did not let him get on the train.

 

Amid the rolling dust, the strands of hair hanging down in front of his forehead blocked his worried eyes and gloomy face.

 

While sitting in the car, Duan Yelin pulled out a small sachet from the inside pocket of his clothes, but he hesitated for a long time before taking it out. Xu Hang noticed with his sharp eyes and asked, “Is it for me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The fish ball incident from before still lingered between them, leaving a grudge, and Duan Yelin feared that the same mistake would happen again this time.

 

“Sachet?”

 

“Yes. It’s made of dried peony flowers.” Duan Yelin handed it to him. “I overheard what you said to Chan Yi last time, and I thought you might miss the peonies in Shucheng. So, I went there specifically to find a peony garden. This is the best quality one. If you don’t like it, just put it somewhere out of sight…”

 

As he was talking, Xu Hang tied the sachet to his collar. Because the sachet was made of white satin with a longevity pattern, it was neither ostentatious nor vulgar, and it suited him very well.

 

This simple gesture made Duan Yelin feel as if he were submerged in a hot spring, and the fatigue of the past few days disappeared. He didn’t even care that the driver was still in front of them and kissed Xu Hang on the lips.

 

Afraid that Xu Hang might be displeased, Duan Yelin didn’t dare to kiss too hard or too deeply. He simply made two quick circles, both inside and out, before pulling back. He wiped the water marks off with the back of his hand and sat up straight again.

 

Duan Yelin recalled another thing the old classmate had said: “A short absence is better than a new love.” And indeed, it seemed to be true.

 

He just hoped that this “new love” could last longer and longer.