Chapter 52: My wife is late, and the letter is like a meeting

Chapter 52: My wife is late, and the letter is like a meeting

The night was as thick as ink; the deepest darkness before dawn was pressing down on the entire capital city.

The Lu family compound, however, was as bright as day.

People moved about, their footsteps hurried yet orderly, as if an invisible net was operating in a tense but well-organized manner.

At the western suburbs airport, a special plane with a full cargo hold and an open flight path awaits, ready to tear through the night and head to the southwest at a single command.

Su Wanqing ignored the noise outside.

Alone, she pushed open the door to the east wing.

This is Lu Zhanting's bedroom.

Everything in the room was exactly the same as when he left.

A single bed in military green, with a quilt folded into a standard square, its lines rigid.

A desk, with nothing but a lamp and a few military books.

The closed wardrobe and solemn furnishings filled the entire space with the owner's cold and aloof aura.

This is Lu Zhanting's absolute territory.

A world where no one is allowed to set foot except for missions and training.

Su Wanqing walked in, her fingertips tracing the cold edge of the desk.

She could imagine how many nights he had sat here, under the solitary lamp, wiping the cold guns or bending over to study those intricate maps.

His unique scent seemed to linger in the air.

It's the crispness of soapberry, mixed with a faint hint of gunpowder smoke.

Su Wanqing walked to the wardrobe and opened the door.

Several neatly ironed military uniforms hung quietly.

Below are neatly folded training uniforms and white vests.

Everything fits perfectly, just like him—meticulous to the point of being rigid.

She came to prepare a change of clothes for him.

But she knew even more clearly that she came here to draw strength and seek a sense of peace.

She reached out, picked up a training uniform he had worn, and gently pressed it against her cold cheek.

The fabric was rough, yet it carried the warmth and scent she longed for day and night.

This is the moment.

The mental defenses that I had painstakingly built up over the past few days suddenly cracked open.

My eyes burned, overwhelmed by a surge of longing and panic.

She is not a god; she is afraid.

I was afraid I would be too late.

I fear that the records in ancient books may contain errors.

She feared even more that the man who had promised to protect her for life would turn to dust and remain forever in the cold jungles of the southwest.

She closed her eyes, forcibly forcing back the tears welling up in them.

Now is not the time to be weak.

She carefully folded the training uniform and put it into her bag. Her gaze wandered around, finally settling on the bottom drawer of her desk.

It was locked there.

A picture flashed through her mind.

Shortly after their marriage, before one of his missions, he slipped a small brass key into her palm.

His expression was extremely unnatural, and his tone was as hard as a rock.

"Keep this safe. In case... I don't come back, everything inside is yours."

Su Wanqing took out the key, which was warm from her body heat, from her inner pocket.

Insert the key.

Rotate.

“Clatter.”

The drawer is open.

There were no classified documents, no military maps, only a rectangular pine box with an antique style.

Su Wanqing took out the box, placed it on the table, and opened it with trembling fingertips.

The moment the lid was opened, her breath stopped.

A box full of military medals.

Under the light, it reflects a cold and heavy light.

First-class merit, second-class merit, third-class merit...

Medals of varying sizes covered the bottom of the box. Beneath each medal lay a yellowed certificate, inscribed in bold handwriting the merits they represented.

"During the border conflict in XX, a single soldier infiltrated behind enemy lines and destroyed the enemy command post..."

"During the flood relief efforts in XX, he worked continuously for 72 hours, rescuing 37 trapped people..."

"During the bandit suppression mission in the XX Mountains, he was seriously wounded, yet he still managed to kill the bandit leader..."

Su Wanqing picked up a medal with the inscription of a sword and shield, awarded for outstanding merit.

The edge of the medal held a trace of dried dark red.

She remembered that Lu Zhanting had a hideous scar on his lower back that almost tore half of his spine apart.

This, I suppose, is the price to pay for this medal.

These cold metals are hardly a symbol of honor.

These are clearly medals he earned time and time again with his life and blood!

They silently tell the story of the gunfire he endured and his many brushes with death.

This is his silent resume.

This is proof that he has etched his country and the world into his very bones.

Su Wanqing's fingertips traced each one.

She could almost touch the scalding blood and the indomitable soul behind the medal.

The fear and worry in my heart are being replaced by another, more profound emotion.

It was endless heartache, and a pride that could support her entire world.

This is her man.

A hero who used his spine to bear the burden for the safety of this land.

How could she let him be alone in this desperate situation?

Beneath the layers of medals, Su Wan-qing discovered a thick kraft paper envelope.

The envelope was not sealed.

Above was his powerful handwriting, which read four characters.

"My wife is late."

Su Wanqing's heart was clenched tightly.

Her fingertips trembled as she pulled a few sheets of paper from the envelope.

"Wanqing, it is as if we are meeting in person after receiving this letter."

"When you see this letter, I most likely won't be coming back. Don't cry, don't be sad. From the moment I put on this uniform, I was prepared to sacrifice myself for my country. This is my mission, and also my honor."

"My life has been short, but I have no regrets. The first half was for my country, and the second half... was for you."

"Meeting you is the greatest blessing of my life, and also my only selfish wish. I know that I cannot give you the companionship of an ordinary couple, only endless waiting and fear. I'm sorry to have dragged you into my perilous world."

"Do you remember the first time we met? At the alley entrance, you had just broken off your engagement, but there wasn't a trace of dejection on your face. You looked more like a triumphant female general. I thought to myself, this girl is really different. She's so petite, but her eyes have a light and a fire that can burn your heart."

"Marrying you was the boldest and most correct decision I ever made. I thought my world had long been frozen in black and white, filled only with tasks and obedience. It wasn't until you came that my world gained color."

"I love watching you busy in the kitchen, I love eating every dish you make, and I love that there's always a light left on for me when I return from a mission. Those ordinary moments of warmth are the comfort I crave most amidst the hail of bullets."

"I'm bad with words and can't say pretty things. Many times I've wanted to hug you and tell you how much I miss you, but the words always get stuck in my throat. A soldier's duty is to restrain himself, but I can hardly contain my love for you."

“Wanqing, you are very good, so good that I feel ashamed of myself. You are intelligent, resilient, and have your own opinions. You will definitely live a good life without me. Grandpa is getting old, so please take care of him. You don’t need to pay attention to those troublesome things in the Lu family. If anyone makes you suffer even the slightest grievance, tell me, and my brothers will get justice for you.”

"If you could... forget me, and marry a good man. Someone who can be with you day and night. Just thinking about that possibility makes my heart feel like it's being slowly sliced ​​apart. Forgive my selfishness."

Finally, there's something I've always owed you.

"Su Wanqing, I love you."

The letter ended without a signature.

There is only one date.

It was the day after they got their marriage certificate.

So, it was so early.

So early on, this taciturn man had already cherished her like a treasure, keeping her close to his heart.

He didn't say anything, but instead transformed all his love into the most silent and profound protection.

A scalding tear fell onto the letter.

The ink blot spread rapidly.

Immediately afterwards, tears streamed down her face.

Su Wanqing could no longer hold on. Holding the letter, she slowly squatted down and buried her face in her arms.

The sadness, emotion, and heartache that had been suppressed for so long were finally released at this moment.

She wasn't crying over his "last words".

We weep for his deep affection, we weep for his forbearance.

That fool.

The biggest fool in the world.

He thought this was the end of the story.

But she refused.

As long as Su Wanqing has a breath left, their story will never have an ending!

I don't know how long I cried, until my tears ran dry and my throat was hoarse.

Su Wanqing slowly stood up.

Outside the window, the sky was already showing the first light of dawn.

Dawn is approaching.

She carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. Instead of putting it back in the drawer with the medal, she put it away in her own space along with the pine box.

This is his achievement, and also his love.

She wanted to keep it safe for him and return it to him personally when he came back.

She took one out of the pile of medals.

It was his first Third-Class Merit Medal, the most ordinary one. The ribbon had faded, but the bronze badge had been polished to a warm, shiny shine.

She placed the medal in her breast pocket, close to her heart.

A faint yet firm force emanated from the cold metal, instantly flowing through my limbs and bones.

She walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

When she reappeared before the public, her eyes were red, but her gaze was now completely different – ​​calm and sharp.

That's not the kind of doctor who would take a risk.

He was a warrior who was going to reclaim his world.

Lu Zhenguo hadn't slept all night. His crisp military uniform was covered in morning dew. He stood in the courtyard, his figure as straight as a pine tree.

He saw Su Wanqing, her swollen eyes, and even more so, the unwavering steely will in them.

The old man didn't ask anything, he just nodded heavily.

"Ready?"

"Ready." Su Wanqing's voice was clear and calm.

She turned to Uncle He, who was waiting for orders, and spoke with great weight.

"Uncle He, drive."

"To the airport."