Chapter 31 - An unexpected date
After passing a slight smile, Xi Song opened the door and lifted his hand. "First you."
Finally, seeing him after so many hours, Xingyue couldn't control her smile. She took steps forward and walked inside. While Xi Song locked the door again.
But as he turned forward, Xingyue threw herself at him. Her hands locked together around Xi Song while her head rested on his chest, peacefully hearing his heartbeats.
"I missed you a lot, Xi Song."
A tiny smile spread all over his face as he caressed her head, wrapping his hands around her waist. "I missed you too, Xingyue."
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In the blazing sunlight of the morning, all seemed relaxed.
Today, everyone was enjoying Sunday. A break from their tiring working life.
To enjoy this beautiful day, Xia Na went to her favorite bakery.
As usual, a lady bowed at her. "Good day, Ma'am. What would you like to order?"
"Same as always."
"Okay, Ma'am. Please, wait."
Nodding her head, she was humming some random songs, totally lost in her good mood.
Just then, someone shouted near to her ear, making her stunned.
"Boomp!"
"AGH!!"
Shouting, when she turned around, he started laughing at her. "Xia Na, you got scared so easily."
Placing a hand on her chest, she huffed. "LING XIAO! Do you want to die today?"
"What are you doing here?"
"We came to the bakery to eat sweets, of course. What are you doing here? I thought you'll be in the hospital."
Rolling his eyes, he scoffed. "Do you think doctors don't have their personal life? Would they work every day?"
Just as they were talking, the same lady came to them. "Ma'am, your order."
Her gaze then shifted to Ling Xiao as she immediately bowed to him. "Good day, Sir. What would you like to order?"
"Thank you. I came with this lady."
Staring at him with her piercing eyes, she quietly walked away and sat down in her daily spot. While Ling Xiao also followed her and sat opposite of her.
"What do you want, Ling Xiao?"
"A date."
"HUH?"
He rested her elbow on the table, staring deep into her eyes. "Don't forget about our bet. Xi Song and Xingyue made up already. So, there is no chance of divorce."
Upon hearing from him, her hands stopped at their spots when Ling Xiao gripped her wrist and fed himself the cake.
"Umm... Yummy. My girlfriend has the best taste in cakes."
With his intense flirting, Xia Na couldn't control herself. Her heart was popping out while her cheeks turned red.
"WHO IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND?" Turning her head around, she tried to avoid eye contact. But deep inside, she felt happy. As if she was waiting for this moment.
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Soon after she came out of the bakery shop, Ling Xiao also followed her. That made her feel annoyed.
She stopped walking and turned her head around. "What do you want now?"
"Where are you going now?"
"Nowhere."
His lips curved into a smirk as he grabbed her hand.
"What?"
"Let me take you to a place."
Confused, she had no choice but to follow him.
...............................................
He dragged her to an old-looking house filled with trees around it.
"Where are we, Ling Xiao?"
"Orphanage. It's the place where I felt the happiest."
He took a step ahead as Xia Na followed him. It was a traditional house where some old people took care of young kids.
Ling Xiao used to visit this place as people here treated him like their own family member.
As they came inside, some kids came running towards them.
Smiling, he squatted down and pulled the kids into a hug that made Xia Na giggle too.
"Brother Ling, we missed you so much."
There was an unusual glow on his face that no one ever saw. Though he acted cold, deep inside, he was warm for those kids.
"Ayo! I'm so sorry, Xiao Meimei. I'll visit you more often, okay?"
Her lips curved into an innocent smile when everyone shifted their gazes to Xia Na.
"Brother Ling, who is she?"
"It's your brother's girlfriend."
Upon hearing it, Xia Na got stunned while kids surrounded her with their lovely chuckles. "Sister-in-law!!"
Though she didn't want to admit it. Those beautiful kids were enough to make her admit it.
Ling Xiao and Xia Na spent some time with those kids and could really feel like a family.
They provided her with the warmth she needed. And that made Xia Na realize Ling Xiao differed from what she used to think of him.
Seeing him playing with kids and hugging them as if they were his own kids made her look at him from a different point of view. She could really feel her stress releasing.
...........................................
By evening, they had to return from there.
Although their heart was still there with them.
Both of them were quietly walking around the beach.
There was no awkwardness between them, just peace. As the wintertime grew, Xia Na was feeling cold.
Shivering, she wrapped her arms around when Ling Xiao noticed her.
Worried about her health, he took off his jacket and put it on her.
"Wear it, or else you'll catch a cold."
Her lips curved into a smile as she hummed. "Thank you."
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After walking for a while, both of them stood in one spot, just admiring the beauty of the sea.
The chilly breeze hit her face while caressing her hair strand back.
"Ling Xiao..."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for today. I can finally feel relaxed."
Still staring at the sea, he chuckled. "You know, whenever I saw those kids, I felt you don't need any power to stay happy in life. Just some people who understand you can make it better."
Turning his head, he leaned back. "They have no one, yet with each other, they felt so happy. As if they need nothing more than that. It was my favorite place. I hid from everyone... But now, you know that place too."
"Why did you only let me know about this place?"
Pausing for a while, he finally let it out. "Because I want you to know your true place in my heart..."