Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

"Later… later, Zhang Xingze went abroad to study because of his excellent grades, while I decided to enter the workforce right after graduation. For two years, we walked together, talked together, and shared all our joys and sorrows… But then it was time to part. I still remember it was a rainy day. At the school gate, he told me to wait for him. He asked me to wait three years for him to return… That day, we had our first physical contact. He gave me a gentle hug. I watched him get on the bus, and I kept watching until it disappeared from sight…"

Zhao Dong was silent for a moment. "So, you're saying you two never even confessed to each other."

A wistful smile touched Song Qingwan's face, a look of release appearing in her reddening eyes. "That's right, we never confessed. To everyone else, we were a couple, but only we knew that we'd never truly revealed our feelings to each other. The only intimate act between us was the hug he gave me when we parted."

Zhao Dong frowned. "What happened then?"

"After that… like a fool, because of his parting words, I decided to wait for him. I waited for three years… However, after he went abroad, our contact grew less and less frequent. Then, not long ago, just as the three years were nearly up, he suddenly sent me a message. He said… he was coming back and that he wanted me…"

Song Qingwan sighed softly. "I turned him down. I told him we hadn't officially established a relationship. Besides, I wanted to save my first time for our wedding… Perhaps his hopes were dashed, because he angrily hung up on me. After that, he never contacted me again. Every time I called, he would hang up. Then, in the last few days before he was supposed to return, he sent me a message… It said, 'Let's break up.'" As she spoke, two clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

Zhao Dong's voice was grave. "I see. It sounds like that guy cheated on you. But you were incredibly foolish. You weren't even his girlfriend, yet you waited three years for him just because you had a crush. You're one of China's top stars! You earn hundreds of millions a year in film fees, and you have suitors lining up from all corners of the globe. You… *sigh*!"

Song Qingwan gave a self-mocking laugh. "I really am a fool. A clown. For three years, I turned down countless people just to wait for him. I thought he was a wonderful man, but now I understand. My own feelings for him put a filter over my eyes. He's very ordinary, maybe even subpar. I was the stupid one…"

Song Qingwan downed one glass of red wine after another. After three or four, her face began to flush and her gaze grew unfocused, the tearstains on her cheeks adding to her heart-wrenching expression.

"I never expected… that he would cheat on me. It turns out he was with another woman all along… Zhao Dong, why…? Why did this happen? All I wanted was a simple, pure relationship… but why…?" Sobbing, she buried her face and began to weep bitterly, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Zhao Dong sighed softly. "I sympathize with you, but it's all in the past. You should be glad you didn't end up in that scumbag's hands. Discovering his true colors now isn't a bad thing."

Song Qingwan lifted her head and downed two more glasses. The wine stained her crimson lips and dripped onto her snow-white collarbones. Combined with the tearstains on her cheeks, it gave her a uniquely devastating charm.

She seemed quite drunk, her eyes glazed over. "Zhao Dong, I get it now. I've accepted it, and I'm letting go… From now on, I'm starting a new life. I'll show him that I, Song Qingwan, don't lack for men…"

"Just be yourself. That's enough. Why do you need to live your life to prove something to him? You're drunk. Let's go," Zhao Dong sighed softly.

"I… I'm not drunk!"

Song Qingwan defiantly drank another glass, but this time she could barely hold it steady. She collapsed onto the sofa, crying softly. She was completely drunk.

Zhao Dong felt helpless. He wanted to avoid any trouble, but he couldn't just leave her here. She was a major celebrity; if anyone saw her like this, it would be a complete disaster. With no other choice, he helped her up, put her sunglasses back on, paid the bill, and escorted her to his car in the parking lot.

After helping Song Qingwan into the passenger seat, Zhao Dong got behind the wheel and, a short while later, pulled up in front of her villa.

"Wake up, we're at your place."

Song Qingwan's eyes fluttered slightly open. "I… I'm not going back!"

"You have to go back. You're drunk!"

"No… I don't want to!"

Zhao Dong frowned and got out of the car to help her. Song Qingwan's eyes fluttered open. She looked at him for a moment before suddenly throwing her arms around him, her cold tears soaking his shirt.

"Zhao Dong… why… why don't I have anyone to lean on? I just want someone to depend on, like other women. The life I want is so simple, so why…?"

Song Qingwan choked on her sobs. Zhao Dong gently patted her shoulder. He couldn't just leave her out here. With a sigh, he scooped her up and carried her into the villa.

Holding her, Zhao Dong was struck by a surprising softness.

He looked down at her face, as lovely as a peach blossom in full bloom.

Zhao Dong's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her intoxicated, entrancing state. He felt his mind begin to wander.

A seductive flush crept onto Song Qingwan's cheeks. Her lips were stained with wine, and a few dark red drops rested against her snow-white collarbones, making her seem all the more alluring. And holding her so close, Zhao Dong was intensely aware of the supple pliancy of her body…

Zhao Dong's throat felt dry.

Song Qingwan's eyes fluttered half-open, her voice thick with drunkenness. "Zhao Dong… take me to my… bedroom…"

Zhao Dong froze, then frowned. "I'll just put you on the sofa. You can make your own way upstairs."

"No… I don't want to…" Song Qingwan clung to him like a child, her tone almost a playful pout.

Zhao Dong looked at her and sighed softly. A sliver of pity entered his heart. She really was a pitiful woman.

And so, he carried her upstairs to her bedroom and gently laid her on the bed.

Her face was flushed like a peach blossom, and her alluring curves were faintly visible. One beautiful leg, clad in sheer, skin-toned stockings, was crossed lightly over the other, shifting restlessly…

Zhao Dong hurriedly tried to get up. If this goes on, I'm going to get burned!

But just then, Song Qingwan's glistening, watery eyes suddenly opened. She clung to him tightly, her voice catching on a sob. "Zhao Dong, don't go… Please, can you stay with me…?"

Zhao Dong's body went completely rigid.