Chapter 885: Never Have to Come Back

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Gong Zhan’s face darkened. That brat, Gong Xin, was getting more and more disrespectful by the day. He wanted to reprimand her, but the words caught in his throat.

The truth was, he had no right to say anything—especially after losing Gu Zi because of his own arrogance. He’d foolishly assumed she would never forget him, but now, that loss stung deeply. He wasn’t in any position to criticize anyone else.

So, he remained silent, quietly eating the meal Mo Li had prepared. It tasted decent enough, but the moment he compared it to Gu Zi’s cooking, it felt bland, utterly tasteless.

A sharp pang of regret hit him. He would never again have the privilege of eating the meals Gu Zi made.

For the next few days, Gong Xin stayed glued to the hospital room, not allowing Mo Li any chance to get close to her brother.

Surprisingly, Mo Li didn’t seem angry at all. She kept up a breezy attitude, which left Gong Xin feeling slightly confused, wondering if she was just being overly cautious. But each time Gu Zi’s words echoed in her mind, she refused to lower her guard.

One afternoon, Gu Zi dropped by with a box of pastries. She was here to say goodbye. “Su Shen’s injuries have healed well,” she told Gong Xin. “He’s getting discharged, and we’re heading back to Guangzhou. If you want more of my pastries, you’ll have to wait until then. Make sure you cherish these ones.”

Gong Xin’s eyes grew wistful as she glanced towards her brother’s room. In a low voice, she murmured, “My brother still has a long way to go. His physical recovery’s fine, but this time, his unauthorized actions caused major losses for the military. Not only did it disrupt a crucial secret operation, but the fallout has been huge. If he wants any chance of leaving the capital’s military district, we’ll have to wait for my dad to pull some strings.”

Gu Zi listened, understanding that there was likely a web of power struggles and negotiations behind the scenes. “Your brother’s really stirred up trouble this time,” she said, shaking her head. “He even got my man caught up in it too. Hopefully, he’ll learn something from all this. It wasn’t easy for Su Shen to pull off that rescue. Well, see you in Guangzhou.”

Gu Zi wasn’t familiar with the area, and with her thoughts lingering on Big Yellow, she felt little need to stay after saying her farewells to Gong Xin. Her only focus now was returning to Guangzhou as quickly as possible.

Before their departure, Su Shen’s military discharge paperwork had finally been completed. He was officially out of the army now—unless war broke out, he would never be called back. No more power struggles could reach him.

News of Su Shen’s departure spread swiftly through the military district. His former security detail and the soldiers he had once led came to bid him farewell, tears welling in their eyes.

Gu Zi was deeply moved by the scene, her own eyes growing misty as she watched these hardened men say their goodbyes.

Suddenly, a young soldier burst into the room, not much older than Gu Zi herself. He wore a combat uniform, still covered in dust and blood as though he had rushed straight from a mission.

Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees in front of Su Shen.

“Commander Su,” he said, voice shaking with emotion, “you’ll always be my commander. Back when you rescued me from that drug cartel, I was just a kid. You gave me a second chance at life. In my heart, you’ve always been like a father to me. You deserve to live a peaceful life now, but I’ll stay on the frontlines fighting the drug war. That’s the purpose of my life.”

Everyone knew that some things were better left unsaid. For Su Shen, leaving the military at this stage of his career might be the best possible outcome.

Staying would only drag him into the political infighting of the military district, a life he didn’t want. Those who understood him would understand why he was leaving.

The room fell silent but was brimming with passion. Whether it was Su Shen, who was leaving, or the soldiers who were staying behind to continue the fight, their blood burned with purpose.

The young man who had once been rescued from the blood-soaked cartel now walked the same path as Su Shen had—what better legacy could there be?

Gu Zi stepped forward to help the young soldier stand. Su Shen patted the boy’s shoulder. “I remember you,” he said with a small smile. “Keep it up.” There was no need for more words; everything that needed to be said was already understood.

After being discharged, Su Shen moved into the military family guesthouse.

When the families of other soldiers heard that Su Shen was leaving, they were both shocked and regretful. He had accomplished so much in his years of secret missions and had been instrumental in the recent northern rescue operation.

His promotion to brigade commander was practically guaranteed. So why leave now?

Though they lamented his decision, they knew it was his to make, and they had to accept it. They brought gifts and visited him at the guesthouse, grateful that Su Shen had led the operation that ensured their husbands and sons came home alive.

Gu Zi hosted the visitors graciously, even inviting everyone out to dinner. Her kindness and poise left a lasting impression, and they all praised her for the way she handled everything.