“You are really humorous, Marcus.” Khanyi smiled at him, but she was indeed feeling a bit tired.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll go to my friend’s compartment next door. You two ‘ladies’ should rest well here, even if it’s less than five hours.” He looked at her and then at the little dog snoring on the seat.
“No, I should go back there; it feels too awkward.”
“How can that be? Please give me a chance to show my gentlemanly demeanor.” His tone made it hard to refuse.
“Actually, I haven’t done much.” She felt undeserving of his care.
“Then, good night.” He unceremoniously closed the door of the private room gently for her.
She slept soundly last night, hardly feeling the bumps of the train. A soft knock on the door woke her from her dreams. Khanyi opened the internal lock of the compartment to find him standing straight outside the door, like a servant, holding a breakfast tray.
“Good morning, Gianna,” he smiled at her, not forgetting to greet the little one eagerly nibbling at his pant leg, “And you, Teddy.”
“Oh my, it’s already 6:15! I’m going to be late!” Khanyi looked at her watch and exclaimed. Her hair must be a mess, and she hadn’t washed or dressed up. In another fifteen minutes, the train would arrive. She remembered that man in the cap had said he would personally meet her at the platform. How could she let him see her in such a disheveled state?
“Don’t worry,” he saw her flustered and said gently, “The train won’t arrive for another hour; it’s running late.”
“What? The train is delayed?”
“Yes, the conductor announced it in every compartment just as you fell asleep last night. I didn’t let him wake you.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Khanyi let out a long breath, leaning back in her seat.
He entered the compartment and placed the tray on the small dining table, “I wonder if this suits your taste? The food on the train is like this. After we arrive, I can take you to a decent place for lunch,” his lake-blue eyes gazed at her intently, “You know, I didn’t get a chance to properly thank you for helping my friend.”
“Don’t say that; I really didn’t help much.”
“Where will you go after getting off the train?”
“Sorry, I really don’t know where to go. This is my first time in this city.” In fact, before boarding the train, she had gone to the municipal telephone office, where the person in charge told her that the phone number he gave her was not registered with an address. If it weren’t for that man in the cap bringing her the message last night, she wouldn’t know where to find him. She had originally planned to call that number after arriving and take a chance.
He didn’t press further, “Alright, take your time with your meal. I should go change my clothes.” His eyes flickered, and he nodded to her before leaving the compartment again.
She watched him leave, quickly stuffing a piece of bread into her mouth and gulping down a glass of milk. In a hurry, she went to the restroom, washed her face, and took out her only piece of makeup from her black handbag, a light pink lipstick, carefully applying it to her lips in front of the mirror. Although she had slept late last night and felt a bit tired, applying the lipstick immediately made her complexion look much rosier.
He emerged from the changing room, dressed in a black-gray uniform that made his figure appear even more upright. She couldn’t understand their military ranks but knew this uniform belonged to the national defense forces. She sighed with a hint of melancholy, “Why do you handsome young men all have to join the military…”
“We?” He paused for a moment, smiling as he replied, “There are many reasons: family tradition, ambition and belief, or just youthful passion,” his deep-set lake-blue eyes looked straight at her as he spoke slowly, “It seems this disappoints you.”
Khanyi smiled, feeling somewhat helpless, “I thought you were a musician or a poet.”
He blinked, putting on his hat, the black-gray brim shading his brown hair, “Maybe in the future, I will consider it. But for now, I haven’t made that choice.”
She gazed at his tall figure, the black-gray uniform seemed to have an irresistible charm. Just wearing it could cover up the flaws of those who were not particularly good-looking or well-built, and it could completely mask such a gentle, moonlight-like gaze, while also suppressing a lonely heart even tighter and colder.
“Let me carry your suitcase,” he said with a smile.
“No, no need, it’s very light.” She refused without thinking.
“Let me do it. A lady like you shouldn’t be doing such work.” He had already picked up her suitcase.
“No, really, you don’t have to!” Khanyi snatched the suitcase from his hands. She knew her action was somewhat rude; it wasn’t that she didn’t want to accept his kindness, but she didn’t want this young national defense officer to see that her so-called “farmer” lover was a general of the empire.
She held a heavy suitcase in one hand and a small basket containing a little dog in the other, along with her black handbag. With a slight tremor in her steps, she descended from the train at the designated carriage door, glancing around the platform. She spotted him—tall and broad-shouldered, draped in a black long coat, his light golden hair shining so brightly that he stood out in the crowd.
The black Mercedes was parked on one side of the platform. He was originally standing with his hands behind his back, a half-burnt cigarette pinched between his fingers, clearly waiting for the passengers to disembark. His icy blue eyes scanned the crowd, and although the train had not stopped in the standard position, he quickly spotted her. He extinguished the cigarette in his hand as she struggled to lift her suitcase.
