Xiao Lu's eyes widened like brass bells as she watched Gu Lina Zha effortlessly lift the heavy training suit with one hand.
The expression on her face could only be described as utter horror.
"Naza-jie, your strength... it's too terrifying, isn't it?"
She had used both hands and still almost strained her back.
Gu Lina Zha just smiled, offering no explanation.
This was something her boyfriend had mailed from so far away; no matter how heavy it was, what did it matter?
He always found a way, in the most direct manner, to make her feel his presence.
"That should be everything in the box, right?"
Gu Lina Zha asked, preparing to move the box aside.
"Oh, wait, Naza-jie!"
Xiao Lu seemed to remember something and bent down, reaching into the large cardboard box to rummage around.
"Looks like there's still something else."
She mumbled, and soon, pulled out a flat, hard-cased document envelope from the bottom of the box.
The document envelope was well-sealed and felt quite weighty in her hand.
Xiao Lu's curiosity was completely piqued.
She squeezed it, feeling something like cards inside.
"Was this also sent by Captain Lu? So mysterious."
Saying that, she prepared to tear open the seal of the document envelope.
"Let me do it."
Gu Lina Zha's voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
She put down the training suit in her hand and took the document envelope from Xiao Lu.
Her intuition told her that the contents inside belonged only to her and Lu Mingyu.
With her fingertips, she slid open the seal, and Gu Lina Zha poured out the contents.
A bank card and a neatly folded letter fell together into her palm.
"Wow! A bank card!"
Xiao Lu's eyes instantly lit up, and she leaned closer.
Looking at the black card, she couldn't help but exclaim,
"Captain Lu is too generous!"
"Is this for your pocket money?"
Gu Lina Zha's heart gave a sudden leap.
Almost instinctively, she quickly clutched the letter in her palm.
Then she handed the bank card to Xiao Lu.
Her movements were swift, so swift that Xiao Lu didn't even catch what was written on the envelope.
"Put it in my wallet and keep it safe."
Gu Lina Zha instructed, her tone calm, betraying no emotion.
"Oh, okay."
Xiao Lu took the bank card, and although she was full of curiosity about the letter,
Seeing Gu Lina Zha's demeanor, she knew not to ask too many questions.
She obediently put the card away, then looked at Gu Lina Zha.
Gu Lina Zha no longer paid attention to Xiao Lu; her entire focus was on the letter in her palm.
The texture of the letter paper was rough, like the kind most commonly used in the military.
Through the paper, she could almost feel the warmth left by his fingertips as he wrote.
She took a deep breath and carefully placed the letter into her pocket.
Then, she bent down and picked up the black weighted training suit.
"Click."
"Click."
She skillfully fastened each buckle, adjusting the tightness.
Twenty catties of weight were evenly distributed across her shoulders, back, waist, and abdomen, creating a heavy, reassuring feeling.
It was like his strong arms were embracing her from behind.
"Naza-jie, are you going to put it on now?" Xiao Lu asked in surprise.
"Yes, I'll go for a couple of laps outside, get some exercise."
Gu Lina Zha's voice sounded very relaxed, even a little joyful.
"Then be careful, okay? This is too heavy." Xiao Lu warned worriedly.
"Don't worry."
Gu Lina Zha smiled at her and turned to walk towards the door.
The morning sunlight was just right, streaming through the villa's French windows and casting a golden halo around her.
She no longer looked as dejected and helpless as she had last night; instead, she was full of strength and anticipation.
Stepping out of the villa, the cool morning breeze greeted her.
Gu Lina Zha didn't immediately start running.
She walked to a long bench in the yard, looked around, and confirmed that no one was nearby.
Then, like a child who had received candy, she eagerly pulled out the letter from her pocket.
Her heart was pounding fast, as if it wanted to leap out of her chest.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she slowly unfolded the letter paper.
His familiar, strong handwriting instantly came into view.
"Naza:"
"Seeing this letter is like seeing you."
"When I wrote this letter, I had just finished my patrol."
"The night in the mountains is very quiet; I can hear the chirping of insects and the sound of the wind, which also makes me miss you even more intensely."
Gu Lina Zha's eyes instantly welled up.
She bit her lip, forcing herself not to let the tears fall, and continued reading.
"You said we were going to get our marriage certificate, and I was so happy I couldn't sleep all night."
"When I closed my eyes, all I saw was you in a white wedding dress."
"This thought made me overjoyed and restless in bed."
"But I don't care; if I can marry you, what does it matter if I'm a silly boy?"
Upon reading this, Gu Lina Zha couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Yet, tears unbiddenly streamed down her cheeks.
This man, even his expressions of love were so clumsy, yet so sincere.
"The training suit I sent you is a beginner's model; it's not very heavy."
"When you start, don't rush; take it slow and let your body adapt first."
"Remember, no matter what, protecting yourself and not getting injured is more important than anything else."
"That card contains all my savings from these past years, as well as the money my parents saved for me to marry a wife."
"The password is your birthday."
"Now, all my assets are in your hands; you can't run away now."
"My mom called a few days ago, hinting around and asking me,"
"When I would bring my future daughter-in-law home for her to see."
"She's been talking about you for a long time; my second uncle showed her your photo."
"My mom said the girl in the photo was too beautiful and she was afraid someone else would snatch her away."
Gu Lina Zha's heart felt as if it had been steeped in warm water, both warm and soft.
It turned out he had already planned her into his entire future.
His family, his savings, his everything.
She wiped away her tears, her gaze falling on the last line of the letter.
That line was written with more force than any sentence before it, as if to engrave itself into the paper.
"Gu Lina Zha, I, Lu Mingyu, am not a man who speaks pretty words."
"I just want to tell you, from the first time I saw you, I knew."
"You are the woman I will marry in this lifetime."
The letter ended abruptly here.
There were no flowery words, no lingering declarations of love.
Only the most simple, yet most fervent, promise.
Gu Lina Zha could no longer hold back.
She pressed the letter tightly against her chest, letting her tears flow freely.
She had originally thought the letter would contain something similar to the training suit.
Some instructions for her to take care of her body and train well.
She never expected it to be... a belated love letter.
It was a man's sincere heart, delivered to her.
All the grievances, all the helplessness, all the fear and sorrow of separation.
At this moment, they were completely soothed by this letter.
Her heart was filled to the brim with emotions named happiness and peace.
She knew she wasn't enduring it alone.
He was also with her, supporting her, in his own way.
She cried for a long time, and she laughed for a long time.
Only then did Gu Lina Zha carefully, as if handling a rare treasure,
Refold the letter and place it back into the innermost pocket of her sportswear.