Chapter 99
When Jian Yao woke up, she saw the thin face of the person beside her.
It was dawn, and the world outside the window seemed to be shrouded in a fine mist. This was a small town in Yunnan, the mid-point of their journey. In this moment of tranquility, she reached out a hand to touch his sleeping countenance.
Several years had passed by in the blink of an eye. He had not seemed to change at all, just that he was a bit thinner. Looking at the serenely sleeping face of the person beside her, the memory came to her of that Mr. Bo whose outward appearance was cold and arrogant, but who was warm inside, standing in a villa in the mountains . . . her heart ached a little.
Her fingers moved along his face: the jut of his eyebrows, the bridge of his nose, his cheekbones, his chin . . . all of a sudden, he caught hold of her. With his eyes closed, he said, “You’re still the same, an expert in teasing and provoking.”
Jian Yao did not say anything, but laughed in spite of herself. She withdrew her hand, only to have him grab it and bring it to his lips for a kiss. After a while, he touched her cheeks and said with a little sigh, “You’ve lost weight, but this is chubby.” Jian Yao laughed but did not speak. She slipped her hand under the blanket and stroked down his body. When she reached his abdomen, she also gave a little sigh and said, “Oh, no, the muscles that you were developing are gone, too.”
Bo Jinyan was momentarily silent before saying, “When we get back, my first priority will be to regain my fitness.” Jian Yao smiled and brought his hand to rest on her own abdomen, saying, “On the other hand, I have muscles now.” Previously, her stomach was always soft. Now, Bo Jinyan touched supple and smooth lines. He clicked his tongue and continued to grope her while exclaiming in admiration, until Jian Yao’s face flamed.
So it was that on this early morning, with war just around the corner, the two of them, husband and wife, both intelligent and tenacious detectives, were cosying up in bed, touching each other, holding each other, talking in a leisurely manner, for a long time.
It was now thoroughly bright.
Jian Yao finished washing up and walked into the living room, clean and neat. Bo Jinyan was standing next to a pile of dossiers, looking pensive. Jian Yao got straight to the point as she asked, “What’s your plan?”