Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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Xiao Hong was slightly moved. Those eyes were just like the ones when the little girl ran up to him expectantly when they first met, and she called out “Second Brother” in her childish voice.
But this “Second Brother” earned her a resounding slap from the old lady of the Xiao family.
“You have no right to call him Second Brother. This is not a place for you before I acknowledge you and your son. Send them back.”
That one time, the little girl never dared to call him “Second Brother” again. Every year at the family banquet, she was like a homeless child hiding in a corner, watching the Xiao family’s prosperity and coldness.
“Second Brother—”
“Alright, your second brother won’t force you.” Xiao Hong raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Finally, he turned around and strode straight toward Shen Chengfeng, who remained unmoved.
Shen Chengfeng watched him approach.
Xiao Hong grabbed his collar, his eyes blazing with fury, and said, “I won’t take her away today, and I won’t take her away in the future. There’s only one thing: don’t use your filthy thoughts to take advantage of her. Our Xiao family isn’t exactly a saint either.”
“Are you done talking?” Shen Chengfeng pried his hand away, took two steps back, and said again, “I’m not so desperate as to use my own soldiers.”
“You’d better remember what you said today.” Xiao Hong turned to leave, but stopped in front of Xiao Jing, lowering his voice and looking at her with doting eyes, “Don’t force yourself. No one will make you leave. Even if the children of the Xiao family are really useless, they will always be our family.”
Xiao Jing watched her second brother’s departing figure, the dim light gradually obscuring his tall frame.
Shen Chengfeng raised his hand, facing the small, motionless figure, and his clear, cold voice rang out, “Come here.”
Xiao Jing was stunned for a moment, but her body subconsciously moved two steps toward him, then two more, and finally, she burst into tears, as if she had found her family.
Shen Chengfeng was knocked back a step by her, his brows furrowed. He stared at the figure who was crying and shouting over his chest, and raised his hand, wondering whether he should push away this little soldier who had repeatedly insulted him.
Xiao Jing muttered aggrievedly, “Why did you secretly take my blood?”
“Do you think this can be done openly and honestly?” Shen Chengfeng asked rhetorically.
Xiao Jing stood up straight, her gaze burning. “Why not? I’ve said it before: I belong to you in life and in death. Don’t even mention my blood; even if you want my body, I’ll give it to you without hesitation.”
“…”
Xiao Jing covered her mouth, wondering why she felt that the sentence was somewhat ambiguous.
Shen Chengfeng took out a handkerchief and handed it to her, “Wipe your face.”
Xiao Jing stared resentfully at her relentlessly disrespectful superior, clicked her tongue, and said, “Were you really planning to kill my second brother just now? That fierce, bloody punch… did you really want to kill my second brother?”
“This is a lesson. Anyone who freely enters and leaves my Tie Ying should be punished.” Shen Chengfeng walked towards the dormitory building.
Xiao Jing followed closely behind him, tugging at his sleeve. “When did you find out that my blood was useful to you?”
“Forget about it, it shouldn’t be remembered by you.” Shen Chengfeng pushed open the door.
Xiao Jing stood there, and the lights in the room snapped on. The man took off his coat and walked into the bathroom.
The intermittent sound of flowing water came from inside; the entire space was too quiet.
Shen Chengfeng spread his hands and looked at the lines on his palms, finally clenching them into fists.
Xiao Jing casually took out a quilt and spread it on the floor. She listened carefully to the sounds coming from the bathroom. When she noticed the door was open, she quickly lay down and pretended to be asleep.
Shen Chengfeng glanced at the small figure under the quilt who was not moving, then took a big step over her and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Xiao Jing carefully lifted the blanket slightly, and when the light fell into her eyes, a pair of eyes stared straight at her.
Shen Chengfeng said, “Speak your mind.”
Xiao Jing sat up, took a moment to gather her thoughts, and said, “Captain—”
“Don’t even think about sleeping in the bed,” Shen Chengfeng interrupted her.
“…” When did I ever say I wanted to sleep in the bed? Which ear of yours heard me say I wanted to sleep in the bed? What’s wrong with a delicate girl like me sleeping in the bed? You’re a grown man, don’t you have any conscience lying in bed?
Shen Chengfeng lay down on his side, his eyes shining. “I’m a light sleeper. I can sense any disturbance. Don’t think you can sneak up here while I’m asleep.”
Xiao Jing simply gave up on further negotiations with him, lay down, and covered herself with the blanket.
As Shen Chengfeng looked at that proud little figure, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.
As night deepened, a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves.
The person who was fast asleep on the bed suddenly opened his eyes. He couldn’t help but glance down at the floor. The sound of steady breathing came from under the covers. The person inside must be asleep.
Shen Chengfeng sat up, got out of bed in the dim moonlight, lifted a small gap in the quilt, and stared intently at the sleeping face.
Xiao Jing’s sleeping posture was sometimes very well-behaved, like a newborn baby, but sometimes she was very carefree, just like a scoundrel, and she even drooled.
Shen Chengfeng gently poked her face, and seeing that she didn’t react, he carried her and the quilt onto the bed.
Xiao Jing rolled over, muttering, “Captain, can we skip writing the self-criticism? I’ll give you a smile, okay? I look pretty when I smile.”
After saying that, she grinned and smiled carefreely.
Shen Chengfeng, who was also lying on his side, suddenly looked serious. He was a little confused. Did he really take the initiative to carry this guy to bed?
He quickly sat up, wondering whether he should get the guy back down.
Xiao Jing instinctively reached out and put her hand on his waist, muttering, “Captain, you smell so good.”
Shen Chengfeng rubbed his forehead with one hand. Oh well, he’d let her have her way tonight.
He lay back down on the bed, facing the drooling woman, and silently turned his back to her.
The next day, the bugle sounded.
Xiao Jing sat up with a jolt, but because she was too close to the edge of the bed, she didn’t notice and rolled off.
She opened her eyes groggily, as if she had been stunned by the fall.
Wait a minute, Xiao Jing looked up in a panic, staring at the spot where she had just fallen. Her heart skipped a beat. When did she climb back onto the bed?
The other person on the bed seemed to be still asleep, undisturbed by the loud bugle call.
Xiao Jing moved her feet carefully, afraid that she might accidentally wake up someone she shouldn’t.
Shen Chengfeng opened his eyes but did not turn around. He just listened to the sparse footsteps behind him, as if the other person was walking very cautiously.
Xiao Jing opened the dormitory door and ran down the dormitory building at top speed, like a 100-meter sprinter.
Qi Yue looked at Xiao Jing, who arrived late, and said with a half-smile, “Captain Xiao, did you go to the toilet on your way here and arrive late?”
Xiao Jing hurriedly returned to the team, stood up straight, and said in a loud and powerful voice, “I may have overslept.”
“Look how dejected you all are after a day without training! Everyone, 30 kilometers of cross-country running at 30 kilograms each. No breakfast until you finish.” Qi Yue walked past the group one by one.
Xiao Jing shouldered the large bag and had only taken two steps when she saw a figure coming from behind her to the right.
Lin Qi stepped forward and asked, “Were you alright yesterday?”
“I’m fine, but what about you? I heard you had a mild concussion. Why don’t you rest for another day?”
Lin Qi smiled and said, “I’m used to this high-intensity training pace, and I don’t know what to do if I suddenly stop.”
Xiao Jing followed beside him, and the two of them left the camp together.
Lin Qi hesitated before saying, “I went up to your dorm last night.”
Xiao Jing stopped in surprise, then chuckled and said, “I was probably at the bathhouse at that time.”
Lin Qi didn’t expose his excuse; he couldn’t tell him that he had been waiting in front of his dormitory all night, would he?
Xiao Jing ran forward guiltily, glancing at the main group that had already disappeared, but deliberately slowed down. She asked, “Can you hold on?”
Lin Qi nodded and smiled, “I’m just a little dizzy, but it won’t affect my performance.”
Xiao Jing climbed onto a boulder, stretched out her right hand towards him, and said, “Give me your hand.”
Lin Qi was somewhat flattered and, at a loss for what to do, reached out with both hands.
Xiao Jing pulled him up, “Let’s continue.”
Lin Qi looked down at her hand, which still seemed to retain his warmth.
What are you standing there for?
Lin Qi hurriedly followed.
Xiao Jing had only taken two steps when she heard a cracking sound behind her, followed by a muffled groan.
Lin Qi didn’t see the stones on the ground clearly. He felt dizzy and rolled down the mountain, crashing heavily into a tree trunk.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Jing ran down to him, squatted down in front of him, and carefully examined his damaged forehead.
Lin Qi smiled bitterly and said, “Does this mean I’m useless?”
Xiao Jing put down her backpack, took out some gauze for emergency use, and wiped the bloodstains off him, saying, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Lin Qi stared intently at his profile. Sunlight pierced through the thick white clouds, casting rays of light down. And the woods were quiet, and it seemed as if one could hear his rising and falling breaths.
Xiao Jing noticed his strange gaze and felt inexplicably uneasy, thinking about what the captain had told her yesterday.
Like a thunderbolt from the blue, she quickly turned around, deliberately turning her back to Lin Qi.
Lin Qi frowned slightly, puzzled by her intention. “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Jing mumbled, “I’ll disinfect it with some iodine. If you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself. Go back and rest.”
Lin Qi could sense a clear distance between them from his words. He grabbed Xiao Jing’s hand and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
Xiao Jing pulled her hand away from his and said tactfully, “No, it’s just getting late, and I need to continue training. You should go back now.”
After saying that, Xiao Jing slung her large bag over her shoulder and ran towards the top of the mountain without looking back.
Lin Qi sat alone on the ground, watching the receding figure, feeling as if a hole had been dug in his heart, a dull, unbearable pain emanating from it.
Xiao Jing quickly fled the scene. She felt she needed to keep her distance from Lin Qi, this simple-minded and foolish boy, because who knows, he might suddenly go crazy one day like that General Yan Mo.
Haha, would you say I’m having too many admirers?
As expected, when someone is beautiful, they can’t help but be admired even when dressed as a man.
“Captain Xiao, you’re falling behind.” Ji Shanlin waved to her from the top of the mountain.
Xiao Jing climbed up in one go, looking down at the mountain peaks, and asked, “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Ji Shanlin put down his backpack and handed over the last bit of beef jerky he had treasured. “I saved this for you on purpose.”
Xiao Jing was caught in a dilemma: should she accept or refuse?
Seeing his hesitation, Ji Shanlin stuffed it directly into his backpack and said seriously, “No one will notice.”
Xiao Jing finally took it out and said, “The captain’s nose is more sensitive than a dog’s, he’ll find out. I appreciate your kindness, but we’ve already fallen behind, let’s go.”
Ji Shanlin looked at the last bag of beef jerky in his hand and stopped insisting. He picked up his backpack and followed.
As the sun broke through the darkness at dawn, the entire military camp was bathed in a dazzling golden light.
….
After seven consecutive days of intensive training, everyone seemed to have been ignited with fighting spirit. On the plane to the southern Selin Peninsula, deafening songs echoed throughout.
The competition among the eight special operations teams was a real combat training exercise, with all weapons being real.
Wearing a bulletproof vest, Xiao Jing checked all the magazines and, after making sure everything was in order, closed her eyes for a short nap.
No one knew how many days this military exercise would last. According to the rules, the fighting would only stop after one side was wiped out. It was a protracted war, and even more so, a chase between strength and ability.
“We’ll act as a group later,” Lin Qi whispered in Xiao Jing’s ear.
Xiao Jing was about to nod, but after thinking about it again, she could only shake her head, “No need, I can handle things on my own now.”
Lin Qi hesitated, then gripped his sidearm tightly. He could hear the obvious rejection in Xiao Jing’s words; he seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally distancing himself from him these past few days.
The plane circled over the southern peninsula, and finally everyone jumped out of the cabin one by one.
The Tie Ying and the Zheng Hu team chose to hold their match on a peninsula surrounded by the sea. The entire island was located on the border of Serin and covered an area of about 20,000 hectares. The island was densely covered with jungles and had many unknown creatures, so there was a potential danger at almost any time.
As soon as Xiao Jing stepped off the island, she quickly entered the forest. Sensing someone behind her, she cautiously turned around, gun in hand.
Lin Qi stood in front of him, his expression tense, as if he were controlling something.
Xiao Jing frowned, and asked in surprise, “Why are you following me?”
“Did I do something wrong? Why are you distancing yourself from me?” Lin Qi stepped forward and asked bluntly.
Xiao Jing put down her sidearm and said seriously, “Now we’re starting preparations for combat, not the time to talk about our personal grudges.”
Lin Qi grabbed his hand, which he was trying to avoid, and said, “I just want to know if I did something wrong that made you angry?”
Xiao Jing sighed softly. Based on her understanding of Lin Qi, she knew that he was likely stuck in a dead end. If she didn’t bring it up, he would probably continue to stubbornly hold onto his thoughts.
She stated frankly, “We may have gotten too close lately.”
“We’re comrades-in-arms, what’s wrong with being a little closer?” Lin Qi asked, puzzled.
Xiao Jing looked up, and their eyes met. She then said, “We’re too close. We’re almost crossing the line from being comrades to soldiers. Do you understand? In the military, you don’t see a member of the opposite sex for years. It’s very possible that after spending time together, there will be some changes in your feelings. So at this time, we need to keep our distance.”
Lin Qi sorted out her unspoken meaning and said with a wry smile, “You misunderstood that I have some ulterior motive towards you?”
“I hope you understand what I mean.” Xiao Jing picked up her assault rifle with both hands and carefully parted the trees.
Lin Qi stood still, touching his heart with one hand, and suddenly felt a void there.
“Coo coo coo.” A bird flapped its wings and flew low overhead.
“Bang!” The ear-piercing sound of a bullet suddenly rang out, instantly shattering the tranquility of the entire forest.
Birds flew about in all directions, and leaves fell suddenly like a torrential rain.
Xiao Jing crawled forward, carefully observing all the movements around her.
“Bang!” Another gunshot rang out from afar, as if it were carried by radar and hurtling towards Xiao Jing’s small figure.
Xiao Jing noticed the approaching danger and instinctively rolled to the side, finding cover and cautiously observing the surrounding movements.
The woods returned to silence, with only the sparse sound of falling leaves.
“Bang.” A flash of light, and Xiao Jing pulled the trigger with lightning speed, firing two shots at a large tree thirty meters away without hesitation.
A man was spotted in the tree; he leaped down from the treetop and ran away.
Xiao Jing had no intention of pressing the attack. Based on the Zheng Hu team’s tactics, they were likely planning to lure the enemy into a trap.
“Bang bang bang.” The sudden sound of machine gun fire, like the intense firecrackers during the New Year, shattered the silence of the entire forest.
Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Jing knew that someone had successfully launched an attack and hurriedly ran towards the source of the gunfire.
Gunfire erupted incessantly, as if the enemy was beginning a massacre without giving up until they achieved their goal.
Xiao Jing climbed up a big tree and looked down at her captain who was surrounded by the enemy. She looked around and found four sniping positions. Shen Chengfeng had a chance to avoid them, but he chose to fight back head-on.
The other side seemed to have gone all out, and the gunfire intensified.
Without further hesitation, Xiao Jing grabbed a vine and leaped high into the air. Her voice was loud and powerful as she said, “Captain, I’m here to lend you a hand.”
Shen Chengfeng looked up and saw a figure descending from the sky through the gaps in the sunlight.
He instinctively raised his hand and caught her as she hurtled down. Due to the momentum, he spun her around twice with her in his arms, and finally they rolled together into the dense bushes.
Xiao Jing lay on top of him, withered leaves beneath him, and the sunlight gently fell on his face as their eyes met.
“Team leader.”
“I am here.”
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