The kiss only ended when both of them were a little out of breath.
Jiang Linchuan pressed his forehead against Xu Xinghe's, his heavy breath carrying a scorching heat, landing on the tip of her nose.
He looked at her reddened eyes and moist lips, his emotions deepening, his eyes becoming as dark as ink.
He looked up, ruffled Xu Xinghe's hair, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I'm leaving."
After saying that, he turned around, pushed open the door, and his figure quickly disappeared into the wind and snow.
Xu Xinghe stood there, her hand unconsciously touching her lips, her face burning hot enough to fry an egg.
She quickly locked the door, ran into the bedroom, crawled into the warm bed, covered her face, and rolled around on the bed, making the blankets a mess.
This was their first real kiss.
Although Jiang Linchuan had responded before, it always carried a hint of resistance.
Either he was afraid of being seen by others, or it was his rigid personality that was causing his distress. Never before had he been so wholeheartedly devoted to something, casting aside all restraint and forbearance, leaving only his burning and intense feelings.
Xu Xinghe chuckled and buried her face in the blankets. "I can't think about it anymore, time to sleep!"
A beautiful dream.
The next day, she got up early, got dressed, and went out of the courtyard.
As dawn broke, the military headquarters was already fully awake.
Soldiers would pass by every now and then, greeting her with smiles.
Even though Wang Zhizhi said some ambiguous things yesterday, it did not affect their gratitude towards Xu Xinghe.
"Good morning, Comrade Xu."
"Comrade Xu, have you had breakfast?"
"The canteen has sauerkraut buns today, Comrade Xu, eat them while they're hot."
Xu Xinghe responded to each question, had a hearty meal at the canteen, and then planned which village to visit.
By the way, the villagers in Xinghua Village took the medicine yesterday, and they're likely to have problems today. She'd better not go out. Not only that, Li Xingzhou can't leave either.
Otherwise, if he goes to another village, some people will be deceived by him and use ointments with the opposite effect, and their frostbite will not only not be controlled, but will become more serious.
Xu Xinghe immediately changed direction and went directly to find Jiang Linchuan.
Didn't he want to help? This is a perfect opportunity!
"Hey, Xu Xinghe, haven't you thought of me at all lately?" A tall figure suddenly blocked his way.
Xu Xinghe looked up and saw a familiar face—Lian Xiao.
He stood in the morning light, looking grumpy, as if someone owed him hundreds of dollars...
However, he has changed a lot.
Lian Xiao used to have the air of a rich young master. Although he was broad-shouldered and tall, he lacked a sense of strength.
And now, he has it.
His features were already striking, but now they were even more angular. His eyebrows were sharper than before, his eye sockets were deep-set, and his long, narrow eyes had become much more composed, carrying a resolute look that was impossible to ignore. His lips were well-defined, and the corners of his mouth no longer held that enigmatic smile they once did, but instead exuded a coldness that kept strangers at bay.
Like a piece of polished jade, its outward brilliance is concealed, but a deeper sharpness is hidden between its brows.
It's the same face, yet it feels both strange and familiar.
Xu Xinghe couldn't help but look at you a few more times. "You've changed a lot. You're more handsome and manly than before."
Lian Xiao's ear tips immediately turned red.
He lowered his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he didn't reply, nor did he know what to say.
No one in the military noticed his changes these days, but she saw right through him!
Those arduous training sessions, persevering through the cold wind, were indeed worthwhile.
Even wearing a thick military overcoat couldn't hide it.
Actually, when he first received the disaster relief mission, he didn't want to go. He never wanted to waste his time on outsiders.
But when he heard that even Xu Xinghe had personally gone to help, he changed his mind.
To avoid getting distracted by his own thoughts and to avoid the hassle of traveling back and forth with the main group, he simply went to the farthest village and stayed at the village chief's house. This was the first time he had returned since the disaster relief efforts began.
Lian Xiao looked up at her, raised the package he was carrying, and handed it forward. "This was sent by Grandpa. It should have arrived a long time ago. The snow on the road was cleared before it was delivered."
He paused, then added, "Grandpa specifically asked for these to be given to you; I didn't ask for them myself."
Xu Xinghe smiled and reached out to take it, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over his hand.
It was covered with red, cracked marks from the frostbite, and several frostbite lesions were swollen and shiny, clearly indicating a very serious condition and that the person must have suffered a lot.
Xu Xinghe immediately put down her package, took out a bottle of frostbite cream from her pocket, and shoved it into his hand without saying a word. "Apply this quickly! Your frostbite is so bad, why didn't you tell me? If you don't treat it soon, the longer you wait, the worse it will get. Even if it heals later, it will leave scars, and it will flare up every winter. It will itch and hurt if it gets even a little cold! If you don't care about your health, Grandpa Lian will!"
Lian Xiao then took the bottle, and when he held the still warm bottle, his fingertips felt as if they had been burned, and he couldn't help but curl up. "Thank you."
"No need for thanks between us, just apply it now, hurry up!"
Xu Xinghe considers himself to be a very good friend of his.
Even though they came to Heilongjiang Province together, they did not spend every day together.
But every time she got into trouble, Lian Xiao would help her, and Xu Xinghe never forgot this favor.
"Alright, I'll listen to you this once." Lian Xiao reverted to his usual arrogant demeanor and lowered his head to apply frostbite cream.
Just as Xu Xinghe was about to tell him to use it twice a day, she saw Li Xingzhou wearing an overcoat, preparing to leave with the soldiers.
She immediately picked up her foot and chased after him.
"Wait, where are you going?" Lian Xiao subconsciously grabbed her wrist. Shouldn't she be watching him as he finished applying the ointment to all his frostbite?
Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Are you looking for Jiang Linchuan?
"Lian Xiao, let me go! I need to stop Li Xingzhou and prevent him from leaving the military headquarters."
It turned out to be Li Xingzhou.
Lian Xiao curled his lips in disdain, "Let me handle this little thing!"
Before Xu Xinghe could speak, he took a few long strides and walked up to Li Xingzhou. He seemed to be passing by, but in fact he bumped into the other man's shoulder heavily.
Li Xingzhou was hit and the ground was slippery, so he couldn't stand up and fell heavily to the ground.
A slight cracking sound came from my wrist, and a sharp pain instantly swept over me.
Li Xingzhou lay on the ground, his face ashen, biting his lip so hard he couldn't groan.
The soldiers nearby quickly gathered around.
"Dr. Li, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
"Quick, help Dr. Li up."
Lian Xiao smiled and extended his hand. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I was in such a hurry that I didn't see you. Are you alright? You're a grown man, you can't be seriously injured from a fall, can you?"
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