Chapter 1

The weather has begun to turn cooler. As the autumn wind rises, the leaves rustle and roll along the road, but this sound is soon drowned out by the starting engines of cars. Meng Xingxiu parked her car by the roadside and then rolled down the window. She was speaking with a young attendant, her back turned to the street; her figure was slender, yet that silhouette gave the impression that something was changing.

It was as if struck by lightning; Lu Jun felt her limbs turn icy, and her ears rang with a deafening sound. She looked closely at the girl before her, though she could not see clearly, only noting that her eyes resembled those of someone she had once known. After a long pause, she finally said: "Yes, I know him. I know him."

The meal lasted a full two hours. Lu Jun intentionally delayed time, while Meng Xingxiu did not want to leave. The two of them ate slowly, spoke little, and consumed not much food. Lu Jun, seeing the table full of leftover dishes, called the waiter to pack them up

My name is Wu Yu, the girl asked tenaciously, beginning to narrate, "We are from a village, and he is the smartest elder brother in the village. The elders all say he will achieve great things. Everyone in the village knows him; he is the first university student from our village. After graduating from university, he became an engineer and later went abroad. All along, he has been writing letters and sending money to the school in the village, until last year when the village chief received a letter stating that he was missing in an earthquake. No one could find him, and no one knew where he had gone." All along, he has been writing letters and sending money to the school in the village, until last year when the village chief received a letter stating that he was missing in an earthquake. No one could find him, and no one knew where he had gone.

Their gazes collided, and the girl suddenly lowered her head: "Yes, Engineer Lu, I would like to inquire about a person. However, you may not know him. I only know that he has also worked in Pakistan for a period of time, seemingly on a hydropower station. But I have just arrived in this city and cannot find anyone else to ask..."

Fortunately, during this time with the books, someone came to the rescue

Xiao Jun, in the future, please allow me to take care of you

Her mind was elsewhere, yet Meng Xingxiu mistakenly believed that she was acquiescing. Excited, he reached out and firmly grasped her hand. Although her hand was warm, it no longer possessed the delicate softness of her youth; it was rough and dry, with calluses forming on her fingers and palm. He looked at her emaciated shoulders and felt a pang of heartache, unable to restrain his hand as it instinctively moved to pull her into his embrace. They were already sitting side by side, close enough that this unexpected hug left Lu Jun with no way to evade it. He looked at her emaciated shoulders and felt a pang of heartache, unable to restrain his hand as it instinctively moved to pull her into his embrace. They were already sitting side by side, close enough that this unexpected hug left Lu Jun with no way to evade it.

At the spacious parking lot in front of the restaurant, Meng Xingxiu took the car keys to start the vehicle. The waitress had not left yet; she remained by her side. At first, Lu Jun did not sense anything unusual, but after a while, she felt something was off. Unable to resist, she glanced at the waitress again, only to realize that the waitress was also looking at her, her gaze devoid of the shyness observed earlier, replaced instead by an indescribable emotion.

The waiter nervously glanced at Meng Xingxiu's increasingly sullen face, feeling even more awkward, unsure of where to place his hands and feet, and stammered, "Engineer Lu, I am truly sorry, really, I was too excited and couldn't control my mouth."

The waiter walked past them, obediently opened the window, and cool air flooded into the small private room. Lu Jun let out a long breath, her voice nearly a sigh. The waiter glanced back at her, suddenly recalling something, and blurted out: "Ah, I saw you on television; you are that kidnapped Engineer Lu?"

Lu Jun shook her head: "It doesn't matter."

Even though Wu Yu had applied heavy makeup, it was still effortless to see that this response had a tremendous impact on her, leaving her expression despondent, with the light in her dark eyes gradually fading. Wu Yu spoke softly, "Then, where is he at https://m.hetushu.com.com?"

It had been a long time since she had enjoyed such a sumptuous meal. Under the dim lighting, the array of dishes on the table looked particularly appetizing, with their rich colors, aromas, and flavors, rendering the exquisite plates mere decorations. Her phone vibrated in her bag; she glanced at the number, pressed the power button, and placed the phone back in her bag. She reached for the chopsticks, picked up a small piece of fish, and put it in her mouth; it truly melted in her mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance even after she finished.

Lu Jun did not express a clear opinion

Such a gaze made Lu Jun feel quite uncomfortable, so she said, "Are you looking at me?"

Meng Xingxiu continued to serve her food. She had been a news figure a month ago, and with a little inquiry, most information could be easily obtained. He was in no rush. It was evident that her days in Pakistan were not going well. Regardless of the quality of life, the assurance of her safety was a significant concern. Previously, it was hard to tell from television or newspapers, but now, upon closer observation, she appeared much thinner than before, making her eyes look particularly large. There was still a spark in her gaze, but it always seemed to drift far away, like a rose that had endured the ravages of wind and rain, stubbornly revealing a few red petals from the thicket.

Have you heard of the name Wu Wei?

Meng Xingxiu waved his hand to signal the waiter to leave. After the waiter awkwardly departed, he said: "Don't take it to heart; not everyone can empathize with your situation. This young girl is new and doesn't know the ropes." As he spoke, he picked up a piece of bass with his chopsticks and placed it in her bowl: "The bass has only one main bone and no small spines, making it tender and delicious. The steamed fish at this Dongtianfu restaurant is especially well-prepared."

Lu Jun looked at her and, after a long silence, said: "He does not find it difficult."

Frequent earthquakes, along with the constant onslaught of gun battles depicted in graphic novels, make it difficult to cope; kidnappings and bombings can occur at any moment. Yet he truly does not feel weary, his smile never showing the slightest hint of gloom

Wu Yu pondered for a moment and asked, "Is he living a difficult life?"

This statement caused Meng Xingxiu to change his expression, and he immediately added, "Do you have any manners?" In contrast to her attitude, Lu Jun remained expressionless, merely moving the corner of her mouth, "It is I."

Lu Jun said: "Thank you, but could you please open the window? It is too stuffy in the room"

Steamed bass, please savor it slowly

During this period, everything has been going poorly

"It's nothing. I said it's nothing." Lu Jun forced a difficult smile.

Lu Jun found it absurd and wanted to laugh, but she could not. It had been a long time since she had laughed, and she no longer knew how to do so. Moreover, she was at a loss for words, feeling somewhat speechless for a moment

The light rising from the girl's eyes: "Do you really know him? How is he doing now?"

The female server also realized her slip of the tongue, her tense face turning red, as she rubbed her hands over the cobalt blue qipao: "I’m sorry, Miss Lu... Engineer Lu, I spoke without thinking, I’m so sorry."

The night breeze brushed past Lu Jun's ear, and her gaze was vacant as she asked, "What is your name? How do you know him?"

A very young waiter stood at the door, holding a tray, with a somewhat awkward expression and a soft voice: "I am sorry"

Lu Jun took a savings book out of her bag and threw it to him, slowly speaking: "Meng Xingxiu, over these three years of work, I have indeed earned some money, all of which is in this savings book. Please understand clearly, this is all I have; I do not have the protection of parents. I cannot compare to Cui Cai in any way, so do not regret it again when the time comes."

She took a few bites of the fish, as if recalling something, and replied softly: "There is really no need, truly, no need. The timing has long been off. You need not feel guilty; my matters have nothing to do with you."

Lu Jun raised her eyes and carefully observed the nervous, petite girl. She was so young that the term "girl" was the only fitting description, and she appeared to be no older than twenty. Her skin was fair, her voice sweet, and her irises were darker than most, almost unusually so. If it weren't for her evident nervousness, one might easily associate her with the elegant beauty of a rose, unassuming yet possessing a unique charm.

However, she is probably an exception. Three years ago, this set of circumstances was of no use to her. She thought, when he invited her out, didn't he say that today was just a casual catch-up between friends? How did the conversation suddenly shift to the topic of pledging oneself?

This question startled Meng Xingxiu, and Lu Jun broke free from his embrace, sitting down in the seat opposite him. She stared at the waiter and the dishes on her plate, asking: "What dish is this?"

It was still the same girl as before, but this time she said not a word, focusing intently on her work. Her hands and feet moved quickly, packing the remaining dishes into five or six lunch boxes, stacking them neatly into a paper bag, without spilling a single drop of soup. She delivered them to the entrance of the restaurant, handed the paper bag to Lu Jun, and bowed slightly, saying: "Please take care, thank you for your patronage, and we welcome you to visit again"

Lu Jun sat in the private room of the restaurant, gazing at the face of the person opposite her, her eyes inexplicably blurring again and again. She had not seen Meng Xingxiu for several years and was completely unaware of how much he had changed. In fact, she had almost forgotten what Meng Xingxiu looked like in her memories. After spending two years and ten months in Pakistan, her university days felt like a past life, and too many details in her memory had become indistinct.

Lu Jun felt a heaviness in her head and lightness in her feet. The confusion in front of her and the chaotic clouds of the *illustrated* book penetrated her eyes, cascading down from her forehead, spreading through her eyes, nose, body, and the tops of her feet, with her senses gradually fading away, her body and perception slowly losing their way back. She remained silent for a while, then forced a bitter smile: "I don't know either, I can't find him anymore."

Lu Jun shook her head

Therefore, she felt no connection to the past events he spoke of. Those words entered her left ear and slipped out of her right. She maintained her original sitting posture, slowly sipping her juice, while her mind was occupied with a different scene. Until a sentence came flying in like a meteor, jolting her awake

Meng Xingxiu had long anticipated her attitude and simply resolved it with a smile: "That is your perspective, not mine. Are you currently living in the dormitory provided by the unit?"

Who

Meng Xingxiu smiled faintly and leaned forward slightly: "Xiao Jun, when I saw the news, I thought to myself that I want to take care of you from now on. It was the first time I realized how hard you have worked all these years. I missed you for three years, and I cannot afford to miss you again"

The waitress cleared her throat, bent down to place the plate on the small table, and spoke softly: "Your dishes are all ready, this is the last one."

Meng Xingxiu did not even glance at her passbook. He took a sip of tea and said, "Xiaojun, I do bear a significant responsibility for our breakup three years ago, but it wasn't as unbearable as you might think. Can you give me another chance?"

Lu Junmu raised his head and was first met with the face of Meng Xingxiu. Under the light, his facial features were deep and resolute, with distinct contours. His stubble was freshly shaved, and particularly striking were his eyes, which exuded strength and vitality, radiating brilliance and spirit. Even a casual glance from him could send a jolt through the observer's nerves. When he focused his full attention on someone, it was even more overwhelming, making it difficult for others to withstand.