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墨書 Inktalez
I turned my head away, not wanting him to see my current state of embarrassment. Tears, however, stubbornly welled up in my eyes.
So this is how it is…
The reason he coldly pushed me away that year wasn’t because he no longer loved me or had grown tired of me, but because… he was afraid? Afraid that the dangerous environment he was in would affect me?
This realization hit me like a heavy hammer, striking hard at my heart. It hurt. But more than that, there was an indescribable bitterness and grievance.
Li Heng, you fool!
Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to make decisions for me? Don’t you realize that your misguided protection is the greatest harm to me?!
The silence in the tent was terrifying. I could feel Li Heng’s gaze fixed on me. He probably… noticed that my eyes were red.
The atmosphere was awkward to the point of suffocation. Just as I struggled to hold back my tears, he suddenly stood up.
I thought he was going to leave.
But unexpectedly, he walked over to my bed and reached out his hand, awkwardly… patting my head?
That gesture…
It was too familiar.
When I was little, every time I cried, he would do just that—mocking me as a “little crybaby” while awkwardly comforting me by patting my head.
Memories flooded back to that carefree summer. The boy in a white shirt, his two little tiger teeth showing when he smiled; under the sunlight, his figure sparkled.
I could no longer hold back the tears; they surged forth uncontrollably.
I suddenly lifted my head and looked at him through tear-filled eyes. He was also taken aback, probably not expecting me to cry so fiercely.
His hand remained suspended in mid-air, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
"Hey... don't cry..." His voice was a bit frantic, completely losing the calm and composed demeanor he usually had. "Does it hurt a lot? I'll go get a doctor..."
"No..." I choked out, interrupting him. "It's not because of the wound..."
It's because of you, Li Heng!
It's because of the years we've missed!
It's because of the truths buried under misunderstandings!
It's because... I finally understand now that you, this foolish man, have been protecting me in your own way all along...
Even though that way is incredibly silly!
As I cried, I couldn't help but want to laugh.
I must look really ugly with both tears and laughter.
Li Heng looked at me in this state, utterly at a loss.
He fumbled around for tissues but found only a battle map and some compressed biscuits in his pocket.
In the end, he could only stand there helplessly, letting me "vent."
Once I had cried enough and my emotions calmed down a bit, he tentatively spoke up, "Are you feeling better?"
I sniffled and nodded, my voice still thick with nasal congestion.
It felt... a bit embarrassing.
Crying like this in front of him.
He seemed to feel a bit awkward too and cleared his throat.
"About that year..." he paused, "I'm sorry."
A delayed apology that had come many years too late.
My heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, both sour and soft.
"...I was wrong too," I said. "I shouldn't have... ignored your explanation and blocked you."
If only I had been a little more patient, a little more trusting back then... perhaps...
"I don't blame you," he shook his head. "It was my fault for not handling it well."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a sense of... relief as if something lost had been found again.
“Zhi Yi,” he called my name, his voice deep and serious. “I…”
What did he want to say?
I held my breath, waiting for him to continue.
Just then, a sudden rush of footsteps echoed from outside the tent.
Zhang Meng burst in, his expression frantic.
“Captain! This is bad! We’ve found a lead on the source of the photos!”
Li Heng’s face instantly turned grave. “Speak!”
Zhang Meng glanced at me, hesitating for a moment.
Li Heng frowned. “Just say it!”
Only then did Zhang Meng lower his voice and quickly say, “We intercepted an encrypted communication that mentioned… a codename: ‘Nightingale.’ According to our intelligence, this ‘Nightingale’ is likely… a spy infiltrating the press corps!”
A spy?!
There’s a spy in the press corps?!
My eyes widened in shock.
How could this be possible?!
All the journalists who came with us had undergone strict scrutiny!
Li Heng’s gaze sharpened significantly.
“Can we identify who it is?”
Zhang Meng shook his head. “Not yet. Their communication is very cautious; they only mentioned the codename and… their next plan.”
“What plan?” Li Heng pressed on.
Zhang Meng took a deep breath, his face serious as he said, “They plan to use the journalists’ identities as cover to launch an attack on our convoy during the Evacuation Day in two days!”
An attack?!
In two days?!
A chill ran down my spine.
This… this is terrifying!
Li Heng's fist clenched instantly, his gaze cold enough to kill.
"Immediately notify the command center!" he ordered decisively. "Activate the highest level emergency plan! Lock down the base! Conduct a secondary identity verification for all journalists!"
"Understood!" Zhang Meng responded, turning to leave.
"Wait!" Li Heng called him back. "For now, keep this matter under wraps, especially... do not let the journalists know."
"Got it!" Zhang Meng nodded and hurried away.
In the tent, it was just Li Heng and me left. The atmosphere was even more tense than before.
Spies... attacks...
These words felt like heavy stones, making it hard for me to breathe. I looked at Li Heng's tense profile, filled with fear and... guilt.
If that "Nightingale" really was a journalist, then this attack... could very likely be related to me!
Was my presence what made them feel they had an opportunity?
Did I... bring danger to them?
"Li Heng..." my voice trembled, "I'm sorry..."
He interrupted me again: "I told you, it's not your fault."
He turned and walked to my bedside, leaning down to look into my eyes. Each word he spoke was exceptionally clear:
"Xu Zhi Yi, listen to me."
"No matter what happens, I will protect you."
"Trust me."
His gaze was firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable strength.
My heart skipped a beat.
Looking into his eyes so close to mine, the fear and unease seemed... to dissipate a little.
I nodded almost unconsciously.
"...Okay."
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