Chapter 48: Going Home

Spending New Year’s alone wasn’t really that difficult, after all, there were plenty of entertainment options in this era. And many interactions were with machines or AI, so even if someone entertained themselves alone, they wouldn’t be bothered by strange looks from others.

Jiang Miao had been living like this for years.

But this year, it felt unbearable.

Actually, a few days ago, when she asked Yan He if he wanted to go to District 24 to see the snow, it was just for show. Jiang Miao had already made plans for the New Year in advance, but she didn’t expect to be hit by the blow of Yan He having to be on duty aboard the ship.

With her plans ruined, she tagged along with Tanaka to two parties. She felt tired and bored; she was never really a party girl anyway. Tanaka was tired too, spending all his energy warding off admirers for her and missing out on his own peach blossoms.

By the way, Tanaka had recently gotten back together with an ex. After many years, both had matured a lot, and they had enjoyed a sweet month together. But then they realized that they had changed a lot during the years they were apart. After the initial passion of reuniting, they found they had less in common, especially in terms of their values and how they lived their lives.

So after a passionate reconciliation, they broke up again.

Tanaka was single once more.

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(Kkydt Ykys: …)

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Jwv kd vbkp lay, sb, vbkp lay, Kkydt Ykys eyale dsv bsrl.

Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, she went to Yan He’s room, clutching her pillow, and slept on his gravity bed. Unexpectedly, she slept better than in her own bedroom.

This must be because high-gravity was an environment she had adapted to since she was in the womb.

It definitely wasn’t because of the faint scent of Yan He on the sheets.

Feeling bored at home on the last two days of the holiday, Jiang Miao went out for shopping.

In this era, within the capital star circle, almost any daily necessities could be delivered within twenty minutes to an hour. Only specially customized items took longer.

But shopping malls still existed, offering a pleasant environment and complete services, mainly to satisfy the enduring human desire for “shopping.”

There was no need to carry the purchased items. When paying with eye scans, the merchants obtained the delivery address and directly packaged and delivered the goods.

While people were still shopping on the streets, the items had already been delivered home and received by AI.

Shopping had always been a relaxing and enjoyable activity, especially for women.

Without having to carry anything, she didn’t feel like she had bought a lot. With Jiang Miao’s economic ability, she didn’t feel like she had spent much money either.

So, feeling tired from shopping, she found a quaint coffee shop for afternoon tea, and upon returning home, was surprised by the mountain of packages piled up in the living room.

“Doctor, these are all the goods you received today,” Xiaona said, “I’m sure shopping was very enjoyable.”

It was enjoyable to some extent, but Jiang Miao couldn’t even remember what she had bought. She had no choice but to open each package one by one.

Hmm, this one was her new dress, and this one was the waist pillow she bought for Yan He.

This one is hers, and this one is Yan He’s.

This one is hers, and this one is Yan He’s.

This one is Yan He’s, and this one is still Yan He’s.

Yan He’s, Yan He’s…

Jiang Miao: …

Always feeling like she unintentionally revealed something.

Sigh.

Finally, after enduring through the New Year holiday, everyone sluggishly returned to work for three days, and it was finally the day Yan He disembarked.

At noon, Jiang Miao received a message forwarded by Yan He through the transfer: [Getting off the ship in the afternoon, then have a meeting at the base. Don’t wait for me for dinner. It might be late, you go ahead and sleep first.]

Yan He didn’t know that because of this message, Jiang Miao’s project laboratory staff had a very miserable day.

After the holiday’s revelry and partying, the holiday blues had not yet faded away. Everyone hoped the boss could go easy on them and give them a break.

But the terrifying thing about Dr. Jiang was that on only the third day of work, when everyone else was still feeling down, she could energetically throw herself into work with all her heart and soul.

Subordinates occasionally stole glances, only to see Dr. Jiang Miao wearing virtual goggles in front of the data console, gesturing and scribbling in the air.

Focused, incredibly serious.

Everyone tried to signal to Second Boss Tanaka, sending messages.

However, Tanaka, feeling the low pressure of Jiang Miao more acutely due to his proximity, found the feeling strangely refreshing. At this moment, he couldn’t summon the spirit of self-sacrifice to sacrifice his happiness for everyone else’s.

Ignoring his colleagues’ resentful glances, Dr. Tanaka took off his goggles from his forehead and put them on, accompanying diligent Dr. Jiang in working overtime.

…

Jiang Miao sighed deeply.

Indeed, throwing oneself wholeheartedly into work could effectively alleviate the boredom of life.

As she turned her head, she couldn’t help but be stunned: “Why hasn’t everyone left yet? It’s already this late? Why haven’t you gone home yet? Do we need to work overtime? Tanaka, isn’t the progress going well? Won’t it miss the deadline? Why is everyone suddenly so diligent?”

Dr. Jiang was puzzled.

Tanaka/others: …

Flipping the table!

When Jiang Miao returned home, Yan He still hadn’t come back. After Jiang Miao showered and changed clothes, she came out to the living room, which was still empty and pitch-black.

Jiang Miao didn’t have motion-sensing lights. She didn’t like the idea of lights turning on wherever someone walked. The lights in the house were still old-fashioned voice-controlled ones.

Glancing at the time on the wall, she thought about calling Yan He but remembered his message saying he would be in meetings until late… Jiang Miao curled up on the sofa alone and casually glanced at the screen.

As time passed, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

In her dreams, she imagined that when Yan He returned, she would strike a noble and aloof pose on the sofa for him.

She even had the lines she would say to him planned out!

She would say, “I heard the Military Officer’s Club’s hunk party was very interesting. Colonel, why didn’t you get me an invitation as well?”

As she thought about saying this, she would wear a knowing and reserved smile, calmly enjoying the change in someone’s expression after being exposed.

The plan in her dream was perfect.

She woke up because she heard the sound of the balcony door opening and closing, and suddenly sat up in a daze.

The door was still open, and the light from the platform illuminated a slender silhouette. Jiang Miao rubbed her eyes and made out the outline of a uniform shoulder patch and a wide-brimmed hat.

Forget about being noble and aloof, forget about calmly enjoying it all. She forgot all her lines, her throat suddenly unable to produce any sound, unable to even call out his name.

Before she could fully react, she had already kicked off her slippers and thrown herself into his arms.

Grabbing hold of his lapel, she deeply breathed in his scent. Ah, this was the smell!

Satellite No. 1 was the largest red moon, and it was very close to the capital star, close enough to faintly see the traces of artificial structures with the naked eye.

Yan He had returned from the battleship to the base for a meeting, and with a slight tilt of his head, he could see the capital star divided into day and night through the large glass windows of the meeting room.

Jiang Miao was in the nighttime part.

After the meeting finally ended, he prepared to take a short-range spacecraft back to the capital star.

Yan He glanced up at the huge planet in the sky from the boarding platform and sensed his unusual mood.

It was very unfamiliar, indescribable, and inexplicable.

Strange, excitement mixed with apprehension, but the urgency couldn’t be suppressed. Looking up at the star, his heart fluttered.

Yan He’s daily routine involved shuttling back and forth between the capital star and the military base on Satellite No. 1 using short-range spacecraft. The journey was very short, only forty minutes.

Before he knew it, he had already landed at the docking point on the capital star.

With that strange and complex feeling, Yan He took his private car and soared into the sky, turning into a wisp of smoke as he headed towards Nes Garden.

After getting out of the car on the parking platform and seeing the balcony door open, Yan He suddenly understood the complex and strange feeling in his heart.

If it were to be broken down, it would be “anticipation” and “coming home.”

If combined, it would be anticipating coming home, one thing.

So that’s how it was.

As soon as Yan He stepped inside the door, he saw the person he missed climb up from the sofa, looking dazed. With messy hair and eyes seemingly unable to open due to the light from the parking platform, she rubbed them hard.

He wanted to say stop rubbing, what if those beautiful eyes got red from rubbing too hard.

But before he could move his lips, he was pulled into her arms.

Lowering his head, he deeply breathed in, hmm, this was the scent.

Yan He tossed his hat aside and cupped Jiang Miao’s face…

No one said a word.

Since they met, this was the first time they had been apart for half a month. Meeting again, embracing each other, they realized that longing had penetrated their bones.

No one wanted to speak, they just wanted comfort from each other, wanting to eliminate any gap between them, merging into one.

Staggering, they made their way from the living room to the dining room. The hat and uniform casually fell to the floor. The home clothes had already been peeled off and crumpled into a ball.

At this moment, who remembered those advice about not talking about feelings, not making commitments to relationships?

The muscles were elastic, the skin warm and radiant.

Like craving food when hungry, like begging for a drop of water when thirsty.

Jiang Miao sat on the dining table, slender waist grasped, skin glowing, eagerly wanting to undo Yan He’s belt!

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Sansukini: What a cliffhanger. See you next Saturday. ψ(｀∇´)ψ

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