Chapter 367 - 298: Love, Ineffable

Fang Huai was not intellectually deficient, he was clearly testing the waters intentionally.

After all, he had saved that child in Beichuan, and it was inevitable that the naked mother nearby would also be reported in the media.

So he replied to her with slight seriousness, "I didn’t mean to look, but sometimes people have nowhere to hide."

"It’s all part of the rescue, you can’t control it, that kind of thing happens quite frequently."

"I had a comrade tell me he once came across a woman who fainted in the shower from gas poisoning. The neighbors smelled it and called the police, and they had no choice but to help dress her."

He was constantly testing Yang Shaoqing’s boundaries because he didn’t want to have to explain everything in the future.

From his twenties to his thirties, he had spent many years rejecting marriage, accustomed to dating without opening his heart. He had a habitual aversion to marriage and having children in his previous life.

Having only been reborn for a few months, it was hard to change his mindset overnight. He could only confirm through repeated "reckless acts" that Yang Shaoqing was the one worth it. It was also a reminder to himself that there would be no one better than her.

Yang Shaoqing’s nose wrinkled.

Childish.

She knew Fang Huai was deliberately provoking her—it was typical of him.

Sometimes Fang Huai would suddenly seem so mature she couldn’t understand his resolve; it was a side of him she had never seen before, which made her feel very secure.

But at times, he would intentionally say things that upset her.

She didn’t understand why and could only attribute it to "childishness."

It was time to teach him a lesson.

"Oh, I’m off to hand out flyers." Yang Shaoqing tilted her head to look away, sending out a cold signal.

But she didn’t leave.

Stupid turtle, coax me, coax me, coax me.

Fang Huai nodded naturally and said,

"Then I’ll report to the Command first. I might be late later; if I’m free, I’ll come to find you."

"Yeah, go ahead." Yang Shaoqing turned her body away, her voice turning frosty.

But the footsteps behind her gradually faded.

Tears threatened to form in Yang Shaoqing’s eyes as they began to mist over.

She clenched the flyers tightly, but remembering they belonged to the children of the disaster area, she straightened them out before allowing herself to succumb to her grievances.

After a while, she said fiercely, "I don’t like you anymore!"

"Why don’t you like me? I didn’t leave."

Fang Huai’s highly infuriating voice emerged from behind Yang Shaoqing.

Yang Shaoqing froze, quickly wiping her tears. She turned around to see his face, which had a teasing smile, and she started punching him in the chest with her little fists.

She punched quite hard.

"Why do you upset me, why!"

Yang Shaoqing’s pent-up grievances and worries suddenly burst forth.

It was late at night, and many people from Hanwang had left; there was no one around. Fang Huai let her hit him a few times before pulling her into his arms.

The feisty little tiger calmed down, with only a slight sobbing audible.

Yang Shaoqing was tall, but leaning on the slightly taller Fang Huai’s shoulder was just right.

"Do you want to hear the truth?" Fang Huai stroked her hair.

Yang Shaoqing nodded her head.

Fang Huai then released her, leading her to a place that was further away and quieter.

He wasn’t in a rush to get to the Command. He could be late; his uncle would explain for him.

As they walked, Fang Huai picked up a leaf that had fallen to the ground and slowly started tearing it along its veins.

"Hurry up and say it," Yang Shaoqing urged anxiously.

"Shaoqing, did you like me before? ... No, that’s wrong, you definitely didn’t like me then. Did you ... hate me before?" Fang Huai slowly asked.

Hearing this, Yang Shaoqing slowed down too.

"No hate ... but when you sneaked peeks at me, I knew it. Humph, at that time you were seeing Huang Jiaojiao."

Fang Huai’s scalp tingled.

At least to a moderate extent.

"... I had nothing with her, really nothing, never did anything." He usually teased her, but he had to explain this time.

"I know," Yang Shaoqing nodded slightly.

"How do you know?"

Yang Shaoqing blinked, saying naturally, "Yeah, Chen Shuang always talked about your good and bad, saying you’re incredibly stupid and that Huang... oh well, nothing good. But he also said if you were a bit more handsome, he could consider letting you be his brother-in-law."

"Damn," Fang Huai blurted out. "And you didn’t hit him for this?"

Yang Shaoqing giggled, "I did, but he’s very resilient, still saying you’re not handsome."

Fang Huai’s forehead crinkled into lines of frustration. "Then why do you like me?"

Yang Shaoqing thought hard, "Hmm ... I don’t know either. Actually, I disliked it when you first tied my shoelaces, you were too slick. I don’t like men who talk slick."

Fang Huai twitched his mouth, wanting to say "I’m not used to doing that either."

But then Yang Shaoqing gently continued, "I don’t like it when others do it, but when you do, I can handle it, I like it."

Fang Huai’s heart fluttered intensely.

Yet, he maintained a poised demeanor of an older person, saying, "Didn’t you ever think that you might find a better option later? Me, just a soldier, sloppy, no time, always stripping in public, not listening to you."

He couldn’t help himself, he irritated Yang Shaoqing again.

Yang Shaoqing didn’t get angry like she had before because she seemed to have understood Fang Huai’s thoughts.

He felt insecure.

She began to smile, her white jade-like cheeks showing a hint of dimples as she raised her hand to gently caress Fang Huai’s cheek.

"Love is the sinking of free will, it’s not a matter of choice. Falling in love, why do we fall, not jump? Fool."

Fang Huai’s old face was actually quite thin.

Because at that second, the warm touch of Yang Shaoqing’s hand penetrated straight into his heart.

Love was indeed indescribably wonderful.

Fang Huai grasped Yang Shaoqing’s fair and delicate hand, bringing her into his embrace once more.

Who says older men can’t be childish? He just wanted someone to understand his childishness.

"Yang Shaoqing, from now on, every time I am dispatched, I will make sure to report my safety to you."

"Alright, Turtle Fang."

...

"Reporting!"

Fang Huai stood at the entrance of the Command tent and shouted assertively.

"Come in." The chief at the center of the long table smiled and beckoned with his hand.

There were fewer leaders in the tent now, and some experts were also absent.

Seven or eight cadres of regimental rank and above were inside, seemingly not too busy, gathered around the long table eating peanuts in a harmonious atmosphere.

"Hey, Little Fang, take a seat."

The leaders were all somewhat cheerful upon seeing him, especially General Luo.

He had done them proud, this youngster had fiercely vindicated the firefighting team.

"The hero returns." Zhang Zhongting, however, sounded somewhat irritated.

Although annoyed, he still grabbed a handful of peanuts and offered them to him.

"Tsk." General Luo clicked his tongue: "Zhongting, your nephew has really made you proud. Dangerous it may be, but here he is, back safe and sound."

Zhang Zhongting shook his head: "Risk-taking is his duty, but this kid didn’t even call once when he got back. His girlfriend Little Yang has been volunteering for days, worried sick about him! Did you forget everything I taught you before you left?"

The last remark was directed at Fang Huai.

Fang Huai didn’t talk back this time, sheepishly saying, "I’ve appeased her, it’s already taken care of. From now on, it definitely won’t happen again... I... I learned this from my dad! He left my mom and went to Yingxiu alone, you should scold him first!"

Even if he wasn’t being stubborn, when there was an opportunity to shift the blame, he took it.

"Oh?" The chief expressed surprise: "Your whole family came? This should be written into the report! Your family is remarkable! They should be taken as a model!"

Fang Huai repeatedly waved his hands: "Chief, my dad is also a soldier, discharged but not faded. He just did what was expected of him."

At that moment, Zhang Zhongting turned to him and reminded, "You might not need the honor, but does Little Yang? She is still a student at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and has taken good care of the children these past days. Leader, I request, on behalf of the Command, to write a letter of commendation to her school to acknowledge her."

When it came to matters requiring action, he never fell short.

With Sichuan Conservatory of Music being a prominent university in Sichuan, the mention of a student being commended by the earthquake epicenter Command would undoubtedly attract attention.

"Hmm, that can be arranged. Little Fang, you are not married yet, are you?" asked the chief with a smile.

"No, my girlfriend is still studying."

"Hmm... that’s a pity. We also have a selection of military wives who accompanied the troops in the earthquake resistance effort. With your performance, if you had a wife, she would also be eligible to participate."

Fang Huai smiled shyly: "Chief, let’s not go there, my rank isn’t high enough for family to accompany the military... at my level... getting into the Party would suffice."

This was something he had not forgotten.

At this point, Brigade Commander Liu, who had called Fang Huai to the Command for the first time, laughed heartily: "Little Fang, I recalled telling General Luo about your mechanic unit’s Liang’s wish!"

Zhang Zhongting pursed his lips and said:

"All day harboring little schemes, still aspiring to be a Party member, I think you should find a river tonight, take a good bath and change, and cleanse your thoughts while you’re at it!

Alright, tomorrow morning at half-past eight, go to the Dongqi Turbine Factory and be sworn into the Party. The ceremony was originally on the 16th, but it’s been delayed several days to accommodate you and 15 other soldiers who are waiting to join. Now that Hanwang is not busy anymore, mostly with mechanized troops working, tomorrow morning, all the Party members from our whole corps will also go to reaffirm the Party oath.

Later, go find Chen Jian from Zun Y Team and have him give you the oath. Memorize it well!"

The smile on Fang Huai’s face couldn’t be restrained as he stood at attention and said:

"Report to the leader! I am prepared! No, I’m always ready!"

"Hmm." Finally somewhat satisfied, Zhang Zhongting said: "Get some good rest. The body recovery team is full for now. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be assigned to post-quake resettlement work. These next few days, if you’re free, join Little Yang and a few others in greeting and looking after the children, acting as their bodyguard."

On hearing this, Fang Huai’s mouth twitched slightly as he murmured, "Leader, isn’t that a bit heavy on private goods... I’m an earthquake resistance vanguard, and you want me to be a bodyguard?"

The leaders heard him and laughed.

These past two days, they had been moving bodies, and there was no shortage of hands, even an abundance of them. How Zhang Zhongting decided to deploy his troops was his business.

However, Zhang Zhongting turned to him, his expression serious:

"Hanwang is currently complex with personnel issues, and now there are over a hundred children without parents waiting to be resettled. It’s not unlikely for human trafficking criminals to exploit the disaster, do you think the task is trivial? I’ll tell you, if even one child goes missing, you better turn Hanwang upside down to find them for me!"

Yes, yes, you are right.

You just want me to take care of children with Yang Shaoqing.

No doubt, leaders always have their reasons.

Fang Huai inwardly smirked but had no choice but to go along, standing at attention as he said:

"Yes! I assure you the task will be completed!"

(This month’s monthly ticket plus Chapter No. 3)