Entering June, the Imperial City becomes hotter. Walking on the concrete street is like walking in a hot and baking desert.
The "Our Flag" column team has successfully completed the program production and is just waiting for it to be broadcast online during the summer vacation.
On the day we finished work, we all had dinner together.
The director particularly praised Song Ran at the table. Although several reporters were interviewing and filming popular military figures at the same time, Song Ran was always able to unexpectedly start with the details, discover the touching stories behind the characters, get rid of stereotypes, and add many interesting or touching subplots.
Little A praised: "Song Ran looks introverted and gentle, but he is patient and sharp when doing things. It is so comfortable to work with you. How about you come to work here."
Song Ran smiled: "I have been resigning for too long and am used to being unorganized. I am afraid that I will not be able to adjust well."
More importantly, she is about to start writing "The Floating Century".
She declined politely, and no one stayed. After all, she has a good reputation and it would be better to be a freelance journalist.
Everyone sat around the table and chatted while eating.
During the dinner, someone mentioned Liangcheng TV's reality show "I Am a Military Trainee". That show is very popular recently. The stars receive military training in the army, and the instructors strictly discipline the spoiled stars.
Little B complained: "In recent years, the entertainment industry has been all about sensationalism and clichés!"
Song Ran had seen that program at home. Among the instructors were Li Zan's teammates, and Shen Bei's name was at the end of the film.
She was inexplicably alert and sent a message asking if Li Zan participated in the show. Li Zan replied no.
"Why don't you go?"
"Not interested in."
While Song Ran was struggling, Li Zan sent a message: "Do you want to ask Shen Bei?"
He was so magnanimous, and she simply stated: "I'm afraid she will chase you again."
Li Zan replied with three words: "We have a master."
He rarely said such things. She blushed, but kept pushing further: "It's not okay for a celebrity to chase you."
Li Zan said: "Do you think I am catching a thief? A bunch of people are chasing me."
Song Ran chuckled, and the matter was over.
Thinking of this, Song Ran couldn't help but smile.
Beside him, the director clicked his tongue while watching the news on his mobile phone. It said that extremist organizations went on a killing spree in Su Rui City in the middle of the Eastern Kingdom, beheading hundreds of government prisoners and civilians. They also dragged three Cook soldiers behind the car and drove them hundreds of kilometers through thorny terrain, and tortured them to death.
Song Ran shuddered as he felt like there were thorns all over his body.
Little C asked angrily: "Are these terrorists raised by animals?"
Li Zan had just finished taking a shower when he saw the news.
He stood in front of the window and looked at the mountains and forests. In early June, the vegetation on Luoyu Mountain was lush and green.
The phone suddenly rang, it was from the United States.
Benjamin didn't beat around the bush and said straight to the point: "Lee, do you want to join the Cook Armed Forces?"
Li Zan has always been paying attention.
At the end of last year, a non-governmental armed force emerged in Dongguo, code-named Cook, specializing in terrorists. Many former special operations soldiers of the government and anti-government forces and international mercenary volunteers have joined.
Li Zan pursed his lips and said, "I am an officer in the military, and it is impossible to join other armed forces. Besides, I cannot go abroad freely, except to go to the United States for medical treatment."
Benjamin regretted: "How I wish I could fight alongside you. Now there are many sniper commandos armed by Cook, but excellent demolition soldiers like you are scarce."
On the side battlefield, Li Zan's commonly used bomb disposal skills can save people, but on the front battlefield, his blasting technology is the most lethal weapon.
After putting down the phone that night, Li Zan found Chen Feng and talked about it.
Chen Feng frowned when he heard this: "You are crazy. You are a Chinese soldier. How could you go to fight in another country? Don't even think about it!"
Li Zan said nothing, lowering his eyes and thinking about something.
Chen Feng saw his thoughts at a glance and said angrily: "Even if you find an excuse to go to the United States for medical treatment, I will go with you."
Li Zan raised his eyes to look at him.
"A-Zan, don't be stupid. If you go to the United States and go to other countries on the way, you will have to go to a military court! Unless you will never return to the country in your life. Your father doesn't want it? Does your girlfriend want it?"
Li Zan had a calm expression and said nothing.
Chen Feng poked his forehead with his finger: "I said you are usually kind and easy to talk to. Why do you dare to think of such nonsense?"
Li Zan leaned back in his chair and said, "Then you approve my application and let me go to peacekeeping."
Chen Feng knocked on the table: "You can't even pass the psychological test, how can I let you out?!"
"Don't lie to me, I know it." Li Zan said, "I have no problem simulating actual combat now. I can do all tasks. Even in actual combat, my main purpose is not to dismantle bombs, but to blast."
"you… "
Li Zan looked stubborn and calm. Chen Feng stared at him for a long time and sighed: "I knew this was your knot. You can go if you insist. Three months, you go to the border to fight for three months. If you pass the performance, I will let you go."
Li Zan said: "Okay."
Chen Feng was speechless for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "The answer is so early, what if Reporter Song doesn't agree?"
Li Zan said: "She knows, I told her."
Chen Feng had no choice but to say: "Your army is too special, so the organization investigated your girlfriend's background."
Li Zan was not surprised by this.
"There is nothing wrong with her family background and relatives. By the way, her mother is Director Ran of xxx."
Li Zan was stunned for a moment, but didn't care.
"Is your girlfriend also going to the Imperial City now?" Chen Feng said, "A-Zan, although I want to keep you here, Liangcheng is small and you have a wider room for improvement. Falcon Assault in the Imperial City The team gathers the top elites in the country, and it is the best place for you. You are smart and well-educated. Wouldn't it be good to study hard with Colonel Lin and try to transfer there after two years, so that you can take care of both career and love? "
"I am a captain who is very powerful in Liang City. But in the Imperial City, I can catch a lot of them."
"But you're still young."
"I just thought about it clearly before making the decision now." Li Zan said, "If I can't get over this hurdle, I won't be able to make a difference on a more competitive platform. I will only be eliminated. I pretended to be fine and Zhan Zhan I went to the Imperial City with the glory of Colonel Lin and me. What next? When facing more difficult and dangerous actual combat tasks at the national level, I still have psychological problems and my performance is inferior to that of the elite comrades around me, and I may even commit crimes. Big mistake. Instructor, can you still help me at that time? What future do I have?"
Chen Feng was stunned and suddenly understood what the military doctor said.
He has a clearer and longer-term plan for his future than anyone else.
…
Chen Feng quickly arranged a three-month border mission for Li Zan.
Before departure, Li Zan applied for two days of sick leave and went to the imperial city's military medical experts to check his ears.
Taking the bus to the Imperial City, as soon as I got out of the station, I saw Song Ran waiting in the crowd. She caught sight of him, stood on tiptoes and waved to him, her eyes as bright as water.
Li Zan walked towards her quickly, and she trotted over and threw herself into his arms and hugged his waist.
He hugged her extra hard, took his chin and rubbed her temples tightly.
After not seeing each other for half a month, it was natural to go back to the hotel for a lot of trouble and lingering, and we didn’t go out for a late-night snack until midnight.
In mid-June, the Imperial City was very hot. There is an office area near the hotel, and there are many white-collar workers eating late at night, so it is very lively.
The two of them were sitting in the skewers shop, looking like college students visiting the Imperial City.
I ordered a variety of skewers and two cans of iced drinks.
Song Ran sat opposite him, in a good mood, dangling her feet under the table, rubbing against his legs from time to time.
Li Zan looked at her without blinking.
Perhaps because of the night outside the window, her face was particularly soft and fair. I just took a shower before going out, and I feel more hydrated. The cheeks are also white and pink. Every time after making love, her face would stay red for a long time, and her eyes would be as clear as if they had been washed with water.
She gradually noticed his direct look in his eyes and asked, "Why do you look at me like that?"
Li Zan said: "I haven't seen you for a long time. Make up for it."
Song Ran laughed and kicked him under the table.
She held her chin in her hands and looked at him openly.
Delicate eyebrows, high bridge of nose, thin lips. She liked his eyes the most, they were always gentle, clear and clean, just like his heart. And she knew that those eyes would be as sharp and fierce as his decisiveness on the battlefield.
When they first met, she only saw his eyes. When he smiled at her, he was crooked, but when he looked at the bomb, he was serious.
"slowly."
"Um?"
"I'm going to go on a mission at the border this time, for three months."
She put her hands away and folded them flat on the table: "Did the instructor agree with you to go to peacekeeping?"
"It depends on the results."
She grinned: "Then I think you're fine."
Li Zan looked at her and suddenly reached out and pinched her face hard.
Song Ran: "..."
The waiter brought the skewers. Song Ran tasted the skewers first and said, "It's not as delicious as the ones from Dongguo."
"Is it?"
Song Ran handed it to his mouth, he took a bite and chewed it a few times: "Yeah."
"Let's eat it when we go to Dongguo later."
Li Zan: "You want to go too?"
Song Rangang bit down on the slice of toasted bun, then let go and said, "My book."
Li Zan nodded and said, "If you go again, there will be no TV station to help you."
"It's okay. I have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dongguo and they can give me support."
He raised his eyes: "So powerful?"
She raised her chin: "You don't even look at who is sitting in front of you."
Li Zan couldn't help laughing.
The two of them chatted and finished eating skewers at two o'clock in the morning. We went back to the hotel, took a quick shower, and then fell asleep hugging each other.
It turned out to be a dreamless night, and I slept peacefully until about ten o'clock the next morning.
Song Ran was woken up by her cell phone. As soon as she saw the word "Ran Mama" on the screen, she woke up immediately and jumped up from Li Zan's arms.
Li Zan squinted his eyes, feeling sleepy.
Song Ran made a silent gesture and ran to the window: "Hello, mom?"
Ran Yuwei asked: "Are you still sleeping?"
Song Ran's mind went numb and he said, "No. I'm up."
"where is it?"
"In... Ping County, didn't I tell you about the research?"
Ran Yuwei: "How long have you been conducting secret operations? Are you planning not to bring your friend to see me in the future?"
Song Ran: "..."
She turned to look at Li Zan on the bed. He vaguely heard the content of the phone call and sat up from the quilt. He was shirtless and had a mess of hair on his head. He was not very awake. He lowered his head and scratched the back of his neck.
…
The lunch address given by Ran Yuwei is on the 33rd floor of Yuexin Hotel.
Walking into the elevator, Song Ran was filled with melancholy. He gave Li Zan a brief introduction to Ran Yuwei's position and personality, and said, "She is very controlling and has a very strong personality."
Li Zan asked calmly: "How did your mother go to work in xxx?"
"She was originally working in the Liangcheng City Government. She was divorcing my father in 1998, and it just so happened that xxx had an internal assignment assessment. She was arguing with my father about divorce, and at the same time, she actually passed the review test."
Li Zan calculated in his mind: "1998?"
Song Ran said: "My sister is only two years younger than me. My mother got divorced after my aunt brought the child."
Li Zan didn't say anything, not knowing how to evaluate it, and finally said: "It's not easy for your mother."
"Yeah. My mother has a strong personality and a great job."
Li Zan said: "You should be very similar to her."
Song Ran frowned: "No, she has a tough temper."
Li Zan: "I'm talking about your heart."
Song Ran: "They don't look alike at all."
Li Zan laughed: "Okay, it doesn't look like that."
Song Ran was a little frustrated and gave him a shot: "My mother may not like you in a while. Don't take it to heart, she won't like me either."
Li Zan smiled and quickly found a theoretical basis: "Isn't there an old saying in our place, the mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more she looks at her, the more she likes him."
Song Ran: "No laws in the world apply to my mother."
"Okay. If your mother doesn't agree, I will elope with you." He said, "Are you willing to elope with me?"
"..." Song Ran pinched him.
There weren't many people in the restaurant.
Ran Yuwei sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, with a glass of water in front of her and turned to look out the window. She was wearing a black and white suit, her hair was tied up, and she had green pearl earrings on her ears.
Li Zan saw it from a distance, leaned down slightly and asked, "Is that your mother?"
"How did you tell?"
"Your nose looks just like hers."
Song Ran touched his nose unconsciously.
Li Zan laughed at her: "It looks good."
Song Ran rolled her eyes at him, but she couldn't hold back the smile on her lips. Turning her eyes, she saw Ran Yuwei looking at them, and her little flirtation fell into her eyes.
Song Ran's smile faded slightly, but she couldn't help but tighten her hand on Li Zan.
Ran Yuwei glanced at Li Zan. Even though she had met many outstanding young people in the department, she had to admit that Li Zan was very good-looking. No wonder the little girl was so fascinated by him.
"Mom, this is Li Zan. Ah Zan, I am my mother."
Li Zan smiled and nodded: "Hello, aunt."
Ran Yu slightly raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Sit down."
She had already ordered the food, and as soon as the two of them sat down, the waiter came to serve the food.
Ran Yuwei said: "I don't know what you like to eat, so I ordered special dishes."
Li Zan smiled: "I'm not picky about what I eat."
Ran Yuwei had been working for too long, so it was accurate to see that there were many people. But it's rare to see a boy like this. His eyes are clear and watery, and he doesn't give people a sense of nervousness.
This child has a beautiful smile, his eyebrows are curved, and his eyes are dark and bright. He looks very good, but he is delicate and not aggressive. He gives people an inexplicable gentle and comfortable feeling. I am afraid he has a good face as the saying goes.
Ran Yuwei had seen a documentary shot by Song Ran before. Li Zan was wearing a military uniform. The military uniform gave people a fierce and heroic temperament. But after taking off his military uniform, he looked calm and restrained.
Ran Yuwei said: "I never knew you were coming to the Imperial City, otherwise I would have invited you to dinner earlier."
Li Zan nodded and said, "I didn't think carefully. I should have paid a visit first."
Song Ran helped: "Mom, it's hard for Ah Zan to come out in the army. This time he came out because... he asked for leave."
Ran Yu glanced at her lightly, ignored her, then looked at Li Zan and asked, "I heard from Ran Ran's father that you are from the Jiangcheng Military Region?"
"yes."
"Working as a teaching assistant?"
Song Ran secretly screamed, it must be Song Yang's big mouth, his father must have said bad things about him in front of his mother. She answered for Li Zan: "At that time, Ah Zan was injured, so he was an assistant coach. But he had returned to the team for several months."
Ran Yuwei picked up an okra and asked calmly: "Returning to the team means being ready to go to the battlefield at any time?"
"..." Song Ran didn't expect that he had just jumped out of one pit and stepped into another. She turned to look at Li Zan, afraid that he would say the wrong thing.
Li Zan was about to answer what he really thought, but seeing Song Ran's nervous look, he hesitated for a few seconds and said something ambiguous: "Soldiers are naturally ready to fight at any time."
Song Ran smiled and agreed: "Defend the country."
Ran Yuwei didn't pursue it, pointed to the table with her chin, and said, "Eat vegetables."
The waiter served black-bone chicken soup with wolfberry.
Li Zan took a spoon and scooped out the chicken soup. The oil layer on the soup surface was pushed away, and the chicken soup scooped into the bowl was not greasy at all. Then he scooped chicken gizzards, liver, wing tips and chicken feet into a bowl and handed it to Song Ran.
Li Zan picked up his chopsticks and was about to eat. He paused for a moment, then realized something came to his mind. Just as he was about to put down his chopsticks, Ran Yuwei said, "I don't drink soup."
Li Zan: "Oh."
Ran Yuwei picked a piece of fish and put it into a bowl and asked, "Is Li Zan from Jiangcheng?"
"Um."
"Have mom and dad retired?"
Li Zan knew exactly what she wanted to ask and answered: "My father retired early and was a quality inspector for Jiangcheng Construction Engineering. My mother fell ill and passed away when I was four or five years old. She used to be a primary school teacher."
Ran Yuwei asked: "Are there any new ones later..."
Song Ran, who was chewing chicken feet, raised his head: "Mom!"
Ran Yu looked at her slightly: "What?"
Song Ran: "..."
Li Zan smiled: "No. My dad has always been alone."
Song Ran said: "A-Zan's father is so infatuated. He has always liked his mother A-Zan. He is very handsome and has many girls chasing him, but A-Zan's father only has mother A-Zan in his heart."
Li Zan smiled sheepishly: "I told him many times to find a partner, but he was unwilling. She said that my mother was stingy and would refuse to see him in a hundred years."
Ran Yuwei listened and said nothing for a while, and finally said lightly: "It's rare."
After the meal, although Ran Yuwei was not too enthusiastic, she was not too embarrassed.
After the meal, she went to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. Song Ran slipped over and asked, "Mom, what do you think?"
Ran Yuwei said: "I don't really agree."
Song Ran's smile disappeared, and she was silent for a moment, but her eyebrows relaxed: "I don't agree very much, do you agree generally?"
Ran Yuwei glanced at her in the mirror: "You are still young, wait and see for a few more years."
Song Ran knew she had no objection and breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought dad said something bad about him."
"Yes."
"…What did you say?"
"Your dad thinks you can find someone stronger, preferably a second generation."
"...A-Zan was not in good condition at that time, and they had a misunderstanding. A-Zan is also preparing to take the postgraduate entrance examination and study for a Ph.D. in the future."
"oh."
"..." Song Ran asked, "You also want me to find a second-generation official and a second-generation rich man?"
Ran Yuwei put on lipstick and looked at her: "I hope you find someone who truly loves you and won't betray you." She said, "You can get hurt a lot, but don't get hurt by love."
Song Ran was startled.
Ran Yuwei carried her bag and went out.
Song Ran followed her, and for some reason, she suddenly remembered Ran Yuwei's lonely and even self-deprecating look when she heard the story about A-Zan's father at the dinner table just now.
Her heart suddenly stung.
…
When they arrived at the underground parking lot, Ran Yuwei said to Li Zan: "From now on, when you come to the Imperial City, you will stay at home. Don't live outside."
Li Zan said: "Thank you, auntie."
Song Ran's eyes lit up at Li Zan, and she trotted forward to hug Ran Yuwei, whispering: "Does he live in my room?"
Ran Yu rolled her eyes slightly: "What a beautiful idea."
Song Ran shook off her hand and thought: It would be better to stay in a hotel.
Li Zan stayed in the guest room that night.
Late at night, Song Ran tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, so she sent him a text message: "Is your door locked?"
"No."
In the dead of night, Song Ran sneaked through the living room barefoot, and Mao went to the guest room and opened the door. Li Zan waited behind the door, fished her in, and closed the door very gently.
Song Ran stood up on tiptoes and hugged his neck, kissing his chin.
He laughed silently in the darkness, kissed her eyes, nose, and lips, and gently held her on the bed.
Song Ran wrapped her arms around his waist and rolled into bed.
Kissing, touching, hugging, going deep, everything is done in silence and silence. There was only the sound of sheets tangled. Taboos make people extremely sensitive, and Song Ran arrived in a short while. Inside the squirming air-conditioned quilt, heat evaporates bit by bit, and the skin warms up for a while. The heat overwhelms the cold wind of the air conditioner, and the air also surrounds the person.
In the silent night, there are hidden powers and sounds.
Until the trembling breaths, the friction of skin, the sound of fabric bursting... When everything returned to complete calm, he panted, slowly lowered his body, and got close to her.
She opened her mouth, and the last trace of air in her chest was squeezed out by him.
He kissed her wet eyes and stroked the sweaty hair on her temples.
In the dark night, Li Zan's eyes were clear and bright, looking at her deeply.
Song Ran's body was still feeling empty after trembling. She looked at him and suddenly asked softly: "A-Zan."
"Um?"
"One day, will you betray me?"
"Won't."
"You won't leave me behind, will you?"
"No." He said, his condescending eyes dark and calm, "If I leave you, let me be shot."
Song Ran was stunned for a moment, but the next second he covered his mouth and smiled: "What age has it been, how can we break up and be shot."
Li Zan said: "Then he will be shot to death on the battlefield..."
Song Ran stared and slapped him in the mouth.
He is a very sincere person, so she shouldn't have said this.
Li Zan smiled slightly: "I don't know how to do it, so what are you afraid of?"
"You're not allowed to say anything anyway." Song Ran said unhappily, "Touch wood."
With them, if you say something bad, you can resolve it by touching the wood.
Li Zan smiled helplessly, raised his hand and touched the wood of the bedside.
Song Ran got into his arms again, and after a long time, she said, "A-Zan, even if we are separated one day, I won't want anything to happen to you."
Li Zan narrowed his eyes and motioned towards the head of the bed.
Song Ran obediently reached out of the bed and touched the head of the bed, giggling.
Li Zan lay down next to her, suddenly raised his head, listened for a while, and said, "Your mother seems to be coughing."
Song Ran was shocked: "You won't be discovered, right?"
Li Zan took a moment to judge and said, "I heard her cough before you came."
"She had the flu in the winter and had a cough during the Spring Festival, but she obviously got better after that."
"Let her go to the hospital for a check-up. If you wait for so long, she will develop bronchitis. Besides, I feel that your mother's complexion is not very good, so she is hiding it with makeup."
"Then you go to the hospital tomorrow and I'll ask her to come with you."
"also."
The next morning, Ran Yuwei went to work early, but Li Zan and Song Ran didn't meet her.
The military doctor said that Li Zan's ears were recovering well, but he had to pay attention to protecting them.
After coming out of the hospital, he went directly to the airport.
Song Ran sent him to the departure gate, and then there was a three-month separation, and both of them were very reluctant to part with each other. Li Zan held Song Ran in his arms and talked for a long time by the floor-to-ceiling window. He didn't go in until it was forty minutes before boarding.
Song Ran waited outside the line, watching him walk past the security gate and turn around to wave to her. She immediately stood on tiptoe to wave, and then disappeared from sight.