Time seemed to stretch, yet pass especially quickly. Twenty days after Ling Chengyan regained consciousness, Fu Qiang was discharged and returned to the provincial capital.

When she arrived at the hospital room, Ling Chengyan was receiving an IV drip, holding a book in one hand, reading.

"Captain." Fu Qiang spoke, eyes reddening.

"Fu Qiang? You’re discharged? Come on, come on." She put down the book and sat upright, greeting her.

This time, Fu Qiang returned not to rejoin the team but to handle her transfer procedures.

"Captain..." Fu Qiang spoke only a few words before suddenly leaning on Ling Chengyan’s arm, crying.

This girl, who joined the army in her teens and worked hard for nearly ten years to join the special training team, loved military green, loved her profession. But although her body had healed, doctors advised her not to undertake extreme training anymore.

Ling Chengyan gently patted Fu Qiang’s back silently, letting her cry it out, hoping she’d feel better afterward.

After Fu Qiang wiped her tears, Ling Chengyan smiled slightly and asked, "I heard you’re moving to the public security system? Forensic investigation is great!"

Fu Qiang also smiled slightly, "Yeah, that’s what I’m best at, can’t really do anything else."

"Good, it’s still a job that protects civilians." Ling Chengyan maintained a smile.

Fu Qiang’s mouth twitched and then pursed reflexively.

After crying, releasing her frustrations and grievances, she carefully examined this person before her, her most familiar and respected captain.

The former captain had wheat-colored skin, always energetic with short hair.

But after a month apart, the captain was skinnier, with fair skin and longer hair softly framing her neck, making her once vigorous brows and eyes appear gentle.

"Captain..." Fu Qiang tried to speak again, wanting to ask but hesitated.

Ling Chengyan smiled and said, "Everyone’s fine, and I’ll be alright too."

Switching topics with a smile, she said, "Li Ming went to Beijing to see your parents, was he scolded?"

That confident Fu Qiang suddenly blushed, lowering her eyes slightly, and then laughed first, "You know him, Captain, his sweet talk soon had my parents smiling."

"Li Ming wasn’t impacted by the infection this time and will stay with the team. Have you decided to become a military spouse in the future?"

"Yeah, with him staying, there’s still some connection to the team, it’s good." Fu Qiang, a follower of Ling Chengyan, dropped her shyness quickly, discussing post-marriage life without hesitation.

"I trust you with him," Ling Chengyan said with a smile.

Fu Qiang looked up as Ling Chengyan continued, "If he disobeys, feel free to give him a beating."

Fu Qiang suddenly laughed, and while laughing, she leaned onto Ling Chengyan’s lap, her eyes reddening again.

This time, more than ten comrades contracted the illness, but those asymptomatic or mild recovered and returned to the team. However, the captain was in a deep sleep for over ten days, recovering slowly, more severely affected and hence unable to remain with the special training team.

Having followed the captain for years, she knew that someone as proud as Ling Chengyan wouldn’t choose an idle role in logistics.

She wondered where the captain would go after leaving the military?

She thought about sticking by the captain, also transitioning to the public security system, still wanting to remain a soldier under her, but seeing the captain’s demeanor, she didn’t plan that.

"Don’t rush back to work, take a few months off, make sure your body fully recovers," Ling Chengyan advised without her usual directness, a bit babbly.

Schistosomiasis damages internal organs and can affect female fertility. She hoped Fu Qiang’s future life would be happy and unregrettable.

Fu Qiang nodded with a smile, "Don’t worry. I’ve been eating and sleeping in the hospital, gained several pounds!"

Ling Chengyan reached out, squeezed her arm, smiled, and nodded, "You’re tall, a little weight looks good."

Fu Qiang’s skin had lightened considerably too, though she hadn’t gained weight, rather, she had also lost weight.

Fu Qiang left, transitioning from duty.

Additionally, three other team members transitioned out of the special training team due to health reasons and left before bidding farewell to Ling Chengyan in the hospital, including the fellow old comrade Liu Xianghu.

Those returning did, and those transitioning handled their paperwork, as things settled down, Ling Chengyan was finally granted approval to leave the hospital for home.

The day after returning home, Ling Chengyan received a surprising call from the former dean she knew during college days.

He called to ask if she would come to Beijing as he wished to invite her to teach at the college.

"...With all your skills, leaving them behind would be a shame. Come to the college, let your expertise pass to more students, so they keep defending the nation and ensuring peace."

Very touched, Ling Chengyan nonetheless declined politely.

She clearly understood her own nature, lacking patience and not being meticulous enough, experienced in tasks with Xu Dong and Zhang Yuanhong handling the details, making her work smooth.

Being a teacher was something she truly couldn’t do.

Finally, Ling Chengyan completed the military discharge procedures, bade farewell to the olive green attire and waved goodbye to her comrades with a smile.

A few days later, their family moved to the first residential complex in the provincial capital, featuring six-story structures with lofts as well as standalone villas.

The complex was developed by her elder brother Wang Lianqi, where several close families secured properties.

Wang Lianqi, Wang Lianfa, and Wang Liansheng, along with Ling’s elder brothers, each secured a villa, having strived separately for years, now gathered again in the provincial capital as neighbors. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Builders Liu San, Gouzi, and Daxiong claimed units in multi-story buildings, spacious 120-square meters apartments, comparable to housing conditions of bureau-level cadres at the time.

Ling Chengyan recuperated for two months, leisurely moving houses, and once everything was settled, she reappeared to the world with a new identity, as the general manager of Zhiyuan Group.

Zhiyuan Group spanned several industries, including trade, logistics, warehousing, and production, with over a dozen subsidiaries. Known for its low profile, few expected Ling Chengyan, stepping down from her special training team leader role, to head Zhiyuan Group.

Two years later, Ling Chengyan completely adapted to the business battleground’s pace and atmosphere, leading Zhiyuan Group’s development to rapid and smooth progress, multiplying in growth from her start.

Wang Liansheng’s career also advanced smoothly, culminating in another promotion two years later.

Though both held increasingly busy and elevated roles, they continued their nightly post-return exchanges before sleep, chatting about work issues, troubles, or small anecdotes, offering each other smiles and consultations.

The seemingly dull as water way of spousal interaction grew increasingly harmonious and affectionate unknowingly.

With improved living conditions, their bedroom included a personal shower room, eliminating the need for foot bath water.

One evening, Wang Liansheng came home to find his wife lazily lying on the bed with eyes closed, absent any book.

"Tired?" Wang Liansheng asked, leaning closer with concern.

"Mm," Ling Chengyan replied, without even fluttering an eyelid.

"Alas, tired wife requires my service!" Wang Liansheng chuckled, heading to the bathroom, soon carrying a basin of foot bath water, "I’ve prepared a foot soak for you, warm your feet before sleeping."

Ling Chengyan finally opened her eyes slowly, glancing at Wang Liansheng, yet still silent.

Noticing her strange expression, Wang Liansheng leaned closer, hand supporting the bed, and quietly asked, "What’s wrong? Have you encountered trouble?"

Looking at him, Ling Chengyan suddenly said, "Let’s divorce."