Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

"I'll leave it to you then."

Zhao Dong offered no explanation and immediately headed behind the curtain.

His eyes fell upon a wooden double bed missing a leg. On it were sheets that had been washed until they were a faded white. A little girl, only about five or six years old, lay on the bed, her face contorted in pain. She was covered with a thick blanket but was still shivering from the cold.

The little girl had perfectly inherited Wang Jing's genes and was just as cute and pretty.

Looking at her, Zhao Dong was momentarily lost in a trance. The little girl looked so much like Wang Jing from back in the day.

Snapping out of his daze, Zhao Dong quickly grabbed Xiaoya's arm. As Spiritual Energy flowed into her body, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a simple cold and fever, but it seemed severe because she was malnourished.

He dispelled the chill in Xiaoya's body, and her breathing steadied in just a few moments.

Zhao Dong tucked the blanket around her and stepped out of the bedroom.

"How is she? Does she need to go to the hospital?" Wang Jing asked anxiously.

Zhao Dong smiled. "No need. It's just a simple cold and fever. I practice Chinese medicine, and I've already cured her with massage techniques."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jing rushed into the bedroom. When she saw her daughter was all right, she lost all her strength and collapsed onto the bed...

Looking at Wang Jing, Zhao Dong felt a pang of heartache for what felt like the umpteenth time. He squatted by the bed, took her hand, and stuffed a bank card into it.

"You... What are you doing?" Wang Jing asked, shocked.

Zhao Dong smiled. "This isn't for you, it's for the child. Xiaoya is still growing. The reason her fever was so bad is simply due to a lack of nutrition."

As he spoke, he gestured around the room. "This place is in terrible condition. It's not a good environment for Xiaoya to grow up in. Take this money and find a better place for her to live."

"No, no, no... I can't take your money," Wang Jing said, hurriedly waving her hands and trying to return the card.

"Wang Jing!" Zhao Dong's voice suddenly turned stern. "I said, this money is for the child! You're willing to endure hardship, but can you let your child suffer alongside you? Do you want her to fall sick from malnutrition or develop psychological issues from growing up in a poor environment? She's already lost her father. As her mother, you should give her a better life, shouldn't you?"

These words left Wang Jing stunned.

Tears once again streamed down her face. In that moment, the card in her hand felt as hot as molten lava.

Finally, unable to contain her emotions any longer, Wang Jing threw herself into Zhao Dong's arms.

"Sob... why... why did fate have to play such a cruel joke on me... I could have endured the darkness, but why did fate have you appear in my life again? Zhao Dong, you're a terrible person! A terrible person!"

Wang Jing frantically pounded on Zhao Dong's back.

Zhao Dong remained silent, though his own eyes began to redden. He knew better than anyone that for a person trapped in darkness, the greatest fear isn't a deeper darkness, but a ray of light that is forever out of reach.

But after seeing all of this, how could he possibly remain indifferent? He couldn't!

It was just like years ago when Wang Jing had met him. After seeing him being bullied relentlessly, she couldn't remain indifferent either.

A speck of light in the darkness, though terrifying, was enough to warm a person's soul. Wang Jing was already emotionally vulnerable from the alcohol, and Zhao Dong's words had completely shattered the last of her fortitude. She buried her head in his chest, like a kitten overwhelmed with emotion.

"Zhao Dong, do you know? Back in high school, I actually confessed to you. If you had said yes back then, my life... it might not have turned out like this..."

THUMP! Zhao Dong's heart lurched violently as his memories rushed back.

「That day.」

It was three days before the college entrance examination.

Zhao Dong went downstairs as usual, but he didn't see Wang Jing waiting for him. When he went to her building, he found her with swollen, red eyes.

"Wang Jing, you... what happened? Who bullied you?" Zhao Dong asked anxiously.

Wang Jing just shook her head without a word. The two of them walked in silence all the way to the school gate.

Just then, Wang Jing suddenly grabbed his arm and forced a smile. "Zhao Dong, if a girl who loves you wanted to give up everything to leave this city with you, would you agree?"

"Huh?" Zhao Dong was stunned for a moment. He scratched his head and said, "Maybe sometime in the future, sure. But the college entrance exams are right around the corner. What kind of fool would do something like that now?"

Zhao Dong's thoughtless words caused the light to instantly fade from the girl's eyes.

The bell for class rang.

"Crap! First period is Mr. Four-Eyes' class! We're dead if we're late!" Zhao Dong exclaimed, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the school.

They were late that day. Luckily, with the exams just three days away, Mr. Four-Eyes didn't give them too much grief and let them in.

Zhao Dong's grades weren't the best. To keep up with Wang Jing, he had spent the last few days studying like his life depended on it. He was completely oblivious to the fact that on that day, the girl beside him had eyes only for him...

「After that day,」

Zhao Dong never saw Wang Jing again...

He released her from his embrace, only to see a miserable smile on her face. With a complex expression, Zhao Dong asked, "Back then, you wanted to leave Jiang City with me?"

Wang Jing took a deep breath and gave a bitter smile. "It's all in the past... I thought that after that day, we'd never have a chance to see each other again. I never imagined that fate would give us this chance to reunite. I know... I know I'm not good enough for you now..."

Her face was a mask of painful conflict. After a long silence, she finally took his hand and said with deep emotion, "But I really like you! Ever since high school, you're the only guy I've ever liked. The only one! Do we... still have a chance?"

Wang Jing's words sent Zhao Dong's mind into a buzzing confusion. He had once dreamed of spending the rest of his life with her, but now that the moment was here, he hesitated.

"You... you look down on me, don't you?" Wang Jing let go of his hand. Large tears fell as she bit her crimson lip.

"No, how could I ever look down on you?" Zhao Dong hurriedly comforted her. "It's just... my current situation is a bit complicated. It's not as simple as you think."

"You have a girlfriend?" Wang Jing immediately understood.

"Yes..." Zhao Dong nodded with a bitter smile. "And... more than one..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jing was startled for a moment before she laughed. "Do they know about each other?"

"Uh... sort of..."

"Well, if they don't mind, why would I? I'm just a woman with a child. What right do I have to mind?"

"You..." Zhao Dong was stunned.

Wang Jing took the initiative to press her body into his arms again.

"Zhao Dong, from the moment you healed my daughter, I knew you must have gone through extraordinary things all these years. Even back in high school, I knew you were destined for greatness. It turns out my judgment was right. I've long since grown indifferent to grand promises and undivided devotion. All I want is simple happiness. And as long as you're here, I... I am happy..."

As she spoke, Wang Jing leaned in, bringing her lips toward his.

A pleasant fragrance filled his nostrils. The soft body in his arms trembled slightly from nervousness.

Zhao Dong immediately stood up and said awkwardly, "Uh... it's getting late. I should probably head back..."

The light in Wang Jing's eyes dimmed once more. "So you do look down on me, don't you?"

"No... it's not that," Zhao Dong said helplessly. "We've both had a lot to drink today. Neither of us is sober, and I... I don't want to take advantage of you..."

His nervous demeanor made Wang Jing laugh. "Zhao Dong, I really didn't misjudge you. But... what if my ex-husband comes looking for trouble again after you leave? Please, can you stay with me tonight?"

Wang Jing stepped forward and grabbed his hand, biting her lip as she pleaded with her eyes.

"If you leave and my ex-husband brings his men to violate me, could your conscience bear it?"