Childhood Sweethearts (Seeking Collection)

"Tomorrow morning at eight, gather at the East Station entrance in Yangcheng. Be sure to wear your camouflage uniform and pack necessary luggage."

"The specific items you need to bring are listed in the box. You can prepare them according to the instructions on the box."

As the staff member, Xiao Wang, handed the box to Lü Qinglong with both hands, he added.

"Thanks."

Lü Qinglong nodded, took the box with one hand, and turned towards the door.

The parents on both sides immediately made way, leaving a wide, clear path.

"Qinghan, I'm downstairs at your place!"

Lü Qinglong arrived at the foot of a residential building and took out his phone to send a message to Lin Qinghan.

Lin Qinghan was his childhood sweetheart.

When he was six years old, in the last year of kindergarten, he was already 1.75 meters tall and weighed 80 kilograms. He happily walked home from school with his little yellow backpack.

On the way home, he suddenly saw a little girl from his class being dragged into a van by three strangers he didn't know.

The little girl cried out for help. He didn't know what possessed him at the time, but he immediately took out the arm strength trainer from his little yellow backpack and beat the three men black and blue, even leaving one of them in a vegetative state.

From that day on, they were inseparable, whether going to school or coming home.

"Got it, Brother Qinglong."

A voice, tinged with a hint of laziness, replied.

A moment later, a young girl in a white dress, exuding a fair and radiant aura, came skipping out of the building entrance.

"Just woke up from your nap?"

Looking at Lin Qinghan, Lü Qinglong's voice softened considerably.

"Mhm, just woke up."

The girl stretched, her beautiful curves revealed to Lü Qinglong.

Standing at 1.7 meters tall, paired with three-centimeter black leather shoes, her long legs were particularly striking. She radiated an aura of youthful vitality.

"Did you pack your things? I heard you have to report to school the day after tomorrow."

"Don't forget to bring your stuff, and remember to check the guide I found online."

Lü Qinglong acted like a worried old father towards Lin Qinghan, afraid she would forget something.

From childhood to adulthood, Lü Qinglong had always looked after Lin Qinghan, shielding her from any trouble.

Her parents were entrepreneurs and didn't object to their close relationship. Instead, they thought highly of Lü Qinglong and even invited him home for meals from time to time.

"Brother Qinglong, what about you? I heard the National University of Defense Technology is also starting soon. When do you plan to tell Auntie about your admission?"

"We can't keep hiding this forever. If you don't tell her, I will."

Lin Qinghan put her hands on her hips and asked with a slight pout.

Although she knew about Lü Qinglong's family situation, she felt that dragging it on wasn't good and that it would eventually come out.

"Uh, Qinghan, I've already told my Mom. I have something else to tell you this time."

"You've already told her? That's great! Oh right, Brother Qinglong, what is it?"

"I plan to join the army, starting from the grassroots level."

"Huh? Isn't it also good to join the army after graduating from the National University of Defense Technology? You'd be a second lieutenant right after your bachelor's degree."

The girl listened to Lü Qinglong, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"I know, but my brother and my dad both got promoted from enlisted soldiers."

"Graduating from military academy takes four years. I think that might be too long. If I work hard, I can aim to get promoted within two years, and then attend a ten-month officer training program. I'll still come out as a second lieutenant."

"Besides, you know my family's situation, Qinghan. What do you think?"

Lü Qinglong looked at the girl earnestly.

"I agree, Brother Qinglong. You know, I trust you unconditionally."

The girl hugged Lü Qinglong's side, buried her head in his chest, and sniffed deeply, saying with satisfaction.

Lü Qinglong smiled. She had always done this since they were little; this action signified her trust in him.

"Oh, right. I think Cheng Liang from our class was also planning to join the army. He's booked several tables at a restaurant tonight and invited our entire class."

"He announced it in the class group chat. Should we go?"

Lin Qinghan tilted her head up, looking at Lü Qinglong's face, which always made her feel safe.

"Huh? He invited us? It's been so long since there was any activity in that class group chat, I thought I'd left it."

Lü Qinglong took out his phone and handed it to Lin Qinghan in confusion.

Taking the phone, Lin Qinghan entered the unlock password and did a few simple operations:

"Brother Qinglong, you didn't leave the group. You were muted by them. Look at mine."

Lin Qinghan took out her own phone and opened the class group chat. The chat was buzzing with activity, everyone talking about how high-end the restaurant Cheng Liang had booked was.

"Shunshui Tower, huh? I heard the average price for a table there is over five thousand."

"Cheng Liang, no, President Cheng is so cool! He booked four tables at once. There are only thirty-odd people in our whole class, and it's all thanks to President Cheng!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Everyone agreed to meet at 6 PM sharp in private room 308 on the third floor tonight. I'll be waiting for you all there!"

More than half of the classmates in the group chat were chiming in.

"Really? Then Cheng Liang definitely doesn't want me to crash the party. I'll pass."

Lü Qinglong shook his head in refusal.

This Cheng Liang's family was in real estate. When they were in high school, he had pursued Lin Qinghan like a madman.

However, Lin Qinghan was extremely annoyed and made it clear that she didn't like "soyboys," telling him to give up.

Naturally, Lü Qinglong, who had been accompanying Lin Qinghan to and from school, became the target of his resentment.

At the time, he even wanted to find someone to deal with Lü Qinglong, but the small-time thugs he knew outside of school were so scared when they heard Lü Qinglong's name that they couldn't even stand steady and repeatedly refused.

Having no other choice, he could only start subtly and intentionally mocking Lü Qinglong every day, trying to disgust him.

At first, Lü Qinglong didn't pay him any mind. Later, this guy went too far and really angered Lü Qinglong.

He found an opportunity to treat him to a "heart-warming kick" and a "dragon fruit," followed by a set of CPR, which instantly brought him to his senses.

From then on, he stayed far away from Lin Qinghan.

"Is Auntie cooking at home today?"

The girl asked, tilting her head up.

"Hmm, let me check. It seems my mom told me to fend for myself. She went to the neighboring province today and hasn't returned yet."

"Then listen to me! Let's go out to eat!"

"Wait a moment, I'll go get my dad's car."

Lin Qinghan bounced back into the apartment building.

A moment later, she came down holding a car key.

She led Lü Qinglong to her father's Mercedes-Benz G-Class, got into the driver's seat, opened the passenger door from the inside, and waved:

"Brother Qinglong, come on up! I'll drive us over!"