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

The second group practiced three more rounds.

By the time Cheng Fang finally called a halt, it was almost 10 p.m.

Over the next few days, the training volume only increased.

Disconnection, evacuation of the wounded, nighttime search and rescue, and containment in complex environments—one project after another.

The official investigation team for Black Locust Ridge has arrived on the outskirts. Although the second team is not on the mission list for the time being, it may be transferred there at any time.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, Cheng Fang unusually ended his training session early.

"Take tomorrow off."

Tang Zhi was cleaning her gun when she heard this and looked up.

"Captain, say that again?"

"Take tomorrow off."

"They're suddenly being so nice to us, it makes me a little uneasy."

"Extra training is also acceptable if you choose to do it voluntarily."

Tang Zhi immediately lowered her head.

"No need, I'm easily frightened and can't handle this kind of surprise."

Cheng Fang ignored her and only gave instructions:

"Keep communication open and do not leave the capital. Return to your unit within one hour of receiving notification."

Lin Ye returned the Zhenling Nail to the sealing group and signed the receipt.

"No results yet for Black Locust Ridge?"

"The first round of peripheral investigations is not over yet."

Cheng Fang said, "The fact that we weren't notified means we're not needed for the time being."

Lin Ye nodded.

Once he reached the seventh basement level, he took out his phone and sent a message to Lu Zhixia.

"You're off tomorrow, spend the night with me."

Lu Zhixia quickly responded.

"What time is it?"

"I'll pick you up at 6:30."

"No need, I'll go straight there after get off work."

This is followed by a restaurant address.

Lin Ye glanced at it.

"You've even booked the venue?"

"Um."

"I'm a little flattered by this initiative."

"Then don't come."

"Dream on."

Lin Ye types very quickly.

"My girlfriend asked me out, so I had to crawl there if I had to."

Lu Zhixia replied with a period.

Lin Ye looked at the period, chuckled, and put his phone back in his pocket.

The next day, he slept until noon.

I've been training so intensely lately that I feel like I've been completely disassembled and reassembled. When I woke up, my shoulders and back were sore, and my right arm felt heavy.

At 6:20 PM, Lin Ye arrived at the restaurant entrance.

The location is in the old town, not far from where Lu Zhixia works.

He waited for less than two minutes before someone walked over from across the street.

Lin Ye looked up, his gaze pausing for a moment.

Lu Zhixia usually dresses simply, mostly in shirts, trousers, or plain-colored skirts, and she also tends to tie her hair up.

Today, however, she changed into a deep burgundy halter dress.

She wore only a thin black short jacket over her clothes, exposing her shoulders, neck, and collarbone. The skirt was very form-fitting, with a beautifully cinched waist, and the side slit occasionally revealed a glimpse of her fair calves as she walked.

Her long hair was loose and flowing down her back, with the ends slightly curled.

She also wore light makeup.

The makeup wasn't heavy; the corners of her eyes were a little darker, and her lips had an extra layer of soft red, which made her originally cool features appear much brighter.

Lu Zhixia walked up to him.

Lin Ye was still watching.

She raised her eyebrows.

"Can't you recognize me?"

"I recognize it."

Lin Ye's gaze fell from her face to her dress, then returned to her.

"I'm still a little unsettled."

"What's wrong?"

"My girlfriend was a bit too much of a threat today."

Lu Zhixia's lips twitched slightly.

"exaggerate."

"No, really."

Lin Ye leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"He usually hides his strength well, but today he suddenly unleashed a powerful attack, which is somewhat unethical."

Lu Zhixia's ears turned slightly red, and she raised her hand to pull her coat towards the middle.

Lin Ye grabbed her hand.

"Don't block it."

"Have you seen enough?"

"Not at the moment."

"Then you can stand at the door and watch slowly, I'll go in first."

She turned to leave.

Lin Ye smiled and took her hand.

"Wrong, go in and eat while you watch."

"You're quite good at making arrangements."

"The main thing is not to waste time."

The two entered the restaurant.

Lu Zhixia booked a window seat.

During the meal, Lin Ye was unusually absent-minded.

Glance at the plate, then glance at the other side.

After several attempts, Lu Zhixia finally put down her water glass.

"Linye."

"Um?"

"Can't you eat normally?"

"I've always been normal."

"Then why are you staring at me like that?"

Lin Ye was perfectly justified.

"Is it a problem to look at your own girlfriend?"

"I've never seen you so spineless before."

"You've never dressed like this before."

Lu Zhixia kicked him under the table.

It wasn't a heavy blow, but more like a reminder.

Lin Ye smiled, lowered his head to cut his steak, and after being quiet for half a minute, asked again:

"Why the sudden change of style today?"

"Can't I wear it once in a while?"

"Of course."

He paused for a moment.

"This outfit definitely doesn't look like something I put on a whim."

Lu Zhixia took a sip of water.

I changed it when I got home this afternoon.

Lin Ye stopped holding the knife.

"Did you go back specifically to exchange it?"

"On the way."

"That's a bit of a stretch."

"Have a meal."

"it is good."

Lin Ye agreed verbally, but couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Halfway through his meal, his phone, which was on the table, vibrated.

Lin Ye glanced at it subconsciously.

This is a regular work notification, not a recall.

Lu Zhixia noticed it.

"Have you been this busy lately?"

"good."

After saying that, Lin Ye paused for a moment.

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Not bad again?"

Lin Ye honestly changed his tune.

"I'm quite busy."

"We might be on a mission at any time, so we can't turn off our phones."

"Is it dangerous?"

"It's not certain yet."

He did not elaborate further.

Lu Zhixia didn't ask any further questions, she just extended her hand.

Give me your right hand.

"What are you doing?"

"have a look."

Lin Ye handed over his hand.

There was still a small bruise on the back of his hand that hadn't faded, and two small wounds on the base of his palm.

Lu Zhixia touched it with her fingertip.

"Did you do this in the last couple of days?"

"Um."

"How did this happen?"

"The training equipment drew force too quickly, and my hand went numb for a while."

"Only your hands are numb?"

"I'm still a little dizzy."

"how long?"

"A dozen minutes."

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

Lin Ye quickly added:

"It's been checked, and there was no damage to bones or nerves. He's basically recovered now."

"Does it still hurt when you exert force?"

"A little."

Lu Zhixia released his hand.

"Isn't this clear enough?"

Lin Ye leaned back in his chair.

"The main problem is that there's not much to say."

"I didn't ask you to tell me the details of the mission."

Her tone was not harsh.

"Whether it hurts or not, whether it's uncomfortable or not, these things are not secrets."

Lin Ye was silent for two seconds.

"no."

"We'll talk about it later."

"it is good."

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Don't agree so quickly."

"I'll remember this time."

After finishing their meal, the two left the restaurant.

It started to drizzle outside.

The rain was light, falling in a fine, dense drizzle under the streetlights.

Lin Ye stood under the eaves and hailed a taxi.

"I'll take you back."

"I'm not going back."

Lin Ye raised his head.

"Um?"

Lu Zhixia's expression remained relatively calm, but her ears had already turned red.

"I told my family I won't be going home tonight."

Lin Ye looked at her for a few seconds.

"That statement of yours contains a lot of information."

"Where is it big?"

"I'm digesting it."

Lu Zhixia took a room key out of her bag and waved it in front of him.

The hotel is just across the street.

Lin Ye glanced at the room key, then at her dress.

"Did you book it in advance?"

"I ordered it this afternoon."

"So today you..."

"Linye."

Lu Zhixia interrupted him.

"If you analyze it again, I'll check out now."

Lin Ye immediately took the room key.

"Retreat what?"

"The money's already spent, we can't waste it."

Lu Zhixia pursed her lips.

"You certainly know how to manage your finances."

"Excellent quality".

Lin Ye opened the umbrella and took her hand.

The two crossed the road.

The space under the umbrella was small, and their shoulders were pressed together. Lu Zhixia's skirt occasionally brushed against his leg, but neither of them spoke again.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, Lin Ye realized that she had booked a top-floor room.

The elevator doors closed.

The mirror reflected the images of two people.

Lu Zhixia stood next to him, her hand still being held by him.

Lin Ye glanced at the fluctuating floor numbers.

Are you nervous?

"a little."

"It's not too late to regret it now."

Lu Zhixia turned to look at him.

"And you?"

"A little bit too."

"I didn't notice."

"It's well-prepared."

Lu Zhixia gently squeezed his hand.

The elevator reached the top floor.

After swiping the card to enter, only a floor lamp was lit in the room.

Outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows, rainwater slid down the glass, blurring the city lights into a hazy mess.

Lin Ye closed the door.

The door lock clicked shut very softly.

Lu Zhixia bent down to take off her shoes, her movements noticeably slower than before.

Lin Ye reached out and supported her waist.

They paused simultaneously as their palms touched.

The skirt fabric is very thin.

Even through that layer of cloth, he could clearly feel the temperature of her body.

"Zhi Xia."

"Um?"

Lin Ye didn't say anything more, and lowered his head to kiss her.

At first, I just lightly applied it.

Lu Zhixia raised her hand and put it on his shoulder, without flinching.

The second kiss was much deeper.

The lipstick she wore today was gradually faded by kisses, and her breathing became increasingly erratic.

Lin Ye's hand rested on her waist and slowly tightened.

Their bodies were pressed together through their clothes.

Lu Zhixia took the initiative to put her arms around the back of his neck and pull him closer.

She had a very faint fragrance.

Upon closer inspection, the scent is more noticeable in the hair and on the skin.

Lin Ye's kiss moved from the corner of her lips to her ear.

Lu Zhixia shrank back slightly.

"itch."

"Then let's go somewhere else."

Warm lips landed on her neck.

Lu Zhixia tilted her head back and grabbed his shirt with her fingers.

The black coat slipped off his shoulder and was casually draped over the back of the chair next to him by Lin Ye.

With less covering up, the burgundy dress appeared even more form-fitting.

Lin Ye looked down for a moment.

Lu Zhixia's face grew hotter and hotter.

"Looking again?"

"The impact is greater at close range."

Why are you talking so much tonight?

"I tend to talk nonsense when I'm nervous."

Lu Zhixia looked at him for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him down.

"Then let's not talk about it."

Lin Ye chuckled and kissed her again.

The two walked from the entrance hall to the window.

Lu Zhixia rested her lower back against the edge of the table, while Lin Ye supported himself behind her with one hand and slowly moved his other hand down her waistline.

The hem of her skirt slid up a little as her movement caused it to move.

When his palm landed on her bare skin, Lu Zhixia's breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively grabbed his arm.

Lin Ye stopped.

"May I?"

Lu Zhixia did not answer.

She simply raised her hand and began to unbutton his shirt.

The first one went smoothly.

The second one was solved twice.

Lin Ye took her hand.

"Still nervous?"

Aren't you nervous?

"nervous."

Lin Ye lowered his head and kissed her fingers.

"So you have to ask."

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

"I booked the room."

"I changed the clothes too."

"I know what I'm doing."

She paused for a moment.

"Is that clear enough?"

Lin Ye looked at her.

That's enough.

Lu Zhixia finally unbuttoned his shirt.

With the collar open, the old and new scars were revealed.

Her fingers landed on a bruise on his shoulder.

"Is this also a training injury?"

"Um."

"What about this side?"

"Too."

Lu Zhixia frowned.

"How much is left exactly?"

Lin Ye lowered his head and kissed her.

"Test again tomorrow."

"Don't watch this tonight."

He kissed her so hard she couldn't speak, her fingers still gently touching the wounds, her movements even more tender than before.

Lin Ye's hand went around to her back and touched the zipper of her skirt.

He didn't pull it open immediately.

Lu Zhixia looked at him and turned around on her own initiative.

The zipper slowly descended.

The burgundy fabric draped over her shoulders, revealing a large expanse of her fair and smooth back.

When Lin Ye placed his palm on her, her body trembled slightly.

The next second, he hugged her from behind and kissed her shoulder.

Lu Zhixia closed her eyes.

She is usually calm and keeps her emotions well hidden.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red, her breathing was becoming more rapid, and the fingers gripping his arm were tightening their hold.

The skirt slipped down along the waistline.

Lu Zhixia raised her hand to block him, but in the end she just hugged him tightly.

Lin Ye asked in a low voice:

"To bed?"

"Um."

He picked her up.

Lu Zhixia instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Slow down."

"Afraid of falling?"

"I'm afraid it will hurt your hand."

Lin Ye paused for a moment.

"You're still thinking about this at a time like this?"

"Shut up."

"it is good."

He placed her on the bed and leaned down to kiss her.

A burgundy long dress lay beside the bed.

Lin Ye's shirt soon fell to the side as well, getting mixed up with the others.

The bedside lamp was turned off.

Only a faint light from outside the window remained in the room.

Lin Ye paused once more before truly taking the final step.

"Zhi Xia."

Lu Zhixia opened her eyes.

Are you sure?

The flush on her face hadn't faded yet.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhixia remained silent for a few seconds, then reached into her bag by the bedside, took out a small paper bag, and stuffed it into his arms.

Lin Ye opened it and took a look.

He looked at her again.

"Well prepared."

"Do you really have to tell me?"

Lu Zhixia pulled the blanket over herself.

Lin Ye smiled, pressed down the corner of the blanket, and pulled her back into his arms.

"OK."

"I'm not going to say anything more."

He lowered his head and kissed her.

The rest of the words were scattered in the overlapping breaths.

The sound of rain came through the glass.

Occasionally, the soft rustling of clothes and sheets could be heard in the room.

Lu Zhixia was initially a little stiff.

Every time Lin Ye stopped, she would reach out and hug him, as if to tell him that he didn't need to back away.

Later, her voice grew softer and softer, but her fingers never loosened their grip.

That night, the two didn't exchange many sweet words.

Some things have already been said through hugs, kisses, and the warmth of being pressed together.

In the latter half of the night, the rain gradually subsided.

Lu Zhixia lay on her side in Lin Ye's arms, the thin blanket covering her shoulders.

Her long hair was spread out on the pillow, and the corners of her eyes were still slightly red.

Lin Ye hugged her from behind, his arm around her waist.

After a long time, Lu Zhixia suddenly asked:

"Are you about to go on a mission?"

Lin Ye opened his eyes.

"Why do you ask that?"

"You've been training too hard lately."

"You have to check your phone every time it vibrates today."

Lin Ye remained silent for a moment.

"It's not decided yet."

"Maybe you'll go?"

"Um."

Lu Zhixia did not ask for the __cpLocation.

"When?"

"have no idea."

Tell me when you can.

"it is good."

"If you can't say it, don't make it up."

Lin Ye looked down at her.

"When did I ever make that up?"

Lu Zhixia turned around to face him.

"If you say you're fine, it basically means something's wrong."

Lin Ye thought for a moment, but couldn't find any words to refute him.

Lu Zhixia's hand landed next to the bruise on his shoulder.

"I understand that the details of the mission cannot be disclosed."

"But pain, fear, and discomfort are not secrets."

"Don't hide them together anymore."

Lin Ye looked at her for a while.

He took that hand and kissed it.

"it is good."

"You agreed so quickly again."

"I've really remembered this time."

Lu Zhixia moved a little closer to him.

"Go to sleep."

The next morning, Lin Ye was woken up by his phone vibrating.

Morning light was already filtering through the gaps in the curtains.

Lu Zhixia was still sleeping next to her, half her face buried in the pillow, her shoulder exposed outside the blanket.

Their clothes were scattered around the bed.

His burgundy dress was pressing down on his belt, and the paper bag he had opened last night was still next to the cabinet.

Lin Ye took the phone.

The message came from Cheng Fang.

"Meet in meeting room number three at 9:00 AM."

Bring all personal equipment.

The sleepiness on his face vanished almost instantly.

Lu Zhixia also woke up.

"What's up?"

"Meet at nine o'clock."

"What time is it now?"

7:42.

Lu Zhixia sat up and wrapped herself in the blanket.

When she got out of bed, she paused slightly and her brows furrowed gently.

Lin Ye immediately looked over.

"pain?"

Lu Zhixia grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face.

"Could you please not ask?"

Lin Ye caught the pillow, suppressed a laugh, and got out of bed.

"I'll get you some water."

Lu Zhixia picked up her phone.

A message from Lu's mother was already on the screen, asking what time she would be home.

Lin Ye asked while putting on his shirt:

"What did your family say?"

"I already said that last night."

"You mean you're talking to me outside?"

"Um."

Lin Ye paused for a moment while buttoning his shirt.

"Didn't your aunt ask?"

"They asked me what time I would be back."

Lu Zhixia lowered her head to reply to the message.

"I didn't ask anything else."

"So open-minded?"

"She knows we're dating."

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

"You really want her to keep asking?"

"no."

Lin Ye quickly shook his head.

"I'm mainly afraid that next time we meet, she'll just grab a broom and wait for me."

"That depends on your performance."

"I'm suddenly feeling a lot of pressure."

"You should worry about being late for nine o'clock first."

Lin Ye glanced at the time.

The hotel is a distance from the seven __cpLocations, but under normal circumstances, it's enough time to get there.

He put on his coat and went to the bedside.

"Shall I take you home first?"

"No need, I'll take a taxi myself."

Are you sure?

"Sure."

Lu Zhixia reached out and turned up one side of his collar for him.

"Go back to the assembly point first."

Lin Ye took her hand.

"last night……"

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

"Try saying you regret it."

"I have no regrets."

Lin Ye smiled.

"What I meant to say was, very good."

Her ears turned red again.

"understood."

"that's all?"

"What else would you like to hear?"

"Like next time."

Lu Zhixia nudged him.

"Let's go quickly."

Lin Ye lowered his head and kissed her.

"Wait for me to come back."

Lu Zhixia's hand stopped on his chest.

"Remember to send a message."

"it is good."

"Don't just post 'nothing'."

Lin Ye thought for a moment.

"Then send it back."

Lu Zhixia nodded.

"That's fine."

At 8:20, Lin Ye left the hotel.

The rain had stopped, but the road surface was still damp.

He got into the taxi, his phone screen still showing the meeting notification sent by Cheng Fang.

Getting back before nine o'clock shouldn't be a problem.

The real question is, what exactly did they discover at Black Locust Ridge that would suddenly require them to bring all their personal equipment?

Lin Ye leaned back in his seat, gazing out the window at the street receding into the distance.

The heat from last night still seems to linger on my skin.

But his thoughts were gradually returning to the mission that was about to begin.

Something seems to have happened at Black Locust Ridge.