Nico yelped in pain, quickly stifling his laughter. He knew better than to make fun of me now.After the playful banter, we got down to business. Being professionals, we immediately adopted a serious and focused demeanor. In just over ten minutes, we decided to conduct an on-site investigation in Lagado two days later.With two days until our expedition, we needed to assemble a team, gather the right tools, and formulate a reliable action plan.Having been away for almost two months, opening the door to my house felt incredibly comforting. I couldn't help but collapse onto the couch before grabbing a pillow and hugging it.Zara began, "Luna, it's just you and me now. Tell me honestly, what do you really think about Colin? Jasmine is no pushover, and she's got a malicious streak. If she could drug Colin once, she could do it again. "Colin might have found you once, but what about next time? Or the time after that? You're miles apart. Even if he seeks your help, it might be too lat
Whether or not Colin replied to my message immediately didn't matter because soon, we would be breathing the same air under the same sky again.I hadn't had a decent night's sleep in days because I had been constantly worrying about Colin. However, as the plane climbed to a cruising altitude and stabilized, I was surprised to find myself falling asleep.The plane landed at Lagado Airport at 9:00 pm. The airport was brightly lit, while the night outside was cloaked in darkness. Colin stood at the exit, scanning the crowds for me. As I stepped out, he swiftly strode over, taking my suitcase and grasping my hand tightly in his other hand. "You must be exhausted. Are you cold? Here, take my jacket.""Not at all. I've been sleeping on the plane. I'm wearing a sweater, so I'm not cold. Colin, I missed you." For the first time, I openly expressed my longing for him.Colin tightened his grip on my hand, and his eyes sparkled with delight. The smile on his face reflected his joy as he rep
"What are you afraid of? Is someone threatening you?" Colin became even more anxious. His usually calm demeanor had given way to an agitated state, his hands quivering as they clenched the steering wheel."No, I'm afraid you'll be taken away from me," I finally admitted, and the tears I had managed to suppress began to flow again. "Jasmine is such a devious woman. What if she tricks you into leaving me?"Colin chuckled in response, letting out a long, relieved sigh and gradually lowering his tensed shoulders. With an amused expression, he asked, "Baby, do you lack confidence in yourself or me?""It's not a matter of confidence," I retorted. "Haven't you heard of the saying 'where there's a will, there's a way?' Jasmine's malicious ambitions are obvious to anyone with eyes. No matter how confident I am, I can't stop her machinations. "Besides, it's important to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Last time, if I hadn't happened to be there, who knows what could have ha
It dawned on me that the one without a sense of security in our relationship was Colin all along."I said you're the man I love. What's wrong with that? Or is it that I'm not your beloved?" I enunciated each word carefully, my gaze fixed on Colin.Although using this method to confirm Colin's love for me was a bit childish, I intended to let him know that I loved him as much as he loved me. My love for him was no less than his for me.Sure enough, his captivating eyes transformed from delight to euphoria.An emotion that could only be described as satisfaction appeared on Colin's face."Baby, do you know? You've never said you love me. And I've often wondered if this was all a dream and that we weren't together after all. "But today, hearing you say you love me, I'm genuinely overjoyed. Thank you, Baby. Thank you for loving me. I love you, deeply and truly, the kind of love that's only meant for you."I embraced Colin and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. "Colin, I love yo
As Colin carried me to the bathroom to clean up, I had a brief moment of clarity, reminding me that I hadn't eaten dinner and was ravenous.The following day, before I even woke up, Nico's phone call rang like a death knell. I squirmed under the covers, my bare body too exhausted and reluctant to respond.I pretended not to hear it, forcing Colin to pick up my phone helplessly."Nico, why are you calling so early in the morning?" Colin's voice was hoarse yet strangely alluring in the quiet morning. Nico chuckled mischievously on the other end, his arrogant tone crystal clear through the phone. "My, my, you're still asleep, Mr. White? You must have had a good night, huh?" Now fully awake, Colin raised an eyebrow and glanced at me with eyes full of sweet, affectionate amusement. He spoke coldly into the phone. "If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, I'm hanging up."The stark contrast in his demeanor was remarkable."Wait, don't hang up!" Nico pleaded. "Jessie's team
The feeling of waking up alone after a night of being thoroughly cherished was something only those who had experienced it could truly understand.I couldn't help but wonder when these painfully brief periods of meetings would finally come to an end. It was perplexing how two people deeply in love had such difficulty remaining together.Alas, time was of the essence, leaving me with no spare moments to dwell on these thoughts. After a speedy shower and changing of clothes, I ventured out to find something to eat before meeting up with Nico and Jessie.However, before I could even make it out the door, I noticed several takeout bags and a handwritten note on the small round table by the window.The note said, "Baby, these are your favorite ravioli and oatmeal. Make sure you eat everything. I've also packed your suitcase and added some thick jackets for you. It's going to be tough in the mountains, so take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything. I love you, Baby!"The words
There were 13 of us in total—four women and nine men. Each room accommodated two people, with Nico having his own room and one room designated as storage. The eight rooms were just enough.By the time we arrived, night had fallen. The village chief had been waiting for us. When he saw our vehicle approaching, he immediately instructed someone to open the gate and started helping us unload our suitcases. He also organized dinner, insisting on giving us a proper welcome.To my surprise, the village chief remembered me. He greeted me warmly and asked why Colin hadn't come, saying the children missed him.I was baffled. During the rescue operation, which lasted a day and a night, we had barely contributed anything. The professional teams did the actual work while we merely played a supporting role.The village chief and I had only seen each other twice in passing during the rescue efforts. What I remembered about him was his face full of worry, deep concern etched into every line. It l
Mr. Miller's words brought tears to his eyes and those of my schoolmates. He was genuinely concerned about the villagers and earnestly wanted to find reliable work for them.Jessie wiped her eyes, raised her glass, and boldly said, "Mr. Miller, it isn't easy to open a mine. Apart from the fact that the reserves must meet the standards, it also requires approval from many departments. "The process will be long, but I promise you, once the mine is established, I will personally recommend to the construction company that they hire your villagers. It would be great if they could stay home and care for their families."For the first time, I realized that our actions could significantly impact many lives, and I couldn't help but feel proud.As the night wore on, Mr. Miller got drunk, and his wife had to come and take him home. The rest of the male students were thoroughly inebriated as well and stumbled back to their rooms to sleep.Jessie and I shared a room. After dinner, we sat on t