CHAPTER 534: CHAPTER 536: I’LL GO BACK TO BE WITH YOU

After Feiling left, Xia Xiao visited the active volcano, but besides feeling a faint heat, there was nothing else; she didn’t go to the furnace and dared not disturb Shitou, let alone know how he was now.

But since the volcano hadn’t erupted, Shitou should still be fine, right?

"Where are you?" Gao Jiaxing called.

"Brother Gao, I’m planning to go to Country A to watch Feiyi compete in the Olympic Games," Xia Xiao said.

"Feiteng and Feiling have already gone there; I’m alone at home," Gao Jiaxing said.

Xia Xiao hesitated, then replied, "Okay, I’ll come back to keep you company."

"Waiting for you," the words came through the phone from Gao Jiaxing.

After hanging up the phone, Xia Xiao tried to call Feiling but the line was busy, so she called Feiteng instead.

"Mom, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my little sister. You go back and accompany Dad. I think Dad’s quite pitiful," Feiteng said as soon as he picked up.

At that, the corners of Xia Xiao’s mouth twitched, "Then why don’t you accompany your dad?"

"Dad doesn’t want me to," Feiteng replied.

"Alright, I’m hanging up now; tell Feiling I won’t be coming anymore and for you guys to have a good time. Hmm, and contact Feiyi when you get there."

After ending the call, Xia Xiao hung up and changed her ticket to return home.

Feiteng told Feiling after hanging up, "Mom just called and said she’s not coming. She’s going back to accompany our old man. Let’s go."

"Alright, Dad does need Mom’s company," Feiling nodded in complete understanding.

"I think Dad’s quite pitiful," Feiteng stated.

"How so?" Feiling was puzzled.

"Dad can’t go around due to his identity. Mom is often away, we’ve grown up and live elsewhere too. Now that Sister Weilin is pregnant, Grandma and Grandpa have moved straight to her place. Dad pretty much stays in the military. But I’ve noticed he’s been coming home more often. He just faces a cold, empty house when he does, with Mom not there."

Feiteng finished, and Feiling nodded, "The way you put it, Dad does seem quite pitiful."

Now pitied by his children, Gao Jiaxing hung up the phone and hummed a military tune. After giving the guards a day off, it wasn’t until then he realized there was no food at home and since everyone was often away, they didn’t hire a maid.

Gao Jiaxing looked around the house and started to tidy up, sweeping the floors, mopping, wiping tables, sofas, chairs, windows, the kitchen, the toilet—making sure everything was spotlessly clean.

After a simple lunch and a rest, Gao Jiaxing left around three o’clock to pick up Xia Xiao from the airport in the family’s usual car.

Xia Xiao landed at half-past five and spotted that familiar car as soon as she got out of the airport. Dragging her suitcase behind her, she approached and saw Gao Jiaxing rolling down the car window.

Xia Xiao was startled and then broke into a smile, having assumed the guard Xiao Zhang was driving, she didn’t expect Gao Jiaxing himself to come pick her up.

Xia Xiao placed her suitcase on the back seat and then sat in the front seat, "Where’s Xiao Zhang?"

"He took a day off," Gao Jiaxing started the car and turned to ask Xia Xiao, "What would you like to eat?"

"Anything’s fine," Xia Xiao hadn’t eaten much on the plane, though she wasn’t very hungry as she had eaten a little before departure.

She had assumed Gao Jiaxing was going to take her out to a restaurant, but unexpectedly, he drove to the market.

Xia Xiao found she hadn’t been to the market to buy groceries in a long time, and turning to Gao Jiaxing, she asked, "Brother Gao, what would you like to eat? I’ll cook for you."

The corners of Gao Jiaxing’s mouth curled up, "Anything is fine, as long as you’re the one making it."

The couple got out of the car together and walked into the market. Gao Jiaxing wasn’t in his military uniform but in casual clothes, and so was Xia Xiao; they both looked even younger dressed like this.

"Shrimp, crab, fish, ribs, duck, cauliflower, carrots, Chinese cabbage, green beans, eggplants..." Gao Jiaxing went on a shopping spree and ended up carrying a bunch of groceries in his hands.

"Isn’t this enough? The kids aren’t around, and we won’t be able to finish all these vegetables," commented Xia Xiao, at a loss for words.

"No problem, they won’t go bad by tomorrow, and we do have a refrigerator at home," Gao Jiaxing finished saying and then added, "We haven’t bought eggs yet."

After giving it some thought, Xia Xiao went to buy a few eggs and also got some fruit.

They drove back home where the refrigerator was empty. Xia Xiao thought about the fact that there had been nobody home, and Gao Jiaxing, upon his arrival, would have to shop and cook for himself; a soft feeling enveloped her heart.

She had been away for half a year and only just returned. Had it not been for Gao Jiaxing’s phone call, Xia Xiao feared she might still be in country A right now.

Upon her return, Xia Xiao took the initiative to cook and was ready to showcase her culinary skills, preparing a delicious meal for Gao Jiaxing.

The duck was already butchered, and the fish too. Gao Jiaxing went straight into the kitchen to wash the vegetables, cut the duck, and clean the fish, shrimp, and crab.

"We’ll make beer duck, spicy crab, and steamed egg custard shrimp..."

"Good."

Soon the stove was lit, Gao Jiaxing was cooking the rice, and Xia Xiao, already wearing an apron Gao Jiaxing had tied for her, started preparing the dishes with Gao Jiaxing acting as her sous chef.

"Brother Gao, taste this, did I get the flavor right?" Xia Xiao extended the cooking spatula towards Gao Jiaxing for him to try the dish.

"Mm, not bad, very delicious," Gao Jiaxing tasted and nodded continuously, then brought the other half to Xia Xiao’s mouth, "You try."

After tasting it, Xia Xiao also nodded, "Just right, let’s serve it up."

Gao Jiaxing then handed her a clean plate, and Xia Xiao dished out the beer duck they had cooked.

Soon after the meal was ready, Gao Jiaxing had washed the dishes and retrieved a bottle of wine from the wine cabinet along with two wine glasses.

Xia Xiao arched an eyebrow, silently observing Gao Jiaxing’s actions, and then said, "I’m going to take a shower."

Smelling of grease after cooking, Xia Xiao took off the apron and yearned for a shower. Gao Jiaxing said, "I’ll get your clothes."

Xia Xiao, "..." With a faint smile on her face at his eagerness, she went straight into the bedroom and into the bathroom.

It was already 2000, and the house was equipped with modern electric appliances, which made everything very convenient. Xia Xiao turned on the water heater for a shower.

The bathroom at home was renovated at Xia Xiao’s request, with a bathroom in the master bedroom featuring a large bathtub, which was Xia Xiao’s favorite indulgence when feeling tired; a bath in the tub.

After filling the tub and adding some essential oils, she slipped out of her clothes and lay down in the water.

Mmm, Xia Xiao let out a contented sigh, her entire body relaxed, feeling that home was truly the best; no matter how luxurious the living accommodations were while traveling, none provided the peace of mind she found at home.

The bathroom door creaked open as Gao Jiaxing walked in.

"You are going to take a shower too?" asked Xia Xiao.

"Together."

"Okay, together."

Months had gone by since they had seen each other, and they both yearned for one another; their passion ignited in an instant, and soon the bathroom echoed with sounds that made cheeks flush and hearts race.

In the end, Xia Xiao, feeling weak and with wobbly knees, was carried out by Gao Jiaxing. After toweling off and getting dressed, Gao Jiaxing took Xia Xiao to the dining table.