Gu Lina Zha watched quietly, even her breathing softened.
She watched his focused profile, his downcast eyes, and the way he meticulously picked out the bones for her.
A certain place in her heart was completely filled with a warm emotion.
She was never short of people trying to curry favor with her.
But those people were either giants in words or extravagant in their actions.
Never had anyone so silently and naturally done such a trivial yet incredibly thoughtful small thing for her.
Lu Mingyu picked out all the fish bones.
Then he used his chopsticks to pick up the intact piece of fish and gently placed it into Gu Lina Zha's small bowl.
"Eat," he said to her, looking up, his tone flat, as if he had just done something perfectly normal.
But Gu Lina Zha's heart blossomed, bubbling with sweetness.
She nodded vigorously, picked up the fish, and put it in her mouth.
The fish was tender and smooth, melting in her mouth; it was the best-steamed fish she had ever eaten.
"Is it good?" Lu Mingyu asked.
"Delicious!" She nodded hard, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Especially delicious!"
The meal proceeded in a warm and sweet atmosphere.
Neither of them said much more.
But every exchange of glances, every touch of chopsticks, was filled with unspoken understanding.
Halfway through the meal, Lu Mingyu took the initiative to break the warm silence.
"Are you here in Haining City for work this time?"
His question was direct, showing concern for her life.
Gu Lina Zha swallowed her food and replied,
"Yes, there's an event here, and I came to check the details."
"And... and I came to see you, by the way."
As she spoke the last sentence, her voice grew softer, and a blush crept onto her face.
Lu Mingyu heard the important part and understood.
He continued to ask, "When are you leaving?"
This question made Gu Lina Zha pause.
Her original schedule was very tight; she was supposed to fly back to the imperial capital early tomorrow morning.
But now, she didn't want to leave at all.
"Not... not confirmed yet," she said softly, with a hint of personal desire.
Lu Mingyu looked at her, as if seeing through her little thoughts, but he didn't expose them.
He simply instructed very seriously,
"Tell me once the time is confirmed."
"Hm?" Gu Lina Zha looked up, puzzled.
Lu Mingyu looked into her eyes and said, word by word,
"I'll see you off."
I'll see you off.
It was another simple, direct statement.
Yet, it was like a solemn promise, striking Gu Lina Zha's heart.
This meant that this meeting was not an end, but a beginning.
Their story would not be interrupted by her departure.
Gu Lina Zha's heart was sweet, and she nodded vigorously.
But then, a new, and her most worrying, question surfaced in her mind.
She could adjust her schedule for him, could stay in this city for him.
However, the biggest real gap between them was not distance.
It was their identities.
He was a soldier protecting his country, living by discipline and honor.
And she was a star under the spotlight, living in the noisy and glamorous entertainment industry.
These two worlds were vastly different.
She looked up at Lu Mingyu.
The smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented seriousness.
"Lu Mingyu," she spoke softly.
"Hm?"
"My profession... is an actress, a celebrity, as people call it."
Her voice was light, yet carried a heavy weight.
"This industry is very complex."
"There will be many things beyond my control, and there will be many bad news and speculations."
"Do you... really not mind these?"
This question made her feel more uneasy than the previous one about whether they could be a couple.
She could not care how others saw her, but she could not not care how he saw her.
Lu Mingyu stopped his movements when he heard her words.
Slowly, he put down his chopsticks.
This action made Gu Lina Zha's heart jump into her throat.
He looked up, his gaze calmly fixed on her.
Her nervous face was reflected in his clean, pure eyes.
His voice was steady and firm, without the slightest hesitation.
"I don't mind."
These few words were like a calming pill.
Instantly smoothing all the ripples and unease in Gu Lina Zha's heart.
She stared blankly at Lu Mingyu, at his eyes as calm as the sea.
There was not a trace of perfunctoriness, nor a trace of reluctance.
Only a reassuring firmness and seriousness.
He wasn't saying a sweet love confession.
He was stating a fact.
A fact that he had long recognized in his heart.
Gu Lina Zha's eyes immediately reddened.
All her previous worries.
All the concerns about the gap between their two worlds seemed so insignificant at this moment.
What she feared was never outside gossip.
What she feared was only his misunderstanding and concern.
Now, he gave her the answer she wanted most in the simplest and most powerful way.
She sniffled, trying hard not to let tears fall.
She picked up her chopsticks, put a piece of fish in his bowl, her voice thick with a nasal tone.
"You eat more too."
Lu Mingyu looked at her reddened eyes and said nothing more.
He just silently ate the piece of fish she had given him.
For the rest of the meal, the atmosphere was even warmer than before.
It was as if an invisible barrier had been broken, bringing their two hearts closer.
After the meal, Lu Mingyu paid the bill.
They walked out of the restaurant side by side, the evening breeze carrying the slightly salty scent unique to the seaside, feeling very comfortable on their faces.
Gu Lina Zha's phone chimed; it was a message from Sister Liu.
She opened it, glanced at it, then looked up at Lu Mingyu.
"My friend said there's a small park nearby; it's very quiet at night, with few people."
Lu Mingyu checked his watch; it was indeed getting late.
He shook his head and said softly, "It's too late; I need to go back."
His life was always strictly planned by time and discipline.
Although Gu Lina Zha felt a little disappointed,
She understood more.
"Okay, then I'll drive you back," she said with a smile, without any reluctance.
She understood that this was his world.
And she was learning to adapt and integrate into it.
Gu Lina Zha drove, with Lu Mingyu, steadily along the streets of Haining City at night.
There was no music playing in the car, only the faint hum of the air conditioning.
But this quietness made them feel incredibly comfortable and at ease.
Gu Lina Zha's gaze was focused on the road ahead, but the corner of her eye occasionally glanced at the person beside her.
Lu Mingyu sat quietly in the passenger seat.
His body slightly leaned against the backrest, his gaze watching the neon lights flashing past outside the window.
His profile, under the interplay of light and shadow, appeared sharply defined, handsome, and charming.
Gu Lina Zha's heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of contentment.
From the restaurant to the military sub-district, it was only a little over twenty minutes' drive.
But Gu Lina Zha felt that this road was too short, too short.
The car finally stopped at a dimly lit spot not far away.
Just ahead, was the solemn and majestic gate of the military sub-district.
Two guards stood ramrod straight at the entrance, like two statues.
Gu Lina Zha unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't get out of the car immediately.
She turned her head to look at Lu Mingyu, her eyes filled with reluctance.
Lu Mingyu also turned to look at her and said softly,
"I'm here; you should go back and rest early."
Gu Lina Zha didn't speak; she just unbuckled her own seatbelt and then pushed the door open to get out.
She walked around the front of the car to the passenger side door.
Lu Mingyu also pushed his door open and got out.
As soon as he stood firm, Gu Lina Zha threw herself into his arms.
She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his solid chest, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat.
His clean, clear scent lingered at her nose, making her incredibly reluctant to let go.
"After you get back, remember to send me a message."
Her muffled voice came from his embrace.
"Okay," Lu Mingyu raised his hand and gently patted her back, as if comforting a spoiled kitten.
His movements were very gentle, with a clumsy yet incredibly sincere tenderness.
Gu Lina Zha rubbed against him in his embrace, just about to let go.
But Lu Mingyu suddenly spoke, "Wait a moment."
He released his arms from around her, then pulled something out of his jacket pocket.