Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 367 - 325: Chicken Soup for the Soul (Third Update)
Yi Luowa, after dealing with Second Uncle and Huo Li’s affairs, began focusing on her upcoming departure from school. She was set on going to the Eagle car factory for her internship and had been gradually moving her belongings there over the past few days.
Maize Kai and Shanshan’s wedding date was set for June 20th—it was only a few days away.
Tong Yao, after taking Yi Luowa and Connie to the mall to pick out formal wear for everyone in the family, headed off to Country Z alone to help Ning Mingxi organize Maize Kai’s wedding.
Once Tong Yao left, Long Che’s mood turned sour. He found everything irritating, and everyone tried to avoid him to escape his temper. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
That day, as Yi Luowa walked out of the school gates, she saw a crowd of classmates gathered around Tong Airui’s eye-catching RV. Everyone was curiously examining the massive vehicle.
Yi Luowa pressed her lips together and smiled. He had actually driven it all the way here.
Wearing a sharp uniform, Tong Airui stepped out of the vehicle unhurriedly. The moment the students saw the Duke Airui, they cheered and gathered around him.
Tong Airui smiled at them and reached out to pull Yi Luowa into the RV.
After the two of them got into the RV, the onlookers outside didn’t disperse for quite a while. Standing by the window, Yi Luowa smiled and asked, "Why did you drive the RV all the way here? Don’t you think it’s a little too flashy?"
"It’s a gift from my wife. However flashy I want to be with it, I’ll be." Tong Airui laughed as he pulled her into an embrace. "Tonight, we’re not going home. Since the RV was built, we haven’t had the chance to take it out for a spin."
"If we don’t go home, will Dad get upset?" Yi Luowa asked worriedly.
"I already got his approval. He won’t be angry."
"So where are we going?" Yi Luowa’s worries vanished, and she smiled as she grabbed Tong Airui’s hand.
"How about Red Valley?"
Yi Luowa thought for a moment. "Sure! If it gets too late, we could crash at Big Brother’s or Second Uncle’s place."
Tong Airui shook his head. "Tonight, we’re not going anywhere else. We’re staying on the RV. I’ve already stocked up the kitchen with ingredients. I’ll cook for you."
Yi Luowa’s eyes curved into a smile. "Hubby, are you trying to be romantic?"
"Something like that." Tong Airui kissed her lightly on the forehead. "You don’t need to lift a finger; I’ll handle everything."
As the RV rolled onto the road, Tong Airui headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, while Yi Luowa turned on the stereo system, picked up a microphone, and entertained herself in their mobile conference room.
When Tong Airui returned, having prepped most of the meal, she was still in the middle of her lively one-woman performance, jumping and singing around the room.
"Hubby, want to join me?" Yi Luowa shook the mic in her hand.
"Put on some soft dance music, and I’ll dance with you."
Yi Luowa picked up the remote and selected a dance track. "I didn’t know you could dance."
"I can do everything except give birth," Tong Airui smirked as he pulled her into his arms, guiding her in a slow four-step.
"With technology progressing so much, maybe you could give birth too," Yi Luowa said, furrowing her brow. "I overheard Mom chatting with Aunt the other day. Aunt said that childbirth is incredibly painful. That made me not want to have kids at all."
Tong Airui gazed at her lovingly. "If you don’t want to have kids, then we won’t. When the technology exists to make it possible, I’ll do it for you."
Yi Luowa pouted. "I was just saying. But... Grandma talks about wanting a great-grandchild every day. We can’t just never have one."
"Didn’t Connie say she wanted kids?"
"Connie does, but Tong Aino said he still wants to enjoy his freedom and doesn’t want kids so soon."
Tong Airui raised an eyebrow. "With his personality, he might never be done enjoying himself. Anyway, once kids are born, they hardly even have to take care of them. I’ll talk to him when I have the chance. If they have one, it’ll take some of the pressure off us."
Yi Luowa laughed. "You’re so sneaky. Pushing others to have kids just to make things easier for us?"
"You haven’t even graduated yet; we still have a year as an excuse. Connie’s graduating this year—if they don’t have one, who will?"
"True, hahaha..." Yi Luowa spun around with a laugh and looked at Tong Airui. "Hubby, didn’t you notice I’ve grown taller?"
Tong Airui glanced down at her. "You seem the same to me."
Yi Luowa pouted in displeasure and pulled him to a stop. "Not dancing anymore. Stand still and let’s measure."
Tong Airui spread his legs apart and teasingly exclaimed, "Wife, you really have grown much taller!"
Yi Luowa tugged at his ear and made him stand up straight. "I’m serious. The other day, when I went clothes shopping with Mom, I bought a dress that’s one size bigger than before. I wanted to surprise you and see if you’d notice. But nope, you didn’t catch on at all."
Tong Airui glanced down at a certain part of her. "I feel like it’s not your height that’s grown, but another part..."
Yi Luowa pouted even more. "You’re so annoying! Yes, that part grew, but my height also increased! I measured—I’m almost 5’7" now!"
Tong Airui scooped her up with a laugh. "You don’t need to be so fixated on height. No matter how tall or short you are, I’ll love you all the same."
"You might not care, but I do. Standing next to you is such a hassle. When I want to kiss you, I have to stand on tiptoes just to reach your chin. Sure, your chin is sexy and all, but it’s just not as satisfying as a proper kiss."
Tong Airui’s shoulders shook with laughter. "Not as satisfying, huh?"
"Mhm!" Yi Luowa nodded enthusiastically.
"Tonight, I’ll make sure you’re fully satisfied! For now, though, I need to finish cooking so you don’t starve."
Yi Luowa hugged his neck tightly. "I’ll come with you."
"I told you, you’re not helping."
"I just want to watch. People say that a man who cooks is very handsome."
"I’m also incredibly handsome even when I’m not cooking!" Tong Airui carried her into the kitchen, set her down, and handed her his jacket. "Wife, I have to say, the design of this RV is excellent. You can barely feel any bumps."
"It’s all about the shock absorbers. Plus, the RV’s weight makes it more stable," Yi Luowa said as she held his jacket and peered over at him putting a whole chicken into the pot. "Are you making chicken soup?"
"Mhm. People always say I’ll wear you out, so I’ve got to replenish your energy properly." Tong Airui worked methodically, completing all the steps and covering the pot. "Later, I’ll make crayfish for you... Wife, can you grab the crayfish from the fridge for me?"
"Okay." Yi Luowa tossed his jacket onto the sofa, ran to the fridge, and opened the door... Birthday cake!
Tong Airui stood with his hands in his pockets, smiling broadly at her.
Yi Luowa’s jaw dropped. "Hubby... this..."
"It’s yours!" Tong Airui said with a laugh as he pulled the cake out and placed it on the dining table. "I knew you’d forget if no one reminded you."
"Is my birthday today? I thought it was still a few days away!" Yi Luowa grinned, her face lighting up. "I’m finally 20!"
"It’s today. Come on, let me show you something. We’ll light the candles and eat the cake afterward." Tong Airui pulled her upstairs, stopping outside the bedroom door. "Close your eyes first. Open them only when I say so."
Yi Luowa obediently closed her eyes, smiling brightly.
Tong Airui pushed open the door and guided her inside. "Okay, open them now."
Yi Luowa opened her eyes to see the room filled with red roses. On the bed, the flowers were arranged into the shape of a heart.
Yi Luowa immediately hugged Tong Airui, shouting in delight, "Hubby, are you trying to make me cry with happiness?"
"No saying unlucky things!" Tong Airui laughed, ruffling her hair. "The coffee table has gifts from everyone for your birthday. They all wanted to celebrate with you, but I thought this day would be more meaningful if it were just the two of us."
Yi Luowa sniffled and nodded furiously. "From now on, it’ll always be just the two of us. I want you to be with me until the day we’re old and gray."
"Alright! Until the day we’re old and gray, every year we’ll celebrate your birthday here in our mobile home." Tong Airui bent down and kissed her forehead.
"Hubby, this year, let’s go back to where it all began for us. Then for the rest of our decades together, let’s pick a new meaningful place each year. How does that sound?"
"That sounds perfect!" Tong Airui smiled, the same idea already in his heart.
Yi Luowa stepped on his feet and lightly kissed the corner of his lips. Before she could pull away, Tong Airui quickly captured her lips in a deeper kiss.
By the time the RV arrived at Red River Valley, the two finally broke apart, laughing.
Yi Luowa gazed out the window, her voice full of emotion. "This is truly where we began. It’s still as beautiful as ever."
Tong Airui held her close as they stood by the window, their heads leaning on each other as they gazed outside.
Then came Yuan Hang’s voice from downstairs: "What’s burning?!"
"The chicken soup’s burned!" Yi Luowa laughed. "Looks like no chicken soup for dinner tonight."
"I’ll be your chicken soup for the soul. That’ll fill you up just as well." Tong Airui grinned, pulling her downstairs.
Yuan Hang was busying himself in the kitchen by then.
Kou’er, watching him fumble, frowned and said, "Turn off the heat first!"
"I know that!"
"If you know it, why haven’t you turned it off yet?"
Yuan Hang shot her a glare. "The steam might burn my hands. Don’t you even know that much? Pass me the oven mitts."
Kou’er angrily tossed the mitts to him.
Yuan Hang finally turned off the heat and lifted the lid to inspect the pot. "Such a fine chicken, gone to waste."
Tong Airui stood at the kitchen doorway with Yi Luowa in his arms, laughing. "I’ll make another batch later."
Yuan Hang shot him a sidelong glance. "Sit this one out. At your pace, we’d be starving till midnight. Tonight, I’ll handle it. You go be romantic with the young Madam. By the way, is it okay to park the RV here? Let me know so I can have them start setting up."
Yi Luowa tilted her head to look at Tong Airui. "What else have you planned?"
"You’ll see tonight," Tong Airui replied, glancing out the window. "This spot’s perfect—plenty of space."
Yuan Hang dumped the burnt chicken soup and said to Kou’er, "Go tell them to start setting up."
Kou’er’s mouth twitched. "Those are your people. If I tell them, will they actually listen to me?"
"Just go! Why are you always so argumentative?"
With a pout, Kou’er turned to Yi Luowa, looking aggrieved. "Sister Luowa, I’m supposed to be your person, but he keeps ordering me around!"
Yi Luowa chuckled and pinched her cheek. "Kou’er, we’re family now. Let’s not split hairs. Yuan Hang is busy cooking—just help him out and pass on the message."
Kou’er agreed reluctantly and hurried downstairs.
Yuan Hang watched her leave through the window and shook his head helplessly. "This girl just has to argue with me over everything lately."
