Chapter 251: Love Comes Too Fast, Like a Tornado

Arrived?

Not yet.

Then why did you park?

I'm going to buy something.

He parked the car at the roadside, and Kang Changyi pushed the door and got out.

Seeing that guy actually walk straight into a flower shop, Lu Yang was very surprised.

He had always thought that guy was brainless, but didn't expect him to be so meticulous.

It truly is spending a little money on flowers to achieve a big purpose.

Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong simply got out as well, and as soon as they pushed the door into the flower shop, the wind chime hanging at the entrance rang a crisp, pleasant sound.

The wind chime on the door is a decoration unique to the period of economic upturn; later it was basically never seen again.

Two of you, what would you like to buy?

Together.

The shopkeeper's wife, wearing an apron and gloves, greeted them enthusiastically.

Lu Yang just stood at the doorway and glanced casually; he doesn't know much about fresh flowers.

Kang Changyi was seriously selecting among the flowers, and the shopkeeper's wife, seeing that she couldn't decide, proactively asked.

Who is it for?

For a friend.

Girlfriend?

Doesn't count, I guess.

Oh, then it's someone you're still pursuing.

The shopkeeper's wife took a few roses from the side and said, "When courting a girl, giving roses is most appropriate; it can help you cut through thorns on the road of love."

Kang Changyi's face suddenly turned red, looking all awkward: "Also, also can't call her a girlfriend; we haven't even met yet."

The shopkeeper's wife laughed: "Then you must give roses; nothing is more romantic or more liked by young ladies. Eleven roses is just right—wholehearted."

How much?

Simple packaging, 160; exquisite packaging, 180.

I still want it a bit more refined.

Alright.

The shopkeeper's wife carefully selected the flowers, took out colored paper and ribbons, and began wrapping.

Kang Changyi watched intently, and when he turned his head, he met two strange eyes.

Lu Yang and the other person's features were twisted together, looking at him with a face full of question marks.

As if saying: "Big brother, are you kidding?"

Kang Changyi felt a moment of guilt, quickly lowered his voice to explain: "We're just guessing; what if she's a respectable woman, simply curious about the army matters, or simply enamored with the legend of this brother?"

Lu Yang rolled his eyes, striking the heavens: "Who said before that this woman doesn't seem like a good person?"

Ah, better be prepared, right? What if she's a good girl, what if the two of us click?

Then take her, take her on the spot.

Zhou Kaidong also added a comment on the side.

It made Kang Changyi blush bright red, his body almost twisted into a pretzel.

Before leaving, he even specially asked the shopkeeper's wife to issue an invoice, preparing to go back to the company to get reimbursement.

The main point is frugality, using public funds to chase girls; no, to catch spies.

Getting into the car, Kang Changyi placed the fresh flowers on the passenger seat and thoughtfully patted them with his hand.

Lu Yang kept rolling his eyes, even suspecting that this guy was just looking for an excuse to meet an online female friend!

Where's the meeting, specifically what time?

It seems, just past the traffic light, it's called Jasmine Tea.

Then let's go, go wait first.

Okay.

Kang Changyi was just about to start the car when his phone beeped with a "ding-ding-ding" message alert.

He quickly opened the phone, and after seeing the message, frowned.

What's wrong?

Changed location.

Changed location?

Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong exchanged a glance: "Where did it change to?"

Kang Changyi: "Changed to Chengbei New District, a Western restaurant called Afternoon Sun; could there be a scam here?"

Lu Yang shrugged: "How would I know, the online girl you're chatting with, you ask me? Just go see and you'll know?"

We're both here, what's there to fear?

That's right.

Kang Changyi felt a little more confident inside.

Being alone made him indeed a bit nervous.

Even if the other isn't a spy, if it's something else, or a honey trap, wouldn't that hit his soft spot?

After driving for over twenty minutes, they arrived at Chengbei New District and found the Afternoon Sun Western restaurant.

From afar, Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong got out early, the purpose being to enter in batches without attracting attention.

We found a trash can by the roadside marked for smoking, waited for Zhou Kaidong to finish two cigarettes, then the two of us headed toward the Western restaurant.

"Squad Leader, your walking posture is off."

"Where's it wrong?"

Zhou Kaidong glanced toward the street‑facing display window.

It's upright and spry; it doesn't look like a problem, does it?

Lu Yang pressed his head down with his hand and said, "You need to curve your back a bit, tilt your neck forward, and preferably tuck a cigarette between your ears; that's how people look in society."

Zhou Kaidong then realized where the problem lay: the posture trained in the unit is too upright, drawing unwanted attention.

So, following Lu Yang's advice, he tucked the cigarette on his ear, clasped his hands in his pockets, and mimicked a petty drifter.

But this looked awkward no matter how you saw it.

So much so that Zhou Kaidong, a long‑time Squad Leader, felt an impulse to swagger up to the window and make a showy move himself.

After a short while, the two arrived at the Western restaurant, where a male receptionist at the door smiled politely.

"How many, sir?"

"Four, and two more will be joining shortly."

"Then, may we be seated in a more interior spot?"

Lu Yang glanced around and happened to see a man and a woman chatting merrily at a window booth.

The woman looked almost identical to how she appeared in the earlier space photo, with no noticeable change.

So Lu Yang simply took a nearby seat with a window.

He first ordered a pot of tea, pretending to wait for friends.

At this moment, Kang Changyi, with his back to Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong, was chatting and laughing with the other party, truly like a couple on a date.

"Why aren't you wearing a uniform?"

"Oh, we have a rule: when on official business we wear civilian clothes, mainly to stay low‑key."

"So that's why; I wanted to see you in uniform, what a pity."

"Next time, if you have time to visit our unit, I'll show you in uniform."

"Then it's a promise; older brother mustn't lie to me."

"How could I? I've already promised my little sister, hehe, hee‑hee‑hee…"

Lu Yang's skin prickled all over, and that was only after a moment.

The two had already started calling each other brother and sister; the progress was indeed rather fast.

At that time, it was very trendy to claim a brother or sister; on chat apps, terms like "beauty," "guoguo," "MM," "GG" were popular slang.

Zhou Kaidong sipped the freshly served Longjing tea and thought the leaves were oddly astringent: "It's freaking sharp on the ears!"

Lu Yang laughed awkwardly: "When you're undercover, it's always like this."

Reconnaissance units usually have courses on urban infiltration and urban camouflage reconnaissance.

The Sixth Company is a Motorized Infantry battalion; they don't have to study these things, but that doesn't mean they can't learn on their own.

At that moment, they were essentially carrying out reconnaissance infiltration training, so they had to endure even the most cheesy and disgusting parts.

To avoid drawing attention, the two pretended to discuss business‑related topics, putting on a proper façade.

"You, have you ever dated a girlfriend?"

"Huh?"

The girl's question made Kang Changyi, already heart‑racing, instantly flustered.

He hadn't expected that, upon first meeting, she would ask such a private, blunt question.

If things keep moving at this pace, after the meal we'll end up holding hands, then kissing, hugging, and even lifting each other up, right?

Seeing the girl's plain clothes, her shy, evasive gaze, and the occasional hand‑tug on her side‑swept bangs, Kang Changyi felt he might be experiencing his first love.

At that moment, he was ninety‑nine percent certain that this girl could absolutely not be a spy!

"Spies never look like this; spies are never this naive!"

"I… I guess I've dated before?"

"How many?"

"Two… no, three. How about you?"

Three is the standard answer; he'd seen it in novels.

Whenever anyone asks, he says he's dated three.

Not too many, not too few, it also makes him seem seasoned.

The girl, with her hand tucked in her sleeve, lightly brushed away a bit of sweat and shyly said, "I… haven't dated..."

Kang Changyi widened his eyes, swallowed hard, amazed that there were still people as pure as him these days!

"You, being so beautiful, must have many suitors at school; why aren't you dating?"

"Technical schools are full of bad guys, all jerks; several of my sisters have been heart‑broken. Those lousy boys spend every day either smoking and drinking or fighting online; it's just boring..."

Kang Changyi nodded vigorously, giving his affirmation.

As a top graduate of the National University of Science and Technology, he still felt a sense of superiority.

Especially in front of technical‑school students, he wanted to feel like a dragon among men, dominating the heavens.

Lu Yang took a tactical sip of tea; having attended a technical school in a past life and witnessed its chaos, he couldn't find any reason to refute him.

Kang Changyi asked, "Then you, what kind do you like?"

The girl propped her cheek with one hand, smiled gently, and said, "I like someone like you."

Finisher!

Kang Changyi was knocked dizzy by that finisher!

Indeed, love comes too fast, just like a tornado!

Instead, Lu Yang next door slightly furrowed his brows, sensing something amiss.

Zhou Kaidong asked softly, "What's wrong, did you notice something off?"

Lu Yang: "This woman is definitely problematic."

"How did you find out?"

"A normal woman—who would fall for Kang Changyi, that idiot, in such a short time? It's not like she's writing a romance novel."

"......"

Zhou Kaidong, enlightened, nodded vigorously: "Makes sense!"