Chapter 11

After preparing all the documents, Qin Yao went to find Captain Gu Cheng to sign them in the afternoon. According to Gao Jianguo, Captain Gu would have more free time around 3 to 4 PM in the afternoon.

The navy had high requirements for technical skills but not as high physical fitness demands as the army. Generally, after finishing their afternoon tasks, officers would have some free time around dinner to exercise on their own, go for a run, or play ball games.

When Qin Yao went for the signature, Gao Jianguo had already given a heads-up. Originally, Gao Jianguo had gone to see Gu Cheng himself, but Gu Cheng insisted that the person come in person. Having no other choice, Gao Jianguo instructed Qin Yao to go herself and answer any questions truthfully.

Chen Baozhen wanted to accompany Qin Yao, but she had a class in the afternoon. Qin Yao said she could go alone.

Gao Jianguo arranged for a young soldier to guide Qin Yao. Holding the documents in her arms, Qin Yao felt both melancholic and uneasy about seeing "Gu Cheng" again.

If she had known that the "Fishing Company" was such a place, she wouldn't have approached it in the first place.

Both Gu Cheng and the so-called Captain Gu were becoming blurry in Qin Yao's mind. These two images were too disjointed to merge and understand their essence.

—Hopefully, there would be no more interactions after the signature.

"It's just ahead, Comrade Qin, don't be nervous."

The afternoon sky was a pure blue, as if someone had painted the entire canvas with a brush, a uniform tone dotted with heavy white clouds, bright and beautiful like an oil painting.

Qin Yao's mood was like the clouds on the horizon, hanging in the sky, heavy and about to fall but not falling.

A few people were standing outside the office building, some in white military uniforms and others in sailor suits.

The soldier guiding Qin Yao knew the sailor-suited man. He briefly explained Qin Yao's errand.

The sailor-suited man, Jiang Chao, had a dark tan, striped shoulders, and a bright smile with two rows of shell-like teeth. He was very cheerful and enthusiastic. He whispered, "I heard that Captain Gu is in a good mood today. It's easier to get things done when he's in a good mood."

"Our leader knows that Captain Gu is in a good mood, so I came over to report on the 'difficult' matters."

"Some things need to be handled when the leader is in a good mood."

Hearing this, Qin Yao suppressed the upward curve of her mouth, laughing heartily inside.

She thought being a leader was quite tough. When the leader is in a bad mood, no one dares to provoke them. Everyone waits until the leader is in a good mood to bring up difficult matters.

Let's see when this joyful little flame will be extinguished and when the cold face will return.

"Comrade Xiao Qin, you just need to sign. You go in first, so it's more convenient for you."

Qin Yao gave a bright smile, "Thank you, comrade."

Initially, Qin Yao had come with the intention of finding a partner. She had prepared various materials and received a telegram from the other side. After Gu Cheng signed here, Nurse Director Ge could help her with the procedures to receive the file.

Nurse Director Ge seemed very confident that she would stay and offered to help, which Qin Yao was very grateful for.

Having spent enough time with her best friend Chen Baozhen, Qin Yao had gained not only the "X-ray vision" skill but also the "Luck" skill. Compared to the one-hour "X-ray vision," "Luck" could only be used once.

Looking at the closed office in front of her, Qin Yao thought maybe "Luck" didn't need to be used this time.

She knocked on the door and walked in.

Gu Cheng was sitting at the desk, still in his snow-white military uniform with neat armbands, and his cuffs and collar were also pristine white.

Unlike slimming black, white made one appear larger visually. This navy white made Gu Cheng look tall and upright, with no hint of frailty, his handsome face sharp and deep.

It was the same face, but from a different angle, he looked like a completely different person.

"Captain Gu, Nurse Director Ge asked me to come to you for a signature. Here are my materials." Qin Yao stood straight, took a step forward, and handed over the documents.

Her parents were worker employees, and their identity materials would pass any personnel review without issues.

Gu Cheng took the documents and glanced at her.

Compared to their first meeting, Qin Yao had lost some weight, and her clothes looked slightly baggy on her, outlining her curvaceous figure.

After a few days on the island, her skin was still snow-white, like congealed fat under the lamp.

Her two braids were crossed and coiled at the back of her head, revealing a lively and youthful face with some flesh, round eyes, and very bright eyes.

Gu Cheng flipped through the documents in his hands, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He lowered his eyes and adjusted his expression, saying calmly, "The training won't be easy. Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Qin Yao planned that participating in some military training would be good. By then, her slimmer body would be a natural change.

She had participated in military training during high school, university, and graduate school. Nurse Director Ge also said that the physical training requirements for medical support weren't high.

Gu Cheng held a fountain pen, lightly tapping the paper, making a rustling sound.

He didn't sign.

Even now, Gu Cheng couldn't figure out what Qin Yao was thinking. When he met Qin Yao at Gao Jianguo's house, he thought she already knew his identity. But after recalling all his interactions with Qin Yao, he was sure that this chubby girl hadn't revealed any clues in front of him.

At the port, Qin Yao had seen him for the first time, clinging to him and liking him.

That night on the deck, she looked at him with sparkling eyes.

At Gao Jianguo's house, she pretended not to know him because of Chen Baozhen.

Now, wanting to attend nurse training and trying to stay on the island, was it for him? To get close to him?

Gu Cheng tried to stop himself from thinking in that direction, but his thoughts were uncontrollable, like a dam that had opened, letting the joyful waters flow out.

There had been women who had pestered him before, and he should have warned them off sternly. But with this chubby girl, he wanted to see how she would pester him.

He gave her a "chance to pester."

Gu Cheng signed his name neatly.

Qin Yao visibly relaxed as she quickly picked up her documents, winked at Gu Cheng, and whispered mischievously, "Captain Gu, I won't tell anyone about those few days. I'll keep it a secret, as if we've never met."

"This is our second meeting, thank you, I'm extremely grateful."

Qin Yao saluted, then happily left with her materials.

As she closed the office door, blocking the sight and presence of the man behind her, she looked at the white clouds in the sky, feeling as if they were gently floating in the blue sky. At this moment—the light boat had already passed through the myriad heavy mountains.

She really didn't like this kind of serious and solemn man. Seeing Gu Cheng, she couldn't muster any romantic affection.

Qin Yao was certain now. The fleeting affection she had was just for an illusion, and the "little brother Gu Cheng" never truly existed.

Never having existed, there was no question of liking. Qin Yao let go completely.

She also understood why Gu Cheng would suspect her. She had a loose tongue, but her heart was truly loyal to the party, with no other special actions. She would be more careful in the future.

Now that it was all cleared up, someone as busy as Gu Cheng probably wouldn't remember her.

She had also promised not to tarnish the image of "Captain Gu."

"Comrade Xiao Qin, how did it go?" sailor-suited soldier Jiang Chao asked her.

Qin Yao whispered, "It's signed. Captain Gu was indeed in a good mood today."

"Then I'll go in right away." Jiang Chao said with a giggle, straightened his clothes, knocked, and entered to report.

As soon as he entered the room, the temperature dropped sharply, as if a fridge had been opened, with an intangible cold air seeping out. Jiang Chao shivered, meeting the man's icy gaze.

Not good.

Comrade Qin lied!

Gu Cheng's good mood, which had lasted since the morning, didn't make it to the evening. During dinner, no one dared to provoke him. After finishing his meal, he filled his thermos with hot water and overheard two male officers resting by the window.

"Head Nurse Ge is asking Deputy Director Xiao to help again."

"Helping again?"

"Yes, Deputy Director Xiao is good-natured and willing to get involved. He looks fierce with a scar on his face. When placed in front of a girl, she's frightened. After going through this, the next suitor becomes successful immediately. It's called 'suppress first, then elevate.'"

"Probably a gentle main person."

"Which girl?"

"A female comrade surnamed Qin, a friend of Teacher Chen from the compound, also from the city. Those who have seen her say she's very fair and a bit plumper than ordinary girls."

"I guess Head Nurse Ge wants to introduce her to Dr. He. This girl also wants to stay here as a nurse. Isn't this a match made in heaven?"

"Tsk, tsk, destined lovers will meet across thousands of miles."

"Spit, cough, cough—"

Gu Cheng, who was drinking water, choked severely, his previously indifferent peach blossom eyes now unable to maintain their serious and dignified aura, with a reddish hue at the corners.

"Captain Gu." The two male officers were somewhat surprised to see him, exchanged glances, and stopped talking.

Gu Cheng wiped the corner of his mouth, his handsome face looking extremely unpleasant.

He put down the thermos, walked to the washbasin, turned on the faucet, lathered his hands, and splashed water on his face. No amount of cold water could extinguish the restlessness surging through his body.

Doctor? Nurse? A match made in heaven.

This chubby girl was waiting to be set up on a blind date, no wonder she pretended not to have met him before. The man in the mirror had redness in his eyes, like an enraged lion. Gu Cheng clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Provoking him and then going on a blind date with another man.

She gave him a handkerchief, and it was pink.

If she had no interest in him, why give him a pink handkerchief?

Gu Cheng took out the pink handkerchief, carefully cleaned and neatly folded by its owner. Not even his deputy, who shared the same room, knew that Captain Gu had a light pink handkerchief hidden in his pants pocket.