Chapter 14: Desert Oasis, Heartbeat

Casually, a glimpse of a pretty back caught his eye through the transparent glass window.

It flashed by, and before he could get a clear look, the person was gone.

Only that touch of vibrant light blue lingered in his heart.

The faint disappointment between his brows hadn’t even had time to dissipate.

A girl in a light blue dress pushed open the door and walked in with light, slow steps.

Her youthful face, with a determined look in her shy eyes, stood at the doorway, looking inside, as if searching for something.

Why was it her?

Could she also be here for a blind date?

A bold thought flashed through his mind.

He was about to excitedly stand up.

Then he slumped back down in disappointment.

His blind date wasn’t her.

The one-inch black and white photo in his hand was clearly of a different girl.

No comparison, no hurt; he miscalculated today.

He shouldn’t have wasted his time here.

In a while, when the girl comes, he’ll sincerely apologize and become ordinary friends; that way, it’ll be an explanation to both sets of parents.

He closed the menu. “Comrade, I’ll call you if I need anything else.”

“Okay, comrade.”

Ruan Xiaotang pushed open the door to the state-run restaurant, tiptoeing to look at every young man sitting at the tables. After a round, she didn’t find a man in a military uniform.

She had only learned this morning that her blind date was a military officer.

The ox cart had only just left the village when the matchmaker, riding a Flying Pigeon bicycle, breathlessly caught up.

She had only come to tell her this important news.

But she looked around and didn’t see a man in a military uniform.

Could he be low-key and wearing civilian clothes for the blind date?

This was difficult.

She only had his name and occupation; not even a small photo.

How could she find him?

Should she, a quiet girl, lower her face and self-esteem and ask each person?

It was embarrassing.

This matchmaker was really unreliable.

Just as she was worried, a waiter weaving through the crowd provided the answer.

With a sweet smile, she called over a friendly waitress, approached her, and whispered a few words.

The waitress nodded in agreement.

She shouted loudly to everyone in the room:

“Excuse me, is Zhou Xingze here? Someone is looking for you.”

“Thank you, comrade.”

“You’re welcome; it’s my job.”

The waitress smiled and ran back to the kitchen.

Zhou Xingze, equally at a loss and in a bad mood, heard someone call his name.

Subconsciously, he stood up swiftly and replied in a strong voice, “I’m Zhou Xingze.”

They both followed the sound.

Their eyes quickly found each other.

Youth met firmness.

The moment their eyes met.

The girl’s delicate face was deeply imprinted on the man’s heart, where feelings were beginning to stir.

“Thump, thump, thump.”

His restless heart uncontrollably went wild.

Not wanting to leave the girl with a bad impression, he subtly looked away, straightened his back, and sat on one side of the table.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the girl walking towards him with light, quick steps.

As the distance shortened.

His heart uncontrollably pounded again.

He pursed his lips.

His thick brows furrowed slightly.

This wasn’t his first blind date. Before, he could remain calm.

But this time?

It felt so strange.

From the moment he saw her, it felt like a strong rope was tied to his heart, constantly pulling him closer to the girl.

The more he resisted, the tighter the rope became.

His tense emotions made it hard to breathe.

He was a soldier, a soldier educated and trained by the organization, always obeying the organization’s orders – a qualified soldier.

On the battlefield, he wouldn’t blink an eye while facing death.

But now.

He was secretly stealing glances at the girl.

What a scoundrel, a hooligan.

Ruan Xiaotang nervously clutched the strap of her white handbag, sitting opposite him lightly, like a cat.

The other party had a dark face, his thick brows furrowed, his whole body exuding an aura of “Don’t provoke me, or you’ll suffer the consequences.”

Ruan Xiaotang nervously swallowed.

He looked unhappy.

Ruan Xiaotang lowered her eyes, her red lips tightly pursed.

Her white, slender hands, like cat paws, were clasped together, resting on the edge of the table.

She didn’t say a word.

Zhou Xingze mustered his courage, looked up, and looked over.

He was even more puzzled.

She seemed afraid of him.

He had been sitting there the whole time, trying not to offend her, not even daring to look at her.

He hadn’t done anything inappropriate.

Why would she be afraid of him?

“Comrade, hello, I’m Zhou Xingze.”

To break the awkward silence, Zhou Xingze spoke first.

“Comrade, hello, I’m Ruan Xiaotang.”

The girl’s voice was as gentle as a March breeze, softly brushing past his ears.

It was pleasant to hear.

He thought the atmosphere would warm up.

But no.

Dead silence followed.

The girl wouldn’t speak.

Zhou Xingze was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

He had read so many military books and literary classics.

At this moment, none of them were useful.

“Comrades, the people have arrived. Can you order now?”

A waiter came in, seeing the awkwardness between the man and woman, guessing they were on a blind date.

A talented man and a beautiful woman would get along well in the future.

She quickly handed the menu to the woman and winked at the man.

“Comrade, what do you like? Order whatever you want. I’m not picky; I eat anything.”

Zhou Xingze tried to lower his voice to be as approachable as possible.

“You order; I can eat anything.”

Ruan Xiaotang’s voice was soft as she pushed the menu back.

She kept her eyes down, not daring to look at him.

“Comrade, you order; your date is shy.”

Teasing from the waiter made Ruan Xiaotang’s milky-white face blush to her ears.

“Okay, I’ll order. Sweet and sour pork, eggplant with garlic sauce, Kung Pao chicken, candied sweet potato. Xiaotang, do you like these dishes?”

“Mm.”

The other party responded softly, like a mosquito.

Her already flushed face seemed even redder.

Girls were so shy.

But, she was pretty.

Zhou Xingze’s eyes seemed to be looking at the menu, but he was actually looking at her pretty face.

He noticed everything.

“What about the main course? Rice or steamed buns?”

“Rice.”

Ruan Xiaotang couldn’t help but think that these dishes were unimaginable in the village, but they were in short supply in the city’s state-run restaurants.

The living environment was vastly different.

Thinking of her mother and brother in the village, who hadn’t eaten such delicious food or seen the world outside the countryside, she felt suffocated.

She secretly vowed that as long as she was alive, everything would get better.