Chapter 89 Confessing One's True Feelings
The village girl, Jiang Zhizhi, was following behind Zhou Xiye, taking a stroll around the mountain.
Looking at the piles of rocks and rubble outside the cave entrance, one can imagine that half of the mountain has been hollowed out.
The area was a restricted zone. Zhou Xiye only spoke a few words to the platoon leader on duty at the cave entrance before taking Jiang Zhizhi to other places.
Jiang Zhizhi noticed that, apart from Zhang Zhao, everyone else, whether soldiers or officers, seemed quite afraid of Zhou Xiye, and spoke with unusual restraint and caution.
There was even a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Jiang Zhizhi glanced at the man beside her. His expression was calm, strong, and resolute, with the composure of a leader, but not the overly strict type.
Think about my former boss, so gentle and refined, loved by everyone in the team, but in the end, when he betrayed them, he was incredibly ruthless.
After walking around and coming down the mountain, I got a basic understanding of their daily work.
Zhou Xiye carefully spoke: "We are an all-around combat unit under the mobile force. We will be rotated to southern Yunnan in a few days. It is uncertain when we will return, or even if we will be able to return."
His voice was calm and clear, but his words made Jiang Zhizhi's heart tighten.
He stopped and looked up at Zhou Xiye without saying a word.
Zhou Xiye also stopped and turned to look at Jiang Zhizhi: "This time, there are no conditions for you to accompany the military, so it would be better for you to return to Beijing."
He looked at Jiang Zhizhi with deep eyes.
He could have selfishly kept Jiang Zhizhi, even quickly registered their marriage, gotten her pregnant, and then left.
She waits for him alone at home with the child, perhaps for a year, two years, or perhaps for a lifetime.
But he couldn't do that. He loved her and wanted her to be happy in the future, rather than staying with someone who would never return.
Jiang Zhizhi blinked, a feeling of unease welling up in her chest, making her feel uncomfortable. But she still smiled, her eyes crinkling, "I can wait for you here, I can come to see you, and I can write you a letter."
Zhou Xiye's heart softened, and his eyes warmed: "It's unfair to you, so..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Zhizhi stood on tiptoe and covered his mouth with her hand: "Okay, okay, so don't say the rest, I know. Just listen to me first..."
Her soft palm pressed against his gentle lips, his shallow breaths like an electric current, making Jiang Zhizhi's palm feel a tingling, itchy sensation.
He quickly withdrew his hand and took a step back: "It was wrong of me to hide my identity before, but since I came to find you with my luggage, I have no intention of backing down, unless you don't like me."
After saying that, she stared at Zhou Xiye with sincere and clear eyes: "If you don't like me, I'll leave in a bit."
Zhou Xiye originally wanted to arrange a good way out for Jiang Zhizhi before leaving, and his words were the result of his careful consideration last night.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhizhi directly rejected him and frankly expressed her liking for him. He was surprised by her boldness, but he also followed his heart: "I don't dislike her."
Jiang Zhizhi laughed, her eyes crinkling like lotus blossoms: "If you like it, nothing else matters. All difficulties are just paper tigers!"
"Go ahead and go. I'm not the kind of person who would compromise myself. If you don't come back, I can come looking for you."
Zhou Xiye's Adam's apple bobbed, still dazzled by Jiang Zhizhi's smile. He was about to speak when Jiang Zhizhi interrupted him again: "Isn't it time for lunch? Let's go eat, I'm hungry."
She also felt that her relationship with Zhou Xiye was still in its nascent stage; they liked each other, but it hadn't reached the point of being unforgettable.
There's no need to say things that sound like a life-or-death farewell right after revealing your identity.
Besides, if Zhou Xiye goes to southern Yunnan, she can also find a way to go there!
Zhou Xiye sighed helplessly, realizing he couldn't persuade Jiang Zhizhi. He was still secretly pleased, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "Let's go eat first. You have a few days to think about this. If you want to go back to Beijing, I can give you a letter of introduction."
Jiang Zhizhi stood with her hands behind her back and a serious expression: "Captain Zhou, I also hope you will think it over carefully in the next few days and let me go. You won't meet another Jiang Zhizhi like this again."
As she spoke, she proudly raised her chin.
Zhou Xiye smiled and couldn't help but raise his hand to gently stroke the back of her head. Her soft hair brushed against his palm, making him feel even more reluctant to part with her. He gave a heavy "Mmm".
There's also some anticipation; a switch doesn't necessarily mean he won't come back.
...
The team had noodles, braised eggplant with pork lard, and a bowl of pickled vegetable shreds for lunch.
Zhang Zhao noticed that as the morning passed, the relationship between his boss and Jiang Zhizhi seemed to have become a little closer. He watched as his boss served Jiang Zhizhi noodles and gently asked her if there were enough noodles and if she wanted to rinse them with cold water.
After pouring the sauce over the noodles, he personally helped mix it, making sure every noodle was coated with the broth, before handing it to Jiang Zhizhi.
She turned around and served Jiang Zhizhi a bowl of noodle soup.
Jiang Zhizhi felt a little shy, but she didn't show any embarrassment at all. She accepted Zhou Xiye's service very calmly and then ate her meal.
She wondered if it was because Zhou Xiye had personally mixed the noodles, but she found them to taste exceptionally delicious.
Zhou Xiye picked up his rice bowl, and seeing Zhang Zhao's gossipy gaze sweeping between him and Jiang Zhizhi, he glanced at him and said, "Eat your meal and hurry up to the assembly point to prepare to take the first batch of goods back."
Zhang Zhao chuckled in response, then looked at Jiang Zhizhi and asked, "Sister-in-law, are you coming back to the team with us this time?"
Before Jiang Zhizhi could speak, Zhou Xiye glanced at him and said, "If you don't want to eat, then go pack your things now."
Zhang Zhao quickly shut his mouth and shoveled noodles into his mouth.
Jiang Zhizhi smiled gloatingly at Zhang Zhao.
After finishing the meal, Zhou Xiye looked at Wang Changkun and said again, "Bring me your leave slip for visiting relatives. I'll approve it for you. Go home and visit your family in a couple of days. That way, you can feel at ease during your shift change."
Wang Changkun insisted, "No need, my wife will understand..."
Zhou Xiye frowned and interrupted, "It's true that you should make sacrifices, but you also need to take care of your family. When conditions allow, you should go back and fulfill your responsibilities as a son, husband, and father. You should prepare your work arrangements in the next couple of days, and then go home to visit your family with peace of mind."
Wang Changkun didn't insist any further. He knew very well that Zhou Xiye's decision wouldn't change, and that he was indeed doing it for their own good.
Jiang Zhizhi turned to look at Zhou Xiye, her eyes practically sparkling.
It feels like Zhou Xiye is surrounded by a halo. She also thinks that dedication is great, but as long as conditions permit, she should also be responsible for her own family.
This is a real man.
Her gaze was too intense.
Zhou Xiye had no choice but to turn his head to look at her. He saw her rosy face, her bright eyes looking at him, and a little sauce on the corner of her mouth. He helplessly took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
Jiang Zhizhi was taken aback: "Why are you giving me a handkerchief?"
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