Sitting on the bed, his gaze always gently swept across it, because this bed carried Ruby Bluen's scent as well as his own. Though they had never embraced in sleep, at least their scents had mingled first.

His mind always flashed back to when she had a cold, lying weakly on his bed, looking so helpless, so heart-wrenchingly pitiable. Especially when she had a fever, so delirious she cried, the sight of it twisted his heart with pain. Because he was a soldier, he paid meticulous attention to his conduct. Because she was his prospective sister-in-law, he loved her but dared not show it. He had thought that by pushing her away, by sending her back to his elder brother's side, he could return to a normal life, stop thinking about her, stop missing her. Little did he know he was profoundly wrong. When she left, his heart left with her. Especially after discovering his brother had married Julia Bluen, he nearly lost his mind. He chased after her but never caught up, never managed to keep her with him. She ultimately returned to T City, just as he had initially, misguidedly, wished. At that moment, he hated himself intensely! He desperately called her number, but her phone was always switched off. He knew he had hurt her deeply. Her love for him was so persistent; she had braved storms and perilous waves to travel to Tibet alone, just to be with him. And yet he… He regretted it, deeply regretted that his worry, his anxiety, his attempts at protection had become the very instruments that wounded her. If only, the moment she arrived in Tibet and threw herself into his arms, he had immediately called his elder brother, perhaps they would be inseparably close by now. After calling her cellphone over a thousand times, all without an answer, he resorted to sending her messages. In truth, he wasn't skilled at texting; he much preferred making calls. But for her sake, he spent a long time composing and sending countless messages, pouring out his feelings. After sending that message of confession, he felt a great burden lift, as if the love buried deep in his heart had finally been expressed. He explained everything to her, point by point, and apologized. He just hoped there was still a chance for things to turn around. He just hoped he hadn't completely shattered her heart. After sending countless messages, he waited anxiously for her reply. During those two days, whenever he had a free moment, he would pull out his phone and stare at the screen. It was the most he had ever fixated on his phone in his thirty years, to the point that his soldiers thought his brain had been addled by fever. When he finally received her reply, he was overjoyed and immediately made a long-distance call to her. Separated by vast distances and the invisible space of wireless communication, the two of them reconciled over the phone, pouring out their heartfelt feelings to each other. Once he knew he still had a chance, it was as if he had come back to life. From now on, no matter what difficulties or storms lay ahead, he would not push her away again. He was determined to face them together with her.

After he joined the army and was stationed in Tibet, T City became a place he avoided.

He didn't want to see her with his elder brother; such a scene would pierce his heart. But after she left, he realized that T City was actually the place he longed to return to the most. He couldn't abandon his entire battalion to follow her back to T City. She, too, had become much more rational and wouldn't enter Tibet again for him. Fortunately, his transfer order arrived. This time, he didn't hesitate, resolutely accepting the transfer and preparing to return to T City.

In two days, he would depart.

RING, RING, RING... The phone began to ring.

Marcel Horne quickly pulled out his phone. Upon seeing Ruby Bluen's name on the caller ID, his usually stoic and cold face instantly softened into tenderness. He never knew he could change expression so fast.

He quickly answered the call. Before Ruby Bluen could speak, he eagerly said, "Ruby."

"Marcel," Ruby Bluen's gentle voice came through. It was as soft as cotton brushing his face, making his entire heart feel as if it had turned to silk. "Aren't you asleep yet?"

"No," Marcel Horne responded in a soft voice. "Is it cold in T City? Remember to wear an extra couple of layers. I'll be back in a couple of days. If you catch a cold, watch out, I'll punish you."

"The weather has started to change. It began to drizzle this afternoon, and the wind felt chilly. T City's winter has finally arrived, a bit late, but not too late." Ruby Bluen's voice remained as soft as cotton, gently reaching Marcel Horne's ears. "Tibet must be very cold now. Make sure you keep warm. You absolutely must wear that military greatcoat. I... I'll wait for you to come back."

"Mm," Marcel Horne answered, his voice low and slightly hoarse.

Being cared for by the one he loved... what a sweet sensation it was.

"You didn't go out?" Marcel Horne then asked. They didn't exchange overly sweet nothings, just talked about everyday things.

"I was by myself, so I didn't feel like going out. I turned down a few party invitations."

"You should go out more, be a bit more active. Attending some parties wouldn't hurt either; you can meet more people," Marcel Horne's deep voice had never sounded so gentle.

Ruby Bluen fell silent.

When a long moment passed without a response, Marcel Horne thought she might have hung up and couldn't help but call out, "Ruby?"

"The hosts of those parties all invited Glades and me to attend together," Ruby Bluen said. "They still think of me as Glades's wife."

Glades Horne had begun to make Julia Bluen's identity public, but not through a formal press conference. Therefore, many people were still unaware that Glades Horne had married Julia Bluen, not Ruby Bluen.