"Yes, I like you, Su Mingqiang!"
Zhou Xiaobai looked directly into his eyes.
"I've liked you ever since the day we worked together to salvage equipment in the torrential rain!"
Su Mingqiang was struck dumb, standing motionless.
His heart was in turmoil, filled with both joy and fear.
"Xiaobai, you don't understand..."
He said it with difficulty.
"I've been to prison, I..."
"So what?"
Zhou Xiaobai said excitedly.
"Everyone has a past. What matters is who you are now!"
Su Mingqiang remained silent for a long time before finally speaking softly.
"Give me some time, okay?"
Zhou Xiaobai nodded, her eyes showing both disappointment and hope.
"I will wait for you, but not forever."
After this conversation, the relationship between the two underwent a subtle change.
They worked together seamlessly, but a subtle, ambiguous relationship developed between them in private.
The cold-resistant rice project is progressing smoothly, and the first batch of transplanted seedlings have adapted to the environment and are growing well.
Xia Weiguo was very satisfied and decided to expand the scale of the experiment.
"Mingqiang, Xiaobai, you did a great job!"
At a debriefing meeting, Xia Weiguo praised them.
"Next month, we will be giving a special report to the leaders of the Central Military Commission. Please prepare accordingly."
The young research partners were both excited and nervous.
The success or failure of the presentation will directly affect the future of the project.
It was late at night, and Su Mingqiang was still in his office organizing report materials.
Zhou Xiaobai pushed open the door and came in, carrying two cups of hot tea.
"Still not done?"
She asked softly.
Su Mingqiang looked up and smiled.
"It'll be ready soon. Why haven't you rested?"
"I can't sleep."
Zhou Xiaobai sat down opposite him.
"I'm a little nervous about reporting to the leaders of the Central Military Commission."
"You're an elite from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, what haven't you seen?"
Su Mingqiang comforted him.
Zhou Xiaobai shook his head.
"This time is different. It's not just about the project, it's also about..."
She paused.
"It concerns our future."
Su Mingqiang's hands stopped on the keyboard.
He understood what Zhou Xiaobai meant.
The success of the project will determine whether they can continue to work together, or even more.
"Xiaobai."
He said it suddenly.
"I have something to say to you after the report is over."
Zhou Xiaobai's eyes lit up.
"What can't be said now?"
Su Mingqiang took a deep breath.
"I want to wait until everything stabilizes..."
"You're always like this!"
Zhou Xiaobai said somewhat angrily.
"Waiting, hesitating, retreating! Su Mingqiang, life isn't a laboratory; not everything can wait for you to be ready!"
Su Mingqiang was stunned by these words.
Looking at Zhou Xiaobai's reddened eyes, he suddenly realized that he had been hurting this girl who loved him deeply.
"sorry......"
He said in a low voice.
Zhou Xiaobai stood up.
"No need to apologize. I just hope that one day you can bravely face your own heart."
She turned and left, leaving Su Mingqiang sitting alone in front of the computer.
The light from the screen reflected on his face, revealing a look of bewilderment and pain.
...
at the same time.
Xia Mengsheng's home.
Su Yuzhen was preparing breakfast in the Xia family's kitchen.
She hummed a little tune as she skillfully flipped the fried eggs in the pan.
After marrying into the Xia family, she quickly adapted to her new life and won the favor of her parents-in-law with her diligence and wisdom.
"Yuzhen, where is Mengsheng?"
Mrs. Xia walked into the kitchen and asked.
"Mom, he went out early this morning, saying he had an urgent mission."
Su Yuzhen replied and put the fried egg on a plate.
Mrs. Xia's expression suddenly turned serious.
"He didn't say what the mission was?"
Su Yuzhen shook her head.
"He only said he'd be gone for a few days and told me not to worry."
She smiled.
"You know him, he's always so secretive."
Madam Xia hesitated for a moment, then simply nodded.
"Let's have breakfast first."
At the dining table, Xia Weiguo was already dressed and reading a newspaper.
Seeing his wife and daughter-in-law enter, he put down his newspaper, his expression somewhat solemn.
"Dad, aren't you off today?"
Su Yuzhen asked curiously.
Xia Weiguo cleared his throat.
"There's an urgent meeting."
He glanced at his wife, and the two exchanged a look.
Su Yuzhen keenly sensed the abnormality.
"Has something happened? Meng Sheng...?"
"Yuzhen."
Xia Weiguo interrupted her.
"Meng Sheng is a soldier; carrying out missions is commonplace for him. Don't overthink it."
But Su Yuzhen's heart was already in her throat.
In the three months since the wedding, although Xia Mengsheng has often gone out on missions, her parents-in-law have never shown such an expression.
Breakfast ended in silence.
Xia Weiguo hurriedly left, while Madam Xia, preoccupied, tidied up the tableware.
"mom."
Su Yuzhen couldn't help but ask.
Where exactly did Meng Sheng go?
Mrs. Xia sighed.
"The border. Things haven't been peaceful there lately; armed militants have crossed the border."
Su Yuzhen's hand trembled, and the plate almost fell to the ground.
"He...he went to a dangerous place?"
"Yuzhen, calm down."
Mrs. Xia comforted her.
"Meng Sheng is a former reconnaissance soldier, very experienced, he'll be fine."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
