Her eyes were red, filled with tears, she just wanted him to stop, so she obediently obeyed, calling him, “Ge.”
Again and again, it melted his heart.
Afterward, Leon was mostly sober. She was tired and fell asleep in his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. The outwardly cold and unruly man finally showed his tenderest side in the quiet night. He rubbed against her forehead, like holding a precious treasure, repeatedly calling her his treasure.
“Samantha, Samantha, Samantha.”
The next day, when Leon woke up, Samantha was already out of bed. He had drunk too much yesterday, and his head still hurt a bit. He sat up just as Samantha came in with a tray. Seeing that he was awake, she said, “You’re awake just in time. I made some porridge for you. Drink a little.”
She placed the tray on the bedside table and served him a plate of well-cooked millet porridge, perfect for someone nursing a hangover. Did she get up early just to make porridge for him? Such a virtuous woman! Leon felt that he must have burned incense at his ancestors’ grave to have married someone like her.
Samantha brought the porridge to him. Leon took a sip; the soft porridge eased his hangover discomfort significantly.
“After you finish, just put the plate on the bedside table. I’ll come in later to clean up.”
After she said this, she was about to leave when Leon hurriedly called out to her, “Wait a moment.”
“Is there something else?”
“Sit.”
Leon gestured to the space beside him. Samantha walked over and sat down, waiting for him to speak. Leon took another sip of porridge and casually asked, “Does it hurt?”
Samantha didn’t catch on right away. “What?”
Leon glanced down at her, and Samantha understood what he meant. Her face flushed, and she lowered her head slightly, saying, “It’s… fine.” Remembering what happened yesterday, she felt a bit dissatisfied but was too shy to look him in the eye. She complained softly, “You were really something yesterday. My sister and her family were sleeping right next door, and you made such a racket.”
He had indeed drunk too much last night, and Leon knew he had lost control. “Sorry.” He set the plate down and asked her, “Did your sister’s family leave?”
“They left early in the morning.”
As soon as she finished speaking, he suddenly took her hand and pulled her closer. Samantha was caught off guard and ended up leaning on him. Leon wrapped his arms around her and said, “If there’s no one next door, then aren’t you afraid of making too much noise?”
“…”
Samantha realized what he meant and felt even more embarrassed thinking about last night. She said, “It’s broad daylight; don’t mess around.”
Leon lifted her chin and leaned down to kiss her. Samantha was afraid he would really get carried away, so she quickly turned her head to avoid him. “Don’t be ridiculous!” Her tone carried a hint of anger.
“Just a kiss.”
Samantha: “…”
Reluctantly trusting him, she stopped struggling. Leon leaned down and kissed her, keeping his word and only kissing her once before letting go.
“I have to go to the team now.”
Samantha realized it was getting late, so she got up from him and took out the clothes she had prepared the night before. Leon put them on, and Samantha handed him his belt and gun.
Their actions were very natural and intimate, just like a long-married wife taking care of her husband.
Leon’s heart softened instantly. After getting dressed, he didn’t want to leave. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Samantha was confused and asked, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Leon lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, saying, “Sell the hotel. Go do what you love.”
“…”
Samantha didn’t understand why he suddenly said that.
“Don’t you want to be a lawyer? Continue with your unfinished law exams. I can take care of the family.”
Hearing this, Samantha felt touched. The hotel was quite profitable, and if it closed, all the pressure would fall on him alone. Yet he was still willing to shoulder the burden of life so she could do what she loved.
“Isn’t there no need for the hotel to stay open now? The last veteran has already left. It’s time to close it, and you won’t have to be burdened by it anymore.”
But Samantha didn’t respond.
During the war, her grandfather was still a child. After the hotel opened, he met several veterans who gathered there. They were all returning soldiers from World War II, and it was said that they chose to gather there because of the hotel’s name. They agreed to meet at the Peace Hotel every year on August 15th.
