Chapter 17 Chapter 17

In the evening, the city of Garo is lively. Especially in these streets near the military base, shops are open as usual and pedestrians are coming and going. Children are playing football on the street, so there is no need to worry about accidents the next second.

Song Ran followed Li Zan back, and there were noisy people on the street, but they didn't talk much along the way.

He didn't speak, she couldn't guess what he was thinking, so she simply shut up and said nothing.

It’s not that Li Zan was in a bad mood, but that he had been exhausted for a day.

Passing through a local restaurant, the barbecue is filled with fragrance.

Li Zan turned her head and asked her, "Are you hungry?"

Song Ran was originally planning to go back to his residence to eat, and asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Um."

“…Then eat here.”

There were many guests in the restaurant, but most of them were peacekeepers at nearby garrisons. A female foreigner suddenly walked in, and the soldiers glanced at Song Ran intentionally or unintentionally.

Li Zan noticed something and said softly: "If you feel uncomfortable, let's change the place."

Song Ran didn't want to trouble and said, "No. I'm not a beauty either, there's nothing good to look at. Besides, this barbecue smells very fragrant."

Li Zan was afraid that she would be uncomfortable, so she chose the table on the outside, leaning against the street. The two ordered special barbecue, dough cakes and beans. While serving, Li Zan suddenly smiled and said, "Why are you not a beauty?"

"I still know myself." Song Ran said in a low voice. Seeing that he was smiling and knew that he was in a bad mood, he asked, "There will be no problem over there, right?"

“Which side?”

Song Ran pointed his thumb behind him - the direction of the US military base.

"No problem," said Li Zan. "If you want to be defeated by such a person."

Song Ran didn't expect him to say such things and couldn't help laughing.

"why are you laughing?"

"No." She shook her head.

While talking, the boss brought the chopped barbecue and boiled beans, plus a small basin of clean water for washing hands.

Li Zan pointed to the small aluminum basin with his chin and said, "You wash it first." He raised his hand, "If I go on, the water will be black."

"Oh." Song Ran immersed her hands in water and rubbed them gently twice.

Li Zan looked at it, and for the first time he noticed that the girl's hands were so delicate, white and tender, and small. He looked at it for a while and quietly looked away.

Soon, Song Ran pushed the aluminum basin over to him. After washing his hands, he wiped his face casually.

The noodles rolls with barbecue and cooked beans are decorated with a unique taste. Song Ran ate four burritos and a bowl of boiled beans in one breath, and soon became full.

I don’t know if it was a habit brought out from the military camp. Li Zan was very quiet and serious when eating, and did not speak and chat. When rolling meat, the barbecue slices were placed on the dough cakes in a neat manner, and then the dough cake skins were layered like a quilt. Then he was delivered to his mouth.

Song Ran couldn't help laughing, but didn't bother him.

A peacekeeper passed by the street, throwing an apple in his hand. Song Ran saw it and said casually: "The apples here are super expensive."

Li Zan was biting a bite of the dough cake, pursing his lips and looking up, the man walked away with the apple. He asked, "Do you like to eat apples?"

"It's okay, too." Song Ran said, "but Garro has no other fruit."

After the meal, Li Zan paid the money.

Song Ran was embarrassed and said, "Are we AA?"

Li Zan looked at her: "Reporter Song, don't be too polite."

Song Ran then stopped insisting.

On the way back, she confirmed: "Benjamin won't cause trouble for you next time, right?"

"Won't."

In the next few days, as Li Zan said, none of the soldiers in the joint team had troubled him again, and even changed their attitude towards him. Especially after seeing his bomb disposal ability, Benjamin caught Konger and chatted with him and joked.

Song Ran remembered his ridicule when she first met Benjamin and the later words of seeing you, and she realized that Benjamin was just abusive.

After the training camp, Song Ran sent the edited videos for Luo Zhan to review as usual. This documentary will not be broadcast on Liangcheng Satellite TV, but will be broadcast directly on the National News Channel and Military Channel.

The video starts from Li Zan being treated "specially" in the early stage of training, and later on, it is about getting together with soldiers from various countries. Song Ran was not recorded during the fight, but the two shoulder-falling frictions with Benjamin were recorded. The story tells the story at the end. A special joint force composed of bomb disposal soldiers, snipers, air defenses, long-range artillery, medical soldiers, etc. was officially established. Li Zan's existence is a key link in this team.

Luo Zhan was very satisfied after reading it, and praised her for her good work: "Song Ran, your grasp of details and overall is great. I think you are born to be a journalist."

"No. It's... Lieutenant Lie performed so well."

"This kid does have a trick."

Song Ran said: "I think he is particularly clear about what he wants to stick to."

"Yes. Such a young man is rare. By the way, the mine clearance episode was broadcast?"

“It aired last weekend.”

Luo Zhan smiled and said, "After Azan's episode was broadcast, are there a bunch of little girls coming to inquire?"

"Well... the TV station received a bunch of calls."

"Okay, I'm advertising, and I'm going back and picking a good girlfriend for this guy."

Song Ran hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Lieutenant Li seems to have a girlfriend, but he is from our TV station."

"Where?" Luo Zhan waved his hand, "He arranged it for him by the instructor. He didn't like it after meeting him a few times. He didn't agree."

Song Ran was stunned.

...

In the vegetable field, several soldiers were watering the vegetable seedlings. On the field, the tomatoes turned red and the cucumbers grew a lot.

Song Ran sat aside and watched from time to time. After dinner time, he would definitely pass by here when he returned to the dormitory. But after waiting for more than twenty minutes, he could not see anyone else.

Song Ran patted her butt, got up and walked out, and suddenly heard a piece of "City of the Sky" playing the harmonica, and the melodious tune swung over from the other side of the playground.

She walked around the barracks and saw a group of soldiers who had just finished their day's business. Some were sitting on the ground to rest and relax, while others were walking towards the barracks. Li Zan sat on the steps and played the harmonica.

Song Ran remembered that when he went to his dormitory to borrow a comb last time, there was a harmonica in his drawer.

She walked along the leisurely tune, sat down on the two steps behind him, holding her chin and listening quietly. On the playground, the yellow sand was long and the sunset hung in the sky, like a salted egg yolk.

After Li Zan finished playing, the harmonica turned around between his fingers and looked up to the distance. He noticed something in his eyes. When he turned around, he saw that it was her. In an unexpected surprise, a smile slowly opened on the corner of his lips: "When did it come?"

"Just just passed by, I heard you play the harmonica, so I sat down and listened for a while." She said, "I'm going to leave too."

"oh."

Several comrades were going to go back and asked him to go with him.

Li Zan looked at Song Ran and whispered: "Let's go first."

She nodded and saw him passing by, "Officer Li..." She called her wrong again.

"Hmm?" He turned around.

"That day you said that the situation in Garro City is unstable, so don't walk around. But I need to go out on the street to shoot tomorrow. Will it be safer to walk on those roads?"

"Fifth Avenue,..." Li Zan stopped thinking and said, "We will go patrol tomorrow, why don't you follow us?"

She pursed her lips: "Will you cause trouble?"

He chuckled: "What trouble can you cause me?"

Her heartbeats and nods slightly: "Okay."

"Okay. Let's go together."

"Then..." She didn't have the nerve to speak, and he said, "Nine o'clock in the morning?"

"good."

"See you at the gate of the station?"

"Um."

...

Song Ran hummed the tune of the Sky City, returned to the hotel, and as soon as he entered the door, he flipped his luggage bag and picked out a naked pink coat to wear it tomorrow. While the water was not stopped, she quickly washed her hair and took a shower. When her hair was half dry, she tied a braid and tied it on her head, and she would have curly hair tomorrow.

At nine o'clock in the evening, the sun gradually sets. It's still bright outside. Song Ran is too tired and a little sleepy these days, so she went to bed early.

At 6 o'clock in the morning, a phone call woke her up. It was a TV station. The situation in the East China suddenly changed, and she had a new task - to go to the border city of Hapo, the East China and Egypt, to report on border refugees. Set out immediately.

Song Ran said yes.

She turned over and got out of bed to pack her things. When she saw the naked pink jacket, she remembered to remove her braids. She tied her curly hair into a ponytail, stuffed her pink jacket into her bag, and changed into a gray dress. She quickly packed her luggage and rented a car through the hotel front desk.

At seven o'clock in the morning, Song Ran brought her luggage into the car and set off. She went around the base and told the soldiers on guard that if she saw Li Zan, she would say that she had a task and left Garo.

The soldiers agreed.

The streets were still quiet in the morning, and the bright sunshine enveloped the temple buildings. Song Ran drove the car and let the familiar scenery flow through. She knew that she might never return to this city again.

Or maybe one day when she comes back, the city will be beyond recognition in the war. Who knows?
To be continued...