Liu Mengran's high heels made rapid footsteps on the cobblestone streets of Kyoto Huafu. She walked quickly, as if something was chasing her, until she turned two corners and made sure she was far away from Han Feng's villa before suddenly stopping.
A black SUV silently pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, revealing Liu Xiaoran's face: "Get in."
An awkward silence filled the car. Liu Xiaoran gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white; Liu Mengran stared out the window, her lips pressed into a straight line. As the SUV drove out of the residential complex gate, the security guard glanced at it curiously—there had clearly only been one person in the car when it entered.
"You're interested in him?" Liu Xiaoran suddenly asked, his voice dry like the wind blowing through the desert.
Liu Mengran's eyelashes trembled: "Who?"
"Han Feng." When Liu Xiaoran uttered this name, he unconsciously used his formal military accent. "I could tell the way he looked at you was different."
Liu Mengran turned her head and took a serious look at her brother, whom she hadn't seen for three years, for the first time. Liu Xiaoran had changed a lot, not only because of the scar that ran across his brow bone, but also because of the things that had settled in his eyes, like volcanic rock after lava had cooled, calm on the surface but still burning hot inside.
"We're just classmates," she finally replied.
"Is it really just about being classmates?"
Liu Mengran briefly recounted her encounter with Han Feng at the beginning of the semester, the source of the photos she showed Liu Xiaoran in the car last time, and some gossip that appeared on the forum.
"He only said two sentences," Liu Mengran recalled. "His first question was whether anyone was here. I ignored him, then went straight to the seat next to me and sat down. Then he said his name was Han Feng." She paused, "I also investigated him, but his information was confidential, so I didn't investigate further. It seems his identity is quite extraordinary."
Liu Xiaoran frowned. This description was completely different from the Han Feng he knew. Why would the cold-blooded instructor of Longyuan meddle in such a trivial matter?
"And you?" Liu Mengran asked back, "Why were you specially transferred back from the Northern Border? And you even became his... subordinate?" She carefully chose her words, unsure of what the title "captain" meant.
The SUV stopped at the red light. Liu Xiaoran sighed and said, "The upheaval in my family three years ago involved far too many powerful forces, which is why the family sent me to the Northern Territory for training."
Immediately afterward, Liu Xiaoran took out a cigarette and lit it. Liu Mengran disliked the smell, but only frowned slightly. Liu Xiaoran continued, "A month ago, Han Feng led a special forces team to the Northern Border on a mission. That team was very strong."
Liu Mengran naturally knew that her brother was originally a special forces member in the Northern Territory, and that he was very ambitious. If even he said it was a very strong squad, then its strength should not be underestimated.
"And then?" Liu Mengran asked.
"They came because of a special mission. At first, our people were very unconvinced, after all, their team, including Han Feng, only had seven people. But..." Liu Xiaoran took another puff of his cigarette, "His team members, in less than three minutes, took down all of our dozens of people by themselves."
Liu Mengran gasped after hearing this. Is this even within the realm of human beings?
"So I was curious about their team, but the main thing is that Han Feng is facing non-human opponents, and it may be related to the tragedy that happened to our family three years ago. I want to find out the truth of what happened back then, and I also want to have the ability to solve it myself." As he said this, Liu Xiaoran's knuckles turned slightly white as he gripped the steering wheel.
"So, you applied to be transferred back to Kyoto and joined Han Feng's team?"
"It's not that simple. I used all my connections, plus the recommendation of our military region commander, to barely participate in the selection for this mysterious department. Although I passed, I'm only a reserve member," Liu Xiaoran said.
Liu Mengran seemed to be deep in thought. Just who exactly was this Han Feng?
Liu Xiaoran continued, "Never mind, I'm telling you all this just so you know why I came back. Also, you have to keep Han Feng's identity a secret."
Seeing that Liu Mengran nodded, Liu Xiaoran drove her home.
---
At this moment, inside the Kyoto Huafu Villa
"So you knew all along?"
Su Wanwan followed Han Feng into the kitchen like a shadow, her short red hair bouncing up and down with her bouncy movements. Han Feng opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of mineral water, and she immediately stood in front of the refrigerator door.
"Move aside." Han Feng unscrewed the bottle cap.
"Answer me!" Su Wanwan said, hands on her hips, "Did you already know that Liu Mutou and Liu Mengran were siblings?"
Han Feng tilted his head back and took a sip of water, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down: "I've looked at all the team members' information."
\"when?\"
"Before the selection."
Su Wanwan's eyes lit up, and she immediately moved even closer: "Does Liu Mengran know who you are? Does she know you can kick her brother away with one kick? The two of you in the classroom... Ouch!"
Han Feng suddenly reached out and flicked her forehead. The force wasn't strong, but it was enough to make Su Wanwan cover her forehead and take half a step back.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed, rubbing a non-existent red mark. "Are you angry and embarrassed? Something's definitely up!"
Han Feng walked past her towards the living room, but Su Wanwan relentlessly followed, chattering like a sparrow: "Tell me! What did you two talk about when you sat together in the classroom? Did she know you could defuse a bomb with one hand? Did you help her out because..."
"Su Wanwan." Han Feng stopped, his voice tinged with a rare helplessness. "You're unusually talkative today."
"Because I'm bored!" Su Wanwan spread her hands confidently. "It's my last day off, and I got interrupted while watching a horror movie. What's wrong with gossiping a little?" She suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Unless... you're feeling guilty?"
Han Feng took a deep breath, his temples throbbing. He turned and headed for the stairs, intending to go back to his room for some peace and quiet. Unexpectedly, Su Wanwan rushed up and boldly grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"One last question!" She held up a finger, her eyes flashing with an alarming light, "Do you like...?"
Before he could finish speaking, the world spun around him.
With a swift over-the-shoulder throw, Su Wanwan was caught off guard and slumped into the enormous sofa in the living room. Two cushions were sent flying, one of them hitting an empty Coke can on the coffee table with a loud thud.
"Han Feng!" Su Wanwan struggled to sit up from the sofa, her short red hair bristling like an angry hedgehog. "You're finished!"
She lunged at Han Feng, completely forgetting that this man could take down an entire reinforced platoon with one hand. Han Feng easily dodged, and Su Wanwan missed her target, nearly falling into the TV cabinet. But she refused to give up and turned to deliver a flying kick, which Han Feng caught with one hand, of course.
"Vegetable," Han Feng commented, casually pushing her towards the sofa.
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