Chapter 44: Zhou Siyan Silently Puts the Soaked Bed Sheet into the Washing Machine
It was too conspicuous for the three of them to leave the operating room at the same time, so Zhou Siyan had to leave first.
In the solemn and cold operating room, only Xue Yu and Feng Qizhou were left.
Feng Qizhou got off the operating table, gracefully and calmly put on his clothes, and touched Xue Yu’s face. “Alright, relax. Why the long face?”
“Don’t joke about your body anymore,” Xue Yu pushed his hand away, avoiding physical contact.
“What’s there to worry about? The baby was electrocuted. Maybe her spirit body will be an electric eel in the future,” he said with a frivolous smile. “Do you know about electric eels? They’re very powerful. One shock can kill a million and cause bloodshed for a thousand miles.”
“You’re still in the mood to joke.”
Feng Qizhou’s charming fox-like eyes shimmered with a flowing light, suddenly becoming innocent, like ripples on a lake. He took Xue Yu’s hand and squeezed her fingers one by one. “Xue Yu, when little sister is born, can you give me a gift?”
“What gift do you want?” Xue Yu calculated how much savings she had left in her mind.
Feng Qizhou drew circles in her palm with his fingertip. “Just promise me first.”
His body had just gone through a major trauma. His face was bloodless, his lips pale. His originally enchanting and bewitching features looked much purer.
Xue Yu really couldn’t refuse him, and she didn’t intend to. She just reminded him nervously, “Of course I’ll give you a gift. But… you know I’m very poor. I can’t afford anything too expensive.”
“So you’ve agreed. You’ll give me a gift, right?” Feng Qizhou confirmed again.
“Yes,” Xue Yu nodded firmly. Feng Qizhou had worked so hard. How could she not give him a gift?
Feng Qizhou took Xue Yu’s hand, placed a gentle kiss on the back of it, and said very seriously, “When little sister is born, can we do it once? A complete time, for a whole night.”
“This is the gift I want,” he held Xue Yu’s cheeks and looked at her directly. “Xue Yu, I have to tell you clearly. I want to do it with you. This is the voice of my body, and also my emotional need.”
Xue Yu was hesitant. “Should we discuss it with Zhou Siyan?”
Feng Qizhou’s face darkened. “Do you have to discuss this kind of thing with him? Is he your guardian?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Xue Yu was a little embarrassed to say it. “I mean, if the two of us are alone for a whole night, then the children will have to be taken care of by Zhou Siyan. We have to tell him in advance and ask him to help look after the children.”
Feng Qizhou smiled and scraped her straight nose with his finger. “You’re so thoughtful.”
The two of them left the operating room one after another.
Xue Yu returned to the naval combat team’s dorm. When she came out of the elevator and walked into the corridor, she saw a large lizard lying on the wall of her door from a distance. She was so scared she turned and ran.
Just as she had run a few steps, Blueberry came out of her spiritual landscape on its own and flew towards the lizard. Xue Yu couldn’t stop it.
“Blueberry, what are you doing! If you play with this lizard again, don’t come to me anymore!”
Blueberry turned a deaf ear, its caudal fin swaying as it rushed towards the lizard.
The two of them became entangled, nuzzling each other, their tails intertwined.
An officer in a crisp military uniform and shiny leather boots walked out from behind a fire cabinet. His tall figure cast a shadow in the corridor. He first looked down at the two inseparable spirit bodies, then at Xue Yu.
“Xue Yu, can you explain…”
Xue Yu rushed over like a gust of wind, forcibly separated the two spirit bodies, and held Blueberry tightly. “I’m sorry, sir! I will definitely punish Blueberry severely!”
Meng Wu approached her, his resolute features well-defined in the light.
“I hope you can explain why you are afraid of reptiles, but your spirit body likes Bingshan very much. This is obviously not logical. Usually, the master’s emotions and the spirit body are consistent.”
Xue Yu held Blueberry and said, “Maybe it’s because I’m not very skilled at controlling my spirit body yet. I only awakened my spirit body before the promotion competition.”
Meng Wu: “A spirit body is the core of the master’s deepest spiritual world. Is it possible that you are afraid of reptiles on the surface, but you secretly long to be in contact with them?”
“Sir, I don’t quite understand.”
What is he rambling on about? Is he trying to PUA me? Xue Yu became vigilant.
Meng Wu said, “Human emotions are very complex. Some things you fear, you end up loving. Some people you dislike, you end up loving.”
“Yes, sir!”
Xue Yu was tired from the day and didn’t want to listen to a lecture from her superior. She stood up straight, her chest out, and gave a standard military salute. “Sir, I will study hard, train hard, and will not bring shame to you!”
Meng Wu shook his head and handed her the documents in his hand. “We’re going to the battlefield in four days. The Pinglan Lake front line. I will personally teach you how to fight.”
Xue Yu took the documents and flipped through them. They were some pre-battle guidance manuals for new soldiers, the terrain of Pinglan Lake, and the characteristics of the frogmen.
“I’ve only been training for a few days. I’m already going to the battlefield?”
“As long as you can shoot, you can go. Everyone has gone through this.”
He turned and left, waving his hand at Xue Yu with his back to her. “You are my soldier. Don’t worry. I won’t let you become a war consumable.”
Xue Yu entered the dorm, sat down at the desk, and looked at the materials Meng Wu had given her, focusing on the part about the “frogmen.”
Frogmen were a different race of people, belonging to amphibians.
Their limbs were long and slender like a frog’s, they had no hair, their skin was smooth and leathery, and their palms and soles were webbed. They looked like a cross between a human and a frog.
In the eyes of the people of the White Tower, frogmen were primitive people. They had a fast reproductive rate, but their level of civilization was very low. They were still in the cold weapon era.
In this era of pollution, territorial disputes were the norm.
The safe zone of the White Tower was originally a refuge for ordinary people, but it was later occupied by the frogmen.
After a new round of war, it was retaken by humans and the White Tower was established.
Now the frogmen had launched a new war, wanting to seize the prime location of the White Tower.
After reading the materials, Xue Yu went into the new soldier group chat to lurk and read the chat records.
She got some important information.
All new soldiers had to go to the battlefield. They could not be transferred, especially the new soldiers of the naval combat team. Not a single one could be absent.
The army would distribute some bullets, but it would definitely not be enough. Everyone had to buy some themselves.
After returning from the battlefield, the superiors would give a certain reward according to the number of enemies the soldiers killed.
Killing one frogman could get you 2,000 New Dollars, which was a good price.
The group chat was almost like a black market now. All the new soldiers were looking for channels to buy cheap bullets.
Xue Yu had no social connections in this world. Her few friends were all co-workers from the mining district.
She saw that the mining district group chat was also talking about the frogman attack.
“Didn’t someone from our mining district go to the naval combat team through the competition a while ago?”
“It’s Xue Yu. I know.”
“Our mining district finally has a soldier. I hope Xue Yu does well.”
“If you ask me, being a soldier is not as good as mining. There’s no future in mining, but it’s stable. You don’t have to worry all day.”
“That’s true. Soldiers are just war consumables. Sigh, I hope Xue Yu comes back safely.”
Xue Yu replied to the message hoping for her safe return: “Thank you. I will definitely come back!”
Messages kept pouring into the group chat:
“Xue Yu, why don’t you come back to mining? Going to the battlefield is too scary.”
“That’s right. I think mining is quite good.”
“Xue Yu can’t come back now, right? Being a deserter is a death penalty.”
Xue Yu: “Thank you for your concern. I have no way back. I can only brace myself and go.”
Group member: “Xue Yu, do you have money? Do you want us to raise some money for you to buy some bullets?”
Xue Yu’s nose tingled. “Thank you, everyone. I don’t need it for now. I still have a little money.”
After she declined everyone’s kind intentions in the group chat, she opened the chat with Zhou Siyan and first sent a cat peeking emoji.
Zhou Siyan replied in a second: Yes.
Xue Yu: It seems I’m really going to war.
Zhou Siyan: I’m trying to find a way.
He had tried to pull some strings to get Xue Yu transferred, but it didn’t work.
Xue Yu: No need. I’ve already seen the notice. All new soldiers have to go. I’m looking for you to ask where I can buy cheap bullets.
Zhou Siyan: I’ll take care of the bullets.
Xue Yu: Thank you, Xue Xiaohai’s daddy.
The next day, Xue Yu went to training. The basic training items were similar to before.
Underwater precision shooting, underwater stealth, underwater wound dressing and self-rescue, torpedo operation and use, and so on.
Xue Yu’s nerves were tense during training, and she didn’t dare to relax for a moment.
The main reason was that Meng Wu was always behind her like a shadow, staring at her. As soon as she relaxed, he would come over and remind her to be serious.
Other officers had hundreds of new soldiers under them and basically let them be.
But Meng Wu only had Xue Yu, and all his energy was focused on her, which was a bit too much for Xue Yu to handle.
During the break, Youke’en took the initiative to talk to Xue Yu. “I’ve bought almost all my bullets. What about you?”
“Aren’t you a second-generation official? You have to go to the battlefield too?” Xue Yu was very surprised.
She had officially learned this morning that the soldiers of the White Tower were purely war consumables on the battlefield. It had nothing to do with the honor of defending the country.
There were too many people in the White Tower. The higher-ups would even actively provoke wars to send some people to the battlefield to reduce the population.
“I’m planning on having you mark me. You will be my master from now on. If you go, I will definitely go,” Youke’en said.
Xue Yu: “Are you really sure?”
Youke’en nodded. “Yes, I’ve decided.”
The two of them sat in silence for a moment.
Xue Yu lowered her voice and asked curiously, “You said yesterday that your father is Ms. Bai Long’s dog, but aren’t your parents regular conservatives in a one-on-one relationship? What do you mean?”
Youke’en was nonchalant. “That’s right. Ms. Bai Long is in a monogamous relationship. My mother is her wife, and my father is her husband.”
“Your monogamy is quite unique,” Xue Yu gave a thumbs up. “Then who gave birth to you?”
“I don’t know. I was adopted.”
“Oh.”
Before Xue Yu could finish hearing the gossip, Meng Wu coughed from behind. “Xue Yu, go and practice torpedo launching underwater.”
For the next two days, they had a drill.
A group of masked snipers passed by in front. Meng Wu told everyone, “This group of snipers are our water-type’s most outstanding warriors. They will also be participating in this battle. With them here, you don’t have to worry too much.”
That group of snipers was fully armed, and they were all about the same height and build.
Xue Yu could still see Mo Li among the many figures. He was standing in the middle of the group, his posture as straight as a pen.
Xue Yu stared at Mo Li. She could feel that Mo Li was also looking at her.
It had been half a month since the promotion competition ended, and she hadn’t seen Mo Li. She felt that Mo Li seemed to have lost some weight.
After the drill, Mo Li and that group of snipers walked towards another training ground. The two of them didn’t even have a chance to say a word.
Xue Yu and Youke’en went to eat.
She received a message from Zhou Siyan: Are you free to come over tonight? I’ve got some bullets for you.
“Okay.”
Xue Yu stood up to leave. Youke’en clearly knew that she was going to find Zhou Siyan and asked, “Xue Yu, when are you going to mark me? I’m ready.”
“I don’t know how to mark you. I have to ask Zhou Siyan about this.”
Youke’en said, “You should ask him soon. It’s best to mark me before we go to the battlefield. Then you can use me as a weapon on the battlefield.”
“Okay, I’ll ask tonight.”
Xue Yu sneakily went to Zhou Siyan’s apartment.
Feng Qizhou had a surgery to perform, so he had left Xue Xiaobei here for Zhou Siyan to take care of.
Zhou Siyan had just given the two children a bath and changed them into their pajamas. He seemed to be very busy, and the words “heavy official duties” could be seen on his face.
“You watch the children. I’m going to the armory to get you some bullets,” Zhou Siyan quickly changed into a different set of clothes.
Xue Yu sat on the foam mat and picked up the child. “Okay, you go.”
Zhou Siyan came over and lowered his head to kiss Xue Xiaohai’s cheek, then stared at Xue Yu for a few seconds.
Xue Yu didn’t know what he was doing. “Aren’t you leaving yet?”
Zhou Siyan suddenly kissed her on the forehead. “Stay the night tonight, okay?”
“Can I? Won’t I be discovered?”
“You can.”
Zhou Siyan put on his suit jacket and left.
Xue Yu lay on the foam mat, her legs crossed, a nutritional supplement candy stick for children in her mouth.
The two children were lying on her, looking at her. Their soft, small faces were very cute.
Xue Xiaohai kissed her mother, and Xue Xiaobei, learning from her sister, also wanted to kiss her mother.
The two children, as if in a competition, kissed Xue Yu’s face all over.
Xue Yu sat up and wiped the drool from her face. She deliberately made a fierce face and pinched their cheeks. “You two little brats, Mommy is going to the battlefield. Aren’t you worried?”
“Sigh, a mother worries when her child travels a thousand miles. Now that a mother is traveling a thousand miles, you should worry too.”
The two children could sense their mother’s emotions and lay on Xue Yu’s chest, staring at her with wide eyes, no longer making a fuss.
Xue Yu pulled herself together. “Don’t worry. Your mom is a university student after all. She learns everything quickly. She’ll be fine. Anyway, if I can’t win, I’ll just run. Saving my own life is the most important thing.”
She played with the two children for a while and then received a call from Mo Li.
Mo Li said he was free tonight and asked if she wanted to meet.
Xue Yu: “I’m at Zhou Siyan’s place taking care of the children. Why don’t you come here? There are no supervisors in the corridor now. You should be able to get in.”
“Okay.”
Mo Li arrived quickly.
He was wearing casual clothes, with a windbreaker over them. His belly was still very small, and the curve was completely invisible under the jacket.
Xue Yu pulled him to sit on the foam mat and talk. “I have to go to Pinglan Lake to fight the frogmen this time. Mo Li, will you let me take care of you then? I think I’m quite strong now.”
“Okay.”
Mo Li took out three small dolls from his pocket, one for Xue Xiaohai, one for Xue Xiaobei, and the last one he put in Xue Yu’s hand.
“I bought these in the western war zone. There are a lot of these dolls there. They’re quite fun.”
Xue Yu touched his belly. “Your belly is already big, and you still have to fight everywhere. It’s so heartbreaking. We’ll go to the battlefield together this time. I will do my best to take care of you and the child.”
Zhou Siyan didn’t come back for a long time.
Xue Yu and Mo Li lulled the children to sleep and put them in the crib next to them, but Zhou Siyan still hadn’t returned.
She sent a message to Zhou Siyan: When are you coming back?
Zhou Siyan: I’m busy here. You go to sleep first.
Xue Yu: Mo Li is here too. Can he stay the night here?
Zhou Siyan: Yes.
Xue Yu was too tired from training during the day and couldn’t stay up.
With Mo Li here, she couldn’t just take him to sleep in Zhou Siyan’s bed. It would be rude.
So she found a thin blanket from the cabinet and lay down on the foam mat that was usually used for the children to play on. “Mo Li, you come in too. We can talk under the covers.”
Mo Li hesitated for a moment, then lay down next to Xue Yu, sharing the same blanket.
The two of them chatted intermittently. Xue Yu was mainly asking about the battlefield at Pinglan Lake.
Mo Li told her not to worry. The casualties on the Pinglan Lake front line were not high. As long as she was careful, she would be fine.
With Mo Li’s words, Xue Yu was much more at ease.
Mo Li held Xue Yu’s hand under the covers. Neither of them spoke again.
Xue Yu felt herself getting wet. Water was gradually seeping from her skin. Mo Li was also wet. Their clasped hands were soaked.
Xue Yu touched Mo Li’s face. It was very wet. “Should I get you some of Zhou Siyan’s clothes to change into?”
“No need.”
They were both water-types, so sleeping while soaked was actually more comfortable.
It was just like last time, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, like two primary school students.
Zhou Siyan was swamped with work. After he finished, he brought back two boxes of ammunition.
When he reached the corridor, he checked the surveillance at home through the screen on his watch. He saw that the children were all asleep, and he saw Xue Yu and Mo Li lying on the foam mat, in a posture that looked like they were hugging…
When he reached the door, he was about to open it, but his raised hand hesitated.
In the end, he placed the two boxes of ammunition at the door and just stood there, doing nothing.
He was also holding a very small cake. Tonight was his birthday.
Actually, he didn’t know his real birthday. He had grown up in a nursery, and the specific month and day of his birth were unknown.
It was just that when he was dating Xue Yu, after she found out that he was not sure of his birthday, she had picked a good day to celebrate his birthday. Since then, he had set today as his birthday.
The black panther sensed its master’s low spirits and came out of the spiritual landscape, prostrating itself at his feet.
Zhou Siyan stood at the door all night. The next day, when he saw from the surveillance that Xue Yu and Mo Li were up, he opened the door and went in.
He brought the cake and the ammunition boxes into the living room and saw Xue Yu and Mo Li coming out of the room, soaked.
Xue Yu patted her head. “Oh my, I was so tired from training these past few days. I fell asleep as soon as I lay down last night. You didn’t just get back from work, did you?”
“Yes,” Zhou Siyan handed her the cake. “I just bought it. Eat up.”
He then pointed to the ammunition boxes. “I’ve prepared two sets, one for you and one for Mo Li.”
Xue Yu cheered. “That’s great! Thank you, Zhou Siyan! With so many bullets, Mo Li and I won’t be afraid on the battlefield!”
Mo Li stood behind Xue Yu, silent the whole time.
Zhou Siyan entered the bedroom. The two children were not awake.
He picked up the damp blanket and pillow from the foam mat, went to the bathroom, and silently put them in the washing machine.