Chapter 23: Getting Closer to His Wife

Mu Nanhe’s eyes still held the pain of memories past, a hurt that shrouded him like a cloud, hard to shake off. He slowly turned around, moving gently and slowly, as if afraid of startling Yang Qingyan. Then, he stretched out his arms, embracing her lightly, burying his head in her shoulder. He gently closed his eyes, as if by doing so he could chase away all the pent-up negative feelings within him. He held her quietly for a long moment, as if time had stopped, the only sounds in the universe being their breaths and heartbeats.

Finally, he slowly lifted his head, gazing directly at Yang Qingyan. His eyes reflected both the sadness from the memories and a hint of cautious expectation. His lips moved slightly, his voice carrying a mix of nervousness and longing as he softly asked, “Wife, may I kiss you?”

Yang Qingyan was momentarily stunned; she had not expected Mu Nanhe to suddenly make such a request. She tilted her head back slightly, looking into his sorrowful eyes, and felt something in her softest heart stir gently. Unable to help herself, she nodded. After all, she was someone who couldn’t resist gentle affection, and she couldn’t bear to see Mu Nanhe looking so wounded and lonely.

Seeing her nod, surprise flashed in Mu Nanhe’s eyes, and he slowly lowered his head, handling her like the rarest treasure. Lacking experience, he appeared particularly clumsy, his lips trembling slightly as they approached Yang Qingyan’s. Just before their lips were about to touch, he paused for a moment, seemingly giving her one last chance to back out. When he saw that she didn’t retreat, he gently, softly kissed her.

Initially, the kiss was tentative, timid, like he feared disturbing something fragile. But as their lips touched, an indescribable emotion flowed between them, and he found it hard to let go. Time seemed to lose its meaning in that moment; they kissed quietly for a long while. The surrounding air felt sweet and thick, every second passing accompanied by the quickening of their heartbeats.

After what felt like ages, Mu Nanhe slowly released Yang Qingyan. A faint blush adorned his cheeks, and his gaze brimmed with tenderness. Yang Qingyan’s own cheeks flushed as she lowered her head, unable to meet Mu Nanhe’s eyes directly. It felt as though this was her first kiss with a man; though this body had been intimate with Mu Nanhe before, it had been the original, not her.

In that moment, the bond between them seemed to cross another vast chasm, growing more intimate, like two stars closely relying on each other, illuminating and warming one another in this complicated world.

………………

After they finished their meal, the warm atmosphere still lingered in the room when suddenly, a loud, urgent knock interrupted the tranquility. Mu Nanhe’s expression changed instantly, and he quickly stood up to open the door. Standing at the entrance was a soldier with an anxious look on his face. The soldier saluted and reported loudly, “Commander, there’s an emergency mission. The superior requests that you go to the office immediately.”

Without hesitation, Mu Nanhe nodded, turning to look at Yang Qingyan, his gaze filled with regret and reluctance. “Wife, there’s an urgent matter in the camp; I have to leave.” Although Yang Qingyan felt a sense of worry, she understood Mu Nanhe’s responsibilities and firmly nodded in reply. “You go ahead and take care; be safe.” Mu Nanhe turned and quickly left with the soldier, disappearing into the night almost immediately.

He hastened to the commander’s office, not daring to delay. Upon entering, he found the commander standing solemnly at his desk, which was strewn with documents and maps. The commander got right to the point. “Mu Nanhe, a ruthless gang of criminals has been active around the old factory in the western part of the city. They have committed multiple murders and dealt in drugs, severely endangering the peace of the society, and the citizens are living in fear. According to intelligence analysis, tonight is the best time to capture them. You will lead the unit, and we must wipe out this gang and restore peace to the people.”

Standing tall, Mu Nanhe saluted sharply, his voice loud and firm. “Rest assured, Commander. I will complete the mission!” The commander nodded slightly and reminded him of a few key points to note before Mu Nanhe memorized everything in his mind.

After receiving the orders, Mu Nanhe quickly summoned his team members, succinctly conveying the mission details. The teammates visibly grew serious, rolling up their sleeves and preparing for the action ahead. Under the cover of darkness, they boarded military vehicles and sped towards the western city’s old factory at lightning speed.

Upon reaching their destination, Mu Nanhe was the first to exit the vehicle. Using the night as cover, he led his team cautiously towards the criminals’ hideout. The western city’s old factory loomed like a ghost town, overgrown with weeds, and the dilapidated buildings barely visible in the darkness. Occasionally, the eerie sound of the wind suggested the hidden evils lying within.

They crouched low, using the ruins as cover, inching closer to the target. Just as they were about to close in, a young and reckless team member accidentally kicked a piece of discarded metal, producing a loud “clank” that shattered the night’s silence. Instantly, their position was compromised. The gang members, alerted, scattered in all directions and began to fire wildly in resistance.

In an instant, gunshots erupted, and flashes lit up the scene. Bullets rained like hail, striking walls and the ground, sending dust and sparks flying everywhere, the acrid smell of gunpowder filling the air. Mu Nanhe remained calm, his deep-set eyes sharpening with intensity as he swiftly surveyed the area, accurately determining where the enemy was fleeing. He shouted commands to his comrades, adjusting tactics swiftly. “Team One, flank from the left, suppress their fire and don’t let them break through! Team Two, circle around from the back to cut off their escape route! Team Three, follow me to pursue the main criminal. We cannot let him get away!” His voice echoed in the night, carrying an undeniable authority.

He moved like a flash of black lightning, agilely weaving through the chaos of gunfire, his movements impressive. While chasing down one of the main criminals, that criminal was exceedingly cunning, using the factory’s convoluted pipes and discarded machinery as cover, dodging left and right, occasionally turning back to fire a few shots to thwart Mu Nanhe’s advances. Undeterred, Mu Nanhe pressed on, his determination shining through. Using his acute observation of the terrain, he predicted the criminal’s next hiding place. Just as he was about to assess around a corner, a stray bullet whizzed by; with quick reflexes honed over many years, he side-stepped just in time, but his arm was grazed, blood instantly staining his sleeve. Unfazed, he gritted his teeth and forged ahead.

Seeing Mu Nanhe wounded, the main criminal grew desperate, fleeing even more frantically and diving into a narrow pipe tunnel. Mu Nanhe’s eyes sharpened as he followed suit without hesitation. The tunnel was cramped, dimly lit, and filled with a putrid, pungent smell. He could only crouch down, struggling to move forward. The criminal would fire from the shadows from time to time, but Mu Nanhe, leveraging his agility and judgment, narrowly escaped each time.

“Captain, are you okay?” A team member shouted anxiously from behind.

Without looking back, Mu Nanhe replied softly, “Don’t mind me, keep up!”