Chapter 262: Thank You

The two people walking talked a lot about things they had done together before, such as in battle, in training, and in daily life.

But gradually their walking speed slowed down more and more, until they finally sat directly on the sand and began chatting with each other. Yet despite that, from start to finish their tightly clasped hands never separated, and they kept holding on tightly.

"Unbeknownst to me, I've been with the Commander for a year already." Banrenma tilted her head, looked at Qin Ge, and smiled.

Qin Ge nodded, turned his gaze toward the sea before him where waves kept rising, and said, "Yeah, it's been a year already; time really flies."

"Yeah, at the beginning there were only me and my senior Nengdai, two warship girls; now the Commander already has twenty warship girls—time really flies." Banrenma said.

"Compared to before, I've grown quite a bit now; hehe, if I had been back then, I really wouldn't have dared imagine it." Qin Ge smiled.

"I couldn't imagine it either." Banrenma smiled, "To meet such a gentle and excellent Commander, and even spend a holiday together with him by the sea—I truly am a happy person."

Qin Ge nodded, "Me too, but I believe we will be even happier in the future, even happier than now."

"Mm, I've always firmly believed that." Banrenma nodded and said.

"By the way, I almost forgot—I still have my camera. Why don't we take a few photos now as a keepsake?" Qin Ge suddenly remembered the camera he had just bought, and so said to Banrenma.

"Sure." Banrenma nodded excitedly.

Immediately Qin Ge released Banrenma's hand, picked up the camera from aside, adjusted its settings, and said to the already-standing Banrenma, "Let's do it here; the scenery is quite nice, then strike a pose you find comfortable."

"Okay." Banrenma replied loudly, immediately struck a pose, and with a smiling face said to Qin Ge, "Commander, is this pose and expression okay?"

Qin Ge aimed the camera at Banrenma, viewed her pose through the viewfinder, and with his other hand gave her an OK sign.

Banrenma immediately smiled even more happily, "Hehe, please make me look nice in the photo."

"Leave it to me with confidence." Qin Ge said confidently. After saying that, he adjusted the focus and took a photo he thought was a perfect ten.

After finishing the shot, he said to Banrenma, "Let's change pose and take a few more; after all, we still have plenty of film we bought here."

"Okay."

So the two of them took pictures all over the beach—whether on the seaside sand, on the protruding rocks by the sea, or elsewhere—leaving behind Banrenma's cheerful laughter.

But by the time they realized it, the sky had gradually darkened, and the sunset's glow bathed the entire sky in red.

"It's already afternoon." After taking that group photo, Qin Ge lifted his head, looked at the evening clouds where the sunset was about to fall, and said to Banrenma.

"Time really flies." Banrenma sighed, "The time I spend with the Commander always feels short; we just chatted a bit, took some photos, and already it's almost sunset."

Qin Ge gave a slight smile, reached out and patted Banrenma's head, "When we have time another day, let's keep coming here."

"Mm." Banrenma nodded, "Then let's head home now."

Qin Ge chuckled, "But before that, let's hold hands first."

"Okay." Banrenma smiled and clasped hands tightly with Qin Ge.

But when the two lifted their feet to head toward the changing room, Banrenma suddenly thought of something, her face turned slightly flushed, but after glancing at Qin Ge, she became determined again.

"Um, Commander?" Banrenma said to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge stopped, turned his head doubtfully toward Banrenma, and asked, "What's up?"

"Um, Commander, could you close your eyes for a moment?" Banrenma said to Qin Ge.

"Close my eyes—what for?" Qin Ge asked, puzzled.

Banrenma's face reddened further, "If you just close your eyes, Commander, I'll tell you what to do."

"All right." Qin Ge glanced at Banrenma, obviously not thinking much of it, and then closed his eyes.

At this moment Banrenma came to stand directly in front of Qin Ge, looking at his closed-eyed face, her visage grew ever more flushed, yet her gaze became ever more resolute.

Then she rose onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips deeply against Qin Ge's lips.

At the instant Qin Ge felt his lips touched, he opened his eyes. What he saw was Banrenma kissing his lips with her eyes closed.

Qin Ge froze for a moment, but immediately became moved. He gently opened his arms, lightly embraced the waist of the tiptoeing Banrenma, closed his eyes again, and responded to the girl's kiss.

At that moment the sunset's afterglow shone on both of them, the nearby waves surged, the sea breeze gently caressed. Against this natural beauty, their kissing scene appeared so warm, so harmonious.

This kiss lasted a long while, until they simultaneously opened their eyes in mutual understanding, then gently parted. A flushed color rose on both their faces, like the red of a rose.

However, although their lips parted, their bodies did not separate, for unbeknownst to them Banrenma's arms had also reached around Qin Ge's back.

"Thank you." Qin Ge said to Banrenma.

"Why would the Commander suddenly say thank you to me?" The slightly shy Banrenma, hearing Qin Ge's gratitude, looked at him doubtfully and said.

"I don't know why, but I just suddenly wanted to say thank you." Qin Ge smiled and said, then held Banrenma even tighter.

Although Banrenma was still a bit doubtful, feeling Qin Ge's firm embrace made her heart turn sweet; she rested her head on his sturdy chest, enjoying this moment's tenderness.

But Qin Ge truly didn't know why he should thank Banrenma; perhaps he simply didn't want to voice the answer.

When a person wanders into an entirely different world from his former life, suddenly gaining his own love, suddenly forming his own bond—perhaps only then does he truly connect with this world.

Thank you, my warship girl! Thank you, my world!

At this moment Qin Ge also closed his eyes, rested his chin on Banrenma's head, and tightly embraced the girl before him.

At this moment he had not a trace of desire, only an infinite longing in his heart, and the knot that was gradually being undone.