Early the next morning, Jiang Yao rushed out the door in a hurry.
Jiang Yao's physical reactions before her "aunt's" arrival this time were much milder than Jiang Yan's, so naturally she felt more relaxed psychologically. Meanwhile, Jiang Yan was still experiencing the same strange and inexplicable discomforts as last time, unable to pinpoint their location, with that awkward feeling persisting.
Internal hormone suppressants, external hormone suppressants, little golden pills, warming medicine... After this combination of treatments, Jiang Yao felt foolproof.
"A Bentley? This car must be expensive, right?"
On the way to G District International Convention Center, sitting in Zhong Jing's luxury SUV, Jiang Yao looked around curiously, though thankfully she didn't touch everything with her hands.
"You don't know this car? This year's newest plug-in hybrid urban SUV, over three million, though it still wouldn't catch some women's eyes."
Zhong Jing smiled, gently turning the steering wheel as the car merged onto the elevated highway.
The view gradually opened up. The blue SUV lifted by the elevated road seemed to soar above the bustling city, traveling through streams of brilliant, warm sunlight.
On Sunday, the city's main roads had fewer vehicles than usual, allowing them to maintain a higher speed. While glancing at the rearview mirror, Zhong Jing's peripheral vision also caught sight of Jiang Yao's exquisite and cool outfit.
A snow-white T-shirt with gray-black denim shorts, plus light golden long hair that wasn't tied in a ponytail. Except for her slightly groomed eyebrows, there were hardly any signs of makeup on her face, natural beauty, pure and charming.
On Jiang Yao's snow-white legs rested a handbag containing a JK uniform that Zhong Jing had specially prepared for this trip–part of their conspiracy.
This was a 100% accurate recreation of the female protagonist's outfit from a popular anime, made with superior materials and exquisite craftsmanship. Compared to those that only imitated the appearance but were poorly made, this was in a completely different league, the kind that could be worn as everyday clothing.
Not even counting Zhong Jing's own consulting firm income, just the so-called allowance that Zhong's mother provided monthly was enough for him to pursue these two-dimensional hobbies to the extreme.
Listening to Zhong Jing's relaxed teasing and looking at the bag in her hands, Jiang Yao suddenly remembered Jiang Yan's hesitant expression before she left.
"Zhong Jing... are you still trying to hit on me?"
Jiang Yao suddenly turned her head, blinking her beautiful big eyes with an especially serious expression.
The high-speed SUV swayed almost imperceptibly. Zhong Jing gripped the steering wheel, turning his head slightly with a bewildered expression, somewhat amused: "Don't mess around! I'm driving!"
"I'm asking you, are you trying to hit on me?!"
Jiang Yao's brow began to furrow slightly, her neck and ears showing a faint redness, though her words remained unchanged.
"Did you take the wrong medicine, asking such silly questions again? What kind of ideas could I have about a Blood Clan member? Do I have a death wish?"
Zhong Jing grimaced and began to slow down. In the distance between the tall buildings, they could already see the magnificent massive outline of G District International Convention Center.
Probably feeling that when he turned his head just now, his gaze had lingered on her body, Jiang Yao hugged the paper bag to her chest, pouting as if some particular emotion had emerged.
"Oh... well, then I'm making it clear. Don't get any ideas about me. I don't like men!"
"Hey, what a coincidence, neither do I!"
A few seconds later, neither Zhong Jing nor Jiang Yao could hold back, and both burst into laughter.
...
...
Near noon, W District Children's Welfare Institute.
Shortly after Jiang Yao left, Jiang Yan anxiously welcomed her "aunt's" arrival.
Although the physical tension and anxiety were far less than the first time, and the soul-torturing abdominal pain was much milder, it came one or two days earlier than expected, still catching Jiang Yan somewhat off guard.
After tidying up and checking repeatedly, time was delayed. When Jiang Yan hurriedly arrived at the welfare institute, it was almost noon.
Carrying her cloth bag with spare clothes, Jiang Yan had just walked through the welfare institute's main gate when she spotted a familiar figure near the institute affairs bulletin board not far away.
Today's Meng Huai was no longer in casual clothes - wearing a well-fitted military uniform, his upright and proportioned frame stood still as a bell.
Slowly walking to Meng Huai's side, her gaze also turned to the bulletin board. In front of Meng Huai were photos of two martyrs, with extensive biographical accounts written below. This represented the welfare institute's remembrance of two outstanding young people and was also the institute's honor.
"Hmm?"
Probably sensing someone beside him, Meng Huai slowly turned around, then showed a slight smile: "What a coincidence, we meet again. Are you here to volunteer today too?"
"Mr. Meng, good afternoon."
Jiang Yan placed her hands in front of her, holding the cloth bag's handle, and bowed slightly with a nod - mannerisms gradually cultivated at Golden River Club.
"Just call me Meng Huai... um... may I ask your name..."
Meng Huai looked up and down at the girl he'd encountered again. Her dignified and gentle beauty carried a trace of aloof coldness that kept people at a distance, making him hesitate to speak.
"Jiang Yan."
Looking up at Meng Huai, who was almost a head taller than her, Jiang Yan appeared very composed.
"Jiang Yan? The 'jiang' of river water, or the 'jiang' of dried ginger? What's your relationship with the old director here, Jiang Chunhua..."
Meng Huai showed a trace of confusion.
"Same surname as the old lady, just a coincidence." Jiang Yan smiled.
"Comrade Meng, let's have a simple meal for lunch. Everything's ready in the cafeteria!"
As the two were chatting, a welfare institute leader approached from the distance, inviting them for lunch.
Meng Huai's visit today was not only driven by personal emotions but also brought the welfare institute a pleasant surprise of a "300,000 donation," so this kind of special treatment was naturally warranted.
"It's still fifteen minutes before twelve o'clock. From J District to here, even by subway takes about forty minutes. I'm sure you haven't had lunch yet. Let's eat together."
Meng Huai bent down and directly took the cloth bag from Jiang Yan's hands, displaying gentlemanly courtesy toward women with visible decisiveness and authority.
Jiang Yan was very familiar with Meng Huai's way of doing things and didn't put on airs, directly following behind him, which made the welfare institute leader who had come to announce mealtime somewhat awkward.
Probably not knowing Jiang Yan's background but seeing her familiar relationship with Meng Huai, and that she was such a beautiful young girl, the welfare institute leader temporarily decided to withdraw, giving the carefully prepared lunch to the two of them as a private meal.
Meng Huai's dining etiquette was vastly different from his external image, or rather, it was a bad habit.
Lacking the gentleness or thoughtfulness one might show when dining with a woman, Meng Huai characteristically ate alone in silence, burying his head in his food without smiling. The exquisite four dishes and one soup before them were habitually stared at by Meng Huai, who focused on the nearest plate.
Looking at his familiar eating habits, Jiang Yan smiled and, taking advantage of when he went to get more rice, directly rearranged the dishes on the table.
Meng Huai was startled, his gaze moving from the table to gradually meet Jiang Yan's eyes, his expression slightly surprised.
Oh no, I forgot that I'm now... Jiang Yan's heart skipped a beat, realizing she'd been careless.
Because those dish-arranging movements were unique to the former Xia Yan.
When they were in Xuan Jia Squad, occasionally dining alone with Meng Huai outside, as long as it wasn't a rotating table, Xia Yan would always rearrange the dishes on the table to accommodate her squad leader's single-minded eating habits.
"My... my sister has the same bad habit. Her chopsticks only reach for the dishes in front of her. I noticed you do the same thing, but even worse."
Jiang Yan's smile brightened, though she didn't know a layer of cold sweat had formed on her back.
Meng Huai suddenly smiled, neither confirming nor denying, nodded slightly, then continued in his own way.
"Mr. Meng, I saw you standing by the bulletin board. Is there something special about it?"
Jiang Yan, whose real appetite could equal two Meng Huais, had to forcibly suppress the urge to devour her food, maintaining the eating speed and mannerisms of a refined young lady while using conversation to divert his attention.
"Yes, they're two of my good comrades... I'll never forget them. They grew up in this welfare institute and sacrificed their lives not long ago."
Meng Huai put down his chopsticks, sitting upright as if reporting to a superior, his expression solemn.
"I see... They're both martyrs. They certainly wouldn't regret it."
For some reason, the words "never forget" sounded exceptionally tragic in her ears, piercing her eardrums with dull pain. Jiang Yan's nose tingled, and she quickly lowered her head as a tear slid from the corner of her eye.
"Com... Comrade Jiang?"
Seeing the girl actually crying, Meng Huai's face showed a trace of panic, but his body remained rigid in his seat, somewhat at a loss.
In this country, soldiers have always been looked up to with respect. This reverence didn't come from their authority as a force institution, but from nearly a century of heart-to-heart harmony with the Chinese people, making everyone genuinely love and respect them.
At least, this was how Meng Huai understood the girl's sudden emotional breakdown. Martyrs - they were an even higher existence among soldiers, enough to move people to tears.
"They must have fought until the very last moment. They gave their all, didn't they? They're heroes, aren't they..."
Jiang Yan raised her head, her brilliant smile cut into fragments by streams of tears - somewhat sad, but more relieved.
"Yes!"
After a few seconds, Meng Huai nodded emphatically.