It was 5:30 in the afternoon, the sun was still hanging in the west, and the shadows of the trees outside the window were cast into the house.
The room has thick walls and small windows, making it cool and sheltered from the sun.
It is mid-December now. The temperature drops a bit in the evening, so there is no need to turn on the fan.
Song Ran had been busy all day, but she didn't want to rest. She was not very calm after returning to this country, and she was eager to go out for a walk.
She quickly packed her luggage, put on her backpack and went out.
Just after I locked the door, someone came out from the dormitory opposite. It was an Asian woman, about 28 or 29 years old, with a cigarette in her mouth. The two looked at each other and smiled at each other in a friendly manner.
Although she is Asian, she has thick eyebrows, big eyes and high cheekbones, and looks very European and American. She is wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, and her figure is plump and sexy.
Song Ran judged that she was neither Korean nor Japanese, so he asked, "Chinese?"
"Hmm." She took the cigarette out of her mouth and smiled, "Are you new here?"
"Yes. I just arrived today." Song Ran's face lit up when he met his colleague. He asked, "Which TV station are you from?"
The other person raised his eyebrows and chuckled: "You are a reporter, right? I am Doctors Without Borders. - Pei Xiaonan."
"Ah, my name is Song Ran. Um, reporter."
The two walked together through the cool corridor and down the stairs.
Song Ran observed her casually out of professional habit. Pei Xiaonan exhaled a puff of smoke, her posture charming and happy, walked around the corner, pressed the cigarette she had just taken two or three puffs into the sand on top of the trash can, and said, "You are a doctor after all, so I won't let you be exposed to secondhand smoke."
Song Ran smiled: "It's okay."
Pei Xiaonan waved her hands to clear the smoke in the air and said, "You look very young. It takes courage to be a war correspondent."
Song Ran said, "You are amazing too. Come here to be a doctor."
"Doctors are still safer than reporters. Isn't there a ranking of the safety factors circulating here?" Pei Xiaonan smiled.
"What?"
"Volunteers, the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, peacekeepers, journalists, the Ku Klux Klan."
When Song Ran heard the last four words, his smile faded and he asked, "Do you know anything about the Cook Armed Forces?"
Pei Xiaonan said: "I know a little bit about them. I have come into contact with the wounded. They are an armed force that specializes in fighting against extremist organizations."
Song Ran asked: "Where did the weapons come from?"
"They have the support of patriots. Many East Koreans who have fled overseas, especially the wealthy and the financial groups, have provided them with a large amount of funds and arms. The government also supports them and shares a lot of military intelligence with them. Moreover, the anti-government forces are not their enemies."
Song Ran nodded to show that he understood, and then asked, "Where is your hospital?"
"Do you want to interview me?" Pei Xiaonan smiled.
"May I?"
"Why not? I'm just bored. Do you want to go to the hospital, now?"
"Not yet. The sun hasn't set yet. I want to look around first. Can you tell me the address and I'll come find you later?"
"Okay. But it's hard to find the way. There are no road signs on the street anymore."
Song Ran smiled and said, "I have been here for several months before, so I am very familiar with it."
"That'll do. Over at the old fire station."
"Okay. Thank you." Song Ran asked, "I'm about to drive out. Do you want me to give you a ride?"
"No. I'm with my colleagues."
The two said goodbye downstairs.
Song Ran started the car, drove out of the campus and headed towards the east of the city.
The concrete ground was bumpy and she bumped along, slowly walking to the area where she used to move most often.
Now, it is in ruins.
The hotel where she stayed before she left last year, an old building with a history of more than 300 years, has become a pile of ruins.
She still remembered the day the war broke out, when she stood on the roof of the hotel and looked at the battlefield, but all she saw was the blue sky and the bright sun.
Song Ran stopped the car on the deserted street and identified the locations of the breakfast shop, mobile phone store, clothing store, and motorcycle repair shop. Looking into the distance, she seemed to see a bus stop at the bus stop, and elementary school students with schoolbags on their backs jumped off the bus and ran to school chattering.
However, the small school at the end of the road had been razed to the ground in reality. The school gate, the wall, and the teaching building had long since disappeared.
Song Ran recorded the ruins around him, recalled the original shooting angle, and took several comparison photos.
After taking the photo, I realized that she came at the perfect time. The sun was setting and about to go down. The sunset and twilight blended together, adding a strong sense of sadness to this quiet and decaying city.
She drove her car, stopped and took photos in the city. The red sunset was the best time of the day for taking photos.
She captured scavengers, vagrants, old people who were still running shops, and employees who were still going to and from get off work... Many people were still surviving in the cracks of war, like the grass growing with difficulty in the cracks of rocks.
There were also some soldiers sitting on the roadside to rest.
Song Ran was walking in an area recaptured by the government army, so the soldiers she met along the way were all wearing government equipment. But she also saw some soldiers whose uniforms were similar to those of the government army, but not quite the same. They usually gathered in groups of seven or eight, with a few of them leaning against the wall and smoking.
Since they were able to hang around here openly, Song Ran guessed that they were the Cook Armed Forces. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many foreign faces mixed in with the East Country soldiers.
Even with just a quick glance, Song Ran clearly noticed that their temperament was different from the current government forces.
The war had been going on for more than a year, and the manpower was exhausted. Now the new forces on the battlefield were not professional soldiers, but mostly civilians from various industries who were trained for ten days or half a month before going to the battlefield.
But all of Cook's armed forces are former special forces from various countries, and their combat capabilities are terrifying.
Just looking at his temperament, he is obviously much more solemn and solemn.
She was still looking around curiously when a white mercenary on the side of the road noticed her.
When their eyes met, his cold expression gradually warmed up and turned into a smile. He raised his chin towards her and said, "Hey~~beauty~~"
His companion also looked over and whistled softly.
Naked teasing.
But in such an environment, Song Ran did not take it as an offense. He slightly curled the corners of his mouth and continued driving forward.
I heard someone shouting from behind: "Stay! I love you!"
Song Ran couldn't help laughing out loud this time. He didn't know what he was thinking, but he unconsciously imitated Li Zan.
She stuck her left hand out of the car window, raised it high, and gave a middle finger.
"Wow!" The team of Cook soldiers burst into laughter.
Song Ran looked at the rearview mirror. The mercenary who had shouted was kneeling and looking up, with his hands covering his "arrow-hit" heart, and he was already petrified; the others slapped him and laughed at him, while giving Song Ran a thumbs up.
Song Ran's smile widened, but the car continued to move forward.
This place is very close to the old fire station, just around the corner.
But at this moment, a gunshot suddenly came from the front, right around the corner.
Song Ran looked back at the sound, but before he could react, the group of special forces soldiers who were laughing and making noises just now had already sped up and rushed away. Song Ran turned the car, but he was not much faster than them.
The car stopped in front of the field hospital, and we saw a wounded man with bandages on his head and hands holding a female doctor in a white coat at gunpoint. It turned out to be Pei Xiaonan.
Pei Xiaonan was dragged backwards by the injured man, his throat tightly gripped, his face flushed red.
Song Ran quickly slipped out of the car, hid behind it for cover, and deftly set up the camera and zoomed in.
The injured man's clothes instantly zoomed in. It was a terrorist.
An hour ago, Cook's soldiers were fighting with terrorists in the west of the city. I'm afraid they went to the wrong hospital during the battlefield rescue.
Pedestrians and patients on the street dodged and fled, and the nurses and doctors carrying the injured at the hospital entrance also retreated and fled into the hospital.
Only one soldier went against the flow of people, quickly jumped down the stairs and rushed to the center of the street, chasing after the terrorist, pointing his gun at him, and warned him word by word: "let! her! go!"
Pedestrians quickly cleared away, leaving only the hijackers and the soldiers confronting each other on the empty street.
The Cook soldiers had already caught up with them, and they all drew their guns and shouted, "Put the gun down!"
Seeing this, the hostage-taker suddenly became violent, pointed the gun at Pei Xiaonan's throat, and shouted with bulging eyes: "Back off! All of you, or I'll kill her!"
"Let her go!"
“Back off!”
"Let her go!"
"You guys step back!"
Neither side gave in and started shouting at each other in the street.
The hostage-taker was unable to defeat their momentum, and was panicked and afraid. He dragged Pei Xiaonan backwards, trying to find a vehicle to escape.
The soldier pressed forward, following him, trying to close the range.
The Cook soldiers who surrounded them also wanted to catch up. The hostage-taker became more and more panicked and excited, and shouted, "Back off!" Suddenly he shot Pei Xiaonan in the foot threateningly.
"Ah!!!" Pei Xiaonan screamed and blood gushed out.
The leading soldier made a gesture, and the others all stopped and did not follow.
He was the only one who followed with a gun.
Song Ran raised her head from the camera's aiming frame. The soldier had his back to her. He looked thinner than European and American soldiers, but very tall. The sun had already set, and the setting sun shone from the front, covering his tall figure against the light, forming a halo.
He walked forward calmly and steadily; the hostage-taker retreated step by step in panic and fear.
The two of them quickly distanced themselves from the hospital.
Song Ran lurked carefully and hid behind a porch to take pictures.
I heard the soldier negotiating with the hostage-taker in English: "If you let her go, I promise to let you go."
The hostage-taker was in deep fear and yelled, "Give me the car! I will release her after I leave safely!"
Pei Xiaonan dragged his bleeding leg and shouted, "No. No! Li Zan, save me! Don't listen to him!"
Song Ran was startled and looked at the soldier. He just happened to be walking into the shadow of a building from the backlight of the setting sun. Song Ran's eyes were a little blurry from the sunlight, and he blinked several times desperately before he could vaguely distinguish the familiar profile.
She thought it wasn't clear enough, so she quickly pointed the camera at him and zoomed in -
Isn't that him
His jaw was clenched, his eyes were fierce, his mind was highly concentrated, and he aimed the gun at the hostage-taker.
Li Zan refused to give in. He said in a very cold tone, "My friend, I do not accept any negotiation."
"I don't accept any negotiation either!" the hostage-taker shouted manically, with the muzzle of the gun pressed tightly against Pei Xiaonan's temple. "Give me the car! Give me the car! Otherwise I will kill her and we will die together!"
"I've told you before," Li Zan took the opportunity to get closer, and this time his tone was very calm, and he spoke every word, "If you let her go, I'll keep you safe."
"Don't delay any longer! I'll count to 10. I'll really shoot. At worst, we'll die together!" The other party was almost crazy and tightened his grip on Pei Xiaonan's neck.
Pei Xiaonan shouted: "Li Zan—save me! Save me!"
"9! 8! 7—"
Li Zan held the gun and slowly approached, saying, "Okay. I'll find a car for you. How about the one next to you?"
The other party stopped the countdown. He was very alert, and did not turn his head, but his eyes hesitated for a moment.
enough.
"Bang!" A gunshot rang out.
Song Ran jumped in shock. A hole appeared on the hostage's head and he fell backwards.
Pei Xiaonan's face was splattered with blood, and he turned pale. He fell to the ground, dragging his injured foot and kicking the dead man away to keep some distance.
Li Zan put the gun back, strode to Pei Xiaonan and asked, "How are you?"
"My foot! It hurts so much!" There was a hole in her shoe and blood was oozing out.
Li Zan took a look, quickly picked her up, and walked quickly towards the hospital.
Pei Xiaonan quickly reached out and hugged his neck.
Song Ran stood up and followed.
She rushed into the hospital to see how badly Pei Xiaonan was injured, but once she entered the hospital, she was blinded by the bustling crowd and soon lost sight of them.
This field hospital was converted from a school. Song Ran walked through several teaching buildings and glanced at the operating rooms, but couldn't find Pei Xiaonan.
The sun had already set, and she thought, since he was injured, she might as well come back tomorrow. Now she decided to go out and take a closer look.
Just as he was about to leave, he looked up and saw Li Zan.
He was wearing a military uniform, standing on the steps at the door of a classroom ten meters away, with his hands in his pockets, chatting with Benjamin.
There was also the British soldier George, who seemed to have said something funny. Benjamin laughed so hard that he put his hands on Li Zan's shoulders and couldn't straighten his back.
Li Zan raised the corners of his mouth slightly and smiled faintly.
Doctors, nurses, and other people were moving around.
He seemed to have noticed something, the corner of his mouth lowered slightly, and he turned his head to look over here.
Song Ran immediately slipped into the corner, lay down against the wall, and pressed his forehead against the wall.
Her heart beat faster and she felt the blood vessels in her forehead throbbing.
After being stunned for a while, I suddenly felt that I shouldn't hide.
But, now that I meet him, what should I say to him
It seems like there is nothing to say.
But... it's okay to say hello... She is very generous...
The two little people in her mind were entangled and fighting, and in the end, she didn't even think about looking at his face clearly...
She slowly leaned her head out and looked over there—
There was no one on the steps anymore.
Only the last faint glow of sunset glow remained in the sky.
…
Song Ran held the camera and walked around the hospital aimlessly, but he could no longer be seen.
After leaving the hospital, the group of Cook soldiers who had been teasing her at the door had long disappeared.
She slowly walked back to the car and leaned on the driver's seat for a moment. During this time, the sunset glow completely dissipated, and the color of the sky deepened, and soon turned into blue-gray.
The temperature also dropped rapidly.
Song Ran was sitting in the car. He originally felt that his schedule was full, but now he felt a little at a loss.
At this time, the phone rang. It was Jose calling to remind her that there was a curfew at night and not to run around. He would come to see her tomorrow morning.
Song Ran agreed, and asked another question: "Why are there Kuk soldiers in Ale City? Are they going to help the government army recapture Ale City?"
"No." Jose said, "It's mainly because there is an extremist organization's stronghold in Ale City, which has been occupying the northwest suburbs. The government army is preparing to fight a general offensive with the rebels. The Kuk army headquarters has also gathered troops here, so we might as well take the opportunity to seize the stronghold and clean it up."
"When will the battle take place?"
"In just two or three days. The troops in the south have already gathered towards Ale City."
Song Ran had a general understanding of it, and would discuss more in detail after meeting Jose.
She drove back to the university and bought a portion of Eastern-style pancakes from the housekeeper as dinner when she entered the dormitory.
She walked up the dark and heavy corridor and saw soldiers coming down the stairs.
She went up the corridor and vaguely heard strange noises.
Song Ran didn't pay much attention to it. It was not until he returned to the dormitory and closed the door that he could hear the noises from next door, the sounds of sex, like intermittent silk threads, mixed with English moans.
The bed shook and hit the wall.
Song Ran: “…”
Suddenly, she recalled a scene - Pei Xiaonan put her arms around Li Zan's neck.
Song Ran previously thought that all the people living in the building were reporters, but when he arrived he discovered that this was a girls' dormitory, filled with female doctors, nurses, and volunteers from various countries.
Soldiers often come in and out.
On the battlefield, people face killing, escape, and despair all day long; at this time, ambiguity, impulse, and desire are very easy to breed.
Isn't this how she fell in love with Li Zan in the first place