To My Dear Mr. Huo

“I got it.” Su Qingsang’s face was a little red. She leaned closer into Huo Jinyao’s chest. “Don’t you worry. I am not the type of person to subject myself to the short end of the stick.”

If she were that type of person, she would not have defended herself when Li Qianxue came looking for her.

“Is that so?” Huo Jinyao did not quite buy her words. Based on her personality of preferring to keep peace and avoid conflicts, she must have gotten her fair share of grievances when she was living in the Su Family.

Let bygones be bygones. In the future, Huo Jinyao would never allow her to suffer any more pain.

Su Qingsang buried her face in his chest, inhaling the masculine scent that emanated from his body. Out of the blue, she started to laugh.

“What are you laughing about?”

“It’s nothing.” Su Qingsang was thinking about the look on Li Qianxue’s face when she was infuriated with her yesterday. “Actually, I did fight back yesterday.”

It was just that her act of defiance was not obvious.

Meeting Huo Jinyao’s searching gaze, she told him about the gift she had casually given away yesterday.

Her laugh had a bit of smug satisfaction. She resembled a little fox that had gotten away with a deed of mischief. “I assume that all through her life, she had never received such a casual gift.”

Huo Jinyao took a minute to imagine Li Qianxue’s expression at the moment of receiving the gift and then he looked at Su Qingsang, who had no intention of hiding her amusement.

He reached out to pinch her cheek. “Look at you.”

“You also think that it’s hilarious, right?” Su Qingsang stuck out her tongue. “Will you stop being mad now?”

He was never mad. He was just slightly bothered by the fact that she had kept him in the dark about certain information. He swept her up stealthily. His voice was very soft.

“I’m still mad, very mad. If you do not wish me to be mad, you should do something to appease my anger.”

The look of smug satisfaction on Su Qingsang’s face disappeared at once. “There is no need for that, right?”

“What do you think?” Huo Jinyao had no intention to let her off the hook. “You have worn the kitten costume, but not the little rabbit’s one. Try it on today.”

“Stop that.” Su Qingsang suddenly became terrified. “My waist is still sore from last night.”

Huo Jinyao gave her a grieved look; the expression on his face seemed to be one of disappointment. “You should take better care of your health, darling.”

“My health is fine.” Su Qingsang intensified her tone of plea the instant her body came in contact with the bed. “It’s just that you’re too capable.”

Huo Jinyao supported his own weight with one hand as he looked at Su Qingsang’s pleading expression.

He suddenly recalled how Xiang Caiping had hummed and hawed to him about how he should practice some form of restraint, and also told him about how Su Qingsang is in a poor physical condition, and might not be able to endure their throes of passion with such intensity.

“Are you really tired?”

“I am really tired.” Su Qingsang was biting her lips and looked serious about negotiation. “Will tomorrow do?”

Huo Jinyao looked at her and eventually decided not to pursue his request. He turned over and lay beside her on the bed.

Su Qingsang heaved a sigh of relief. She could not help but look at him again and realized that Huo Jinyao was also looking at her.

His eyes reflected depth and clarity, like the stars in the night sky. Su Qingsang had to admit that no matter how many times she looked at him, she would always be smitten by his handsome face.

She propped herself up on her elbow and moved forward to kiss his cheek.

Huo Jinyao lowered his voice significantly, and said, “Don’t you entice me now, or else I cannot guarantee that I will be able to keep my hands to myself.”

Su Qingsang instantly grew silent. She made a ‘zipping’ motion on her lips and speedily got off the other side of the bed.

“I am going to take a shower.”

Looking at the tightly shut bathroom door, Huo Jinyao could still feel the burn of deep desire within his body, but the flames have been substantially tamed.

He thought about what Su Qingsang had said and felt that it was a good idea to return to Rong City.

Since there were still two weeks left, he could use the opportunity to settle the work and issues here that still needed his attention.

Grandfather would be really happy about them returning to Rong City, wouldn’t he?

Su Qingsang had made the decision to go to Song City for the medical exchange program, and also had many things that she needed to pack.

The hospital management had allowed the participants of the program to go home to pack for their trip a day earlier. The flight to Song City the next morning was scheduled for takeoff at 10:30 AM. The participants had the choice to go to the airport by themselves or head to the hospital to take the transport provided by the administration.

Su Qingsang would be gone for two weeks once she left. Huo Jinyao had been considerate enough to allow her a good rest the previous night, but he had no intention to hold in his desire today anymore.

He only let Su Qingsang go after making passionate love for a considerable amount of time.

The next day, Su Qingsang could not even open her eyes. It was Huo Jinyao who carried her off the bed. He was well aware that he had gone overboard the night before.

He carried her into the bathroom and was only a step away from helping her to take a shower.

Xiang Caiping stood in the living room and looked at Su Qingsang as she pulled her luggage along to head out of the house. Xiang Caiping wanted to say something but stopped herself.

If it was not for the fact that Su Qingsang was going for a work exchange program, she really felt like tagging along.

“Mother, I am leaving now.”

“Did you pack enough clothes? Do you have everything you need? What is the weather there like? Did you put an umbrella in your bag? What if it starts to snow there?”

“Mother,” Su Qingsang placed a hand on her forehead. “I have everything I need. Song City’s weather is a little warmer than in Lin City. I have packed an umbrella. It will not snow over there, don’t you worry.”

“That is good to hear. That’s alright then.” Xiang Caiping was still worried. “You have to take good care of yourself when you are there. Don’t make yourself too busy. No matter how much work you have, your health is still more important.”

Su Qingsang had been alone all these years, including when she was pursuing her studies or traveling abroad.

After marrying Huo Jinyao, she was no longer alone, but he had been more a man of actions than someone who fretted and worried. It was the first time she had someone to remind her what she should take note of when she was going to travel.

She could not help but step forward to give Xiang Caiping a hug. “Mother, I am really not a child anymore. You can be assured that I will take good care of myself.”

“That’s good to know. That’s good to know.” Xiang Caiping kept repeating these words. She felt an ache and comfort in her heart at the same time.

Su Qingsang knew that if she were not around at home, Xiang Caiping would definitely let her thoughts run wild more easily. It was better to look for something to occupy her time.

“Mother, didn’t you mention previously that you know how to make preserved meat, sausages and the likes of those? I have observed that the weather in Lin City these few days has been pretty good. If you have time on your hands, why not make something delicious that we can all have when I return?”

“Sure, sure,” Xiang Caiping seemed to be in a better mood at once. “I know how to make both preserved meat and sausages. I also know how to make smoked beef jerky. If you like them, I will make some of each.”

“That sounds fantastic.” Su Qingsang gave Huo Jinyao a conspiratorial wink as she spoke. “Jinyao loves to eat those too, so we will trouble you if you don’t mind.”

“That is no trouble at all.” Xiang Caiping could not wait to do something for her daughter and was, in fact, eager to begin.

After sending Su Qingsang off, she started to think about what ingredients she had to buy. Honestly, she had not made such food in many years, so she really felt some sense of worry about not being able to achieve the results she wanted.

Huo Jinyao helped Su Qingsang to put her luggage into the car and closed the car door for her.

Before he started the car, he gave her a look. “You asked for so many things at once. Aren’t you afraid that your mother would tire herself out?”

“On the contrary. She cannot stand being idle. I have already calculated that she would more or less finish with all these things by the time I return.”

Huo Jinyao laughed and reached out to caress the top of her head. “Look at you.”

“Oh, right. What do you mean by ‘my mother’? Isn’t my mother your mother too? If my mother has worn herself out, wouldn’t you know how to remind her to take a break when you’re at home?”

Su Qingsang blinked at him a few times, the look in her eyes reflecting covert displeasure.

“Yes, your mother is also my mother.” Huo Jinyao started the car. “Be rest assured that I will keep an eye on our mother and won’t let her tire herself out.”