The soldier had just turned the corner when he bumped into Jiang Linchuan.
His tall figure stood like a majestic mountain in the cold wind.
The collar of his military overcoat stood up, obscuring half his face, revealing only a pair of cold eyes.
The surrounding air seemed frozen by the pressure emanating from him, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.
The soldier's heart skipped a beat. He instinctively lowered his head, his Adam's apple bobbing before he dared to speak, "Commander Jiang... you're here right now, I have something I want to say to you..."
After he finished speaking, he realized that his palms were sweating.
Jiang Linchuan finally spoke, his voice low and steady, devoid of emotion, "Go on."
The soldier took a deep breath and recounted the entire story, from their encounter at the warehouse, Wang Zhizhi's seduction, to Li Xingzhou's threats, without embellishment or deliberate concealment.
Finally, his face flushed red, and sweat beaded on his forehead. "I really didn't do anything with Wang Zhizhi! She kept pestering me, saying she twisted her leg and couldn't walk, and insisted on resting in the warehouse for a while, so I didn't leave immediately... Commander Jiang, you must believe me!"
After saying that, he lowered his head in shame, his fingers tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.
If I hadn't been able to control myself just now, I'm afraid I would now be held hostage by those two and become an accomplice.
How could I possibly repay the military for their training?
How can I live up to the expectations of my parents and elders?
"I believe you." After saying that, Jiang Linchuan led him to his office and gestured for him to sit down.
The soldiers dared not sit down, but stood stiffly in place, their backs ramrod straight.
He had only been in the army for a short time and was still quite naive. He had just reported to the military headquarters two days after Wang Zhizhi arrived.
It is precisely this naiveté that makes one easily blinded by superficial sophistication.
"You did the right thing by taking the initiative to confess." Jiang Linchuan looked at his tense profile and softened his tone.
He knew that if he applied more pressure at this point, it would only make people panic and leave them with psychological trauma.
"You're still young. It's not shameful to be tempted by a woman with ulterior motives."
What ordinary, good girl would do something so shameless?
The soldiers were just young and inexperienced, which is why they were so easily fooled.
Hearing this, the soldier breathed a sigh of relief, the fear between his brows lessened a bit, but a layer of worry appeared. "Commander Jiang, what should I do now? If they really spread rumors, I... I'm afraid I won't even be able to get a wife in the future."
Jiang Linchuan picked up the enamel mug on the table, took a sip of warm tea, and said, "You did make a mistake, and you need to atone for it with good deeds. As long as you handle things properly and the outcome is good, you will be a meritorious person."
The soldier, as if grasping at a straw, leaned forward halfway, his eyes gleaming. "Commander Jiang, just give the order! I'll do it!"
Jiang Linchuan put down the enamel mug, tapped the rim lightly with his fingertips, and his eyes suddenly turned cold. "Do as they say."
"Huh?" The soldier was stunned, looking puzzled. "Then...then am I still helping them do bad things?"
"No. I'll handle the rest. You just need to be my informant, the one I've planted among them, understand?"
The soldier was stunned for a moment, and his confused mind finally came to its senses.
Does this mean he should do the opposite?
It's a counter-espionage plot!
Yes, the storyteller told it!
In this way, he would no longer be an accomplice forced into it, but an undercover agent with a mission!
"Commander Jiang, I understand!" His eyes lit up, and he straightened his back instantly.
Jiang Linchuan nodded, "The appropriate emotions must be conveyed, and the proper demeanor must be fully displayed. We must not reveal anything."
The soldier snapped to attention, raised his hand in a crisp salute, and said in a loud voice, "Rest assured, Commander Jiang! We guarantee to complete the mission!"
He suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "By the way, Li Xingzhou knows you're going out on a mission today."
"Okay, just pretend I'm really gone," Jiang Linchuan replied calmly.
He didn't tell Xu Xinghe about this.
Like a lurking lion, patiently waiting for the right moment, just as its prey steps into the trap, it delivers a fatal blow!
The afternoon sun slanted through the military headquarters.
Jiang Linchuan pretended to be fully prepared and set off to carry out a mission, but after leaving the camp, he circled around and, under the cover of several rows of low houses, quietly returned.
He chose a sheltered spot where he could see the entrance to the courtyard, and stood there like a silent stone statue, quietly guarding the place.
Li Xingzhou quickly received the news, and as soon as dinner time arrived, he impatiently urged Wang Zhizhi to go to the canteen to get her food and hand it over to the soldier.
Worried about potential problems, he personally instructed her, "Remember, you must watch her eat it. Just say it's Commander Jiang's order, and don't try anything funny. If you dare spill the food, the news that you're better than Wang Zhizhi will spread to every corner of the military headquarters tomorrow."
The soldier clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, suppressing his anger as he took the lunchbox. "I understand. But you have to promise me that once this is over, we're even, and neither of us owes the other anything. If you dare to use this to blackmail me into doing anything else, I'll expose your dirty tricks, even if it breaks my back!"
Li Xingzhou smiled gently, "Don't worry, I keep my word. Go ahead, and tell me when Xu Xinghe has finished eating."
The soldier turned around with his meal, but was stopped by Jiang Linchuan halfway there.
Jiang Linchuan handed him a brand new lunchbox. "Give this to Xinghe. After she finishes eating, you can go back and report."
"Yes, sir!" The soldier solemnly accepted the new mess kit. The warmth of the food on it touched his fingertips, and his initial apprehension vanished.
He arrived at the entrance of the courtyard and gently knocked on the door.
Xu Xinghe was sitting by the window reading with her little feet up when she heard the noise. She ran out in her cotton slippers, her hair swaying gently with her movements.
The soldier looked up and saw her, and his face turned red instantly.
Half of it was because of her beautiful face, and half was because of the shame in her heart.
He almost ruined such a good girl's life.
The hot meals he ate and the frostbite cream he applied during the disaster relief were all provided by the person in front of him; she was a meritorious figure respected by everyone in the military.
“Comrade Xu…” his voice was a little tight, “This is the food that Commander Jiang asked me to bring. He said… I have to watch you eat it.”
Xu Xinghe raised an eyebrow slightly; Jiang Linchuan had never made such a request before.
But she still stepped aside to let people in through the doorway. "Come in, don't stand outside, it's too cold."
The soldier stood awkwardly two steps from the door, his head bowed even lower. "I... I'll just watch you eat from here."
Just as Xu Xinghe was about to open the lunchbox, she discovered that it was sealed with a special layer of paper.
This type of seal is generally only used on documents, and once it is removed, it can never be restored to its original state.
This has obviously been untouched.
With a flick of her finger, she tore open the seal, and the familiar fragrance wafted out the moment she lifted the lid.
It was filled with her favorite dishes, and even the way it was arranged reflected Jiang Linchuan's unique meticulousness.
It seems it really was him who arranged it.
A warm feeling welled up in Xu Xinghe's heart. He guessed that Xu Xinghe was worried that someone might tamper with the food, so he came up with this idea.
She couldn't help but smile; a thoughtful man can always subtly win someone's heart.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
