C14 Misunderstanding!

On the battlefield, the line between life and death is razor-thin.

Surviving amidst a hail of bullets is a luxury few can afford.

And yet, Jiang Zhuo has not only survived but has earned himself a reputation for his remarkable valor and impressive military achievements!

These feats were all won through the baptism of blood and tears, traded for in the currency of life and death.

Only Jiang Zhuo truly knows how many times he's narrowly escaped the jaws of death.

He seldom spoke of his experiences, choosing instead to recount a handful of seemingly straightforward missions.

But even these 'simple' missions left Lau Ruoyan on edge, fraught with worry.

Jiang Zhuo might have recounted his tales with an even tone, but Lau Ruoyan could only imagine the perilous reality behind his words.

Due to the secretive nature of his missions, he never disclosed his true identity to her.

He simply told Lau Ruoyan that he was a soldier.

"Zhuo, had you not told me, I would have remained oblivious to the bloodshed at our nation's borders," Lau Ruoyan said, her eyes brimming with tears as she clung to Jiang Zhuo's embrace.

In this era of peace, she had never considered that there were valiant men, their tales worthy of song, defending our borders with their blood, ensuring our homeland's tranquility.

Tranquility is never a given; it's maintained by those who shoulder the weight of sacrifice.

"Death? Sacrifice is a more fitting term," Jiang Zhuo mused, leaning back on the sofa, his gaze distant.

The journey had been long, marked by too many losses.

His ranks had been replenished time and again with new faces.

He had even witnessed stalwart men, riddled with bullets, fall before his eyes—events unknown to the world.

At the nation's edge, only triumphs are celebrated, not the sorrows.

Countless iron-blooded warriors in their prime have laid down their lives in foreign lands.

Peace, in any era, is forged in blood.

In unseen places, there are those who endure the elements, all in the name of protecting their country.

After all, they stand with the weight of millions of compatriots behind them.

And if they were to fall in battle, who would live to regret it?

The mountains are filled with the remains of the loyal; there is no need for their bodies to be returned wrapped in hides.

"May I see the scars you've earned?"

Lau Ruoyan, drying her eyes, sat up attentively.

Jiang Zhuo chuckled softly and, without a moment's hesitation, removed his shirt to reveal a body marked by the bronze badges of his service.

Visible to the naked eye, a crisscross of scars, both old and new, marred his skin in a shocking display.

Lau Ruoyan instinctively covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

Her right hand trembled as she reached out to touch Jiang Zhuo's body, her eyes brimming with distress.

It was horrifying!

The scars on Jiang Zhuo's body alone told a harrowing tale of what he had endured over the past decade.

Some wounds had even pierced through his chest to his back, and though healed, they left indelible marks.

"Zhuo, what have you been through these past ten years?"

Lau Ruoyan sobbed uncontrollably as she embraced Jiang Zhuo, feeling a wrenching pain in her heart.

"Sister Yan, I've come back alive, haven't I?"

Jiang Zhuo gently patted Lau Ruoyan's back, his voice a soothing whisper.

A tempting fragrance wafted from Lau Ruoyan's hair, delightful and invigorating.

Suddenly, his expression turned peculiar.

He was shirtless at the moment, and he could distinctly feel the soft and full sensation against his chest.

The feeling was overwhelmingly intense!

Moreover, Lau Ruoyan had just taken a bath and was wearing only a thin nightgown.

It seemed she might be... not wearing anything underneath?

"Sister Yan."

Jiang Zhuo didn't want to cause any discomfort for his sister.

Yet, the less he tried to think about it, the more it preoccupied his mind.

Their proximity made it feel as though they were both barely clothed.

He called out to her awkwardly, hoping to draw Lau Ruoyan's attention to their current predicament.

If this continued, he wasn't sure he could restrain himself.

"Sister Yan?"

When Lau Ruoyan in his arms made no move, Jiang Zhuo called out once more.

After half a minute, there was still no response.

Unable to resist, Jiang Zhuo lowered his head to look at Lau Ruoyan nestled in his embrace, only to find her fast asleep, prompting a wry smile from him.

"Some things never change."

With a resigned smile and a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes, Jiang Zhuo reflected on the past.

A decade ago, Lau Ruoyan was frail and could fall asleep anywhere, anytime.

She hadn't changed one bit!

Lau Ruoyan, still in slumber, clung to Jiang Zhuo, a trickle of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.

Her lips were soft like jelly, exuding a deadly allure.

Even Jiang Zhuo found himself mesmerized by her beauty.

Snap!

Jiang Zhuo gave himself a sharp slap, inwardly cursing his thoughts.

The woman in his arms was his sister!

How could he harbor such inappropriate thoughts about his own sister?

He took a deep breath, gently released Lau Ruoyan's hands, and carefully laid her down on the sofa.

Looking down, he noticed a large patch of saliva on his chest.

With a helpless and wry smile, Jiang Zhuo grabbed a couple of tissues from the coffee table to wipe off the drool.

After tossing the tissues back onto the table, he began to dress himself.

Outside the Loving Hearts Welfare Institute, a vibrant and beautiful figure approached the entrance.

Her features were delicate, and she was clad in a form-fitting uniform. Her starry eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

"Ruoyan..."

Lin Shixuan entered the institute, about to call out.

But then, she sensed something amiss.

Her keen nose detected an unusual scent.

"A man?"

It was rare for men to visit the welfare institute.

Besides, this wasn't even their actual living space.

Logically, men shouldn't be here at all!

Lin Shixuan crept into the institute's hall, crouching low and moving silently.

She caught sight of a young man with his back to her, seemingly in the midst of undressing.

In front of him on the sofa, Lau Ruoyan lay still, her clothes disheveled.

Was she unconscious?

A surge of rage filled Lin Shixuan's eyes, and with a glint of cold fury, she grabbed a shovel by the door and stealthily approached the man from behind.

She felt a wave of relief.

Thank goodness she had decided to check on the institute tonight after receiving that phone call.

Otherwise, Lau Ruoyan might have been violated by this man!

And the man, well-built and with a striking physique, could have easily ranked high in a beauty contest.

Lau Ruoyan, frail and delicate, was no match for him.

The more Lin Shixuan thought about it, the more incensed she became, her grip on the shovel tightening as sweat beaded in her palms.

She was uncertain whether her shovel strike would incapacitate him in battle.

Yet, to defend Lau Ruoyan's honor, she was prepared to give it her all!

"Pervert! Die!"

As Lin Shixuan closed in to less than two meters from Jiang Zhuo, she let out a fierce cry and leaped forward, her shovel swinging down hard towards his head.

Jiang Zhuo, in the midst of dressing, was completely unaware and unguarded.

At the sound of her voice, his face instantly contorted, and he dodged to the side without a moment's hesitation.

Bang!