Chapter 17: Yang Pan

The three women watched Lin You silently eating her meal across the table. Since learning about the situation, she showed no reaction, surprising everyone.

Xiao Nan couldn’t hold back and asked, “Dr. Lin, are you alright?”

Lin You looked up at Xiao Nan briefly, then returned to her meal. “I’m fine. Why?”

Seeing her so calm, Xiao Nan grew more anxious. “Aren’t you angry?”

Puzzled, Lin You asked, “Why should I be angry?”

Xiao Nan stamped her foot, exclaiming, “Qiong Hua likes the squad leader your husband!”

Lin You remained unfazed, calmly replying, “Didn’t Dr. Liu say Qin Lang doesn’t like her? So what’s there to be angry about?”

Xiao Nan’s eyes widened. “Aren’t you even worried?”

Lin You smiled. “Worried about what? Many people like him. If I got mad about each one, I’d wear myself out.”

“And…” Lin You hesitated.

“And what?” Xiao Nan prompted eagerly.

“And I trust him,” Lin You replied with a smile, her gaze resolute. “He wouldn’t betray our marriage.”

Xiao Nan nodded thoughtfully, still a bit concerned. “But Qiong Hua…”

“No need to worry,” Lin You interrupted. “It’s fine.”

After that, she stood up, tidied her dishes, and left the table, leaving Xiao Nan and the others behind.

The three exchanged glances and sighed helplessly. They had wanted to console Lin You, but her trust in Qin Lang was clear.

As Lin You walked away, Xiao Nan couldn’t help but marvel love is powerful, inspiring trust to this extent.

Meanwhile, Lin You sat at her desk, reflecting. It was clear Qin Lang didn’t reciprocate Qiong Hua’s feelings it was just her wishful thinking. She had no reason to feel upset.

She remembered overhearing Qin Lang’s parents scolding him during his military academy days while she was still in high school “Qin Lang, YoYo will be your partner one day. You must refuse any romantic advances from your academy.”

Though she hadn’t heard his response then, now she felt certain he’d promised them, or they wouldn’t be together today.

Elsewhere, Qin Lang was focused on navigating the dense jungle, too immersed in the Red Blue tactical exercise to think about anything else. He poured his energy into strategizing, aiming to demolish the Blue Army’s command center.

Unexpectedly, he was captured by an ordinary soldier.

As Blue Army’s company commander, Li Yunfeng approached, smirking at the sight of Qin Lang.

“Well, well, Major Qin, the renowned undefeated general. Who would’ve thought you’d end up a prisoner today?”

Unbothered, Qin Lang smiled, spreading his hands slightly. “No one is truly unbeatable.”

He calmly responded, “Thank you, Company Commander Li.”

Li Yunfeng leaned close to Qin Lang’s ear. “I know this drill was your idea, meant to recruit top soldiers. But I won’t let you get what you want.”

Still smiling, Qin Lang turned to leave but paused and looked back at the soldier who captured him.

“What’s your name?”

“Reporting, sir! I’m Yang Pan,” the soldier answered confidently.

Qin Lang chuckled, eyes glinting with interest. “Yang Pan? Must be good at climbing. How about a change in posting?”

Li Yunfeng glared at Qin Lang, irritated. He was about to warn the soldier, aware that Qin Lang’s harmless appearance was deceiving.

“Thank you, sir, but I was born a Blue Army soldier, and I’ll die as one,” Yang Pan replied firmly.

Qin Lang looked at him approvingly, murmuring in Yang Pan’s ear, “Maybe you’ll change your mind.”

With that, he left.

In the end, the Red Army won the exercise. Qin Lang approached Company Commander Li again and told him to deliver two lambs from the car.

Having just lost, Li was already upset and declined outright, “I don’t eat lamb.”

“Well, maybe others do. Consider it a token for my Blue Army brothers.”

Expecting raw meat, the Blue Army soldiers were surprised to find whole roast lambs, still steaming. Qin Lang patted Yang Pan on the shoulder without saying a word, then walked away smoking.

In the car, Qin Lang leaned against the window, cigarette in hand, gazing out at the mountains and clouds, his mind wandering back to his base. The weather there must be just as crisp and beautiful now.

Thinking of the one he missed, he wondered how she was doing. They had endured long separations before, sometimes even six months to a year, but this time felt different, the longing was stronger.

Resolving to call her at his next stop, he looked forward to hearing her voice and catching up on her life. Just the thought of it made him smile.

Seeing the smile on his face, Li Yang, sitting nearby, asked curiously, “Sir, you seem happy. Still thinking about that soldier?”

Qin Lang turned, glared at him, and replied, “Yeah, he’s interesting.”

Puzzled, Li scratched his head. “Why him? He seems a bit slow like a lucky cat that caught a rat!”

Qin Lang, nearly throwing his cigarette in irritation, yelled, “Who are you calling a rat?”

He raised his hand, feigning a smack.

Li dodged, reminding him, “We’re driving, sir. Watch out.”

Glaring, Qin Lang warned, “One more crack like that, and I’ll clobber you next time.”

Li looked at him sheepishly. “So, why are you interested in that soldier?”

Qin Lang’s lips curled into a smile. “Because he’s stayed true to himself.”

Though unconvinced, Li mumbled, “Just luck…”

Hearing him, Qin Lang sighed. He wasn’t about to explain further, everyone had their perspectives. For him, that soldier left a mark, perhaps the beginning of a new story yet to unfold.