Chapter 42 They Are Heroes
The next morning, Jiang Yao hurriedly left her house.
Jiang Yao’s physical reaction before the arrival of her relatives was much easier than Jiang Yan’s, so she felt more relaxed psychologically. Jiang Yan, on the other hand, was still experiencing all sorts of strange discomforts that she couldn’t locate, and the awkward feelings persisted.
After a series of treatments including internal and external hormone suppressants, the Golden Pill, and warming medicine, Jiang Yao felt confident she was completely prepared.
“Bentley, this car must be very expensive, right?”
On the way to the G District International Exhibition Center, Jiang Yao sat in Zhong Jing’s luxurious SUV, looking around, though her hands remained still.
“You don’t know about cars? This is this year’s latest plug-in hybrid urban SUV, worth over three million. However, it doesn’t impress some women,” Zhong Jing replied with a smile, gently turning the steering wheel as the vehicle made its way onto the elevated road.
As the view opened up, the blue SUV on the elevated road appeared to soar above the bustling city, weaving through beams of vibrant sunlight.
On the Sunday city streets, there were fewer vehicles than usual, allowing for a higher driving speed. While glancing at the rearview mirror, Zhong Jing caught a glimpse of Jiang Yao’s exquisitely refreshing outfit.
She wore a pure white T-shirt paired with gray-black denim shorts, her light golden long hair flowing freely without a ponytail. Aside from her neatly groomed eyebrows, there were hardly any signs of makeup on her face, giving her a pure and delicate look.
Jiang Yao had a tote bag resting on her snow-white legs, which contained a set of JK costumes that Zhong Jing had prepared specifically for this outing, a joint plan of theirs.
This outfit was a perfect replica of the female lead’s attire from a popular anime, made from high-quality material with exquisite craftsmanship. Compared to those imitations that merely copied the appearance but were poorly made, this belonged to a different league—suitable for everyday wear.
Without mentioning Zhong Jing’s own firm income, just the so-called pocket money that his mother provided each month was enough for him to indulge in these otaku pleasures to the fullest.
Hearing Zhong Jing’s light-hearted teasing and glancing at the bag in her hands, Jiang Yao suddenly recalled Jiang Yan’s hesitant expression before she left.
“Zhong Jing… are you still trying to hit on me?”
Jiang Yao suddenly turned her head, blinking her beautiful eyes with an unusually serious expression.
The SUV traveling at high speed experienced a subtle jolt, Zhong Jing tightened his grip on the steering wheel, glancing back with a perplexed look, a bit helpless: “Stop joking! I’m driving!”
“I’m asking you, are you trying to hit on me!?”
Jiang Yao’s brows began to furrow slightly, her neck and ears faintly flushing red, but her words remained unchanged.
“Have you lost your mind? Why are you asking such silly questions? What could I possibly want from a vampire? Am I trying to live longer?”
Zhong Jing grinned, starting to slow down as they approached the imposing silhouette of the Q District International Exhibition Center seen between the distant skyscrapers.
Feeling that Zhong Jing had looked at her just now when he turned his head, Jiang Yao clutched the paper bag to her chest, pouting her lips as if she had developed some special emotion.
“Oh… then, let me be clear, don’t get any funny ideas; I don’t like men!”
“Hey, what a coincidence, neither do I!”
A few seconds later, both Zhong Jing and Jiang Yao couldn’t hold back anymore and started laughing.
……
Near noon, at the W District Children’s Welfare Institute.
Not long after Jiang Yao left, Jiang Yan was greeted by her anxious relatives.
Although the physical tension and anxiety were far less than during her first visit, and the severe stomach pain that tormented her body and mind was much milder, the fact that it arrived a couple of days earlier than expected still caught Jiang Yan off guard.
After hurriedly preparing and checking everything repeatedly, time slipped away, and when Jiang Yan finally rushed to the welfare institute, it was almost noon.
Carrying a fabric bag with backup clothes, Jiang Yan had just stepped through the gate of the welfare institute when she spotted a familiar figure near the information board.
Today, Meng Huai was no longer in casual clothes but stood stiff and tall in a fitted military uniform.
As she slowly walked up to Meng Huai, her gaze also shifted to the bulletin board. In front of Meng Huai were photos of two martyrs, with extensive biographies beneath them. This represented the welfare institute’s remembrance of the two outstanding young men and was a source of pride for the institute.
“Hmm?”
Sensing someone nearby, Meng Huai slowly turned, and then smiled slightly: “What a coincidence, we meet again! Are you here to volunteer today as well?”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Meng.”
Jiang Yan placed her hands in front of her, holding the handle of her fabric bag, and bowed slightly in greeting, a demeanor cultivated gradually at the Jinhe Club.
“Just call me Meng Huai… um… may I ask your name?”
Meng Huai looked Jiang Yan up and down, captivated by her dignified yet gentle beauty, but noticed a hint of coldness in her demeanor that made him hesitate to speak further.
“Jiang Yan.”
Looking up at Meng Huai, who was nearly a head taller, Jiang Yan presented herself confidently.
“Jiang Yan? Jiang as in the river, or Jiang as in ginger? What’s your relation to the elderly director of this welfare institute, Jiang Chunhua?” Meng Huai asked, revealing a hint of confusion.
“We just share the same surname, it’s a coincidence,” Jiang Yan smiled.
“Comrade Meng, let’s have a simple lunch together; the cafeteria has everything ready!”
While they were chatting, a leader from the welfare institute approached, inviting them to lunch.
Meng Huai’s visit today wasn’t just driven by personal feelings; he also brought a small surprise for the welfare institute—a donation of 300,000, which justified their special treatment.
“We still have a quarter of an hour until noon. It takes about forty minutes to get here from the J District by subway, and you probably haven’t had lunch yet, so let’s go together.”
Meng Huai bent down and directly took the fabric bag from Jiang Yan’s hands, his gentlemanly demeanor in helping her was surprisingly straightforward and domineering.
Jiang Yan was well aware of Meng Huai’s way of doing things and didn’t act pretentious, simply following him closely, which made the leader from the welfare institute feel a bit awkward.
Perhaps unaware of Jiang Yan’s identity and seeing her in such close quarters with Meng Huai, who was a very handsome young man, the welfare institute leader decided to give them privacy, allowing the carefully prepared lunch to be just for the two of them.
Meng Huai’s dining manners starkly contrasted with his exterior and could be considered a bad habit.
Lacking the gentleness or consideration one might expect when dining with a girl, Meng Huai immersed himself in his meal, remaining serious and quiet. He fixated on one plate of four dishes and a soup, eating in a peculiar manner.
Noticing Meng Huai’s familiar eating style, Jiang Yan smiled, seizing the opportunity while he was refilling his bowl to rearrange the dishes on the table.
Meng Huai was taken aback, his gaze shifted from the table and gradually locked onto Jiang Yan’s eyes, his expression slightly shocked.
Oh no, I forgot that I’m now… Jiang Yan’s heart sank; she knew she had let her guard down.
The gesture of rearranging the dishes was something that used to be unique to Xia Yan.
During her time with the Xuanying Brigade, she would occasionally dine alone with Meng Huai, and as long as they weren’t at a rotating table, Xia Yan would always rearrange the dishes to accommodate the fixated eating habits of her captain.
“I… my sister has this bad habit, only picking the dishes in front of her. I noticed you do too, but even more so,” Jiang Yan said, her smile broadening, unaware she was already sweating coldly.
Meng Huai suddenly smiled, not commenting, merely nodding slightly before continuing with his usual routine.
“Mr. Meng, I noticed you standing by the bulletin board for quite a while. Was there something special there?”
With an appetite that could match two Meng Huais, Jiang Yan now had to suppress the impulse to devour her food, maintaining a petite and ladylike speed while trying to redirect his attention with conversation.
“Hmm, it’s about my two good comrades… I can never forget them. They grew up in this welfare institute and sacrificed their lives not long ago.”
Meng Huai set down his chopsticks, sitting upright as if making a report, his expression solemn.
“Oh, I see… they are all martyrs; they must have no regrets.”
For some reason, the phrase “never forget” rang painfully in Jiang Yan’s ears, piercing her eardrums. Her nose tinged with bitterness, and she quickly lowered her head, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.
“Jiang… Comrade Jiang?”
Seeing the girl unexpectedly crying, a hint of panic crossed Meng Huai’s face, yet he remained rigid in his seat, at a loss for what to do.
In this country, soldiers have always been looked up to. This respect comes not from their authority as a violent institution but from decades of connection with the common people, earning their heartfelt affection.
At least, that’s how Meng Huai understood the sudden emotional outburst from the girl before him. Martyrs represent a higher echelon among soldiers, capable of moving people deeply.
“They must have fought until the last moment; they did their best, right? They are heroes, aren’t they…”
Jiang Yan looked up, her radiant smile shattered by streaks of tears, revealing a hint of sadness but more so gratitude.
“Yeah!”
A few seconds later, Meng Huai nodded decisively.
