Chapter 387: Chapter 235: Sauna_2

“What’s wrong?” Chen Cheng keenly noticed something was off with her. “Tell me if there’s anything, even though I’m not by your side right now, I will always support you.”

“I miss you.”

The reply, following a brief silence, caused Chen Cheng’s heart to tremble lightly.

Hoshino Mika’s cheeks instantly flushed red, just like when they first met.

“That…”

She stammered, wanting to say something more but didn’t know how to begin.

Mei Xiang lifted her head, tears visibly welling up in her eyes, “I want to see you, Brother Cheng.”

Chen Cheng’s tone softened as he tenderly said,

“Mei Xiang, don’t be sad. I miss you too, and as soon as I finish the things here, I will be back soon. Be strong and believe that we will see each other very soon.”

He paused, “You don’t have to worry anyone, you’re kind, cute, hardworking, you’re so wonderful. Don’t always feel that you’re not good enough, in my eyes, you are unique.”

“In the meantime, take good care of yourself for me, okay? When I am there, we will do all those fun things together, okay?”

Listening to Chen Cheng’s comforting words, the sweet times of the past week became vivid in Hoshino Mika’s mind once again. Unable to hold back her tears anymore, they finally streamed down uncontrollably.

“Don’t cry now, you won’t look pretty if you cry. Your smile is the most beautiful.”

Mei Xiang mustered a smile, “But… when will you come back?”

“I still have to take you to Mount Fuji,” she said with a trembling voice, “Take you to eat Tokyo’s best ramen, and also Kamakura…”

Her words were filled with grievances like an accusation that Chen Cheng couldn’t be with her often, yet as if she was begging for his companionship.

“We had a promise, once the rice is ripe, I will come.”

Chen Cheng saw the anticipation in her eyes, “I promise, I will do as I say.”

“Really?”

The tears in Hoshino Mika’s eyes welled up again, but this time they were tears of joy, “Brother Cheng, you have to keep your word, no lying to me!”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Chen Cheng pretended to be stern, “I am very trustworthy!”

Hoshino Mika broke into a tearful smile, “Okay okay, I believe you! Then you have to come back soon. I’ll wait for you!”

“Mhm.”

Chen Cheng: “So, what made you think of video calling me?”

“Because…” Hoshino Mika looked at him on the screen, “Today marks our 400th hour together.”

Chen Cheng was startled at first but then realized what she meant.

It turns out, without realizing, so much time had passed between them.

Even though the 400 hours were spent apart, every minute, every second was extremely precious to Hoshino Mika.

“Idiot.”

Chen Cheng’s voice was full of indulgence, “Do you have to specifically remember such things? You are always so adorable.”

“I am not an idiot!”

Hoshino Mika puffed up her cheeks, defiantly retorting, “I just… I just want to remember every moment with you firmly because…”

Her voice grew softer, and her cheeks turned a shade redder.

“Because what?” Chen Cheng prodded, a smirk on his lips.

Hoshino Mika bit her lip, gathering the courage to say, “Because… whenever I miss you, these memories are my sweetest solace.”

Her voice was soft, yet filled with heartfelt emotion, warming Chen Cheng’s heart.

“Mei Xiang, be good.”

“So, do you still remember the Japanese I taught you last time?”

Chen Cheng: “Which phrase?”

Mei Xiang immediately switched to teacher mode, “Let’s test you now, how do you say good morning?”

Chen Cheng smiled lightly, “tsu ma.”

“Look at you~! Again~” Hoshino Mika was about to correct him, but recalling the word Chen Cheng just said, she froze.

“tsu ma…”

She repeated softly, her cheeks flushing even more vividly.

Chen Cheng, watching the shy Hoshino Mika on the screen, clumsily said in Japanese, “Mei Xiang-chan, wife.”

Although Chen Cheng’s Japanese was not fluent, each word was clear, striking Hoshino Mika’s heart chord by chord.

“Brother Cheng…”

Hoshino Mika’s heartbeat raced, her cheeks burning hot as if on fire, she shyly lowered her head, not daring to look straight into Chen Cheng’s eyes, “You… say it again…”

Chen Cheng smiled, “When I am there, I’ll say it again.”

Hoshino Mika’s heart raced even faster, as if about to leap out of her chest.

“So… please come soon…”

“Mei Xiang, wait for me, I will come over very soon.”

“Mhm!” Hoshino Mika nodded vigorously, her face beaming with happiness.

“Alright, it’s getting late, you should rest early.”

“Mhm, and you should rest early too, don’t work too hard.” Hoshino Mika advised, “I will be waiting obediently for you to come back.”

“Okay.” Chen Cheng nodded with a smile, “Good night, Mei Xiang.”

“Good night, Brother Cheng.”

After hanging up the video call, Chen Cheng closed his eyes.

The smile of Mei Xiang lingered in his mind stubbornly.

Such purity, such beauty, like sakura blossoms in spring, or fireflies glimmering in the summer night, enticing one to draw near, to cherish.

He got up and walked to the window, gazing into the night sky of Guiyang, his thoughts drifting far away.

But Chen Cheng also understood clearly, he had another video call to return.

He opened the dialogue box for Wen Shulin and dialed out.

“Finished?”

Wen Shulin adjusted her phone, though her gaze remained on her computer screen.

Chen Cheng watched her profile and asked with a smile, “What do you mean finished?”

“I just called you twice, it was busy.” Wen Shulin turned around, looking at Chen Cheng on the screen, “Eh? Such a small county town has a Baoli hotel?”