Under the moonlight

After Huang Meng and Xu Ao finished their meal, they had just walked to the park when Xu Ao suddenly received a call from his director. There were some problems with the data, and some figures didn't match. He needed to return to the office as soon as possible.

"It's alright. It's not far from my home, and there's not much traffic right now. I'll take a taxi home myself. If you have something to do at work, just go ahead and get on with it. You've just started at a new company. No matter how capable you are in S country, the work environment is different here. There are a lot of people and a lot of gossip here." It's normal for Huang Meng to have this kind of worry. Ever since Xu Ao started working in this new environment, she could hear the fatigue in his voice every time they met. In their kind of work environment, the workload itself is secondary; the most tiring thing is the complicated interpersonal relationships.

“You understand me best. The day before yesterday, Chen Che sent me a message complaining that Jiang Ying was too strict with them, leaving them no time for leisure or entertainment. After that incident, the embassy is also updating its work procedures, requiring staff to remain vigilant at all times, since their country is still in turmoil.”

Xu Ao held Huang Meng's hand in his palm and kneaded it continuously. Hmm, she's still a bit thin. It doesn't feel fleshy when you squeeze it. It seems I need to take her out to eat more good food.

“Yes, it’s true that we need to be cautious. Jiang Ying must be under a lot of pressure. She manages the entire embassy, ​​from people to things, and has to pay attention to everything. It’s no different from being a patriarch. If she’s not strict, things can easily fall apart.” Huang Meng finished speaking and looked at Xu Ao. He took off his glasses, sat in the driver’s seat, and stared at her with a smile in his eyes.

"Yes, that's true, but we're not there anymore, so there's no point in discussing it anymore. However, you seem to care a lot about what happened there." Xu Ao looked at her serious face. She always looked serious and earnest when talking about S country.

Huang Meng sighed, leaned her head back in her seat, looked at the flashing neon lights outside the window, and said in a muffled voice, "I don't know why, maybe it's because I've been through things with them, or maybe it's because I've witnessed their kindness and sincerity, but I always feel that God is too cruel to them, and I also feel that it's really pitiful that they were born in such a country."

"Really? But I don't think they feel sorry for being born in their own country." Xu Ao looked at Huang Meng's profile, leaned closer, and whispered, "Do you remember what Nasha and that young soldier said when we were taken hostage by the mercenaries?"

Xu Ao's words immediately brought Huang Meng's memory back to that time. She clearly remembered the longing and satisfaction in Nasha's eyes when she looked up at the blue sky above.

"Although the war has caused them to experience life and death, and to lose their families, they still deeply love the land they live on. Regardless of the actions of their country's leaders, they truly and passionately love their country and the land beneath their feet."

After Xu Ao finished speaking, he looked at Huang Meng quietly. His words were like a ray of light entering her mind, and a fleeting thought made her blurt out: "Since the war ended, there seems to be no news report about them scattering or fleeing due to food shortages, right?" Huang Meng looked at Xu Ao, wanting to verify whether her guess was correct.

"Yes, that's right. The embassy is only a few hundred meters away from the nearest refugee camp, but they just stay quietly in their tents. Even though they know there is enough food for them in the embassy, ​​no one has ever crossed the line."

Xu Ao recalled that a few days ago, Jiang Ying had contacted him to discuss this issue. The reason she was so nervous was that she was worried that the refugees, lacking sufficient food, might attack the embassy. After all, people can do anything when they are starving.

“They are indeed sincere and kind, which is why they evoke pity.” Huang Meng listened to Xu Ao’s words, thinking of Nasha’s family and then of Duowa. “The adults don’t even have enough food, let alone a baby who still needs to be breastfed. What will happen to Duowa?”

The thought of Duowa, who still needed to be breastfed, brought back vivid images of her clear, bright eyes, making her feel anxious.

"I don't know about that. According to Chen Che, their government has designated an area and set up many tents for them to live in. Apart from that, their country is too small. Apart from this largest tourist city, the other small towns are even smaller than our county towns and they don't have the ability to help. At most, they can provide manpower."

Xu Ao didn't try to deceive her. He told her the facts Chen Che had told him one by one. Although he knew she would worry, he didn't want to use fabricated illusions to fool her because he could see that her feelings for Nasha's family were more than just pity.

“They are such a kind family. Nasha, he saved me and helped me before, but now I can’t do anything for him.” Sure enough, Huang Meng became depressed.

Xu Ao held her hand and pulled her into his arms. Huang Meng took the opportunity to stretch out her arms and hug his waist tightly, burying herself in his chest. She listened to his steady voice above her head: "All we can do now is pray, pray that their country recovers as soon as possible, and pray that they can overcome this difficulty as soon as possible."

After Xu Ao finished speaking, he gently patted her back, keeping a close eye on the person in his arms. After a while, she finally raised her head. Xu Ao looked down at her and thought, "Well, thankfully she didn't cry."

"Xu Ao, do we still have a chance to see them? I really want to see them." Although she was always clear-headed, at this moment, she spoke her mind like a little girl. Yes, that's what she thought, and that's what she said.

Xu Ao stared at her for a while, then suddenly laughed, "Okay, if you want to go, I'll figure something out, alright?"

Xu Ao smiled gently, his eyes seeming to draw her in. Huang Meng buried her face in his chest again. She had only wanted to vent her emotions and indulge herself occasionally. She knew that going to S country was unlikely now, and he understood that she just wanted to release the pent-up frustration in her heart. But he still responded to her so gently, which made her feel a little helpless.

"What, don't you believe me, hmm?" Xu Ao lowered his head and whispered in her ear. His breath made Huang Meng feel a ticklish sensation behind her ear. She reached out to push his face away, but her fingers were captured by his lips. Caught off guard, Huang Meng gasped in surprise. Looking up, she saw a deep desire in his eyes, like a wolf eyeing its prey.