RMM -Chapter 145 Parting Sorrow

“When are you leaving?”

Su Ruo’s expression held none of the expected gloom or sadness. Instead, she smiled lightly, her face calm and serene.

If Xi Yuechen hadn’t caught the suppressed tension deep in her eyes, he might have thought that this little woman truly didn’t care at all.

“Tomorrow.”

“When will you be home?” Su Ruo asked immediately.

“Depends.”

Xi Yuechen’s reply was concise, but Su Ruo understood perfectly. “Depends” meant he didn’t know. Based on recent experience, it could also be interpreted as an indefinite, possibly distant, timeline.

Thinking of this, Su Ruo felt her spirit droop. The forced smile on her face could no longer be maintained—her child’s father was about to leave, and there was no point pretending to be calm!

Leaving was straightforward enough, but when asked about coming home, there was no definite answer. Would he even be able to see their child after birth?

The more she thought about it, the less composed she felt. She looked up and glared at the silently watching Xi Yuechen, then suddenly bit his arm.

Xi Yuechen was caught off guard, tensing his muscles instantly.

Having spent years in the military, his physique was exceptional. Besides, he always pushed himself with the highest-intensity training. The muscles on his arms were real, not a shred of fat, and now, taut and flexed, they stood out in defined contours.

Su Ruo bit down on that solid muscle. It didn’t hurt Xi Yuechen at all, but her own teeth felt the impact—the hard muscle would not budge.

Damn it! He was about to abandon his wife and child, yet wouldn’t even let her vent a little with a bite? Unfair!

Su Ruo released her bite, tilted her head back, and glared at him, her face full of indignation.

Actually, Xi Yuechen hadn’t intended to use this as a defensive tactic. It was just an instinctive reflex. If given the choice, he would have gladly let her bite him a couple of times.

With her strength, it wouldn’t hurt him at all. Bite away.

So Xi Yuechen said seriously, “Go ahead, bite me again.”

He even relaxed his arm muscles, raising his arm slightly, presenting himself earnestly for her bite.

Su Ruo felt as if a flock of crows had flown overhead, her face darkening. A surprise attack is supposed to be unexpected! Coming straight at me like this, how could there be any satisfaction in revenge?

Yet, seeing Xi Yuechen so serious, raising his arm to her mouth, the scene was simply too funny. She couldn’t help it and burst out laughing.

“Is this how you bully people?”

Su Ruo rested happily on his arm, lightly scolding him. This playful moment eased some of her sadness at parting.

Seeing her genuinely smile, Xi Yuechen didn’t mind her teasing. He let her lean on his arm and laugh freely.

His gaze drifted to Su Ruo’s prominent belly, and a trace of reluctance crossed his eyes. Her bright laughter felt like heavy stones pressing down on his heart, making him feel stifled.

“I understand you, and I don’t blame you for being away all the time. Really,” Su Ruo said, still leaning on his arm, now calm, her voice gentle. “I can accept it. So just focus on your work. Don’t worry about me. I’m doing just fine at home.”

Su Ruo comforted him with understanding, noticing the melancholy he carried.

“Your duty is to protect the country. And I… just stay at home and take care of things.”

Su Ruo spoke with a hint of sentiment, thinking that staying home alone wasn’t so bad—after all, not for long. Once the baby was born, she would go with the military.

She had harbored this thought for a long time, waiting until after the birth, planning not to tell anyone—not even Xi Yuechen. That ice cube would surely refuse otherwise.

Xi Yuechen felt a softening in his heart and sighed quietly. “I’ll try to come home earlier.”

Su Ruo didn’t dwell on it. Rather than seeing it as a promise, she treated it as comfort. “Alright, the baby and I will be waiting.”

That casual reply became Xi Yuechen’s motivation moving forward, driving him to strive harder.

When they slept, Su Ruo leaned against Xi Yuechen’s chest, pressing close, feeling his heartbeat and warmth, without speaking.

Xi Yuechen gently stroked her belly, his voice unusually tender and delicate. “Sleep.”

Sleep, it’s time to rest.

The next morning, the moment Xi Yuechen moved, Su Ruo awoke, her sleepy face faintly showing vigilance.

The last time he left without saying goodbye was still fresh in her memory. She feared he might repeat the trick, so she slept lightly.

“It’s still early, go back to sleep.”

Xi Yuechen found the wide-eyed expression of the woman in his arms amusing.

“You’d just leave while I’m asleep, right?”

Su Ruo was fully awake, slightly annoyed, clutching the hem of his sleepwear.

Xi Yuechen was momentarily speechless. The suspicious look on her face left him dumbfounded.

“Feeling guilty?” Su Ruo snorted, moving her head from his chest, her voice muffled. “Sneaking off? I won’t stop you from leaving.”

Xi Yuechen couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “I’m leaving this afternoon,” he said, teasingly, the earlier laughter making him sound like a completely different person.

“Then I’m getting up too.”

Surprised by his sudden change, Su Ruo wasn’t embarrassed by her vigilance. Who could blame her, given his previous behavior? Even if he left at night, she would wake up now.

Xi Yuechen had no choice. With this stubborn little woman, he couldn’t tie her to the bed. He got up with her to wash and get ready.

Shen Liang also knew Xi Yuechen was leaving today and hadn’t slept well all night, tossing and turning, keeping Xi Jian’an awake as well.

“Hey, Ruo Ruo, why get up so early? Shouldn’t you sleep a bit more?”

Seeing Su Ruo with Xi Yuechen, Shen Liang was curious, but soon realized she likely hadn’t slept well anyway.

“I’m getting up to exercise. Can’t sleep all the time,” Su Ruo said with a cheerful smile, looking energetic.

Shen Liang was puzzled. Whenever Yuechen left before, Ruo Ruo looked listless, yet today she seemed fine, as if unaffected.

Of course, Su Ruo felt terrible inside—her child’s father was “leaving home”! She just hid it for the sake of others. Showing her melancholy would only make them feel bad.

Before leaving, Xi Yuechen planned to visit the military district compound, not Su Ruo’s home, but the Zhou family.

Zhou Tingzhang, now his direct superior, was constantly in contact with him daily in Province D. Now that he was in City B, he had to visit Zhou’s family before leaving.

Shen Liang knew his son was visiting Zhou’s family but didn’t question the frequent contact, only reminding him not to keep them waiting.

“General Zhou?”

Su Ruo’s thoughts stirred. Sharing the surname Zhou and living in the same military compound, could this general be related to Zhou Yunzhen?

Since Su Ruo’s chance encounter with Zhou Yunzhen at the compound, they had met two more times. Not close, but friendlier than mere acquaintances. Both had a good impression of each other and didn’t reject interaction.

However, in their few meetings, though conversations flowed well, neither brought up family backgrounds—no need, and curiosity wasn’t the point. Their relationship wasn’t intimate enough for complete disclosure. Some things were best left unsaid.

So, one didn’t ask, the other didn’t mention. Many matters became misunderstandings by default.

Despite her curiosity, Su Ruo didn’t ask. Even if Zhou Yunzhen had a connection with General Zhou, how would Xi Yuechen know? Asking would be pointless.

When Xi Yuechen asked if she wanted to accompany him to the military compound, Su Ruo shook her head. She had returned home just the day before; no need to go today. She would go herself in a few days.

Xi Yuechen didn’t insist and drove alone to the military compound.

Zhou Yunzhen had been on a night shift, dealing with an emergency patient. By morning, things had stabilized, and she handed over to the next doctor, planning to finally get some rest.

Lately, her mental state had been off, as if she had suffered a major blow. Sometimes she seemed low on energy.

The hospital staff were shocked—Zhou Yunzhen was always cheerful and energetic. Seeing her without her usual smile, sometimes frowning, lost in thought, was unusual.

As the hospital had not noticed any issues with the Zhou family, her distracted demeanor drew attention.

They didn’t ask General Zhou directly, instead gently asking Zhou Yunzhen if anything had happened recently.

Zhou Yunzhen realized her behavior had drawn attention. She quickly composed herself, smiling, claiming it was nothing, just some physical discomfort.

The hospital leadership, seeing her unwillingness to elaborate, didn’t press. Her father hadn’t intervened, so why should they?

Still, they suggested she rest at home for a couple of days, as the hospital wasn’t too busy and staff were sufficient.

Zhou Yunzhen refused firmly. Even if unwell, she would wear her white coat and work, not wanting personal matters to invite speculation or gossip.

She apologized for any prior emotional interference at work and promised to manage it better, now feeling physically fine, seeing no need to miss work.

Her firm stance left the leadership helpless. Kids these days, so strong-willed. Even when exhausted, she insisted on pushing herself. Sigh, why make things hard for oneself?