ABLO Chapter 60

After dinner, everyone sat together eating fruit. The warm lighting in the room created a cozy and harmonious atmosphere.

Ruan Mian, who had rarely experienced such family warmth since childhood, didn’t say much. He sat quietly on the sofa, attentively listening to everyone speak. He was in a good mood, pursing his lips, unable to stop smiling.

Lu Yang was sitting crookedly on the sofa, leaning against his shoulder and on his lap. He was peeling an orange and occasionally putting a segment into Ruan Mian’s mouth, enjoying the pleasure of feeding his little rabbit.

Ning Mixiang, sitting opposite him, gave Lu Yang a slightly disdainful look and couldn’t help but say, “Baby Lu, you’re a grown-up now. How can you still sit and stand so improperly? Sit properly and don’t squish Mian Mian. Don’t you see you’re almost squashing him? You’re an Alpha now, so you should be more aware of your own weight.”

Lu Yang sat up a little reluctantly, but his body was still close to Ruan Mian’s, and he refused to move aside.

Ning Mixiang wanted to say a few more words to him, but his phone rang, so Ning Mixiang held back.

Lu Yang answered the phone, and whatever was said on the other end made his smile gradually fade. His expression changed, his eyes grew serious, and the playful look he had just moments ago was gone.

After hanging up the phone, he stood up from the sofa without saying a word and started to put on his coat.

Ruan Mian was stunned for a moment and asked quickly: “What’s wrong? Where are you going so late?”

Lu Yang put his hat on and said in a low voice: “The army has an emergency; I’m going to the army.”

“What happened?” Grandpa Lu asked.

Lu Yang glanced at Grandpa, “Nothing, I’ll go take a look first and tell you after I understand it clearly.”

“Tell me now.” Grandpa Lu knew from his expression that something must have happened.

Lu Yang pressed his lips together with difficulty. He originally didn’t want to say anything to worry Grandpa Lu. The old man was getting on in years, and if something happened, he would have trouble sleeping at night. But Grandpa Lu was not only his grandfather but also the Marshal of the army and his superior. When Grandpa Lu asked about the situation, he couldn’t refuse to answer.

He hesitated for a moment and then said in a deep voice, “I just received a notice. Two warships dispatched by our military were involved—one was hijacked by pirates, and although the other barely made it back, many soldiers were seriously injured. I need to go to a meeting at the military now.”

The pirates’ blatant provocation has exceeded the army’s tolerance bottom line. They have to fight this time. They must find a way to rescue the hijacked warship and help the injured soldiers as quickly as possible.

Grandpa Lu’s face also changed, and he stood up and said, “I’ll go with you.”

Everyone hurriedly stopped him, worried that his sudden anger and stress might take a toll on his health.

Lu Yang stopped Grandpa and advised: “Grandpa, you go tomorrow morning; let me handle it tonight; I’ll make a good strategy, and then you can decide.”

Grandpa Lu hesitated for a moment, did not insist, and nodded gently.

This is Lu Yang’s place. He does not know the military affairs here as well as Lu Yang. Lu Yang is more experienced than him and will find a way to solve it.

Now that such a big thing has happened, he can’t panic. He should choose to trust Lu Yang.

Lu Yang nodded to Grandpa, put on his shoes, and walked out. When he opened the door, he looked back at Ruan Mian.

Ruan Mian stood behind him, his face slightly pale, his eyes fixed on him, filled with worry, yet he didn’t speak to disturb him.

Lu Yang smiled and comforted calmly: “Don’t worry; I have long wanted to catch all those pirates in one fell swoop. This time they acted arrogantly and aroused public anger. It’s a good opportunity.”

Ruan Mian nodded, “I believe in you.”

After Lu Yang left, Ruan Mian thought about it, got up, and walked out, saying as he walked: “Grandpa, Uncle, Auntie, I’m going to the hospital, you should rest early.”

After he finished speaking, he pushed the door open and walked out.

It was a bit cold at night; Ning Mixiang wanted him to put on a coat, but when she went after him, he had already ran away.

Ning Mixiang held his coat in her hand, gazing at the vast night, and couldn’t help but sigh lightly.

Lu Yang drove to the Military District and convened a meeting of all the senior officials. The meeting lasted all night. Everyone arranged the battle plan overnight. In the early morning, they slept for a while.

When the sky was dim, Lu Yang set off with the army.

Grandpa Lu slept for a while last night and got up early in the morning. He first read the strategic report sent to him by Lu Yang and then went to the military headquarters with Lu Zhengwei.

They stood at the door of the warship and watched Lu Yang lead his troops over.

Lu Yang saluted them with the soldiers, then told the soldiers to continue walking into the warship and stopped to talk.

“Is everything arranged?” Grandpa Lu asked anxiously.

“Everything has been arranged. It is in accordance with the report sent to you this morning. Don’t worry.”

Lu Zhengwei said beside him: “I will go with you. I’m familiar with the terrain here and may be able to help.”

“Dad, no need.” Lu Yang smiled, his eyes firm, “Have you forgotten that I have been in Ancheng for two years? I am also familiar with this place; there will be no problem.”

Lu Zhengwei smiled, “I forgot.”

“Grandpa, Dad, I’m leaving; wait for me to come back.” Lu Yang saluted again.

Grandpa Lu and Lu Zhengwei looked at Lu Yang, who was wearing a military uniform and had a dignified appearance, with complicated eyes. They had both worn this military uniform before.

In their hearts, Lu Yang was still just a child. Unbeknownst to them, he had already grown capable of standing on his own.

In the past, it was always Lu Yang watching them go to battle. They never imagined that one day, it would be them seeing Lu Yang off to war.

Grandpa Lu smiled slightly, his eyebrows relaxed, patted Lu Yang’s shoulder, and said with relief: “Go.”

“Mn.” Lu Yang turned around and was about to walk to the warship. He looked back and saw the medical staff coming not far away but was stunned.

Liu Minghu stood behind Lu Yang and shouted in surprise: “Major General, is that my sister-in-law?”

Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly, pursed his lips, and didn’t speak.

Ruan Mian stood among the medical team, dressed in a white coat, carrying a medical kit. As he walked towards the warship, a gust of wind blew, slightly lifting the hem of his coat, making him appear even more fragile.

Lu Yang frowned a little bit, and when the medical team came over, he stepped forward, stood in front of Ruan Mian, and said in a deep voice: “Go back.”

Wang Dali stood beside Ruan Mian, he glanced at Lu Yang with hesitation and wanted to persuade him but hesitated for a moment, didn’t say anything, and followed the other medical staff into the warship first.

Ruan Mian looked up at Lu Yang with clear eyes and said in an unwavering voice, “I applied to the hospital last night to be an accompanying military doctor. The hospital approved it this morning. You can’t stop me.”

Lu Yang looked down at him and said word by word: “I don’t approve.”

Ruan Mian frowned and said anxiously: “I’m here, and the warship is about to set off. If you don’t let me in, there will be no time to replace me with other doctors.”

“There are enough accompanying doctors and nurses, and we won’t be missing one.” Lu Yang refused without hesitation, and he lowered his voice and said: “I’m here, don’t think about going in.”

After he finished speaking, he looked at Ruan Mian deeply, looked up, and said to Liu Minghu not far away: “All personnel have arrived, close the door quickly, from now on, no one is allowed to enter without my permission.”

His tone was unquestionable. After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked into the warship without looking at Ruan Mian again.

“Lu Yang!” Ruan Mian called him unwillingly and wanted to follow him in.

Liu Minghu blocked Ruan Mian’s way with difficulty and whispered: “Sister-in-law, don’t go in. It will be very dangerous for us to fight against pirates this time. Major General did this for your own good. Just listen to him.”

Ruan Mian shook his head, “I must go.”

He anxiously watched as Lu Yang walked further and further away, and couldn’t help but shout, “Lu Yang! You can’t do this. You have your battlefield, and I have mine!”

Lu Yang stopped but didn’t look back.

Ruan Mian watched his back and said in a deep voice, “As a doctor, the hospital is my battlefield, and patients are my comrades! I can’t abandon my comrades, just as you would never abandon yours on the battlefield. My colleagues have already gone in; how can I stay behind alone?”

Lu Yang clenched his fists, looked back at Ruan Mian, and struggled.

Ruan Mian looked at him with burning eyes and said in a firm and soft voice: “Baby Lu, can you support me too? Support me like I have watched you go to the battlefield countless times.”

These past few years, every time Lu Yang went to the battlefield, Ruan Mian was on tenterhooks. But he knew that it was something Lu Yang had to do, something he wanted to do, and something he had to do as a soldier. So, even though he worried, he never stopped Lu Yang.

Now, he understood that Lu Yang was acting for his own good, not wanting him to be in danger. However, he wanted to accompany Lu Yang to the battlefield, relying on his own skills to save more people and contribute his own strength.

Grandpa Lu and Lu Zhengwei watched them from a distance, without saying a word. This decision was one they had to make themselves. Even as elders, they could not decide for them.

Lu Yang looked at Ruan Mian, his pupils trembling. The two of them stood facing each other from a distance for a long time, neither willing to back down.

Ruan Mian looked at Lu Yang’s military uniform, and Lu Yang also looked at Ruan Mian’s white coat. It was the symbol of their responsibility and the reason why they would not compromise.

After a long time, Lu Yang gently closed his eyes, and his brows finally relaxed. He looked at Ruan Mian, raised his hand heavily, and said to Liu Minghu in a low voice: “Let him in; get ready to go.”

He turned around neatly and walked into the warship. Ruan Mian was delighted when he heard his words. He quickly turned around, nodded to Grandpa Lu and Lu Zhengwei, and then walked into the warship impatiently.

The gate of the warship slowly closed, and the warship didn’t stay for long before it set out quickly.

Grandpa Lu and Lu Zhengwei watched the warship go away. Grandpa Lu narrowed his eyes with a smile and sighed in a low voice: “The children have finally grown up.”

“Mn.” Lu Zhengwei nodded, turned his head, and smiled at his father, “They’re now better than we expected.”

Grandpa Lu smiled with relief, turned around and walked back, and said with a relaxed look: “Let’s go back.”

He felt that there was nothing more to worry about. Lu Yang and Ruan Mian were doing well, and they would not disappoint him.

Now that he had some free time, he might as well think about when to prepare a wedding for these two youngsters.