94

Jennifer, a Black sergeant, was the second person Long Zhan met after joining DG. It was she who personally guided the "rookie" Long Zhan to the Green Team's office to complete his onboarding process.

As a logistics sergeant at the headquarters base, Jennifer's daily routine mostly involved standing guard—either at the entrance to the naval base or outside the DG headquarters building under the sun.

Wherever Long Zhan went after leaving his dormitory, there was a good chance he'd bump into Jennifer. Over time, their encounters turned into a familiar routine.

It became natural for them to delve into deeper conversations or exchange light-hearted jokes.

When Clyde and Brian heard that a beautiful woman had come to the base looking for Long Zhan, they teasingly asked if he'd gotten someone pregnant and was now being confronted.

"Useless troublemakers!"

Long Zhan shot them both a scornful hand gesture before running off toward the base gate, curiosity piqued about who would come looking for him at the base.

The Oceana Naval Air Base was situated by the sea, with the vast ocean stretching out behind it. There was no back gate—only essential naval facilities like military ports, ship training zones, and an artificial causeway extending to an offshore island known as "Bay Island."

Bay Island housed a naval air station and a massive military airfield.

During his two stints as a supporting member of Bravo Team, Long Zhan had taken flights from this very airfield.

The front gate of the Oceana Naval Air Base resembled those of most conventional military bases, with long stretches of electrified barbed-wire fences on either side, adorned with "Military Restricted Area" signs.

Large empty lots outside the gate had been turned into parking areas. With thousands of people commuting here daily, the parking facilities within the base were insufficient, leaving many vehicles parked outside the main gate.

Wearing his white work ID around his neck, Long Zhan walked out of the gate and immediately spotted the person who had come looking for him.

Smiling, he strode over.

Leaning against a Chevrolet, Stella's figure was perfectly showcased. Her unique mix of sensuality and youthful charm made her impossible for Long Zhan to miss.

"I never told you where I live. Did you follow my scent here? If so, your nose must be sharper than Hellfire's," Long Zhan teased, casually reaching out to tuck Stella's windblown hair behind her ear. "Hellfire's my favorite military dog," he added deliberately.

Their relationship had already grown intimate, with only the final barrier left to break.

Stella didn't shy away or resist Long Zhan's affectionate gesture. Instead, her smile deepened, radiating warmth and delight.

"I'm better than any dog. Why does that sound like an insult to me?"

Pouting in mock anger, Stella struck a perfect balance of allure and playfulness. Long Zhan almost couldn't resist capturing her upturned lips with his own.

Steadying himself and suppressing his impulse, Long Zhan bantered, "Didn't you say I'm as strong as a bear? That makes us the perfect pair, doesn't it? Haha!"

"That sounds so wicked."

Stella chuckled at his analogy before shifting to the main topic. "My roommate and I are planning a party this weekend. Do you have time?"

"Time?"

Having no plans for the weekend, Long Zhan lit up at the invitation. Leaning a hand on her car, he leaned in and replied in a flirtatious tone, "Time is the one thing I have in abundance right now."

"So, you're coming?" Stella's fair face flushed lightly, clearly hinting that the party had some subtle undertones.

"Of course," Long Zhan agreed without hesitation. Then, recalling his two single buddies, he added, "Can I bring my two pals? You've met them before."

"Sure… as long as they carry a Y chromosome, I won't refuse," Stella replied, mimicking his tone. Tilting her head stubbornly to meet his gaze, the sunlight forced her to squint adorably.

Her response carried an unmistakable tinge of jealousy—an implicit ban on him bringing any female friends.

She embodied the charm of a mature woman with a dash of endearing playfulness.

"Now I'm starting to regret it. There'll probably be lots of beautiful women at this party, and I shouldn't be adding competitors for myself. Haha!"

Long Zhan loved Stella's jealous demeanor, deliberately teasing her.

"Brian and Clyde are quite handsome. They might actually be a threat to you. My friends might even fall for them," Stella retorted sharply, her wit befitting a graduate student.

Long Zhan appreciated clever and charming women. Striking a pose he thought was cool, he asked confidently, "What, am I not handsome enough?"

"Handsome. Very handsome."

Stella couldn't help but laugh at his sudden playfulness. Stepping forward, she tiptoed to wrap her arms around his neck and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Before Long Zhan could fully process the unexpected gesture, she left him with a suggestive remark: "I'm glad I found you in the military. See you tomorrow night at the party."

Opening her car door, she climbed in, started the engine, and sped away.

"Kiss and run. What a rogue."

Watching the "fleeing" Chevrolet SUV, Long Zhan lingered on the soft sensation left behind, muttering to himself, "I love this kind of rogue."