With only a few days left before the holiday, Huo Yingjie couldn't wait to go home and see the woman he longed for.

"I'm leaving before the New Year," Huo Yingjie said. He had already packed his things and was just waiting for the holiday to start so he could leave immediately.

"Alright, I've made a note of it. Once your supervisor signs it, you can leave the day after tomorrow," Director Liu said. "Be careful on your journey. You are a soldier, so remember the confidentiality rules and never leak any state secrets."

"Yes!" Huo Yingjie said, standing with his feet together and saluting.

Huo Yingjie took the prescription from Director Liu and went to find his direct supervisor.

Just as Huo Yingjie stepped out of Director Liu's office, a female soldier in military uniform, carrying documents, hurriedly walked towards him and almost bumped into him.

Huo Yingjie reacted quickly, dodging the female soldier's sudden collision and reaching out to steady her, preventing her from falling.

When the female soldier finally saw Huo Yingjie's face and was about to express her gratitude, Huo Yingjie didn't stop and walked straight ahead.

The female soldier looked shyly at Huo Yingjie's departing figure, her smile tinged with embarrassment.

"Who's outside? Come in." Director Liu said to the door when he saw a figure outside.

"Coming, coming." The female soldier came in and placed the documents on Director Liu's desk. "Director, who was that person just now?"

Director Liu smiled and said, "That's one of our department's most promising young talents! Huo Yingjie, he's amazing."

"That person is so capable, Director?" The female soldier was thrilled. They would be in the same unit from now on, and being close to him would give them an advantage. Maybe there would be an opportunity in the future!

"Xiao Qian, it's normal that you don't know him since you're new here. You'll find out later," Director Liu said. "Did you bring everything?"

Qian Miaomiao put the documents away and said, "They're all here. Please check them."

"Just put it here! Xiaoqian, I know your mother too. If you have any work or life issues in the future, just tell me," Director Liu said. "Do a good job. Apart from the strict entry and exit controls, everything else is fine here."

Qian Miaomiao nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, thank you, Auntie."

"No need to thank me, just call me Director Liu here from now on," Director Liu instructed. She was an experienced person, and when Qian Miaomiao asked about Huo Yingjie earlier, she wanted to remind her, but she was afraid that Qian Miaomiao would misunderstand, so she decided to wait until a few days before the holiday to talk about it privately.

Huo Yingjie went to his direct supervisor and presented the proof.

Chief Engineer Sun, wearing reading glasses, greeted Huo Yingjie with a smile as he approached, "Little Huo, come and sit down! Is there something you need to see me at this hour?"

Young Huo hadn't been at the weapons research institute for long, but he was already very capable. He overcame several difficult problems, enabling the institute to complete its annual targets ahead of schedule and earning national commendation. The engineers at the institute, from top to bottom, treated this quick-witted young Huo with great respect.

Huo Yingjie respected Chief Engineer Sun very much and said respectfully, "Hello, Chief Engineer Sun. I recently took a three-day leave with my colleagues, and I would like to combine it with my annual leave and leave three days early. This is a certificate issued by Director Liu. If you also agree, please sign it."

Chief Engineer Sun took the certificate, signed it readily, and asked with a chuckle, "Is it your educated youth sweetheart who went home?"

If it were anyone else, Huo Yingjie could have remained calm and humorless and gotten away with it. But when faced with the teasing of the highly respected Chief Engineer Sun, Huo Yingjie blushed, his eyes darted away, and he nodded with a hint of embarrassment.

"Hehehe, a beautiful lady is the object of a gentleman's affections. It's perfectly normal for a young man to admire a woman he likes!" Chief Engineer Sun chuckled, recalling the romantic and warm moments he and his wife shared on the banks of the Seine.

Huo Yingjie knew that Chief Engineer Sun had studied in France and was usually quite rigid, but occasionally one could see a romantic side in his words and actions. The office furniture was simple, but there were green plants by the window, which he would occasionally water himself.

Seeing Huo Yingjie blush, Chief Engineer Sun burst into laughter. He probably had the same expression when he talked about his beloved woman back then—a mixture of embarrassment, shyness, and excitement!

"Chief Engineer Sun, may I leave now?" Huo Yingjie asked, slightly embarrassed, after taking back the certificate.

"Haha, that's enough, that's enough." Chief Engineer Sun couldn't joke anymore. "When you're working, be focused and clear your mind during your vacation. Enjoy your holiday. I hope that while you're finding sweet love, you're also ready to make a big splash next year."

The romantic element in Chief Engineer Sun has begun to emerge again.

However, compared to the current trend of constantly talking about revolutionary sentiments and unbreakable slogans, Huo Yingjie prefers this kind of romantic banter.

"Thank you, Chief Engineer Sun. I will do my best." Huo Yingjie stood up, bowed to Chief Engineer Sun, and took his leave amidst Chief Engineer Sun's satisfied laughter.

When Zhou Yuanchao heard that Huo Yingjie could take three days off early, he finally understood why Huo Yingjie had been switching shifts with others all along.

"Ah, it's so nice to have a partner," Zhou Yuanchao said enviously. "If I had a partner, I'd want to go back soon too."

Huo Yingjie was in a good mood, and while packing his things, he was unusually generous, taking out a handful of pine nuts, placing them on the table, and saying, "Want some?"

Zhou Yuanchao, who was lying on the single bed, sat up with a jolt and said hurriedly, "Yes, of course I want it! Now that you've gone back, your sister-in-law must have prepared something for you. Can I have all the pine nuts in your bag? When I come back, I will definitely bring you the best beef from the grasslands."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yingjie grabbed another handful from the bag and said, "Is this alright?"

"Give them all to me!"

Huo Yingjie glanced at him and said, "No, I need to send some to Chief Engineer Sun. He can't go out here. It's the New Year, so this is just a small token of our appreciation. Are you going or not?"

“Go ahead!” Zhou Yuanchao said. “Perfect timing. I have some beef jerky left. I won’t eat it; I’ll give it to Chief Engineer Sun.”

That evening, the two of them took the items and delivered them to Chief Engineer Sun and his wife.

During this special period, Chief Engineer Sun was under close surveillance while working, and his family members were not allowed to freely enter or leave the weapons research institute. Even though all living supplies were provided by the weapons research institute, he was still not free.

When Chief Engineer Sun saw the two of them coming over, he said with a smile, "What brings you here? Come on, I happen to have some wine, let's have a drink together."

"No need, we just came to sit for a while," Huo Yingjie said. They were too embarrassed to freeload here since they rarely had any wine.

"Xiao Huo, Xiao Zhou is here?" Aunt Li, Chief Engineer Sun's wife, greeted them warmly. "Don't leave today, or I'll get angry. Today we'll have not only wine, but also my homemade stewed beef."

Seeing Aunt Li's reaction, Huo Yingjie took out half a small bag of pine nuts and said, "Aunt Li, I have some pine nuts here. You can keep them and eat them."

******

Recommended military marriage novel: A story of a woman who transmigrates to the 1980s and rises to wealth. The female protagonist dreams of becoming a nouveau riche, but ends up marrying the most adorable man! (To be continued.)