On the day she was back at work, Xue Yue walked into the office and saw that Zhao Li was already there.

Xue Yue calmly sat down at her desk. A moment later, Feng Yujie and Ding Ruzhi also came in.

"Everyone, to the conference room for a meeting."

Only when they arrived did they learn what the meeting was about.

In July of this year, the prime minister of Country A had visited China and promised to deepen cooperation.

This time, the higher-ups had instructed the Ministry of Commerce to accompany the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a visit to Country A. It was likely that people from other departments would be joining them as well.

The objective was to import iron ore and wheat from Country A, but the specific details could only be discussed upon arrival. The content of this meeting was crucial, and the leadership solemnly instructed them to go back, gather information, and prepare for all aspects of the cooperation.

Xue Yue jotted down the meeting’s contents in her notebook. After the meeting ended, she reviewed her notes carefully, only following Feng Yujie out once she was sure she hadn’t missed anything.

Back in the office, Feng Yujie instructed Xue Yue, "Organize the meeting minutes and bring me a copy."

Xue Yue nodded. She placed her notebook on her desk, then went to the restroom. When she returned, the notebook was gone.

Xue Yue’s brow furrowed. She searched her desk for a while but couldn’t find her notebook.

Her gaze shifted to Ding Ruzhi and Zhao Li, who were in the same office.

Zhao Li was writing something with her head down, while Ding Ruzhi was holding a comb, fixing her hair in a mirror.

"Did anyone come into our office just now?"

Zhao Li didn’t even look up. It was Ding Ruzhi who shook her head at her.

Xue Yue pondered for a couple of seconds. "Did someone take my notebook?"

Ding Ruzhi looked a little confused. Zhao Li remained silent. Xue Yue stared at her for a few seconds.

’I have a pretty good idea who took it.’ But without proof, she didn’t go over and demand it back directly.

The notebook only contained today’s meeting notes. Fortunately, Xue Yue had gone over them twice and still remembered the key points. She rewrote them, and after organizing the new document, she brought it to Feng Yujie.

In the afternoon, Feng Yujie went to another meeting.

When she returned, she discussed the candidates for the trip abroad with them.

"Who among you will go to Country A with me? It’s a big delegation this time, with people from other departments. There will be several dozen people in total."

Xue Yue asked, "Sister Feng, how long will the trip be, and when do we leave?"

"We’ll probably leave in the next few days. This is a pretty heavy assignment, so it will likely take a few months."

"It’s going to take that long?"

Feng Yujie nodded. "At least two or three months."

All three of them fell silent. Zhao Li was the first to speak up. "Sister Feng, you know my situation. I have elderly family and young children to care for. A few months is too long, so I won’t be able to go."

"I’ll go!" Ding Ruzhi raised her hand, saying excitedly, "I’ll go! It’s just a trip abroad, right? That sounds like so much fun."

Feng Yujie gave her a stern look. "We’re going on business, not for a vacation."

Ding Ruzhi, a little scared of Feng Yujie, quickly shut her mouth.

Feng Yujie looked at Xue Yue. "Can you go?"

Xue Yue hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I can."

Feng Yujie gave her a satisfied nod. "Good. Go home and pack plenty of fall and summer clothes. Their seasons are different from ours. It’s about to be summer over there."

Xue Yue nodded.

Feng Yujie shot Zhao Li a disappointed look before heading into her office.

Zhao Li was inwardly gloating, thinking she was so clever for refusing before Xue Yue had a chance to speak. Little did she know, at that very moment, a gap had opened up between her and Xue Yue.

Sitting at her desk, Xue Yue also felt a little dazed. It wasn’t about the work; rather, she was thinking about how Ziqing’s wedding was fast approaching. And now, she had to go abroad, with no certain date of return.

As the twelfth lunar month approached, the sky would grow dark by just after six.

When Xue Yue got home, she found that He Lang was already back.

She sniffed the air. "What’s that smell? It’s so good!"

Xue Yue walked closer for a look. "Roast chicken? Did you buy this?"

He Lang nodded with a smile. "And roasted sweet potatoes. Weren’t you saying you were craving some?"

Xue Yue raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t had them in a long time. She’d only mentioned it in passing to He Lang last night, and she hadn’t expected him to buy them today.

"They’re still warm. Go on, eat."

Xue Yue said happily, "Let me just go wash my hands first."

"Daddy, I want a roasted sweet potato, too," Shiyi said, hugging He Lang’s leg.

He Lang looked down at him. "You can have some. I bought several."

After eating the roasted sweet potatoes and roast chicken that evening, Xue Yue was too full for dinner.

When He Lang came in after finishing his meal, he found Xue Yue standing in front of the closet, staring blankly at the clothes inside.

He Lang walked over to her and glanced inside. "What are you looking at? If you feel like you have nothing to wear, you can go get a few more pieces from the shop, or we can look somewhere else. If you like something, just buy it."

Xue Yue shook her head and turned to face He Lang.

"I have to go on a trip abroad soon."

He Lang looked at her. "Which country? For how long?"

"Country A. The duration isn’t set, but my team leader said it will be at least two or three months."

"It’s going to take that long?" He Lang asked.

Xue Yue nodded.

He Lang sat down silently on the edge of the bed. Xue Yue looked at him, then sat down next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"It’s an assignment from the higher-ups, so I have to go. It’s just... Ziqing’s wedding is coming up soon. Is it bad for me to be gone then?"

He Lang said, "It’s for work. Big Brother and the others will understand."

Then he added, sounding disgruntled, "Is that all you’re worried about? What about me and the kids? You’ll be gone for so long. What are the kids going to do when they miss you?"

A smile touched Xue Yue’s lips. "The kids will miss me, but you won’t?"

He Lang sighed. "Of course I’ll miss you, but what can I do about it? You’re going to be gone for so long, and it’s not like I can go with you."

Xue Yue sat up straight, turned, and kissed He Lang on the cheek. "I’ll miss you, too. You and the kids wait for me at home, okay? I’ll bring you all back gifts."

He Lang pouted. "Who needs your gifts? Just come back safely."

Xue Yue smiled. "Okay."

That night, Xue Yue was worn out by He Lang’s passion. She barely got any rest the entire night. From pleading with him nicely to stop, to eventually resorting to biting him, nothing worked. He Lang wouldn’t let her go.

The next morning, as she was getting ready, Xue Yue looked at the dark circles under her eyes and sighed in resignation. In the end, she dabbed some foundation around her eyes to make them look less alarming.

Men and women really were different. He Lang was like a demon who had drained Xue Yue of her vital energy; he was completely refreshed and showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever.

He Lang turned his head, met Xue Yue’s strange gaze, and grinned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xue Yue’s lips twitched. "I’m trying to figure out if you’re a demon. Aren’t you tired?"

He Lang paused for a moment, then walked over to Xue Yue with a smile, leaned in close, and whispered, "Ah, but a man’s way of replenishing his energy is different from a woman’s. It’s called ’gathering yin to supplement yang.’"

Xue Yue was speechless.

’What did I just hear?’

He Lang was simply inhuman. That night, he came for her again.

Xue Yue pushed him. "Are you crazy?"

He Lang kissed the corner of her mouth and whispered, "Don’t you want to? You’re not going to see me for several months, you know."

Xue Yue froze for a second, and then she was pushed down and devoured completely once more.