Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Rescue

After hearing what the adjutant had to say, everyone instinctively shrank back and looked at him with hope.

The adjutant froze for a second before it dawned on him. “Wait, what are you guys getting at?”

The group suddenly broke into toothy grins, their expressions saying it all.

The adjutant rolled his eyes. “Don’t even think about it!”

’He wasn’t about to go get chewed out.’

But just as he finished speaking, Admiral Clan, who had just gone into his office, opened the door and came back out. “Any news from Fred?”

Startled by the sight of Admiral Clan, the men immediately snapped to attention and saluted.

The adjutant spoke up. “Not yet, sir.”

“Let me know the moment you hear anything.” Admiral Clan’s gaze then fell on the others. “What are you all here for?”

Hearing this, the men instinctively started to shake their heads, but the adjutant cut in. “They wanted to ask you about the joint physical examinations with the Fifth Research Institute.”

“Physicals?” Admiral Clan paused, then remembered. It was about the joint examinations between the Seventh Military District and the Fifth Research Institute—where Lu Xiao worked—a collaboration that was the envy of every other military region. “Can’t you just apply for it? Follow the proper procedures. Don’t expect me to pull any strings for you!”

With that, Admiral Clan went back into his office and shut the door. The moment it closed, the men outside burst into excited laughter. “This is great! Quick, let’s apply now! We have to get on the list, no matter what.”

Admiral Clan had said he wouldn’t pull any strings, but everyone knew about his relationship with Lu Xiao. As long as the Admiral didn’t object to the First Military Region’s application, they had a chance.

At lunchtime, Admiral Clan asked his adjutant for his meal container. Feeling its warmth, the Admiral was in a fine mood and offered a word of thanks.

The adjutant quickly waved his hand. “No need to thank me, sir. But… could I possibly see what’s in your lunch?”

He had been dying of curiosity when he was heating it up just a moment ago. He’d wanted to peek inside to see what could possibly smell so fragrant, but he had managed to restrain himself.

Hearing this, Admiral Clan laughed. “Alright. You can have a look.”

The adjutant grew excited, seeing how agreeable the Admiral was. ’He really is in a much better mood than usual today.’

He lifted the lid, revealing several appetizing dishes: Kung Pao chicken, scrambled eggs with tomato, sautéed greens with minced pork, and a marinated cucumber salad, accompanied by a bottle of fresh-squeezed juice.

’This is such a feast!’

’It looked and smelled as good as anything from a restaurant. No, wait… why did it seem to smell even better?’

“Alright, you’ve had your look. Now get out.” Admiral Clan had no intention of eating with someone staring at his food with longing eyes.

The adjutant swallowed hard. “Can you finish all that, sir? I mean, if you can’t…”

“Get lost!”

“Yes, sir!” The adjutant immediately turned and left without a moment’s hesitation. He knew very well that when Admiral Clan got angry, he had a habit of kicking people!

After cursing his adjutant with a laugh, Admiral Clan looked down at his lunch. ’Damn it all,’ he thought. ’Trying to covet my food!’

*

Not long after Admiral Clan left, Lu Xiao and Ares set out from home for Camellia Sea Park, one of Emperor Star’s more famous attractions.

It wasn’t until Lu Xiao and Ares stepped into the park that she understood why it was called a “sea” of flowers.

White camellias truly blanketed the hills and fields as far as the eye could see. The first impression upon entering was one of clean, sacred elegance, untouched by the slightest speck of dust.

The language of the camellia: “a love that cannot be ignored.”

Lu Xiao fell in love with the place the moment she walked in. It was just so beautiful.

Camellias were different from other flowers. Even when they withered, they fell to the ground perfectly whole. You could simply pick one up and hold a complete, beautiful blossom in your hand.

Lu Xiao crouched down and placed a flower beside her cheek. “Ares, can you take a picture of me?”

A smile touched Ares’s eyes as he watched the little female crouched among the flowers, surrounded by blossoms. In that moment, he felt as if Lu Xiao had transformed into a sprite.

Beautiful and free.

The sight was enough to make anyone stop and stare.

Without Lu Xiao needing to say another word, Ares was already taking one photo after another.

Just as Lu Xiao was thinking what a perfect place this was, her heart filled with joy, she suddenly heard someone calling her name from nearby.

She looked up at the sound of the voice and saw a young female with a mane of wavy brown hair walking toward her.

At first, Lu Xiao didn’t recognize her. But as the woman drew closer, she dredged up the information from the original body’s memories. It was Yuna, the original Lu Xiao’s best friend, the one who had sent her messages before.

“Oh my god, Lu Xiao, is that really you? I saw you from a distance and couldn’t believe my eyes! What happened to you? You’ve completely changed!”

Lu Xiao’s eyes swept over the other woman’s smoky makeup. ’She wants to ask me what happened? I’d like to ask her the same thing. What’s with this look? Is she going for some kind of alternative vibe?’

“Haven’t I always been like this?” Lu Xiao shrugged. ’When you don’t know how to answer,’ she mused, ’a question is the best response.’

“Oh my god, you’ve changed so much! I tried to get you to come out last time, but you wouldn’t. I guess you’ve completely forgotten about us. Charles still brings you up all the time, you know. He keeps asking me when you’ll go see him. He really misses you. We all thought you were going to take Charles as one of your own, but who knew you’d just turn around and…”

“Don’t, Yuna. That’s all in the past.” ’I remember the name Charles, though,’ she thought. ’The lonely little lamb!’

’I can’t believe the original owner’s past is such a persistent boomerang, always coming back to hit me when I least expect it.’

Interrupted by Lu Xiao, Yuna’s gaze shifted to Ares, and her eyes widened in surprise. “And… who is this? Aren’t you going to introduce us, Lu Xiao?”

Noticing the leering way Yuna’s eyes lingered on Ares, Lu Xiao instinctively frowned. She shifted to partially block Ares from view and said coldly, “He’s my partner.”

“Your partner? You found a new male already? I thought you found an officer to be your side husband. You even said that with how serious he looked, he’d be…”

“That’s enough, Yuna. I’ve never had any other partners. He is the only one. And whatever I might have said to you before is in the past. All I want now is to live my life in peace. If you can stop talking about all that nonsense and trying to make me see all those random people, then I think we can still be friends.” ’Though I’d rather not,’ she added internally.

Yuna looked at her in disbelief, not expecting Lu Xiao to be so blunt. “How could you become so cold? This isn’t like you at all! Are you really going to give up the entire forest for one tree? You’re such a disappointment, Lu Xiao!”

Lu Xiao’s lips twitched into a humorless smile. “In that case, let’s just not see each other anymore.”

Seeing that Lu Xiao was about to turn and leave, Yuna quickly reached out. “No, Lu Xiao, you can’t do this! You’re wasting your potential! It goes against a female’s very nature! I have to save you!”

Lu Xiao was left speechless. ’What’s wrong with me that I need saving? Just because I don’t want to be in a polyamorous relationship?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep