Gu Lina Zha immediately picked up her phone and opened the new message.
"Be careful on the road; I'll be waiting for you at the main gate."
It was a brief message, without any superfluous words.
Yet, it instantly filled Gu Lina Zha's heart with a warm current.
She felt as if she could see through these cold words.
She could see the man's serious and earnest expression as he spoke them.
The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards, forming a sweet arc.
She replied with a "Okay" and added a strong nodding emoji.
Then, she placed her phone steadily on the holder on the center console, fastened her seatbelt.
She took a deep breath and started the car.
The engine let out a low roar, and the black sedan, like a swimming fish.
Silently slid out of the parking spot and drove towards the exit.
At the same time, in the military compound dozens of kilometers away from the airport.
Lu Mingyu was sitting on the single bed in his dormitory.
He was also holding his phone, and the screen displayed his chat interface with Gu Lina Zha.
Looking at the cute nodding emoji.
A very faint smile unconsciously curved on Lu Mingyu's usually stern face.
If his subordinates were to see his expression at this moment, they would probably drop their jaws.
Their Lu Team, who was decisive and as cold as an iceberg.
Could actually show such a smile at his phone.
This was simply an Arabian Nights tale.
Lu Mingyu's heart was indeed filled with anticipation.
An emotion he had never experienced before was slowly fermenting in his chest.
From fighting side-by-side in the game to getting to know each other online.
Today, they were finally moving from virtual to reality.
The girl on the other end of the screen, whose voice was sometimes charming, sometimes bold.
Was about to appear before him.
He put down his phone and stood up.
He subconsciously looked down at his attire.
A clean black T-shirt, a pair of crisp military-green cargo pants, and combat boots.
These were his usual casual clothes, simple, neat, without any superfluous decorations.
He tugged at the hem of his T-shirt and then looked at his pants, feeling nothing was amiss.
In his opinion, this was already very good, clean and tidy.
He was completely unaware of how eye-catching this outfit would be on someone with his tall stature and imposing presence.
After confirming that his attire was fine, he strode out of the dormitory door with long legs.
He walked through the long corridor, down the stairs, and arrived at the training ground outside.
The night wind carried a hint of coolness, brushing against his resolute face.
The compound was very quiet, with only a few distant insect chirps and the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling sentries.
Lu Mingyu walked straight towards the main gate of the military compound, his gaze fixed forward.
His steps were steady and powerful, each one as precise as if measured with a ruler.
Soon, he arrived in front of the solemn iron gate.
The sentry at the gate immediately straightened up and saluted him with a standard military salute.
"Lu Team!"
Lu Mingyu nodded slightly in response.
He did not go out, but simply stood in the open space inside the main gate, waiting quietly.
His posture was like a tall poplar tree.
Standing erect in the night, exuding a reassuring strength.
Time passed by minute by minute.
Lu Mingyu was very patient; he just stood quietly, his gaze level with the road leading to the gate.
A moment later, a beam of bright headlights, approaching from afar, pierced the silence of the night.
A black sedan drove steadily, finally stopping precisely in front of him.
The car stopped very smoothly, indicating the driver's excellent skill.
Lu Mingyu's gaze fell on the car.
With a soft "zzzt" sound, the car window next to the driver's seat slowly rolled down.
A face as exquisite as if it had stepped out of a painting appeared in his vision.
The soft light inside the car shone on her face; she was smiling at him, her eyes curved into beautiful crescents.
That smile was bright and radiant, instantly lighting up the entire night.
Lu Mingyu had seen this face countless times in photos and videos.
But when the real person appeared before him so unexpectedly.
The impact still made his breath catch slightly.
That lively, smiling face.
Instantly overlapped with the static photos stored in his mind.
She was more beautiful, more vibrant than in the photos.
Lu Mingyu didn't react much; his strong self-control quickly brought him back to his senses.
He didn't speak, but simply reached out and decisively opened the passenger door.
Then, he bent down, took a long stride, and got in.
The space inside the car was not small.
But after Lu Mingyu got in, it inexplicably gave people a sense of oppression.
This was an invisible aura.
It originated from his temperament, which had been tempered by years of high-ranking positions and life-and-death experiences.
Gu Lina Zha turned her head, her elbow casually resting on the car window, and observed him with interest.
Her gaze was bold and direct, without any hint of shyness.
"Mingyu, you look much more handsome in person than in your photos."
She said, her voice filled with laughter, clear and melodious.
This sudden compliment made Lu Mingyu's usually expressionless face show a slight hint of awkwardness.
The tips of his ears, in an unnoticed corner, quietly turned a little red.
He didn't look at her, but simply stared straight ahead, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
"Is that so?"
His voice was as deep as ever, revealing no emotion.
But upon closer inspection, one could sense a stiffness.
For a soldier accustomed to commands and execution.
Such direct praise from the opposite sex was more disorienting than facing a high-intensity combat drill.
His powerful self-control seemed to falter at this moment.
His mind was blank, unsure how to respond.
To cover his embarrassment, he cleared his throat and stiffly changed the subject.
"Where are we going for dinner?"
Gu Lina Zha looked at his feigned composure, and the smile on her lips deepened.
She felt that this Lu Mingyu, stripped of the invincible aura he had in the game.
Instead, he had a more real and endearing clumsiness.
She didn't continue to tease him, following his lead.
"To a private kitchen restaurant opened by a friend."
"Sister Liu's place, the food is very good."
Hearing this unfamiliar address, Lu Mingyu almost instinctively spoke up.
"Who is Sister Liu?"
His tone was very flat, like confirming information before a mission, carrying a sense of scrutiny.
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his impropriety.
Asking like that seemed too abrupt, and too much like an interrogation.
This was not the military, after all, and the other person was not his subordinate.
He frowned slightly, feeling that he had messed up again.
However, Gu Lina Zha seemed to be completely oblivious to the stiffness in his tone.
She smiled nonchalantly and started the car.
"It's okay, it's normal for you to ask that."
She gently reassured him, as if seeing through his thoughts.
"Sister Liu is a good friend of mine."
"She's not in the industry; she opened a private kitchen restaurant, and her cooking is exceptionally good."
She skillfully manipulated the steering wheel.
Letting the car smoothly merge into traffic, she explained.
"It's very quiet and safe there; I think you'll like the environment."
Lu Mingyu "hmm"'d, not asking any more questions.
He knew she was right.
For someone of his status, a private place was indeed the best choice.
The car drove smoothly on the city roads.
Outside the car window, the city's neon lights rapidly swept backward, creating streaks of dazzling light and shadow.
Silence once again fell inside the car.
But this silence was different from the previous waiting.
It didn't feel awkward or dull.
Lu Mingyu turned his head to look out the window.
The city's bustling night view reflected in his deep eyes, but left no trace.
His peripheral vision remained on the girl beside him, who was focused on driving.
She drove very carefully, her gaze intently on the road ahead.
Her fair, slender fingers rested lightly on the steering wheel, giving a sense of composure.
Lu Mingyu suddenly realized that whether it was her commanding presence in the game.
Or her cheerful demeanor online.
Or even her quiet presence while driving now, she possessed a unique charm.
A charm that made him feel at ease and secure.