Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

The villa was empty, long since deserted. Zhao Dong's mind buzzed and went completely blank.

Lin Qingyun... has she really left?

For a moment, an indescribable feeling gripped his heart. Although they had met by chance, they had been through life and death together since then.

But she just left... like that?

Zhao Dong stood rooted to the spot as if he had lost his soul, a bitter smile slowly spreading across his face. He suddenly felt lost, unsure if he should go looking for Lin Qingyun. They were just strangers who had met by chance; her leaving was perfectly understandable. Besides, she was the young lady of the Lin Family. She deserved a happy life.

What good would it do to keep her here?

Zhao Dong slowly shook his head, his smile pained and self-deprecating.

「East Sea International Airport, Terminal T3.」

Lin Qingyun and Ling Feng sat in silence in the departure lounge. She stared blankly at the vast tarmac outside, her eyes downcast and filled with melancholy.

Beside her, Ling Feng sighed gently. "Qingyun, pull yourself together. Zhao Dong did well to kill Kou Hongmin. As for the rest... we can only say it was his fate."

Lin Qingyun's voice was hoarse. "Cousin... do you have a way to deal with Hong Wu?"

Ling Feng's expression shifted slightly as he shook his head. "He's backed by the Black Dragon Commerce. You know how powerful that organization is. We're no match for them, not even the Lin Family and my family combined. So, let all of this go. This was Zhao Dong's fate. You need to look forward."

Lin Qingyun gave a bitter smile and shook her head. The airport, bright as day, could not illuminate the gloom in her heart.

They say to let go, but how can I simply let go?

She had never truly understood her feelings for Zhao Dong before. It wasn't until the moment he closed his eyes that she realized a huge part of her heart had suddenly become empty. That was it. She finally understood. She did have feelings for Zhao Dong, an affection she had been unwilling to acknowledge, burying it deep within her heart. Only now, in this moment of truly losing him, did she finally understand her own heart...

She stared at the airport's floor-to-ceiling windows, lost in a daze.

Zhao Dong... are we destined to part like this?

The boarding announcement for her flight echoed through the terminal. At Ling Feng's call, she numbly rose to her feet. She clutched her ticket tightly, each step leaden. She took a deep breath, her heart unspeakably heavy as she looked at the nearby gate agent.

It's as if... as long as I don't board this plane, Zhao Dong isn't completely gone for me...

Lin Qingyun froze, her eyes red as she glanced behind her.

"Qingyun, let's go," Ling Feng sighed softly. "Zhao Dong has been laid to rest. If he could see you, he definitely wouldn't want you to be stuck in the past."

"Is... that true?" Lin Qingyun asked, lifting her teary eyes.

Ling Feng nodded. "Yes, believe me. Zhao Dong would want you to have a fresh start. He absolutely wouldn't want you to be sad."

Lin Qingyun was lost in thought. After a moment of silence, she let out a hoarse, teary laugh. "Yes, if Zhao Dong were alive, he definitely wouldn't want me to be sad."

"Let's go."

Lin Qingyun took one last look at the moon outside the window before handing her ticket to the gate agent.

The gate opened. Lin Qingyun finally took the step. The moment she did, a voice seemed to call out.

"Qingyun!"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she spun around. But there was no familiar figure behind her, no sign of the man she imagined.

Did I just hear things?

With a complex expression, she turned around again.

"What is it, Qingyun?" Ling Feng asked.

Lin Qingyun bit her lip and spoke softly, "I thought someone just called my name. It sounded like Zhao Dong's voice."

Ling Feng chuckled bitterly. "Qingyun, no one called you. You're so grief-stricken you're starting to hear things."

"Am I..."

"You must be." Ling Feng took her arm, preparing to lead her away.

But Lin Qingyun suddenly stopped again.

Ling Feng frowned. "What is it now, Qingyun?"

With a conflicted gaze, Lin Qingyun said, "Cousin, I want to wait a little longer."

"Wait? What can you possibly wait for? Don't tell me you're actually expecting Zhao Dong to show up?" Ling Feng suddenly grew agitated, his voice rising. "Lin Qingyun! Snap out of it! Zhao Dong is dead! Dead! He's a dead man now! He has nothing to do with you anymore! You need to pull yourself together!" Ling Feng's own eyes reddened as he spoke.

Lin Qingyun trembled uncontrollably, her lips turning pale as she murmured, "Cousin... I heard him... I heard Zhao Dong calling me." Her voice quivered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Qingyun, stop deluding yourself. You saw Zhao Dong laid to rest with your own eyes."

Ling Feng's expression darkened. He grabbed Lin Qingyun's arm, determined to make her leave. His words plunged her world back into darkness.

Tears streamed silently down her face. She turned her head, no longer hesitating, and walked toward the boarding gate.

"Qingyun!"

Just then, the call came again.

This time, Lin Qingyun didn't turn back.

Is it just a hallucination? Zhao Dong... you bastard. Do you have to torment me even after you're dead?

Tears continued to stream silently down her face as she walked.

This time, however, Ling Feng suddenly froze. His expression stiffened, and he stood rooted to the spot, utterly stupefied.

Beside him, Lin Qingyun asked through her tears, "Cousin, what's wrong?"

Ling Feng's mouth fell open. He looked at Lin Qingyun, his body trembling, and stammered, "Qingyun... I... I think I heard Zhao Dong's voice, too."