"No, that's not it." Han Feng then recounted to Liu Mengran how Zhou Zihao and Mu Xiaoxiao had framed him during high school and how he had fought back.
"So back then, it wasn't time yet. I only dealt with the Mu family and the Zhou family. Mu Xiaoxiao wasn't directly involved. By the time I was ready to take action against her, she had already left Jiang City. I never expected things to turn out like this now," Han Feng said calmly.
"Even so, how did you get into the army and become my brother's superior?" Liu Mengran was clearly very interested in Han Feng's past.
"I know this is hard to believe." Han Feng reached for the apple on the bedside table, gently twirling it in his palm. Liu Mengran's lips parted slightly, her eyes fixed on him. Sunlight fell on her eyelashes, casting small shadows on her cheeks.
"The system appeared after my rebirth," Han Feng continued, his gaze falling on the apple's bright red skin. "It gave me some skills, such as weakness analysis, combat proficiency... and this."
With a thought, the apple in his hand vanished instantly.
Liu Mengran abruptly stood up, the chair scraping loudly on the floor. "Where's the apple?" Her eyes widened, her gaze darting between Han Feng's hand and the surrounding floor. "How...how did you do that?"
Han Feng didn't answer, but simply smiled and summoned the apple again. It appeared out of thin air in his palm, as if it had never left.
"This is impossible..." Liu Mengran reached out and touched the apple; her fingertips were icy cold. "Is this magic? Or..."
"System space," Han Feng said softly, handing her the apple. "A small storage space independent of the real world."
Liu Mengran took the apple and examined it carefully, as if searching for some hidden mechanism. Her breathing became rapid, and Han Feng could see the fast beating of her pulse at the side of her neck.
"So those... superhuman combat abilities, rapidly healing wounds, and golden eyes..." she murmured to herself, as if piecing together an incredible jigsaw puzzle.
Han Feng nodded, watching her as her perception of the world was turned upside down. Her eyes were wide open, like a startled fawn, yet sparkling with curiosity. At this moment, she was more vibrant and real than usual.
"Since my rebirth, I gradually acquired these skills, and then by some coincidence, I saved our provincial party secretary using the medical skills provided by the system. Through this method, after investigating me for a period of time, Secretary Zheng introduced me to that person." Han Feng said, pointing upwards.
Liu Mengran was incredibly intelligent, so she naturally knew who Han Feng was referring to.
"So I met him in Jiang City. After I helped him with his health for the first time, he invited me to visit Kyoto when I had time, and I agreed without hesitation. Of course, I had my reasons." After Han Feng finished speaking, he glanced at Liu Mengran, whose cheeks flushed red upon hearing this.
Han Feng continued, "When I first came to Kyoto, I visited that person's home and met his bodyguard. After a brief exchange, he invited me to join Longyuan. After that, I left school several times to complete tasks assigned by my superiors. One of those times was to the Northern Border, and that's when I met your brother."
"I was wondering how he ended up as your subordinate after you two met. He's been in the army for so many years." Liu Mengran suddenly remembered something. "What about that head instructor from the military training?"
"That one? He and your brother participated in the base's selection process together. Your brother passed, but he didn't, and then he was transferred to a local position."
Liu Mengran muttered softly, "No wonder the way he looked at you was exactly the same way my brother looked at you, like a fanatical idol."
"Of course, I'm their leader." Han Feng said with a hint of arrogance.
"Then why are you telling me all this?" Liu Mengran suddenly looked up, staring directly into his eyes. "Such an important secret...aren't you afraid I'll tell everyone?"
The sunlight intensified at that moment, forcing Han Feng to squint. He looked at her silhouette outlined by the light, recalling how she clung to him tightly during the explosion, and how resolutely she stood between him and the iron tower, saying, "Don't come any closer."
"If there's anyone in this world I can trust besides my parents," Han Feng heard himself say, "it's probably only you, Liu Mengran."
These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Liu Mengran's pupils dilated slightly, her fingers unconsciously tightening, the apple leaving faint nail marks on her palm. Han Feng could see her fair neck gradually turning pink, spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.
"Then...what if?" she suddenly asked, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness Han Feng had never heard before, "What if I really told them?"
Han Feng paused for a moment, then realized she was testing him. He deliberately frowned, feigning thought: "In that case..." He paused for a moment, then a mischievous smile appeared on his lips, "Then I'll just have to trouble you to marry me, since I'll have to keep your secret for the rest of my life."
Liu Mengran's face flushed instantly, and the apple rolled from her hand onto the bed. "You...what nonsense are you talking about!" She stood up in a fluster, looking incredibly cute with her awkwardness. "Besides, don't you already have Su Wanwan? Why are you thinking such things?"
Han Feng burst into laughter, then grimaced as the pain aggravated his wound. Seeing this, Liu Mengran instinctively took a step forward, then abruptly stopped, biting her lower lip and glaring at him.
"Then you're wronging me. She really just lives with me, and she's also a member of Longyuan."
"Don't you have any ideas at all?" Liu Mengran looked at Han Feng with a hint of amusement.
"Uh..." Han Feng was speechless.
"Get some rest!" Liu Mengran managed to say before turning and walking quickly toward the door, her back stiff as a cat with its fur standing on end.
Han Feng watched her departing figure, noticing that she paused slightly at the door but didn't turn around. The door closed gently with a barely audible click.
The ward fell silent again, with only the apple lying quietly on the sheets, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance. Han Feng picked it up, his fingertips touching the nail marks left by Liu Mengran, and he smiled unconsciously.
The monitor's beeping became steady and soothing. Han Feng placed the apple back on the bedside table and closed his eyes. He suddenly understood that sharing a secret was like handing over a key... and Liu Mengran would keep this key, the key to the deepest part of his heart, safe and sound.
In the corridor, Liu Mengran leaned against the wall, her hands covering her burning cheeks. She should have felt shocked, confused, or even terrified, but the heart pounding in her chest leaped with joy as if it had discovered a treasure.
"Bad guy..." she muttered to herself in the empty corridor, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up in a smile.
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