Chapter 79: It’s hard to balance family and country? His choice
The successful joint completion of the military exhibition project served as a powerful glue, cementing the relationship between Huo Tingxiao and Su Wanqing to an unprecedented level of closeness. More than just life partners, they became comrades-in-arms, sharing a deep spiritual connection and fighting side-by-side in their careers. Their shared understanding and satisfaction from their mutual achievement filled their home with a warm and positive atmosphere.
Su Wanqing's design career also opened up a new chapter. The exhibition's success catapulted her to fame within the military, leading to a steady stream of commissions for non-core but highly significant military equipment improvements. Her busy but fulfilling life brought her home each day filled with smiles and inspiration, sharing her work with Huo Tingxiao. Sometimes, they'd even argue heatedly over a design challenge, only to ultimately find a perfect solution inspired by his practical perspective. These challenging yet mutually supportive days brought her immense happiness and a sense of security.
She even began quietly planning for the future—perhaps setting up a small studio focused on designing more user-friendly and comfortable products for soldiers. This idea excited her, and she couldn't wait to find a chance to discuss it with Huo Tingxiao.
However, the trajectory of fate always takes a sudden turn when people are happiest and most comfortable.
One late night, the rapid and encrypted ringing of the dedicated telephone line, like a sharp siren, suddenly broke the tranquility of the home.
Huo Tingxiao woke up almost instantly from his light sleep and grabbed the phone on the bedside table. He didn't turn on the light, and in the darkness, only his low and short reply could be heard.
"It's me."
"……Place?"
"……time?"
"...Understood. Prepare immediately."
Each syllable was like a falling ice bead, carrying with it an extremely solemn and murderous aura that Su Wanqing had never heard before.
The phone was hung up. The room fell into a deathly silence, with only Huo Tingxiao's suddenly heavy breathing clearly audible in the darkness.
Su Wanqing's heart suddenly clenched, a strong sense of foreboding gripping her. She fumbled to turn on the bedside lamp. In the dim light, Huo Tingxiao sat beside the bed, his back as stiff as iron, his profile tense. His eyes swirled with an extremely complex emotion she couldn't decipher—shock, heaviness, determination, and even a hint of... an extremely rare, almost painful struggle?
"What's wrong? What happened?" She propped herself up, her voice trembling slightly.
Huo Tingxiao slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on her worried face. His Adam's apple rolled violently, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed it back with great difficulty. He was silent for a few seconds. When he spoke again, his voice was extremely hoarse, but with an unquestionable, almost cruel calmness:
"Urgent mission. Depart immediately."
"Mission? Now? Where to? How long will it take?" Su Wanqing's heart sank instantly, and a series of questions came out of her mouth. The emotion in his eyes was definitely not just an ordinary urgent mission!
Huo Tingxiao avoided her gaze, stood up abruptly, and began to dress quickly. His movements were as swift as the wind, and every detail revealed the coldness and determination of someone about to go to the battlefield. As he fastened the buttons of his belt, he spoke at a rapid pace, his voice cold and emotionless, as if he were reciting regulations:
"Location classified. Time uncertain. Communications down."
"Assistant Chen will be responsible for your safety while I'm away. If you need anything, please contact him."
"Take good care of yourself."
He said the last four words very heavily, almost squeezing them out from between his teeth, with a heavy, farewell-like meaning.
Su Wanqing felt as if her heart was being gripped by an icy hand as she watched him. A suffocating fear instantly overwhelmed her! She flung aside the covers and got out of bed, rushing to him. She grabbed his arm as he was adjusting his cuffs, her voice shrill with fear: "Huo Tingxiao! Tell me what happened?! Is it dangerous?! You..."
Huo Tingxiao paused. He lowered his head, staring at the slightly trembling hand that gripped his arm. When he raised his eyes again, they were as deep as a bottomless, cold pond, churning with the pain of intense struggle and a near-desperate restraint.
He suddenly grabbed her wrist with his backhand, the force so strong that it almost broke her bones. His voice was hoarse and broken, but it carried an unquestionable iron-blooded command: "Su Wanqing! Remember your identity! You are a soldier's wife! Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask! This is an order!"
The word "order" was like two cold bayonets, piercing through all of Su Wanqing's worries and attempts to keep him. She froze in place, her face instantly pale as paper, and her fingers gripping his arm slipped away powerlessly.
Yes... She was a soldier's wife. From the moment she chose him, she was destined to face moments like this. She had no right to question him, only to wait. Perhaps even... there would be no return date.
The huge feeling of powerlessness and fear made her whole body cold, and tears welled up uncontrollably, but she bit her lips tightly to hold them back.
At that moment, car lights flashed downstairs, and the sound of engines approached from afar, then suddenly stopped. Assistant Chen, accompanied by two stern-looking officers, hurried upstairs. Standing outside the bedroom door, he said in a deep voice, "Captain, the car is ready."
Huo Tingxiao gave her one last, deep look. His expression was extremely complex, filled with guilt, reluctance, worry, and a resolve that threatened to destroy everything. He abruptly let go of her hand, turned around, grabbed his service pistol and the long-prepared backpack on the table, and strode out the door without looking back.
His back was resolute and cold, like a snowy mountain frozen in an instant, isolating all possibilities of warmth and weakness.
"Huo Tingxiao!" Su Wanqing looked at his back and finally couldn't help but call out his name in a tearful voice.
His footsteps paused imperceptibly at the door, his back stiff as iron, but he did not look back. He just ran downstairs even faster, almost as if fleeing.
Soon, the sound of a car engine starting was heard downstairs, and the tires rubbed against the ground, making a harsh sound, which quickly faded away and disappeared into the dark night.
Everything returned to silence.
Su Wanqing stood alone in the cold room, frozen, as if all her strength had been drained away. She slowly slid down to the floor. The air still seemed to linger with his cold aura and the heaviness and determination of that last glance.
The immense fear and anxiety engulfed her like a tide. She hugged her knees and buried her face in them, her shoulders shaking violently, but she couldn't make a sound.
She knew his mission this time was definitely extraordinary. The solemnity in the phone call, the rare struggle in his eyes, that almost farewell command... all foreshadowed an unprecedented danger.
Family and country, loyalty and love, once again pushed him to the crossroads of a cruel decision.
And he didn't hesitate at all.
As he said, he is a soldier. This is his vocation and his destiny.
But what about her? The happiness she had just grasped, the future they had planned together...was it going to be shattered once again by the cold reality? Maybe...it could even be...never to return?
Helplessness, fear, worry, and a hint of indescribable grievance and heartache, all these emotions intertwined together, almost tearing her apart.
Su Wanqing did not sleep all night.
She sat on the cold floor, looking out the window at the dark night sky, her heart filled with fear of the unknown and deep concern for Huo Tingxiao.
It is difficult to have both family and country.
His decision was cold and decisive, but she couldn't blame him.
It was because she knew better than anyone that beneath his cold and hard exterior, he possessed a deep, ardent, and even life-threatening love and loyalty for this land and his duties.
All she could do was wait.
With endless worry and prayers, waiting for his safe return.
The darkness before dawn is particularly cold and long.
And a new test has arrived.
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