Chapter 618 - 357: I Absolutely Love the Way You Are Now

Chapter 618: Chapter 357: I Absolutely Love the Way You Are Now

The plane slowly touched down on the runway. Dongnya gazed at the city outside, her eyes deep with thought. The Cantonese song in her headphones had been on repeat for the entire journey.

She was here, in his city.

This was something she had been dreaming of for a long time, and she came with her whole family’s blessing.

From various news reports and her daily chats with Lin Chu, she had already pieced together most of what had happened recently.

She had missed his birthday.

And the things he was doing hadn’t been going all that smoothly, either.

But a long-distance, cross-country romance was never easy to begin with.

Everything that had happened at Changbai Mountain and the Bitomnik Military Base had been so wonderful. So wonderful that every time she thought about it, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl up into a small smile.

Many times, Dongnya had thought to herself, ’If only he could have stayed in Moscow with me, that would have been for the best.’

’It would be the happiest life imaginable.’

But...

...given the career Lin Chu was currently pursuing, that seemed completely unrealistic.

He had done so much and built such a successful life; he was destined to never be confined to just one place.

Regardless, right now, she was thrilled and ecstatic. After getting off the plane, she was already impatient while waiting for her luggage. Once she had it, she hurried off, practically jogging toward the airport exit.

She cursed the long arrivals corridor at Bao’an Airport. Every single second felt like an eternity.

Finally, she reached the end. At the arrivals gate, Dongnya saw the man she had been dreaming of day and night. Even though he was wearing a mask and sunglasses, she recognized him in an instant.

At once, Dongnya grabbed her suitcase and took off, her long legs carrying her forward at a sprint.

A real person.

A real touch.

A real warmth.

She held him tightly in her arms.

The people coming and going all stared.

For a moment, Lin Chu also felt her fiery passion. Perhaps the ice and snow of Moscow were so bitterly cold that the flames within one’s heart burned all the more fiercely.

"Come on, let’s get to the car. Too many people here."

Lin Chu released her, taking the suitcase with one hand and her hand with the other, and quickly headed for the underground parking garage.

For him, this was a familiar feeling.

A woman who loved you with all her heart, with no other thoughts. A woman who missed you so much she cried. It wasn’t a life-or-death obsession, but she was truly giving him her all.

That’s why he had always believed this was true love.

Absolutely.

And yet, he had ultimately "failed" something.

Between his own nature and a perfect love, he had chosen... himself.

Once they were in the car, Dongnya’s passion became even more tangible. She clambered over from the passenger seat and practically draped herself over Lin Chu like a spineless octopus.

Lin Chu was both amused and exasperated, but he responded to her with equal passion.

They only calmed down a little after the wave of dopamine and hormones subsided.

"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

’My plan for tonight is still to sleep early, no changes. Of course, it’ll have to be a bit later than usual—eleven o’clock, but that’s the absolute limit.’

Lin Chu started the car.

"A late-night snack? I’m fine with anything. What do you want to eat?"

Dongnya said with a radiant smile, her hand still intertwined with Lin Chu’s on the center console.

"I want to go back and get some sleep. It’s already late because I had to pick you up. I normally go to bed at ten, so I’d be in bed by now."

Dongnya was speechless.

’She actually knew about this. Lin Chu had mentioned it during one of their chats.’

"Tonight... can’t you make an exception?"

she asked softly, pouting.

"Nope. I’m already starting to yawn. We’ll go to the hotel now. I’ll have them prepare a late-night snack for you. I’m going to sleep. You can eat while you watch me."

Lin Chu said it in a way that was both impersonal and intimate. Even with his gentle tone, the boundary he set was so clear it created a sense of distance.

Dongnya was at a loss for words.

She gave the man a slightly mournful look, but could only nod helplessly in agreement.

The car sped along as they chatted the whole way, and in less than half an hour, they arrived at the hotel.

As soon as they entered the room, Lin Chu started taking off his clothes and headed for the bathroom. "There are twenty-three minutes until eleven. To save time, want to join me?"

Dongnya didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’Going to bed at eleven... does he really have to be that strict?’

’Compared to before, he’s like a completely different person. His self-discipline is terrifying.’

She shot Lin Chu a playful glare, then cheerfully walked into the bathroom.

「Twenty-three minutes later.」

Lin Chu was lying in bed, the lights dimmed to a nightlight, his eyes already closed.

Standing by the bed, Dongnya was completely speechless.

A mischievous thought suddenly struck her. She lifted a corner of the blanket, bit her lip, and slipped under the covers, intending to start something. However, her slender neck was instantly caught in a leg scissors lock by Lin Chu.

"Five in the morning is fine. Not now. Otherwise, you can sleep on the sofa."

Lin Chu said softly, his eyes still closed.

He immediately released his legs.

Dongnya emerged from under the covers, her face bright red. She looked at him with an expression that was part shame, part indignation, but mostly curiosity. She wanted to check if this man had a chip and a circuit board installed in the back of his head.

’How did he become like this?’

’Then again, there’s nothing wrong with self-discipline. It’s better than those people who are constantly binge-drinking and getting wasted, right?’

’Besides, it’s clear that rich people all over the world have all sorts of weird quirks.’

At that moment, she even thought of the domineering CEO from *Fifty Shades of Grey*. Even when he was passionately in love, he still had to sleep alone in his own room after their "games" every night.