Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Zhao Dong was puzzled. "What's wrong? You don't like this place?"

Even as he asked, an uneasy feeling stirred within him. Is it possible Su Yuxi finds this restaurant's quality unacceptable? But this is a three-star Michelin restaurant. Shouldn't that be high-class enough?

Just as he was wondering, Su Yuxi whispered, "It's not that I dislike the place, it's just that it's too expensive. It's only a meal. There's no need to be so extravagant."

Hearing this, Zhao Dong looked at her deeply.

Women who are so considerate of a man's wallet are rare nowadays. Some women, when they dine out with a man, will order excessively and refuse to go to an ordinary restaurant, thinking it's beneath them. Yet here Su Yuxi was, being thoughtful on his behalf. He was genuinely moved.

Fortunately, while Zhao Dong wouldn't dare say he was rich, he did have ten million in his account. He smiled at Su Yuxi and said, "It's fine, we're just eating out once in a while. Besides, we're old classmates who haven't seen each other for years. How could I let our great beauty, Su Yuxi, eat at some roadside stall?"

Su Yuxi said earnestly, "It would be fine even if you invited me to a roadside stall, Zhao Dong. I know you come from an ordinary family and must be under a lot of pressure yourself. Let's go somewhere else. There's really no need to eat here."

Zhao Dong shook his head. "It's fine, we're staying here. Trust me, I have the money."

Thinking Zhao Dong was just putting on a brave front, Su Yuxi gave a bitter smile. "We can eat here, but you have to let me pay. This will be my treat."

Zhao Dong was stunned. Before he could react, Su Yuxi was already walking toward the restaurant. Snapping out of it, he watched her retreating figure for a moment before following her.

The two entered the restaurant and sat down. A waiter quickly brought over the menu, and after ordering a few dishes, they waited for their food to arrive. Su Yuxi sipped from her water glass, gazing out the window as if lost in thought.

Zhao Dong also took a sip of water, breaking the silence with a smile. "We haven't seen each other for a few years, have we?"

Su Yuxi sighed. "It must be three or four years. Time really flies. I remember you went into the military, didn't you?"

Zhao Dong smiled. "I've been discharged. I only got back recently. I never expected you'd be a teacher at East Sea University, and my sister's teacher at that."

Su Yuxi gave a gentle, incredibly charming smile. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glanced at Zhao Dong, and then said softly, "Zhao Dong, you've changed."

Zhao Dong was startled. "Changed how?"

"You've changed in every way," she replied with a faint, meaningful smile. "It's like you're a completely different person."

Su Yuxi meant every word. She still remembered what he was like back in school. His family wasn't well-off, so he often wore an old, gray tracksuit. He barely spoke and had almost no friends in class, always keeping his head down and studying. He was handsome even then, but his quiet, reserved nature meant that most people rarely interacted with him. Su Yuxi was one of the few who could be considered his friend, mainly because they sat near each other. They were also both in the reading club, which gave them more opportunities to talk. The Zhao Dong from back then would disappear in a crowd. But the man before her now was tall and handsome, radiating an indescribable aura that left her feeling dazed.

Looking at Su Yuxi, Zhao Dong felt just as sentimental. She had been the prettiest girl in their class, the belle of the school, and the years had only made her more graceful and elegant. Her simple white dress, in particular, perfectly accentuated her ethereal, refined beauty. He still remembered the dozens of boys who pursued her back then. The rich kids from their class and the wealthy scions from around the school were too numerous to count. The love letters she received daily could fill an entire drawer. But she had never accepted any of them. Her social circle had remained remarkably clean over the years. A complex mix of thoughts flickered in his eyes.

Just then, he inadvertently caught sight of a small scar on Su Yuxi's wrist.

His heart skipped a beat as a memory flashed through his mind. That scar... it was because of him! Back in school, his quiet and stubborn nature had often made him a target for some of the rich kids, who would tease and bully him. One evening after school, a few of those kids got into an argument with him that escalated into a fight. One of them had actually been carrying a small folding knife. In a fit of anger, he'd pulled it out to intimidate Zhao Dong. With his typical stubbornness, Zhao Dong only infuriated the rich kid further, who then swung a butterfly knife at his hand! At the last second, Su Yuxi threw herself in front of Zhao Dong, which made the rich kid pull back. Even so, the blade still sliced a wound across her wrist. That's how she got the scar.

His thoughts returned to the present. Looking at the small scar on Su Yuxi's delicate, fair hand, a strange and complex emotion surged through him.

Noticing his gaze, Su Yuxi touched her hand and then withdrew it with a smile. "Are you remembering what happened back then?"

"Yes," Zhao Dong said, his expression complex. "I'll never forget it. You stood in front of me."

Su Yuxi smiled faintly. "Alright, let's not talk about the past. It's all over now. Let's talk about the present. How did you manage to take down more than sixty people all by yourself? That's terrifying!"

Zhao Dong laughed. "I was in the special forces. Isn't it normal for me to take on multiple opponents?"

"But still, taking on over sixty people? That's more terrifying than the martial arts stars on TV."

Zhao Dong just smiled and said nothing. Of course, part of the reason was that he was a cultivator.

He quickly came up with an excuse to deflect the question. Just then, their food arrived, and the two began to eat and chat. A smile would flash across Su Yuxi's face from time to time, and the meal proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere.

Zhao Dong also learned more about her. He was delighted to find that she was still as kind and pure as he remembered, untouched by the corrupting influence of society.

At one point, Zhao Dong asked about her family, but she didn't say much, seeming to have some difficulties she couldn't speak of, so he didn't press the matter.

However, the way Su Yuxi looked at Zhao Dong had changed slightly over the course of the meal. The Zhao Dong of the past had been silent, almost dull. But the man before her now had an inexplicable charm in his every word and gesture.

The two were enjoying their meal immensely when, just as they were about to finish, a voice suddenly cut in from a nearby table.

"Yuxi, what are you doing here?"

Su Yuxi and Zhao Dong both turned to look. Three young men were sitting at the adjacent table. Surprise flickered across Zhao Dong's face, because the one who had spoken was Lv Hao, one of the rich kids from their old class. Lv Hao wore a suit and tie, his hair slicked back with gel, and an expensive watch was fastened on his wrist. He had the distinct look of a successful man, and his face lit up with a smile upon seeing Su Yuxi.

"Yuxi, I asked you out to dinner a couple of days ago, but you kept saying you were busy. How come you're out dining with someone else now? Are you playing with me?"

Su Yuxi bit her lip. "Lv Hao, I've made it clear to you that I don't have feelings for you, and I'm not looking for a relationship right now. Please don't waste your time on me."

Lv Hao gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yuxi, you know I like you. It doesn't matter if you have feelings for me or not. I have feelings for you, and that's enough. You're mine. No one can take you away."

After speaking, Lv Hao's gaze shifted to Zhao Dong. Although he was smiling, his eyes were freezing cold. He frowned and snapped, "Kid, who are you? And why do you look so familiar?"