Chapter 212: We’ll Never See Each Other Again in This Life

It was now the fifth day that Xie Huaizheng and his team had been lying in ambush, but they still couldn’t make a rash move. They couldn’t strike until they had thoroughly scouted the entire enemy camp.

The camp appeared much larger than they had imagined, and it was heavily manned.

The mountain was right next to the sea, so if they wanted to flee, escaping by water would be easy.

Therefore, with only a few dozen men, they had to completely surround the area and ensure not a single person escaped.

Over the past few days, Xie Huaizheng had reconnoitered the entire vicinity on foot, marking all the likely escape routes on his map.

He was currently studying the map, scribbling notes and making marks on it. Then, he handed it to one of his subordinates. "Liu Jun, Wang Jiancheng, Li Liye, the three of you will lie in wait here..."

He began to issue his commands.

He, too, hoped to end this mission as quickly as possible. He had never felt such urgency before.

It was probably because he missed his girl.

He remembered their parting. Her eyes had been filled with reluctance and sorrow, and she looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

And yet, he could only pretend not to notice, pull her into a hug, and tell her not to be so sad.

He had even promised her he would wrap up the mission as quickly as he could.

During his downtime these past few days, there wasn’t a single moment he wasn’t thinking of her.

But even so, Xie Huaizheng knew he couldn’t let his emotions interfere with such an arduous mission. He still needed to be cautious and meticulous.

He had brought these comrades out with him, and he had a duty to bring them all back safe and sound.

So, as long as the plan wasn’t perfect, he wouldn’t act rashly.

Once everything was in place, it would be time to close the net.

Xie Huaizheng pressed his thin lips into a line, grabbing a nearby tree trunk to pull himself up. He gazed at the camp in the distance.

’Soon,’ he thought. ’It will all be over soon!’

But Huang Jiqin had told him that after he completed his mission, he absolutely had to visit a certain family. Only after he had done so could he go find Su Zhaozhao.

Otherwise, she’d said, he would regret it.

Although he didn’t usually like to listen to his mother, this was the first time Huang Jiqin had ever spoken to him with such gravity. And when it came to anything involving Su Zhaozhao, he always took it seriously.

Making that visit would just be a small detour.

...

Xu Jiaxin and Xu Jiaming left on the fourth day.

They had stayed for two days longer than planned.

Xu Jiaxin couldn’t bear to part with Su Zhaozhao. Before she left, she was still holding her hand. "Zhaozhao, you have to come visit me in Shencheng City when you have time! There are so many fun things to do there, really! You have to come! I can take you to my house—I have a huge walk-in closet, and I’m going to dress you up like a doll! You’re just too beautiful!"

This was a thought Xu Jiaxin had had from the very first moment she laid eyes on Su Zhaozhao.

’Su Zhaozhao’s clothes are just so plain!’

Look at what she was wearing today: a light green, Chinese-style long dress. It was a bit like a qipao, but it lacked a qipao’s sensuality.

It wasn’t form-fitting, but rather a little loose. It gave her a strong classical charm, but Xu Jiaxin felt that a young woman should dress in a riot of color to look her best.

’For someone as beautiful as Su Zhaozhao to dress like this... it’s really a waste.’

Su Zhaozhao immediately smiled. "Okay, okay, Jiaxin. I’ll remember. When I have time, I’ll come to Shencheng City to visit you!"

Xu Jiaxin’s face lit up. "Then it’s a promise!"

After saying this, she pulled Su Zhaozhao into a tight hug. Smelling the faint jasmine scent on her, Xu Jiaxin felt deeply content.

She reluctantly let go of Su Zhaozhao and started to head for the train.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and she looked toward Xu Ziyang. He was already looking at her, his eyes also full of reluctance to part.

Xu Jiaxin said to him, "I’ll write to you when I get back home."

Xu Ziyang immediately brightened. "Okay! You have my address. I go to university here too, so once the semester starts, you can just mail the letters directly to my school."

"Okay."

With Xu Jiaxin and Xu Ziyang chatting, Su Zhaozhao had no choice but to face Xu Jiaming.

Xu Jiaming had been surprisingly well-behaved these last few days, which actually made Su Zhaozhao feel a little awkward.

Right now, he was gazing at her quietly and politely, his eyes holding the same gentle expression.

’When he wasn’t being a creep, he was actually quite tame.’

"Zhaozhao, is there nothing you want to say to me? After we say goodbye, we might never see each other again in this lifetime."

Su Zhaozhao was at a loss for words.

’I don’t believe that for a second,’ she thought. But seeing the earnest look on Xu Jiaming’s face, it was as if they truly might never meet again.

Suddenly, Su Zhaozhao felt that Xu Jiaming was quite pitiful. Unrequited love truly was the cruelest thing in the world.

’He’s actually a good person,’ she thought. ’It’s just... his timing was off. I met Xie Huaizheng first.’

She thought about the Xu Jiaming in the novel, who was obsessed with the female lead but could never win her love in his entire life.

She didn’t want the current Xu Jiaming to end up like that. She told him, "Xu Jiaming, the world keeps turning no matter what. That applies to you, too. Don’t get hung up on one person. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. You’ll meet an even better girl someday."

She used to think it would be nice if Xu Jiaming could meet the original female lead again and end up with her.

But ever since meeting Gu Qingran, the way she was... it just felt strange.

’Better to just forget that idea. Surely Xu Jiaming can find someone better on his own.’

Xu Jiaming hadn’t expected Su Zhaozhao to comfort him so earnestly. He couldn’t help but crack a smile. "You don’t have to pity me. It’s my own damn fault for falling for you."

Su Zhaozhao was speechless. "..."

She hadn’t expected Xu Jiaming to be so blunt. It only made her feel more flustered.

She couldn’t help but say, "I’m sorry, but you know... the order in which people come into your life is very important."

"So you’re saying if I had met you before Xie Huaizheng, you might have liked me?"

Su Zhaozhao froze. She had never considered that. But she couldn’t give him any false hope. She had to say it, no matter how cruel the words might be.

"No. Because the one I fell for was him. So I never considered any other factors. I’m sorry."

The moment the words left her mouth, she saw the crestfallen look in his eyes.

"Your train is about to leave. You should get on board."

Back then, train stations weren’t as strictly controlled as they would be in later years. Even without tickets, you could accompany people right to the edge of the platform and watch them board the train.

Xu Jiaming suddenly asked, "Zhaozhao, can I give you a hug?"

Su Zhaozhao was taken aback.

"Just a friendly hug, would that be okay? Jiaxin just hugged you, after all."

Su Zhaozhao turned her head and saw that Xu Jiaxin and Xu Ziyang were now hugging too.

Su Zhaozhao’s eyes widened. ’What the hell?!’

’Are things moving that fast between them?’

She turned back to look at Xu Jiaming. He looked so pitiful, and that creepy aura he’d had before was gone.

Her heart softened. ’Oh, well. I’ll just treat it as a friendly gesture.’

"Alright," Su Zhaozhao said. "A friendly hug it is."

Xu Jiaming smiled, reached out, and pulled Su Zhaozhao into his arms.