127. Anxious Waiting, Steadfast Belief

Both Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen welcomed the idea of telepathic connection with open hearts, readily accepting it without feeling any inconvenience. Since they intended to spend their lives together, sharing and experiencing everything about each other would only deepen their bond, fostering a closeness beyond words.

After exchanging drops of their blood to affirm their "destined union," Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen embraced and fell asleep peacefully.

Now, the space-time tunnel no longer acted on Jing Qingxin’s behalf against her will. As long as she did not wish to travel through it, the tunnel would not forcibly transport her.

This was truly a relief.

Neither of them had to worry about being suddenly separated by two worlds without any warning or preparation—a feeling impossible to describe in words.

***

Early the next morning, the four people in the Zhang family’s courtyard rose early and tidied up. Gao Shen and Zhang Liangping took charge of the final packing and checks.

Jing Qingxin and Jing Suyun busied themselves in the kitchen. The night before, they had steamed some vegetable buns filled with shiitake mushrooms and wood ear fungus, intending to bring them along to stave off hunger on the road. The current weather was mild enough that the buns would still taste good even if they cooled down.

For breakfast, they steamed the buns again and cooked a small pot of millet porridge. Jing Suyun also prepared some pickled vegetables to accompany the meal. Everyone ate their fill before hastily gathering their bags and heading to the bus station.

Because Jiang Min had been added to the group at the last minute, Gao Shen hurried to the ticket office to purchase an additional ticket. Then, the group settled in the waiting hall.

At 6:55 a.m., with only five minutes before departure, Jing Qingxin and her companions anxiously stared toward the entrance, wondering if something had happened to Jiang Min, who had yet to appear.

Just as Jing Qingxin was about to get up and look outside herself, Jiang Min finally came into view.

Jing Qingxin quickly went to meet her and asked with concern, "What’s going on?"

"Qingxin, don’t ask now. We’ll talk once we’re on the bus!" Gao Shen called out.

"Yes, get on quickly!" Zhang Liangping urged anxiously, carrying bags in both hands as he followed Gao Shen, protecting his wife as they entered the platform.

***

Jing Qingxin realized the bus was about to leave and stopped asking questions. She grabbed her military bag, took Jiang Min’s hand, and followed behind.

One minute before departure, everyone was seated, letting out a collective sigh of relief.

The bus slowly pulled out of Ning City. Since it was an early morning route, some passengers hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, so as the bus moved steadily, they began eating their prepared snacks.

Zhang Liangping and his wife sat in front of Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen, while Jiang Min, who had just bought her ticket that morning, sat diagonally behind them by the aisle, close enough to be considered nearby.

This was the earliest bus, and since it was not a holiday or peak travel day, there were still several empty seats at the back.

Jing Qingxin sat by the window, with Gao Shen beside her. She wanted to ask Jiang Min if she had eaten breakfast but saw she was some distance away and didn’t want to call out loudly. She asked Gao Shen to inquire instead.

Following his wife’s instruction, Gao Shen turned and asked, "Jiang Min, Qingxin wants to know—have you eaten breakfast?"

Jiang Min looked a bit embarrassed and replied softly, "No, I haven’t. My mother kept talking to me this morning and delayed me."

Jiang Min felt a deep sense of helplessness. She had woken early and packed her luggage the night before, planning to eat a little corn porridge to fill her stomach before leaving.

After returning late the previous night, everyone had washed up and gone to rest. Her mother hadn’t said much then, but early this morning, her mother got up and kept holding her hand, fussing over her.

If it had been words of care, Jiang Min would have felt warmth, but what her mother actually said was different.

Her mother told her to behave well in front of Sister Qingxin and her husband, to win their favor, since once they married, there would be many wedding gifts. She told Jiang Min not to be so blunt, to speak kindly and flatter Sister Qingxin and her husband to gain benefits.

In short, Jiang Min felt there was nothing kind in those words. They made her blood boil, but she didn’t dare to argue, fearing her mother might forbid her from leaving.

So, Jiang Min didn’t even have time for breakfast and quietly endured her mother’s admonitions. If time had allowed, who knew what else her mother might have said?

Hearing Jiang Min’s response, Jing Qingxin quickly pulled out a small piece of oiled paper from her military bag, wrapped two still-warm vegetable buns, and handed them to Gao Shen.

Then, she took out a small cup from her bag and poured water from her military thermos. This small cup was from her spatial storage, something she had used before.

There were no extra new cups, so she had to use her old one. Otherwise, eating just two buns without water would be quite choking.

"Here, eat while it’s hot! Hold the cup carefully," Gao Shen said, handing over the buns with one hand and the enamel cup with the other.

Jiang Min quickly took both with both hands and said sweetly, "Thank you, Sister Qingxin. Thank you, Brother-in-law."

Hearing the title "brother-in-law," Gao Shen felt a warmth in his heart, his expression softening as he whispered, "Yes, eat quickly."

Since confirming his relationship with Jing Qingxin, this was the first time someone had addressed him as her husband—a title that symbolized recognition and binding. It was novel and brought him joy.

Jiang Min ate the buns, feeling warmth in both body and soul. She paid no mind to her mother’s words.

She had her own understanding of right and wrong.

She genuinely admired and liked Sister Qingxin from the bottom of her heart. She wanted to be as brilliant as her, to live freely and boldly even as an orphan.

As for her brother-in-law, though he hadn’t shown her much kindness, it was clear he truly loved Sister Qingxin—from the way he looked at her and even helped in the kitchen. Though she didn’t know much, these signs were enough.

At least, in her life, she’d never seen a man enter the kitchen to help, as it was usually women’s work. Thus, she accepted this taciturn, somewhat cold-faced brother-in-law in her heart.

After finishing, Jiang Min stuffed the enamel cup into her bag, not wanting to disturb the others. As the bus rocked gently, she gradually drifted into sleep.

This novel is first published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not repost.