"Amo, this is the environmental map I just drew in the spatial. We've unlocked a radius of two hundred kilometers this time. Look at this urban node map. Let's go eat, explore, and eat some more! I also want to visit a few century-old stores and unlock some of the spatial buildings."
"Hey, hey, hey, slow down a bit. Can you show me the topographic map again?"
"Alright, tomorrow we'll have plenty of time to look at maps on the road. You need to perform well. My dear husband, work a little harder tomorrow night and I'll draw a simple map of the coastal defense city for you."
"I must perform well. I'll follow all your instructions, my dear."
"Alright then, let's go now! Snack street, here I come!" Finally, Xiangbei found a bit of the feeling of going to the night market for street food in modern times.
The food in Liuhe Town clearly has more southern characteristics, with fewer noodle dishes and more rice-based products. The flavors tend to be cool, sweet, and glutinous, and you can also find fresh seafood products.
Eager to try everything, taking a bite of each, with a handsome boyfriend responsible for footing the bill and finishing off the leftovers, this guy's boyfriend potential score is quite high. Feeling pleased with herself all the way, North was drawn by a familiar aroma at the end of the street, where a pot of thick assorted seafood soup with rice noodle was bubbling. A young couple with a son and daughter sat around a small table, steam rising from their two bowls of rice porridge soup.
The taste of hometown flavors, from childhood to adulthood, unexpectedly opened the floodgates of her memories in this ancient alley. Every morning, her father would go to the neighbor's grandfather downstairs who run a breakfast shop to order three bowls of oyster porridge rice noodle and they would eat a warm bowl together before her mother and her went to work. Staying up late to study, her parents would accompany her to the night snack market for a night of assorted seafood porridge, smiling as they watched her eat. On weekends, when they went on vacation to fishing villages or ancient towns, the whole family would order a large mud pot of shrimp and crab stew porridge with lots of chopped green onions and coriander, divided into three small bowls to share.
Attentive Chang Mo ordered two servings of fish and shrimp rice noodle porridge, asked Xiang Bei sat down to eat with him.
Tears mixed with the hot soup, the more she tried to hold back, the harder it became to stop, Xiang Bei knuckles grasping the edge of the bowl turning white. Tearing and eating, Xiang Bei's body trembled slightly due to the strong suppression of her restraint. Finally realizing something was wrong, As he approached, Cheng Mo gently broke her grip on the bowl, took it from her and put it down, then wrapped her waist and brought her into his arms, sweeping her away around the corner.
By the tranquil banks of the Willow River, Xiang Bei finally broke down in tears, cried out in pain, sobbing loudly. watching as the figures of her parents gradually faded into the distance, disappearing from view amidst her tears. Through her tears, she caught sight of little girl Tong, the girl who had been taken over her soul by , the figure of the young girl who had replaced her soul was carefully concealing her own secret in front of the Tong family.
Buried her longing, haunted by guilt towards the Tong family and fear of being exposed, worried about the uncertain consequences of the fluttering butterfly wings, she bore too much alone. This familiar taste of seafood rice noodle porridge, like floodgates opening, unleashed the floodwaters of emotions that Xiang Bei had kept bottled up for so long, almost on the verge of collapse.
Having lived through two lifetimes, she had never cried so freely and deeply, until she grew weary and sleepy. Through her tears, she saw the man who trusted her unconditionally, who accompanied her and protected her without question. Xiang Bei softly nestled into the arms of Cheng Mo, and soon drifted into dreams.
Walking slowly under the starry sky with the person in his arms, Cheng Mo had never felt so reassured. He had never seen his beloved girl cry like this before, but amidst her tears, he could distinctly feel a sense of letting go, as well as trust. Yes, it was trust—the kind of complete trust that no longer needed to hide or conceal anything in front of him. From now on, she wouldn't have to bear her burdens alone anymore,with him by her side, wouldn't she?
When Xiang Bei woke up in Cheng Mo's arms, they were already on the carriage continuing their journey southward.
"Did you just hold me like this all night?"
"I wanted to let you go too, but unless I cut off the clothes you grabbed onto, and this icy silver robe was a gift from my maternal family for my coming-of-age ceremony when I turned eighteen. I can't ruin it, so I had no choice but to hold you in bed and then onto the carriage." Cheng Mo looked down at the embarrassed girl in his arms and decided to ask for a little benefit for himself, "Ah, for several hours I couldn't sleep at all, and even these arms are almost useless now."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Here, let me massage them for you. You must be very tired, aren't you?" Xiang Bei quickly got up from Cheng Mo's body, stretching his clothes and massaging his hands. She moved the bedding for him, then considerately rubbed two hot towels in the hot spring to clean his hands and face, and brought out a cup of milk tea.
"Am I dreaming?" Cheng Mo wanted to say something playful, but couldn't resist the drowsiness that hit him.
Xiang Bei tucked him in, then went into the space to freshen herself up. With that cry, she let go of her past worries, present anxieties, and future uncertainties. She had never slept so peacefully and securely as she did last night. The embrace of this young man made her feel at ease.