https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-62-Zhou-Chenglei-s-Heart-Skipped-a-Beat/12831759/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-64-Doctor-Gao-Can-You-Please-Stop-Talking-/12831761/
Chapter 63: Fingers Intertwined
Chapter 63: Fingers Intertwined
Zhou Chenglei couldn't help but glance down at the slender, pale arms wrapped around his waist—whiter than his white shirt.
The bicycle suddenly jolted, and the arms around his waist tightened.
Startled, Jiang Xia instinctively clung to his muscular waist. "Watch the road!"
Zhou Chenglei quickly refocused, steadying the bike. He couldn't look away again, but a smile spread across his face, making him look like a fool. He pedaled faster.
The dirt road was bumpy, causing the bicycle to sway left and right, but Jiang Xia held on tightly.
When they reached the town and the road leading to the city, the ride smoothed out. Jiang Xia was more comfortable and thought about letting go, but her arm was caught by a warm, large hand.
Zhou Chenglei glanced ahead, seeing no cars or people on the road.
He slowed down, riding with one hand while the other held her waist. "Jiang Xia."
Jiang Xia's heart skipped a beat, but she tried to stay calm. "Yes?"
Her voice was so soft, Zhou Chenglei wasn't sure if he had heard her, but she didn't pull away, which reassured him. He unconsciously gripped the handlebars tighter. "I don't want a divorce anymore."
Jiang Xia's hand was being squeezed painfully.
She tried to pull away. "It hurts!"
"Sorry," Zhou Chenglei quickly loosened his grip. Just as she was about to pull away, he held on again. "Okay?"
"Why?" Jiang Xia asked.
He replied in a low, magnetic voice, "I like you. I can't bear to let you go. What about you?"
Her? Did she like him?
Zhou Chenglei, such a warm and kind man, anyone would grow to like him after spending time together, Jiang Xia thought.
She couldn't deny feeling a twinge of joy and excitement when he said he didn't want a divorce.
Zhou Chenglei's hands were sweating, and his forehead was damp, but she didn't answer for a long time.
Zhou Chenglei regretted asking her if she liked him. He quickly followed up, "Jiang Xia, let's not get divorced, okay?"
Jiang Xia didn't respond, but she wrapped her other arm around his waist and leaned her head against his broad back, nodding lightly.
She had never been in love, but she knew that was the feeling of being smitten. She was willing to follow her heart.
Zhou Chenglei abruptly stopped the bike, planting his feet on the ground to steady it.
Due to inertia, Jiang Xia's body lurched forward, and he caught her by the shoulders, pulling her up.
Zhou Chenglei turned and embraced her, his voice light but sincere. "Thank you!"
As long as she didn't leave, he would never let her go.
Jiang Xia was held tightly, their hearts close. She could feel his strong, steady heartbeat, which was both reassuring and thrilling.
She raised her hand and hugged him back.
Feeling her response, Zhou Chenglei's arms tightened even more!
"Beep beep..." A car approached from the other end of the road.
Jiang Xia was startled by the car's horn and tried to push him away, but Zhou Chenglei held her head against his chest. "Don't move, there's dust."
Jiang Xia didn't move, her face buried in his chest, too afraid to look up.
She felt the car pass by and her cheeks grow hot, along with the fluttering in her heart.
Wen Juan, sitting in the car, was almost squished, but she still saw the two people embracing by the roadside!
She immediately recognized Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia!
She was shocked and furious. How could they be hugging like that?
The car passed by, stirring up a cloud of dust.
Once the car was gone and the dust settled, Zhou Chenglei released her and smiled. "Let's go."
Jiang Xia's face was red, but she nodded calmly and sat back on the bicycle.
Zhou Chenglei couldn't stop smiling. "Hold on tight, I'm starting to ride."
Jiang Xia wrapped her arms around his waist.
Zhou Chenglei kicked the pedal, and the bicycle started moving.
He released one hand to hold hers, their fingers interlocking tightly, their arms brushing against each other.
He carried her through the fields, over the hills, and through the villages. The gentle morning breeze blew in their faces, and he could feel the warmth of her hand, while she could smell the fresh, crisp scent of him.
Neither of them spoke, but there was no awkward silence.
The journey was longer than Jiang Xia had anticipated. By the time the sun was high in the sky, they still hadn't arrived.
Jiang Xia put on her straw hat and rolled up her sleeves, taking every precaution to protect herself from the sun.
She admired the vast fields, the expansive blue sky, the rolling mountains, the endless sea, and the strong, steady back of the man in front of her.
They had set out around six in the morning, and Zhou Chenglei didn't dare ride too fast, maintaining a speed of about thirty to forty kilometers per hour on flat ground. However, there were many mountain roads, with a lot of uphill and downhill sections, especially the uphill parts, which were quite strenuous.
Despite the effort, he seemed tireless, pedaling steadily, facing the sun, and moving forward.
Jiang Xia was impressed by Zhou Chenglei's stamina and understood why he hadn't let her ride a bicycle with him.
After more than two hours of riding, they still hadn't arrived, but Jiang Xia could see a shipyard in the distance.
She tugged at Zhou Chenglei's shirt and asked, "Is this a shipyard?"
Zhou Chenglei also looked at the shipyard. He had some savings and was considering buying a boat. He nodded and replied, "Yes."
Jiang Xia recalled the setting in the novel. By the end of the year, the prices of boats would start to rise, and they would rise rapidly, getting more expensive each year.
In the book, Zhou Chenglei's maritime business was very successful. He made a lot of money before the prices of boats skyrocketed and ordered two boats, which everyone thought was incredibly lucky.
However, when he bought the boats, the prices had already risen by over a thousand, and that wasn't even the major increase. The prices would rise by a few hundred each year, and in a few years, the increase would be even faster. In modern times, it would cost far more than ten thousand to buy a decent-sized fishing boat.
Jiang Xia asked, "How much does a boat cost now?"
Zhou Chenglei replied, "It depends on the size and configuration. The boat at home was a second-hand one that my father bought for the production team. It had been used for several years and still cost three thousand. The original price was probably around six or seven thousand. Now, it might be even more, maybe eight thousand or more. The price of boats increases every year."
Jiang Xia asked again, "Do you want to buy another boat?"
Zhou Chenglei admitted, "I've been thinking about it."
He wanted to make her life better as soon as possible. Initially, he planned to wait until he had more money to buy a larger boat for deep-sea fishing, but now he thought it would be better to buy a smaller one first and earn a bit more each day.
Jiang Xia knew he had some savings because he never hid his finances from her. "Now that the reform and opening-up have begun, the price of boats will rise quickly. If we have the money, I think we should buy one as soon as possible. If not, we should at least place an order and pay a deposit. We should go back and see how much money we have together. I wish I had brought out those two pearls to sell; they should be worth something."
Zhou Chenglei squeezed her hand, a smile spreading across his face. "No need. I have some savings. The deposit should be enough."
"Shall we go to the shipyard this afternoon when we return? We're supposed to go out to sea for the next three days, starting today."
"Sure, whatever you say." Zhou Chenglei's lips curved into a smile. He liked discussing the future with her, and her insights were very much in line with his own.
After another half an hour, they finally reached the city, having spent over three hours on the road. It was already past ten o'clock!
In the city, they could see rows of buildings lining the roads, most of them three to four stories high, with some reaching six to seven stories.
The city was much busier than the town, with people riding bicycles and cars on the streets.
Zhou Chenglei rode the bicycle into the military hospital.
Ah, it's a bit late, but I hope this chapter brings you a little sweetness ^_^
(End of Chapter)
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