CHAPTER 841: CHAPTER 840: A SUDDEN KISS, TRULY UNEXPECTED

Su Yuncheng brought Lin Nianhe in front of the old squad leader, who was still holding a cigarette.

On the way, Su Yuncheng told Lin Nianhe that the old squad leader’s name was Fang Ping. He was very skilled at playing table tennis during his service, even participating in competitions and winning the championship. Six months after Su Yuncheng graduated from the recruit company and joined the team, Fang Ping retired.

Upon seeing Su Yuncheng, he laughed, "I saw you here a while ago, what’s up? Aren’t you supposed to be at university?"

Su Yuncheng saluted him, "Hello, Squad Leader."

"Well, what’s up with you two retired folks doing this?" Fang Ping laughed and tapped Su Yuncheng while asking, as if remembering something, "Hey, you haven’t retired, have you?"

"No, I haven’t," Su Yuncheng replied.

Fang Ping nodded, then turned to Lin Nianhe, "Is this your partner?"

"We are engaged," Su Yuncheng corrected.

"Hello, Squad Leader, I’m Lin Nianhe," Lin Nianhe said with a smile.

"Ah, hello." Fang Ping seemed to have a vague idea of who Lin Nianhe might be, but he didn’t reveal it and avoided discussing past matters with Su Yuncheng. After chatting about their current situation, he asked, "Do you know Zheng Shan?"

Su Yuncheng looked at Lin Nianhe and said, "Yes, Nianhe worked as a teacher in the countryside, and Zheng Shan was her student."

"That’s quite a coincidence. Sister, you need to help me out," Fang Ping said candidly. "That child is a good seed, with talent and potential, born to play table tennis. But her mother doesn’t want her to become an athlete. Can you help persuade her?"

Lin Nianhe smiled and said, "Yesterday, Sister Lirong talked to me about this. First, she doesn’t want the child to work too hard, considering she’s so young. Second, she’s concerned about her studies. You might not know, but this kid excels academically. She used to consistently score perfect marks in her exams when I taught her."

Fang Ping clicked his tongue, looking conflicted.

Being an athlete is all about innate talent.

Some people are naturally fast runners, while others spend countless hours and sweat trying to improve by just 0.1 second.

It’s rare to find such a good seed; he truly doesn’t want to give up.

Lin Nianhe turned to look at Su Yuncheng.

He gave her a reassuring look and directly said, "The squad leader isn’t an outsider, just speak freely. If it can work out, he’ll consider it."

Fang Ping glanced at Su Yuncheng with a complicated expression.

"You kid, you had plenty of tricks when you were in the recruit company, and you’re still setting me up." Fang Ping punched Su Yuncheng on the shoulder.

Su Yuncheng accepted it without argument.

Fang Ping sighed lightly and looked at Lin Nianhe, "Sister-in-law, speak freely. Let’s see what her requirements are."

Lin Nianhe felt there wasn’t a better time to make requests, so she said, "It’s like this: my sister’s idea is that being a professional athlete is possible, but studies shouldn’t be left behind. After Shanshan finishes training, she needs to attend extra classes. Of course, the teacher issue will be resolved, but it’s just the training time..."

Lin Nianhe deliberately left a tail, not making it a dead end.

Fang Ping frowned, pondering, and said after a while, "This kid is young; it’s indeed not good to always train with older kids. Being too exhausted won’t help her grow... How about I think about it and discuss it more with Wei Hongwei, then talk with her mom after the final match tomorrow."

"Alright, thanks for your effort." Lin Nianhe said with a smile, "Thank you, Squad Leader."

"No need to be polite, I also have my selfish motives." Fang Ping said frankly, "If she can be properly trained, she might even win an Olympic championship in the future."

Seeing that the serious talk was over, Su Yuncheng smoothly invited Fang Ping to have lunch with them after the match.

However, Fang Ping said there were things to attend to in the team, with training and meetings in the afternoon, and he needed to further discuss Zheng Shan’s matter, so he didn’t have time today. He suggested catching up tomorrow once things were settled.

Su Yuncheng only stayed under Fang Ping’s leadership for three months, but their relationship was quite good, knowing he wasn’t just being polite, so he didn’t insist and arranged to dine together tomorrow.

Before parting, Fang Ping patted Su Yuncheng on the shoulder, teasing, "You should be promoted to lieutenant colonel once you graduate, right? When the time comes, gain a bit more military achievements, achieving rank promotion won’t be far off, brother."

This sounded like mere teasing to Su Yuncheng, but when Lin Nianhe heard it, her heart sank.

Military achievements.

That’s about fighting wars.

It’s about bleeding, getting injured, or even sacrificing.

She would rather Su Yuncheng remain a major for life than see him covered in scars.

Fang Ping’s offhand joke brought melancholy to Lin Nianhe.

"Nianhe."

After observing the match, having lunch, and returning to the guesthouse, Su Yuncheng stopped Lin Nianhe, who was about to go to her room alone.

Lin Nianhe paused, a bit downcast, "Hmm?"

"You’re unhappy." Su Yuncheng said, "Is it the squad leader’s words that made you worried?"

He knew Lin Nianhe too well; although she was laughing with Zheng Lirong during lunch, her eyes were filled with worry.

Her little moods might fool others, but not him.

He thought carefully for a long time and finally determined that her worries stemmed from Fang Ping’s joking words.

Lin Nianhe pursed her lips, sighed after a moment of silence.

She grabbed Su Yuncheng into the room, closed the door, and then fell into his arms.

"I’m scared."

Lin Nianhe buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.

"In ’75, when I went home for New Year’s, my brother’s whole body was wrapped in bandages, like a mummy... When my mom was giving birth to me, she heard my dad might be killed, it scared her into premature and difficult labor... I’m afraid of wars, I’m afraid of you getting hurt, or..."

She couldn’t continue, deliberately avoiding that possibility.

Su Yuncheng embraced her, gently patting her back, smiling comfortingly, "Where does it say there will be war? I’m now a student, don’t be afraid."

His heart was warm.

Her reaction to an offhand remark from Fang Ping showed how much she cared for him.

Though he already knew her feelings, he couldn’t help the joy each time she showed her emotions.

Major Su couldn’t control the upward curve of his lips.

Lin Nianhe looked up at him and said, "From now on, every time I can make a wish, I’ll wish for ’world peace, no wars’."

Su Yuncheng pinched her cheek gently, his eyes full of her.

"Even for you, I’ll definitely ensure my safety." He promised.

"Hmm!" Lin Nianhe held out her hand, "Pinky swear."

Su Yuncheng cooperatively extended his little finger, completing the childish gesture.

Lin Nianhe watched their intertwined fingers, suddenly lifting her head to kiss Su Yuncheng.

Su Yuncheng: "...!"

...

While they were wrapped up in romance, a familiar figure stepped off the bus at the village entrance of the Ten Miles Team.

"Oh my goodness, luckily the tree is still here. I thought I got off at the wrong stop!"

She dropped her luggage and gave the large tree landmark at the village entrance a big hug.