The captain from the Northeast SF was the first to stand and suggest, "Why don't we unite, gather everyone, and charge in together?"
Liu Junyi shook her head. "That won't work. We analyzed the situation yesterday. The enemy likely outnumbers us and seems to know our movents well. If we rush in without a plan, we could be surrounded again."
"Let them try! We'll fight them head-on. We're elite special forces—why should we fear them?" The captain's temper flared. The previous day's failed operation and the ambush that claid two teams had left him frustrated and angry.
Liu Junyi frowned, her voice stern. "It's easy to talk, but if we get caught in another ambush, we could lose nearly a thousand of our best people. Do you want to bury all these elite soldiers here?"
The captain lowered his head, silenced by her rebuke. Still, he cast a quick glance at Ye Fei, who sat beside Liu Junyi, and muttered, "That might not be the case." His words were quiet, but in the stillness of the room, everyone heard them.
By now, the others understood what the captain from the Northeast was implying, and their gazes shifted to Ye Fei, admiration evident in their eyes. The two groups he had rescued the previous day looked at him with even more respect, having witnessed his abilities firsthand.
Ye Fei inwardly sighed. He had clearly impressed them too much. These elite soldiers were now looking to him for answers. The truth was, Ye Fei was confident that if he acted alone, he could locate the enemy base within three days and wipe them out. With his enhanced speed and body protection techniques, no one could harm him unless they deployed heavy weapons like explosives.
Even then, with his reflexes, they wouldn't have much of a chance.
However, he didn't want to act alone. Although eliminating the enemy would benefit the special forces, it would hurt their morale if they beca dependent on him. These soldiers, whom Ye Fei hoped to work with in the future, needed to maintain their fighting spirit. Additionally, he had just solidified his relationship with Liu Junyi the night before.
He wanted to spend more ti with her, ensuring her feelings for him were strong before leaving. Otherwise, back in Wanghai, she might waver once she saw Yu Wuxia again.
Noticing the growing dependence in the room, Liu Junyi gave Ye Fei a subtle look, signaling for him to say sothing. Ye Fei nodded slightly, stood up, and addressed the group. "Captains, let
say this plainly: if we are surrounded, there's a good chance none of us will make it out alive."
"Even you?" The captain from the Northeast, ever blunt, voiced what everyone was thinking.
Ye Fei smiled wryly. "I might have so skills, but we're most likely facing thousands of enemies. I can't take them all on by myself. Honestly, yesterday's fight took a lot out of . I may have looked fine, but I was seriously injured. If it weren't for my aunt's care last night, I probably wouldn't even be standing here today.
The truth is, the battle hurt my foundation. I can't even summon my internal energy right now."
The officers, many of whom were seasoned veterans, would never have expected Ye Fei to downplay his abilities. His words, however, rang true, and they believed him. The admiration they had for him turned into concern, and the mbers of the two teams he saved looked at him with disappointnt, realizing he couldn't carry their hopes alone.
Liu Junyi gave Ye Fei a look of approval. She understood that he was deliberately downplaying his abilities for the greater good. Her heart softened, and her eyes filled with tenderness as she gazed at him. Ye Fei couldn't help but feel touched, returning her look with an affectionate smile.
"Does anyone else have a better plan?" Liu Junyi quickly shifted the topic to avoid drawing more attention to their silent exchange of affection. Fortunately, her focus on the situation prevented others from noticing their intimate glances.
The officers, who had not co up with any other plans, had been relying on Ye Fei's strength. Now that they knew he was injured, they were at a loss. When Liu Junyi asked if anyone had other ideas, they looked at each other in confusion.
Realizing their reliance on Ye Fei, Liu Junyi decided not to push them further. "Let's adjourn the eting for now. Notify your teams that today will be a day of rest. We'll resu once we've co up with a solid plan."
As the officers filed out, Ye Fei remained seated next to Liu Junyi, a smile playing on his lips. Liu Junyi noticed his gaze and, feeling slightly flustered, playfully pinched his waist. "You seed so confident earlier. Have you co up with a plan?"
"As expected of my smart aunt," Ye Fei teased. "Yes, I have an idea, but I'm not ready to share it just yet."
Liu Junyi's curiosity piqued. "Why not? If you have a plan, we should act on it right away."
Ye Fei shook his head. "If I tell you now, you'll want to set out imdiately, but I don't want to leave today."
"Why not?" Liu Junyi was confused. "Shouldn't we eliminate the enemy as soon as possible?"
"It's because of you," Ye Fei replied, his tone soft. "I noticed your posture was a bit off when you were walking earlier. You must still be feeling sore. If we set out now, it'll only make things worse. I want you to rest for a couple more days."
Liu Junyi's face flushed with embarrassnt, but her heart ward. Ye Fei had withheld his plan out of concern for her well-being. However, seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes, she playfully swatted at him. "You little rascal! This is all your fault!"
"That's not fair," Ye Fei said innocently. "You were the one who asked for it four tis in a row last night."
"Stop saying that!" Liu Junyi blushed even more, embarrassed by the mory of her eagerness. She pinched his arm again, but this ti with less force. "It's still your fault!"
"Okay, okay. It's all my fault," Ye Fei surrendered with a smile, secretly pleased. Her playful behavior showed that her heart was close to being fully his. He grinned and said, "If I'm to bla, I'll make it up to you by helping you rest." With that, he stood and wrapped his arms around her waist, ready to help her up.
Liu Junyi panicked. "What if soone sees us? Let go!" she protested, though not too forcefully.
Ye Fei tightened his hold slightly. "Who cares? I'm just supporting my aunt. What could be more natural?"
"You still rember I'm your aunt?" she huffed, rolling her eyes at him. Though she didn't resist further, she wondered if Ye Fei had done this kind of thing before. He seed far too comfortable. She made a ntal note to ask him later.
Once they were standing, Liu Junyi wrapped an arm around Ye Fei's waist. Together, they walked out of the room, side by side. Anyone watching would assu that Ye Fei, still recovering from his "injuries," was being supported by Liu Junyi. In reality, Ye Fei, strong as ever, carried most of her weight, his arm around her waist keeping her almost airborne.
As they walked, Liu Junyi felt at peace in Ye Fei's embrace. She had never experienced such tender care before, and for a mont, she allowed herself to savor the happiness she felt.
They soon returned to Liu Junyi's room. Ye Fei helped her take off her shoes and socks, gently laying her down on the bed. He sat beside her, holding her hand, and said softly, "You didn't sleep much last night. Rest now."
Liu Junyi nodded obediently. Despite being the one who "worked harder" last night, she still worried about him. "You should go back and rest too. I'll be fine."
Ye Fei didn't move. "I don't need to rest. I'll stay here with you."
Seeing the love in his eyes, Liu Junyi felt her heart skip a beat. She quickly said, "I really can't... I'm still sore. Can't you rest for a bit?"
Ye Fei laughed, realizing what she ant. "Don't worry. I won't try anything until you've recovered. I love you for who you are, not just your body."
Liu Junyi blushed but smiled at his words. "You should go back. You're practically a hero in the special forces now. If people hear you're injured, they'll co to check on you. It would be awkward if they found us like this."
As if on cue, soone knocked on the door. "Report!" called a voice from outside. It was Zhang Qiang.
Liu Junyi gave Ye Fei a knowing look. "See what I an?"
Ye Fei muttered under his breath, "Being a hero is more trouble than it's worth." Then, he called out, "Uncle Zhang, I'm fine. I'll be right out."
Before leaving, Ye Fei leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Liu Junyi's lips. Then he strode out the door.
Watching him leave, Liu Junyi smiled, feeling a sense of admiration and affection for the man who was once her little nephew but had now matured into soone she deeply cared for. She lay back, her body finally relaxing into the bed as a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Soon, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep, her mind at ease, comforted by the thought that Ye Fei would always be there for her.
Outside, Ye Fei found Zhang Qiang waiting, along with several other soldiers who had co to check on him. Seeing so many of them gathered made Ye Fei smile. "I'm really fine, you guys," he said, waving away their concerns. "I appreciate the thought, but I wasn't hurt that badly."
Zhang Qiang crossed his arms, giving him a look of disbelief. "That's not what I heard," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "After everything you did for us yesterday, the least we can do is make sure you're okay."
Ye Fei shook his head, trying to brush off the praise. "We're all comrades. I'd do the sa for any of you. Let's just focus on recovering and figuring out our next move."
Zhang Qiang's face softened, his expression grateful. "You saved a lot of lives, Xiaoman. We won't forget that."
Ye Fei nodded, feeling a mixture of pride and discomfort at the attention. "If I had been faster, maybe Uncle Li wouldn't have been hurt," he said quietly, his expression darkening as he thought of Li Yun's injury.
Zhang Qiang's mood dimd as well. "Li Yun… He's always been one of the best. If he could have chosen anyone to save, he would have wanted it to be you. Don't carry that guilt, Xiaoman. He made his choice."
Ye Fei nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "I'll make sure he gets the best treatnt when we return to Wanghai. I won't let him suffer for my sake."
Zhang Qiang placed a hand on Ye Fei's shoulder, offering a silent but firm gesture of support. "We all believe in you," he said, before turning the conversation lighter. "Now, so of the brothers here have been talking about how strong you are, and we've got to admit, they're impressed. They want to invite you out for a drink to show their appreciation. Are you up for it?"
Ye Fei laughed. "A drink? You know, I'm not supposed to drink. Aunt Junyi would kill
if she found out."
The n chuckled, nodding in understanding. "We'll keep it low-key," one of them said with a grin. "She won't hear a thing about it. Let's just relax and celebrate getting through yesterday alive."
With that, Ye Fei relented, letting the n lead him away for a night of camaraderie and shared stories. He knew it would be a good way to bond further with the soldiers, to reinforce their trust and loyalty to each other in the days ahead.
---
Later that evening, after they'd left the base, they made their way to a nearby town, finding a small restaurant where they could sit, eat, and drink. The place was modest, with simple wooden tables and chairs, but it was warm and inviting, filled with the sll of ho-cooked food.
The owner, seeing the soldiers, welcod them in enthusiastically, arranging for extra tables and chairs to accommodate the large group.
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