Simple, clean, and full of youthful vitality.
She quickly changed her clothes and looked at herself in the mirror.
The girl in the mirror had long hair draped over her shoulders and bright eyes.
Her skin appeared even fairer and more translucent, accentuated by her simple attire.
“Perfect, just like this.”
She picked up her phone, thought for a moment, and dialed a familiar number.
The call was answered quickly, and Li Bingbing’s voice, full of laughter, came through.
“Hello, our soldier, is training over?”
“You weren’t cried out by your devil instructor, were you?”
Hearing her friend’s teasing, Gu Lina Zha also laughed.
“Bingbing Jie, I have something to tell you.”
Her voice was very low, her tone both mysterious and excited.
“I don’t have training this afternoon; the instructor gave me half a day off.”
“Really?!” Li Bingbing’s tone was filled with surprise.
“How did you do that?”
“Did you give your instructor some kind of love potion?”
“Oh, Bingbing Jie,” Gu Lina Zha whined playfully.
“I earned it with my strength! Full marks on all four assessments!”
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then Li Bingbing’s disbelieving gasp erupted.
“Really?!”
“Oh my goodness! Naza, you… are you even human?!”
“Did you secretly go and practice some peerless martial arts behind our backs?”
“Anyway, that’s how it is. I’m getting ready to leave now, to head to Haining City early.”
Gu Lina Zha said sweetly.
Li Bingbing, knowing her well, immediately understood the subtext of her words.
“Going to see your soldier brother?”
“Mhm.” Gu Lina Zha’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum, but full of happiness.
“Alright, you. Be careful and stay safe when you’re out alone,” Li Bingbing instructed.
At this moment, another woman’s voice could faintly be heard on the phone; it was Li Bingbing’s agent, Sister Su.
“This isn’t good, is it? Naza going to the city alone?”
“How can that be? It’s too dangerous. What if she gets recognized?”
Sister Su’s tone was full of worry.
Gu Lina Zha could imagine Sister Su’s anxious expression.
Before she could even explain, she heard Li Bingbing reassuring her on the other end.
“Don’t worry, Sister Su, you don’t need to be concerned about her.”
“She’s safer now than both of us combined.”
In Li Bingbing’s words, there was complete trust and pride.
Hearing Bingbing Jie’s words, a warm current flowed through Gu Lina Zha’s heart.
After hanging up the phone, she put her phone in her bag, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open to leave.
The production team had already prepared a car for her, parked at the entrance of the camp.
It was a very ordinary black sedan, perfect for keeping a low profile.
Gu Lina Zha greeted the driver, then pulled open the car door and got in.
The car slowly started, driving away from this military base filled with sweat and hormones.
Watching the green barracks and training grounds rapidly recede outside the window, Gu Lina Zha’s heart also soared.
She opened her phone’s navigation and checked the distance from there to Ninghai City.
Estimated time: four hours.
Four hours wasn’t short.
But for a heart full of anticipation, it seemed like just the blink of an eye.
Once the car was on the highway and driving smoothly, Gu Lina Zha finally dialed the number she knew by heart.
The phone rang only once before it was answered.
“Hello.”
Lu Mingyu’s deep, magnetic voice came through.
Just one word made Gu Lina Zha’s heart skip a beat.
“Guess where I am?” Her voice was like honey, sickeningly sweet.
Lu Mingyu on the other end seemed to pause, then said in a confident tone, “On your way to find me.”
Gu Lina Zha feigned surprise with an exaggerated “Wow!”
“How did you know?”
“Did you put a tracker on me?”
Lu Mingyu chuckled softly, the sound transmitting through the phone, making her ears tingle slightly.
“Because when you usually ask that, it means you’re coming to find me.”
These words made Gu Lina Zha’s heart bloom with joy.
“You’re smart!” She proudly lifted her chin, even though the other person couldn’t see her.
“I’m already on the highway to Haining!”
“The navigation says it’ll take another four hours, which should be just in time for dinner.”
She rubbed her flat stomach and continued in a coquettish tone, “I’m telling you, I had a particularly intense workout today, and I’m already feeling a bit hungry.”
“When I arrive, you absolutely have to take me out for a big meal to properly reward me!”
“Okay.” Lu Mingyu’s reply was just one word.
But it was incredibly decisive and full of doting affection.
“Text me when you get to the city, and I’ll pick you up.”
“Mhm! Then I won’t disturb your work for now.”
“It’s a bit boring on the road, I’ll sleep for a bit.”
“Okay, be careful on the road.”
After hanging up, Gu Lina Zha hugged her phone tightly to her chest, unable to hide the smile on her face.
She leaned against the car window, watching the constantly changing scenery outside, and closed her eyes.
In her dream, it seemed to be only his figure.
…
Haining City, the command center of a certain military unit.
Lu Mingyu put down his phone, the slight curve of his lips not yet completely faded.
His expression was precisely observed by several team members nearby.
Inside the entire command room, besides the hum of machinery, there was only the crisp sound of keyboards clacking.
Li Xiaoniu and Zhou Chenguang exchanged a knowing glance.
The only person who could make their captain show such an expression, besides their future sister-in-law, was unthinkable.
Lu Mingyu’s gaze shifted from his phone screen, returning to its usual calm and sharp focus.
He stood up and surveyed the busy team members.
“A question,” he suddenly spoke.
Everyone’s movements stopped, and they all looked at him in unison.
Wang Yanbing, Wu Tianlong, Zhou Chenguang, Li Xiaoniu—the core members of the Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group were all here.
“Captain, please instruct!” Li Xiaoniu immediately stood at attention.
Lu Mingyu’s gaze fell on Li Xiaoniu and Zhou Chenguang.
“What are some good places to eat in Haining City?”
As soon as this question was asked, the entire command center fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone was stunned.
Their captain, the man whose mind was only filled with missions and training, was actually asking where to find good food?
This was more shocking than hearing about an alien invasion of Earth.
Li Xiaoniu and Zhou Chenguang exchanged bewildered glances, their faces full of confusion.
“Reporting, Captain…” Li Xiaoniu scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
“Normally, we… either eat in the base cafeteria or chew on compressed biscuits in the field…”
“That’s right, Captain,” Zhou Chenguang added with a bitter expression.
“We’re not familiar with the city. We probably know the layout of Haining City’s sewers better than its restaurants.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Mingyu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
On his serious face, there was a hint of helplessness regarding his clumsiness in daily life.
He looked at his two subordinates and said in a serious tone, “It seems your urban infiltration and intelligence gathering capabilities need to be strengthened.”
“How about this, I’ve decided to add a new training subject for you.”
“Starting tomorrow, daily weighted marches of twenty kilograms.”
“You will conduct foot marches through Haining City’s core commercial district.”
“Until you can draw a gourmet map of the city.”
Li Xiaoniu and Zhou Chenguang’s faces instantly fell, looking worse than if they were crying.
“No, Captain! We were wrong!”
“Captain, I’ll immediately hack into Dianping and get you the most comprehensive food guide within three minutes!”
The two quickly begged for mercy, their comical appearance making Wang Yanbing and Wu Tianlong, who were nearby, unable to hold back their laughter.
Lu Mingyu looked at them, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
But he quickly regained his seriousness.
“That’s enough.”
He waved his hand, cutting off their antics.
“I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be back after dinner.”
His gaze swept over the large monitor screens, and his tone became solemn.
“Keep a close eye on the monitors, report any disturbances to me immediately.”
“Wang Yanbing, you’re in charge while I’m gone.”
“Yes, Captain!” Everyone immediately dropped their playful expressions and responded in unison.
Lu Mingyu nodded, said no more, turned, and strode out of the command center.