Chapter 218 But Seeing You Makes Me Not Tired

At the end of August in S City, the summer heat was at its peak; even the evening breeze carried a dry warmth.

The wrap-up banquet for the new drama was held in the banquet hall of the Sihai Hotel.

Director Guan, dressed formally for a rare occasion, his gray hair meticulously combed, raised a glass on stage. His voice was as steady and commanding as ever:

“Over the past six months, thank you all for your hard work. Thank you for bringing those who lived only in history books back to life. On behalf of both those remembered and those forgotten, I thank you.”

Applause rose from the audience—first scattered, then swelling into a continuous wave.

Lu Er sat at the main table, dressed simply in a white shirt, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of his glass.

Ye Qingge leaned over: “It’s really over… I feel a bit reluctant to leave.”

“Mm.” Lu Er nodded. “I’ve learned a lot these past six months.”

Ye Qingge asked, “Are you going back to A City tonight? Not staying in S City for a few days? I booked a seaside guesthouse—we could go relax a bit.”

Lu Er shook his head. “I have something tomorrow. I need to go back.”

“What’s so urgent?” Ye Qingge raised an eyebrow. “It can’t be Dr. Song pushing you to go home, right?”

Lu Er smiled without answering.

Ye Qingge’s eyebrow quirked, a mischievous glint in her eye: “Got it, got it… your heart’s already home.”

A faint curve lifted Lu Er’s lips. “You’ll only truly understand when someone’s waiting for you at home.”

Ye Qingge: “….”

By the time the banquet ended, it was already ten p.m.

Lu Er didn’t return to the hotel; he headed straight to the airport.

The flight departed at 1 a.m.

Wearing a mask and a hat, Lu Er sat in the VIP lounge scrolling through his phone.

A new WeChat message came from Song Jingmo: “Boarded yet?”

“Almost. Go to sleep; don’t wait for me.”

Song Jingmo: “I’ll wait for you.”

Two simple, direct words.

The plane lifted into the night sky. Outside the window, S City sparkled like a scattering of stars.

Lu Er leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

Two hours later, the plane landed at A City International Airport.

Dragging his suitcase through the arrivals hall, Lu Er immediately spotted Song Jingmo waiting among the crowd.

He wore a light gray shirt and black pants, looking down at his phone.

The lights highlighted his upright posture and the quiet profile of his face.

People passed by all around, yet Song Jingmo stood there like a serene harbor.

Lu Er quickened his pace.

Song Jingmo looked up. When he saw him, his eyes lit up. Naturally, he took the suitcase and handed him the water he was holding: “Drink a little, soothe your throat.”

“Thanks.”

Lu Er took it and drank, the liquid sliding down his throat, washing away the fatigue from the night flight.

“How was the wrap-up banquet?”

“Pretty good. Ye Qingge wanted to stay in S City a few more days, but I came straight back.”

Song Jingmo tilted his head. “So urgent?”

“Mm. I missed you.”

He pulled him into a hug before letting go. “Tired?”

“Exhausted,” Lu Er admitted honestly. “But seeing you… makes me not tired.”

Song Jingmo drove steadily. Lu Er leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the streetlights blur past.

“I got the gifts ready.”

“Hm?”

Lu Er turned his head.

“For your mom.” Song Jingmo kept his eyes on the road. “I’ve taken time off. Tomorrow morning I’ll go with you.”

Lu Er paused, sitting up straighter. “Actually, we could wait a few days. No need to rush.”

“Don’t want you worrying. Better to go early so you can relax.”

“Dr. Song,” Lu Er said, looking at his calm profile, “are you ready? Who knows what kind of trouble she’ll give us tomorrow.”

“I know.” Song Jingmo glanced at him, eyes soft. “But I handle pressure well. Trust your husband.”

The word “husband” made Lu Er’s ears heat up. “No matter what she says tomorrow, don’t take it to heart. Once we’re home, I’ll apologize on her behalf… make up for the grievances you suffered.”

“If you want, I can dance the bell again. Rabbit tail or cat ears… whatever you like…”

He parked the car on the roadside, reaching over to rub his head: “Er Er, you don’t need to do these things to please me.

“I like doing them with you because I like you—not some biological urge.”

Pleasure in the bedroom should be purely about liking the other person, not mixed with anything else.

Lu Er lowered his head. “But your parents are so understanding, while my mom always lets you feel wronged. That’s not fair to you.”

“Er Er, don’t overthink. I never felt wronged.”

Song Jingmo sighed. “If someone kidnapped a son as outstanding as you, I might have even gone there with a knife. Your mom’s only difficult with money and says a few harsh words—already very tolerant.”

Lu Er laughed. “Dr. Song, you really shouldn’t have gone into orthopedics.”

“?”

“Psychology would suit you better.”

Song Jingmo looked at him. “Do you really hold no resentment?”

Lu Er froze.

Resentment?

He smiled, a little weary in it. “I did feel it…But what’s the use? I chose to be with you. This path was never easy. My choice made her endure rumors. What right do I have to complain? After all, the harm I caused her is real.”

Had he chosen an arranged marriage, married normally like his older brother, Leng Qinghua wouldn’t have faced public scrutiny.

Song Jingmo looked at him, his eyes full of tenderness.

His Er Er, born into a wealthy family, yet unpretentious and composed.

Even if abandoned, he never sought revenge or harbored resentment—he could still empathize with others.

Suddenly, it became clear why Yan Huaijin and Cong Jinyue could fall for him.

A person so sunny, gentle, and strong is hard not to love.

No wonder he was hopelessly in love with Lu Er.

“You know how my mom got through these years?”

Lu Er turned to look at his reflection in the window. “After divorcing my dad, she raised me and my brother alone, building the business to its current scale. She’s very strong… so strong that everyone assumes she doesn’t need sympathy or understanding. But…”

His voice choked a little. “No matter how successful she is, people always criticize her for family or marital misfortunes, calling her a failed woman. When I was little, I went to banquets with her and overheard aunts judging her—saying a woman can’t be considered successful if her family is unhappy. I grew up hearing that, so I tried extra hard, wanting to prove to my mom that she wasn’t a failure. But now…”

Lu Er smiled wryly. “She suffered for decades because of my dad. Now I’m like this… even causing fights at home… My mom, someone so strong… how could she not break down? I understand if she does. If she didn’t, I’d feel uneasy.”