Chapter 205 Accepting the Proposal
Xu Zhili stood there, watching the person she had been longing for walk towards her. A thousand words were stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say a single one.
Xie Yunze walked up to her and carefully examined her face: "The political commissar told me you were here, so I rushed back as soon as my mission was over. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Xu Zhili finally found her voice: "It's good that you're back safe and sound."
The three arrived at the guesthouse room, where Xie Yunze explained in detail the special mission he had been carrying out for the past three months: escorting a batch of important supplies across the border, during which he could not contact the outside world.
"Thanks to the night vision goggles you designed, we have avoided danger several times."
Xie Yunze said with a smile and gratitude.
Xu Zhili nodded slightly, then asked casually, "That Nurse Zhou seems to care about you a lot?"
Xie Yunze was taken aback, then realized: "Zhou Xiaomei? Did she make things difficult for you? She was my nurse when I was injured and hospitalized once. Later, I don't know how, she became attached to me, but I clearly told her that I had someone else in my heart."
Xu Zhili blushed and lowered her head: "Who asked you that?"
"Sister, your face is red."
An An chuckled to herself, but was glared at by Xu Zhili.
Xie Yunze looked at Xu Zhili seriously: "Ali, you've come at the perfect time. I was planning to formally propose to you during my next vacation, but now that you're here, I don't want to wait any longer."
He took a small box out of his pocket, and inside was a simple silver ring: "This is a gift from my mother. She said it was for my future wife, Xu Zhili. Would you accept it?"
Xu Zhili looked at the silver ring that shimmered in the light. It was an ordinary design, but a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She nodded gently: "I do."
Xie Yunze was overjoyed and carefully put the ring on her finger.
Their hands were clasped tightly together; their past feelings had finally come to fruition.
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open, and Zhou Xiaomei stood in the doorway, her face pale: "Xie Yunce, I heard you were back, and sure enough, you came looking for this village girl."
Xie Yunze stood up, his tone serious: "Nurse Zhou, please watch your words. Xu Zhili is my fiancée, and I will not allow anyone to insult her."
"fiancée?"
Zhou Xiaomei was struck dumb, then angrily pointed at Xu Zhili, "What's so good about her? How can a country girl be worthy of you?"
Xu Zhili stood up calmly: "Comrade Zhou, feelings are not a matter of being worthy or unworthy. Yun Ce and I understand and support each other. I respect your feelings for Yun Ce, but please also respect our choices."
Seeing Xie Yunce protecting Xu Zhili, Zhou Xiaomei finally realized that she had no chance. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned and ran away.
Xie Yunze sighed: "I'm sorry to have caused you this unpleasantness."
Xu Zhili shook her head: "It's okay. The important thing is that we're finally together."
On Xu Zhili's third day in the army, Xie Yunze took half a day off to accompany her for a walk in the woods near the army's base.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows as the two walked side by side along the forest path.
"Ah Li, thank you for understanding my work," Xie Yunze said softly. "This mission was sudden, and I didn't tell you in advance, which made you worry."
Xu Zhili shook her head: "I understand, but it's true that I'm a little uneasy not having heard from you for three months."
"I will try my best to send messages back in the future."
Xie Yunze made a promise, then changed the subject, "I'm very sorry about what happened with Nurse Zhou. I didn't expect her to make things so difficult for you."
Xu Zhili smiled slightly: "It's not your fault. It's just that she doesn't seem to have let go yet."
Before the words were finished, a familiar voice came from the other end of the woods: "Company Commander Xie! So you're here."
Zhou Xiaomei walked over quickly, holding a document in her hand: "The political commissar asked me to get your signature on the summary report of the last mission."
Xie Yunze took the document, carefully examined it, and then signed his name.
Zhou Xiaomei, however, was in no hurry to leave. Instead, she turned to Xu Zhili and asked, "Comrade Xu, haven't you gone back yet? Isn't the work at the arsenal busy?"
“I’m still on vacation,” Xu Zhili replied calmly.
Zhou Xiaomei chuckled: "That's true. For a girl from the countryside, getting into an arms factory is already incredibly lucky. It's only right that she has an easy job."
Xie Yunze frowned: "Nurse Zhou, watch your words."
Zhou Xiaomei feigned innocence: "What did I do? I was just telling the truth. By the way, Company Commander Xie, there's a dinner party for the mess hall tonight, and the political commissar specifically told you to be sure to attend."
Xie Yunze was about to refuse when Xu Zhili spoke up first: "Go ahead, I'll accompany An'an to wander around the county town."
Zhou Xiaomei glanced at Xu Zhili smugly, then turned and left.
Xie Yunze looked at Xu Zhili helplessly: "You don't have to do this."
"I don't want to put you in a difficult position," Xu Zhili said softly. "Besides, I trust you."
Xie Yunze's heart stirred, and he grasped her hand: "Ali, I have an idea."
"What?"
"I want to get the marriage certificate printed before you go back," Xie Yunze said firmly. "That way, no one will bother us anymore."
Xu Zhili looked at him in surprise: "So soon? Don't you need to get my parents' permission first?"
“I have already written to your mother, and I received a reply yesterday. They have agreed.”
Xie Yunze took a letter out of his pocket. "I was going to give you a surprise."
Xu Zhili took the letter and looked at her mother's familiar handwriting, her eyes welling up with tears.
In the letter, the mother expressed her approval of Xie Yunze and wished them well in their decision.
"When did you..." Xu Zhili was so moved that she couldn't speak.
"I sent you a letter on your very first day here."
Xie Yunze smiled, "I know I've made up my mind about you, so I don't want to wait any longer."
The two smiled at each other and continued their walk hand in hand.
However, they didn't know that on the other side of the woods, Zhou Xiaomei was watching all of this with a gloomy face.
That evening, when Xie Yunze attended a military dinner, Zhou Xiaomei deliberately sat next to him, frequently serving him food and pouring him drinks in an intimate manner.
Several comrades who were unaware of the situation even joked that the two were a good match.
Xie Yunze solemnly clarified: "Nurse Zhou and I are just comrades-in-arms. In fact, I already have a fiancée, Comrade Xu Zhili, who came to visit the unit these past two days."
The dining table fell silent instantly, and Zhou Xiaomei's face turned extremely pale.
Seeing this, the political commissar quickly smoothed things over: "Yes, Comrade Xu Zhili is a key technical expert at the arsenal. He has designed many good things. Company Commander Xie is very fortunate."
After the dinner, Xie Yunze was about to leave when Zhou Xiaomei angrily stopped him: "Xie Yunze, are you really going to marry that country girl? Is she good enough for your future?"
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