Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 467 Warmth
Chen Xi drove smoothly and took Li Jingyi to her destination.

Pushing open the apartment door, the space was indeed not large, a standard one-bedroom apartment, but as Li Jingyi had described before, the room was clean and tidy, and the natural light was particularly surprising.

Bright sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the room with radiance, while outside, lush green trees provided ample shade, creating a vibrant scene. Even better, it was only a ten-minute walk from here to the clinic where she would be temporarily assigned.

Almost the instant Li Jingyi stepped into the living room, she fell in love with the place.

The small space exudes a unique sense of warmth. Standing in the center of the living room, she imagines the future when sunlight fills the entire room, and her face involuntarily radiates a warm anticipation for her new life.

Without much hesitation, she made the decision on the spot and readily bought the house.

"Great! This place is really wonderful." Li Jingyi looked around the still somewhat empty room with delight, her eyes filled with anticipation, as if she was quickly planning in her mind how to decorate it into a warm little nest.

"Yes, the location and environment are quite good, it's a nice place." Chen Xi stood beside her, his gaze falling on the sparkling light in her eyes. That pure joy infected him, and a long-lost peace welled up in his heart.

It was as if the cruel conflicts and endless killings of the distant 40K universe had been temporarily isolated outside the barriers of space and time.

At this moment, all that occupied his senses was the vibrant, hopeful person before him, and the tranquil city of the 3K era, which, though perhaps ordinary in the grand scheme of history, he cherished deeply.

Upon receiving the keys, Li Jingyi couldn't contain her excitement about buying the necessities for her new home.

“Next,” she said, waving her brand-new keychain with a bright, sunny smile, “it’s time for a big shopping spree! Chen Xi, you promised to help carry the heavy stuff, so it’s time to keep your promise, okay?”

"Of course, I'll be there whenever you call." Chen Xi agreed with a smile, her tone confident. "Let's go, I know there's a pretty big supermarket nearby, it should have a good selection."

The supermarket was bustling with people, lively and full of life.

Pushing her shopping cart among the shelves, Li Jingyi was in high spirits, carefully selecting and comparing everything from basic towels and toothbrushes to kitchen pots and pans.

Chen Xi automatically stepped into his role, being both a competent "laborer" and a reliable "advisor".

He naturally helped her take items from the high shelves, offered sound advice when she hesitated over her choices, and quietly took the increasingly heavy shopping bags from her and carefully placed them into the cart.

When the two walked to the fresh fruit section, Li Jingyi's eyes were immediately drawn to a pile of purplish-red, round fruits.

"Ah, mangosteen!" she exclaimed in surprise, quickly walked over, picked one up and examined it closely. "It looks so fresh, and it's plump too."

"You like this?" Chen Xi pushed the cart beside her, noticing the undisguised delight in her eyes.

“Yes! I really like it,” Li Jingyi nodded vigorously, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. “It’s sweet and juicy, but the shells are a bit hard to peel. Back in Hainan, this was the peak season for it.”

As she spoke, she skillfully picked out a few shiny, heavy mangosteens from the pile and put them into her shopping bag, her movements carrying a light and cheerful childlike quality.

Chen Xi silently noted her little preference in her heart. Looking at her happy profile as she discovered her favorite fruit, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

"Looks like I'll know what fruit to buy when I visit you from now on." He said with a hint of teasing, but his tone was very serious.

Upon hearing this, Li Jingyi blushed slightly and gave him a reproachful look, but the smile in her eyes deepened.

She didn't respond directly to his words, but with a hint of smugness, she added two more mangosteens to the bag, as if silently acknowledging his promise.

The two pushed a shopping cart brimming with the scents of daily life, weaving through the bright lights and dazzling shelves of the supermarket. The air was filled not only with the aroma of their new home, but also with a tacit, subtle sweetness quietly blossoming within them.

After shopping, Chen Xi helped Li Jingyi carry all her household items to the ground floor of her new apartment.

There were quite a lot of things, but the two worked together very well and moved them very efficiently.

"Phew... I finally got them all down." Li Jingyi looked at the shopping bags piled up like a small mountain at her feet. Although she was a little tired, she was mostly excited.

She looked up, her gaze falling on the balcony of her small apartment, where the warm sunlight was shining down. Her voice was full of anticipation for the future: "It seems my new life is really going to take root and sprout here."

"Yes, it's a good start." Chen Xi stood beside her, his gaze following hers. The gentle sunlight outlined the soft lines of her profile, illuminating the light shining in her eyes.

Looking at all this, his heart was filled with a gentle tranquility.

It was as if the burden of trillions of lives on our shoulders had been temporarily lifted, and the ordinary, mundane world before us seemed all the more precious at that moment.

"Did you get the key?" Chen Xi asked softly, his gaze falling on the brand-new access card and key in Li Jingyi's hand.

"Mmm!" Li Jingyi nodded, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold metal key, her face a mixture of anticipation for the future and the sense of security of finally settling down. "Next, it's just a matter of slowly tidying things up and turning this place into a real home, bit by bit."

"Do you need any help?" Chen Xi answered naturally, his gaze gently falling on her face, then casually glancing at the conspicuous bag of purplish-red mangosteens on the ground. "Like... moving these things upstairs? Or," he paused, his tone ordinary yet revealing undeniable consideration, "I'll wash the mangosteens for you first?"

Li Jingyi looked up at him.

The sunlight fell precisely into his focused eyes, where she found the familiar gentleness and reliability, as well as a depth that made her feel both at ease and irresistibly drawn to explore.

A slight tremor ran through my heart, and a warm feeling of being carefully cared for quietly spread through me.

She didn't answer immediately, but smiled with a hint of dependence and probing: "Well... let me sort things out first? I might really need your help. As for the mangosteens..." she winked playfully, "we can save them for when you come to 'inspect' the new house next time and enjoy them together."

Chen Xi smiled, a smile that completely dispelled the last trace of somberness that might have lingered between his brows, making him appear exceptionally bright and relaxed: "No problem, I'm ready anytime." He paused, softening his voice even more, with an undeniable concern, "Don't stay up too late today. You've just been discharged from the hospital and have been busy all day. Getting some rest is the most important thing."

This seemingly ordinary piece of advice felt like a warm current flowing into Li Jingyi's heart.

She gave a soft "hmm," her cheeks flushed slightly in the glow of the setting sun.

A brief silence fell between them, broken only by the rustling of the leaves in the evening breeze and the unspoken, warm affection that flowed silently between them.

"Then... I'll go up first?" Li Jingyi pointed in the direction of the unit door, a hint of lingering affection in her eyes.

"Okay." Chen Xi nodded, his gaze still warmly fixed on her. "Call me anytime if you need anything."

"Okay," Li Jingyi replied with a smile, turning to walk towards the building entrance. After a few steps, she turned back, the golden glow of the setting sun outlining her radiant figure, her smile warm and sincere: "Thank you so much for today, Chen Xi. From picking me up from the hospital, to having dinner and watching a movie, to helping me settle into my new home... you've worked so hard."

"You're welcome." Chen Xi returned the smile, watching her figure disappear into the stairwell entrance. He stood alone, feeling the gentle breeze of late spring evening caressing him. The air seemed to still carry the faint fragrance of her hair, and that relaxed, pleasant, and sweetly sweet scent of mangosteen.

(End of this chapter)