Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Liu Ming stood in front of the mottled black lacquered wooden door, her hand hovering in mid-air, hesitant for once.

Today, he completed all the "official" retirement and dismissal procedures at the military headquarters. The old generals were reluctant to part with him, and several tough guys even had tears in their eyes on the spot. He forced himself to drink three jin of baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor) before he could barely escape from that tragic atmosphere.

But compared to the battlefield and the officialdom, he felt that pushing open this door now was the real "life-or-death ordeal".

"What a chaotic scene..."

Liu Ming muttered something under his breath. He took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself for being ridiculed, having plates and bowls smashed, or even being subjected to a set of military-style punches by Lin Xiaoxiao.

He pushed the door open forcefully.

"Squeak—"

The courtyard lights were warm, casting an orange glow on the bluestone bricks, creating a homely atmosphere that made people let down their guard.

There was no tense standoff as expected, nor was there any cold, aloof scrutiny.

Xi Wanqing, Nangong Yao, and Lin Xiaoxiao sat side by side at the stone table under the grape trellis.

Hearing the door open, the three women looked up simultaneously. Their eyes met, and instead of the usual hostility that made them want to tear each other apart, there was an inexplicable understanding between them.

"You're back?"

Nangong Yao was the first to stand up. Today, instead of wearing one of those high-fashion suits that exuded an aura of power, she had changed into an extremely soft beige knitted loungewear. She walked up to Liu Ming and naturally took the briefcase and coat from his hands.

Their movements were so practiced, as if they were an old married couple who had been married for many years.

"Hmm." Liu Ming was stunned for a moment, his body stiffening slightly. He looked at Nangong Yao warily, afraid that this woman would pull out some kind of "breakup agreement" and throw it in his face the next second.

"What are you standing there for? Don't you recognize us?"

Lin Xiaoxiao also skipped over. She wasn't wearing a ponytail today; her hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, and she was wearing an apron with a bear pattern. She looked like a well-behaved girl next door.

She grabbed Liu Ming's arm and pressed him onto the rattan chair in the yard.

"Please sit down! I know you'll be forced to drink by those officers while you're handling the paperwork today, so I specially made you a hangover soup. I can already smell the aroma!"

Liu Ming was pressed into the chair like a puppet. He watched as Xi Wanqing slowly walked out of the kitchen carrying a clay pot.

This "ice queen," who single-handedly stripped a financial giant of billions in assets in court, was now carefully holding a bowl of soup. A subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness and virtuousness shone through her cool, beautiful face.

"Have some hot soup first, it will make your stomach feel better."

Xi Wanqing gently placed a bowl of milky white hangover soup in front of Liu Ming, without any cold words or long lectures.

Only in those clear eyes was there an undisguised concern.

Liu Ming was completely stunned. He picked up the bowl of soup, looked at Xi Wanqing, then at Nangong Yao who was smiling and peeling an orange for him, and then at Lin Xiaoxiao who was massaging his shoulders.

This...this art style is off!

"What... happened to you?"

Liu Ming swallowed hard, her voice a little dry. "Well, if you're still angry and want to beat me up to vent your anger, I won't fight back. But this 'boiling the frog slowly' tactic is a bit too much for me..."

"Pfft!"

Nangong Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud. She stretched out her slender finger and tapped Liu Ming's forehead hard.

"Director Liu, oh no, Advisor Liu, aren't you usually quite clever when you're scheming against those old foxes? How come you've become such a blockhead at home?"

"that is!"

Lin Xiaoxiao increased the pressure of her shoulder massage, making Liu Ming wince in pain. "We were just trying to be nice to you, and you suspect we have a conspiracy? Master, you've hurt me so much!"

Sitting opposite Liu Ming, Xi Wanqing couldn't help but smile with a beautiful curve as she looked at Liu Ming's tense expression.

She reached out and gently placed her hand on Liu Ming's calloused and scarred hand.

"Liu Ming." Xi Wanqing's voice was soft, yet it carried a firmness and gentleness that could penetrate the soul.

"We've talked."

"You've already talked about it?" Liu Ming was surprised.

"Um."

Nangong Yao took over the conversation, her peach blossom eyes sparkling with an almost obsessive deep affection.

"The three of us have reached an agreement."

"Since none of us can live without you, and you, you bastard, are so greedy that you want to have us all."

"Then we have no choice but to...accept our fate."

Nangong Yao looked into Liu Ming's eyes and said, word by word:

"From this day forward, no matter if you are a god or a demon, a patriot or a monster outside, in this courtyard, you are simply our man."

"We're not going to argue anymore."

Lin Xiaoxiao sniffed, her eyes slightly red. "As long as you're safe and sound, even if I have to share you with the two of them in the future... even if it's just a third of you, I'll accept it."

Xi Wanqing didn't speak. She simply held Liu Ming's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, and through those icy fingertips, she conveyed the deepest, most desperate affection of her life.

"Honey, you've worked hard."

Xi Wanqing uttered these five words softly, her voice not loud, but it was like a thunderclap, directly shattering the hardest fortress in Liu Ming's heart!

Honey, you've worked so hard.

In this world filled with scheming, killing, and betrayal, Liu Ming has seen far too many hypocritical smiles and heard far too many high-sounding lies.

He thought he had long since developed a heart of stone, and that he could fight forever like a tireless machine.

But at this moment, looking at these three women who, for his sake, had set aside all their pride and principles, and willingly stepped back to stand behind him, he felt a surge of emotion.

Hearing this most ordinary, yet most somber, greeting.

Liu Ming's eyes reddened; it was a vulnerability he had never felt in the past ten years, not even when he had broken bones or bled to death.

He suddenly felt that all the hardships and humiliations he had endured in his life had been perfectly redeemed at this moment.

"I……"

Liu Ming opened her mouth, but found that her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and she couldn't say anything.

He suddenly stood up, stretching out his long arms in an extremely domineering yet extremely gentle manner.

Xi Wanqing, Nangong Yao, and Lin Xiaoxiao—these three women represent all the light and hope in his life.

There were no sweet words, no vows.

On this slightly chilly autumn night, in this courtyard filled with the warmth of everyday life, the heartbeats of the four people resonated in unison.

Liu Ming closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fragrance from their hair.

He felt that he had not only won the world.

He already possesses the whole world.

Thank you.

Liu Ming's voice was extremely hoarse, yet it conveyed a firmness that could shake mountains.

"The rest of my life."

"We will walk side by side."