Chapter 123 What? You guys ran into enemy agents?
Xie Yuance was immediately impatient, and his pace quickened unconsciously. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder what the reward would be.
Xu Zhili seized the opportunity and gently pulled her hand away.
However, instead of letting go, he gripped it even tighter, as if to prove his stance.
Xu Zhili was taken aback by his direct approach.
In the apocalypse, she had seen plenty of purposeful plunder and cold-blooded scheming, but this kind of clumsy, pure protectiveness... was both fresh and heartwarming.
She stopped teasing, and the usual aloofness and playfulness in her eyes faded, replaced by a gentleness that she herself was unaware of.
She reached out and gently squeezed his hand back, her fingertips tracing the rough calluses on his hand: "Alright, little wolf cub, if you like holding your sister's hand, then keep holding it."
Having received a response, Xie Yunze's tail, if it could be, practically flew to the sky.
His steps became lighter, and he gently swayed Xu Zhili's hand, his careful cherishing and pure joy almost overflowing.
The mountain breeze carries the fragrance of grass and trees, and sunlight filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows.
The boy would steal glances from time to time, and when he met Xu Zhili's ambiguous smile, he would hurriedly look away, leaving only his bright red earlobes visible.
Xu Zhili let him hold her hand, feeling the fervent and unwavering warmth in his palm.
The bone-chilling coldness and wariness brought about by the apocalypse seemed to be gradually melted away by the warmth of this silly boy's body, revealing a long-lost, genuine warmth.
The mountain road suddenly became steep and rugged.
Xie Yunze almost reflexively stepped to the side, his arm forcefully positioned in front of Xu Zhili, shielding her between himself and the mountain wall.
He frowned slightly, his eyes instantly becoming sharp and focused, and his voice was deep: "Sister, slow down, step firmly. Follow my footsteps."
That posture was just like a young wolf guarding its food, still showing signs of immaturity, yet instinctively raising its sharp teeth to protect its treasure.
Xu Zhili obediently followed half a step behind him, her gaze falling on his taut shoulders and focused neck.
At this moment, the boy's upright figure actually gave off a reassuring sense of reliability.
A faint smile, so subtle that she herself was unaware of it, crept onto the corners of her lips.
“I didn’t realize,” she said in a low, slightly languid voice, but her words reached his ears clearly, “that our A-Ce… is quite reliable.”
Xie Yunze straightened his back even more instantly. He didn't turn around, but his voice was filled with undisguised joy and solemnity, as if he were making some sacred vow: "Of course, I said I would always protect my sister, and no one can hurt you."
The mountain breeze seemed to soften, carrying the boy's burning promises and the woman's faint smile, weaving a picture that belonged only to them on the winding mountain road, a picture filled with wildness and warmth.
At the crossroads on the way down the mountain, the two parted ways.
Xu Zhili didn't say anything more and turned to walk back to the courtyard.
Xie Yunze was like a deflated balloon, his shoulders slumped, silently following a few steps behind her, kicking pebbles with his toes, his head hanging low.
Hearing the slow, deliberately soft footsteps behind her, Xu Zhili couldn't help but smile slightly.
This kid...
I recall how he curled up in pain, clutching his head on the mountain, and then compared it to how he later burst forth with energy and skillfully resolved the trouble.
Xu Zhili knew very well that Xie Yunze was an outstanding figure in the army before he lost his memory.
It's a pity that the injuries were too severe, especially the head, which caused him to completely forget those glorious years.
His memory was stuck at the age of fifteen, so he naturally couldn't continue being a soldier.
Xu Zhili felt sorry for him.
With such excellent skills and such a promising future, it's truly a shame that he can't stay in the military and serve his country...
Alas, fate is cruel.
As she approached the entrance to the courtyard, Xu Zhili unexpectedly saw a familiar figure standing there.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Xie Jianguo, the production team leader.
"Captain Xie?" Xu Zhili was somewhat surprised. "You wanted to see me?"
Xie Jianguo turned around, his dark face filled with worry: "Oh dear, young Xu, you're finally back!"
“When I finished work, I heard someone say they saw you heading towards the back of the mountain. My heart skipped a beat. You have no idea.”
He lowered his voice, "Something big has happened over at the back of the mountain. The foot of the mountain is now heavily guarded by the troops. No one is allowed to go in casually, in case there are any bad elements who have escaped. You absolutely must not go any further over there, it's dangerous!"
Xu Zhili understood; it seemed the operation to capture enemy agents was quite large-scale, even sealing off the mountains.
This has indeed caused a lot of trouble for the villagers who rely on the mountains for their livelihood.
"Thank you for your trouble, Captain. I understand and I will be careful," Xu Zhili replied with a smile.
At this moment, Xie Jianguo suddenly noticed the tall figure behind Xu Zhili trying to minimize his presence. Upon closer inspection, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "Goudan? What are you doing here?"
Xie Yunze blushed instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and protested urgently, "Dad, how many times have I told you, don't call me Gou Dan outside, my name is Xie Yunze, Yunze!"
"I'm a grown man, don't I have any pride?"
Xie Jianguo rolled his eyes at him, annoyed: "Fine, fine, brat, always making a fuss. Tell me, why aren't you at home? What are you doing here at Little Xu's place?"
Xie Yunze scratched his head and then told his father everything about encountering enemy agents in the back mountain, how Xu Zhili cleverly dealt with the situation, and how he eventually tied them up.
"What?"
Xie Jianguo staggered in fright, his voice cracking, "You...you've run into enemy agents? My God, are you hurt? Huh? Let Dad check on you!"
He pulled his son over, looked him up and down nervously, and then looked at Xu Zhili.
"Captain, it's alright, it's really alright. Look, we're all fine," Xu Zhili quickly reassured him.
Xie Jianguo carefully examined the two children twice, confirming that their skin wasn't even scratched, before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Oh dear... Thank goodness, I'm safe and sound. Thank goodness, thank goodness..." He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Young Xu, you're busy, get some rest."
"Dog Egg, let's go home, hurry home and calm down!" Xie Jianguo, still shaken, turned to leave with his hands behind his back.
After taking two steps, he realized there was no movement behind him, so he turned around to look.
Okay!
His own silly son was still standing next to Xu Zhili like a root to the spot, grinning and staring at the girl's profile with a silly grin. He looked exactly like a silly goose in the production team who forgot to move when he saw tender grass.
Xie Jianguo was inwardly puzzled, he could hardly bear to look at him. The boy in front of him was nothing like his imposing son; he was completely unrecognizable.
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