After Awakening, She Tore Apart Her Enemies and Joined the Army on an Island - Chapter 57

“Why so reckless? You just got injured and already forgot?” Huo Zhenhua’s faint voice echoed in her mind.

His pained expression flashed before her eyes.

Damn it!

Su Meng felt as if struck by lightning, her body stiffening in fright, her walking gait becoming awkward and uncoordinated.

Could he actually be this kind?

Hah! Even dogs get hats to wear these days.

“Dr. Lin, what’s wrong with you?” Cheng Wangshu approached and asked, puzzled by Su Meng’s strange walking posture.

Lin Xi?

Right! She was Lin Xi now.

Huo Zhenhua definitely didn’t know she was Su Meng.

He was just showing concern as a soldier would for the masses.

Stay calm!

Su Meng forced a bitter smile and clutched her aching arm. “It’s nothing! Just a minor accident.”

At that moment, she straightened up again.

She quickly walked past the man ahead and sat back down beside Xiaoqi.

Noticing Xiaoqi’s reddened eyes, she asked in surprise, “Why is Xiaoqi crying? Did you fall?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to hear a derisive snort from not far away.

She didn’t look back, instead turning her gaze to Xie Mian.

Xie Mian smiled and said, “She saw the train moving and you hadn’t returned, so she got upset.”

Su Meng’s heart ached. She picked up Xiaoqi and said, “Silly girl! Big sis… brother will definitely go back with Xiaoqi.”

Xie Mian had already told her that his family consisted only of his elderly mother and the two of them.

He used to make a living by fishing at sea, but now that he had enlisted and received a stipend, their lives had become much more stable.

“Your grandmother will surely welcome you,” Xie Mian added, trying to ease Su Meng’s nervousness. “My mother is a kind old woman, said to be from a prominent family in Shanghai. You might even have things to talk about.”

“Oh~” Su Meng expressed her anticipation.

Half an hour later, they arrived at Zhoushan.

Wu Yanru and Cheng Wangshu had returned to their own compartments to pack their belongings.

Su Meng had also changed back into her own clothes.

She found a wheelchair, pushing Xie Mian with one hand while holding Xiaoqi in the other, ready to disembark.

Huo Zhenhua nudged Wang Qinglin. “You go push Comrade Xie Mian.”

Wang Qinglin slung his backpack over his shoulder and, not seeing Su Meng who had her back to them, kindly reminded, “Hurry and find your Comrade Su.”

Huo Zhenhua narrowed his eyes. “Shut your mouth!”

After saying that, he also picked up his backpack and slowly followed behind Wang Qinglin.

Seeing Wang Qinglin talking to Su Meng, he stepped forward and snatched the wheelchair. “Comrade Xie, I’ll push you.”

Xie Mian nodded. “Thank you!”

Su Meng: “…”

What’s going on?

Does he just take things without a word?

She tightened her hold on Xiaoqi and cautiously followed with small steps.

Wang Qinglin stared in astonishment at Huo Zhenhua, who had taken over the task. “Weren’t you…” the one who told me to push him?

Huo Zhenhua shot him a glance, and he obediently shut his mouth.

Due to the several days’ delay on the railway, the task he was supposed to lead in Zhoushan had been taken over by the deputy regiment commander.

Brigade Commander Tang had ordered him to take Su Meng back directly.

After leaving the station, they all got into a jeep and then took a ferry across the river.

Even after arriving on the island, Su Meng didn’t see any sign of Wu Yanru.

“Where’s Wu Yanru?” Su Meng couldn’t help but ask.

Xie Mian: “She might arrive later.”

Huo Zhenhua tilted his head and scoffed. “This Comrade Su, your revolutionary friendship is quite fragile, only remembering your comrade now.”

Su Meng immediately turned her head away, ignoring him.

She didn’t want to throw another punch.

Mainly because she knew she couldn’t win!

Wang Qinglin also let out a scoffing laugh. “Regiment Commander, be careful not to offend anyone again.”

Some people really should just keep their mouths shut if they don’t know how to hold a conversation. Otherwise, they’d end up upsetting others, stewing in their own frustration with a dark expression, and dragging him down to suffer alongside them.

He watched Huo Zhenhua with schadenfreude as the latter carried the sleeping Xiao Qi and skillfully made his way to Xie Mian’s home.

Xie Mian’s report was also submitted with Huo Zhenhua’s assistance.

When Division Commander Tang saw that Su Meng was the one who had accused Xie Mian of colluding with enemy spies, the person at whom the miniature camera had briefly lingered, and the one who had knocked out Xie Mian during his mission and delivered him to the Armed Forces Department, and then recalled Huo Zhenhua’s claim that she could improve the range of the Type 97 sniper rifle, he spat out a mouthful of tea. It was like a sudden breach in the heavenly river, drenching the report and moistening everything on the desk.

He abruptly stood up and slammed his palm on the table. “Damn, she’s quite a character!”

He immediately contacted Huo Zhenhua. “Even if you have to tie her up, bring Su Meng back to me. I want to see for myself what kind of extraordinary person she is!”

Remembering Division Commander Tang’s firm yet amused tone, Huo Zhenhua glanced at the girl who was looking everywhere but at him and sighed helplessly.

So petty!

Why is she so easily angered?

Before long, the group stopped outside a courtyard gate.

Wang Qinglin stepped forward and knocked. “Auntie Xie, we’re back!”

Huo Zhenhua kicked him lightly. “Shameless!”

Almost immediately, the sound of footsteps could be heard from inside the courtyard.

The gate opened, and an elderly woman with snow-white hair, a kindly face, and laughter wrinkles at the corners of her eyes warmly welcomed them.

“You’re all back! It’s wonderful that you’re all back!”

When she saw Xie Mian in the wheelchair, her smile faltered for a moment. She reached out and patted his head. “My son is blessed with great fortune. It’s enough that you’ve returned! Everyone, come inside!”

Wang Qinglin, carrying Xiao Qi, was the first to enter.

Huo Zhenhua and Xie Mian, not hearing Su Meng’s footsteps, simultaneously turned around.

Huo Zhenhua, as always, was… succinct. “Are you dumbstruck? Come in!”

“We’re home! Come on in.” Xie Mian smiled gently.

The old woman noticed Su Meng’s unease and apprehension and hurried over. “Little comrade, the island winds are strong. Come inside quickly.”

Su Meng stared blankly at the elderly woman, tears welling up in her eyes. In a hoarse voice, she called out, “Grandma!”

Without suspecting anything, the old woman responded cheerfully, “Yes! Good child, you’re home now. Come in, come in!”

Xie Mian, aware of Su Meng’s background, assumed she was missing her family and projecting her emotions. He was happy and more than willing to see Su Meng become part of his family.

But Huo Zhenhua keenly sensed something unusual in Su Meng’s demeanor.

After everyone had gone inside, he moved closer and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Startled, Su Meng immediately tried to step away.

Huo Zhenhua grabbed her arm. “Su Meng!”

Su Meng looked up in surprise, meeting his pitch-black eyes. Reflected in them was her own panicked face, spinning along with the cold intensity in his gaze.

He must suspect her of ill intentions again, thinking she was up to no good.

She forced a bitter smile and said with utmost seriousness, “You don’t need to worry. I won’t harm them, I promise!”

Huo Zhenhua: “…”

“I just wanted to show I care.”

When had he ever shown worry? How could she misinterpret him like that?

He patiently explained again, “We’re comrades who’ve faced life and death together. I saw you crying and wanted to check on you.”

Su Meng scoffed, clearly unconvinced. “Since when are you so kind-hearted?”

If only he wouldn’t make sarcastic remarks, that would be a blessing.

Huo Zhenhua, defeated!

Why wouldn’t they believe him when he was telling the truth?

If it weren’t for her, he couldn’t be bothered to explain.

He glanced at Wang Qinglin, who was peeking around, hoping he would say something nice for once.

Wang Qinglin, with a tone of schadenfreude, tossed out a remark: “Serves you right!”

Huo Zhenhua, frustrated, crouched under the eaves, feeling utterly drained and listless. He didn’t even have the strength to strike a spark from his lighter.

As he watched Su Meng shut the door without hesitation, his heartbeat pounded against his chest like a drum, echoing the sound of the closing door.

A dull ache!

It seemed her misunderstanding of him ran deep. Ah!

“Regiment Commander, reaping what you sowed, huh?” Wang Qinglin truly lived up to his reputation as an expert at twisting the knife, always striking where it hurt the most.