Free Web NovelChapter 160: Chapter 160: Border Defense Star’s Unique Flower
Bai Feng, Levito, and He Hanshi were on rather good terms. Compared to Levito’s respect and gratitude for He Hanshi, Bai Feng’s feelings were more of admiration for his strength.
However, Bai Feng came from a prominent family, so he wasn’t as constrained by the boundaries of rank. Only during combat would he shelve his playful attitude and wholeheartedly obey He Hanshi’s commands. But on a day-to-day basis, he was relatively unrestrained around He Hanshi. On Border Defense Star, he was the only one who dared ask He Hanshi about his private life.
Bai Feng found He Hanshi outside the military base, sitting on a large rock with his head down, carefully arranging the flowers he had just picked. It was clear that each blossom had been meticulously chosen; there wasn’t a single withered yellow leaf, and the flowers themselves were exceptionally vibrant.
What’s more, as he worked, a gentle smile that Bai Feng found almost saccharine played on his lips.
Bai Feng’s gaze fell upon the ice-blue flowers in his hands. If they had been ordinary flowers, the men at the military base wouldn’t have been so surprised. But these particular flowers were a little different.
They were unique to Border Defense Star, able to withstand extreme cold and searing heat, and could be seen year-round. That was why they were called Xia Donghua, and they represented an eternal, unchanging love through all seasons. They were typically given to one’s chosen mate.
The soldiers at the military base had never imagined He Hanshi having a female he liked, let alone so soon after his release from prison. Thus, when they saw him pick the Xia Donghua, gossip spread like wildfire. They all speculated whether he was just picking flowers to pass the time or if he was truly giving them to a female. And if so, who was she?
Squads A and B, which had participated in the Garbage Star rescue, had their suspicions but only dared to discuss them in hushed tones among themselves. Only a recently promoted young man blinked in confusion before quickly immersing himself in personal training, not joining the conversation.
Outside the military base, Bai Feng approached He Hanshi and clicked his tongue. "So, you’ve decided on that female?"
He Hanshi’s hands didn’t stop, and he didn’t look up. "Yeah."
Bai Feng thought back to his brief encounter with Shi Lan and found he could understand. He didn’t press further, simply squatting down to help. But before his hand could even touch a flower, He Hanshi stopped him. "Go back inside. It’s cold out here. I’m fine on my own."
"What’s a little cold? It’s not like we’re not used to it. You, on the other hand, spent several years on Black Star. Aren’t you having trouble adjusting?"
"It’s fine."
He Hanshi was in excellent physical condition. He hadn’t slacked on his training during his years in prison, so he didn’t find the cold unbearable. More than the cold, he was probably feeling a sense of loneliness.
Perhaps it was because Shi Lan wasn’t by his side, leaving his heart feeling empty and unmoored.
He lowered his gaze to the flowers in his hands. The thought that they would soon be in his beloved’s hands filled his heart anew with anticipation and joy, temporarily pushing the loneliness aside.
Bai Feng noticed his thoughts had drifted and said with an amused smirk, "Well, well, well, is someone thinking about his female again?"
He Hanshi looked up, his gaze sweeping over him with unnerving calm. "If you’re that idle, go lead the team in more training. I’ll inspect the results later."
"Damn it! We just finished morning training. Our thirty-minute break isn’t even over yet! I won’t disturb you anymore. I’m out, I’m out."
Terrified of being dragged into more drills, Bai Feng took off at top speed.
But as he rubbed his chin, he wasn’t the least bit upset. On the contrary, thinking about how He Hanshi had changed, he couldn’t help but feel pleased and a little moved.
The old He Hanshi had been easy enough to get along with in private, but he seemed more mechanical. He never joined the soldiers’ casual chats; during breaks, he would either study or train alone—a total King of Competition.
He always seemed busy, but you still got the feeling he treated everything as a responsibility. He wasn’t actually interested in any of it; he just felt it was something he *should* do.
But now, Bai Feng felt he was more human, finally showing some zest for life and allowing himself some downtime.
He was genuinely happy for him. But when he rounded a corner and bumped into Levito, he quickly reined in his smile.
"Hey, fancy seeing you here."
Levito looked at him. "General Bai, just back from outside the base?"
"Is the Admiral outside?"
Bai Feng rubbed his nose. "Come on, we’re friends. No need for the formal titles in private."
Levito didn’t argue. "Alright, Bai Feng. I need to go talk to the Admiral about something."
Bai Feng thought of He Hanshi preparing flowers for his beloved female and, fearing it would dredge up Levito’s painful memories, slung an arm around his shoulder. "Hey now, it’s break time. The Admiral rarely gets a moment to rest. If it’s not urgent, don’t bother him."
Levito paused in his tracks and, taking the advice, gave up on his plan.
Bai Feng pulled him back to the base’s recreation area. It was filled with leisure and fitness activities, like climbing contests, jumping drills, hundred-meter rope exercises, and more. There were also snacks. When breaks were short, everyone would gather here to unwind and chat.
Bai Feng’s intention was to relax, but he never expected to walk right into a hotbed of gossip.
"Hey, you guys think the Admiral really has a female he likes?"
"Duh. He picked the Xia Donghua. Of course it’s real."
"I’ve got front-line intel: The Admiral didn’t just pick the flowers, he’s arranging them himself. Even General Bai offered to help, but the Admiral wouldn’t let anyone else touch them."
Being so suddenly mentioned, Bai Feng shot an awkward glance at Levito. Levito’s head was bowed, his expression unclear, but Bai Feng figured he must be pretty heartbroken. After all, it’s rare to fall for a female so genuinely.
He patted Levito’s shoulder comfortingly. Levito gave him a baffled look, then walked over to the drink station to pour himself a beverage.
In truth, Levito wasn’t that heartbroken. He’d known about this for a while, and Shi Lan’s affections had never been directed at him anyway. More than sadness, he probably felt happiness for the Admiral—happiness that he had found his own joy.
He poured a cup for Bai Feng as well and clinked it against his. "Let’s congratulate the Admiral."
The corners of his lips quirked up slightly. Bai Feng eyed him suspiciously. "Are you sure you’re okay? Nothing... snapped?"
Levito rolled his eyes and went to find a comfortable hammock to lie in.
Meanwhile, the other men in the recreation area who had been gossiping saw Bai Feng arrive and guiltily clammed up. Only a few bolder ones snickered and sidled over, hoping for more juicy details, but Bai Feng shooed them away, though not too harshly. Still, to prevent any wild rumors from starting, he confirmed that the Admiral did, in fact, have a female he was fond of.
Hearing this, the men’s thirst for gossip was somewhat quenched. With the truth confirmed, they all turned to chat about other things.
And in the military, the most common topic of conversation was always the Insect Clan.
But they hadn’t been talking for long when an alarm blared through the base. It meant another distress signal had come in from civilians encountering the Insect Clan. Bai Feng’s expression turned grim, and he immediately ordered, "Squads A, B, C, and D, gear up and stand by! All other personnel, await orders."
Outside the base, He Hanshi had no time for anything else. He temporarily stored the flowers in his cufflink-shaped Space Chain and strode quickly back into the base.
