Chapter 65: Mutual Understanding

The shooting arrangement had already been prepared by Cen Ning early on. After communicating with the staff in the dormitory, they set out with their equipment.

The first thing to be filmed was a set of military formations in standing positions and marching steps. After arriving at the training ground, Cen Ning had a small discussion with the platoon leader, as previously arranged with Tang Zheng. After that, they were ready to capture the shots.

“Teacher Cen, is it okay if the camera is placed in this position?” Xiao You asked cautiously.

Cen Ning glanced at her and said, “Move it half a meter to the left.”

Xiao You: “Oh okay!”

Cen Ning helped her adjust the tripod, and while holding it, she gave a faint smile, saying, “I’m not that intimidating, don’t be afraid of me.”

Xiao You paused for a moment. “I, I’m not…”

In fact, how could it be possible to be not afraid?

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Uld Lkdt: “R’zz vyjl nyal sq kv qasx blal.”

Dkys Zsw bwaaklezu dseele: “Ybx!”

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“Gzaktbv, ds rasczlx,” vbl rzyvssd zlyela dseele yde kxxlekyvlzu cltyd satydkgkdt vbl qsaxyvksd. “Ohlausdl, yvvldvksd! Nssj vs vbl aktbv!”

Fokrl pokrl pokrl, prsayekn yde pnyvvlale dskpl iwknjzu pswdele. Rd yd kdpvydv, vbl pszeklap obs olal alpvkdt kd vblka rspkvksdp pweeldzu yzktdle rlaqlnvzu kd qsaxyvksd.

Next, the platoon leader gave instructions to the entire formation, and Cen Ning had her assistant, Yang Fan, use a tripod for shooting, while she moved with her camera to capture different angles.

“Attention! Forward, march!”

The formation started to move, and Cen Ning walked backwards toward the front of the formation, while quickly taking photos.

As she was backing up, she suddenly bumped into someone. Cen Ning casually glanced to the side and saw the insignia of a soldier. She put down her camera and immediately stepped aside. “I’m sorry.”

The person who she accidentally bumped into smiled and said, “It’s alright.”

“Attention, everyone!” The platoon leader suddenly commanded the entire formation to halt. “Salute!”

Cen Ning didn’t dare to stare at the person and quickly moved to the side. At this moment, her attention was drawn by the platoon leader’s loud command. She looked up and saw the formation that had been briskly marching before now raising their right hands in a synchronized salute. After that crisp sound, they all said in unison, “Hello, commanding officer!”

Commanding… officer?

Cen Ning set down her camera and looked at the person she had accidentally bumped into earlier.

There were six or seven individuals who had come over. They weren’t wearing training uniforms; instead, they were dressed in very formal military attire. The insignia and stripes on their uniforms indicated their ranks.

Cen Ning glanced at the person she had bumped into earlier, and his face was still unfamiliar. However, the person standing next to him on the other hand…

Her hand that was holding the camera began to tremble slightly.

It wasn’t out of fear, but rather a mixture of astonishment and delight.

Because that person wasn’t anyone else, it was Yan Xingzhi.

“Reporting to the commanding officer, Comrade Photographer is currently capturing this year’s conscription promotional photos!”

This familiar scene…

A few years ago, in the military cafeteria, they had also met similarly. The soldiers at that time had also explained this situation in the same manner to Yan Xingzhi. Over and over, it felt as if in these past years, time had never really passed.

Cen Ning set down the camera, allowing it to hang in front of her. She stared unwaveringly at the familiar man before her, watching as he took step after step towards her.

“You’ve worked hard,” he finally stood in front of her.

He saluted her in a formal and dignified manner, just as serious and stern as ever.

Cen Ning smiled softly and, imitating his gesture, raised her right hand, saying, “Commanding officer, not hard at all.”

This time she wasn’t nervous, and of course, she didn’t raise the wrong hand like before.

Yan Xingzhi’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes trembled slightly. He looked deeply at Cen Ning, then turned to the others and said, “Carry on.”

“Yes!”

The platoon leader received the command to continue the drill, and Cen Ning picked up her camera and walked past Yan Xingzhi. He didn’t stop her, and she didn’t pause either.

Everything continued without any pause due to this small incident. Cen Ning continued to take photos with her camera, diligently and attentively as if she hadn’t been interrupted. However, after the man in the military uniform inspected and left, her gaze shifted beyond the camera screen and settled on his back figure.

He seemed to have undergone some changes. The aura of a seasoned warrior, shaped by his past experiences of licking blood off the blade (TLN: idiom that means someone who has experienced or engaged in bloody battles or dangerous situations), was evident in him. However, there was a fervent patriotic spirit emanating from him, embodying a sense of unwavering righteousness.

In the office someone knocked on the door.

The man standing by the window didn’t turn his head. “Come in.”

“Reporting to the commanding officer, there’s urgent information to relay.”

Yan Xingzhi’s gaze flickered, and he turned his head. “Come here.”

Tang Zheng cleared his throat. “Um, commanding officer, if you don’t mind, let me inform you about the urgent matter first.”

Yan Xingzhi’s voice deepened. “Tang Zheng.”

“Yes!” Tang Zheng turned back and closed the door. After stretching lazily, he revealed a more dishevelled appearance. “Brother Yan, please hold on for a moment. I need to tell you about this urgent matter first.”

Yan Xingzhi let out a cold snort.

Tang Zheng quickly said, “Guess who I bumped into just now? Cen Ning! Can you believe it? She’s here as a photographer!”

Yan Xingzhi: “Oh? You just found out?”

Tang Zheng: “Yea- yeah.”

“Aren’t you the one in charge of this matter? You’re only finding out the photographer’s name now?” Yan Xingzhi questioned.

Tang Zheng’s expression changed slightly. “Well, I delegated it to my subordinates, and I didn’t know it was her—”

“When did she come back?”

Tang Zheng avoided eye contact. “Ah? How would I know?”

Yan Xingzhi sneered, “I asked you when she came back.”

Seeing his displeasure, Tang Zheng faltered, “… Yesterday.”

“Heh, quite capable.” 

“Brother Yan, this isn’t my fault. Cen Ning wanted to surprise you, so she didn’t tell you.”

Yan Xingzhi remained silent. He looked back at the white figure on the training field outside the window.

His gaze was restrained, suppressed, but filled with infinite tenderness.

“Did you guys just meet each other?” Tang Zheng stood beside him, also watching Cen Ning and the soldiers below.

Yan Xingzhi gave an “mhm”.

“Did you guys speak?”

Yan Xingzhi replied with irritation, “I went there for inspection, not for a chat.”

Tang Zheng stifled a laugh. “I’m sorry, Brother Yan. I guess you can only watch, not touch.”

“You better be quiet,” Yan Xingzhi withdrew his gaze and directed in a low voice, “After the activities down there are done, have her come over here.”

Tang Zheng playfully saluted. “Yes, sir!”

After finishing the shoot in the afternoon, Cen Ning had her assistant pack up the equipment, while she went up to the soldiers who had been cooperating and thanked them.

“Teacher Cen Ning, can I take a look at the photos you just took?” After all, the soldiers were mostly young people still in their twenties. Currently, it was their free time, so they curiously gathered around.

“Sure.” Cen Ning scrolled back a few shots. “These are good, take a look.”

“I see myself!”

“This is Xiao Zhang, isn’t it? He looks quite photogenic.”

“Hahaha, this one is good, this one is good.”

“Teacher Cen, we’re still going to take more pictures tomorrow, right?”

Cen Ning nodded. “Mhm, tomorrow we’ll be shooting individual projects.”

“Okay! We’ll perform well.”

Cen Ning smiled at the person. “Thank you.”

The gentle and fair girl’s smile made the young man who was speaking blush. He scratched the back of his head while feeling a little embarrassed. “No, no need to thank.”

“Cen Ning.” Just then, someone walked over, and the soldiers who were gathered around Cen Ning quickly saluted him.

Cen Ning raised her eyes to see. “Tang Zheng?”

Tang Zheng returned the salute to the soldiers and then asked, “Are you done here?”

“Yes, I’m done.”

“Okay, then come with me.”

Cen Ning nodded, said a few words to Xiao You, and then followed Tang Zheng and left.

They walked across the training field and arrived in front of a building. After going upstairs, Tang Zheng led her to an office.

Cen Ning stood at the doorway, looking at Tang Zheng with a bit of unease.

Tang Zheng smiled and then knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Tang Zheng pushed the door open and entered. “Report, the photographer is here.”

Yan Xingzhi’s gaze lifted from the documents on the table and landed on Cen Ning. After a prolonged silence, he said, “Take a seat.”

Cen Ning cleared her throat, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed. She had originally intended to give him a surprise, but now that she was meeting him at the military base, she found herself a bit lost as to what to do.

Cen Ning: “Thank- thank you.”

Yan Xingzhi: “…”

Tang Zheng glanced at the person behind the desk and then at the girl standing beside him. He considerately stepped back toward the door. “If the commanding officer has any questions for our photographer, feel free to ask. If there’s anything you don’t understand about the promotional photos or if there are any requests about them, please let me know. I’ll be waiting outside, you two can talk.”

Cen Ning: “…”

Yan Xingzhi: “…”

After Tang Zheng left, there were only two people left in the office.

A brief silence followed, and Cen Ning unconsciously lowered her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers.

“Foolishness.”

Cen Ning immediately looked up. “Who? Me?”

Yan Xingzhi stared at her without blinking. “You didn’t even tell me when you came back yesterday, and then you came here?”

“It would have been the same if I told you today,” Cen Ning smiled and raised an eyebrow. “I wonder if you’re even a bit happy to see me?”

Yan Xingzhi squinted his eyes, hating to the point of having itchy teeth. (TLN: idiom that describes feeling extremely frustrated or irritated to the point of wanting to gnash one’s teeth; conveys a strong sense of annoyance or resentment)

She knew very well that he had a specific role to uphold in this place, and she knew that he couldn’t do anything to her. Yet, she intentionally came and lingered here. If they were in a different setting right now, in different clothes, he would have…

“Not happy?” Cen Ning pondered for a moment and said, “Well, if you don’t have anything to discuss, I’ll head back to my dormitory. My colleagues are still waiting for me.”

After saying that, Cen Ning stood up.

“Ningning.” Yan Xingzhi abruptly stood up, went around the desk, and grabbed her wrist.

Cen Ning: “Mhm?”

“Are you back for good?”

He asked earnestly, and at that moment, Cen Ning’s smile also subsided. She knew that this question was crucial for both of them.

She slowly looked into his eyes and nodded. “Mhm, I’m not leaving anymore.”

Yan Xingzhi’s eyes brightened. Several years of suppressed thoughts and emotions were brought to the surface at that moment. Appeared so casually, yet left a profound mark in his heart.

He tightened his grip on Cen Ning’s wrist and pulled her gently into his embrace. “Come here.”

Cen Ning stood before him, initially wanting to wrap her arms around his waist, but her hand hesitated in mid-air.

She paused for a moment, looked up at him, and nervously asked, “Um… can I hug you?”

A trace of uncontrollable tenderness appeared in Yan Xingzhi’s eyes. He extended his arms and embraced her, whispering, “Yes.”