Chapter 94: Martyrs’ Cemetery

Song Tingshen turned around and saw Zhong Xiao standing where she was, seemingly lost in thought, her mind wandering somewhere unknown. After a moment's consideration, he spoke in a calm, detached manner, "What are your plans now? Are you thinking of going home, or something else?"

Zhong Xiao lowered her gaze and replied, "I'll go home."

She looked up and added, "I can go back by myself, Captain Song. You should attend to your own matters."

[What matters do I have to attend to? All I want is to be with you.]

Zhong Xiao paused in her steps.

She heard Song Tingshen's voice, still as calm and indifferent as ever. "It's fine. I have nothing urgent right now. I was planning to go home as well. Shall we go together?"

Zhong Xiao's lips lifted quietly, and she nodded gently, "All right."

On the journey back to the Song family residence, the two walked in silence. Song Tingshen was unusually quiet, not even a single inner thought emerging.

Taizhou Island after the rain was stiflingly hot; at the end of August, it was the peak of heat for this seaside island. Song Tingshen was prone to sweating; after only a few steps, his forehead, neck, and chest were already damp. His physique was exceptional, and the Chinese-style shirt he wore clung to his well-developed chest, accentuating his muscular build.

Zhong Xiao glanced back unintentionally and caught sight of his robust form. Her eyes flickered involuntarily before she quickly looked away.

As they walked, Song Tingshen gradually slowed his pace, stealing a few glances at Zhong Xiao when she wasn't paying attention.

Despite the oppressive heat, Zhong Xiao remained fresh and composed. There was even a faint, elusive fragrance emanating from her, drifting into Song Tingshen's nose, making the air around them seem sweeter than before.

Zhong Xiao hardly ever sweated; despite the temperature, her face was free of perspiration, her skin clear, her gaze bright.

On their way back from the hospital to the family residential area, they passed the training squad. Nearby, the commander of the formation stood. From the expression on his face, Zhong Xiao seemed to catch traces of Song Tingshen's past training here—and someone else as well.

Zhong Xiao asked, "Captain Song, do you know... about my father's story?"

Song Tingshen fell silent for a moment.

[Uncle Nie was a truly good man, but how am I supposed to tell Xiao Xiao this? I should have told them I’ve regained my memory, but I don’t want Xiao Xiao’s life to be bound by our former engagement. She has no feelings for me, and her willingness to stay in the military district isn’t for my sake.]

Zhong Xiao lowered her eyes, expression unreadable.

She seemed to understand, deep down, why Song Tingshen had pretended to have amnesia.

She recalled when she had first arrived at the military district, after Song Tingshen's accident, Zuo Lan and Song Qingfeng had spoken to her. At that time, she had indeed said those words—that she had no feelings for Song Tingshen.

She had spoken the truth, but mostly to reassure Zuo Lan and Song Qingfeng, so they wouldn’t worry about her.

She hadn’t expected Song Tingshen to hear those words.

Zhong Xiao lowered her head in silence for a long while, then asked, "Captain Song, do you know where the military district's Martyrs’ Cemetery is?"

"I want... to visit him."

She wanted to visit her father, whom she had never met—her father whom Song Qingfeng described as the heroic figure of Taizhou’s military district.

She wanted to see the man her mother had cherished all her life, who had never betrayed her even in death.

This was, above all else, her most urgent wish.