“I just reported it to the police. No big deal.”
“Not really.” Qian Duoduo hesitated. “In that situation, I wanted to call the police too, but there was no chance. If you hadn’t been vigilant and contacted the police early, tonight’s outcome would’ve been unthinkable.”
Lu Qiming glanced at her while driving and asked, “So what are you planning to treat me to?”
Qian Duoduo didn’t understand, frowning slightly. “Treat you to what?”
“Every time I’ve helped you before, you treated me to a meal or a milk tea, or a drink.” Lu Qiming glanced sideways at her. “What are you going to treat me to this time?”
“…” Qian Duoduo was at a loss and silently embarrassed.
She really hadn’t thought that this PLA Comrade would be so upright yet capable of teasing.
Wasn’t he basically jokingly mocking her for not coming up with a more creative way to thank him?
“I’m not planning to treat you to anything this time.” She felt guilty and flustered, mumbling, “As for how exactly I’ll thank you, just wait until I get home and think it over.”
Lu Qiming couldn’t help smiling, the usual frostiness around his eyes softening considerably. After a moment of quiet, he recalled the name “Chen Yu” she mentioned and his eyes briefly darkened. “That Chen Yu—did you know him before?”
“Yeah, he was someone I went on a blind date with.”
Thinking about it made Qian Duoduo angry. She clenched her fists and pounded her thigh hard, fuming, “When we went on the date, I felt really uncomfortable. His eyes kept wandering everywhere, his words were incoherent, and before even exchanging a full sentence, he asked me directly about my height, weight, and measurements. So disrespectful.”
Lu Qiming frowned and asked, “Did he treat you badly?”
“Are you talking about physical contact?” Qian Duoduo shook her head. “No, that didn’t happen. After all, we were in a restaurant surrounded by staff and diners. If he had tried anything, I would’ve shouted ‘harassment’ immediately, and people would have come to my aid. He didn’t have the guts.”
Lu Qiming’s expression darkened; he didn’t respond further.
Qian Duoduo studied his face, curious. “Why are you asking this?”
Lu Qiming replied casually, “I couldn’t act because of my identity earlier.”
“Mm, I understand.”
“I regret it.”
“…”
Qian Duoduo choked on her saliva. “No big deal. You don’t need to regret not beating up Chen Yu. The police are handling it. With all his bad deeds, he’ll surely get the punishment he deserves.”
Lu Qiming said no more. His profile was hidden by the flickering light streaks, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
Qian Duoduo was already very sleepy. Seeing Lu Qiming remain silent, she laid her head back on the seat and took out her phone.
Looking at the time in the top right corner, it was already 1:30 a.m.
“So late already.”
Qian Duoduo murmured to herself, then glanced sideways at Lu Qiming. After hesitating, she couldn’t help but whisper, “Team Leader Lu, if we get back this late, won’t we get scolded?”
“There’s a reason for it. No.” Lu Qiming said.
“That’s good.”
Qian Duoduo relaxed. After a pause, she thought of something and frowned again. “Tomorrow’s Monday, and you have to get up early on workdays… I’m keeping you from resting. Sorry.”
Lu Qiming was silent for half a second, then glanced sideways at her. “Are you this polite with your other friends?”
Qian Duoduo thought for a moment and replied honestly, “More or less, I’m used to it.”
Lu Qiming said, “You don’t need to be polite with friends, but you don’t have to be polite with your boyfriend.”
Qian Duoduo froze. A rush of heat spread over her pale, delicate face like creeping vines.
She bit her lip lightly, staring at the night view outside the windshield without speaking.
Lu Qiming withdrew his gaze and said, “I hope I’m honored to be your exception.”
–
She had already washed up before going out, but the winter night was too cold, and after going outside, her feet and ears were icy.
Back in Cadre Dormitory 406, Qian Duoduo quickly took off her clothes and headed straight to the bathroom, taking a hot shower as fast as possible.
Afterwards, she turned off the light, kicked off her slippers, and slipped under the covers.
She pulled the blanket over herself and tried to sleep.
But a minute passed, and she wasn’t asleep.
Five minutes passed, still no sleep.
…
Fifteen minutes went by, and she still couldn’t fall asleep.
The lump in the bed gave a low mournful sound, finally resigned, pulled back the covers, and sat up.
Humans are such strange creatures.
Still exhausted on the way back, but as soon as they lie down, all sleepiness suddenly vanishes.
Qian Duoduo covered her face, helplessly lamenting how her brain was inexplicably active and excited enough to perform a whole set of Broadcast Gymnastics right then and there.
What was causing her insomnia?
…What else could it be?
She instinctively pulled the blanket up to cover her face.
After a few seconds, realizing that worrying wasn’t the solution, she tugged at her hair, grabbed her phone from the nightstand.
Face recognition lit up the screen automatically.
Qian Duoduo opened WeChat APP and found the chat with Zhao Jingxi.
She had just sent a line—【Jingxi, I need your help again】—when her fingers froze. She raised her arm and pounded her head in frustration—tonight she had just picked someone up from Zero Degree Bar!
General Zhao was still so drunk she had no way to offer advice.
What was she supposed to do now?
Qian Duoduo pursed her lips and thoughtfully stroked her chin. After a moment, inspiration struck.
She logged into a well-known anonymous forum in the country and quickly posted a new thread.
【Help: I was suddenly confessed to today and promised to give an answer tomorrow. I’m really conflicted, please friends of the forum help me with some advice. Much appreciated!】
【Edit: The guy is nearly two meters tall, very handsome, and his job is quite impressive. I do have some feelings for him… but his work keeps him busy, and probably more than a third of the time he’s away. If we date, it’s basically going to be a long-distance relationship most of the time. I really don’t know what to do…】
【Another edit: When he confessed, he also said this is just trying it out, and if I meet someone I truly like during the relationship, he will immediately back off, so he won’t cause me any trouble.】
After typing, Qian Duoduo proofread and fixed some typos, then clicked “send.”
This forum had huge traffic, its active user count often topping the charts.
Within seconds, her post received replies from enthusiastic netizens.
【1st floor: ? What? Are there really men like this in the world? I don’t believe it.】
【2nd floor: Suspected green post, case closed.】
【3rd floor: Ah… according to the original poster’s description, this guy is tall, handsome, and kind, willing to be backup and a simp for the OP, so why is she still conflicted? Flexing?】
【4th floor: 3rd floor, did you even read the post? The OP said he works very busy, she doesn’t want months of long-distance relationship.】
【5th floor: What’s there to be conflicted about? From what the OP says, this guy seems great. It’s just a confession, not a proposal. Chill, dating is not a game, just say yes.】
【6th floor: Reply to 5th floor: Not everyone treats relationships seriously, thank you. Not everyone treats life like a game, thank you.】
【7th floor: This guy seems nice! OP doesn’t need to be so conflicted. Liking is a feeling—if you like him, accept it; if not, reject it. Life is short, isn’t there a movie line that goes, ‘It’s not about eternal love, but about having loved once’?】
【8th floor: Reading through, only 7th floor is giving serious advice.】
【9th floor: He even said if you find someone else he’ll quit immediately. Only two possibilities: either he doesn’t really like the OP and just wants to play, or he loves her desperately but is insecure and preemptively preparing himself for the day she leaves.】
…
Within minutes, dozens of replies appeared.
Qian Duoduo returned from the bathroom, scrolling through the comments.
After a while, she replied, “Thanks everyone for the advice, I know what to do now,” then exited the forum and turned off her phone screen.
The room returned to darkness.
She lay back down, stared at the white ceiling for a few minutes, then turned over and closed her eyes to sleep.
–
The next morning.
The morning mist just lifted. A frost flower melting from the warmth of a soldier’s face. From the training field came shouts and slogans, and a few startled sparrows fluttered their wings and flew up into the sky.
Lu Qiming walked out of the Command Office Building, his military boots cracking softly on the frost-covered ground.
As he headed toward the training field, a voice suddenly called from behind like sweet spring water breaking through ice and piercing his eardrums.
“Lu Qiming!”
…His steps abruptly stopped, and he turned to look back.
A few steps away stood a delicate girl bathed in morning light. Her cream-colored cashmere coat brightened her complexion, making her features even more radiant, blooming like peach blossoms.
The girl walked straight up to him.
Lu Qiming’s slender fingers at his side instinctively clenched for a moment, the calluses on his fingertips rubbing against each other.
He wanted to say something, to greet her, but worried she couldn’t hear from so far away, so he silently waited.
Finally, she drew near and stood just a step away.
Lu Qiming lowered his eyes to look at Qian Duoduo, cleared his throat, his voice slightly hoarse. “Good morning.”
“You too, good morning.” Qian Duoduo smiled back.
Her heart raced as if she had just finished a marathon.
Her face was flushed, palms sweaty, but she appeared relaxed on the surface, her smile bright and gentle.
After standing silently for a moment, she thought of how busy he was and not wanting to delay him, so she took a deep breath, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then cleared her throat and smiled lightly.
“I’ve already thought about what you said last night.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Lu Qiming’s expression remained calm, but his chest tightened as if gripped by an invisible giant hand.
Then, a bullet wrapped in sweet coating shot through the air, hitting the heart that had always raced because of her with unerring precision.
“Then… let’s give it a try.” Qian Duoduo said.
“That means in front of others, we remain work partners. You call me Teacher Qian, and I’ll call you Team Leader Lu.”
Reaching this point, she seemed afraid to look him in the eyes, turning her head to the side, her cheeks redder than pomegranate flowers, speaking softly and warmly, “For now, let’s just try to confirm the relationship— as boyfriend and girlfriend.”