The spaceship descended towards the asteroid, the red moon outside gradually shifting from a dull yellow to a dark crimson.
Shizhang nestled into Pei Yongxin's shoulder, her face radiating sweetness.
Pei Yongxin felt a sense of unreality.
He even entertained the thought that he hadn't escaped his predicament, but was instead experiencing a pleasant hallucination before death. Or perhaps, after leaving the train, he had entered an alternate parallel universe where Shizhang secretly harbored feelings for him.
Pei Yongxin dared not voice this thought, fearing his girlfriend's mockery.
"That note, was it from you?" Pei Yongxin suddenly recalled something.
"Note?" Shizhang asked, "What note?"
"The one with the yellow daisies and white daisies," Pei Yongxin said.
Shizhang shook her head, "I don't know what note you're talking about!"
Shizhang suddenly became vigilant, sitting up straight and staring at her boyfriend, "What are you talking about? Did some other girl give you a note? Confess everything! If you hide even half a word, I'll punish you with push-ups!"
"During a mission, an extra note appeared in my pocket. I don't know who put it there. It said they had a crush on me. If I wanted a partner, I should place a pot of yellow daisies by my dorm window. If I didn't want one, I should place a white one."
"You bought yellow and white?"
"Yellow..."
"You're unfaithful! Flirting with everyone! Old Pei, your thick eyebrows and big eyes, and you're also this kind of inwardly repressed guy! One hundred push-ups!"
"No, esteemed Shizhang, you must be reasonable. That note was before the mission..."
"I don't care, do them now!"
...
The spaceship landed at the star station.
Pei Yongxin and Shizhang shared a special vehicle, heading straight for the troop dormitory area with a menacing air.
Soon, the two stood before Pei Yongxin's dormitory window.
The night was dark, the streetlights dim. On the windowsill, a small pot of brand-new yellow daisies swayed in the wind.
Beneath the leaves, on top of the soil, someone had placed a new small envelope.
Just as Pei Yongxin reached for it, Shizhang slapped his hand away with a snap, personally grabbing the envelope to read.
"My dearest Pei Yongxin,"
"I heard about the accident during your mission and was extremely worried. I also heard you were discharged from the hospital, and I breathed a sigh of relief."
"If you have time, please wait at eleven o'clock on Friday noon under the fifth locust tree south of Champagne Road in the capital city. I will be holding a copy of 'Gentle Wind, Gentle Kiss' when I meet you."
After reading the note, they looked at each other in stunned silence.
"What day is it today?" Shizhang asked.
"Friday," Pei Yongxin checked his watch, "It's one in the morning now, ten hours left."
"You wait for me, kid. Be at my office at ten, and we'll go together," Shizhang said with a stern face, "I want to see which slut dares to fight with me for my boyfriend. She truly doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
Pei Yongxin's expression was awkward.
He wanted to say that the other person had slipped the note first, and she was the latecomer...
But it was better to avoid trouble, so Pei Yongxin didn't say anything, only nodding.
Pei Yongxin returned to his dormitory to rest.
Shizhang waved to him from outside the window and left with a smile.
...
Nine fifty in the morning.
Pei Yongxin changed into casual clothes, an inconspicuous dark tracksuit, and knocked on Shizhang's office door.
"Enter."
As soon as he entered, Pei Yongxin was stunned. Shizhang wasn't wearing her military uniform but a black dress that accentuated her figure, her legs dazzlingly white. She had even styled her hair, letting it cascade over her shoulders, looking as beautiful as a model.
Pei Yongxin knew Shizhang was beautiful, but he hadn't expected her to be so stunning when dressed up.
"Let's go meet that little slut. I want to see who has the audacity to set their sights on you," Shizhang linked her arm with Pei Yongxin's and they walked out.
Along the way, they encountered many acquaintances, both from their own unit and from other units, all of whom wore expressions of utter astonishment. Shizhang, unfazed, held her chin high with pride, hugging Pei Yongxin's arm even tighter, as if declaring her ownership.
The two got into a special vehicle and headed for Champagne Street.
Soon, the vehicle landed by the roadside.
The entire city had been evacuated. Champagne Street was deserted. The trees by the roadside, having received no water for a long time, had leaves like yellow paper, piled on the ground.
Pei Yongxin and Shizhang stood under a tree and waited.
"Who do you think it will be?" Shizhang craned her neck, looking towards the intersection.
"I don't know," Pei Yongxin shook his head.
He actually had a few vague guesses in his mind. Among the female soldiers he led, there were a few who were close to him, pretty and lovely girls. Pei Yongxin hoped the person wouldn't show up, so as not to offend Shizhang, and that his future promotion would still be promising.
A long wait ensued.
Finally, a figure appeared from the intersection and slowly walked towards them.
Pei Yongxin and Shizhang opened their mouths in unison, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
It wasn't a mature woman, nor a young girl, nor even a woman.
A burly Black man, his face as flat as a pancake, his suit and leather shoes unable to conceal his protruding belly, and a full beard so thick it could hide a nest of small birds. In his hand, he held a pink book, "Gentle Wind, Gentle Kiss."
Pei Yongxin's expression was as if struck by lightning, "Bruno?"
This was an old soldier from the neighboring unit, brave in combat and hardy, nicknamed "Black Water Buffalo." Bruno often carried weapons on the battlefield. When Pei Yongxin was an instructor in the new recruit camp, their relationship was ordinary.
Bruno stopped a few steps away, looking at Pei Yongxin, then at Shizhang.
"Bruno, are you serious?" Pei Yongxin was covered in sweat, "You damn..."
"When did you two start?" Bruno's expression was sorrowful; he had realized his chances were gone.
"Last night," Shizhang said, her face filled with horror, "Bruno, are you serious?"
"Alas..." Bruno sighed, his face filled with dejection, "I'm still a step too late. This is fate."
"This isn't just a step too late, damn it!" Pei Yongxin was frantic.
Bruno blinked, then suddenly thought of something, "Old Pei, I won't bother you. Since you already have a partner, I wish you happiness. However... I've confessed my feelings to you. You won't look down on me because of this, will you?"
Pei Yongxin was speechless.
"You won't, will you?" Bruno's face turned grim, "You really will look down on me because of this? You're not that kind of person, are you?"
Pei Yongxin wanted to speak but stopped, finally falling silent.
Bruno's eyes reddened, and he looked pitifully at Shizhang.
Shizhang also had a strange expression, wanting to speak but choosing silence.
...
Two days later, the Galactic Empire's military research team entered the capital city of the asteroid.
The troops had collected over a hundred blue toads, both alive and dead, and handed them over to the scientists for research.
Cen Yemeng's local research team had already used over twenty toads but had not achieved any valuable results, leaving them all very discouraged. Now that the military scientists had arrived, they were the absolute authorities, making their own work seem even less significant.
Jiang Ye, understanding the negative sentiment of the local research team, sent a special email.
"Your passive attitude is incorrect. Science has no authority; science only seeks truth. The military researchers are willing to cooperate with you; you must cheer up and diligently carry out your work. Even if you truly cannot produce results, learning from the experts accompanying the military is also beneficial. This is a rare opportunity, so seize it."
"I am very anxious about this matter, but the military research team will only give me the final research results at the end. I cannot wait that long. I hope you can keep up with the research progress and inform me immediately of any progress, big or small."