The first invasion by the foreign race caught everyone off guard without any warning. Cities fell one after another, and humanity’s living space rapidly dwindled. In order to prevent the situation from worsening, they had no choice but to cut their losses and voluntarily abandon the peripheral cities. Massive protective walls were erected in the existing border areas, concentrating military forces to defend the walls, barely withstanding the attacks.
Subsequently, they faced several more assaults. In the initial stages, their information was insufficient, and the power disparity was immense, forcing them to resort to sacrificing lives and shedding blood.
As time passed, the situation gradually stabilized. Occasional attacks by the foreign race were still encountered, but they were mostly confined to the border areas and did not cause significant disturbances.
Recently, following the stabilization of the internal situation, the central authority planned to expand its territory and reclaim the cities that had been occupied. A dedicated military force was established for this purpose, named the Pioneer Legion.
After the establishment of the Pioneer Legion, their first major success was the recapture of City H, prompting nationwide celebration.
Chu Qianze glanced at the newspaper for the week, and unsurprisingly, it was still reporting on the events in City H.
In a recent counterattack by the foreign race, City H, once reclaimed, had now fallen again. Numerous articles in the newspapers extensively covered such events.
When City H was reclaimed initially, the impact was significant, and now, with the city falling once again, the public opinion is only more heightened.
As Chu Qianze’s gaze swept over those few photos, his eyelids drooped slightly, showing no particular reaction. He reached for another section of the newspaper, continuing to read the next segment.
The sound of the door opening echoed, and Shen Zhuofeng walked in from outside, holding a stack of documents. “Commander Chu, these are all the matters you need to handle.”
“Didn’t I just finish dealing with them?” Chu Qianze placed the newspaper down, and his brows unconsciously furrowed.
“Are you sure?” Shen Zhuofeng tugged at the corner of his mouth, providing specific information. “It’s been five days and over one hundred and twenty hours since you last dealt with documents.”
“I feel like it was just yesterday.” Chu Qianze sighed lightly, looking at the stack of documents piled in front of him, staring at them without moving for a while.
Seeing Chu Qianze’s resistant expression, Shen Zhuofeng sat across the table. “I made a little cake, added some extra sugar just for you.”
Chu Qianze lifted his eyes to look at the person in front of him.
“When it’s time, I’ll bring it over for you.” Shen Zhuofeng’s expression remained unchanged as he pushed the documents toward Chu Qianze.
“I appreciate your willingness to taste-test, but you should also be mindful of your schedule and not let it interfere with important matters.” Chu Qianze’s expression was serious, his words firm.
“…I’ll manage it myself.”
Nodding, Chu Qianze uncapped his pen and began working on the documents.
Seeing him start to work, Shen Zhuofeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since the first time he made pastries, as long as he brought one out, it was sure to work, saving him quite a bit of trouble.
Previously, Hu Jia had never mentioned such things. In other words, is Chu Qianze’s current behavior something only known to himself?
Watching Chu Qianze, with a slightly furrowed brow, displaying an expression of impatience but still diligently handling the documents, Shen Zhuofeng couldn’t help but curve his lips, his eyes involuntarily softening.
“Deputy Shen, I need water.”
Shen Zhuofeng picked up a cup and handed over a glass of warm water.
Without slowing down his writing, Chu Qianze took the cup and gulped down the water.
After a while.
“Deputy Shen, the little cake?”
“In five minutes.”
“Oh.”
“Deputy Shen, my pen is out of ink, get me a new one.” Chu Qianze had just finished speaking when a pen appeared in front of him, not his own. Because, for convenience, he usually bought pens in batches, so they all looked the same.
“Use this one for now,” Shen Zhuofeng said.
“Sure.” Chu Qianze wrote a couple of lines and exclaimed, “This one is much easier to write with!”
“Use this one next time?” Shen Zhuofeng suggested.
“That would be much appreciated.” Chu Qianze closed one file and moved on to the next.
“As long as it helps you complete these tasks on time, one pen doesn’t really matter,” Shen Zhuofeng said sincerely.
Chu Qianze pondered for a moment but didn’t respond.
“Deputy Shen, there’s too much here, and I’m too lazy to read through it all. Can you give me a summary?”
…
“Deputy Shen…”
Shen Zhuofeng put down what he was holding but didn’t wait for the continuation. He couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at Chu Qianze.
Chu Qianze rested his chin on one hand, twirling the pen between his fingers. Seeing Shen Zhuofeng’s gaze with a hint of confusion, he spoke, “Deputy Shen, you have a really good temperament.”
Shen Zhuofeng wasn’t quite sure what that meant. He rubbed his index finger against the tip of his nose. “I guess so.”
“Is that so? You know, if it were someone else being ordered around like this, they would have exploded long ago. It’s impressive that you can endure it.” Chu Qianze leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily. He seemed on the verge of collapsing.
Shen Zhuofeng smiled gently but didn’t reply.
He didn’t really see it as a big deal.
“How much is left?” Chu Qianze asked.
The question came out of nowhere, but Shen Zhuofeng responded directly, “What I gave you is all there is.”
“No more documents?” Chu Qianze suddenly sat up straight, pulling himself out of his slouched position.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll go out for a stroll. You take care of yourself~” Chu Qianze exhaled and stood up, circling around the table.
Finally done, it really wasn’t something a human should be doing.
As he walked towards the phone desk, a ringing sound emanated from the device.
Chu Qianze picked up the receiver without hesitation. “Hello, Chu Qianze speaking. What’s going on?”
“Xiao Hu, how have you been lately?”
Hu Jia sighed, his frustration evident in his tone. “What else can I say? The foreign race has been in turmoil lately, and things have suddenly escalated. I’m afraid the wedding might have to be postponed.”
“If you can’t get married, at least set a date for the wedding. It’s something no one can help with.” Chu Qianze motioned for Shen Zhuofeng to come over with a subtle gesture.
Shen Zhuofeng approached the phone, indicating with a questioning look if he should take the call.
“Oh, it’s really something… It’s like, have you heard the saying ‘It’s better to demolish ten temples than to ruin one marriage’? Of all the times, it had to happen now.” Hu Jia was infuriated to the point of almost spitting blood.
“How about having Deputy Shen talk to you? Would that help?” Chu Qianze suggested.
“Your Deputy Shen?” Hu Jia clicked his tongue twice. “Better not. Last time, I teased you a bit, and Xiao Shen there praised you. Was that your idea?”
“How could that be? That was Deputy Shen expressing genuine feelings. What does it have to do with me?” Chu Qianze chuckled silently and raised an eyebrow at Shen Zhuofeng.
“Really not going to chat?”
“Why do I feel like you’re trying to trick me?” Trusting his instincts, Hu Jia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Chu Qianze was about to speak when someone rushed in. “Report! Foreign race spotted, moving quickly. They’ve already breached the outer defenses.”
Chu Qianze’s expression grew more solemn. He addressed the approaching soldier, “Inform everyone to get ready. We’re leaving now.”
“Yes!” The soldier hurriedly ran off.
“There’s something urgent. We’ll talk later.” Chu Qianze said and promptly hung up the phone.
Securing weapons and equipment in place, Chu Qianze saw that Shen Zhuofeng was also prepared. He said directly, “Let’s go, Deputy Shen.”
Shen Zhuofeng followed behind as they exited the office together.
Within the camp, everyone moved quickly, efficiently carrying out their assigned tasks. They resembled screws and gears, each playing their role to ensure the smooth operation of the entire operation. Equipped with their weapons, they rushed out and joined Chu Qianze and Shen Zhuofeng.
One group after another, they lined up behind Chu Qianze, following him swiftly towards the exit. As they reached the gate, they clenched their fists at their waists, rapidly heading towards their destination.
The intelligence officer relayed information to Chu Qianze through an earpiece, and in the meantime, Chu Qianze organized the team and outlined the operational plan for the upcoming mission.
The ground trembled faintly, and an indistinct sound echoed from the distance, clearer than ever before. Local residents understood that the formidable foreign race had returned, and this time, with even greater momentum.
The timely broadcast echoed, “Everyone, prioritize safety. Quickly return indoors and avoid lingering on the roads.”
The message was repeated three times, paused for two seconds, and then repeated again.
An elderly woman, who had been hanging clothes to dry, couldn’t concern herself with anything else and hastily brought her belongings back inside.
A young child, sensing the unusual vibrations, instinctively reached out and grabbed the hem of his mother’s dress. Hiding behind her, he whispered with a timid voice, “Mom, I’m scared.”
The mother held the child’s small hand, bent down to lift him up, and comforted him by patting his head, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid… Let’s go back inside for now.”
Having just spoken these words, the mother glanced to the side and saw several individuals in military uniforms rushing toward the city wall. She halted her steps in the direction she was heading, quickly moved aside, and allowed ample space for these people.
The child remained silent, holding onto his mother’s neck with his small hand. Once Chu Qianze and the others had left, he used his tender voice to ask, “Mom, the big brothers are all coming out. Does that mean we don’t have to go back?”
The mother smiled but felt a slight sense of reassurance in her heart. “We still need to go back. Come, hug Mommy, and let’s go home.”
Chu Qianze picked up the binoculars, placed them in front of his eyes, and surveyed the surroundings. After observing the situation of the foreign race for a moment, he lowered the binoculars.
“Execute the plan as discussed!” Chu Qianze waved his hand and leaped down from above, taking the lead, heading straight for a direct confrontation with the foreign race.
Simultaneously, Shen Zhuofeng coordinated the actions of everyone from behind. Once everyone was arranged, he quickly moved to the top of the city wall to observe the situation.
“Where’s Commander Chu?” Shen Zhuofeng asked the person beside him.
“He’s up ahead.”
Using binoculars to look into the distance, Shen Zhuofeng happened to see Chu Qianze controlling the propulsion device, soaring into the air. After a rotation, he forcefully split the foreign race in half.
“It’s really…” Shen Zhuofeng put down the binoculars and instructed the people nearby, “Provide cover.”
“Yes, Deputy Shen.”
Nodding, Shen Zhuofeng leaped down from above.
Chu Qianze swung his blade downward, and the blade tip collided with the armored shell, producing a crisp sound. The blade vibrated wildly, and the sound continued, long and lingering.
“What a tough shell.” He clicked his tongue, increased the power of the propulsion device, and dove downward, narrowly avoiding the attack from the side. Taking advantage of this momentum, he adjusted the angle of his weapon and stabbed through the oncoming foreign race.
Behind him, another foreign creature leaped, extending its pincers directly towards Chu Qianze’s back. Chu Qianze prepared to adjust his angle to dodge, but a flash of sword light intervened, vertically cleaving the pincer.
“Commander Chu, you should wait for me to catch up.” Shen Zhuofeng swiftly dealt with the creature attempting to ambush from behind, then joined Chu Qianze, back to back.
“Wasn’t that what I was doing?” Chu Qianze tilted his head, giving a casual greeting with the back of his head.
Glancing around, even though everyone was holding their ground for now, swift and decisive action was always the best. To avoid prolonging the situation, Chu Qianze made a quick decision, “You lead everyone to hold this position. I’ll take a few people to capture the ones commanding from behind.”
Swinging his blade to cut off the tentacle in front of him, Shen Zhuofeng responded, “Be careful.”
Meanwhile, Chu Qianze had already activated the propulsion device, gliding forward for a considerable distance.
When the foreign race finished their attack, he landed on the ground. Then, as they prepared to attack again, he activated the propulsion device and swiftly moved away. Back and forth, he maneuvered in a serpentine pattern, quickly disappearing from view.
Based on his past experiences, Chu Qianze searched for traces of the commander. Because the commanding foreign race typically had lower combat abilities, if they weren’t protected by a surrounding group, they would usually hide in the shadows.
Following the traces, Chu Qianze landed in a particular location. He looked around for a moment, picked up a detection device for a quick scan, obtaining a general area but needing to pinpoint the exact location himself.
In the end, Chu Qianze’s gaze fell on a cave entrance.
Putting his weapon by his side, Chu Qianze walked into the cave but found nothing.
“Boss Chu.” A person appeared at the entrance of the cave and called out upon seeing Chu Qianze.
Chu Qianze abruptly turned around, and upon seeing the person clearly, his pupils contracted.
“…Wang Gou?”
Wang Gou’s pupils dilated, and his once bright eyes gradually became empty and profound. “Boss Chu, didn’t you promise to drink with me at the welcoming ceremony? Why didn’t you bring me?”
Chu Qianze frowned. Logically, he should attack now. He knew clearly that the real Wang Gou was already dead, and they hadn’t even found his body. This was one of the foreign races, and it was a type he had never seen before.
“Wang Gou” tilted his head slightly to the side, and his smile gradually widened. “Boss Chu, let me take you to see his brothers, okay?”
With that, he ran outside on his own. Seeing Chu Qianze still standing in place, he turned around with a cheerful smile, “Come on, they’re waiting for you.”
His other brothers…
A suspicion formed in Chu Qianze’s mind. He tightened his grip on the weapon, choosing not to attack immediately but instead keeping pace with “Wang Gou.”
Wang Gou finally stopped in an open space, turning back to face Chu Qianze with a familiar, simple smile on his face.
“Boss Chu, you all promised me, why didn’t you bring me? You can’t even keep your promises. You guys should die instead.”
“Wang Gou” walked slowly towards Chu Qianze, his expression turning sinister and fierce. His mouth twisted towards his cheek, then rapidly widened, revealing sharp, predatory fangs. “Hiss—”
The scream abruptly halted as its eyes on both sides rolled outward and finally focused on its forehead. A dagger was lodged there, and the creature froze in place.
Its mouth opened, and as the outer skin was punctured, it deflated like a leaky balloon, sticking to the underlying structure and revealing its true form.
“You sure love to talk,” Chu Qianze said, pulling out the dagger. The pseudo-Wang Gou collapsed on the ground, fixing him with a gaze full of resentment and malice.
Chu Qianze chuckled and kicked the carcass, “What a performance even in death. Is this some kind of drama queen bug?”
His gaze swept over the discarded skin, a slight retraction of the smile at the corner of his mouth. Leaving aside other considerations, this might be genuine…
Making a mental note here, Chu Qianze planned to have it taken back when he returned, hoping that it could be studied to yield some valuable information. This unfamiliar type displayed weak strength, but when did they acquire the ability to mimic humans?
As he pondered, rustling sounds emerged, resembling the dragging of leaves or the rolling of stones.
A pair of eyes, then two pairs…
Countless “people” revealed themselves, fixating on Chu Qianze and slowly advancing toward him.
The faces of these “people” were all familiar to Chu Qianze – they were his comrades. Those comrades for whom, due to the chaos of the battlefield, not even bodies were found, only clothing serving as substitutes for ashes.
Watching the “people” surrounding him, as well as the commander in the back grinning, Chu Qianze’s eyes flashed with a chilling light. Slowly, a frosty arc curled up at the corner of his mouth, and a murderous intent spread from all directions.
“I always found it disgusting before, but I didn’t expect that you could still lower the bar.”
When the movement of the alien creatures suddenly slowed down, and their formation was no longer as swift as before, Shen Zhuofeng knew that Chu Qianze had succeeded. Although he understood that the other party would accomplish it, every time the reality came, Shen Zhuo still felt a sense of pride.
This is Chu Qianze, the one we can confidently entrust everything to.
Once the command disappeared, the alien forces became vulnerable. Because they would be momentarily confused without guidance, unsure of how to act, their combat capabilities would rapidly decline without a clear target.
Their task was to seize the opportunity and attack to break through their defenses.
Encouraging everyone to accelerate the cleanup, Shen Zhuofeng also acted swiftly, fiercely cutting through the alien forces in front of him.
Before Chu Qianze returned, he aimed to clean up everything, hoping that when the other party returned, they would see that everything had already been concluded. Perhaps he would receive some compliments for handling things so efficiently.
Chu Qianze stood in the open space, blood dripping from the blade, surrounded by a small mountain of corpses.
His wrist trembled slightly as he shook off the blood from the blade, but there were still some remnants.
“All wrapped up,” he muttered, tossing the blade aside without bothering to bring it back.
With a clatter, he ignored the corpses and swiftly made his way back. Simultaneously, he activated his earpiece, “This is Chu Qianze. Discovered a new type of alien, capable of disguise. Location is…”
After briefly describing the information, just before ending the transmission, Chu Qianze paused and then spoke, “Prepare yourselves mentally before coming.”
Ending the call, he grabbed the thruster, propelling himself into the air, landing on a tree trunk, swiftly maneuvering through the forest.
Swoosh! Tree branches quivered as he passed through, never coming to a complete stop, the motion seamlessly continuing.
One sound after another, branches and sharp winds brushed across his cheeks, bringing waves of coolness, but it wasn’t enough.
His wounds, aggravated by the intense movement, still weren’t enough.
“Arghh—!!”
The thruster reached its maximum power, and Chu Qianze ran, suppressing a roar, releasing pent-up frustration.
Bursting out of the jungle and reaching the outside of the city wall, Chu Qianze came to a halt, the hand on the thruster slowly dropping.
The alien creatures here have all been defeated, and the logistics team is currently handling the aftermath.
Chu Qianze exhaled deeply, allowing himself to return to his usual state. Once he confirmed everything was in order, he took measured steps forward. He stopped the salute from the others, nodding in acknowledgment as a casual greeting, the entire process calm and composed.
“Commander Chu,” Shen Zhuofeng called out upon seeing Chu Qianze’s arrival. The strong scent of blood emanating from Chu Qianze’s clothes momentarily made it difficult for Shen Zhuofeng to discern whether the blood belonged to him or the alien creatures.
“Not bad, you managed to conclude it,” Chu Qianze commented. He initially intended to pat Shen Zhuofeng on the shoulder, but his hand hesitated in midair, diverting to pat his own clothes instead.
The reason is simple; it’s too dirty, dirty to the point that even he couldn’t bear to look at it.
“You handle the aftermath; I’ll go back and check first,” Chu Qianze said.
“It’s already arranged. I’ll accompany you,” Shen Zhuofeng replied.
“Fine.” Chu Qianze didn’t dwell on the matter and briskly walked back.
“The frequency of these occurrences has increased a lot recently compared to the past,” Chu Qianze commented as he walked.
Shen Zhuofeng nodded, his gaze falling to Chu Qianze’s waist. “What about your long knife?”
“It’s scrapped, left over there. The logistics team should pick it up,” Chu Qianze replied. He wanted to scratch his head, but the thought of what was on his hands made him refrain from doing so.
Hurry back and take a shower, a shower.
Isn’t that your favorite knife?
Shen Zhuofeng looked at the empty scabbard without saying anything more. He felt that something was off with Chu Qianze, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
Back at the camp, Chu Qianze began ushering people. “Go wash up first.”
Seeing Shen Zhuofeng returning to his office, Chu Qianze quickly entered the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and began to undress. However, he encountered some trouble; the wound, mixed with blood, was directly sticking to his clothes.
Frustrated with the slow progress, Chu Qianze simply pulled his clothes apart, letting the fresh blood drip onto the floor. Walking under the water, he tilted his head slightly, allowing it to pour down from above, bringing a moment of relief.
He stood there, not even wanting to move his fingers.
Hearing a faint sound of the door opening, Chu Qianze spoke, “Deputy Shen, are you doing better now?”
Shen Zhuofeng responded, subconsciously looking towards the sound source. However, he realized that the bathroom door wasn’t closed, and he could even see a swaying shadow. He pulled his gaze back, trying not to let his mind wander, focusing on other things, but with his eyes off, his ears weren’t something he could control.
He could hear the sound of water droplets splashing on the ground, the noise of drops hitting the wall, and even some muffled sounds, probably from what slid down from Chu Qianze. It might be from his strong and powerful arms, possibly from the distinctive clavicles, or perhaps from the firm and slender legs.
Wait a minute, stop thinking!
Shen Zhuofeng wanted to cover his face, but then he remembered that the culprit wasn’t his face. So, he raised his hand to rub his ears instead.
Unaware of the turmoil outside, Chu Qianze wiped the water off his face and said, “Let me tell you, today I saw an alien that can disguise itself as a human.”
Shen Zhuofeng, who was initially uneasy, immediately changed his demeanor upon hearing this. After cross-referencing with the knowledge stored in his mind, he said, “It’s a type I haven’t seen before.”
“Yeah… Can you guess how it manages to do that?”
Shen Zhuofeng pondered for a moment, shaking his head. Even though he knew that Chu Qianze couldn’t see, he continued, “I can’t imagine.”
“Yeah… If it were me, I couldn’t imagine it either.” Chu Qianze used his hand to comb his bothersome hair back, turned off the water, dried himself with a towel, put on his pants, and walked out. “There’s been too much going on recently, everything’s too abnormal. It feels like a storm is coming.”
“Do you want me to help you with the medicine?” Shen Zhuofeng watched Chu Qianze’s body. The wounds had reopened, and some of them seemed to have been torn open directly. He suspected that this person had used brute force while undressing.
“No need, just do it casually,” Chu Qianze said offhandedly.
“I think you should take better care of yourself. If these wounds aren’t treated in time, they could easily become infected, and it will be more troublesome later on,” Shen Zhuofeng reminded him.
“What’s this? It’s only been a while, and you can’t help but come to look after me?” Chu Qianze sneered, ignoring Shen Zhuofeng’s words. He poured some medicine on his shoulder and was about to apply the bandage.
Shen Zhuofeng frowned, took a few steps forward, grabbed Chu Qianze’s wrist, and snatched the bandage from his hand.
“I’m not trying to control you. I just hope you can care more about yourself.”
Chu Qianze’s expression became subdued. “Give me the stuff.”
Shen Zhuofeng stared at Chu Qianze for a moment, pursed his lips, and decided to express his thoughts, “I hope you’ll let me apply the medicine before bandaging.”
You have many wounds that haven’t been treated.
“I’m not trying to control you, but… doing this will make others who care about you worry.”
After saying that, he placed the bandage back into Chu Qianze’s hands.
Chu Qianze chuckled softly, ran his hand over his forehead, and laughed. His chest quivered, touching the wound, but he felt no pain because he had long grown accustomed to it.
“When I went to hunt down the commander, I encountered Wang Gou.”
Shen Zhuofeng’s eyes widened slightly, a hint of astonishment on his face.
“You probably don’t know Wang Gou; at that time, you were likely still undergoing basic training, right?” Chu Qianze’s hair, previously combed back, fell down, itching his neck. As he recalled past events, his gaze seemed to lose focus.
“He was from the class ahead of yours, the youngest in our squad, a really simple guy. When we heard about the new recruits, he was the most excited. He made a deal with Hu Jia to surprise you at the welcome ceremony. He even said something like, ‘Let’s drink all of Hu Jia’s liquor.'”
He chuckled softly, his gaze slightly distant. “He died during the mission before the welcome ceremony. Since we couldn’t find his body, I burned his clothes and used that as his ashes.”
“Sir…”
“These creatures have the ability to disguise themselves. They disguised themselves as my former comrades, the friends I fought alongside. I used a knife to kill these creatures. After being killed, they stared at me with eyes full of hatred, viciously, without blinking.”
“After slaughtering all of them, looking at those eyes, I suddenly realized, maybe these people resent me? After all, they entrusted themselves to me, and I didn’t bring them back. It seems like it has always been like this. Haha, I feel that in these years, I’ve drifted further and further from the original plan.”
In truth, what Chu Qianze wanted to express was not these words. It was the fact that he could still mercilessly kill those “comrades” and even crave more slaughter.
Perhaps, in subtle ways, I’ve become a monster, a monster even I don’t recognize.
Seeing Shen Zhuofeng staring at him without blinking, Chu Qianze stretched lazily. “Forget it, why did I even tell you all this?”
He brushed away the annoying hair falling over his forehead, sighed, and then stuffed the bandage back into Shen Zhuofeng’s hands. “Sorry about that. I was a bit emotional just now. Forget about those words. I don’t feel like applying medicine anyway. Help me with it, Deputy Shen.”
His tone was light, and he returned to his usual state.
“Sure.” Shen Zhuofeng picked up a nearby medicine bottle and found some cotton swabs from the cabinet.
Dipping the cotton swab in the medicine, Shen Zhuofeng approached Chu Qianze, gently applying the ointment. His movements were delicate, with a hint of cautiousness, as if afraid of causing any pain.
Since the last time he saw him, Chu Qianze had accumulated more wounds on his body, resembling twisted roots on a withered tree.
Observing Shen Zhuofeng’s careful demeanor, Chu Qianze couldn’t help but smile. “At this rate of application, when will you ever finish?”
“I want to be thorough, to see every one of your wounds.” Shen Zhuofeng lifted his eyes to meet Chu Qianze’s gaze. Despite both having ink-black eyes, it seemed as if he could see through everything. His tone was earnest and sincere, originating from the depths of his heart.
“I don’t know the thoughts of those seniors, but most likely, they won’t resent you. We all participated here with a certain level of psychological preparation. In the end, it’s just fulfilling our duties. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. In the hearts of all of us, you’ve done remarkably well.” Shen Zhuofeng rarely spoke so much, but he felt that Chu Qianze needed to hear these words.
Chu Qianze’s gaze traced the contours of Shen Zhuofeng’s features and brows. Shen Zhuofeng tried to find a topic, saying, “Actually, I’ve known you for a long time.”
“Have we met before?” Chu Qianze’s curiosity was piqued.
“Three years ago, I went on a trip with my classmates. While staying in a village, we unexpectedly encountered an alien invasion. It had front legs like sickles, running fast and with strong attacking power. Everyone was running for their lives. I tripped and fell while escaping, and when I got up, the terrifying sickle was right in front of me.” Shen Zhuofeng paused and continued.
“Then you killed that alien, pulling me back from the brink of death. After I regained my senses and wanted to thank you, you had already left, leaving a few people to take us to a safe area.”
Chu Qianze furrowed his brows, struggling to recall. How could it be… no memory?
Back then, he was constantly on missions, fighting battles every day. As for saving someone…
“Later, when I wanted to inquire about your information, they said you were unwilling to reveal your name. But then, by chance, I overheard my two elder sisters discussing you. I learned your name from them, and when I went back, I intentionally sought out information related to you.”
“Discussing me?” Could it be they were talking negatively about him?
Shen Zhuofeng paused, deciding not to delve into the open discussions his two elder sisters had about marriage and physical relationships. Some things were better left unsaid.
“If it wasn’t for you back then, I might have been stuck in that moment three years ago forever. It’s because of you that I decided to sign up to come here. Anyway, you are a unique presence in my heart, and I believe many others feel the same way.”
“If you’re willing, you can continue talking. I really like listening to what you have to say. Everything you say, I like hearing it.” Shen Zhuofeng’s eyes formed a charming crescent shape as he spoke, not hiding his feelings towards Chu Qianze. He had always been transparent with Chu Qianze, allowing the various emotions of affection, cherishment, admiration, and love to intertwine freely.
This person offered his most sincere and tender heart, presenting it to Chu Qianze with openness, patience, affection, and warmth.
Hey, do you know what you’re doing?
Chu Qianze tried to smile, but it didn’t quite come through. Eventually, he raised his hand to cover the eyes of the person in front of him.
“Don’t look.”
Shen Zhuofeng was briefly stunned but didn’t immediately react, allowing Chu Qianze to cover his eyes.
After a while, he hesitated and spoke, “This way, I can’t apply the medicine.”
Chu Qianze lowered his hand, now calm. “It’s fine now.”
Already? Shen Zhuofeng observed carefully, and once he was sure there was no issue, a sense of disappointment couldn’t be concealed in his heart. There were still many things he could have done.
In theory, this was the best time to deepen their connection.
Although somewhat regrettable, Shen Zhuofeng still preferred Chu Qianze’s current state. He lowered his head and carefully applied the ointment to the wounds.
“If it hurts, just let me know.”
“Do you think you have great strength?”
Chu Qianze chuckled, watching Shen Zhuofeng calmly continue his work, seemingly accustomed to it. He spoke, “Got it, I’ll let you know.”
At this point, Shen Zhuofeng finished treating the shoulder wounds and started moving downward. He glanced at Chu Qianze’s collarbone, truly exquisite, as if a coin could be balanced on it.
As Shen Zhuofeng’s gaze traveled downward, he felt that things were taking an awkward turn. He reached Chu Qianze’s back and said, “Let me apply the ointment to your back first.”
Since it was all about applying medication, Chu Qianze nonchalantly agreed, feeling the cotton swab lightly touching his back. He couldn’t help but laugh, “You can use a bit more pressure, it’s too itchy.”
“Got it,” Shen Zhuofeng replied, and he increased the force in his hands.
“…That’s too much force.”
“Oh.”
After applying all the medication, Shen Zhuofeng took a roll of bandage and wrapped it around Chu Qianze’s body, making a not-so-neat knot to finish it off.
“All set.” Shen Zhuofeng nodded in satisfaction, appreciating his handiwork. Truthfully, it was mostly because Chu Qianze had an impressive physique, making even the makeshift knot look aesthetically pleasing.
Standing up to stretch, Chu Qianze felt his buttocks getting numb from sitting for too long.
From that point on, every time Chu Qianze returned from a mission, Shen Zhuofeng would proactively bring bandages and medication to his office and wait for him.
Because he knew that if he didn’t take the initiative, this person would probably just wrap things up casually.
Later, it evolved into a routine where Chu Qianze, after finishing his cleanup, would put on a random piece of clothing and wait for Shen Zhuofeng to arrive with prepared pastries.
While enjoying the pastries, Chu Qianze would have Shen Zhuofeng apply medication.
After dealing with a wave of extraterrestrials, everything felt relaxed.
Chu Qianze took a bite of the pastry, sipping water in between. He squinted his eyes, thoroughly enjoying the moment. “Do you know there’s a special feeling to the pastries you make?”
Shen Zhuofeng nodded in confusion, “Is there something strange about the taste?”
He had tasted it himself and didn’t find anything odd… but he couldn’t rule out the possibility that his taste buds were less discerning.
“There’s a saying that when you reach a certain level of cooking, you can infuse your emotions into the food. It’s like channeling your soul through your fingertips, letting your thoughts blend in. When you give it to someone you want to confide in, they can feel it after tasting,” Chu Qianze explained, picking up a pastry, examining it, and then taking a bite.
“It sounds quite mystical. I used to think of it as a fairy tale because I’ve never experienced it myself. My mom used to say that my dad’s cooking had a certain emotional touch, but I always thought she was just comforting him…”
Unexpectedly…
Chu Qianze glanced at Shen Zhuofeng and changed the topic, “Hu Jia hasn’t called us in a while. Is he overwhelmed with work?”
Shen Zhuofeng blinked and suggested, “Do you want to give him a call?”
Standing up and walking to the phone, Chu Qianze dialed the number from memory. After a while, the call was answered. “Hello, Hu Jia, what have you been up to lately?”
“Hello.” It wasn’t Hu Jia’s voice.
“..Hello?” Chu Qianze’s initially carefree expression became more serious. He instinctively stood up straight, rejecting any other thoughts.
His Adam’s apple rolled up and down twice, and he calmly said, “I’m looking for Hu Jia.”
“Hu Jia, the commander?” There was silence on the other end for a moment before the voice continued, “The commander, he… two days ago…”
Both ends of the phone fell into silence. After a while, Chu Qianze sighed, “I understand. Thank you.”
The other person said something afterward, but Chu Qianze couldn’t quite recall. He just listened until the busy tone indicated that the call had ended. He gently put down the handset. His hand trembled slightly, and he didn’t place the receiver back in its original position, creating a loud beep as the phone went off-hook. The beep persisted in the room, piercing and annoying.
His eyes carried a hint of daze as he stared blankly into space, the words from the other end of the phone replaying in his mind, refusing to dissipate.
This must be a joke.
Seeing Shen Zhuofeng approaching, Chu Qianze reacted a bit slowly.
“I might… right now…” His lips trembled, and he couldn’t bring himself to say the words for a while.
Shen Zhuofeng walked up and tightly embraced him, pressing him against his chest, much like how he was treated during the assessment. Shen Zhuofeng gently patted his back.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
Unable to find comforting words, Shen Zhuofeng repeated these words over and over again, echoing in the room along with the persistent beep.
“Cut—!” The director’s voice sounded, accompanied by the stifled sound of sobbing nearby.
Chu Qianze tried to break free but found himself held tightly.
“Can you let go?” he said with a hint of resignation in his tone.
Shen Hezhi looked at the person in front of him and retracted his hands. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Chu Qianze stepped back, distancing himself from the embrace. His eyes drooped at the corners, lacking his usual laziness, and appeared somewhat somber.
“That’s a wrap! That’s a wrap for today!” the director shouted.
Upon hearing these words, Chu Qianze was the first to leave, walking out of the set on his own.
“What’s wrong with Brother Chu?” someone asked.
“I don’t know, maybe he got too into the role? Let him calm down.”
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