Episode 8

"Aren't you afraid your wound will reopen, little one?"

"Afraid."

"Then aren't you going to rest?"

"I'll listen to you this once."

That day was the most Sasin had ever listened to Benjamin. As long as there were no major problems, there was no issue with them kissing privately. However, Benjamin was right about Sasin; he hadn't been feeling well these past few days, and the only thing he could do at home was watch TV.

"I never imagined you would come to see me."

"Aren't you worried about not being able to sleep?"

"You just want to sleep with me, don't you?"

"You can't expect me to have made this trip for nothing, can you?"

Do you have any intelligence?

"without."

"cut....."

"You have a problem with that?"

"have."

"Shut up!"

"You're finished."

Benjamin had only meant to tease him, but he hadn't expected Sassin to get angry. Furthermore, Sassin assumed Benjamin had come to tell him about what had happened in the East while he was away. However, events unfolded completely differently than he had anticipated, because...

"How's it going in the East?"

"Refuse to answer."

"Why?"

"There are some things you're better off knowing less about."

"......"

"Besides, I came to see you, and I'm going back in a few days. I have no intention of coming back."

"Why?"

"A few days later, I will continue fighting as a mercenary."

"Could this be a tough battle?"

"Probably. If I can come back this time, we'll get married. If I can't come back, then just forget about me."

"Then I should indeed forget you."

"You can live under a different identity, forget your old name, and continue being a journalist. But speaking of which, aren't you graduating soon?"

"yes."

"After the war ends here and you graduate, I will personally come to pick you up."

"Really?"

"Pinky promise."

He had intended to say that the promise would definitely be kept, but after Sasi fell asleep, he said, "Fool, you shouldn't have come back. Why did you have to go back? And there are some things you really shouldn't know."

"......"

"The marriage we agreed on was just a spur-of-the-moment idea, and the plan was for Dong-guk to propose to you. I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do, but someone will be there to witness our relationship."

"Is this what you mean?" Upon seeing the abdominal bandage, Benjamin was lost in his second-to-last memory: when Pei Xiaonan jokingly asked him why he was here instead of being a proper reporter.

"I used to be a reporter for a while, but it wasn't that complicated. Later, the director criticized our reports as being too fake."

"What kind of ridiculous reason is that...?"

"Isn't that absurd?"

"Yes, it's utterly absurd."

"There's nothing we can do, that's just the reason."

So you don't have someone you like?

"without."

"Why?"

"It's really hard to find a healthy person without any underlying medical conditions."

"Then take your time looking. It's only a matter of time before you find someone like that."

Thank you so much.

Why do I sense that you're slightly unhappy?

Is there a problem?

"No, no, no! There's nothing wrong!"

"......"

This is what Benjamin really wanted to complain about. His purpose was obvious, but he couldn't say it directly because he hoped to ask Pei Xiaonan for help someday. He suddenly felt that his days were numbered and the burden on his eyes was increasing. These eyes might become the key to turning the tide in the near future.

"Now that you've gone back, do you plan to come back?"

"have."

How many days are you going this time?

"Three days."

"It seems you have a lot to say to him, but I'm wondering, what if you suddenly get emotional halfway through your conversation and need to do strenuous exercise, but his physical condition doesn't allow it?"

“I’m not here to do strenuous exercise with him, and I also need to accompany him to the hospital for a check-up in the next few days.”

Is there anything you need me to pass on?

"No."

"goodbye."

See you in three days.

See you in three days.

"How about it?"

"That brat, I'd better not see him."

Three days later

"You're back?"

Why did you add me personally?

"Of course, I have something to talk to you about."

"?"

This was exactly the same as the conditions Li Zan had proposed before. After seeing the somewhat abnormal Song Ran, Benjamin seemed to understand something. He actually wanted to know one thing—what happened between Song Ran's disappearance that day and her current situation?

"What are the conditions?"

"Let's go inside and talk first."

Benjamin nodded, about to say something when he noticed someone staring at him. But as the murderous aura intensified, he looked at the target and spotted someone—the child Sasin had nearly saved with his life. But why him? Could Li Zan be right?

"So, how is Song Ran doing?"

"She has suffered a considerable shock, but it's not a serious problem. She just needs to rest for a while."

"......"

"So? Did you take Sasin for a follow-up checkup?"

"The follow-up examination was not completed, and the kid started having a fever the next night, which lasted all night."

Is it serious?

"The wound infection has been treated."

"......"

"Luckily, you taught me how to handle it."

"Thank goodness you're back."

"yes."

"By the way, getting back to the main point, Li Zan talked to me about the conditions for terrorists that day."

"Letting Song Ran go is the condition?"

"That's right, but that's just one of the conditions."

"That's not the problem. The problem is that I have a bad feeling."

"What's wrong?"

"If something happens to me someday, you can tell him to continue his studies and become a journalist."

"What exactly happened?"

"It's okay, but you have to promise me that if he asks, you can just say that I said that."

"Okay, I promise you."

Then Pei Xiaonan began to explain why Li Zan would become the other party's accomplice. However, Benjamin still frowned when he mentioned Song Ran and Li Shizan. She knew that what Sasin did last time still bothered Benjamin. She could even feel that he was about to cry that day.

"......"

"What's wrong?"

"Go out for a walk to clear your head."

It seemed like he was going to relax, but Pei Xiaonan knew that the next thing he was going was to go to a bar. His worst fears came true—Li Zan was in the bar, and there was another man there with her.

Who is he?

He is a soilder.

"He?"

"Yes, but you must be carful."

"I know."

Although Benjamin's position was described as "soiler," when Li Zan reminded Qian and he noticed Benjamin's murderous aura emanating from him, he finally understood that Li Zan wasn't lying. Furthermore, he had seen Benjamin's photo when Li Zan sent out the assassination list to everyone.

"Benjamin?"

"Yes."

"Shit!"

"Don't worry, we have many chances."

Are you sure?

“A child.”

"Good answer!"

Benjamin chose a seat closest to them to drink, but at that moment he had no idea that someone's presence would put him in their control.

Hello!

Hello!

"......"

What's happening?

With a child in front of him, Benjamin didn't want to scare him away with his extremely fierce temper. The only way was to stare at him for a while and then continue drinking with a disdainful look. However, Li Zan and his group saw this. Yes, their goal was to embarrass Benjamin.

How many photos?

28.

"......"

While watching TV at home, Sasin, who was bored, happened to see news about the East. They found it strange that Benjamin remained silent, especially since the headline read, "Benjamin ignores orphans; do mercenaries these days not even check their records?"

"Good job!"

"Thank you, sir."

The little girl left, but she hadn't gone far when she was shot and killed by someone, the person Li Zan was referring to as "A child".

"Oh My God......"

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"I got scammed."

"It really is Li Zan..."

Pei Xiaonan was interviewed by other reporters about her opinion on Benjamin's disregard for war orphans. However, Pei Xiaonan's opinion was more one of disbelief than anything else, because she knew him better than anyone else, and Sasin thought so too.

"What about that orphan?"

"......"

"......"

Sasin thought his question was quite appropriate at the time, because he believed that the orphan had not appeared since that day, and the only thing he could think of was that the orphan had probably been bribed.

"That orphan is dead."

"?"

"Really?"

"are you sure?"

"Where did you hear this news?"

However, Benjamin had a general idea of ​​what was going on after hearing the result, and he also developed serious health problems as a result.

"Benjamin."

"Um?"

"Your phone."

"Telephone?"

Benjamin had never made a phone call to anyone, nor had anyone called him. He assumed the internal line was broken and those people were using the external line to call him. He never expected that the person calling him was none other than Sassin. After hearing the other party's attitude and tone, Benjamin was completely stunned.

"Sasin?"

"Then who else do you think would call you besides me?"

"......"

"......"

How are you?

"I'm fine, what's wrong?"

"I was watching TV at home when suddenly a news report came on. What happened? How did it turn out like this? What exactly happened?"

"......"

"Benjamin!"

"Were you outmaneuvered by Li Zan or by Song Ran?"

"......"

"To be honest, I heard everything you said to me on the first night you came to my house. I just didn't want to embarrass you, so I didn't say anything back."

"Wait a minute, you just mentioned that you heard what I said the first night I contacted you, which means that what I said to you the day you were hospitalized was actually..."

"Yes, I heard everything."

"......"

“I need to answer what you’ve said personally. If Song Ran is involved, then I’ll have no choice but to report this to our superior, Shen Bei.”

"I hope she won't stand idly by."

“Song Ran’s current behavior has crossed the line. Since that’s the case, I have no choice but to add fuel to the fire.”

"So you called just to ask about this?"

"Um."

"So? Are you feeling better today? You had a fever all night a few days ago, it scared me half to death."

"I'm so sorry to have made you worry."

"I'm glad you're alright."

"......"

"What's wrong?"

"That's what I was going to say."

"They're all the same."

"Alright, I've achieved my goal. I won't disturb your duty any longer. Goodbye."

"goodbye."

This was probably their last phone call, and also the last time Sasin would come to Dongguo to see Benjamin. After hanging up, Benjamin was filled with melancholy and Pei Xiaonan asked him about Sasin's situation again and again.

"Is everything alright?"

He didn't answer, he just apologized again and again.

What did he want to talk to you about?

"He asked a similar question to yours, but I could almost hear a sob in his voice."

"A sobbing voice?"

"Um."

At this point, Pei Xiaonan seemed to understand something. However, after Benjamin recounted the events of that day to Pei Xiaonan, she remembered the matter concerning A Child:

"I suspect that the orphan's death is related to A child."

"Just as I thought..."

"Perhaps, that deceased orphan was also one of the terrorists. If so, then your micro-expressions are quite clear. In addition, given that 'Song Ran is a reporter and is acting on Li Zan's behalf, I'm wondering if she already knew about this and did it intentionally..."

"Hopefully, this process won't be much more complicated than we imagine."

"......"

“He heard everything I told Sasi while he was asleep.”

"......"

"I feel ashamed; I owe him half my life."

"But I don't think he would think that way, because if you felt ashamed because of her, then he wouldn't need to call you. Instead, he would say something more offensive or hurtful to make you feel even more ashamed."

"That's true..."

"don’t worry."

The assassin, Song Ran, is still suffering from an illness in the observation room. Compared to Benjamin, Song Ran seems to have a lingering torment from the events of that day that she doesn't want to wake up. To understand what happened that day, we need to go back to the day Sasin was shot in the abdomen.

“A child”

What?

"A child, he is dangerous."

Why?

"I don't know, I know he is dangerous, don't you?"

I don't know him.

"Don't worry, you will know him."

"Can I not know him?"

"No! No way!"

"......"

This was a conversation between Benjamin and Li Zan in a secluded alley. He initially thought Li Zan was exaggerating, but when Benjamin went to support Sasin, he saw Song Ran running towards Li Zan.

"Shit!"

"......"

Later, Song Ran met Li Zan. She didn't know what had happened while she was away. However, the previous content was not interesting to the reporter, and she was unaware that Li Zan was cooperating with them. Song Ran was thus brainwashed by them.

Who are you?

“A soilder.”