The Cannon Fodder Roles I Play All Become White Moonlights [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 29.1

Jiang Lingfeng remained remarkably composed. First, he took Su Qingmeng back to pack her belongings, then personally escorted her to the Qiao residence.

“Su Qingmeng.” Just before leaving, Jiang Lingfeng called her name. His voice was deep, reminiscent of a cello’s timbre, and the way he spoke her name seemed to carry a suppressed tenderness.

Su Qingmeng looked at him, puzzled. He handed her the umbrella from before, their fingers brushing against each other in the process.

Jiang Lingfeng’s fingers were warm and dry, with a slight roughness from calluses on his fingertips. As they grazed Su Qingmeng’s skin, the sensation was unusual but not unpleasant.

His typically profound eyes now held a clear, bright smile as he said, “Su Qingmeng, if anyone comes to question you, don’t be afraid. Just tell them that I am pursuing you unilaterally. You don’t need to address anything else.”

He paused before adding, “Keep the umbrella for now. Next time, I’ll hold it for you and take you wherever you want to go.”

It sounded like a promise.

Su Qingmeng watched the soldier’s retreating figure. Even in parting, he did not look back, resolute and unwavering, a true man of integrity.

Qiao Jihong was naturally delighted to welcome Su Qingmeng but couldn’t help feeling curious. After all, Jiang Lingfeng’s pursuit of Su Qingmeng had become common knowledge across Nanjiang Island, and she had even overheard discussions about it at the hospital.

She asked Su Qingmeng, “How could Division Commander Jiang bear to send you to me?”

Su Qingmeng shook her head, indicating she didn’t know, though she had her suspicions. Since Lin Wangbei had been captured, there had been no news of him. Jiang Lingfeng had never mentioned him in front of her, so she guessed that something had likely happened to Lin Wangbei in the military, most probably, he had died.

Jiang Lingfeng hadn’t held his position as division commander for long, and it seemed someone was watching him closely, using Lin Wangbei’s situation to stir up trouble.

She glanced at Qiao Jihong. The male and female protagonists, who should have been close at this point in the story, were now merely acquaintances who exchanged polite nods.

Su Qingmeng smiled, planning to steer the plot further off course. “Jihong, I heard the hospital is promoting excellence recently, and there’s an opportunity for further training in Haicheng in the second half of the year.”

Qiao Jihong was taken aback, surprised that Su Qingmeng even knew about this. Whimper, her princess truly cared about her!

“Yes, I want to strive for it,” Qiao Jihong replied. Having come from the 21st century, she understood the importance of self-improvement in the workplace. Especially since most nurses on Nanjiang Island were military dependents who preferred not to leave the island, this opportunity had a high chance of falling to her.

“It’s just that I won’t get to see you for two years, Prin… Qingmeng,” Qiao Jihong said, feeling a bit reluctant to part with her.

Su Qingmeng waved her hand, smiling brightly. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll go to Haicheng next year too.”

“Eh?” Qiao Jihong looked at her in confusion.

Su Qingmeng briefly explained that the Haicheng Dance Academy would be enrolling students next spring, and the military had quotas. She believed she could secure one, so they might reunite in Haicheng.

“I thought you’d want to go to the central cultural troupe in the capital,” Qiao Jihong said. Her understanding of this era was limited, but she knew the cultural troupe headquarters was in the capital. She felt her princess deserved to go to a better place.

It was just that transportation in this era wasn’t very convenient. It took a full day by train from Haicheng to the capital, and from Nanjiang Island, the journey was even longer.

“I want to become a true dancer, to be the real protagonist, someone who captures everyone’s attention without needing any introduction.” Su Qingmeng gently rose onto her toes and extended her hands toward Qiao Jihong.

Though there was no spotlight, Qiao Jihong felt as if a solitary beam of light was shining on Su Qingmeng. In this moment, she was the one-of-a-kind heroine of the story.

Qiao Jihong stared at her, mesmerized, for a long while before suddenly thinking of a question: “But if you go to Haicheng for school, you’ll be away for several years, right? What about you… and Commander Jiang…”

“It was actually his suggestion,” Su Qingmeng pouted slightly. “Besides, even if he objected, why should I give up my own dreams for a man? Sister, you too! You have knowledge and education, you should shine brightly and go even further.”

Gazing into the light in Su Qingmeng’s eyes, Qiao Jihong suddenly felt a surge of passion. Life had been too comfortable lately, and she had almost forgotten her past struggles. Yes, with her foresight and knowledge from the future, she should be at the forefront of this era!

Her gaze toward Su Qingmeng grew fervent. Su Qingmeng was truly her princess, always inspiring her to move forward!

Su Qingmeng glanced at her with a mix of pride and arrogance. “I’m hungry.”

“Right away, my lady. Please wait a moment.” Qiao Jihong was ready to treat Su Qingmeng like royalty and immediately headed to the kitchen without another word.

Early the next morning, the door of the Qiao residence was knocked on. Su Qingmeng, about to start her practice, asked warily, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Yang Dongming.”

Su Qingmeng opened the door to find Yang Dongming standing there in a crumpled summer school uniform, his hair slightly disheveled and his eyes bloodshot. He leaned against the wall, looking as though he had spent the night outside.

She looked at him suspiciously.

Yang Dongming turned his head away, not letting her see the worry in his eyes. “Uncle Jiang didn’t come back last night.”

When he had returned home, the house was pitch black. The kerosene lamp that was always lit was gone, and there wasn’t even a note left behind. He immediately turned around and went to the Yang residence, but it was also dark, indicating that even Su Qingmeng wasn’t there.

He went to the military base, but the guards at the entrance wouldn’t let him in, saying it was confidential and that he shouldn’t ask questions.

He even went to Li Jianhua’s house, but Li Jianhua hadn’t returned home either.

A sudden fear gripped Yang Dongming. Although Jiang Lingfeng was stern and rarely smiled, aside from his parents, Jiang Lingfeng had been the kindest to him.

His parents were already gone, he didn’t want anything to happen to Jiang Lingfeng too.

“Don’t worry,” Su Qingmeng glanced toward the direction of the military base and offered a perfunctory reassurance. “He should be fine.”

It wasn’t because Jiang Lingfeng was the male lead that Su Qingmeng was certain nothing would happen to him, but based on the circumstances.

Jiang Lingfeng was the division commander of the Southern Frontier Island garrison. Even officials from the capital wouldn’t be able to easily bring him down. At least until they came to question her, he was unlikely to be in any real danger.

“For the next few days, you can stay with me at the Qiao residence. But there’s one condition, you have to make breakfast.” Su Qingmeng glanced at the pitiful-looking young man and, feeling a bit soft-hearted, decided to take him in.

After breakfast, as Su Qingmeng reached the doorway, she suddenly remembered that this wasn’t the Yang residence, and there was no Jiang Lingfeng to pick her up in the morning. She sighed softly. Sometimes, getting used to being taken care of could be a frightening thing.

She turned back to get the umbrella Jiang Lingfeng had given her yesterday. When she came out again, Yang Dongming was waiting on his bicycle, clearly there for her.

Su Qingmeng looked at the young man questioningly with her eyes.

Yang Dongming didn’t waste words. “Get on. I’ll take you to the cultural troupe.”

If he took Su Qingmeng to the cultural troupe first, Yang Dongming would have to turn back to go to school. Su Qingmeng glanced up at the scorching sun above the island and, without hesitation, chose to sit on the back of Yang Dongming’s bicycle.

Yang Dongming glanced back at the girl holding the umbrella. She wore a large straw hat, so even without the umbrella, the sun wouldn’t reach her face. Under normal circumstances, he might have teased her about it, but at that moment, he didn’t have the heart. Whatever Su Qingmeng did was fine, as long as she stayed safe and didn’t end up like the others around him who always seemed to run into trouble.

Su Qingmeng was light, but the sweltering heat and blazing sun made the ride from the Qiao residence to the cultural troupe exhausting. Yang Dongming was drenched in sweat, his thin short-sleeved shirt clinging to his body, outlining the slender shoulders of a boy not yet fully grown.

The sea breeze brushed against his face and lifted Su Qingmeng’s hair.

“Yang Dongming,” she said, sitting on the bicycle and gazing straight ahead at the azure sea, “what era is this? Don’t cling to superstitious nonsense.”

Yang Dongming’s feet, which had been pedaling rapidly, slowed. He turned his head but still couldn’t see her face, only hearing her voice, faint and drifting in the wind.

She continued, “Your mother and Old Yang passed away, and now it seems something has happened to Jiang Lingfeng, but none of it is your fault. If there really were such a thing as a cursed star, China wouldn’t have had to fight so hard in the War of Resistance against Japan. They could’ve just had fortune-tellers pick out a few cursed stars and drop them into the enemy camp to finish the job.”

Yang Dongming froze completely. He had no idea how Su Qingmeng had seen through his thoughts.

Ever since he couldn’t find Jiang Lingfeng last night, he had been spiraling, wondering if he really was the cursed star the fortune-tellers had spoken of, someone who brought misfortune to anyone who got close. His mother, his father, and even Jiang Lingfeng, who had taken him in, had all met with tragedy…

He was even afraid that Su Qingmeng might be the next to suffer.

Yet now, hearing her words, he didn’t know whether to cry from emotion or laugh at her bluntness. He could only retort stiffly, “Stop talking nonsense. Those outdated superstitions, how dare you even mention them?”

Su Qingmeng shifted the umbrella to the other side and tilted her head up, allowing Yang Dongming to see her profile. Her peach-blossom eyes, usually sharp and domineering, were now as gentle as the moon over the sea.

She curved her eyes at him and said, “I’ve never believed in a predetermined fate. I believe humans can conquer heaven. So, we’ll both be fine.”

Yang Dongming thought his expression must have looked terrible, because Su Qingmeng jumped off the bicycle. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached out and lightly flicked his forehead. “You’re still young. Don’t let a little trouble make you suspicious and fearful. How spineless.”

It didn’t hurt, but he felt something surge in his chest, his eyes growing warm. Almost embarrassed, he raised his arm to cover his eyes, forcing a smile as he said, “I’m not. You’re overthinking it.”

As if afraid she would say more, he turned away. “Sweat just got in my eyes. Let me wipe it.”

Su Qingmeng glanced at him, then took a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. “Here, use this to wipe yourself. No need to return it, I don’t want things others have used.”

Yang Dongming finally retorted, “And I’d be disgusted if you’ve used it.”

Yet his actions betrayed his words. He carefully folded the handkerchief, which carried the faint fragrance of the girl, and tucked it into his own pocket, pretending nonchalance. “You can get on now. Don’t make me late.”