Live-fire exercise

When Song Zhi opened the car door and got into Kelante's passenger seat, Hill was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, looking outside. He happened to see Kelante lean over and fasten Song Zhi's seat belt for her.

He gave a cold snort, a car key still dangling from his fingertip.

The car drove away, and Hill turned and went back inside.

Kelante drove slowly. After the rain, the air in the seaside town was lovely: damp and cool, faintly sweet and salty. Soft rock played on the car's CD player, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

"There's no need to buy too much. We won't be staying here long." Kelante changed the song again and gave Song Zhi a slight smile.

"We? Does that include me?" Song Zhi asked. Her voice was still a little hoarse, and her face reddened with embarrassment.

"Yes... that includes you, me, the lieutenant, Lu, Hill, Wilk—the whole of Group A." Kelante chuckled and shook his head helplessly. How could they possibly leave Song Zhi here on her own?

"Okay." Understanding dawned on Song Zhi, and she nodded.

Once the car had stopped, the two got out and walked into the supermarket side by side. Kelante took Song Zhi's hand as naturally as could be, pushing the cart while keeping her close.

Song Zhi faltered for a moment. The sense of doing something immoral was overwhelming just then. She had only just gotten out of Hill's bed...

She bought some daily necessities, and Kelante led her around to buy plenty of snacks, beer, and ingredients. She didn't actually eat many snacks. She wasn't a child, after all, but when she met Kelante's amber eyes, she quietly accepted them.

Kelante knew just how to read people, always making it impossible to refuse him.

Song Zhi's feelings were complicated, but the situation left her at a loss. She was going further and further down the path of immorality. The two continued browsing the supermarket. Song Zhi's gaze wandered over the goods on the shelves, but Kelante's movements kept drawing her attention.

Italian men really were charming!

"Is this enough?" Song Zhi asked, pointing at the things in the cart in an attempt to distract herself.

Kelante looked down and smiled. "Just about, but it won't hurt to buy more. When everyone's together, there are always unexpected needs."

Unexpected needs? That sounded a little like a reference to last night.

Song Zhi pretended not to understand and nodded without saying anything else.

By the time they left the supermarket, the setting sun had stained the horizon red, making the scenery of the seaside town especially enchanting. Kelante was still holding her hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She didn't pull away, letting him hold her hand.

Kelante was in no hurry to drive back. Instead, he parked by the sea. The sunset after the rain was beautiful, with the clouds along the horizon dyed red. The sea breeze blew through the half-open car window, gently lifting the loose strands of hair at Song Zhi's forehead.

"Let them prepare dinner. We'll go back later and enjoy a meal that's ready to eat." Kelante made a rare joke, a hint of mischief in his gaze as he looked at Song Zhi.

"Heh... do you think Hill will have baked a few pineapple pizzas again?" Song Zhi's tone relaxed along with his, which was rare for her too.

She had said Hill's name in a relaxed tone, without betraying much emotion.

Kelante's eyes curved slightly as he watched every expression on Song Zhi's face. Beneath his smile, a barely perceptible chill flashed through his eyes.

Heh! The girl was still playing her little probing games!

The last trace of red faded, but Kelante still showed no intention of driving back. He sat in the driver's seat, one hand holding a cigarette outside the car as he watched the waves in the distance. The surroundings gradually darkened until only the cigarette in his hand glowed with tiny sparks.

He listened to the waves, immersing himself completely in the darkness. There was no gunfire here. The world was quiet.

A melancholy Italian man was at his most charming, his chiseled jawline a perfect curve drawn by God.

Song Zhi said nothing. She didn't want to disturb Kelante as he basked in the quiet.

When the cigarette had burned down, Kelante turned to her with a small smile. "The sun's set. Time to go back."

"Mm." Song Zhi nodded.

Kelante tossed away the cigarette butt and drove back.

The training for Song Zhi's tactical course was growing more and more intense. When she sleepily opened the front passenger door that morning, she found Wilk sitting inside.

He lifted his chin and said in a doting tone, "Baby, sit in the back."

No sooner had he spoken than Lu Yu opened the back door and held out his hand, revealing a face wearing a mischievous grin. "Hurry up and get in. We're about to leave."

Song Zhi took Lu Yu's hand and used his pull to climb into the car. Hill and Kelante were also sitting in the back.

Hill wore a black mask. He only raised his eyes to glance at Song Zhi when she got in, then quickly looked away again.

Kelante greeted her with a smile. "Morning, Song." Then he lowered his head again to deal with work on his tablet.

Lu Yu pulled Song Zhi over to his side, leaving her no choice but to sit next to him. He draped his long arm over her shoulders and deliberately pressed down. It was heavy.

His teasing gaze was pure mischief.

Song Zhi raised her elbow and jabbed Lu Yu in the chest as payback.

"Ow... you nearly smashed my heart to pieces!" Lu Yu clutched his chest, pretending to be hurt.

Song Zhi closed her eyes. This guy is so dramatic!

All the members of Group A were present today, much to Song Zhi's surprise.

Did they have a mission?

Song Zhi looked at Lu Yu, silently asking him.

Lu Yu shook his head. "Don't be nervous. It's just routine group training."

Song Zhi nodded and rummaged in her bag for a piece of fruit candy. She tore open the wrapper and popped it into her mouth. She was afraid this would be another day of devilish training, so she needed some glucose beforehand.

"What flavor is it? Is it sweet?" Lu Yu asked from beside her, narrowing his eyes.

"It's sweet! Want one?" Song Zhi took out another piece of fruit candy and held it in her palm, looking at Lu Yu.

"Yes, but not that one..."

Lu Yu reached out and gripped the back of Song Zhi's neck. He lowered his head, captured her red lips, and pried her teeth apart, stealing the candy from her mouth.

"It is sweet!" With the candy in his mouth, he licked his upper lip.

Song Zhi: "..."

Why are you so horny this early in the morning?!

Song Zhi soon handed out the whole bag of fruit candy. The tough soldiers all had sweet, refreshing candies in their mouths.

Lai'en was driving, so Song Zhi unwrapped his candy for him and held it to his mouth. She had thought he would refuse, but to her surprise, he opened his mouth and ate it.

After arriving at the training ground, they quickly changed and geared up. Black masks covered their faces, leaving only their stern eyes exposed, just as they had looked when Song Zhi first met them.

Today's training was a simulated urban combat exercise, with the two groups fighting to take a fortified position. Lai'en, Wilk, and Song Zhi were Group A, while Kelante, Lu Yu, and Hill were Group B.

They steadied their breathing and quickly entered combat mode. Without a word, they could coordinate and synchronize with a single glance, swiftly returning to their positions.

Following behind them, the utterly bewildered Song Zhi looked exactly like a little accessory that had lost its way.

She used to get 3D motion sickness and lose her way on maps when playing games. Now, with her goggles on, she couldn't even tell friend from foe.

Wilk grabbed Song Zhi just as she was about to follow the "enemy" away. "Little one, you need to tell your teammates apart," he said worriedly. "I'm afraid you'll walk right into their trap."

Knowing she was in the wrong, Song Zhi pretended to be busy checking her equipment.

Lai'en set the radio channel, making sure all three of them were on the same frequency.

"Stay close to us." Lai'en's face was covered in thick camouflage paint, leaving only his clear blue eyes exposed. He paused, then gave her another instruction. "If you're unlucky enough to be captured, you'd better pray they treat prisoners well. Grit your teeth and hold on, and wait for Wilk and me to rescue you."

Then his tone changed. "But the cost of a rescue has to be calculated. If it exceeds the value of the mission, the rescue will be canceled. Good luck! Move out!"

Lai'en took a long stride and was the first to leave the trench.

Wilk signaled for Song Zhi to follow, taking up the rear himself. "Come on, stay close to the lieutenant. It'll be fine. I'll protect you the whole time."

"Thank you, Wilk." Song Zhi spread her arms and gave him a hug.

At 9:00 a.m., the exercise officially began.

Dizzy and disoriented, Song Zhi followed Lai'en back and forth through a maze of streets and alleys. Smoke grenades and flashbangs whistled past, and blank rounds rattled overhead.

Another flashbang exploded in front of her. Although Song Zhi was wearing goggles, she still shut her eyes out of habit. When she opened them again, Lai'en and Wilk were nowhere in sight.

What the fuck?

Song Zhi hurriedly called over the radio, "Lieutenant, Wilk, where are you?"

No one answered. There was only crackling static in her earpiece, followed by a long silence.

Another burst of fierce gunfire rang out. Song Zhi knew they were exchanging fire, but she couldn't tell where the shots were coming from, so she could only stay where she was.

Song Zhi's heart raced. She had fallen behind!