Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Zhao Dong turned his head and saw Qing Yu with her arms crossed, pouting as she sulked and stared out the window. Her resentful expression was indescribably adorable.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Dong gently rubbed Qing Yu's head and asked with a smile.

"Senior!" Qing Yu snapped her head back, demanding, "What *is* your relationship with that woman? How can a high-ranking director like her be so good to you?"

"Good? Is she?" Zhao Dong replied, confused. "We're just ordinary friends."

"Not good?" A hint of red crept into Qing Yu's eyes. "Never mind that she, a director, was willing to apologize to a driver for you. Just now, when we were buying clothes, she personally helped you put them on and straightened the hem. Is that something an ordinary friend would do? And we ran into that director at the restaurant last time, too, and you jumped in to help her out!"

Zhao Dong was at a loss. "I don't see what the big deal is. Look at us. We're also ordinary friends, but weren't you willing to risk your life for me?"

We're also... ordinary friends?!

That single sentence made Qing Yu's expression freeze.

That's right... I'm just an ordinary friend to Senior. So why am I acting like this? Qing Yu! What on earth are you doing?

Countless voices echoed in her heart. Her gaze gradually dimmed, and she lowered her head without another word.

Although Zhao Dong had been with many women, he still couldn't quite grasp the female mind. They say a woman is a book—one that can't be fully understood in a lifetime. That saying couldn't be more true.

Zhao Dong wanted to offer more comfort, but Leng Yue had already opened the door and stepped out.

He instinctively looked over, and his pupils immediately dilated.

The Leng Yue who had just been in a leather outfit had changed into a long, black gossamer gown. Her slender legs were in a pair of black, open-toed high heels, and her tall frame perfectly accentuated her stunning presence. Looking up, her shoulder-length hair was pinned up, interwoven with a crystal hairband that added a touch of mature charm.

She turned slightly, a delicate hand brushing aside a lock of hair at her temple. While not overtly seductive, the gesture itself—combined with her slightly narrowed, beautiful eyes, alluring red lips, and the inadvertent air of pheromones she exuded—was enough to make any man fall at her feet.

Though she only took a few steps, her commanding presence gave her the air of a supermodel. Zhao Dong felt as if his eyes were welded to her.

Only when Leng Yue got into the car did Zhao Dong reluctantly tear his gaze away.

Then, he met Qing Yu's large, tear-filled eyes, which looked ready to devour him.

"Senior… you… you horrible man!"

Qing Yu fought back the tears welling in her eyes, yanked open the car door, and made to leave.

Zhao Dong was stunned. "Qing Yu, where are you going?" he called out hastily.

"I don't want to..." Qing Yu choked back the rest of her words, sniffling. "I don't want to be a third wheel! I'll go find my friends. You two go ahead and eat!"

Without giving Zhao Dong a chance to react, she bolted and quickly vanished into the night.

"What in the world is with that girl?" Zhao Dong was baffled.

Leng Yue just smiled and said nothing. How could she not understand a woman's heart? Truthfully, she was just not very good at expressing her own feelings.

"Are we still getting dinner?" Leng Yue asked softly.

"Of course! I'm starving!" Zhao Dong patted his stomach, looking away from where Qing Yu had run. "Let's go, hurry up and eat!"

"Okay." Leng Yue nodded and started the car.

「At a nearby, well-decorated restaurant.」

Watching Zhao Dong devour his food like a whirlwind, a pang of heartache flashed in Leng Yue's eyes. When he was changing earlier, she had seen the scars on his body. Though Zhao Dong had spoken of it lightly, it went without saying how perilous his escape from the Blood Sect must have been.

Leng Yue was very perceptive; she knew what to ask and what not to ask. She just sat there quietly, watching him eat with a gaze full of tenderness.

After a long while…

BURP.

Zhao Dong let out a contented burp, patting his belly with a look of pure bliss.

"Hey, why aren't you eating?" he asked in surprise, noticing Leng Yue hadn't touched her food.

Leng Yue gave a gentle smile. "I already ate at the office. I'm not hungry."

"What? You already ate? Then why did you come with me? I must be wasting your time." Zhao Dong felt a little awkward. He had intended to treat Leng Yue to dinner, but now it had turned into her just keeping him company.

"It's fine, it's no bother. I… I like spending time with you." Leng Yue glanced away, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Zhao Dong didn't dwell on it. "By the way, how's the investigation into those assassins from last time going?"

At his words, a murderous glint flashed in Leng Yue's eyes. She looked up, her expression grave. "It's still under investigation, but we have some leads."

"Oh? What have you found?" Zhao Dong asked.

Leng Yue continued, "We're now fairly certain that the people who tried to assassinate me are the same group trafficking children. However, the matter isn't that simple. It involves the Black Dragon Association."

"The Black Dragon Association? What's that?" Zhao Dong asked, puzzled.

Leng Yue's voice was grim. "The Black Dragon Association is the largest underground criminal organization in Provincial City. The Inspectorate has tried to wipe them out several times, but they've failed each time. The Black Dragon Association acts with brazen impunity, yet they're meticulous and rarely leave behind evidence."

"But if that's all there is to it, couldn't you handle them with some heavy-handed tactics?" Zhao Dong inquired. "Your Inspectorate isn't as rigid as people think, right? You don't always need concrete evidence to act, do you?"

"Of course. This is real life, not a movie. The Inspectorate can act as soon as there's suspicion! But!" Leng Yue slammed her hand on the table, her face filled with indignation. "The Black Dragon Association has the backing of the Black Dragon Commerce! And Black Dragon Commerce is colluding with a mysterious organization from Japan."

"If this is mishandled, it could escalate into an international incident," she continued. "That's why everyone at the Inspectorate is being extremely cautious about the Black Dragon Association, afraid to make a rash move!"

"Japan!?" A flash of killing intent crossed Zhao Dong's eyes.

Although Zhao Dong had never dealt with anyone from Japan before, as a son of Huaxia, the very name "Japan" was enough to stir a fiery patriotism in his heart.

Leng Yue continued, "The investigation into the Black Dragon Association is ongoing. Our latest lead suggests they're kidnapping these children to investigate their blood types!"

"Blood types?" Zhao Dong frowned. "Why would they be investigating that?"

"We don't know yet," Leng Yue sighed, looking somewhat defeated.

Zhao Dong said grimly, "The investigation will take time. Justice will be served eventually. But you have to promise me you'll stay safe, understand?"

His words warmed her heart and filled her with a sense of comfort.

"Mm, I definitely will." Leng Yue nodded slightly, her pretty face flushing.

Zhao Dong changed the heavy subject, and they started chatting about other things. Before long, their conversation drifted to the topic of relationships.

Zhao Dong suddenly asked, "By the way, what about that guy Chen Jun? He hasn't been bothering you, has he?"