Nan Qingqing’s conversation with the young male comrade had gone on for quite some time.
Until the sky had completely darkened.
That’s what Lu Baiyang thought to himself.
Standing by the window, Lu Baiyang was unusually not standing at attention, not standing ramrod straight.
Instead, he leaned slightly against the carriage.
His posture somewhat languid.
Only beneath his broad forehead and high nose bridge, his lips were slightly pursed.
His eyes were also pitch black and profound, unfathomable.
Nan Qingqing and the young man found more and more topics to discuss, moving from Dumas fils to Jane Eyre, then to The Little Prince.
They seemed like kindred spirits who had met too late in life.
Lu Baiyang unconsciously lowered his gaze.
Looking at his own shoe tips.
He gently kicked the toe of his shoe.
Indeed.
Comrade Nan Qingqing preferred intellectuals.
The political officer from the army always wore black-rimmed glasses, with a fountain pen perpetually tucked in his chest pocket – said to be bought from Hong Kong with foreign currency, very expensive.
Always carrying a notebook in his hand.
Speaking with a pedantic tone.
Which happened to suit Comrade Nan Qingqing’s taste quite well.
Without realizing it, Lu Baiyang’s gaze grew several degrees colder.
He stepped forward and sat beside Nan Qingqing.
Nan Qingqing didn’t notice him either.
Continuing her conversation with the young male comrade.
Finally.
It was the male comrade who was more considerate. Seeing Lu Baiyang’s impatience, he said reluctantly, “Since your destination is also Nancheng, we can get together properly after we arrive in Nancheng and have a thorough, enjoyable conversation.”
Nan Qingqing smiled and nodded.
Finally.
The male comrade asked eagerly, “After I go back and organize your insights on ‘La Dame aux Camélias,’ I’d like to publish them in the newspaper. May I include your name as author?”
Nan Qingqing nodded generously, “Of course you may.”
The male comrade said with a smile, “My name is Xiao Jian.”
Before Nan Qingqing could react.
Nan Honghong suddenly laughed.
Xiao Jian frowned.
His name, while not exactly majestic, was still perfectly respectable. He didn’t understand what was so funny.
And the female comrade laughing at him was precisely one of that married couple he looked down upon.
Xiao Jian’s face flushed red.
Nan Qingqing naturally knew what Nan Honghong was laughing about.
Xiao Jian.
In the future.
This name would become a household name.
When My Fair Princess became wildly popular.
Xiao Jian explained, “Because my father was a Red Army soldier who personally experienced several wars. When I was born, my father hoped our generation would be our country’s sword, to eliminate all foreign enemies. This was my father’s beautiful vision.”
Nan Qingqing said admiringly, “We are already in an era of peace, and you have become a journalist. From now on, your pen is your sword, your weapon.
We hope for peace, we don’t want those times to reappear, and you journalists remain soldiers of the new era. You are still the ones exposing darkness and pursuing light in this age.”
Xiao Jian was hearing such arguments for the first time.
He said, “Comrade Nan, I will definitely become a good journalist who uses his pen as a sword.”
Nan Qingqing smiled radiantly, her eyes clear and bright like fine amber, her voice lively and soft as she said, “I believe in you, keep it up.”
Xiao Jian felt encouraged.
Felt that his heart was filled with strength.
There were still a few hours until they arrived at the station.
Nan Qingqing asked, “Should we find somewhere near the train station to make do for the night?”
Lu Baiyang remained silent for a few seconds before saying, “No need. Our Company Commander will be waiting for us at the train station.”
Nan Qingqing nodded.
She said with a smile, “Your military unit is quite thoughtful.”
Lu Baiyang replied in a clear, crisp voice, “I called and arranged it yesterday when I returned the car.”
In the past,
he would avoid troubling his comrades whenever possible.
But this time, the situation was special.
Nan Qingqing sat cross-legged and whispered, “Then I’ll take a short nap. Wake me when we arrive, so you don’t end up taking me all the way to the Great Northern Wilderness and lose me for good.”
Lu Baiyang said earnestly, “I could find you.”
After a pause,
he added, “No matter where I take you, I could always find you.”
Nan Qingqing, seeing his serious expression, was left speechless.
Forget it.
If he couldn’t tell she was joking, so be it.
Nan Qingqing leaned against the partition and closed her eyes.
The train jolted, and the engine roared loudly.
Despite the noise and commotion,
Nan Qingqing actually fell asleep.
Her body tilted
and came to rest precisely on Lu Baiyang’s shoulder.
Lu Baiyang instantly stiffened, not moving a muscle.
Xiao Jian, lying on the bunk,
watched as Lu Baiyang sat there, legs apart, his well-developed muscles straining against his trousers. To avoid waking Nan Qingqing, he even slowed his breathing.
Only his hawk-like eyes remained deep and intense.
Xiao Jian lowered his voice and whispered, “Comrade Lu.”
Lu Baiyang lifted his gaze,
silently questioning Xiao Jian.
His eyes were sharp.
Xiao Jian whispered, “Comrade Nan was just joking with you earlier. You took it seriously.”
Lu Baiyang: “…”
Xiao Jian continued, “Comrade Nan is a very interesting person. She often says amusing things—you can’t always take her seriously.”
Suddenly, Lu Baiyang found Xiao Jian’s voice grating.
Annoying.
It reminded him of the incessant cicada chirping overhead during their summer training drills.
Xiao Jian, receiving no response, gave an awkward laugh
and lay back down.
Nan Qingqing shifted slightly.
Her warm breath brushed against Lu Baiyang’s neck.
It tickled.
And tingled.
Lu Baiyang wanted to adjust her position slightly, but the moment he moved her, she frowned and murmured restlessly.
Lu Baiyang didn’t dare move again.
He sat as steady as a mountain.
Only the veins on his forehead stood out, bulging and distinctly visible.
His hands, resting on his knees, involuntarily clenched into fists.
In the darkness,
he steadied his breathing.
Grateful for his formidable self-control.
At midnight,
the train came to a stop.
Nan Qingqing was awakened.
Dazed and groggy.
Lu Baiyang stood to retrieve their luggage. By the time he returned, Nan Qingqing was already on her feet, swaying slightly, clearly still half-asleep.
It was midnight.
Pitch black outside.
With his hands full of luggage, Lu Baiyang had no free hand to hold Nan Qingqing’s.
Afraid she might wander off,
Lu Baiyang pulled an army-green undershirt from the luggage and tied one end around Nan Qingqing’s wrist.
The other end,
he fastened around his own wrist.
Nan Qingqing: “…”
It felt strangely reminiscent of leashing a dog.
The train finally halted.
Passengers disembarking at Nancheng filed out slowly.
Nan Qingqing stayed close to Lu Baiyang, occasionally getting jostled by someone’s hip.
Once off the train,
they followed the crowd toward the exit.
Lu Baiyang and Nan Qingqing stood under a streetlamp.
Suddenly.
A hand struck from the shadows, and Lu Baiyang instinctively moved to grab it.
In his haste, he forgot about the “weight” still attached to his wrist.
Nan Qingqing was flung backward, only to be violently yanked forward again by the chain connecting their wrists.
Her head collided hard with Lu Baiyang’s chest.
Gao Cheng and the others completely failed to notice Nan Qingqing, who was entirely blocked from view by Lu Baiyang. Like a pack of wild hounds, they charged in unison from behind and slammed into Lu Baiyang.
Distracted by Qingqing, Lu Baiyang paid no attention to the brats.
Before he knew it, the boys had piled onto him in a human pyramid.
Yet the one who suffered most was Nan Qingqing, trapped at the very bottom.
Qingqing was nearly crushed to tears…