NOVPUBOnce again, it was evening, and after dealing with the beast disaster, Shen Mochen used the excuse of helping Han Muxue recover to put in a request with Liu Chaoyan, taking the latter for a stroll within the barracks.
The perimeter of the barracks was extensive, covering several kilometers. Actually, in the past few days, Han Muxue had gotten used to walking and could even try hopping and running.
After meticulously spraying Han Muxue with insect repellent in the dormitory, Shen Mochen led her out.
The evening in summer was no longer as stifling as at midday, with the sun gradually setting and leaving a stroke of rosy clouds on the horizon.
Before setting out, the two had already decided on their destination—the small woodland that was everyone's favorite place.
Upon reaching the woods, the sky had completely darkened. Yet it wasn't black, but rather a shade of twilight, with the moon vaguely hanging in the sky as if veiled by a sheer layer of silk.
"I've never been here so late before!"
The moonlight grew more intense, and Han Muxue, wearing sandals, hopped and skipped by the creek like a little sprite.
Today she had her hair plaited into two braids, which bobbed up and down as she hopped and skipped.
"Be careful not to fall," Shen Mochen chuckled from behind her, "I heard from the captain that there are fireflies here at night."
"It's okay, falling doesn't scare me—will you heal me if I do!" Han Muxue chuckled, playfully dipping her feet into the creek and lifting her skirt a bit to trace her fingers over the water's surface.
"If you get hurt because you're being silly, I won't deal with it!" Shen Mochen snorted.
"Would you really have the heart to do that?" Han Muxue puffed up her little chest and made a face at him.
Shen Mochen curled his lips in response, "Well, you just watch whether I'd have the heart or not!"
Han Muxue immediately walked back to the bank, looking quite fierce as she pinched Shen Mochen's arm, "What did you say? Say that again if you dare!"
"I said you're so cute; of course, I wouldn't want you to get hurt!" Shen Mochen quickly and wisely changed his tune, smiling as he embraced Han Muxue and planted a kiss on her pouted lips, "I just want you to stay alert. I can't be with you every minute of every day, and I'm afraid you might get hurt later on."
"Hmph, you don't need to tell me, I know... I was just joking with you... Why would I intentionally get hurt—doesn't it hurt!"
Han Muxue felt a sweetness in her heart from the kiss, but she still played tough with her words.
The two sat huddled together on a rock, chatting while the moonlight streamed into the forest and the creek babbled on.
"Are you really going to retire in two years?" Han Muxue nestled into Shen Mochen's embrace and asked softly.
"Why are you suddenly asking this? I guess that's how it will be," said Shen Mochen.
"But you are so popular online now; I'm worried the higher-ups won't let you go..."
"Don't worry, I could step back from the front line and just work within Buque; Buque isn't just about the operators."
"Sigh, I feel conflicted. I both want you to stay in 0819 but also want you to retire early..."
"Why would you want me to retire? There are so many fangirls out there for me!" Shen Mochen gave a mischievous smile and nibbled her ear, "Aren't you afraid some vixen might charm me?"
Han Muxue was very sensitive in her ears; she shuddered involuntarily when Shen Mochen bit them, but she didn't dislike his actions, instead, she proudly lifted her head, "As long as it's not in 0819, I'm not afraid at all! A bunch of toads, I don't even take them seriously!"
"Oh, so confident in yourself, eh?" Shen Mochen's smile was brimming with affection.
Under the moonlight, he found Han Muxue even more adorable and once again planted a firm kiss on her face.
"Hmph, I still have that much confidence!" Han Muxue said, her voice gradually lowering, muttering to herself, "But in this place..."
"It's okay, you're not bad either!" Shen Mochen comforted her with a grin.
"Especially you, you pervert, actually thinking about starting a harem, what a kinky freak!"
Shen Mochen claimed righteously, "What I'm doing is following my heart, besides, I haven't done anything, have I?"
At the mention of this, Han Muxue instantly became enraged, "You haven't done anything? You stare at Cai Yuncui's chest every day, you think I don't know!"
"How can you accuse me baselessly, that was at most admiration! Which sunny and cheerful boy could resist the universe's miracle's temptation?"
"What universe's miracle, you're disgusting, it's just big breasts! I... I will grow more in the future!"
Shen Mochen coughed, "Let me remind you, you must be almost eighteen, right? Most girls stop developing around this time."
Han Muxue became angry with embarrassment, "If I say I will grow, then I will grow!"
"Alright alright, will grow, will grow... But don't believe those unscrupulous ads online, eh? Getting scammed is one thing, but it'd be serious if you ended up with health problems because of them."
Han Muxue blanked out for a moment, then her face flushed with anger and shock, "You, you peeked at my online shopping history?"
Shen Mochen also paused, then burst out laughing, "I... was just saying it, I didn't expect you really bought them?"
Han Muxue was silent for a long while, and then like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey, she fiercely lunged at Shen Mochen, grabbing his neck as if she wanted to go down with him, "You, I'm going to kill you!"
"If you kill me, you won't have a boyfriend anymore!" Shen Mochen was on the verge of dying from laughter.
"I'll kill you, then kill myself!"
"That's not necessary, there's nobody else around." Shen Mochen laughed and hurriedly soothed her, "Besides, if you bought the medicine, just be cautious not to take them recklessly."
Han Muxue clenched her fists in shame, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
"Cough cough cough, you really don't have to worry, although big is very good, small is also cute!" Shen Mochen coughed, barely containing his laughter.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Han Muxue flared up in embarrassment and frustration, swearing, "Then why don't I see you staring at me here all day long!"
"You don't have them, what's there for me to look at?"
"Ahhh, I'm going to kill you!"
Han Muxue was infuriated again.
"Okay okay, my fault, my fault, I won't joke anymore!" Shen Mochen had laughed enough, pleading for mercy once more.
"Hmph!" Han Muxue turned her face away, ignoring him.
Shen Mochen pressed down his laughter for a long time, finally composed himself, and changed the topic, "I can understand why you'd hope for me to retire early, so why is it that you hope I don't?"
Han Muxue pouted, stubbornly after a while said, "Your superpower is so powerful, if you retire... then they... might be in danger..."
In the quiet of the summer night, the nighttime breeze gently swept over the stream, and moonlight spilled on the shimmering water surface. Little by little, faint lights spread through the forest, fireflies danced quietly in the air, as if listening to the murmuring song of the stream.
"It's okay, it's okay." Shen Mochen gently hugged Han Muxue, murmuring in her ear as he nuzzled her, "I won't let you guys encounter any danger."
"Mmm..." Han Muxue kissed his lips, "This place is so beautiful, let's make it our first time here, okay?"
