Su Ling blinked, her eyes fixed on Shang Qi, and she pursed her lips.
Then, a slight curve appeared on her lips, and Su Ling's voice was clear and elegant, "Okay."
Shang Qi gazed at Su Ling's smiling eyes, a thousand words caught in his throat. In the end, he said nothing.
The current environment was not suitable for pouring out his heart to her.
Su Ling sensed this and didn't ask. The circumstances didn't allow for it; they would take their time.
She indeed had many questions for Shang Qi, but not now.
They had plenty of time, and she was patient; they could take it slow.
When Su Ling and the others returned, the sunset had painted the entire sea in hues of red, and they headed back to the stronghold against the backdrop of the twilight.
The stronghold was deserted as everyone had gone out for ability training.
After Su Ling and the others returned, they had to prepare dinner for themselves.
While others were preparing dinner, Su Ling and Shang Qi left with Zhang Wenbin for the warehouse.
According to Zhang Wenbin's needs, Shang Qi provided him with the seeds, grains, and oil he required, filling the warehouse. After that, they went to the pig farm.
Su Ling was very generous, giving Zhang Wenbin chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, sheep, and horses. To ensure reproduction, they were given in pairs, two pairs of each, carrying the significant responsibility of fostering a large family.
Only after the supply gap was filled did Su Ling and the others return to the mess hall.
When they arrived, dinner was ready, and everyone was seated at a large round table.
There was no alcohol, so beverages were used in its place to express a welcome to Su Ling and the others.
It was already late into the night. The lingering guests cleaned their dishes and tidied up the mess hall, then sat in the open-air plaza, gazing at the stars and chatting about everything under the sun, speaking whatever came to mind.
Shang Qi did not join them. After a few words with Su Ling, he drove to the pier.
Accompanying him was Gu Shangse.
After Shang Qi and Gu Shangse left, Su Ling excused herself from the group to use the restroom.
Emerging from the restroom and walking along the moonlit path, she saw Rao Beichen leaning against a tree, waiting for her.
Upon seeing Su Ling, Rao Beichen straightened up from his relaxed posture against the tree and waited for her to approach.
Once she was close, Rao Beichen finally spoke, "Can we talk?"
"Okay," Su Ling replied and followed Rao Beichen as they walked in a direction away from the main group.
Rao Beichen walked with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the road. "I thought he wasn't your Shang Qi, but I didn't expect him to be. Honestly, when you two recognized each other, I was completely surprised and found it unbelievable."
After all, Su Ling had been very firm in denying that Wen Shang Qi was Shang Qi back then. And Wen Shang Qi himself had denied knowing Su Ling when he was asked. Yet, these two people, who had denied each other's existence, embraced upon meeting and poured out their hearts to one another. Pity Gu Shangse, who had followed and protected her all along, only to have his home raided.
Rao Beichen's words echoed the very doubts in Su Ling's heart after encountering Shang Qi. "Where did you meet Shang Qi? Did anything significant happen to him when you found him?" That dream, Shang Qi being surrounded by tank shells, wouldn't have occurred for no reason.
"Yes," Rao Beichen did not hide anything from Su Ling and recounted the events truthfully. "We met him in a city near the capital. He was lying in a pool of blood and debris, covered in blood, and had already lost consciousness."
"The situation was extremely tragic. Within a ten-mile radius, nothing remained intact. The attackers who surrounded Shang Qi, their weapons, and even the surrounding buildings were all reduced to rubble, turning into foamy residue and merging with the ground."