The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 35

Chen Che was missing.

Song Mingyue forced herself to stay calm. In critical moments like this, panic only makes emotions more volatile and yields no results.

The news had already spread through the military compound. Unlike other matters, the people here held strong values when it came to duty; no one wanted to see a soldier or researcher come to harm. They were all military families and knew the bitterness hidden behind the service.

However, when a heavy atmosphere fell over the compound, several people were shocked to see Song Mingyue calmly riding her bicycle along the path.

“How can that woman be so cold-hearted? We don’t even know if Commander Chen is alive or dead, yet she’s out for a leisurely bike ride.”

“Exactly. God forbid it were my husband who lost contact; I would have cried my eyes out by now.”

“What a pity. Commander Chen’s sincere heart was wasted on her. Such an excellent man, yet his fate is so tragic.”

Mingyue had no time to worry about these whispers. She rode steadily to the secret Research Institute. Although it was close to the residential quarters, the regulations here were far stricter. As soon as she stopped her bike, two soldiers in uniform blocked her path, their expressions solemn.

“This is a military base. You cannot linger here. Please leave immediately.”

Mingyue’s voice was steady. “I know. I’m here to find someone.”

“Who?”

“Regimental Commander Zhao Hongwei. I need to see him.”

The sentries exchanged a look. “What is your business with Commander Zhao? Do you have an appointment?”

“No. I am the family member of his subordinate, Chen Che. I’ve come to ask about the situation. Please, could you report it? I must see him today.”

Hearing she was Chen Che’s wife, the sentries’ attitudes softened instantly. “Please wait a moment while I call and check.”

Soon, one of them returned. “You may enter. Turn left from here. Commander Zhao said he is coming out to meet you.”

Generally, anyone who wasn’t a spouse would never be allowed inside. The change in the sentries’ behavior was a testament to the respect Chen Che had earned. Mingyue told herself to stay composed; Chen Che had chosen a difficult and dangerous profession, and he knew the risks.

But the moment she saw Zhao Hongwei walking out of a building, her mental defenses crumbled.

To hell with the “greatness” of the profession. She didn’t care about anything else—she just wanted him to be standing in front of her.

Zhao Hongwei knew why she was here. Even if she hadn’t come, he would have visited her house that evening to explain.

“Comrade Mingyue, don’t worry yet,” Zhao said from a few meters away. “We are in contact with S County. They aren’t on the casualty list. Our soldiers are rigorously trained; they know how to handle emergencies.”

So, in short, there is still no news.

Mingyue had never been so serious. “Commander Zhao, I came today because I want their specific geographical location. I am going to find Chen Che.”

Zhao Hongwei thought she was joking. S County was far away, and she was a woman who had barely left Mocheng. “Mingyue, the team is just as anxious as you are. Chen Che is a backbone of this operation. I will do everything to ensure his safety. I’ll notify you the moment we have news.”

“Commander Zhao, I am not joking. Since there is no news, I will find the answers myself. I want to see him alive, or see his body. I am prepared. I won’t interfere with the military’s operations; just tell me where they were in S County.”

Zhao Hongwei realized her behavior was unusual. She wasn’t crying or making a scene; she was focused on one thing: a location. He found it hard to refuse her, but it wasn’t a game. If anything happened to Chen Che, the military had to ensure the safety of his family.

Before he could respond, a soldier interrupted to say a superior was on the line with urgent news. Zhao hurried away, telling Mingyue to wait at home.

As Mingyue stood there feeling dejected, Shen Sheng—the most silent member of Chen Che’s team—ran over and pulled her into a nearby grove to talk.

“Shen Sheng? You didn’t go with them?”

“There was an emergency at home. I just got back yesterday.”

Chen Che had forced Shen Sheng to take a week off when his father passed away, even giving him 100 dollars to help his family. Chen Che had told him: “You are the pillar of your home right now. If you don’t go back, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I don’t want my soldiers heading into ‘battle’ with regrets.”

Because of that act of kindness, Shen Sheng was the only member of the second platoon left behind.

“Sister-in-law,” Shen Sheng said. “I plan to take a car after dark and go look for the Commander. Do you want to come with me?”

“Yes. I’ll go with you.”

“Prepare yourself. I’ll meet you at the compound gate at 9:00 PM tonight.”

Mingyue was not a weak girl. She might be lazy and pampered in daily life, but her willpower was immense when it came to what she cared about.

At home, she packed light: some clothes and the only remaining compressed biscuits.

Zhang Jingjing came over with porridge and steamed buns for dinner. When she saw the packed bag, she knew.

“I have an agreement with my brother to write every month,” Mingyue told her, pulling her friend to the bed. “If he writes and I’m not back yet, please mail this letter home for me.”

“I won’t!” Jingjing stood up, tears streaming down her face. “Mail your own letters! Why should I do it?”

“Jingjing, it’s just in case. The probability is small, but it exists.”

Jingjing sobbed harder. “I don’t know what you’re thinking! Can’t you just wait for news? My husband says the elite units have been sent. You’re just going to cause trouble.”

“I know what I’m doing. I won’t be a burden.”

When 9:00 PM arrived, Jingjing appeared at the gate after all, clutching a bag of fresh buns. “The road is bumpy; take these. I won’t mail that letter for you, Mingyue. You have to come back and do it yourself, okay?”

“Okay.” A wave of warmth flowed through Mingyue’s heart. She hugged her friend. “Thank you, Jingjing.”

Shen Sheng was waiting in a military vehicle. He hadn’t filed a report to take the car; he was acting on his own. If his comrades were gone, he didn’t care what the punishment was.

“Do you know where they are?” Mingyue asked.

“Yes. They were in the mountains in western S County,” Shen Sheng said as he drove. “The epicenter of the landslide.”

The center of the disaster—the most dangerous place.

“You drive tonight,” Mingyue said. “I’ll take over tomorrow morning.”

Shen Sheng was surprised. “Sister-in-law, you can drive?”

“I haven’t driven this specific model, but it shouldn’t be a problem.” In her previous life, she had years of experience driving manual cars. She knew she had to help, or Shen Sheng would collapse from exhaustion.

They drove through the night. By the third morning, they finally reached the entrance to S County. Compared to Mocheng, the terrain here was rugged—nothing but endless, towering mountains.

The roads were blocked for vehicles, so they left the car at a guesthouse. The staff there were shocked. “You want to go to the west? The roads are sealed; it’s nearly impossible. Why go there? It’s dangerous.”

“My husband is missing there,” Mingyue said truthfully. “He is a soldier who came here to collect data. I’ve come to find him.”

Moved by her words, the staff member promised to help her find an ox cart to take them toward the mountains that afternoon.