War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 2028 Friends Waiting at the Second Station

On the day they arrived in Khabarovsk, Wei Ran not only had a meal with Teacher Anna and others, but also stayed at Greva's house that night.

"So, in a few years, Olena will be the governor of the Autonomous Prefecture of Kutata?"

On the top floor of the building, in an overly luxurious game room, Jima, sitting on the floor, gripped the controller and fought against the character controlled by Wei Ran while asking, "Why is it that godforsaken place, Yuta Prefecture? I thought it would be Khabarovsk."

"Khwarazm has enough Greva."

Wei Ran understood the arrangement: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket, and the same goes for Olena and Greva."

It's more convenient for them to do things because they're in different but adjacent states.

“Olena likes you, you know that, right?” Dima said abruptly.

"I have Aurora, that's enough," Wei Ran reminded her as she controlled her character to unleash a powerful attack.

Why not give her a child?

Dima suggested another possibility, "like Ms. Anna and Mr. Culp."

"What practical significance does it have?" Wei Ran asked noncommittally.

"Of course it has practical significance."

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Jima blurted out a truly resounding statement in Chinese: "What godfather is more dear than a biological father?"

"Get lost!" Wei Ran said with a laugh.

I'm not joking.

Ji Ma became unusually serious. "This isn't cheating; it's just a matter of paying for some wall paint."

Besides, we—I mean, people like you and Olena—are certainly trustworthy friends, but Olena can't stay single forever; she'll eventually need to find a boyfriend.

"And then?" Wei Ran had already knocked out his opponent as he spoke.

"We can trust Olga and Olga's boyfriend only because Olga's boyfriend happens to be that idiot Ninner."

As Dima was choosing a new role, he said, "But who can guarantee that the next man or woman Olena falls in love with will be someone we all trust?"

"So you just assemble a child?" Wei Ran shook his head, both amused and exasperated. "What kind of gang logic is that?"

"Gang logic can sometimes be quite useful."

Dima continued, "If you work together to assemble a child, this child will be a bridge and bond of trust, no matter who Olena falls in love with in the future."

This way, Olena won't have to worry about losing our trust and support, and she won't have to worry about the man she falls in love with betraying her or taking away what she has.

"She's still a..."

“Cucumber Girl, I understand.”

Ji Ma uttered a grammatically incorrect sentence that took Wei Ran a while to understand.

Before he could correct her, Jima said, "This is just an option you gave her. Whether she chooses it or not is her business. No one will force her."

Most importantly, Victor, my half-brother, although we haven't talked about it, we both know perfectly well who Olena's daughter is.

Wei Ran has also chosen a new role.

"The existence of this child is also a source of comfort and hope for Dalia."

With unusual maturity, Dima advised, "With this child, you and she are practically family. She can trust and support you completely and unconditionally."

"This doesn't sound like something you would say," Wei Ran said, and then paused the game.

“I’m about to become a father, and you, my friend, wouldn’t even be a godfather if it weren’t for me.”

As he spoke, Dima also tossed away his game controller. "Of course, I must admit, this wasn't my idea. I'm not that stupid."

“It can’t be Olena, can it?” Wei Ran asked with a smile. “And why me?”

"I wish it were me; I would even be willing to pollinate them myself."

The sentences that came out of Jima's mouth were all put together in unexpected ways: "But do you think Olena will fall for me, or Dalia? Or do you think Maya will go easy on me and not castrate me?"

"I'm not that resilient either. Aurora can be terrifying when she goes berserk." Wei Ran shook his head helplessly as he said this.

This scumbag persona has been established for so long that even his close friend Jima is almost starting to consider him a scumbag.

Compared to all of this, it's no longer important who came up with that incredibly stupid suggestion first.

"I knew this was a waste of time."

Jima gloated, reminding him, "But I suspect there might be others who have the same idea later on."

“There’s no need for that,” Wei Ran picked up the controller again and snorted. “I’m not a harem horse.”

Who cares?

Ji Ma also snorted, picked up the controller, and continued to while away the rare moments of leisure between the two brothers who were increasingly separated.

"If you live in China in the future, what will happen in Kazan?" Dima asked after another game ended.

"How about you and Maya move in?"

"forget it"

Without a second thought, Dima immediately refused, "We might continue living in Kazan, but we definitely won't go to your house. I prefer life in our village."

"Lymboree will gradually step into the limelight in the future."

Wei Ran said reluctantly, "Under the sunlight, she will continue to live there as my, unofficial wife."

The areas where the sun doesn't reach will also gradually be handed over to her for management.

“What a scumbag,” Jima sighed. “How old is Lyubov? She…”

"To shut up"

Wei Ran randomly selected a character and continued to beat up the character controlled by Jima while saying, "In the future, most of Aurora's travel agency business between China and Russia will be handled by Lola and Lucinda."

As for film and television, Marta will assist him in managing it, so don't worry, you'll still have plenty of acting opportunities in the future.

"Lucinda? Her Majesty the Queen is actually counting on that little glutton?"

"Even if Belial came back to life and whipped her until her whip smoked, she would still find a way to slack off, wouldn't she?" Dima asked in surprise.

"Let Aurora deal with this kind of problem herself," Wei Ran replied casually, as he rarely interfered in Sui Sui's business.

As the fighting games progressed, Wei Ran and Ji Ma, who had both won and lost, gradually began to discuss the parts of life that couldn't be brought into the sunlight.

As they chatted all night, as if making their final arrangements, the sky outside the window gradually lit up the land that once belonged to China. Before the others got up, Wei Ran rode in a car driven by Ji Ma and sped to the airport, where he boarded the plane piloted by Ali Li alone.

When Ali's plane landed smoothly in Ulan-Ude, the land was just beginning to be illuminated by the rising sun.

When he got off the plane, Nijner was already waiting next to an SUV.

"Get on the bus quickly!"

With his face completely covered, Niner slowly urged them on, then climbed into the back seat, leaving the driving to Wei Ran.

"Which way?" Wei Ran asked after climbing into the driver's seat.

"Leave the airport first, then follow the navigation."

As Ninner spoke, he let Olga, who was sitting next to him, lean on his shoulder and continue to catch up on her sleep.

"I bet there are more than just the two of you here, right?" Wei Ran asked as he started the car and drove out of the airport.

“You’ll know soon.”

Ninner yawned as he spoke. "I heard you agreed to be the godfather of those two idiot kids, Greva and Dima, from Allah?" "No."

"Count us in."

Still half asleep, Olga pointed to her belly. "We'll have our own child soon too."

"You two too."

"I'm trying," Niner replied earnestly, which seemed to explain why Olga was so sleepy.

"Then good luck to you two. We'll talk about it again when you have kids." Wei Ran, exhausted, resorted to stalling tactics.

At the same time, he was also thinking that maybe he could go to Wuliang Temple again someday and ask if he could get a certificate to establish a sect.

"Is my idiot sister going to become governor soon?" Olga asked with a loud yawn.

“It won’t take more than a few years,” Wei Ran replied, snapping out of his reverie.

So she had the opportunity to give birth.

Wei Ran didn't give the other party a chance to finish speaking, lest Ji Ma's prediction from yesterday come true.

After he subconsciously increased his speed, when he arrived at his destination according to the navigation, he found himself in front of a beautiful log cabin in the suburbs outside the city.

Before he could even pull the handbrake, he saw several familiar faces waiting there. Besides Dalia and Olena, there was also a big, fat man standing in the log cabin—Uncle Chab with big ears.

"Teacher Dalia"

Wei Ran greeted Dalia respectfully. After all, this poor woman was still his teacher.

"Good child, come in quickly."

After exchanging cheek kisses with Wei Ran, Dalia warmly invited him into the rather beautiful log cabin.

"I've already received the news from Anna."

Dalia spoke first, saying, "From now on, Olena will rely on your and Aurora's support in politics."

"Don't worry, we will definitely support her with all our might," Wei Ran immediately promised.

Even though he knew very well that even without their support, Olena could still thrive in politics with the support of Dalia and others.

But there's definitely a difference between planning something before she even enters politics and scrambling to do it at the last minute.

In particular, in the future, it won't just be a matter of Sui Sui supporting Olena. Once Olena is firmly established, Sui Sui's business will also become exceptionally stable.

Oligarchs? Maybe, but who cares?
"I'm just here to express my gratitude."

As expected, Dalia didn't mention being rejected by Wei Ran last night. "Who will talk next?"

Let me do it.

Nigel said slowly, "You're planning to retire, fine, but what about our business? I can't keep going to China for everything."

"Just go find Lyubov."

Wei Ran said decisively yet formally, "I will gradually hand over some things to her in the future."

"No problem, I just need you to say it yourself, otherwise I can't trust that girl."

As Niner spoke, he decisively pulled Olga to her feet and headed outside the house, while Olga, in turn, pulled Olena away.

"Looks like I'm the only one left."

As Uncle Chabu spoke, he picked up the bottle and poured Wei Ran a full glass of vodka, then poured himself a large glass as well.

"Ding"

The two cups gently clinked together, and Wei Ran and the other person brought the cups to their lips one after the other, each taking a sip.

I didn't expect you to choose to retire so soon.

"But it's good that you stopped in time, so I'm going to give you a gift," said Big Ear Chab.

"What is it this time?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Take this."

As he spoke, Big-Eared Chabu pushed a card with coordinates written on it to Wei Ran.

"what is this?"

Wei Ran took the card and asked, "Just from the coordinates, I can roughly determine the location. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be in Kamchatka."

Prize redemption point

Big-eared Chabu casually uttered an answer that made Wei Ran's heart skip a beat: "You should know that I gave it to you not because I hoped you would use it, nor because I trusted you."

"I see"

Wei Ran quickly calmed down. The other party's meaning was very clear: If something happens to me, you are responsible for helping me get revenge. If something happens to you, I will also help you get revenge—in a sufficiently extreme way.

To put it more simply, it's about mutual support and assistance. It doesn't really require much trust, because when this thing was given to Wei Ran, the level of trust between them was already high enough.

"That location is close enough to the island you want to deploy to."

Big-eared Chabu's voice, laced with amusement and madness, asked, "Do you need me to get it in for you?"

"Need not"

Wei Ran smiled and said, "I'll head over as soon as I'm done. Just make sure your people leave the prize redemption point."

"no problem"

After Big Ear Chabu finished speaking, he raised his glass and clinked it with Wei Ran's again. He then drank the rest of the wine in his glass in one gulp, and without saying a word, he got up and walked into the garage.

A moment later, an inconspicuous Iveco van drove out of the garage and left.

"Is this the meaning of my being here?" Wei Ran asked Dalia, who was still sitting opposite him, as he put away the card.

"My brother is a crazy person who thrives on chaos."

Dalia glanced at the departing car outside the window, then looked back and smiled, saying, "You and he are similar in some ways."

"I'll take it as a compliment," Wei Ran said, pouring some wine for the other person as well.

"Take good care of my Olena from now on."

Dalia smiled and changed the subject, "She probably won't be a silly girl having a crush on you anymore, but I guess she probably won't fall in love with another man anytime soon."

"I..."

“I know, so all I need to do in the future is take good care of her, as a friend.”

Dalia smiled and explained, "You are the same age as me, and you are destined to accompany her through this part of her life for longer than I am. I am just a mother who is not quite a good one, and I am asking you to help her more in the future."

Don't worry.

Wei Ran solemnly promised, "Aurora and I will do our best to take care of her, even after you pass away due to old age."

"I can rest assured that"

Dalia smiled gently, picked up her cup and lightly clinked it against Wei Ran's, then only took a sip. "Good boy, you should continue on your way to the next stop. Don't keep Mr. Nikolai waiting."

"Please take care of yourself. We'll see each other often in the future," Wei Ran said, downing the wine in his glass in one gulp.

At the same time, he added a promise in his heart that only he could be sure of fulfilling—even after death.

"certainly"

Dalia smiled and gave Wei Ran a light hug, then watched him leave the room and get into the car driven by her daughter, Olena.