To say that Fangquan City under the bright daylight truly has no particularly distinctive features, but even the most unremarkable places have their moments of breathtaking beauty.
When is Fangquan City at its most beautiful?
Of course, it is during the clear, highland night.
A full moon hangs pure and bright, with colorful clouds filling the sky. Against the deep blue, curtain-like night sky, countless stars are embedded, both the stars and the moon appearing fuller and more luminous compared to the night sky over Yujiang.
Su Anxi stood on the lawn behind the hospital's main building, looking up at the sky. After the day's heart-pounding events, her heart finally settled upon seeing this vast expanse of night.
Liao Zhiping walked toward Su Anxi, holding a tissue and wiping his mouth as he went.
"Tomorrow marks the first day of the free clinic. If you eat so little, we might have to rescue you before the consultations even begin," Liao Zhiping said, glancing at Su Anxi before following her gaze. Indeed, the night here was genuinely beautiful.
"Don't worry, you won't get the chance to rescue me," Su Anxi replied, turning her eyes toward Liao Zhiping and extending her hand. "Give me a piece of gum."
Liao Zhiping shot her a look of disdain as he fished out a pack of gum and handed it to her, grumbling, "I've noticed that sometimes you really have no shame or sense of propriety."
Su Anxi took out a piece, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. Chewing somewhat indistinctly, she said, "I don't understand how a man as stingy, sharp-tongued, and self-satisfied as you managed to get married. When we get back, I really need to ask your wife what she sees in you."
"My wife and I are a match made in heaven, a love without reason. You can't envy that," Liao Zhiping retorted, pausing briefly before letting out a knowing chuckle and looking pointedly at Su Anxi. "Wait, did you say 'when we get back'? I'm afraid you might not want to leave now, huh?"
Just as Su Anxi blew a bubble, hearing Liao Zhiping's double entendre, it popped with a soft 'pop,' leaving a sticky white gum clinging to the tip of her nose.
With a skillful flick of her tongue, she retrieved the gum back into her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and said, "Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what did they ask about?"
Liao Zhiping's smile grew even brighter. "Didn't you say it doesn't matter? Why do you care what they asked?"
Hearing this, Su Anxi unconsciously reached up to scratch her eyebrow, her eyes darkening with uncertainty. Suddenly, she fell silent.
In the afternoon, to welcome the medical team, the Hospital Director had said he had booked a place for dinner.
Vice President Zhang and the others, accustomed to simplicity, suggested eating in the cafeteria instead of making a fuss.
So, two tables were set up in the cafeteria—one for the leadership and one for the medical staff.
Su Anxi sat at the medical staff table, her phone placed on the table. She kept glancing at its dark screen, looking and peeking repeatedly.
Midway through the meal, as the conversation flowed, someone brought up the events of the day on the road, mentioning how Dr. Su had worked a miracle to save someone. This piqued the curiosity of everyone who already held a favorable impression of the beautiful female doctor.
Su Anxi looked up to find everyone watching her. With a faint smile, she attributed it all to luck.
As the conversation continued, they naturally shifted to the Armed Police Special Operations Team that had come to assist them, inevitably bringing the topic to the handsome Captain Xu of the Special Forces Team. Once mentioned, the floodgates of conversation opened, flowing like an endless river.
The doctors at Fangquan Armed Police Hospital often interacted with many comrades from the Armed Police Detachment, and those from the Special Forces Team were no exception.
They said that the special forces assault team led by Captain Xu had taken down countless criminals, rioters, terrorist organizations, and the like over the years, earning numerous commendations. Truly impressive.
They also said that the peace and security of Fangquan City relied heavily on these special forces soldiers. However, they were also frequent visitors to the Armed Police Hospital.
Minor injuries never kept them from the front lines, so those who ended up in the hospital were seriously wounded—including Captain Xu.
Upon hearing this, Su Anxi’s heart tightened abruptly. Her mouth moved faster than her mind as she asked, "Xu Yu… the captain, has also been injured?"
"The special forces captain is human too, not some invincible iron man. He’s taken bullet wounds and knife injuries multiple times. To be honest, three years ago, if that knife to his chest had been just a bit off, even a god couldn’t have saved him."
A young male doctor who had participated in the rescue back then, noticing that Dr. Su, who had hardly spoken, was finally asking questions, happily explained with vivid detail.
Su Anxi nodded in understanding, picked up her chopsticks to grab some food, and resumed her detached demeanor.
Seeing Su Anxi fall silent again, the male doctor couldn’t help but ask, "Is Dr. Su also interested in Captain Xu?"
"Don’t talk nonsense!" Xiao Wang immediately jumped in to defend their Dr. Su. "Our Dr. Su and Captain Xu are from the same hometown, childhood friends, and neighbors. It’s only natural to show some concern so she can answer if anyone asks back home!" She then jokingly pointed at the other female nurses and laughed, "It’s us who are interested in Captain Xu."
"Exactly," Liao Zhiping, sitting beside Su Anxi, chimed in casually while stuffing a rib into his mouth.
Su Anxi shot a glance at Liao Zhiping, then put down her bowl and chopsticks, saying to everyone, "I’m done eating. Take your time."
With that, she picked up her phone and headed out of the cafeteria.
Behind her, the excited voices of the girls echoed, "Hey, guess what I found out today?"
"What?"
After "what," nothing else followed, as Su Anxi had already left the cafeteria…
Now, under the moonlight, seeing Su Anxi’s expression, Liao Zhiping couldn’t hold back his laughter. "Su Anxi, you’re just stubborn as a mule, still putting on an act with me."
"If you won’t say it, forget it." Su Anxi turned to leave but was pulled back by Liao Zhiping.
"Xu Yu… has been single all along," Liao Zhiping said.
Su Anxi looked at Liao Zhiping, her eyes calm and unreadable.
After a moment, she suddenly turned to face the dark, distant mountains, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips as she lowered her gaze. "Single… all along."
…
The base of the Fangquan Armed Police Special Operations Team was far from the city’s hustle and bustle, nestled quietly at the foot of the mountains. The autumn night was cool, and the chilly autumn wind swept through every corner of the barracks.
In the office, Xu Yu leaned back in his chair, his posture noticeably more relaxed when alone. A cigarette dangled from the fingertips of his left hand as he brought it to his lips, while his right hand held a report. He exhaled a leisurely puff of smoke.
"Hey, Old Xu, why is that kid Xia Junnan still running laps on the field?"
Qiu Dongyuan walked straight in, placed a folder on the desk, and picked up a cup to fill with water from the dispenser as he spoke.
"If he could put half as much effort into his physical training as he does into other things, I wouldn’t have to make him do extra drills," Xu Yu said, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray and glancing at Qiu Dongyuan, who was walking toward him with a cup of water.
Qiu Dongyuan took two sips of water, thumped the cup onto Xu Yu's desk, and sat down in the chair opposite him, smiling as he said, "I really like that kid Junnan's brains. In this era of technology and information, high-tech talent is hard to come by. As for physical fitness, we can balance it out gradually, step by step!"
Xu Yu glanced up at Qiu Dongyuan, a faint smile curling his lips. "So, you're doing your political instructor's work on me now?"
"I handle the paperwork, you handle the action. I deal with ideological work, you deal with people. We're like the Divine Condor Heroes—how could I possibly be doing any work on you?" Qiu Dongyuan laughed, shallow dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth, giving him an amiable and approachable image.
"You're the one dealing with people." Xu Yu shot Qiu Dongyuan a glare, set the documents aside, stood up, and picked up the training cap beside the desk, ready to leave.
Qiu Dongyuan stopped him. "We're not done talking. Where are you off to?"
Xu Yu adjusted the training cap in his hand and glanced at Qiu Dongyuan. "Weren't you feeling sorry for that kid? I'm going to check on him."
"Let him run another lap first." Qiu Dongyuan said with a grin.
"With that hesitant look of yours, did you bring back some trouble from your trip to the brigade?"
Qiu Dongyuan let out a hiss and looked up at Xu Yu. "Can't you think positively for once?"
Xu Yu nodded. "If there's nothing, that's good. You know yourself—you're great in every way, except you're too soft-hearted."
"Don't talk about me." Qiu Dongyuan's face practically spelled out the word "gossip" as he asked with a smile, "I was rushing to the brigade for a meeting today and missed something. Care to share?"
"Share what?" Xu Yu feigned ignorance, his expression calm and composed.
"Don't play dumb with me!" Qiu Dongyuan kicked out, but Xu Yu dodged it unhurriedly, just as the other continued, "The doctor from the medical team, Su Anxi?"
Xu Yu placed the training cap on his head, adjusting the brim as he retorted, "Did that kid Xia Junnan tell you?"
Qiu Dongyuan chuckled. "Never mind who said it. It's her, right?"
"What are you hinting at now?"
"Still pretending with me?" Qiu Dongyuan grinned suggestively. "I remember back then, you were dead drunk, lying on the ground shouting your first love's name all night. It was Su Anxi, wasn't it?"
Xu Yu glanced at Qiu Dongyuan, ignored him, and simply said, "I'm leaving." He turned and strode out the door on his long legs. Just as he reached the doorway, he turned back and pointed at Qiu Dongyuan. "Oh, and by the way, we're not the Divine Condor Heroes. At most, you're the condor."
Qiu Dongyuan let out an indignant "Hey!" and hurled a tissue box from the desk at him, missing entirely.
Watching the tall, straight-backed figure walk away, he shook his head with a helpless smile.
Their Special Forces Team had an open but unspoken secret: Captain Xu had remained single for years because of an unforgettable first love.
Of course, only he knew that their Captain Xu's first love was named Su Anxi.
…
Black military boots struck the cement ground with a resounding, powerful rhythm. A gust of wind swept by, piercing to the bone and refreshing to the soul.
Fangquan City's climate was unpredictable, and the temperature difference between morning and evening was indeed significant.
But for soldiers like them, stationed in one place with duty on their shoulders, neither warmth in winter nor coolness in summer mattered—temperature fluctuations were nothing to them.
On the track field, dark figures scattered across the empty runway, accompanied by heavy breaths.
Xu Yu stood by the edge of the track, one hand resting on his gun belt, recalling Qiu Dongyuan's words.
Back then, I had just broken up. After returning, I joined forces with the special police task force to dismantle the remaining terrorist organization forces that had previously infiltrated the enemy's ranks.
At the celebratory banquet after the commendation ceremony, as the biggest hero, he accepted every toast without refusal, drinking until the world spun. The more he drank, the clearer Su Anxi's beautiful face became in his mind, and the clearer it seemed, the harder he drank…
"Xia Junnan." Xu Yu walked toward the track.
"Here." Xia Junnan stopped in front of Xu Yu, breathing heavily but weakly.
"Go eat."
"Captain, you're brilliant."
Xu Yu patted Xia Junnan on the head. "If you keep talking nonsense to the political instructor, it's ten kilometers without discussion."
Xia Junnan finally caught his breath, straightened up, and saluted Xu Yu, mumbling, "Yes."
"Get lost."
After Xia Junnan left, Xu Yu's phone chimed with a message notification.
He took out his phone and opened the message. It contained only two words: "No."
Looking up, he saw the message he had sent earlier: "Does Su Anxi have a boyfriend?"