The Blues of Private 2nd Class (2)

  What's your deepest impression of your first love? I don't know what yours is, but mine is Xiaoying opening the door with sleepy eyes. Why do I always say that Xiaoying is indeed Xiaoying? It's because she won't be like other girls.

  "You're here." No tears, no biting, no "I'm going to die" - it was as if I wasn't there for a major rehearsal but rather like when I used to go to her house on weekends in middle school to do homework and knock on her door before she woke up - and indeed she was still wearing pajamas.

  Just a faint sentence, then Xiao Ying's unique fragrance.

  She wrapped her two white arms around my neck, like a cat that hadn't woken up yet, and put her head on my shoulder. Then she closed her eyes again. The most excessive thing was that there was even a faint snoring sound. Her hair was silky and stuck to my chin, itchy and fragrant.

  "Let me sleep a bit longer..." and she really fell asleep on my shoulder. I stood there stupidly in my military uniform, in the corridor of the female dormitory building, with Xiaoying wearing her pajamas dozing off on my shoulder.

  Good heavens, under the sky there is such a girl, who can let go of her? — Really, I tell you what kind of girl is most worth cherishing? Not hypocritical, thinking of you and saying it out loud, not treating you as an outsider but like family. I've seen one girl like this, that's Xiaoying.

  I had a belly full of tears and a belly full of bitter water, but I didn't know where to go, so I just stood there stupidly. Xiao Ying was really sleeping soundly, and she even rolled over to one side, so I quickly hugged her. —— Can you imagine what kind of scene this is in the female soldiers' dormitory building of the General Hospital of the Military Region?!!

  The officers and female soldiers who came and went all smiled at me, even the aunt who swept the corridor smiled at me. I immediately realized that my love with Xiaoying was not only one of the legendary things in the Dog Head Regiment, but also among the top 10 in this military hospital where nothing is surprising. In fact, it's not me being legendary, I'm a fake legend, it's Xiaoying who's the real legend.

  Xiao Ying slid down and I hurriedly held her tighter. At this time, the sound of flushing toilets came from the opposite side, a female soldier wearing pajamas came out with a yawn, saw me and Xiao Ying in that state, and swallowed back the unfinished yawn. I reckon it was really embarrassing for her.

  I just smiled, what else could I do? She then giggled and wanted to take a photo of Xiao Ying. I quickly said: "Let her sleep for a while, she likes to sleep in at home." Xiao Ying pouted, scrunched up her eyebrows, closed her eyes, and discontentedly went "Shh..."

  I didn't dare speak anymore. The female soldier covered her mouth and laughed, then pointed at me in a low voice, knowingly asking: "Are you...?"

  I just smiled and nodded.

  "Bring her in." The female soldier in front of me lifted the curtain, "No one's here, just us two who were on night shift yesterday." I slowly moved inside with Xiaoying in my arms - do you know what it feels like? It felt even harder than moving a log - because with a log, you can just force it, but this... Who is this? Xiaoying! How could I use force?!

  I stepped into the female soldier's dormitory and was shocked to the point of almost fainting! I really know what to use to describe the feeling of being in a mess from now on - it's "the female soldier's dormitory of the military general hospital"! The female soldier pointed to a lower bunk: "That is Xiao Ying's bed." I slowly moved the sleeping Xiao Ying over, and just as I had put her on the bed and covered her with a thin quilt, I caught a whiff of a familiar strong and sweet fragrance. I looked up to see that in a small handmade basket at the head of the bed was a bunch of dried wild orchids, along with a small black clay monkey embracing the wild orchids, and next to it on a small card was written: "Xiao Ying and Xiao Zhuang".

  My nose suddenly felt sour, and tears fell on Xiaoying's face. I quickly wiped them away, but as soon as I touched her delicate skin, I jerked my hand back. My hands were really too rough, and I was afraid of hurting her. But it was already too late, Xiaoying had always been a girl with fair and delicate skin. She frowned: "Is that you, Xiaofei? I'm sleeping!"

  Xiao Fei - The female soldier who was combing her hair just smiled: "It's me!"

  Xiao Ying was about to fall asleep, but that drop of tear slowly slid into her mouth. Salty. She frowned - I really regretted it at the time, how could this be? Xiao Ying had just worked a night shift and slept for a while, why did she wake up so soon? Ah, I really regret it! Xiao Ying's lips pursed twice in her sleep, puzzled: "Xiao Zhuang?"

  I don't dare speak. Xiao Ying still didn't open her eyes: "Xiao Zhuang? Am I dreaming?"

  Xiao Fei burst out laughing, but immediately covered her mouth. Xiao Ying also pursed her lips and suddenly opened her eyes wide, startling me so much that I jumped back and bumped into the bed frame of the upper bunk, but I didn't feel any pain because I was really used to it. Xiao Ying concentrated all her strength on her throat and let out a loud shout, absolutely ear-piercingly loud, I reckon all the heart patients in the entire military hospital would have a relapse: "Xiao Zhuang——”

  She suddenly rushed up and hugged me tightly, biting my shoulder and wailing loudly: "Xiao Zhuang - it's really you Xiao Zhuang!"

  I said: "It's me, it's me." Xiaoying didn't say anything and just cried while biting me. I endured it. I knew that the more she bit me, the more painful her heart was, but actually, even if she bit me to death, I would be willing. —— Besides, the People's Liberation Army's special forces aren't afraid of death, what's a big deal about a beloved girl biting? Xiaoying's bite force wasn't ordinary! I gritted my teeth and persisted, even inhaling cold air: "Hmm——"

  Xiao Fei burst out laughing, picked up her uniform and other clothes: "I'm going to another dormitory to change my clothes, you guys chat slowly." Then she went out and gently closed the door.

  Xiao Ying was still crying and biting me. Hold on, hold on, hold on! I reckon my face turned red at that time. Xiao Ying suddenly let go of her mouth, looked at me panting: "Does it hurt?"

  I shook my head: "It doesn't hurt!"

  "My heart aches——" Xiaoying burst into tears again and threw her arms around me: "Xiaozhuang! Do you know how worried I was about you? I knew something went wrong during the exercise in your place! I was afraid it was you! I've been waiting for you every day! I thought it was a dream! Do you know how worried I was about you?"

  I hugged her: "Aren't I fine?"

  Xiao Ying was crying pitifully, looking as meek as a kitten - girls can be like that sometimes, but Xiao Ying is a bit more extreme - because she's just herself and won't be anyone else. My tears also started falling: "I miss you too."

  "Really?" Her voice trembled and softened.

  I said: "Really."

  She looked up at me with a pitiful face still tear-stained: "I really thought it was a dream when I was just at the door."

  I just smiled, and reached out to wipe away her tears. But my right hand stopped in mid-air. I knew my hands were too rough, it would hurt her. Xiao Ying grabbed my hand and pressed it against her face. I hurriedly tried to pull my hand back but couldn't. She resolutely looked at me, keeping my hand pressed against her face. Her tear-stained eyes gazed up at me.

  I saw my 18-year-old self in her eyes.