Chapter 30: Pain

In the early hours, the special forces squad members were anxiously waiting at the city police station. Qin Lang strode in, glanced around, and began issuing orders for the next day’s operation.

“Tomorrow, we’ll split into four groups, each with two members posing as couples, stationed on different floors of the mall,” he said, pointing at the map to outline the assignments.

“Dan Ye and Qiong Hua are one team, Ye Qing and I are another, Wen Xin and Lu Li make the third, and Jing Chu and Liu Yang form the fourth.”

He then directed attention to another position. “Yang Pan will act as the sniper. The rest of you will be stationed around the area, ready to support if needed.”

After briefing them, he asked, “Does anyone have questions about the assignment?”

Unexpectedly, Qiong Hua stepped forward with an objection. “Captain, I request to be on your team.”

Qin Lang frowned, glaring at her, and curtly responded, “Follow the orders. No exceptions.”

Qiong Hua, however, showed resolve, saying, “Captain, my father has already started arranging for my discharge from service. This might be my last mission. Please let me team up with you.”

Dan Ye, standing nearby, quickly backed her up “Captain, maybe you should pair with Qiong Hua.”

Qin Lang noticed the police chief observing them quietly and realized that rejecting Qiong Hua now might make her do something disruptive during the mission, potentially jeopardizing everyone. He reluctantly agreed and reorganized the teams.

After the mission, his first task back at the base would be to remove Qiong Hua from the team and reprimand Dan Ye.

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The next day, Lin You, along with Xiao Nan and Xiao Bei, went to the city early. The three shopped around the mall and bought many items.

Curious, Xiao Nan asked, “Dr. Lin, you bought a whole set of clothes for the Captain, but only got yourself a down jacket.”

Lin You laughed. “I brought plenty of winter clothes when I moved here. I just forgot to get some for him.”

Xiao Bei couldn’t help but admire, “Dr. Lin, you’re so good to the Captain.”

“Let me treat you two to some coffee,” Lin You offered, to which they excitedly agreed.

Sitting by the café window, they watched people pass by outside. Xiao Bei, sensing Lin You’s silence, tried to lighten the mood, “Dr. Lin, the Captain has been away for over a week, hasn’t he?”

“Yes, over a week,” Lin You replied, her gaze drifting back outside.

Following her line of sight, Xiao Bei saw a man and woman emerging from a flower shop across the street. The woman held a bouquet of bright red roses, and the man carefully carried movie tickets, opening the door for her and gently guiding her to the inside of the sidewalk to keep her safe from the crowd. Clearly, this couple was deeply in love.

A pang of longing washed over Lin You, she’d never seen a movie with Qin Lang before. But as she looked closer, she froze in shock it was Qin Lang and Qiong Hua!

Her heart wrenched with pain as she struggled to believe what she was seeing. Outside, Qiong Hua seemed to notice her and purposefully leaned closer to Qin Lang, almost as if challenging her. Qin Lang glanced at her briefly before turning and walking away.

The two friends, who had also seen the scene, tried to comfort her. “Dr. Lin, they’re definitely on a mission.”

The other added, “This probably means the mall is dangerous, we should leave quickly.”

Realizing the potential danger, Lin You snapped out of her daze. She immediately stood, gathered their things, and rushed to the parking lot, where they quickly drove away.

Meanwhile, after noticing Lin You’s reaction, Qin Lang was visibly shocked. Through his earpiece, he urgently instructed, “Li Zi, go to the east side café on the first floor. Tell Dr. Lin and her friends to leave immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

By the time Lu Li arrived, they were already on their way out. “Captain, they’re gone. They must have sensed something was wrong.”

As Lin You drove, her hands shook uncontrollably, barely able to maintain control. Once they reached the outskirts, she pulled over to try calming her racing thoughts.

Images of Qiong Hua’s taunting gaze and Qin Lang’s tender care kept flooding her mind. She had once believed such care was reserved only for her, but now it seemed all too routine for him, something he easily did for others too.

The bouquet in Qiong Hua’s hands, her blissful expression it all sparked a bitter envy in Lin You. For so many years, he had never given her even a single flower, let alone a bouquet. Their outings had always been for essentials, never once to choose clothes or jewelry for her or to take her to a movie.

She remembered in high school, when Professor Song got two SHE concert tickets and suggested Qin Lang take her, he had grumbled and complained. From that day on, she’d never mentioned going to a movie again.

Yet, now, he was taking someone else.

Then there was the necklace Qiong Hua had once flaunted as a gift from Qin Lang. Lin You hadn’t been sure if it was true, but now she wondered if it was.

What did Qin Lang take her for a complete fool, or just a tool for his convenience?

Furious, she grabbed the clothes she had bought for him and threw them out of the car with all her strength.

The two friends, seeing her anger and the redness in her eyes, got out to pick up the clothes. Xiao Nan, now sitting in the passenger seat, gently patted her shoulder, trying to reassure her, “Dr. Lin, don’t be like this, you’re scaring me.”

“Don’t misjudge the Captain. They’re just doing their job and need to disguise themselves in many ways.”

Xiao Bei also chimed in, “Dr. Lin, the Captain doesn’t like Qiong Hua.”

Xiao Nan, in a careful voice, suggested, “How about we go to a bar tonight and drink our troubles away? You’ll forget everything when you’re drunk.”

Lin You regained a bit of composure and shook her head. She looked at Xiao Nan and asked, “Do you know how to drive?”

Xiao Nan nodded.

“Then you drive.”

After swapping seats, Lin You leaned back, looking out the window silently. She felt drained, as if some invisible force had stripped her of all her energy. Her face, once bright and lively, now looked tired and pained, like a delicate flower battered by rain and wind, its former beauty dimmed.

Back at the base, Lin You got out, bid farewell to her friends, and returned home alone.