Jiang Linchuan's eyes were firm, and he answered without hesitation, "As long as you're alright, I'm happy. My biggest wish in this life is for you to be safe and sound; nothing else matters."
Looking at his stubborn expression, Xu Xinghe felt both warm and anxious.
I never expected Jiang Linchuan to be so stubborn about this.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her impatience, and continued to persuade her from a different angle, "Have you thought about what you'll do after you leave the military? You can't just make a decision based on a burst of enthusiasm, can you?"
"I've made up my mind." Jiang Linchuan said calmly, clearly having given it serious thought. "After I retire from the military, the military will arrange a job for me based on my military merits and experience. I can go to Shanghai with you, and maybe I can become a police officer. I can protect people and stay by your side."
Xu Xinghe was surprised that he had actually thought of all the follow-up arrangements, and suddenly felt a headache coming on.
She bit her lip, her eyes becoming unusually serious as she stared into Jiang Linchuan's eyes and pressed him for the truth, "Putting me aside and only considering yourself, do you still want to join the army?"
Jiang Linchuan fell silent, lowered his eyes, and began to think seriously.
He did think about it.
Because he joined the army when he was a teenager, most of his memories are related to the military.
Here are his comrades, his beliefs, and the goals he didn't achieve.
He used to dream of climbing to a higher position and having more power.
It's not about competing for fame or fortune; I just want to have enough ability to hold onto the things I love.
He used to have no worries; his only goal was to advance in the military.
Now that he has Xu Xinghe, he feels that he has grasped the most important thing, so he dares to seriously consider leaving the army.
"I think."
"That's right!" Xu Xinghe immediately seized the opportunity. "Since you still want to be a soldier, then don't quit! Your ideals and your beliefs shouldn't be abandoned because of me!"
Jiang Linchuan was still somewhat hesitant, "But I'm afraid... I'm afraid that if I continue to stay in the military and carry out dangerous missions, I will cause you to get injured again. I can't afford the price of losing you."
"I'll drag you down, I'll drag you down, can't you use any other words?" Xu Xinghe was a little annoyed by his words, and reached out to pinch his cheek, not hard, but with a hint of coquettish dissatisfaction, "What do you mean by dragging you down? Are you talking about that time in Shiwa Village? Let me tell you, that wasn't dragging you down at all!"
“You had already let me leave, and I went back willingly. I could have left safely, but I chose to go back to help you. I'm an adult; I know what I'm doing and I can take responsibility for my choices. So, to be honest, my injury was my own choice, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you!”
“No, you did that for me too,” Jiang Linchuan immediately retorted. “If it weren’t to help me, you wouldn’t have gone back and taken that risk.”
Xu Xinghe shook her head and slowly said, "At first, it was indeed for you. I didn't want you to get hurt, and I was afraid that you wouldn't be able to handle those spies on your own, so I wanted to help you personally. But when it came to the moment when I was willing to be shot, you weren't the one I was thinking about."
"What I was thinking about was the man in black's identity as a spy, the fact that he must have a lot of classified information, and how much trouble it would cause the country if he got away. At that moment, you put the country behind you. Jiang Linchuan, like you, I have things I want to uphold. You can't give up your right to uphold your beliefs just because you want to protect me."
“Then we won’t be on the same path anymore.”
Jiang Linchuan was completely stunned, staring blankly at Xu Xinghe, never expecting her to say such a thing.
He originally thought that his retirement was the best way to protect her, but he never imagined that she harbored such a noble sentiment in her heart, nor did he expect that her definition of protection was completely different from his own.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say; all the words were stuck in his throat.
Seeing his stunned expression, Xu Xinghe sighed softly, reached out her arms, hugged his waist tightly, and pressed her cheek against his firm chest.
Feeling his warm body temperature and steady heartbeat, she slowly spoke, her voice soft and sweet, "Do you know how much money I have?"
Jiang Linchuan was taken aback by her sudden hug. He paused for a moment before gently shaking his head. "I don't know."
He never deliberately inquired about her background; in his eyes, none of that mattered.
“I have a lot of money, much more than you can imagine,” Xu Xinghe said in a muffled voice. “But I’m a woman. You saw it yourself. When you weren’t here, Xu Mingyi and the others could bully and scheme against me without any scruples for money. In the future, there might be even more people like that who will provoke me because of money or my prescriptions.”
She raised her head slightly, looking at him with clear eyes, "If you retire and give up your current status and power, can you still protect me like you do now? The man I want is not someone who gives up his future for me and hides in a safe corner, but a real man who stands tall and upright, someone who can stand up for me and help me solve problems even if I really mess things up."
"Furthermore, I've already decided that from now on, the medicinal herbs I cultivate and the prescriptions I research will be prioritized for supplying the military. In this way, we can complement each other perfectly. You can protect the country on the front lines, and I'll provide support from the rear. Isn't that good?"
Xu Xinghe smiled and said, "Don't underestimate me. How can you be so sure that I will get hurt or be in danger because of you in the future? At worst, I'll find a few more prescriptions to submit and ask the higher-ups to send me a few exceptionally skilled female soldiers as bodyguards. That way, we can both do our own things in peace, and everyone will be happy!"
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