That Night Was the Beginning

Song Zhi accepted Miller's offer and began planning her life at the Sri Lanka Base Station.

After class, she went to the supermarket in town and bought a whole range of household supplies: pine-scented body wash, South American coffee beans, a pair of comfortable, soft-soled slippers, a loose, soft nightgown, and a bunch of blue daisies in full bloom...

The apartment gradually began to feel lived-in. The rich aroma of roasted coffee drifted from the window, and sometimes a bunch of pale blue daisies sat on the windowsill. At other times, there might be two bright roses...

As evening fell, she would walk barefoot on the soft beach, watching the evening stars fill the sky. When she overslept in the morning, she would rush out the door with bread between her teeth, with no time to fix her hair. Within three seconds, she would come running back with the bread, muttering, "Keys, keys, keys... water bottle, water bottle..."

She was always forgetting things.

Wearing her soft white nightgown, she would brew a pot of strong coffee and curl up on the couch in the common room to read and take notes, with no desire to go anywhere.

Time passed quickly. She had been in Sri Lanka for a month now, and today was the day for her scheduled injection. She had gradually come to accept the injections. As the female doctor had said, they were a form of protection.

The clear liquid was injected into her body. Pressing a medical cotton swab to her arm, Song Zhi slowly walked out of the hospital. As she passed through the lobby, a mercenary approached. He walked slowly, tall and well-built, with a pair of amber eyes that brought to mind the sunshine over an Italian bay.

He slowly turned his gaze toward Song Zhi, then gave her a classic Italian smile.

"Kelante?" Song Zhi recognized him, more delighted than surprised.

Kelante nodded slightly. He wasn't surprised at all. Instead, he looked at the cotton swab she was pressing to her arm and said, "All right, you can stop pressing it now."

Only then did Song Zhi hastily remove the swab and throw it into a trash can.

"Let's go." Kelante stepped aside and gestured for Song Zhi to go first.

Song Zhi adjusted her pace to walk on Kelante's right, her mind blank. Had he come specifically to pick me up?

A military jeep was parked outside the hospital. Kelante opened the passenger door for Song Zhi like a gentleman and motioned for her to get in. Once she was seated, he walked around the front of the vehicle, got into the driver's seat, and carefully fastened her seat belt for her.

When he leaned across her, Song Zhi could see the marks on his face clearly. They were sunburn. The scent of a mature man filled her nose, and she instinctively drew back.

"Let's go to the supermarket first. We're missing a lot of things at home... Then we'll go eat..."

It sounded like a suggestion, but in truth, there was no room for another choice. Song Zhi nodded as if in a trance. Only after the car started moving did she silently regret it. Why had she followed Kelante's instructions?

The sea breeze blew through the window, carrying away Song Zhi's awkwardness and discomfort. Actually, a drive along the coast wasn't bad...

"Have you been doing well lately?" Kelante's voice sounded in the car.

"I've been settling in all right..."

Song Zhi turned to look at Kelante, only to find her gaze drawn to the Italian man focused on driving! He wore sunglasses and turned to look at her with a slight smile. It was a smile kissed by God!

She had to admit that God favored Italians, never shortchanging them when it came to looks.

Damn it! My morals are following my eyes!

Song Zhi promptly corrected her morals before they could stray any further.

"Ahem... Have you all been well? Did you... finish your mission?" Song Zhi hastily looked away, scrambling for something to talk about in an attempt to ease the strange atmosphere.

"Not bad. The mission's over, and they're wrapping things up. I came back early to complete the paperwork for our rest period and get the house in order while I was at it. Lu said if we didn't come back soon, our 'home' would be stolen..."

Their home was stolen? Was someone reckless enough to touch Group A's things?

Song Zhi didn't press further and knew when to keep quiet.

Kelante drove to the large supermarket in town as though he knew the way by heart. As gentlemanly as ever, he unfastened Song Zhi's seat belt, opened the door for her, and held out a hand.

Song Zhi looked embarrassed. She took a deep breath to compose herself, then placed her hand in Kelante's and used it for support as she got out.

Kelante brought over a shopping cart and walked into the supermarket beside Song Zhi. They went to the general goods section together and bought plenty of household supplies. Judging by the quantity, they would probably be resting in Sri Lanka for quite a while.

"Let's get some ingredients too..." Kelante pushed the cart with one hand and reached over to take Song Zhi's hand with the other, pulling her toward the fresh food section.

He was tall and handsome, drawing looks from people all around them. Song Zhi didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, so she didn't shake Kelante's hand off.

"Is there anything you'd like to eat?" Kelante picked out a pile of ingredients and put them in the cart, asking Song Zhi what she liked as well.

Song Zhi was speechless. They didn't live together, so what did what she ate have to do with them? He made it sound as if she would be going to their quarters for meals. Their territory was far too dangerous for her, but out of politeness, she still chose a couple of ingredients.

Seeing how reserved and polite Song Zhi was, Kelante shook his head helplessly. On his own initiative, he added a few more things she might like, including snacks, chocolate, yogurt, and a bunch of daisies in full bloom.

The car was quiet on the way back. Song Zhi was wondering how to say goodbye to Kelante; it was time for her to return to her apartment. While she was still hesitating, the car stopped outside her apartment.

Song Zhi breathed a small sigh of relief. Although she wanted to ask Kelante how he knew she lived there, she then thought that there was probably nothing at the Sri Lanka Base Station that Group A didn't know, so why bother asking?

Kelante got out, came around for Song Zhi, then carried two large bags of things up the steps. Under her astonished gaze, he took out a key and opened the apartment door.

That was right, he had a key. And he used it with practiced ease, as though he were coming home to his own place!

"Come on in..." Kelante put the bags on the counter in the common room and urged her inside.

What the fuck?!

Song Zhi's stalled brain rapidly started working again, and she realized one thing: this apartment belonged to fucking Group A!!! It belonged to Group A!!!

Those five locked rooms were their bedrooms!!!

And there was Miller's all-around support! And the privileges she enjoyed as a member of Group A.

All of it had been arranged by Lai'en or Group A after she boarded the transport plane!

Fuck! Fuck!

While Kelante put away the things they had bought, Song Zhi quickly searched the common room for hidden cameras. There had to be one here.

After looking around, Song Zhi finally spotted a blinking red light near the ceiling fan.

Just as I thought!

She looked at the red light and coldly called out a name. "Hill?"

A strange gleam flashed in Hill's eyes on the other end of the camera, like a cheetah lurking in the dark catching sight of prey that had wandered into its territory.

He adjusted the camera, bringing Song Zhi's face fully into view. Her short hair framed eyes full of barely suppressed anger!

Interesting! Isn't it a little late to figure it out now? Hill chuckled.

After a few brief seconds, Song Zhi erupted. She darted over to Kelante in a few strides and tilted her head back to confront him, though her lack of height undermined the effect. "Is it because of you that I can't go to the farm in Australia?"

"You can go to Australia... but not to grow radishes!"

Kelante continued putting away the ingredients they had just bought in an orderly manner. He planned to fry two steaks later. He had expected Song Zhi to lose her temper.

"Why? But... I want to go to the farm in Australia..." Song Zhi knew her opinion carried no weight at all with Group A, but she still voiced what she wanted.

What do I have to trade this time?!

"Heh!" Song Zhi couldn't help letting out a scornful laugh.

Kelante stopped what he was doing. He leaned down toward Song Zhi, his amber eyes fixed on her face, catching every subtle expression.

"I think you've misunderstood... or you're always making your own assumptions..."

"What?"

"That wasn't the end. It was the beginning! You, Group A, us—it was the beginning, until our lives come to an end!"