n

n

nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nSensing her uncontained impatience, Huo Shaoheng paused. His voice was low, carrying a tinge of emotion and raspiness he failed to detect in himself. “Darling, be patient, I’ll give it to you right away, just hold on a bit longer.”

nThis time he used neither his hands, nor his kisses.

n…

nC City was still very cold during the evenings in the end of March.

nHuo Shaoheng’s house was set to a mild temperature all year long and had a central air conditioning, so it didn’t feel too cold or hot.

nHowever he had just experienced an unprecedented and intense “workout,” so he was feeling mixed emotions and needed so refresh himself with cold water.

nThe cold water sloshed over his head like a bucket of a cold water. He felt his mixed emotions slightly subside.

nI’ll pretend this was just a mission, like the hundreds and thousands before.

nAlthough this mission was more erotic and had less difficulty, it was just a mission nevertheless.

nThere was no other meaning.

nBut, before he completely erased the memory, he wanted to savour it once again.

nStanding underneath the shower, Huo Shaoheng leaned against the wall with one arm. He closed his eyes to enjoy the cool water rinsing over him and the severe expression on his face finally eased.

nAfter showering, he draped a towel around his neck and strode out of the bathroom with his powerful and long legs.

nThe corners of his mouth twitched as he smelled the heavy musk in the room. He found the remote and turned on the ventilator again to change the air in the room.

nAfterwards, he sat down on the white hardwood sofa and poised to have the fabled “cigarette after s*x.”

nHe watched Gu Nianzhi take great gasps, heart rate stabilizing but face extremely pale. He pursed his lips, emotions mixed as enshrouded before him were thoughts he didn’t want to acknowledge.

nGu Nianzhi was dead asleep.

nIt was unlike the previous times she had lost consciousness and passed out.

nHuo Shaoheng picked her up and placed on her the bed with fresh sheets, then covered her with a thin blanket.

nHe Hesitated for a second; he had not yet removed the silk scarf blindfolding her.

nOnce she was deep asleep, he rushed back to the bathroom to clean himself again and change into a crew neck black t-shirt and military camo pants.

nOpening the French windows in the bedroom, he went out to the balcony and finally lit a “cigarette after sex” to smoke in relaxation.

nCrossing arms and standing on the balcony, his eyes were dark as he looked at the mountains in the distance. He appeared as if he had troubled thoughts or could be thinking of nothing at all.

nLavender mist snaked between the mountains. The sun had just risen and a sliver of light revealed itself from behind the mountains, almost about to break out completely.

nAt that moment, the wake up call sounded in the base, stirring the previously serene paradise.

nHuo Shaoheng watched the familiar scene and blew out a puff of smoke. He raised his hand and threw the butt with a beautiful arc, which landed in the garbage can in the corner of the balcony.

nHe took a deep breath of the fresh morning air and turned back to the room.

nClosing the French windows and drawing the blackout and sound proof gold velvet curtains, he glanced at Gu Nianzhi on the bed.

nShe’s still fast asleep and unmoving. She must be exhausted, Shaoheng noted.

nThe corners of Huo Shaoheng’s lips turned slightly and he exited the room in good spirits.

nAs soon as he opened the bedroom door, he heard a thud.

nA chubby silhouette lurched inside, its round head hitting the ground with a thud.

nHuo Shaoheng’s brows twitched and his voice was deep. “Chen Lie!”

nNaturally, the person who had waited outside all night and fell in was the most highly skilled physician in the country, Chen Lie.

nRubbing the back of his head and grasping the door frame to stand up, he looked at Huo Shaoheng incredulously, “You, you, you…finished it all?!”

n“What?” Huo Shaoheng’s expression was cold enough to glean Arctic ice from. “Who allowed you to sit in front of my door?”

n“I was worried about you!” Chen Lie chattered and snuck a glance at Huo Shaoheng like a thief. “How many times did you do it?”

nHuo Shaoheng didn’t answer and waved his hand with no change in expression. “Go and see if she’s any better.”

n“What? Really?” Chen Lie rushed into the living room to retrieve his medical box that could easily double as a field hospital. He was so excited that he was stuttering, “It– it– it– it was all done?”

nHuo Shaoheng completely ignored his questions and lowered his head to take out a pack of of cigarettes from his camo pants. He lit one and inhaled deeply.

nHe watched Chn Lie open the medical box to take out a needle and draw blood from Gu Nianzhi’s arm.

nGu Nianzhi remained deep asleep, an arm like white jade resting on a pillow, her face devoid of color.

nThe violet silk scarf covering her eyes remained.

nHuo Shaoheng took a glance and felt a bit feverish. He lowered his gaze and inhaled the cigarette fiercely, twice. Taking the opportunity while Chen Lie was completing the blood work analysis, he walked over and nudged his shoulder, “Come outside for a talk.”

nChen Lie didn’t leave the bedroom with Huo Shaoheng until he finished preparing the equipment to await for results.

nHuo Shaoheng peered his head into the room to ensure Gu Nianzhi was still deep asleep and closed the door gently. He spread his palms at Chen Lie. “Give it.”

n“Give what? Huh, what do you want? What do I owe you?” Chen Lie squinted his eyes at Huo Shaoheng like a fox. “I’m severely myopic so I can’t see clearly. Don’t deceive me.”

nHuo Shaoheng glanced at him and pursed his lips, “The drug, you said you had something to make people forget things.”

n“Huh?” Chen Lie froze, “Forget what?”

n“Don’t play dumb.” Huo Shaoheng’s voice was deep and icy, his piercing gaze directed at Chien Lie trapped him like a lobbed knife. “Didn’t you say you would find someone to help, earlier, and guaranteed that they wouldn’t remember anything after? How would you have guaranteed they didn’t remember?”

n“Huh? Oh!” Chen Lie finally remembered, his expression fluctuating in an instant. After a long pause he rubbed the back of his head and said, in shock, “That drug, you want to take it too? You’re not an outsider though.”

nHuo Shaoheng glanced at him and continued to spread his palms, “Cut the cr*p, where is it?”

nChen Lie truly never thought Huo Shaoheng would need the drug to help him forget.

nHis round mouth gasped and after a long pause he said morosely, “Well, Major Huo, the thing is, that drug only guarantees forgetting if you take it before doing the deed. Just like Nianzhi, look at her, I guarantee she won’t remember a thing when she wakes up.”

nThat’s to say it would cause a person to enter a clouded state and only act on biological instinct to do the deed, Huo Shaoheng’s thoughts clicked with this realization.

nHuo Shaoheng’s heart thudded, and he cursed to himself.

nChen Lie shrunk back and desperately wanted to hide his round body in a hole as he stuttered, “It won’t do anything if you take it after it happens. Major Huo, it’s too late for you to ask for the drug that allows you to to forget partial memories now.”

n