TL: Hua
Butler Cheng looked at Qi Xiaoyu, stunned for a moment, and then nodded, “Yes, of course.”
After saying this, Butler Cheng seemed to feel something was wrong again. He took two steps, turned around, frowned, and said,
“But I don’t know when the young commander will be back. The situation seems a bit dangerous. Since the young commander wants to send you back to the troupe, it might be safer for you to go back”.
Qi Xiaoyu shook his head. “It’s okay, I’ll wait for him here. If there is any news, please let me know, Uncle Cheng.”
Qi Xiaoyu sat on the sofa in the living room downstairs, and Xiaohei curled up at his feet.
One person and one dog waited quietly.
Everyone else in the commander’s mansion knew that the situation was not peaceful at the moment, and they all stayed at their posts silently, without talking or walking around.
The whole mansion was very quiet.
Until dusk fell and night fell, there was still no news.
Midway, Butler Cheng invited Qi Xiaoyu to dinner. He had no appetite, so he politely ate half a bowl of rice and continued to sit back on the sofa and wait.
About a month or two ago, he also sat in the same position waiting for Xun Qian to come back to the commander’s mansion, but his mood was completely different, although he was also uneasy, worried, and nervous.
This worry was about Xun Qian, as well as the fate and future of this city.
By nighttime, the sound of a car engine was heard outside.
Xiaohei was the first to jump up from the ground in shock and ran out with its paws spread.
Qi Xiaoyu followed closely behind, down the stairs and through the corridor.
Xun Ran was dressed similarly to the day they met at the train station, with a shirt, long skirt, and short hair, but her aura was much stronger than that day.
As she walked towards the living room, she lowered her head and talked to Butler Cheng and a defense captain of the commander’s mansion.
Judging from her tired face and expression, she should know everything about today.
After Xun Ran finished talking to others and entered the living room, she saw Qi Xiaoyu and paused her hurried steps.
Her expression was softer than before when she looked at Qi Xiaoyu. “Go to Xiao Qian’s room and sleep for a while. They may not be back until dawn.”
Qi Xiaoyu nodded. He felt that he might have asked too many questions but couldn’t help himself. “How are they doing? Are they safe?”
Xun Ran pursed her lips and chose not to appease Qi Xiaoyu with empty words. She said very frankly, “It’s safe now, but I don’t know what will happen next.”
After she finished speaking, she looked at Qi Xiaoyu again and continued, “We can’t help him, and there’s no point in worrying. You should have a good rest.”
Qi Xiaoyu knew that Xun Ran was right, so he took Xiaohei to Xun Qian’s bedroom to rest, but he couldn’t fall asleep. He just closed his eyes and rested for a while on the bed.
There were many things in his mind, from personal feelings to the justice of the country and family, as if he had considered them all in this night.
He didn’t know how many times he turned over; the night was so long that it seemed that there was no end.
It was the very edge of night, approaching dawn; everything was silent; there was not even the sound of birds singing outside the window, and Xiaohei’s breathing could be heard clearly.
The bedside night light fell on Xiaohei’s dark fur, who was also awake, lying on the ground with its big dark eyes open.
He and Xiao Hei followed the sound of the footsteps and turned over.
He met Xun Ran in the hallway and immediately asked, “Is there any news about the young commander?”
Xun Ran didn’t look like she had slept because her face looked worse than before. She changed into a military uniform, with a belt and a pistol tied around her waist and mid-tube military boots on her feet, looking very heroic. “Yes, I’m going to the dock to pick him up.”
When she said this, she suddenly looked at Qi Xiaoyu. “Do you want to come with me?”
Qi Xiaoyu, of course, wanted to come with her and immediately agreed, “I’ll go too.”
Xun Ran didn’t say much. Her actions were very decisive. “Follow me.”
Qi Xiaoyu went downstairs with her, watched her gather the people in the commander’s mansion, and get in the car.
Qi Xiaoyu was a little nervous.
Although this is a chaotic time, he had never met the enemy head-on.
This was the first time, but he wouldn’t back down.
He listened to Xun Ran and the driver explaining a series of things, where to go, and how to act.
After the explanation, he saw Xun Ran leaning back in the seat, breathing a sigh of relief.
Then Xun Ran suddenly turned her head to face him and asked in the tone of an elder, “Are you afraid?”
Qi Xiaoyu grabbed the armrest of the car door and shook his head, “No.”
Xun Ran smiled slightly. Her expression was very similar to Xun Qian’s but different.
She looked at Qi Xiaoyu and suddenly asked, “Do you know how Xiao Qian persuaded our family to accept you?”
“Huh?” Qi Xiaoyu was a little unprepared. He noticed that Xun Qian’s sister, much like Xun Qian, had a habit of posing unexpected questions at unexpected times.
“He came south to Shanghai for your sake, to keep his promise to defend Shanghai, to get our father’s approval to let him marry you.”
“My brother really likes you.”
Xun Ran paused here, “That’s why I brought you here, so that you can be sure of your own future; you can share the glory with him, but you also have to share the storm.”
Qi Xiaoyu was completely taken aback, unable to speak for a time. He had consistently believed Xun Qian was kidding, but Xun Qian took everything very seriously.
Then, he heard the sound of a gun.
Qi Xiaoyu realized that they had entered the dock area.
The scene was a bit chaotic, out of control.
Xun Ran jumped out of the car at some point.
Before she got out of the car, Qi Xiaoyu felt her pat his arm, and then a gun was stuffed into him. He heard Xun Ran say, “I’m going to pick up the supplies. You go find my brother and take him away when you find him.”
Qi Xiaoyu nodded quickly. He would go find Xun Qian even without Xun Ran telling him.
The driver listened very well to Xun Ran’s words, and without further explanation from Qi Xiaoyu, he plunged into the chaotic situation.
Everything happened so fast that it was like a dream. He found Xun Qian in the hail of bullets.
Qi Xiaoyu watched Xun Qian jump into the car, and then he was held tightly in someone’s arms.
The sound of the gun flew past his ears.
Qi Xiaoyu really wanted to look up and ask about Xun Qian’s situation, but he restrained himself. He tightly held the gun that Xun Ran had thrown to him before leaving, telling himself to remain calm, not move around, not make a sound, and not do any unnecessary actions to affect Xun Qian.
He was motionless, held by Xun Qian, and he also gently and tightly returned the hug.
When Qi Xiaoyu was able to breathe again, it was already light outside.
It was another bright early summer day.
The car was driving on the street in the early morning.
The shadows of the sycamore trees were mottled.
Zhang Han was sitting in the passenger seat.
Xun Qian had a wound on his face, but he still looked at him with a smile.
Xun Qian patted him on the back and said in his ear, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid.”
Qi Xiaoyu then realized that he was still hugging Xun Qian tightly and quickly let go of his hand. Still, he couldn’t help himself from carefully looking at where Xun Qian was injured.
After returning to the commander’s mansion on Baochang Road, everyone was almost exhausted and fell asleep directly.
Qi Xiaoyu did not directly participate in the battle and consumed the least energy, so he was the first one to wake up.
When he woke up, it was in the afternoon, just three o’clock.
He got out of bed, checked the time, opened the door, and went out.
Butler Cheng saw him and asked, “Mr. Qi, you’re already up? Sleep for a while longer. It seems your energy has not recovered yet. Rest more, and I will call you for dinner.”
Qi Xiaoyu shook his head. “I’m fine.”
He asked about the situation of others and learned that Xun Ran and the people she took out basically returned safely, and the supplies seemed to have been snatched back, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll make porridge for the young commander.”
Butler Cheng wanted to stop him, but after some thought, he said, “That’s fine, but don’t get tired and don’t burn yourself; let the cook do the heavy work.”
Qi Xiaoyu nodded and went to the kitchen to cook porridge.
He simmered a bowl of millet porridge over a low fire. When the millet was golden and fragrant, he put it in a heat-insulated food box and brought it back to Xun Qian’s bedroom.
Xun Qian still didn’t wake up.
He had injuries on his face and arms, but fortunately they were not serious. It’s just that he looked extremely haggard; his lips were pale, which set off his eyelashes even more darkly.
The family doctor came to check on him and said that he had lost too much blood and was overworked, so he was unconscious. It’s estimated that he would need to sleep for more than ten hours before he woke up.
Qi Xiaoyu sat on the side and watched him carefully.
He looked at Xun Qian’s eyelashes and lips, then quietly reached into the quilt and pinched Xun Qian’s cold fingers.
He also called out softly, “Xun Qian.”
The sun had set a little further, and the beautiful evening light cast a layer of golden glow in the room.
He pinched Xun Qian’s fingers again. He remembered the way these hands taught him to tie a tie yesterday, he remembered the way these hands held the lunch box, and he remembered that it was these hands holding the gun and guarding the city.
He called again, “Xun Qian.”
The person was still motionless.
He stretched his hand out from under the quilt, touched Xun Qian’s eyelashes, and then caressed Xun Qian’s cheek.
Xun Qian’s eyelashes fluttered, so he quickly withdrew his own fingers and straightened his back.
Then he stared closely at Xun Qian’s eyes, but Xun Qian did not wake up.
He breathed a sigh of relief and seemed a little lost.
He thought back to the moment Xun Qian had asked for his hand in marriage, he remembered the golden lotus flower that rose and fell in the river, he remembered the person in the second-floor box who always looked at him affectionately, and he also remembered the worry and tension that had gripped his heart during this morning’s gun battle.
He sighed, as if compromising, but also as if declaring his failure. He whispered, as if talking to himself, “What should I do? I think I like you a little.”
After he finished speaking, the atmosphere became very quiet.
Xun Qian’s eyelashes fluttered again, and the corners of his mouth also curved slightly.
Qi Xiaoyu was frightened and stood up.
Xun Qian opened his eyes and looked at him, saying softly and hoarsely, “You’ve always liked me.”
Qi Xiaoyu was at a loss, and the golden dusk dyed his face red.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but Xun Qian grabbed his hand, which made all the blood in his body rush to his fingertips.
He wanted to break free as if he was electrocuted, but he was reluctant to pull his hand back as if he was wrapped in a honey trap.
Xun Qian pulled Qi Xiaoyu to his side and imitated what he said just now, “What should I do? I think I want to kiss you a little.”
Qi Xiaoyu looked at him with flickering eyelashes.
Then, under Xun Qian’s gentle gaze, Qi Xiaoyu quietly moved closer.
Xun Qian’s breathing was right in front of his eyes, a little weaker and gentler than usual.
He closed his eyes nervously, feeling the warmth of Xun Qian’s lips on his.
This kiss was very gentle and light. Xun Qian was not in a hurry. Rather than greedy possession, it was more of a shallow attempt at guidance, turning love into a gentle touch.
Xun Qian was about to let him go, but now seeing his trembling eyelashes, he gave Qi Xiaoyu another light kiss on the eyes.
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