Chapter 110 (1/2)

”Just tell me here, there is nothing that you need to hide.”

Chang straightened his back but didn't stand up.

The soldier gave up on his persuasions, keeping in mind Chang's position. He could only lower his voice before saying, ”Alright, but please don't tell others that I've talked to you about this.”

”No problem.”

Chang nodded.

”Do you know about Officer He?”

The platoon leader made his voice almost inaudible, worrying that what he said next would be heard by people in the gym other than Chang.

”You mean, Zhizhi? What happened?”

Chang was surprised that the platoon leader would mention someone that had died in that battle.

”She was my childhood friend, we grew up in the same neighbourhood.” The soldier kept his voice low. ”She was one of my best friends.”

”Alright. Then?” Chang struggled to tighten his rigid brow muscles to make an expression. ”What do you want to tell me?”

”I was trying to… trying to let you know that she is not dead.”

”Are you sure?” The soldier's words shocked Chang, and the finger bone pendant on his chest shook. ”It's impossible, Qing Shui told me that she died in the explosion.”

”She is still alive!” the platoon leader whispered in Chang's ear. ”I saw her with my own eyes! She is in Chief Li's lab, immersed in some kind of chemical.”

”Immersed?” Chang recalled that when he requested to see Zhizhi's corpse, he was informed that corpses from the battlefield were being well handled. ”How are you sure about her condition?”

”She twitched. I wasn't from electroshock but a voluntary twitch, she must not have died!” The soldier looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation. ”Please, don't tell others that I've talked to you about Zhizhi, otherwise I won't be able to see tomorrow's sunrise.”

”How can Qing Shui be so cruel...” Chang pressed his face into his palms. ”Then what is the difference between him and Zhuo?”

”I don't think he is the second Zhuo. I was just saying the worst possible consequence. Chief Li has a gentle disposition and we all know that. He must have his own reasons to keep the truth away from you.” The platoon leader lowered his head. ”Now that I've told you Chief Li's secret, my life is in your hands if the secret slips out. So please don't tell anyone about this.”

Chang promised to keep the secret, then asked, ”How did you know I was close to Officer He?”

”I've been prying to seek people she was on good terms with.” The soldier smiled. ”Although my ranking isn't as high as Officer He's, I know her better than almost anyone else. And quite a lot of people who partic.i.p.ated in that battle saw you and Zhizhi standing close to each other, so it wasn't hard to tell the relations.h.i.+p between you and her.

”I saw her alive on the battlefield, but as a platoon leader myself, I really couldn't do anything… The only person who can save her in this inst.i.tute is Chief Li, and I think you might be the only person who can change his mind.” The platoon leader's voice was both begging and requesting. ”So please save her!”

”Well, of course I'll figure something out if what you just told me is true.” Chang nodded in agreement. ”You should leave now. You might get into trouble if you're seen in contact with me too often.

”Especially if I'm planning to talk to him about this in a few days, you wouldn't want it to be known that we've talked, would you?”

As if the soldier was reminded of something, he stood up and left hastily, without saying goodbye.