I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

Cheng Fang did not reveal the details beforehand.

"The archives will be available tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow is a rest day. We'll meet at 6:00 AM the day after tomorrow at base station number -7."

Tang Zhi leaned back in her chair and asked cautiously, "Another holiday?"

Cheng Fang glanced at her.

"You want to practice more?"

"In no mood."

Tang Zhi immediately stood up.

"Team Leader Cheng is brilliant."

Qin Zhao had already grabbed his coat and was walking outside.

Xu Mian put away the review notes and whispered a reminder to Lin Ye as she passed by, "Get some rest."

Lin Ye nodded.

Back in his dorm, he had just finished showering and lay down when his personal phone vibrated.

Lu Zhixia sent a message.

"Grandpa asked you when you're going to learn chess."

Lin Ye stared at that sentence for a few seconds.

When Lin Ye left the Lu family last time, Old Master Lu did indeed ask him to play chess again. Lin Ye thought it was just something an elder casually mentioned when seeing a guest off, but he didn't expect the old man to actually set up the chessboard.

He replied:

"Is Grandpa really going to teach me?"

"The chessboard is set up."

He said the loser would be responsible for making tea.

Lin Ye thought for a moment.

"Then we might need to prepare a few more teapots tomorrow."

Lu Zhixia quickly replied:

"Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"

"It just so happens that I have a holiday."

Lin Ye paused for a moment, then asked:

"Last time I helped you avoid a blind date."

"In what capacity should I go this time?"

After the message was sent, there was silence on the other end for almost a minute.

Just as Lin Ye was wondering if he had asked too directly, the screen lit up again.

"Think about it yourself."

Lin Ye stared at it for a long time, then couldn't help but chuckle.

Lu Zhixia is usually decisive, but when faced with this kind of problem, she's quite good at passing the buck.

The next afternoon, Lin Ye changed into a clean set of casual clothes.

This isn't the same approach you take when meeting the parents for the first time.

Since Old Master Lu already knew they were faking it, there was no need for him to dress up as if he were about to take another test.

Before leaving, he still tidied his hair in front of the mirror.

The phone rang immediately.

Tang Zhi asked in the second group chat:

"Lin Ye, where are you going on vacation?"

"Private arrangement."

"The Lu family?"

Lin Ye stared at the screen.

Are you spying on me?

Tang Zhi: "No need to monitor you. Your life now revolves around training and Lu Zhixia."

Xu Mian immediately followed up with a message:

"You have a mission tomorrow, so don't go home too late tonight."

Qin Zhao: "She meant, don't be late."

Tang Zhi: "Couldn't you have made that sound a little gentler?"

Qin Zhao: "No."

Lin Ye put away his phone.

well.

Before he even left the seventh location, he was already being watched by his gossipy teammates.

Lu Zhixia was waiting for him at the alley entrance.

She was dressed casually today, wearing a light gray knit sweater that hugged her slender waistline and a dark long skirt. Her shoulders and neck were clean and neat, making her look tall and graceful.

Her hair was loosely tied back, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears, softening her usual aloofness.

She stood at the alley entrance, and although she wasn't dressed up, she still caught everyone's attention at a glance.

As Lin Ye approached, she first looked at his face.

"How's the recovery going?"

"Almost at full health."

"Your complexion doesn't look right."

"I've been training a lot lately, and I look a bit weathered."

Lu Zhixia turned and walked into the courtyard.

"I just didn't get enough sleep."

Lin Ye followed her.

"Teacher Lu, I'm a guest today, could you please be a little more polite?"

Lu Zhixia turned her head to the side.

"I don't need to act in front of my grandfather."

"I'll need you to continue pretending for my parents."

Lin Ye nodded.

"Understood, maintain operational status in some areas."

Lu Zhixia glanced at him.

"Be poor."

Despite saying he didn't need to act, Lin Ye was actually more uncomfortable when he actually entered the room than the first time.

The last time we held hands, got close, and shielded each other from problems, we could all explain it as a work requirement.

This time, without that reason, even standing a little closer seemed to have a different meaning.

Lu's mother was organizing documents in the living room.

When she saw Lin Ye come in, her attitude softened considerably compared to last time.

"Kobayashi is here?"

Hello, Auntie.

Lin Ye put down the fruit and tea he had brought.

Lu's mother noticed that he had developed some thin calluses on the base of his thumb and near his knuckles.

"Have you been very busy with work lately?"

"I just finished an assessment."

"Are you injured?"

Lin Ye was about to say it was nothing when Lu Zhixia spoke up from the side:

"The job involves confidentiality requirements."

Lu's mother glanced at her daughter.

"I asked about the person, not the mission."

She looked at Lin Ye again.

"Are you hurt?"

"no."

Lin Ye answered seriously this time.

"I'm just a little tired."

Lu's mother nodded and did not ask any further questions.

"Your uncle went to a meeting at work, and Grandpa is waiting for you in the backyard."

After leaving the living room, Lin Ye said in a low voice, "Auntie was much more polite to me today."

"She didn't make things difficult for you last time either."

"Last time was the preliminary review."

Lu Zhixia glanced at him.

"This review."

Lin Ye sighed.

Some leaves have fallen from the osmanthus tree in the backyard.

Sunlight filtered through the branches, falling on the stone table and chessboard.

Grandpa Lu sat in a rattan chair, with a small clay stove boiling water beside him.

Upon seeing Lin Ye, he raised his hand.

"You're here?"

"grandfather."

Lin Ye walked over.

The old man sized him up a few times.

You don't look well.

"I've been training a lot lately."

"Is the person unharmed?"

"no."

Grandpa Lu nodded and pointed to the opposite side.

"sit."

After Lin Ye sat down, Lu Zhixia sat down on the small stool next to him.

As the old man set up the chess pieces, he said, "You don't need to put on an act in front of me today."

Lin Ye glanced at Lu Zhixia.

"So you still asked me to come over today?"

Grandpa Lu looked up at him.

"The last time I came was to help Zhixia avoid a blind date."

"Since you're willing to come again this time, it can't all be considered as helping out."

Lin Ye didn't reply.

Lu Zhixia reached for the teacup, her expression calm, but her movements were a little slower than usual.

The old man glanced at the two of them but didn't press them for more information.

"You young people should think about your own affairs."

"But don't just say it's fake and end up delaying the real thing too."

After saying that, he pushed the red chess piece in front of Lin Ye.

"You go first."

Lin Ye looked down at the chessboard.

He knows the basic moves, but his skill level is only average.

The first step went fairly well.

A few steps later, Old Master Lu ate one of his horses.

A few steps further, his car was also pinned to the corner and couldn't move.

The old man took a sip of tea.

"You're playing chess like you're running for your life."

Lin Ye stared at the chessboard.

"I've actually gotten quite good at this lately."

Lu Zhixia sat beside her, a slight smile curving her lips.

Lin Ye held a pawn that had crossed the river, but hesitated to place it.

If we move forward, we'll most likely lose this pawn.

If we don't move, we'll block the cars behind us.

Grandpa Lu looked at it for a moment.

"You can't bear to throw it away?"

"It can still be saved."

"Save even a lowly soldier?"

Lin Ye looked at the chessboard.

"Of course I don't want to lose it if I can avoid it."

The old man leaned back in his rattan chair.

"We want to save the chariot, we want to save the horse, and we can't bear to part with the pawn."

"If you try to keep everything on the chessboard, you'll often end up keeping nothing at all."

Lin Ye paused, his hand holding the chess piece.

He knew the old man was talking about chess.

But it doesn't seem like they're just talking about chess.

Uncle Zhao and Zhao Lele in Qingshan Cemetery.

Ningzhi.

Gu Wantang.

Xiaoman (Grain Buds)

Lu Zhixia.

There are also a few people from Group Two.

He really didn't want to lose any of them.

Old Master Lu asked, "What if it really comes down to a point where a choice must be made?"

Lin Ye remained silent for a moment, then pushed the pawn forward a step.

"Prioritize saving lives."

"Where's the chess piece?"

"You can play again if you lose."

"If there aren't enough people, we won't be able to get enough people for the next round."

Grandpa Lu looked at him for a few seconds and then chuckled.

"No wonder your carriages and horses are almost gone, but you're still alive and well, handsome."

Lin Ye smiled too.

"Primarily for survival."

Just as he was about to push the car out, Lu Zhixia suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"We can't take this step."

Lin Ye looked down at her hand.

Why?

"The back is completely empty."

She moved his car and changed her position.

"Defend this place first."

Lin Ye looked at the chessboard.

"I never imagined that there would be off-court coaching for chess."

Old Master Lu snorted.

"If you can't win, you call in outside help?"

Lu Zhixia released her grip.

"His foundation is weak."

Lin Ye said, "Teacher Lu, please give me some face in front of Grandpa."

Old Master Lu looked at him.

"Still calling me Teacher Lu?"

Lin Ye turned his head.

Lu Zhixia was also looking at him.

The last time I called her "Zhi Xia" was to make her parents believe me.

This time, however, there was no ready-made excuse.

Lin Ye was silent for two seconds.

"Zhi Xia."

Lu Zhixia responded softly.

"Um."

Just two words, yet the distance seemed to suddenly shrink a little.

In the first game, Lin Ye lost completely.

In the second round, Lu Zhixia sat down next to him.

She occasionally offered a reminder, but Lin Ye still couldn't hold on for long.

Grandpa Lu placed his last piece.

"General."

Lin Ye looked at Shuai, who had nowhere else to go.

"Is there any way to save him?"

Lu Zhixia said, "No."

"You answered way too fast."

"Because you've already lost."

The old man was in a good mood and picked up his teacup.

"Let's go make some tea."

According to the rules, Lin Ye, the loser, had no choice but to get up.

He followed Lu Zhixia into the small tea room next door.

The tea room is small, with one wall made into a wooden lattice shelf, on which several simple tea canisters are placed.

Lu Zhixia took out the tea leaves.

"Do you know how to make it?"

"Boil water, add tea leaves, and pour it in."

"Is this how you usually are?"

"As long as it's drinkable, it's fine."

She placed the tea leaves in front of him.

"Put in less."

Lin Ye did as she said.

Lu Zhixia stood by the teapot the whole time.

The two people were not far apart, and their sleeves would occasionally touch.

No one deliberately moved it.

After the tea was brought back to the courtyard, the old man took a sip and frowned.

"The water temperature is too high."

Lin Ye asked, "Can we still drink it?"

"able."

The old man took another sip.

"It's just a pity about the tea leaves."

"I'll change it next time."

"Are you planning to do it again?"

"Didn't you ask me to come and learn chess?"

Only then was Old Master Lu satisfied.

"Your memory is alright."

As he sipped his tea, he casually recounted his time as a soldier in his youth.

Before one mission, a few comrades made plans to drink together when they got back.

The wine has been bought.

Two people are missing.

Grandpa Lu didn't say how dangerous the mission was, nor how uncomfortable he was at the time.

He simply looked at the teacup and said nothing more:

People always think there's plenty of time later.

"Actually, some things, if you put them off, you'll never have the chance to say them or do them."

He looked up at Lin Ye.

"Zhi Xia's parents are right in their assessment of her family, job, and future stability."

"I only care who she's comfortable with."

Lin Ye subconsciously looked at Lu Zhixia.

Grandpa Lu continued, "She talks more than usual when she's with you."

"And I smile more now."

Lu Zhixia put down her teacup.

"Grandpa, it's time for your afternoon nap."

Old Master Lu chuckled and slowly stood up.

"Okay, I won't keep you any longer."

He paused again as he reached the doorway.

"I knew whether it was true or false at the beginning."

"But don't let one person use others as a shield while the other treats themselves as a temporary worker."

After saying that, he went into the house with his hands behind his back.

The courtyard quickly quieted down.

The sunlight slanted across the chessboard.

Lu Zhixia lowered her head and put away the chess pieces.

Lin Ye also lent a helping hand.

Both players' hands landed on a black chess piece at the same time.

Their fingertips touched.

No one immediately retreated.

After a while, Lu Zhixia asked, "Did something go wrong with the assessment?"

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Why do you ask that?"

You look very tired today.

Her gaze fell on a scabbed scratch on the back of Lin Ye's hand.

"And this too."

Lin Ye glanced at it.

"It's alright, it's all taken care of."

Lu Zhixia raised her eyes.

Are you hurt?

"no."

"real?"

"Really. I just fell, it's nothing."

Lu Zhixia did not speak immediately.

Her hand remained on the chessboard, her fingertips very close to his.

"Linye."

She rarely called him by his full name like that.

Lin Ye's smile faded slightly.

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Don't use 'the mission is complete' or 'everyone is back' as your answer in the future."

"I'm asking you."

Lin Ye remained silent for a moment.

"clear."

"What about next time?"

The official mission starts tomorrow morning.

The archives have not yet been made available.

He has no idea about the danger level or the mission details.

Lin Ye couldn't give her a guarantee of safety.

I will try my best to come back.

Lu Zhixia frowned.

"As much as possible again?"

"I can't lie to you about something like this."

Lin Ye looked at her intently.

"But I will consider coming back as part of my mission."

Lu Zhixia's expression softened slightly.

She bent down and put the last chess piece into the box.

Suddenly asked:

"Last time in front of my parents, you said that you were the one who fell in love first."

Lin Ye paused for a moment.

"Um."

"Was it also hastily made up?"

"It started as a way to help you out of a difficult situation."

Lu Zhixia lowered her eyes.

Lin Ye continued:

"No, it wasn't like that later."

She looked at him again.

"Which sentence isn't it?"

Lin Ye wasn't joking this time.

"That sentence that moved me."

The wind blew through the yard.

The leaves brushed against the eaves, making a very soft sound.

Lu Zhixia looked at him, and the calm in her eyes gradually faded.

Her hand was still next to the chess box.

Lin Ye reached out and gently grasped it.

Lu Zhixia did not pull it away.

The distance between the two people gradually shortened.

Lin Ye asked in a low voice:

"Is this still considered acting?"

Lu Zhixia said, "That doesn't count."

The next second, she looked up and kissed him.

It's very light.

Their lips touched, and they paused for a moment.

Just as Lu Zhixia was about to step back, Lin Ye raised his hand to support her arm, lowered his head, and kissed her again.

There was no further progress.

They just lingered a little longer than before.

When they parted, Lu Zhixia's ears were already red.

She said in a low voice, "This doesn't count as training."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"So that counts as becoming a full-time employee?"

Don't push your luck.

Lu Zhixia raised her hand and pushed him.

Lin Ye took her hand in his.

This time, there were no parents to be fooled, and no so-called special circumstances.

But no one let go.

At 5 p.m., Lin Ye prepared to leave.

Just as I reached the gate of the courtyard, my encrypted phone vibrated.

Task file access has been granted.

Meet at 6:00 AM tomorrow at point -7.

All personnel carried official field equipment.

Lu Zhixia did not ask about the details of the mission.

She simply reached out and straightened his collar.

"Are we going to review the documents again tonight?"

"Um."

"Then go back early."

Lin Ye grasped her hand, which she hadn't yet withdrawn.

"I will come back."

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

"What did you say?"

"Haven't you already been promoted to a permanent position?"

Lin Ye was stunned for a moment.

Lu Zhixia had already withdrawn her hand and turned to enter the courtyard.

After walking a few steps, Lin Ye looked back again.

She was still standing under the door.

He wasn't urged to go in, nor was he allowed to go in first.

The meeting notice for 6 a.m. tomorrow is still displayed on my phone screen.

Lin Ye wanted to come back before because the mission required everyone to return to the team.

This time, someone was waiting for him.