Chapter 067: Memories of the Past

Chapter 067: Memories

“Coach, I can’t believe it’s really you. I thought I was dreaming just now, ha ha—”

Under the dim, yellow glow of a street-side food stall, two handsome young men clinked their beer glasses, a conspicuous Range Rover parked beside them. The scene drew many curious glances—who drives a Range Rover to eat at a roadside stall? Must be out of their minds.

But the two men were utterly absorbed in their own world, indifferent to the stares.

“I didn’t think I’d run into you either. By my count, it’s been five years since we last met,” Chu Fei said, downing a large glass of beer in one gulp, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

“Five years, two months, and eight days. I remember it clear as day,” Ling Bin nodded, his own expression full of emotion and wistful longing.

“You sure remember it well,” Chu Fei said in surprise.

“Of course I do. I’ll never forget those days for as long as I live,” Ling Bin lifted his beer, eyes reddening as he looked at Chu Fei. “That month of special training, that special mission—those are the most precious memories of my life. And if it hadn’t been for you, Coach, who knows where I’d be buried by now?”

Chu Fei fell silent, his eyes trembling slightly.

“I’m sorry, Coach. I shouldn’t have brought up something that pains you. I’ll take a drink as punishment.” Ling Bin suddenly drained his beer in one go, slamming the glass on the table with a loud thud.

“It’s fine. It’s all in the past,” Chu Fei sighed, pulling out a cigarette and clenching it between his lips.

“The past? Can it truly be left behind?” Ling Bin watched Chu Fei smoke in silence. He knew all too well the blow that mission had dealt Chu Fei—such wounds weren’t so easily healed.

It had been a trap—a massacre.

What was supposed to be a routine training assignment before graduation turned into a bloodbath, manipulated by hidden hands, pitting them against a group of vicious, ruthless mercenaries...

Sixty comrades, and in the blink of an eye, over a dozen fell. If not for a few instructors sensing something wrong and charging into the encirclement to rescue them, even more would have died—perhaps all sixty would have been wiped out.

Though more than five years had passed, the memories of those scenes were seared into his mind, never to be forgotten.

Not just for him—he knew none of those who survived that slaughter could ever forget the blood-soaked carnage...

Nor could they forget the six men who descended like avenging gods, charging through the jungle for the sake of saving just one more comrade. Six men charged into the enemy formation, heedless of their own lives, to buy their teammates a few more seconds to escape...

Everyone knew those six men were unarmed—since it was a drill, their knives were only rubber. Even so, they rushed out without hesitation, not choosing to save themselves.

Six men went out, but only four came back, each gravely wounded. Two of them were barely alive, dragging themselves back with their last breath...

Ling Bin would never forget the sight of those four bloodied figures supporting each other, staggering out of the jungle—like four devils crawling straight out of hell.

No survivor would ever forget that image.

There were no tears in that moment.

Only blood.

Endless blood...

And among the two instructors who never returned was the team’s political instructor, the only woman among the coaches. She had never excelled at killing, but charged into the enemy ranks without a second thought—and never came back...

—

“Coach, what brings you here? Are you on a special assignment?”

Ling Bin seemed unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, so he changed the subject.

“No,” Chu Fei shook his head.

“Ha, I know the missions you take on are top secret. I won’t pry.” Ling Bin laughed.

“I really mean it. I’m not on a mission.” Chu Fei looked up at Ling Bin. “And don’t call me Coach anymore. I’m no longer your instructor. I’ve left the army.”

“What?” Ling Bin was stunned, but quickly forced a smile. “That’s impossible! You’re a national treasure. How could the military let you go?” His expression showed he didn’t believe a word.

“I really have left. I was discharged—fired, actually.”

Chu Fei gave a bitter smile, a touch of sorrow flashing in his eyes. Some things he couldn’t explain, nor did he wish to.

“Is that so?” Ling Bin’s smile froze on his face. After a long pause, he asked, “Was it because of that mission?”

“—” Chu Fei glanced at Ling Bin, said nothing, and drained another glass of beer.

“Didn’t those scum face military justice?” Ling Bin suddenly became agitated, remembering how, after returning to base five years ago, they were forcibly sent back, given no explanation, only a vague sense that the mercenary ambush had been orchestrated by someone—a conspiracy.

“They’re all dead now. Every last one of them,” Chu Fei shook his head. There were things he would never say—those events involved forces far above Ling Bin’s pay grade; they had all been mere pawns in a deadly game...

“Is that so?” Ling Bin frowned, sensing that Chu Fei was hiding the truth, but he didn’t press further.

After that, neither man spoke. They simply drank, bottle after bottle piling up on the little table, yet neither showed any sign of drunkenness—astonishing those watching nearby.

“Coach, what about Er Gou and the others? Did they leave the army too?” Ling Bin looked up, full of hope.

Chu Fei’s hand, holding the glass, trembled slightly before he replied, “Er Gou is dead.”

“What?” Ling Bin’s reaction was even more intense this time. His hand shook and the bottle crashed to the ground, shattering. He stared at Chu Fei in disbelief. In his mind, Chu Fei was like a god, but Coach Er Gou had always felt closer—more unruly, more like one of the boys...

Chu Fei said nothing, only stuck a cigarette in his mouth and took a quiet drag.

Ling Bin didn’t speak either. He didn’t even bother pouring another drink, just sat there in a daze for minutes on end.

“Five years—so much has changed.”

After a long while, Ling Bin finally spoke, lifting the bottle and drinking hard, tears streaming down his face—he drank his tears along with the beer, not caring in the slightest...

Chu Fei said nothing.

He simply stood and walked away, leaving quietly...

He knew Er Gou’s death wasn’t just a blow to himself, but to many others. That sly, ruthless Chen Er Gou, for all his ferocity, was in many people’s eyes a true big brother—even more beloved than Chu Fei himself...

—

Chu Fei was not one to dwell on the past. Though his conversation with Ling Bin had been heavy, he quickly pulled himself out of his grief.

One must live in the present, not drown in sorrow. It wasn’t heartlessness—it was that he had more important things to do. There were the families of fallen comrades, and there was Er Gou’s dying wish, entrusted to him above all else: to look after his little sister, Chen Xiaoman...

Perhaps, it was finally time to tell Chen Xiaoman the truth. Keeping it from her forever was no solution.

With these conflicting feelings, Chu Fei came near his residence, only to suddenly stop.

Ahead, beneath a small building, two figures stood in conversation. One was Chen Xiaoman; the other, a middle-aged woman.

“Xiaoman, I hate to say this, but you’re two months behind on rent. This really can’t go on.” The woman frowned at Chen Xiaoman.

“Aunt Li, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I lost my job a few days ago and haven’t found new work yet...” Chen Xiaoman stammered awkwardly, clearly at a loss.

“Your job is none of my business. I only care about my rent,” the woman said sharply. “Xiaoman, I’m not trying to make things hard for you. I’ve actually been good to you, haven’t I? Prices have gone up these past two years, but I’ve never raised your rent, have I?”

“Yes, you’ve been very kind, Auntie. I know,” Chen Xiaoman replied with a forced smile. “Could you please give me just a few more days? I’m about to graduate, and once I have a job, I’ll pay you everything I owe, plus interest. Would that be alright?”

“That won’t do. You still have a month until graduation. How do I know you’ll find a job right away?” The woman shook her head briskly.

“Auntie, please, just give me a little more time. I really can’t scrape together that much money right now. What if I give you part of it first...” As she spoke, Chen Xiaoman pulled out her wallet, checked inside, and looked up hesitantly. “Auntie, all the money I have adds up to just over a thousand. What if I give you a thousand for now, would that be okay?” She pulled out all the cash she had.

But the woman didn’t reach for the money. Instead, she looked at Chen Xiaoman’s face and suddenly smiled, her expression taking on a deeper meaning. “Xiaoman, I know you have it tough. You’re all alone, working and studying—life isn’t easy for a young girl like you.”

“I’m glad you understand, Auntie,” Chen Xiaoman said gratefully.

“I do understand—but the world doesn’t,” the woman replied, then chuckled. “Actually, I have an idea. Not only would you not have to worry about the rent, I could even let you live here for free.”

“What idea?” Chen Xiaoman asked, baffled.

“I have a son—you’ve met him before. The moment he laid eyes on you, he was smitten. He’s been lovesick ever since. If you agree to be his girlfriend, we can forget about rent. In fact, if you two end up together, not only will the rent be waived—the apartment will be yours. Doesn’t that sound good?” The woman’s face bloomed with a smile.

“Ah?” Chen Xiaoman was stunned. She never expected the woman’s solution to be this.

“What do you mean, ‘ah’? Say something! You’ve met my son—he’s good-looking, not a bad match for you, right? So, do you agree or not?” the woman pressed.

“I...” Chen Xiaoman was at a loss for words.

But the woman cut her off. “I know you used to have a wealthy boyfriend, but you broke up, didn’t you? And let me be honest with you—rich kids are rarely reliable. They don’t know how to live properly. Don’t let yourself be fooled. You’re better off with a solid, down-to-earth man—like my son. Don’t you think?”

Chen Xiaoman stared in disbelief, too shocked to speak.

The woman grew anxious. She’d heard about Chen Xiaoman’s breakup and had rushed over with the rent as an excuse to set her up with her son. Over the past two years, she’d come to see Chen Xiaoman as a rare gem. She’d let it go when Xiaoman had a rich boyfriend, but now that the chance had come, she wasn’t about to let it slip by. In her mind, Chen Xiaoman was already her future daughter-in-law—the rent business was just a pretext for pressure.

“Hey, Xiaoman, will you or won’t you? I’m not asking you to marry him right away—just date him for a while, get to know each other—”

“Chen Xiaoman will not be your son’s girlfriend. You can leave now.”

A cold voice suddenly cut through the conversation.

Chu Fei strode quickly toward them, his brow furrowed tightly...