Lu Mingyu looked straight ahead, driving steadily, and replied, "There are no plans for a mission for now."
Hearing this, Gu Lina Zha and Xiao Lu in the back seat both breathed a sigh of relief.
"However, in a few days, the team will conduct a new round of personnel selection," Lu Mingyu continued.
"Selection? Are you recruiting new people again?" Gu Lina Zha asked curiously.
"Yes." Lu Mingyu nodded, his expression becoming serious.
He explained, "Because our kind of unit always has very scarce personnel."
"Every team member is handpicked from the elites of the entire army."
"The training cycle is long, the training standards are extremely high, and the elimination rate is also high."
"So we must quickly strengthen the team to ensure that the unit is always in its strongest combat state."
Hearing Lu Mingyu's explanation, Gu Lina Zha nodded thoughtfully.
She said softly, "That sounds like you're going to be very busy soon."
Lu Mingyu grunted in affirmation.
Gu Lina Zha sighed, speaking with a hint of helplessness.
"It seems we're both going to be extremely busy."
She looked at Lu Mingyu, saying somewhat coquettishly,
"I'm also going back to the film set soon."
"There are several announcements to rush to, and several endorsement events to attend."
"I probably won't even have much time to play games together."
The game she referred to.
It was where they first met, and also the witness to the beginning of their relationship.
Lu Mingyu turned his head and looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness.
He knew she wasn't complaining, just stating an impending fact.
"Then you should also pay attention to rest, don't get too tired."
Lu Mingyu's voice was low, carrying a reassuring strength.
Gu Lina Zha's heart felt sweet, and she nodded vigorously.
"I know."
Her tone shifted, and she began to caution him again.
"You too, daily training must be very tough, so be sure to pay attention to safety during training."
"You absolutely must not get injured, do you hear me?"
The corners of Lu Mingyu's mouth unconsciously curved upward as he patiently responded,
"I know."
Gu Lina Zha was still not at ease, as if she wanted to go over everything she could think of.
"And, if..."
"I mean if, in the future, there are missions, you must be extra careful."
"Your safety is the most important thing, more important than anything else."
Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable seriousness.
Lu Mingyu's heart felt as if it had been gently nudged by something, and a warm feeling spread through him.
He knew how dangerous his profession was, and he was used to facing all the unknowns and challenges alone.
But now, there was someone who would worry about him like this, and be anxious for him.
This feeling was unfamiliar, yet he craved it immensely.
"I promise you, I will be careful."
He pledged solemnly, every word clear and forceful.
Having received his assurance.
Gu Lina Zha seemed to have unburdened herself of a huge worry, and a smile reappeared on her face.
The car drove smoothly, and soon arrived at the airport's underground parking lot.
Lu Mingyu found an empty spot, skillfully parked the car, and then turned off the engine.
The car instantly fell silent, with only the sound of their breathing.
The atmosphere of departure, with the stopping of the engine, began to permeate the small space.
Gu Lina Zha did not immediately unbuckle her seatbelt, nor did she show any intention of getting out of the car.
She just sat quietly in the passenger seat.
Her bright eyes stared unblinkingly at Lu Mingyu.
Although they had moved from online to reality, the time they had spent together as a couple was not long.
But during that time of fighting side-by-side in the virtual world.
The tenderness and protection he had given her had long since made her clear about her feelings.
This man was the one she had decided on.
She turned her head and softly asked Xiao Lu in the back seat,
"Xiao Lu, what time is it now?"
"How much longer until boarding?"
Xiao Lu glanced at her phone and replied respectfully,
"Naza-jie, there's still half an hour."
Half an hour.
Not too long, not too short.
Gu Lina Zha's eyes lit up.
She turned back to Lu Mingyu, saying somewhat assertively,
"Half an hour, then we can stay for another ten minutes."
Lu Mingyu looked at her like this, a little helpless, but more so doting.
He didn't speak, just nodded, tacitly agreeing to her request.
Gu Lina Zha unbuckled her seatbelt.
Her whole body turned towards Lu Mingyu.
She didn't speak, just looked at him.
As if wanting to engrave his appearance, his strong features, his deep eyes, all into her heart.
Lu Mingyu let her look at him, his gaze calm and focused.
The air in the car seemed to become thick.
Time passed by second by second.
Just now, she thought ten minutes was a long time, but now that it was actually here, Gu Lina Zha felt it was flying by.
The thought of having to part soon, the thought of not knowing when they would meet again.
The thought of them about to start a long-distance relationship, one in the spotlight, one amidst a hail of bullets.
A huge ache and sadness, without warning, welled up in her heart.
Her nose stung, and her eyes instantly turned red.
She tried hard to tilt her head back, wanting to force back the sudden tears.
However, glistening tears still disobediently formed.
Then, they silently streamed down her cheeks.
One drop, two drops.
In the quiet car, these silent tears were more heartbreaking than any loud wailing.
Lu Mingyu sensed something was wrong almost the moment her emotions changed.
He saw her red eyes, he saw her falling tears, and his heart clenched sharply.
He stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.
Gu Lina Zha's face was buried in his chest.
The scent of him, a mixture of faint sweat and sunshine, instantly made her feel incredibly wronged.
She could no longer hold back, and her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Lu Mingyu awkwardly patted her back, his voice clearly flustered and pained.
"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?"
He lowered his head and placed an incredibly gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.
The kiss carried a comforting power, like a feather, gently brushing her heart.
"Don't cry, I'm here."
His voice was very low, with a coaxing tone.
Gu Lina Zha shook her head in his arms, her voice thick with a nasal tone.
"I don't want to leave you."
These simple five words, however, expressed all her feelings at that moment.
Lu Mingyu held her even tighter, his chin resting on the top of her head, gently rubbing.
He didn't know what comforting words to say, so he could only use the most direct action to show her how much he cared.
Xiao Lu in the back seat looked at the scene in the rearview mirror, and her heart also felt heavy.
She glanced at the time; although she didn't want to, she still had to speak up and remind them.
"Naza-jie, we should go, we'll be too late if we stay any longer."
Xiao Lu's voice was very soft, full of apology.
Gu Lina Zha's body stiffened in his arms.
She sniffled hard, as if trying to suppress all the sadness and reluctance.
She slowly pulled away from Lu Mingyu's embrace.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, like a pitiful little rabbit.
She looked at Lu Mingyu, trying to force out a smile that was uglier than crying.
"I should go."
Lu Mingyu didn't speak, just reached out and gently wiped away the lingering tear stains on her cheek with his thumb.
Gu Lina Zha took one last deep look at him.
Then, resolutely, she turned and pushed open the car door.
She quickly got out of the car, as if staying for one more second would make her lose the courage to leave.
Watching Gu Lina Zha walk further and further away, until she completely disappeared from sight.
Only then did Lu Mingyu start the car, preparing to leave.
The car slowly drove into the Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group's training base.
The base's iron gate closed heavily behind him.
It cut off the outside world, and also cut off that nascent tenderness.
The tenderness on Lu Mingyu's face had faded, replaced by the coldness and resolve of a special operations team leader.
He pushed open the car door, took a long stride, and stood firmly on this land he knew so well.
The air was filled with the scent of sweat, earth, and steel.
"Boss, you're finally back!"
A boisterous shout came.
Li Xiaoniu rushed over like a gust of wind, followed by Wang Yanbing, Wu Tianlong, and Zhou Chenguang.
Their faces were filled with undisguised joy, like family members welcoming a triumphant return.
"Boss, where did you go?"
"You've never left the base on a training day before, what happened today?"