Volume 1 Chapter 90 Return to School * Trouble Keeps Coming

  Song Shuoye didn't return to the team until after 10 o'clock, and by rights everyone inside should have been resting already. But as soon as he appeared in the team's quarters, his intuition told him that countless prying eyes were following him closely.

  He had a dark face, his expression was as serious as ever, with a majestic and powerful presence, he didn't even glance at those gazes, but he understood the meaning behind them, however, he didn't even have the mood to sneer in disdain.

  Ma Chao heard the familiar footsteps and looked up to see Song Shuyu walking in with a relaxed expression, and his eyes lit up with excitement: Savior!

  With a "whoosh" sound, she kicked away the large soft chair under her and stretched out her arms to go hug him.

  Song Shuwei looked at him with his passionate momentum, stood still, stretched out his arm to block his body, pushed him a distance away, frowned and said: "It's only been three days since we last met, do you have to be so enthusiastic?"

  Ma Chao took a clear look at his face and was taken aback, saying: "Head, your face, how..."

  Song Shuwei was also puzzled, what's wrong with his face? Sang Hong that girl never wore lipstick before, it's absolutely impossible to have any evidence, and immediately said impatiently:

  "Can't you speak plainly? Has someone cut off half your tongue?"

  Ma Chao gritted his teeth and said: "Your face... seems to have been beaten black and blue."

  Song Shuwei heard the words and raised his hand to touch his face, touching this side and that side. The place where Sang Hong had pinched him was no longer painful, but unexpectedly, it still left a mark. He thought to himself, "This girl's strength is not small, she has made progress."

  "But he just mumbled something in response: 'When you're exchanging blows with someone, it's hard to avoid getting a little hurt, no big deal.'"

  "Haha, boss, I've never seen anyone who can fight better than you. Whoever tried to punch you in the face is probably lying in a hospital right now."

  Song Shuwei glared at him: "Who are you cursing? It's so late, why aren't you rolling back to your dormitory? What are you doing in my office? Can't stand that this position has been lent to you for three days and you're addicted?"

  Ma Chao hastily clasped his hands together and sincerely apologized:

  "Ah - that's it, with your skills, I reckon you're like the undefeated Dugu Qiubai from those martial arts films. When you encounter an opponent, you wouldn't dare to defeat them quickly, instead, you'd want to drag it out and savor the moment."

  "Song Tou'er, let's get down to business now. You've saved my life by coming back. Where did you deal with Zhao Yanran? The whole troop and brigade are searching for her everywhere."

  Song Shuoye threw his body heavily onto the wide soft chair, pulled open the tight collar and let out a breath, saying calmly: "Someone asked you for a person?"

  Ma Chao shook his head.

  "What's the hurry? You look like your butt is on fire." Song Shuyu didn't care at all.

  Ma Chao's face suddenly turned pale: "You can't say that, everyone knows it was me who intercepted her at the gate, and I reckon it's only a matter of time before Zhao Shilong finds me to scold me;

  These past few days, I've been on edge, like walking on thin ice. I'm afraid of being summoned by the old man, but honestly, I have no idea where you sent his daughter. You said he's getting anxious, what if he gets furious and makes me disappear too? I'm so scared that I haven't dared to go back to my dorm to sleep for two nights now."

  Song Shu Yun glared at him: "How can you follow me for so long and not grow a bit of conscience? Everyone knows that you intercepted her at the gate, how come I don't know?"

  "She hasn't come back for several days, has she gone missing? And what does it have to do with us, anyway?"

  Ma Chao stretched out his hand to dig into his ears, realizing that what he had heard was true. He immediately stared blankly: "What does it mean? That...that...the whole department is full of cameras."

  "She said there wasn't one, but isn't her car parked in her grandfather's private hospital? When did I ever ask you to take the blame for me?"

  Song Shuwei finished speaking and slid down from under the soft chair to sit at the edge of the office desk, no longer paying attention to him.

  Ma Chao was stunned for a few seconds before he came to his senses and understood the meaning of his words. The video footage related to Zhao Yanran's return by car that day had all been erased, and her car had long been quietly returned to where she had left it.

  "Hehe, silly smile: 'Head, why didn't you tell me earlier? You've wronged me, making me worried and frightened for the past two or three days. I didn't even dare to leave the door of our department.'"

  "Do I need to make a special report to tell you this? Where's your brain gone? Can't you think for yourself?" Song Shuyu couldn't help but laugh.

  Ma Chao lifted his hand and touched his hair, with a mixture of shame and relief on his face:

  "These past few days, although there have been undercurrents of turmoil in private, on the surface everything has seemed normal. If that mark was still there, I reckon I would have been summoned for a lecture by now."

  "Has anyone looked for me?" Song Shuyu asked while flipping through the file.

  "Yes, of course. These past few days your phone line on the desk is about to explode, all asking why you turned off your cell phone. I said after the military exercise you were busy attending various meetings, reporting on the military exercise situation, probably exhausted and took three days off."

  Ma Chao said as he picked up a document from the table and handed it to him: "This is all the records of people calling you, in chronological order."

  Song Shuwei's eyes had some warmth in them, and he hooked the corner of his mouth: "Thanks, is there any other official business that needs my attention?"

  "There is, this file is about the northern maritime military exercise mobilizing technical backbone personnel, you need to take charge of it. I've taken care of everything else." Ma Chao said as he turned around and took out a red-headed document from the file cabinet and placed it on the edge of the desk.

  Song Shuwei leaned back in his chair, flipping through the book and glancing at it casually. The people who called him were probably all asking about Zhao Yanran's whereabouts. The big shots he had expected were all on the list, so he let out a sigh of dismay.

  Deep down, I thought, there are really many people behind Zhao Yanran!

  Then he thought of Sang Hong's lonely and thin figure, he protected her and spoiled her, no one dared to offend her, who would have thought that she would casually say a few words to him, even if it was a bit heavy, she had the intention to change it, why did she get entangled with him?

  She gets angry over a trivial matter, with severe consequences that still can't be contained to this day. When she herself eats vinegar, her mouth utters some insolent words, and then she dares to give him a dirty look.

  This girl's temper is really too violent!

  He thinks that sometimes the relationship between lovers is more difficult to control than an enemy's.

  Even if it's love, it's absolutely not a relationship where the west wind blows down the east wind, or the east wind blows down the west wind. There must be someone in control of everything, and that little girl can't even take power and control the rhythm of their interactions. Just thinking about it makes him want to laugh.

  It's all because of his momentary miscalculation, always thinking about her sense of security, showing off his cards, pampering and loving her, she dares to give him a slap in the face, and he's finished.

  Let her be cold, she's stuck too tightly to herself. Look at how long it's been and nothing good has come of it, all just to chase after her, and in the end still ending up with a scowl on both their faces.

  She was a sensitive and clever girl who might have a ghostly idea in the blink of an eye, her moves with him were always unexpected, light as a feather, but this time she was actually giving him a hard time.

  Immediately thought of what I said before, is it really heavy?

  Otherwise, when the two are together, she is always as gentle as a kitten, how can she speak harsh words to him tonight.

  Thinking of her bright and sweet personality, her straightforward and strong feelings, her pure character, she followed herself, with a single mind focused on training, how could he suddenly become muddled and use those words to warn her.

  He thought again about her and Qin Qing standing together, that kid's face was so radiant it really made him want to punch him a few times. If he couldn't see through that kid's evil intentions, he would have believed his name didn't have the character "Song" in it.

  Ma Chao looked at Song Shu Yu, who lowered his head, sometimes smiling and sometimes getting angry, and was puzzled. He turned around, poured a cup of tea and handed it over: "Boss, what's wrong with you?"

  Song Shuyu was interrupted by him, and only then did he remember that there was still Ma Chao beside him. He dropped the book in his hand, raised his hand to take over the tea, and took over the document for a glance.

  "It's late, you go back and rest first." Song Shuyu urged him without lifting his head.

  Ma Chao pulled over a stool and sat down in front of him: "No rush, going back to sleep is also not possible, we two have not had a good chat for a long time. I heard everyone say that you've been busy chasing after that little girl recently, did you succeed?"

  Song Shuwei raised his eyes and said with deep feeling: "A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean, it's not easy to get it down, and it's not just a matter of moving your body or shedding blood and sweat, you have to use your brain to see results."

  "Haha, it seems you really are in love, tell me and share with me, what's the feeling of being in love like."

  Ma Chao said, pulling his stool closer to the office desk, with a face full of envy.

  Song Shuwei looked at him with a face full of worry that couldn't be hidden, and casually said: "I guess it's the same as what you're feeling right now."

  Ma Chao was taken aback, pointing to his own nose with his finger, and unexpectedly asked: "I guess it's the same as my current feeling? Don't joke with me, what kind of person are you, what kind of person am I, although our military ranks differ by one level, but in the eyes of women, the value is infinitely different, how can we compare?"

  "In this world, many women are blinded by material desires, but there's always one or two special ones who can't be swayed by wealth and power. You have to use all your thoughts and act like a ordinary little man, following her around, in order to win her heart. Dammit, how did I just happen to encounter such a person? I don't even know if it's good luck or bad luck."

  Song Shuyu suddenly had a strange idea and analyzed his love in this way.

  He has money and power, he can give her whatever she wants, but that girl just doesn't fall for it, nothing impresses her.

  Let's just say that the two of them are now in a small nest in military school, and their mother went to a brand store to sweep away goods, hanging up beautiful clothes in the closet. She didn't wear any of them, and there were expensive jewelry sets in the dresser drawer, he looked at it several times, but that girl had never even flipped through it.

  It can't be bought off at all.

  At home, wherever she was, he would accompany her to amuse himself and chat with her. He liked being with her, but he didn't have the time to slowly seep into her heart, waiting until she grew up to marry her back home. Just thinking about Qin Luoshui's nephew's demonic appearance, always revolving around her, his heart began to feel uncomfortable.

  "Will you also worry about women?" Ma Chao laughed unexpectedly.

  "I'm worried sick!" Song Shuyu pulled out a cigarette and threw it over, lit one himself, and looked at Ma Chao through the hazy smoke.

  "The women around you, either have beauty like flowers or come from a prominent family. You can pick any one of them at random and they would be easier to get along with than that little girl, why are you making things difficult for yourself?" Ma Chao asked in confusion.

  "You're not one to talk, we've seen the kind of leaders you've had here, and yet you've set your sights on Zhao Yanran, a woman who's as annoying as can be?" Song Shuyu retorted mercilessly.

  The two men fell silent, both understanding that the woman they had set their sights on was probably their blessing and calamity for this lifetime, tormenting them yet unable to let go.

  Ma Chao fell silent for a long time, extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray, gritted his teeth and thickened his skin, saying: "Song brother, we've been partners for not just one or two years, how did Yan Ran offend you, I don't know;

  I only know that since you let me intercept her and send her to the plane, she cried with tears streaming down, my heart felt suffocated, these two days I woke up from dreams were all her non-stop crying, I really can't take it anymore.

  I used to think you liked her, so I planned to watch from afar, thinking that once she got married, I would naturally give up.

  "Who knew you didn't like her in the first place? I'm so regretful that my intestines are turning green. Why didn't you tell her your true intentions earlier?"

  Song Shuwei smiled and said:

  "I let you intercept her, which is to help you, let you see her again. You kid still have principles, your mouth is tightly closed, and you haven't been defeated by the beauty trick."

  Ma Chao looked at his attitude and thought it was still okay, so he plucked up the courage to say:

  "Song, since you want to do me a favor, might as well go all the way. Since you know I like her, tell me the truth, where did you hide her?"

  "What's the point of knowing? Are you going to give up your promising future for her? Besides, it's obvious that you like her, anyone can see it, I know it, but she seems oblivious. She's just pretending not to notice and playing hard to get with you, maybe you're not even her type."

  Everyone has left and is calm, asking about her whereabouts, isn't this looking for trouble?

  Song Shuwei was an onlooker who remained calm and composed, but when it came to his own brother, he couldn't bear the thought of him suffering for Zhao Yanran, a woman with questionable morals.

  Ma Chao took a deep breath and said seriously: "I know you're saying this for my own good, but I really can't let her go. If you don't want to say anything, just send me to be with her directly. If I don't strive for it, I won't be at peace for the rest of my life."

  Song Shuwei suddenly understood what he meant, got up and slammed the table, shouting at him: "Ma Chao, are you crazy? You've mixed to such a position, how many years have you worked hard?"

  Are you forcing me to bring her back?

  I'm telling you clearly and unmistakably, I never want to see Zhao Yanran's face again in this lifetime. She has offended me so much that I hate her to the point of wanting to eliminate her!

  Think carefully, where can someone as disgusted as I am take her?

  That place is absolutely a place where even God can't intervene, if you want to go with her, just follow her, my position may change at any time, and it might belong to you.

  "Think it over carefully, you're giving up a real opportunity and pursuing an emotional matter that doesn't even exist. Think about it, come back and ask me again tomorrow."

  Having finished speaking, he stood up and walked out with a dark face.

  Ma Chao sprang up with a "whoosh" and said to him with tears in his eyes:

  "Song, I know that I have today because of you, how much heart and soul you've put in, how much effort I myself have made. But honestly, I just can't take it anymore. I want to be with her, even if it's just being close to her!"

  She had nothing with her and was all alone in a strange place. How could such a delicate person bear it?

  "Don't think about it anymore, just tell me directly, I'll set off tomorrow."

  Song Shuyu was taken aback by his resoluteness and unwavering determination.

  He pursed his lips, gazing at Ma Chao's face. This was a slightly weak scholar, a technical soldier from a literary background, who had in-depth research on high-tech cutting-edge weapons and was the technical backbone here. Such a talent was sent to Zhao Yanran, that shallow and vain woman, it all felt like a waste.

  However, Ma Chao stood upright, and the pleading and determination in his eyes moved him.

  Song Shuwei furrowed his brow imperceptibly, silently scolding himself for being impulsive, what was he doing slapping the table, tonight everything was going awry.

  He simply waved his hand at Ma Chao, turned around and sat down on the chair, speaking in a gentle tone: "Let's sit down and talk properly, I shouldn't have gotten angry first, and you don't need to confront me because of my attitude. This matter is too big, let's think it over together and come up with a good plan that will make you happy."

  Ma Chao also smiled awkwardly and sat back down: "If you don't tell me where she is, how can I think of a solution?"

  "Alas, even if Zhao Yanran that woman is married back home, she won't be able to escape punishment, you'll have plenty of sins to suffer for in the future."

  Song Shuyu sighed, raised his wrist to look at his watch, and it was already past 12 o'clock in the evening. He estimated that Zhao Yanran's work relationship and file in the troops would be enough to pass the audit and enter the database of a key national department within three days.

  He opened the computer on the desk, entered the confidential file management section, and flipped through the materials. Sure enough, Zhao Yanran's information had been cancelled, replaced by a line of red words: Northern Military Exercise Base Volunteer Soldier, this file has been destroyed.

  Ma Chao looked at his expression, got up and came over to take a closer look, exclaiming: "This afternoon when I saw it, her file was fine, how did it get deleted now? Ah—— Zhong E Lianhe Junyan Jidi Zhiyuan Bing? It's very cold there, she was still wearing an autumn dress skirt when she left!"

  His expression was clear, as if Song Shuyu was plotting to murder Zhao Yanran.

  "There are warm clothes on the plane, and her file has been received. At least it shows that she is still adapting there and hasn't frozen to death. You don't have to be so indignant for her."

  Song Shuwei couldn't help but jump in surprise whenever Zhao Yan was mentioned.

  Casually picked up the document on the table that had just caught his attention, diverting his focus.

  "Notice of the Northern Maritime Military Exercise to withdraw technical backbone, it's really strange. The navy came to our land warfare unit to find technical backbone, and the future war is estimated to be a comprehensive attack with sea, land, air and long-range missiles."

  Song Shuyu stared at the title of the document, pondering something.

  "This is normal. When we were having military exercises, the southern military region also borrowed technical personnel from the air force. We borrowed technical instructors from the navy."

  Ma Chao didn't find it strange at all, after all, when you have a military exercise, you borrow people from others to supplement unfamiliar combat methods, and when they have an exercise, they come to borrow our people, which is a normal technical exchange.

  "Mm-hmm, I know." Song Shuyu responded absent-mindedly.

  "Will the volunteer soldiers from the China-Russia joint military exercise base have anything to do with the withdrawal of technical backbones from this Northern Fleet exercise?"

  Ma Chao couldn't help but speculate that if China and Russia were to hold a joint military exercise, the location would likely be set in the Yellow Sea, in a northerly direction. Those volunteer soldiers should be preparing for next spring's Yellow Sea military exercise.

  Song Shuyu obviously knew this point a long time ago, and he helplessly raised his eyebrows:

  "This is one thing, but with different divisions of labor. What place is the army in? Finding a person is like looking for a needle in a vast ocean; two people are not in the same system, and meeting to talk is not easy."

  As it happens, if you go there as a technical backbone, you will receive special treatment and may even be able to get close to her.

  So what if I heard it?

  But it's just a matter of being in her line of sight, wanting to have any substantial help is simply impossible.

  He clearly disapproved of Ma Chao's adventure, after all, military exercises are not a matter of ten days or half a month, it is possible that they will be stuck there for a year or two, once entering such a system, no one has the ability to dare to pull people back halfway.

  "In her line of sight, she could see a familiar face, with just a hint of warmth, and my goal was achieved;"

  Besides, this is the only relatively good way out. At my age, I've already passed the prime time for intense training. If I were to be sent back to a volunteer army boot camp for intensive training, I'd probably not survive.

  Ma Chao saw a good opportunity and the situation might be better than expected, so he immediately expressed his attitude. After all, this job is related to his profession and can also take the opportunity to broaden his horizons.

  Song Shuwei remained silent for a long time, then nodded and said: "Alright, once we're there, we'll be representing our military district. We need to study hard, work enthusiastically, stand firm on our own feet, and only then can we attend to personal matters. If you don't do well, that girl won't even look at you with a straight eye."

  "Seize the opportunity well and you might just achieve a meritorious deed, who knows, it might even be a win-win situation."

  Ma Chao stood up, his feet heel-to-heel, and gave a crisp salute: "Thank you for your trust, Captain. I won't let you down."

  "Alright, let's head back. You go see Commander Zhao early tomorrow and report the situation to him. He should be getting anxious by now."

  He just said that Zhao Yanran herself took the initiative to apply, saying that she wanted to go out and experience it for herself, fearing that he would obstruct her, so she had no choice but to take this approach. Now that things have come to this point, all he can do is politely ask you to take care of Zhao Yanran, and he won't say anything more than that.

  Later I will give you a few nice words to help you get through the old man's family on this side, and you can take care of yourself.

  Ma Chao was naturally grateful, and the two of them left the office and rushed straight to the dormitory building behind.

  Song Shuoye was somewhat tired as he used his key to unlock the door, but suddenly sensed that something was off. The moment he turned on the light, he ducked down and rolled onto the ground, then jumped back out into the doorway, hiding in the shadows beside it. He shouted loudly: "Who's there? Come out!"