Chapter 66: Mutual Understanding

No one knew how much he missed her.

No one knew how much he longed to hold her like this.

Love was about restraint and letting go. He believed in that, so he had restrained himself and let go before. But now that she was back this time, he didn’t need to let go anymore.

“I heard from Tang Zheng that you’ve been busy lately and won’t be able to come home for a couple of days. Is that right?” Cen Ning asked.

“Mhm.”

“Well, it turns out that I’ll be at the military base for the next two days, so I won’t have to wait for you at home anxiously.”

Yan Xingzhi smiled faintly. “You…”

“Report!”

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Zyd Dkdtgbk yzps blpkvyvle pzktbvzu, bkp tygl pbkqvkdt vs vbl pokqvzu alrspkvksdle Uld Lkdt obs oyp ynvkdt zkjl y twkzvu vbklq, yde bkp lulcasop aykple.

“Xb, kv’p Dkys Jyk. Rp vblal psxlvbkdt usw dlle?” Mydt Hbldt’p hsknl.

“R’x blal vs elzkhla y alrsav vs vbl nsxxydekdt sqqknla.”

“Tl’p kdpkel vyzjkdt okvb vbl rbsvstayrbla obs nyxl vs vbl wdkv.”

“Vbsvstayrbla? Ebs kp kv?”

“Zsw’zz xllv bla zyvla. Tlal, tkhl xl vbl esnwxldv. R’zz vyjl kv kdpkel.”

“Jwv…”

“Come in.” Yan Xingzhi interrupted the two, and Tang Zheng understood that if someone was allowed in, there wouldn’t be any inappropriate scenes to see.

“Never mind, you can take it inside.”

“Alright.”

The door opened, and Cen Ning saw a girl in a military uniform walk in. She was quite tall, around 1.7 meters, with short hair, no makeup, and a neat appearance.

“Report, a military report from Captain Jiang’s team.”

Yan Xingzhi was already back behind the desk, and at the sound, he looked up. “Mhm, put it down.”

“Yes.”

As the female soldier turned around after putting the report down, she naturally noticed Cen Ning sitting to the side. She hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Are you a photographer?”

Cen Ning stood up. “Yes.”

“Oh, hello.”

“Hello.”

“Xiao Bai,” Yan Xingzhi continued, “Take this to Jiang Qi now.” (TLN: Xiao Bai is Bai Hua’s nickname)

Bai Hua’s gaze quickly shifted away from Cen Ning. “Alright.”

Bai Hua took the document from Yan Xingzhi and, as she was about to leave, glanced at Cen Ning again. In reality, her glance was merely out of curiosity about Cen Ning as a person. However, Cen Ning felt guilty for no apparent reason and thought others might think too much, so she hastily added, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave too.”

Yan Xingzhi said, “You—”

“If there’s anything you need to tell me, officer, you can have Comrade Tang Zheng inform me!”

Yan Xingzhi: “…”

Cen Ning quickly exited the office. On her way downstairs, she encountered the female soldier who had been in the office earlier. Out of politeness, Cen Ning greeted her.

“I’m Bai Hua. And you are…”

“Cen Ning.”

“You look young. Are you a photographer?”

“Yes, I am.” Cen Ning smiled. “Are you a signal soldier?”

Bai Hua exclaimed, “How did you know?”

Cen Ning replied, “I guessed. I’ve seen them before.”

The next day at noon, Bai Hua was cleaning the dormitory.

“Hey, did you see? The photographer that came to our unit?” Bai Hua’s roommate suddenly spoke up.

“Saw her, yeah. Her name’s Cen Ning. I heard a few guys from our team talking about her yesterday.”

The roommate said, “That girl looks so delicate and fair, really slim. It’s making my protective instincts kick in.”

Bai Hua laughed, “Haha, jealous, huh? But yeah, I think she’s pretty too. I even had a chat with her the other day.”

“Where? Why were you talking to her?”

“I was delivering some documents and happened to meet her in the commanding officer’s office. We chatted a bit afterward.”

…

Cen Ning had become quite popular within the unit these past few days. During their leisurely moments, people often talked about her. Even Yan Xingzhi heard her name from others during lunch one day.

“That girl takes photos like a pro. She looks so young, how come she’s already such a well-known photographer?” Lao Liu, a person sitting with them at the table, commented as they ate.

Tang Zheng said with a hint of teasing, “Well, she’s amazing. She’s only twenty-six and already well-known internationally.”

“Hey, not a bad age at all. We have quite a few single guys in our unit. I wonder if the lady would be willing to let me play matchmaker,” Lao Liu commented.

Yan Xingzhi’s hand, which was holding his chopsticks, paused for a moment. 

Tang Zheng glanced at Yan Xingzhi and suppressed a laugh, “Lao Liu, you have guts, huh?”

Lao Liu: “What’s wrong? Why is playing matchmaker considered gutsy? I’m just thinking about our buddies.”

Tang Zheng: “Right, right, you’re right.”

Lao Liu continued, “Hey, since you brought her here, why don’t you go and find out if she has a boyfriend or something?”

Tang Zheng cleared his throat, “Why should I do that? If you want to know, just ask me or Brother Yan directly.”

Lao Liu was momentarily stunned and looked at Yan Xingzhi, “What? Xingzhi, you know her?”

Yan Xingzhi’s gaze turned cold, “Mhm.”

Lao Liu brightened up, “That’s great! Then you should go ask. Look at all the single guys in our unit, they can’t get wives from the government allocation. As a leader, you should consider their feelings.”

“You’re right.”

Lao Liu continued, “So…”

“But not this one, maybe next time.”

Lao Liu was taken aback, “W-why not? Many guys here really like this girl.”

Yan Xingzhi put down his chopsticks and leaned back, “Which guys?”

Lao Liu: “Uh?”

A faint smile played at the corner of Yan Xingzhi’s mouth, but it looked rather sinister, “I’m asking you, which guys?”

Lao Liu was a bit confused, “Well, there’s Xiao Tong, Xiao Gao, and Brother Yao asked me too…”

Yan Xingzhi nodded and stood up, “Alright, I’m done eating. I’ll leave first.”

Lao Liu: “Hey, Yan Xingzhi—”

But Yan Xingzhi had already left. Lao Liu was puzzled, and suddenly, the person beside him burst into laughter. Startled, Lao Liu turned to him, “What’s going on? Why are you laughing?”

Tang Zheng was barely able to hold himself up, “I, I… Hahaha!”

Lao Liu: “???”

Tang Zheng laughed uncontrollably, and after finally managing to calm down, he patted Lao Liu on the shoulder, “I have to say, are you intentionally setting traps for Brother Yao and the others?”

Lao Liu protested, “What do you mean, setting traps? I’m just looking out for their good!”

Tang Zheng: “Looking out for their good… Haha! Lao Liu, do you even know who that girl is?”

“Who, who is she?” 

Tang Zheng shook his head in exasperation and pointed toward Yan Xingzhi’s figure, “She’s his fiancée.”

Lao Liu: “!!!!!!”

In the morning, after finishing her shoot, Cen Ning headed back to her dorm. As she passed by the office building, she coincidentally ran into Yan Xingzhi on his way down. She stopped and walked over to him, asking, “Where are you going?”

“To a meeting.” 

“Oh.”

Yan Xingzhi: “You’ll be done after the afternoon shoot, right?”

“Mhm, and I’ll be leaving afterward.” 

“Where are you headed first?” 

Cen Ning thought for a moment before replying, “I’ll go back to the company with my colleagues first, and then head home.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you downstairs at your company.”

Cen Ning was pleasantly surprised, “Are you done with your work?”

“Yes, I can leave today.”

…

Amidst the bustling crowd, Yan Xingzhi didn’t linger for long. After exchanging a few casual words, he walked in another direction.

“Cen Ning,” Bai Hua emerged from the side after Yan Xingzhi walked away. She patted Cen Ning’s shoulder and asked, “What were you two talking about?”

Cen Ning explained, “It was a chance encounter, so we… just greeted each other.”

“Oh… you dared to greet our commanding officer. Many new soldiers are terrified when they see him,” Bai Hua laughed.

Cen Ning replied, “Is that so?”

“Yes, don’t you think he seems serious?” 

“Um… somewhat,” Cen Ning said as she watched Yan Xingzhi’s retreating figure. “But it’s not too bad, he’s not entirely unapproachable.”

“Exactly! I think so too. Despite his stern demeanor, he’s a good person. And he’s really capable. I’ve heard so much about his past accomplishments over the years,” Bai Hua said.

Bai Hua continued to talk enthusiastically as they walked back to the dormitory. She kept sharing stories of Yan Xingzhi’s impressive feats and his ruthless approach when dealing with enemies and criminals.

As she spoke about him, her eyes were filled with admiration and respect.

“Even though I’m a signal soldier and can’t be on the frontlines, a soldier is a soldier, every role in the army is crucial, right, Cen Ning?” 

Cen Ning looked at Bai Hua’s expression with twinkles in her eyes and nodded in agreement, “Mhm, every one of you is truly remarkable.”

“Haha, well, it’s not that big of a deal…” Bai Hua replied modestly. “Compared to the commanding officer, we’re still much less experienced. Oh… I think I might have talked too much. I forgot you’re still busy.”

Cen Ning: “It’s okay, we’re wrapping up for the day, and I’ll be leaving in the afternoon.”

“Ah… so, we might not see each other again in the future.” 

Cen Ning smiled, “No, that won’t happen. We’ll meet again.”

After finishing up her work in the afternoon, Cen Ning first went to IZ and met with Duan Xiaoquan.

Upon returning to China, she had visited the Yan family first, and then hurriedly went to the military. So, even her assistant had only met her a few days ago, and this was her first time visiting IZ.

Duan Xiaoquan showed her around and then handed her a key and a car key.

“This is?” 

“For you.” 

Cen Ning blinked, “A house? And a car?”

Seeing her puzzled expression, Duan Xiaoquan sighed, “It’s all written in the contract. You’re entitled to a house and a car. Did you not read it carefully?”

Cen Ning looked awkwardly at the keys, “I trust you, Teacher Duan.”

Duan Xiaoquan chuckled, “Did you just read the ‘Curator of IZ’ part and ignore the rest? Tsk, I should have known better than to give you these perks. You don’t care about them.”

“But now that they’re given, they’re given. The contract is legally binding, so don’t even think about taking them back.”

Duan Xiaoquan gave her a disdainful look, “Do I seem like a stingy person?”

Cen Ning replied seriously, “Based on my many years of understanding, you aren’t.”

Duan Xiaoquan: “…”

After leaving the company, it was already dark outside. Cen Ning looked at the license plate number that Yan Xingzhi had sent her and found a black car in the parking lot.

She opened the front passenger door and got in. The person in the driver’s seat turned to look at her, “Ready?”

“Mhm, let’s go,” Cen Ning replied. She glanced at Yan Xingzhi, who had changed into more casual clothes, and mumbled, “It’s true, there’s less of an oppressive feeling like this…”

“What?” 

“Nothing… I just mean that after so many years, it seems like you’re still just as popular.” 

Yan Xingzhi looked slightly puzzled, and Cen Ning smiled, “I was chatting with a few female soldiers in the military, and it seems like everyone admires you and likes you.”

“Really? Didn’t they tell you how terrifying I am?” 

Cen Ning: “…How did you know?”

Yan Xingzhi curled his lips, remaining silent.

Cen Ning continued, “Most of them did say that, but there are really people who genuinely like you. For example, that girl named Bai Hua kept praising you. She even mentioned how amazing you were during your missions. Oh, suddenly I feel a bit regretful—I didn’t know all of this…”

Cen Ning rambled on, and Yan Xingzhi watched her intently, taking in her words. At this moment, it seemed like he wasn’t really listening. Nothing else existed in his eyes and heart except for her blossoming features under the night sky and her radiant smile.

His little girl had truly grown up this time.

Graceful and radiant, shining brilliantly.

“Ningning.”

“Mhm?” Cen Ning paused and turned to look at him.

The next second, the man who had been sitting properly in his seat suddenly leaned forward. He held the back of her head, pulling her towards him.

Yan Xingzhi kissed her, a forceful and intense kiss, their lips tightly pressed together. It was as if a flood of emotions that had been suppressed for a long time had finally burst forth.

Days of only being able to look but not touch had accumulated his frustration to the breaking point. He forcefully opened her lips, repeatedly and passionately engaging in a fervent exchange within the dimly lit car.

Time seemed to blur, and in the dimness of the car, he released her only when Cen Ning’s breathing had become strained.

“Ningning, let me take you somewhere.”

The two were still very close, his breath mingling on her face as he spoke, scorching and almost searing.

Cen Ning’s cheeks flushed, and she whispered, “Not back to Grandpa’s place?”

“No, we’re going back home.”