As they moved further down the mountain, the once dense vegetation gradually thinned.

Moonlight no longer hid behind the canopy, pouring freely through the branches and spreading across the mountain in broad swathes, draping rocks, grass, and narrow paths in a dreamy silver glow.

The two walked in silence.

At first, there were still faint, intermittent sniffles from the girl.

But as Meng Youyou gradually calmed down, the only sound left was the crunch of gravel beneath Huo Qingshan’s steady footsteps.

With her arms wrapped around his neck, she sniffed softly and broke the silence:

“Do you want me to hold the flashlight?”

Her voice still carried a slight nasal tone, lacking her usual brightness.

Huo Qingshan kept his head lowered, carefully watching the path ahead as he walked.

“It’s fine. It won’t affect me.”

Meng Youyou shifted slightly, resting more comfortably against him.

Then, without warning, she asked:

“Huo Qingshan… do you hate me?”

His steps paused for a brief moment—

Then resumed as if nothing had happened.

She waited.

When he didn’t answer, she didn’t get upset.

Instead, she began talking to herself.

“To be honest… at first, I really didn’t like you either.”

“I even wondered—how can someone have such a strange personality? Why do you talk like that? Why do you always look so cold? Why is your temper so stubborn and arrogant? Why—”

She stopped abruptly.

There were… too many complaints.

After a pause, her tone shifted.

“But later… I realized you actually have some… a lot of good qualities.”

“Sometimes, you’re actually pretty nice.”

“Like now… and that time you gave me medicine.”

If he had turned his head at that moment—

He would’ve seen the soft light flickering in her eyes.

But he didn’t.

Huo Qingshan kept his gaze lowered.

Still silent.

Meng Youyou continued, chattering on.

“You know, I’ve always been well-liked since I was young. I have lots of friends—real friends, not fake ones.”

“Do you know what that means?”

She didn’t wait for an answer.

“It means I actually have a lot of good qualities.”

Her tone carried a hint of pride.

For some reason, it was as if a switch had been flipped.

She kept talking nonstop.

Huo Qingshan felt his head buzzing.

“When you get to know me, you’ll realize I’m not what you think.”

“I’m not some useless, pretty-but-empty person. I didn’t come here just to decorate my résumé.”

“And I can endure hardship too.”

She emphasized that point strongly.

“I learned dance when I was young. I fell and got hurt all the time. Stretching hurt every day—but I never gave up.”

“Later, people said that art students are dumb, that they don’t study well. I refused to accept that.”

“I’m not the type who’s naturally gifted, so I worked harder. After dance class, I’d study until midnight. If I got too sleepy, I’d pinch myself to stay awake.”

“You might think this is nothing compared to what you go through. And you’d be right—it’s not comparable.”

“But what I want to say is…”

“Everyone has their own role.”

“You’re a soldier. I study languages.”

“You have your responsibilities. I have mine.”

“As long as I’m here, I’ll do my best to complete every task the unit gives me.”

“I respect your profession.”

“And I hope that one day—if you let go of your prejudice—you’ll see the effort I’ve put into my work.”

“That you’ll recognize my abilities.”

“And acknowledge that I have value here.”

By the time she finished, her throat felt dry.

After a short pause, she added quietly near his ear:

“And… if you stop disliking me so much… and treat me a little better…”

“I’ll treat you better too.”

She hesitated for a second—

Then said firmly:

“Even better than how you treat me.”

She talked the entire way down the mountain.

Huo Qingshan didn’t say a single word.

Yet somehow—

She had a strong feeling—

He was listening.

Before she realized it, they had reached the foot of the mountain.

The rocky ground gave way to softer soil.

In the distance, tall locust trees swayed gently, leaves drifting down with the wind.

Beyond that, small villages were scattered across the open land.

Night had settled over everything.

Only faint lights glowed from the windows, like stars fallen to earth.

Smoke rose lazily from chimneys, carrying the scent of food into the air.

After a rare moment of quiet—

Meng Youyou suddenly perked up.

She tapped his shoulder lightly.

“Hey, when do you think Zhang Yong will be promoted back to company commander?”

This time—

Huo Qingshan actually answered.

“That depends on his future performance.”

She pouted.

“Tch. That’s basically the same as saying nothing.”

What she would never know—

Was how much Huo Qingshan had silently endured to protect Zhang Yong after that incident.

Or that—

Without her impulsive interference that day—

The man carrying her right now…

Would already have been a deputy regiment commander.

Just then—

Her gaze shifted—

And she suddenly froze.

On his collarbone—

There was a small black ladybug.

“Ah!”

Huo Qingshan sighed.

“What is it this time? What did you see on the ground now?”

“Not on the ground. On you.”

“…What?”

“There’s a bug on your collarbone. Don’t you feel it?”

He tilted his head, trying to look—

But couldn’t see it.

“I’ll help you get it off.”

He didn’t object.

Then—

He felt her lean in closer.

Her breath brushed lightly against his collarbone.

Warm.

Soft.

Close.

His breath hitched.

His skin, hardened by years of training, suddenly felt overly sensitive.

A tingling sensation spread from his collarbone, up his neck.

Wasn’t she supposed to use her hands?

He forced himself to remain calm.

“…Is it still not gone?”

“It’s holding on pretty tightly. Maybe I’m too far—my breath isn’t strong enough.”

As she spoke—

She leaned in even closer.

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