Despite this being for survival and to repel enemies, Meng Fanyue felt deeply inferior from the bottom of her heart.
Did someone like her truly deserve someone as radiant as her?
Xing Yuan knew she had been discovered. She pursed her lips uncomfortably, then walked forward step by step.
Her fair, jade-like hand reached out to Meng Fanyue, "Want to come up?"
Meng Fanyue paused. Her expression was unreadable on her dirt-smeared face. Instead of taking Xing Yuan's hand, she pushed herself up from the ground.
She dusted off her clothes. As Xing Yuan approached, she suddenly took a step back, maintaining a suitable distance from her.
"I'm dirty," Meng Fanyue said.
Xing Yuan furrowed her brows slightly. Meng Fanyue's low mood affected her to a certain extent.
Xing Yuan hesitated for a second before finding a solution. She stepped forward and hugged Meng Fanyue tightly, her expression calm and resolute, "There, now I'm dirty too!"
"Will Yueyue dislike me for being dirty?" Xing Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked softly.
Meng Fanyue stared blankly at Xing Yuan, seeing the clean clothes now stained with dirt. Hearing her words, she shook her head repeatedly.
"No. In my eyes, no matter what you're like, Sister, you are the cleanest person in the world."
"Is that so? Then Yueyue shouldn't hide! Because I feel the same way. I don't dislike it, so Yueyue isn't allowed to dislike it either!" Xing Yuan smiled.
Her tone and demeanor were completely different from before. If she had been a cool and elegant elder sister before, she was now a bright and cheerful maiden.
Meng Fanyue was easily appeased by Xing Yuan's few words and wore a happy smile on her face.
"Can I go wash up before seeing you? I'm too ugly right now," Meng Fanyue said somewhat shyly.
It wasn't that she disliked it, but who wanted to be seen in such a disheveled state by the person they loved!
"Okay~" Xing Yuan took the gun from Meng Fanyue's hand and went with her to the bathing area.
While Meng Fanyue bathed, Xing Yuan waited outside the door. As soon as she finished, she immediately handed her a clean set of clothes.
After Meng Fanyue finished bathing, Xing Yuan also took a bath. After they had both tidied themselves up, they finally had time to discuss what had happened during their separation.
In the simple tent, Meng Fanyue quietly placed her hands on her lap and recounted the events that had transpired after they parted.
When it came to gathering intelligence, their identity as women indeed provided them with many conveniences. However, with the full outbreak of war and direct combat with the enemy, their female identity ceased to be a convenience and became a burden.
They were ostracized by these people. Initially, they were assigned to care for the wounded. Later, as more people died on the battlefield, their limited combat strength was finally allowed to be deployed.
However, the vast majority of soldiers were men, with only a handful of women. Among these men, there were a few with ill intentions.
Despite being the ones who had tried to force themselves upon them and were subsequently beaten, they spread rumors in the camp that these women had seduced them.
Wei Hui was ultimately not the person in charge. Although he tried his best to protect them, his power was limited.
There was no other way. To prevent those men from harboring any further intentions, they deliberately made themselves look as unsightly as possible.
This method had indeed proven effective.
Xing Yuan listened as Meng Fanyue described the events of the past year and more in a calm tone, her heart filled with immense pain.
Along with it came her regret.
If she had stayed by her side, perhaps she could have protected her well.
What had happened had already happened, and dwelling on it was useless. Xing Yuan pulled Meng Fanyue into her embrace and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Sorry for not being there when you needed me, sorry for breaking my promise, and sorry for not being able to protect you.
Meng Fanyue shook her head, a hint of bitterness in her heart. "Sister has already done enough. It's I who am not strong enough. Sister doesn't need to be like this."
Xing Yuan felt the warmth on her shoulder. She placed one hand on Meng Fanyue's shoulder and gently wiped away the tears that had fallen at some point.
"I'm here. Cry if you need to!"
Meng Fanyue didn't know what was happening to her. She was a very strong person and didn't like to cry. Even when faced with so many difficulties, she had gritted her teeth and persevered.
But now, upon hearing Xing Yuan's gentle words of concern, she realized that her stoicism wasn't due to her strength, but because she had no one to vent her sorrow upon freely.
But now, that person had appeared before her.
Meng Fanyue cried for a long time. When she finally stopped, her eyes were red.
"Yueyue has turned into a little rabbit," Xing Yuan said with a smile.
"I have not!" Meng Fanyue's face flushed, and she retorted unhappily.
However, her soft tone sounded exactly like a spoiled child.
Xing Yuan's throat moved, and she suddenly placed a gentle kiss on Meng Fanyue's eyes.
"But Sister likes little rabbits. In front of Sister, Yueyue can be a little rabbit."
Meng Fanyue's face felt hot, and she softly asked, "If I'm a little rabbit, will Sister like me then?"
Sensing the tremor and vulnerability in Meng Fanyue's voice, Xing Yuan's eyes were filled with heartache.
She gently caressed Meng Fanyue's eyebrows and eyes, cupped her chin, and made her look up at her. Her eyes were full of sincerity as she said:
"It's not because Yueyue resembles a little rabbit that I like her. It's because I like Yueyue that I've started to like little rabbits. No matter what you're like, Sister likes you."
Meng Fanyue was touched, her expression growing more emotional. She actively wrapped her arms around Xing Yuan's fair neck and said softly, "Really?"
"Yes, as long as it's you, I like it."
Meng Fanyue mustered her courage and leaned closer to Xing Yuan's lips, gently kissing them.
Her movements were clumsy and a bit rough.
Xing Yuan endured Meng Fanyue's forceful advance, gently guiding her, yet slowly regaining the initiative.
"Let me~" Meng Fanyue said softly.
"Good girl~ I'll teach you. Your movements are wrong. I'll let you try again next time," Xing Yuan soothed her gently.
Meng Fanyue was lost in the embrace of tenderness, unaware that with this compromise, she had been completely subdued and would never have a chance to turn the tables.
Kissing made Meng Fanyue feel very comfortable. The surging emotions in her heart subsided, and even her gaze became gentle.
"Why didn't you come find me for so long?" With a sense of security restored, Meng Fanyue asked with a hint of grievance.
Xing Yuan stroked the top of Meng Fanyue's head and softly explained the whole story.
"Although I know I shouldn't make excuses, the place you initially went to was completely in the opposite direction from where you are now. I searched for a long time and couldn't find you.
If you hadn't sent for help this time, I might have missed you for much longer."
"It's okay. As long as we're together now, that's enough," Meng Fanyue said with a look of guilt.
She threw herself into Xing Yuan's arms, hugging her tightly, and said with determination, "From now on, I will never be separated from you again."
Night:
"The moon is beautiful tonight."
"And the wind is gentle too."