nucmednet Chapter 1009 We are home
Chapter 1009 We are home
The mountain mornings are refreshingly cool after the rain, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of budding plants.
The crisp chirping of birds drifted through the woods, like a key gently opening the door to a new day.
Mu Xiaoji and Jiang Chengyu sat side by side on the bamboo couch, their plain white training clothes making their figures appear even more upright.
Their eyes were gently closed, one hand palm to palm, with a faint light flowing between them, and the other hand was in a steady mudra, resting quietly on their knees.
The morning light slanted in through the cracks in the bamboo window, falling on their sweaty cheeks, and the beads of sweat that slid down their jawlines reflected tiny glimmers of light.
The back of his shirt was already soaked with sweat, outlining its taut lines.
One could vaguely see that as the true energy circulated within the body, that restrained yet surging power was climbing to a new level.
After an unknown amount of time, the two gradually calmed down and slowly finished their practice.
Mu Xiaoji opened her eyes first, her eyes still glistening with the moisture from practicing her internal energy.
He casually picked up a towel from the side and carefully wiped the sweat from Jiang Chengyu's cheeks, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a fragile treasure.
He then got up, walked to the coat rack by the window, changed into his everyday clothes, and quietly went out the door.
About twenty minutes later, he pushed open the door and came in, carrying a bowl of hot tea, which he placed on the round table. His voice was warm:
"Little monster, the bathwater is ready, go take a bath. I'll cook you some beef noodles with beef bone broth that I simmered for several hours yesterday."
Jiang Chengyu was still sitting cross-legged on the bed. Hearing his instructions, he slowly exhaled the last breath of stale air before opening his eyes.
Mu Xiaoji was no longer in the room; only the faint scent of soap pods lingered in the air.
He got up from the bed, went to the clothes rack to pick up his casual clothes, walked to the round table, picked up the tea that Mu Xiaoji had just prepared for him, and took a few sips.
He then placed the teacup on the table, turned and went out the door, and immediately smelled a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen—
The oil sizzled in the pan, the steak was seared to a crisp and fragrant perfection, and the aroma, mixed with the rich broth, billowed out from the chimney and drifted freely through the valley.
Jiang Chengyu turned and walked towards the bathroom. As he pushed open the door, his gaze fell on the familiar wooden tub.
The wooden tub was filled with warm water, and a few fresh flower petals floated on the surface.
The misty steam blurred his vision, but it suddenly brought to mind the faces of two little girls.
"Jiang Chengyu, thank you! If it weren't for you, my sister and I would have starved to death on the streets long ago!"
Wu Xin's carefree voice still seemed to echo in my ears, carrying the unique cheerfulness of a girl's magnanimity.
“Yes, Jiang Chengyu,” Hua Rui’s voice was gentler, and as soon as she finished speaking, she knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"From now on, we sisters are willing to serve you as your slaves and maids to repay your kindness in giving us life."
He was only ten years old then, and he quickly reached out to support the flower bud, his face showing a composure beyond his years:
"Don't talk nonsense. From now on, we'll be of one mind, support each other, and be inseparable."
In my memory, the three of them had their hands overlapping, and as they smiled at each other, the sunlight fell right on their faces.
That original little bamboo house was the home he built for the two sisters himself.
Jiang Chengyu slowly sat down in the wooden tub, the warm water washing over his shoulders, the fragrance of flowers lingering in his nostrils.
He closed his eyes, gently putting away those distant images, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Memories flow quietly through my heart like a stream, but the warmth I feel right now is more real than any memory.
After taking a bath, Jiang Chengyu changed into clean everyday clothes and returned to the bamboo house. As soon as he entered, he smelled a rich aroma of noodles.
Two bowls of beef noodles sat on the round table, the broth a bright red and sprinkled with vibrant green scallions.
Mu Xiaoji was sitting properly at the table waiting for him, her eyes filled with an undisguised smile.
"Little monster, come sit down and have a taste. See if my cooking skills have improved."
When Mu Xiaoji saw him come in, she immediately greeted him, her tone full of anticipation.
Jiang Chengyu nodded and sat down opposite him: "Xiao Ji, you've worked hard."
As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks, took a big bite of noodles, and the hot soup warmed his stomach, making him feel a little lighter.
Mu Xiaoji stared at him intently, his eyes filled with satisfaction. This ordinary meal was the return he had been longing for for so long.
There was a time when he lost this happiness, but now, blessed by heaven, he has regained it and cherishes it dearly.
Jiang Chengyu felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and looked up to urge him, "Eat quickly, the noodles are going to get soggy. Do you think staring at me will make you eat?"
Mu Xiaoji chuckled at his words, picked up a piece of beef from her own bowl and put it into his bowl: "You're taking care of your health, eat more meat."
Jiang Chengyu quickly refused and tried to put the food back in his bowl: "No, I already have a lot in my bowl, you eat it yourself."
"Over the years, my stomach has always preferred a light diet, and that hasn't changed."
Mu Xiaoji held his hand and said seriously, "You're different. You have a good stomach and a heavy workload, so you should eat more."
When Jiang Chengyu heard that Xiao Ji's eating habits had remained unchanged during the years he was absent, he couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
He had no choice but to put the piece of beef in his mouth, slowly staring at the person in front of him, savoring his unchanging feelings.
He quickly finished the soup in his bowl in a few gulps, put down his chopsticks, and said, "I'm done eating. Didn't you say we were going down the mountain today? Hurry up and eat."
Mu Xiaoji smiled and quickened her pace, giving instructions as she ate her noodles:
"The meat is still warm in the stew pot in the kitchen, and I've washed all the vegetables and mushrooms."
Before I leave, I'll steam some rice for you in the rice cooker. You can just stir-fry a simple dish for lunch.
I'll rush back tonight and bring you the signature dish from Hongsheng Yujing Hotel.
As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the soup in the bowl clean. He put down the bowl, got up, and started cleaning up, his movements as swift as a gust of wind.
Jiang Chengyu stood reluctantly at the entrance of the bamboo house, his gaze following Mu Xiaoji's figure as he walked further and further away.
The mountain path was winding and twisting, and Mu Xiaoji, leaning on a cane, walked with a somewhat unsteady gait.
Suddenly, his figure, as dark as an ink dot, stumbled and fell heavily to the ground.
Jiang Chengyu's heart clenched, and he subconsciously took two big steps forward, his brows furrowed tightly, and his eyes surging with undisguised heartache.
He saw Mu Xiaoji slowly prop himself up, roll up his trouser leg, and readjust his prosthetic leg.
He then got up, casually dusted himself off, gritted his teeth, and continued limping forward, each step extremely difficult.
The figure had to bend down and support his legs after taking a few steps, clearly indicating that the rugged mountain path was a great test for his legs.
Jiang Chengyu was really worried, so he couldn't help but take a few steps after him. Seeing that the surroundings were empty and there was no one around, he quietly gathered his true energy and leaped up.
He stepped on the tips of leaves in the forest, using his light-footed skill of "walking on clouds and chasing the moon," and flew down the mountain like a wisp of smoke, landing steadily on a bend in the road ahead.
The sound of a cane tapping the ground came from behind, growing closer and closer.
Mu Xiaoji was only focused on the road ahead when, as she turned the corner, she suddenly bumped into that familiar figure.
She froze, her gaze blank, her watery eyes filled with astonishment: "Little monster? You... how did you get here?"
Jiang Chengyu stepped forward, gently took the cane from his hand and placed it aside, then extended his left hand.
She held his right hand tightly, her voice gentle yet firm: "I once told you..."
I'll be your right leg for the rest of my life. Wherever you want to go, I'll be with you.
Mu Xiaoji stared at him blankly, a faint smile slowly curving her lips, the surprise in her eyes gradually replaced by warmth.
He obediently followed Jiang Chengyu's footsteps, and the two walked side by side down the mountain. Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, shining on them.
The two figures stretched out long, and the cane was left behind, useless.
The taxi came to a smooth stop in front of Jinyang Villa, the vines entwined around the wrought iron gate gleaming a vibrant green in the sunlight.
Jiang Chengyu gazed at the familiar building; its glass curtain wall reflected the sunlight like a mirror, illuminating fragments of the past.
This villa, registered in his name, was where the two of them once spent a wonderful time, but also experienced an unforgettable and painful past.
Mu Xiaoji paid the fare and got out of the car first. She then walked around to the other side, opened the car door, and reached out her hand to him.
He opened his palm, which was warm and steady: "Little monster, we're home. Get out of the car."
The expectation in her eyes was like cotton soaked in water, heavy yet so soft that it made one's heart tremble.
Jiang Chengyu placed his hand in his palm, and with a gentle pull, he stepped out of the car.
As I closed the car door, my gaze swept over the balcony on the second floor, and I suddenly remembered the past.
Mu's mother objected to their abnormal relationship, secretly deleted his fingerprints, and forced Jiang Chengyu to back down.
After that, he was unable to enter and exit normally, and several times he had to use his light-footed skills to walk onto the balcony to solve the problem.
With their thoughts returning to normal, the two had already strolled into the villa's courtyard. This was the second time Mu Xiaoji had brought him home.
The first time Mu Xiaoji brought Jiang Chengyu home, he was fast asleep and Mu Xiaoji pushed him home in a wheelchair.
Now, holding hands, they led him home, standing one after the other at the door.
Mu Xiaoji turned to look at Jiang Chengyu, her eyes filled with tenderness—sweetness, happiness, and fulfillment.
He extended his finger and gently pressed it on the sensor; with a click, the door lock popped open.
He pushed open the door and walked in, but his hand, which he was holding, was pulled. He turned around and saw Jiang Chengyu still standing there.
Her feet seemed nailed to the ground, and her eyes held a mixture of confusion and barely perceptible resistance.
"We're home, come in." Mu Xiaoji's voice softened even more, like coaxing a shy child.
"Mom, Xiaoyue, and Youyou are all inside. They've been looking forward to your coming home for ages!"
Jiang Chengyu looked into the light in his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed, and finally he took a step and followed him across the threshold.
On the shoe cabinet in the entryway, there were still some small ceramic ornaments that the two of them had bought before.
Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long patches of light on the floor.
In a daze, it felt as if those days separated by time had never gone far away.
Unlike the usual quiet, a baby's silvery laughter, as clear and crisp as a mountain stream, came from inside the house.
Immediately following was Mu's mother's teasing voice, tinged with a smile: "Oh my, our little darling is so capable!"
All she does all day is make Grandma happy; her little smile is so sweet.
"Madam, please give me the child. You should sit down and rest for a while," Xiao Yue's voice rang out gently, filled with concern.
Mu Huiying smiled and waved her hand, then bent down to play with the little one in her arms, her tone full of affection:
"I'm not tired. Look at this little guy, he's so energetic, like a little sun. Just looking at him makes me feel good."
The baby's laughter rang out again, mingled with the adults' doting affection, like a warm, cozy breeze enveloping the room.
The lingering unease in Jiang Chengyu's heart was instantly thrown into turmoil by conflicting thoughts.
He instinctively hid behind Mu Xiaoji, trying his best to erase his presence.
Beside the living room sofa, Mu Huiying was holding a swaddled baby and playing with the child in her arms;
Xiao Yue stood to the side, gently shaking a rattle drum in one hand, while holding a swaddled baby in his arms.
Their faces radiated sunny smiles, filled with the warmth of a loving mother. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, bathing them in a peaceful and serene atmosphere.