“To truly love someone is to want them to live well and do meaningful things, not to make them give up their future for you.” Political Commissar Wang sighed and continued, “Think about it again. What if you regret it later? What if one day your feelings for Comrade Xu fade? Will you feel that your decision was wrong, or even complain to her?”

“No!” Jiang Linchuan immediately retorted, his tone firm. “I would never do such a thing, and I will never regret the decision I made for her.”

Political Commissar Wang gave a wry smile and shook his head. "You're still too young. What in this world is absolutely forever? You're sincere now, but people's hearts can change. If you trust me, don't impulsively quit the army. The two of you should work hard together and reach higher levels, so that your relationship can last."

“I’ve been through this, what storms haven’t I weathered? These words aren’t spoken by a political commissar to a soldier, but by an elder to a younger generation. Alright, go back and think it over carefully, don’t do anything you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”

After saying that, Political Commissar Wang waved his hand, sat back down at his desk, picked up the documents and began working, saying no more.

Jiang Linchuan silently walked out of the office.

The fresh air from outside rushed into his lungs, but it did little to clear his muddled thoughts.

He looked up at the azure sky, stood there for a long while, and then slowly lifted his leg and walked towards Xu Xinghe's courtyard.

As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, he heard Lian Xiao's voice coming from inside, and Jiang Linchuan's face instantly darkened.

Xinghe had just returned when this kid came over. He's like a persistent ghost, so annoying.

He pushed open the door.

At a glance, you can see Lian Xiao wearing an apron and busy in the kitchen.

Xu Xinghe sat on a small stool by the door, packing her luggage.

Xu Xinghe saw him, looked up and smiled, then continued with her work. "You're back? Lian Xiao said he'd treat us to a meal here today, and I agreed. By the way, Ci Shu has already left."

Jiang Linchuan nodded. "I understand."

He walked straight to Xu Xinghe, took her hand, turned around and went into the house, closing the door behind him.

Xu Xinghe was taken aback by his sudden action. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Jiang Linchuan opened his mouth, about to tell her about his decision to retire and what Political Commissar Wang had said, when he heard Lian Xiao's voice from outside, "Xinghe! Which one is sugar? This dish needs some sugar to enhance the flavor!"

Xu Xinghe smiled helplessly, "I'll go out and find him some candy first."

Jiang Linchuan had no choice but to swallow back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Lian Xiao, that troublemaker, had to interrupt at this crucial moment.

He decided to wait until everyone left before having a proper talk with Xinghe.

Not long after, Lian Xiao carried three dishes and a soup out of the kitchen, and the aroma of the food immediately filled the air.

The three sat around the table eating. Jiang Linchuan was preoccupied and didn't say much, only occasionally putting a piece of food on Xu Xinghe's plate.

Lian Xiao, on the other hand, was in high spirits and kept chatting with Xu Xinghe, asking her how her stay in Liaoning Province was and what she was doing there.

Xu Xinghe couldn't reveal the details of the mission, so she could only give a vague answer: "I went there to visit a relative. There are still some family members there, so I stayed a little longer."

After finishing their meal, Lian Xiao showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he pulled Xu Xinghe aside and said he wanted to tell her about the interesting things that happened at the military headquarters during her absence.

Jiang Linchuan couldn't hold back any longer. He got up, walked to Lian Xiao's side, grabbed his arm, and dragged him out the door.

"Xinghe and I still have things to discuss. You should go back now."

Lian Xiao struggled a few times but couldn't break free. He snorted coldly, "It's only afternoon anyway, why am I in such a hurry? I'll come back for dinner tonight!"

Bang!

The door slammed shut in front of him.

He touched his nose. "You bastard, you just wait!"

...

As soon as Lian Xiao left, the courtyard fell silent.

Jiang Linchuan turned around and went back into the room, took Xu Xinghe's hand again, and led her to sit down on the bed.

Xu Xinghe noticed his serious expression and the unspoken worries hidden between his brows, so she sat up straight. "What's wrong? What happened? Is there a problem at the military headquarters, or have you run into some trouble?"

Jiang Linchuan shook his head, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke, his voice strained, "Neither, Xinghe, I want to retire from the military."

"What?" Xu Xinghe's pupils shrank, and she looked at him in surprise, completely not expecting him to say such a thing. "Why do you suddenly want to retire from the army? Were you injured by those spies while on a mission in Liaoning Province, leaving you with any aftereffects?"

She reached out to touch Jiang Linchuan's body, wanting to check if he was injured. "If you really don't want to be a soldier anymore, then we won't be. Your health is the most important thing. Your health is more important than anything else."

“I’m not injured.” Jiang Linchuan held her hand and gently shook his head. “The injuries I sustained before have all healed, and I don’t have any psychological trauma. Those spies won’t cause me any trouble.”

His gaze was fixed on Xu Xinghe's eyes. "I just... don't want to see you get hurt again. During this trip to Liaoning Province, you risked your life to sneak into Shiwa Village and go to the dangerous Black Wind Ridge to help me. You could have lost your life if you hadn't been careful. The injury on your shoulder has only just healed. I feel scared whenever I think about what happened back then."

Xu Xinghe was stunned, then a warm feeling welled up in her heart. Looking at the undisguised worry in Jiang Linchuan's eyes, she sighed softly, "You're so foolish. Just because you're afraid I'll get hurt, you're going to give up your future?"

"If this is why you want to retire, then I disagree. If you really do that, how am I supposed to face you afterward?"

Jiang Linchuan frowned. "Why can't we face it? After I retire, I won't have to carry out dangerous missions anymore, and you won't have to put yourself in danger because of me. Isn't that better for you?"

Xu Xinghe grasped his hand in return and sighed again, "Yes, this is good for me, but is it fair to you? Retiring from the military is a major event in one's life. You gave up your promising future for me. How can I accept this with a clear conscience? Just thinking about how you made this sacrifice for me makes my heart ache, and I can't face you with a clear conscience at all."

"What if you're in a bad mood in the future, or you don't like the job you find, or you're not doing well? At that time, will I not be able to help but think that all of this is because of me, and that I don't need you to do this for me?"

“I’m willing,” Jiang Linchuan replied immediately.

“Yes, you’re willing, but I can’t control my own heart.” Xu Xinghe interrupted him, her eyes serious. “I feel so guilty whenever I think about how you gave up your dreams for me. Jiang Linchuan, this is your future, and you have to be responsible for yourself. You want to retire, that’s fine, but it has to be something you really want to do, not something for anyone else, understand? Not even for me.”

“You are my fiancée, and you will be my wife in the future. You are the person I will spend my life with. What’s wrong with giving up all this for you?” Jiang Linchuan still didn’t understand. In his opinion, protecting his lover was more important than anything else.

"Because I can't afford your life. Just like now you're telling me not to cultivate medicinal herbs, not to do the things I like and want to do, I'll be unhappy and feel depressed, do you understand? I've thought about the life I want. We're husband and wife, and we're supposed to spend our lives together. But ultimately, we're both independent individuals, aren't we? My needs and your needs both need to be respected and met."

She leaned forward slightly, gently cupped Jiang Linchuan's face in her hands, looked intently at him, and asked, word by word, "Tell me, if you can no longer serve in the army, no longer serve your country, no longer strive towards your goals, and can only do an ordinary job and live a mundane life until old age, would you really be happy?"