Yan Lili’s gaze landed on Ye Tianxin and Li Qingcang who were seated together. She felt a tinge of pain in her heart.
Li Qingcang had reserved his gentleness all for Ye Tianxin.
She could only watch from afar and be jealous, upset, and helpless.
“Captain Li, what are the arrangements for tonight?”
Li Qingcang’s brows furrowed and answered, “You all were the ones who brought them here. How to deal with this matter is your business, not mine.”
Yan Lili was speechless. She could not help but complain about Qie Yiyan to herself. Why had he assigned such a difficult task to her?
“Captain Li, you are the highest-ranking officer right now. You’re the only one who could give orders.”
The howling wind continued, as did the rain.
The atmosphere in the cell was especially tense at the moment.
Yan Lili looked at Li Qingcang helplessly. The others turned to look at him as well. However, Li Qingcang continued to focus his attention on drying Ye Tianxin’s hair.
The other soldiers started a fire to warm them up.
In the end, Li Qingcang looked at his watch and said firmly, “Since there are only a few hours more until daybreak, you all might as well go back to sleep. We will talk again in the morning.”
“Elder Brother Li, I will keep you company. Let Instructor Yan have my bed.”
“Sure,” Li Qingcang answered simply.
What else could Yan Lili say at that moment?
If she were to say no, it would make her seem insensible.
“Alright then. I will take you guys upstairs.”
Yan Lili led the other five girls upstairs. When they left, Li Qingcang went back to the helicopter and took out a tent.
“Elder Brother Li, let me help you.”
Ye Tianxin helped Li Qingcang set up the tent with deft hands. The two worked together and managed to put up the tent quickly.
“Tianxin, go to sleep first.”
Li Qingcang smiled and patted Ye Tianxin’s head.
“Since there are two sleeping bags, we can have one each.”
Ye Tianxin took a sleeping bag.
Then Li Qingcang pulled the other and lay his head on it. There were a burning fire at their feet and an emergency light over their heads.
“Tianxin, do you want to join the army?”
The rain kept pouring, and Li Qingcang lowered his head to look at Ye Tianxin’s eyes.
Ye Tianxin met Li Qingcang’s gaze. “Elder Brother Li, do you want me to join the army?”
“Silly girl…,” Li Qingcang spoke gently. “It doesn’t matter what I want you to do. This is your life we’re talking about. You’re the only one who must decide. I cannot make any decisions for you. I want you to know that no matter what choices you make, you don’t have to worry about me… I will always be there to support you.”
Ye Tianxin’s eyes welled with tears. “Elder Brother Li, I don’t want to join the army,” she said honestly. “You knew how much I wanted to become a diplomat.”
“Were you afraid?” Li Qingcang asked.
Ye Tianxin shook her head—not anymore. “I was terrified when they abducted me from the train station and dragged me into the van. My thoughts wandered, and my mind was filled with nasty scenarios,” Ye Tianxin recalled. “I thought that Lu Qingxin was going to do something to me. But when they sent me to this island, I was worried and wondered if they were a human trafficking organization. Luckily, they said that we were merely going through training. That’s when I heaved a sigh of relief. Elder Brother Li, why do you think they did that? When the National Defense University approached me, I turned them down and informed them that I’m going to Capital University.”
Li Qingcang’s face was serious. He seemed occupied with thoughts.
“Elder Brother Li, will they not let me go if I do not agree?”