But Shen Zhihuan herself didn't think there was anything wrong with it. She looked at him with clear eyes, her gaze so pure that it reflected his image.

Her single-mindedness was giving Xie Lanshen a real headache.

If they were just ordinary friends, it would be a good thing for her to keep her distance, as it would reduce a lot of trouble.

The problem is, he has no intention of just being friends with her.

Xie Lanshen didn't blame Shen Zhihuan for anything; he was just reflecting on it in his heart.

Perhaps his previous words were not clear enough, or perhaps he didn't express his meaning sufficiently.

That's why Shen Zhihuan is always so polite and restrained, and has never truly accepted him as her boyfriend.

She was more like a brother or comrade-in-arms to him.

Although Xie Lanshen became an officer at a young age, he was not arrogant at all.

Unable to figure it out, he simply told Shen Zhihuan his thoughts frankly and humbly asked her for advice.

Does being with me make you feel pressured?

"I'd like to ask, what can I do to make you feel more comfortable around me?"

Shen Zhihuan was still thinking about receiving the award later when Xie Lanshen suddenly said something that made her stunned.

Quickly regaining her composure, she straightened her posture even more, and like a primary school student, explained very honestly:

“I didn’t feel any pressure. It’s just that I admire the People’s Liberation Army from the bottom of my heart. When I’m with you, I can’t help but feel admiration.”

Shen Zhihuan was still afraid that Xie Lanshen would misunderstand, so she kept explaining to him.

"Don't worry, Brother Xie, I understand perfectly well."

"I admire you, but I absolutely do not treat you as an elder. Although there is indeed an age difference between us, I feel like I am your peer."

Shen Zhihuan has been reborn once, so the two lifetimes combined make her about the same age as Xie Lanshen, or even a few years older. Of course, there wouldn't be any generation gap between them.

The problem is that others don't know these inside stories, so listening to her words is incredibly awkward for them.

The age gap was already a sore spot for Xie Lanshen, and when Shen Zhihuan brought it up, even someone as composed as him couldn't help but cough.

"I understand, you don't need to say anything more."

Although he tried his best to keep his tone calm, a hint of frustration could still be detected upon closer listening.

The driver in front, Mr. Wang, secretly glanced at the rearview mirror and couldn't help but laugh.

He had been driving for the leader for two years, and this was the first time he had seen the leader like this. He immediately decided to give it a push.

"Commander, is this your wife next to you? She's really beautiful."

"If everyone knew that you finally have a girlfriend, they would be overjoyed to see your wife."

Xie Lanshen curled his lips slightly, but did not correct the driver's address. Instead, he continued the conversation naturally.

“During the time I was away, there wasn’t even anyone to supervise them.”

"Hopefully they haven't slacked off on their regular training, otherwise it's too early to be happy."

Driver Wang glanced at Xie Lanshen's expression through the rearview mirror and sighed inwardly.

Despite having just suffered a serious injury, their leader remains as strict and demanding as ever.

Thinking of this, he silently lit a candle for everyone in the army.

As Shen Zhihuan listened to the two of them talking about things in the army, all she could think about was the driver calling her "sister-in-law" earlier.

The already cramped atmosphere in the carriage became even more unusual.

Driver Wang was very skilled; he drove fast and steadily, and soon delivered them to the entrance of the military base.

After politely declining Xie Lanshen's help, Shen Zhihuan jumped out of the car by herself. As soon as she stood up, she saw Grandpa Wang and Grandpa Tian standing beside her, waiting for her with smiles on their faces.

Her eyes lit up immediately, and she shouted without thinking.

"Master!"

"We knew Lan Shen was bringing you here today, so we came to the door to meet you and wait to take you to receive your award."

Both Grandpa Wang and Grandpa Tian found it a bit strange.

Their relationship with Shen Zhihuan wasn't very deep; at most, they had only met once at the Xie family's house.

But they get along very naturally, as if they've known each other for years, without any awkwardness at all.

"Is this Zhihuan's first time visiting the army? Come on, come on, let us two old men show you around."

Grandpa Wang and Grandpa Tian were afraid their apprentice would be shy, so they would introduce her to everyone they went with.

As familiar words echoed in her ears once again, Shen Zhihuan looked at the long-lost scene before her, her eyes filled with emotion.

She recalled her feelings when she first entered the company. At this moment, she had transformed from the young Dr. Shen of that time into the young Ms. Shen of today.

Everything started from scratch, but thankfully, those important people were still by her side.

Grandpa Wang and Grandpa Tian did not age rapidly due to the ravages of war, and Xie Lanshen did not fall on the battlefield, but stood alive and well beside her.

A hint of moisture welled up in Shen Zhihuan's eyes; she felt exceptionally happy at that moment.

She concealed her emotions well, and no one noticed her loss of composure.

Just then, they arrived at the edge of the training field, and the two old men smiled and introduced it to her.

"This is the place where the soldiers use for their daily training. It just so happens that it's during their break time, otherwise we could have watched from the sidelines."

Shen Zhihuan couldn't help but smile, and said meaningfully, "There will be other opportunities to see each other in the future."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!