Withered Wood Post Office (12)

That day, Bai Ci didn't go out again. She only sat by the window from time to time, watching the pedestrians walking hurriedly down the street and observing the activity in town.

Before she knew it, the sky gradually darkened. The low chime of the clock tower echoed, and Bai Ci stood up and walked to the door to wait for Hugo's return, though a faint sense of unease lingered in her heart.

Hugo was returning later today than yesterday. Had something happened?

After waiting for about another ten minutes, the sound of a key turning finally came from the door.

Bai Ci immediately went to greet him, only to see that Hugo's face was pale and his expression was exhausted. There was a subtle trace of panic and lingering fear in his eyes. Even his lips, which usually curled into a shy smile whenever he saw Bai Ci, were tightly pursed without a hint of warmth.

“Hugo, you're back. What's wrong? Did something happen?” Bai Ci stepped forward, gently supporting his arm. Her voice carried obvious worry as she looked him up and down, concerned that he might be injured.

Hugo shook his head and avoided her gaze, his voice somewhat heavy. “It's nothing. I was just a bit tired from delivering mail today, and got delayed on the road.”

His tone was dismissive and his eyes were evasive. He was clearly lying.

Based on Hugo's personality, Bai Ci figured he must have run into something bad but was hiding it on purpose because he didn't want her to worry.

She didn't press him immediately. Instead, she helped him into the house, had him sit on a chair, and turned to go to the kitchen to pour a cup of water, which she handed to him.

“Have some water and rest,” Bai Ci said, sitting down beside him with a deeply caring tone. “No matter what happened, you can tell me. We can face it together, alright? If you keep it from me like this, I'll only worry more.”

Hugo clutched the cup, remaining silent for a long time, his head kept low.

Seeing him like this, Bai Ci's heart softened slightly. She deliberately lowered her eyes, her tone tinged with a hint of grievance and sadness. “Did I do something wrong, making you unwilling to tell me? Or do you think I won't be of any help, so you don't want me to know?”

As she spoke, her voice choked up slightly, and a glint of tears appeared in her eyes, making her look thoroughly aggrieved.

Hearing her words, Hugo immediately looked up. A flash of panic crossed his face, and he hurriedly shook his head. He gently took her hand, his tone urgent. “No, Lora, don't be sad. I didn't mean to keep it from you on purpose. I just didn't want you to worry.”

He took a deep breath, as if making a monumental decision. With a voice laced with lingering fear, he said slowly, “This afternoon, after I delivered the last letter, I ran into a sick person on my way back. His mental state was completely off, and he was waving a knife around. I happened to be passing by, and he rushed straight at me.”

At this point, Hugo's body trembled slightly, clearly shaken as he recalled the scene. “Fortunately, Chen Mo happened to be passing by and pushed me out of the way. Otherwise... otherwise, something terrible might have happened to me.”

Hearing this, Bai Ci quickly squeezed his hand. “It's good that you're okay, it's good that you're okay. That was so dangerous. Did you get hurt?”

“I'm fine, I wasn't hurt, just a bit shaken up.” Hugo shook his head. Seeing the worry in Bai Ci's eyes, a warmth spread through his heart, and his tone softened. “Chen Mo reacted very quickly. The sick man was eventually subdued by some passersby, and I heard he's already been sent to the hospital.”

Bai Ci gently patted the back of his hand, comforting him in a gentle tone. “It's good that you're fine. You must be much more careful when you go out from now on. If you ever run into a situation like this again, just run. Don't try to be brave.”

“I understand, I will.” Hugo nodded. The panic in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a deep warmth. “Lora, it's so good to have you here.”

“Because I'm your fiancée,” Bai Ci said with a smile. Then, changing the subject, she spoke with sincere gratitude, “We really have to thank Mr. Chen Mo this time. If it weren't for him, you might have been in grave danger. We should thank him properly.”

Hugo nodded in deep agreement. “Yes, I want to thank him too, but I just don't know how to express it. He doesn't seem to have a very friendly personality and doesn't talk much. I'm afraid that if I approach him to thank him, it might make him uncomfortable.”

“Actually, it doesn't have to be too formal,” Bai Ci thought for a moment and suggested. “Why don't we invite Mr. Chen Mo and Miss Lin Wan to our house for dinner tomorrow night?”

“On one hand, it's to thank Mr. Chen Mo for saving you today. On the other hand, since you're all colleagues, having a meal together can help build a better relationship. That way, you can look out for each other at the post office in the future.”

Hugo nodded in agreement, but then fell silent again. After thinking quietly for a good while, he looked up at Bai Ci. “That's a great idea... We have a neighbor, Aunt Martha. She's very kind and a great cook, and she used to look after the house for me. Perhaps we can ask her to help us prepare dinner.”

“Sure, let's do as you say.” Bai Ci realized that in Hugo's eyes, she didn't know how to cook, and since he got off work late, they had no choice but to ask others for help. “What kind of person is this Aunt Martha you mentioned?”

Seeing that she didn't object, Hugo relaxed slightly and slowly explained, “Aunt Martha has lived here for many years. She has a very gentle and warm personality. She also has a daughter named Lena, who works as a nurse at the town hospital. She's usually very busy and rarely comes back.”

At this point, he lowered his head slightly, his cheeks flushing. “Asking for her help should be fine... I'll go talk to her in a bit and bring some gifts over so it won't be too much of a bother.”

Saying this, Hugo stood up and went to the kitchen. He wasn't a naturally social person, but when it came to dealing with neighbors, he was probably slightly better at it than his highborn fiancée, so he felt he should take the initiative.

He brought out a block of ham and a wedge of cheese from the kitchen. In Aether Town, this was considered a decent gift—not overly expensive, yet enough to show sincere gratitude.

The house next door was just like Hugo's—a two-story red brick building. A few pots of nameless small flowers sat by the entrance, modest but neatly kept.

Hugo stepped forward and knocked gently on the door.

Before long, the door opened. A plump, middle-aged woman stood at the doorway with a warm, friendly smile. It was indeed Aunt Martha.

“Hugo, what brings you here? And this must be your fiancée, Miss Lora?” Aunt Martha's gaze fell upon Bai Ci, and her smile grew even warmer. “I've heard Hugo mention you so many times. What a beautiful girl. Come in, come in!”

After a brief back-and-forth over the ham and cheese Hugo had brought, Hugo's stubbornness won out, and he managed to press them into Aunt Martha's hands.

Stepping inside, the house was clean and tidy, yet filled with a cozy, lived-in atmosphere. It was clear that Aunt Martha was a diligent homemaker.

Once Aunt Martha had gone to the kitchen to put the items away, the three of them sat on the chairs in the living room. Hugo took the lead and explained their plan to invite Chen Mo and Lin Wan over for dinner, asking if Aunt Martha could help with the cooking.

Hearing this, Aunt Martha immediately nodded and said with a smile, “No problem at all! It's no trouble. Miss Lora has just arrived, and it can't be easy for her. I'm more than happy to help.”