Chapter 272: Xiao Zhuang: I Was Extremely Guilty At The Time
“What Miao Lian? Who is that?”
Seeing Xiao Zhuang’s face full of joy, Xiao Fei was baffled.
How could the arrival of a middle-aged man make her boyfriend so happy?
“It’s my previous company commander. You go out and call him in quickly.”
The joy on Xiao Zhuang’s face was visible to the naked eye. Although she had doubts in her heart, she still put down the meal box in her hand, got up, and went out to call in the man from earlier.
“Xiao Zhuang, you’re living quite comfortably these days.”
Chang Ning raised his hand to greet Xiao Zhuang and began to tease him.
Anyway, everyone here is an acquaintance, so occasionally joking around is harmless.
He believed Gao Zhong Dui and Miao Lian wouldn’t mind.
What? You say Xiao Zhuang?
He naturally wouldn’t mind either. What’s wrong with letting single people tease him a bit? If he dared to resist, suppression would come immediately, and the entire B Group would join in.
“Chang Ning, how’s your injury?” Xiao Zhuang asked with concern.
“Not bad, discharging in two or three days.
My minor injury can’t compare to yours. I heard you almost didn’t make it back?”
Chang Ning didn’t stand on ceremony with Xiao Zhuang at all. He casually picked up a Fuji Apple from the fruit basket; it still had water droplets on it, clearly washed by someone.
It was nice to have someone taking care of him. Chang Ning admitted he was a bit envious now.
“It’s fine, it just looks scary.
Just a small through-and-through wound.”
Gao Zhong Dui and Miao Lian were tough guys who had rolled through piles of dead bodies two or three times. Chang Ning and Xiao Zhuang had been together day and night for so long, so everyone felt a bit complicated seeing Xiao Zhuang pretending to be relaxed.
“Alright, you two can chat later.”
Miao Lian saw the two talking endlessly and directly interrupted.
If he let them keep chatting, when would they get to the main topic?
“There’s a mission that needs you and Chang Ning’s help.” Miao Lian took off his sunglasses, looked at Xiao Zhuang, and smiled.
“Miao Lian, just say it. I’ll definitely help.”
Seeing Xiao Zhuang’s carefree attitude, Chang Ning was anxious for him.
Didn’t you see Gao Zhong Dui still standing there? Saying that was not putting his superior in his eyes, right?
Looking at Xiao Zhuang like that, it felt like he wouldn’t be working at Wolf Fang tomorrow.
“Cough, Xiao Zhuang, shouldn’t you ask Gao Zhong Dui first? We’re Wolf Fang soldiers now.”
Chang Ning reminded Xiao Zhuang from the side. Didn’t you see Gao Zhong Dui’s expression starting to change?
“No need. Old Miao and the captain have already discussed it. You guys chat first; I’ll go out for some air.”
Gao Zhong Dui probably couldn’t stand Xiao Zhuang’s carefree attitude. After saying that, he went out.
It’s over. It looks like Gao Zhong Dui was really angry and left.
The atmosphere became extremely awkward for a moment. As the culprit, Xiao Zhuang belatedly realized he seemed to have offended Gao Zhong Dui.
“It’s fine. I’ll talk to him later.”
Miao Lian, like the wolf disguised as Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, comforted Xiao Zhuang.
The most important thing now was to make Xiao Zhuang a part of his plan; everything else could be ignored.
He had prepared for so long to dismantle the Ma Family Group. Now, even Old Gao had to make way for his plan!
Chang Ning watched from the sidelines like an outsider as Miao Lian had Xiao Zhuang completely pinned down. As expected, it had to be Miao Pit.
“The situation is like this…”
Miao Lian repeated his plan to Xiao Zhuang, this time emphasizing the part Xiao Zhuang was responsible for.
“Miao Lian, you mean this time I’ll partner with Chang Ning?” Xiao Zhuang asked after hearing Miao Lian’s plan.
“What? Unwilling to partner with me?”
Chang Ning grinned mischievously at Xiao Zhuang, looking like he’d make him pay if he dared say yes.
Not to mention Xiao Zhuang didn’t have that idea, even if he did, he wouldn’t dare say it in front of Chang Ning!
Who knew how Chang Ning would mess with him after Miao Lian left?
If he weren’t inconvenienced by his injury, he’d definitely argue with Chang Ning.
To let him know that where there’s oppression, there’s resistance!
“How could that be? I’m just confirming. I don’t want to hold you back.”
Xiao Zhuang decisively backed down. If Xiao Ying hadn’t left seeing they had business to discuss, would he have backed down so quickly?
“Don’t worry about that.
According to our people’s analysis, Ma Qitong has a very high favorability toward Chang Ning, so we chose Chang Ning to infiltrate the Ma Family Group.
And Xiao Zhuang, you’ll mainly cover for Chang Ning and pass on intelligence.”
Miao Lian roughly explained Xiao Zhuang’s mission. In summary, Zhuang Yan’s job this time was to cover for Chang Ning.
“That’s the situation. I’ve prepared the materials needed for personnel transfer between the two units.
He Da Dui has also agreed to my plan. You two just wait for the operation order.
Any more questions?”
Miao Lian finished in one breath and looked at Xiao Zhuang and Chang Ning, waiting for their feedback.
“When will we get the Ma Family’s information?” Chang Ning asked.
“Don’t rush. You’ll get it after the operation starts.”
“Okay, I have no problem.”
Seeing Chang Ning had no issue, Miao Lian looked at Xiao Zhuang.
Xiao Zhuang also indicated no problem.
In this operation cooperating with public security, he was only providing support, with much less workload than Chang Ning. What could be the problem?
“Since there’s no problem, I won’t disturb you.
Your Gao Zhong Dui has more business with you.”
Miao Lian stood up, picked up his briefcase, and left. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to call Gao Zhong Dui back into the hospital room.
Looking at Gao Zhong Dui’s dark face, Xiao Zhuang must have regretted it deeply at that moment.
If he could do it over, he absolutely wouldn’t say those words.
And Miao Lian, did you forget something?
Didn’t you promise to help me explain!
Xiao Zhuang sat on the bed, smiling obsequiously at Gao Zhong Dui. He felt uneasy, like sitting on pins and needles. In no time, his forehead was covered in dense cold sweat.
He didn’t know if it was because of his injury making him weak or some other reason.
Chang Ning watched Xiao Zhuang with mixed feelings. If it were when he first joined the unit, would Xiao Zhuang be like this? He’d have started fighting long ago!
“Gao Zhong Dui, please sit. I have fruit here—apple, banana, orange—which one would you like?”
Finally, Xiao Zhuang couldn’t hold out and surrendered first.
Mainly, he really wasn’t in the right this time.
Being at fault naturally made him less assertive.
Seeing Xiao Zhuang soften, Gao Zhong Dui didn’t hold it against him. He sat on the stool and gulped down several mouthfuls from the water cup.
He had been running around with Old Miao all morning and hadn’t had a drop to drink yet.
Once Gao Zhong Dui caught his breath, he beckoned Chang Ning, who had been standing by watching the show for a while, to sit down together.
“In this exercise, the captain saw many shortcomings in us, so he requires each of us to write a report.”
Hearing this, the expressions on Chang Ning and Xiao Zhuang’s faces both became unnatural.
Neither of them liked writing materials, especially various reports.
Seeing the two change color at the mention of reports, Gao Zhong Dui chuckled inwardly.
“Of course, since you’re both hospitalized, I can write the reports for you.”
Chang Ning knew there was usually a twist at this point.
“However, you two acted alone most of the time, so you need to narrate the specific details of the operation to me.”
Chang Ning relaxed now. As long as it wasn’t writing, just narrating was no big deal: “No problem, Gao Zhong Dui. I’ll report the operation details to you truthfully and in detail.”
“Me too!” Xiao Zhuang followed suit. He’d offended Gao Zhong Dui badly earlier and needed a chance to make up for it.
“One last thing. This time, our Wolf Fang Special Forces Detachment performed outstandingly in the exercise, and the military region awarded our Lone Wolf Special Assault Team a collective third-class merit.”
“Really?”
“That’s great!”
Gao Zhong Dui didn’t tell them about their military merit medals, planning to surprise them when they returned to the team.
After finishing, Gao Zhong Dui left too.
Leaving Chang Ning and Xiao Zhuang in the hospital room. Xiao Zhuang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: “Honestly, when Gao Zhong Dui glared at me with that dark face, I felt so guilty.”
Chang Ning munched on an apple and teased Xiao Zhuang: “I could tell. Your sweat could wash your face. People who don’t know might think you’re weak.”
“Weak? Who’s weak? I’m at the age of peak firepower. How could I be weak?”
How could Xiao Zhuang admit to being weak? He could take other criticisms, but not that.
He had a girlfriend. What if Xiao Ying misunderstood?
“What misunderstanding? What bad thing did you do behind my back?” Xiao Ying pushed open the door and heard just in time.
He couldn’t let her know about something that concerned his image in his girlfriend’s eyes. Xiao Zhuang mumbled vaguely, trying to brush it off.
But the more he tried to brush it off, the more suspicious it seemed to Xiao Ying, and she pressed harder.
Xiao Zhuang’s embarrassed state was all seen by Chang Ning. Unfortunately, he had no recording equipment. This was prime material to hold over Xiao Zhuang—such a pity.
It was all Chang Ning’s fault for bringing up weakness, making it awkward for him to explain to Xiao Ying.
Seeing Chang Ning standing by with arms crossed, watching his misfortune, Xiao Zhuang got even angrier.
Life experience told us that to reduce attention, use another event to divert the spotlight.
In Xiao Zhuang’s view, the “heinous” Chang Ning was a perfect target to shift focus.
“I was just chatting with Chang Ning about dating. I remember Xiao Fei is single too.”
Xiao Zhuang grinned mischievously at Chang Ning and said seriously to Xiao Ying.
This caught Chang Ning off guard. When had he ever said that?
Xiao Ying had heard Xiao Zhuang talk about Chang Ning a lot these days. Overall, his conditions were excellent.
Oh no, this is bad!
In the hospital room, the couple’s eyes scanned back and forth between the two single people. Their appraising gazes were scorching, making Chang Ning and Xiao Fei extremely uncomfortable.
Xiao Fei directly played ostrich, burying her head in her chest.
“Well, I need to get my medicine. If I don’t go back, the nurse won’t be able to find me.”
With that, Chang Ning pulled open the door and tried to slip away.
He couldn’t deny this kind of thing. What if Xiao Fei misunderstood?
Besides, Xiao Fei had both looks and family background.
If it really worked out, he’d save decades of struggle.
The problem was, Chang Ning was completely unprepared.
He and Xiao Fei had just met not long ago. Jumping straight to dating was too abrupt.
“Hey, you two, stop talking nonsense.”
Xiao Fei couldn’t take the scorching stares, blushed, and ran off.
The two protagonists fled in panic, while the culprits looked regretful.
“Do you think those two can make it?” Xiao Zhuang asked.
“Xiao Fei doesn’t seem to dislike Chang Ning. For now, there’s still hope. It’ll depend on their future interactions,” Xiao Ying said.
Brothers can only help you this much. The rest is up to you—good luck!
Xiao Zhuang silently cheered for Chang Ning in his heart. It wasn’t just to divert attention; he really thought Chang Ning and Xiao Fei were a good match.
In the elevator, the atmosphere between Xiao Fei and Chang Ning was extremely awkward, mainly for Chang Ning.
Without today’s incident, he could still chat normally with Xiao Fei.
Now, whenever he tried to speak, he got nervous. It was strange.
Xiao Fei’s ear tips were bright red. She glanced up at Chang Ning.
“They said you’re single?”
What was this approach? Chang Ning couldn’t figure out what Xiao Fei wanted.
Should he say yes or no in this situation?
The girl was waiting for his response. Staying silent wasn’t an option.
So Chang Ning probed: “Yes…”
What’s with this guy? Why is he even shyer than me? It’s kinda fun.
Xiao Fei thought to herself, gradually losing her own shyness.
In Xiao Zhuang’s description, Chang Ning was a bona fide tough guy: top-notch military skills, high education, sunny and outgoing personality—perfect to the point of unreal.
Who would’ve thought he had such a contrasting side.
“I’m single too.”
“Ding~”
The elevator door opened.
