Really not.

If it were during a mission or work period, I would never touch alcohol. This thing sometimes delays things.

Today is Jiang Tang's father's birthday. During the conversation, it was mentioned that when he first arrived on Beiyu Island, he participated in a rescue operation. Of course, an accident occurred during that operation. Even though the plan was meticulous, when it came to the actual execution, the accident still couldn't be controlled.

Cheng Jiu miscalculated at that time and almost got injured. It was Jiang Tang's father who stepped forward to save him then.

If it weren't for Jiang Tang's father at that time, he might have died or become disabled.

It was also because of this accident that Cheng Jiu realized that there were some things that he had to protect with all his might, such as his comrades-in-arms, his subordinates, and this land.

Jiang Yang and he changed positions and moved forward steadily all the way.

Jiang Yang was driving while glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. Cheng Jiu noticed his gaze and said, "What's up?"

Jiang Yang was caught and his expression changed slightly. He instinctively scratched his cheek and said, "It's nothing, nothing."

Cheng Jiu, as usual, took a cigarette and lit it, resting his hand on the car window. He let the night wind rush into the car, making his cheeks cold. He seemed to feel nothing and said, "If you have something to say, just speak up. There's no need to stammer."

"Brother Jiu, I..." Jiang Yang hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Jiu, Jiang Tang likes you. We all know it. Everyone knows it."

He still felt indignant for Jiang Tang. Although Jiang Tang asked him to inquire with Xiao Shi, he still couldn't resist asking Cheng Jiu. He had always regarded Cheng Jiu as his target and admired him.

Men are all single-minded and dislike beating around the bush. Jiangyang is no exception.

Cheng Jiu refused Jiang Tang's father's kindness at the dinner table. Jiang Yang was also present and he saw it.

So it's quite normal for him to come and ask Cheng Jiu.

But whether Cheng Jiu needs to explain to him depends on his own will.

Cheng Jiu: "Jiang Yang, if I remember correctly, are you related to Jiang Tang?"

"Yes."

"Jiangyang, there are some things that you understand without me saying a word."

Jiang Yang: "..." Brother Jiu, I didn't mean to ask these questions. It's just that Jiang Tang is my cousin. She has always had feelings for you in her heart. We all know that.

After Jiang Yang finished speaking, cold sweat was breaking out on his palms. Noticing that the air pressure inside the car had dropped, he said nervously, "I'm sorry, Brother Jiu. I won't say anything more in the future..."

Cheng Jiu said nothing, pursing his lips and looking out of the car window.

They returned to the team at two o 'clock in the morning. Cheng Jiu went back to the team and rested for several hours. It was not until dawn that he drove to the inn to look for someone.

After dawn, Jiang Yang knocked on the door of Xiao Shi's dormitory. Xiao Shi had just gotten up, yawned and opened the door, saying, "Why are you so early?"

I'll ask you to do morning exercises together.

Let's go then.

The two of them walked all the way to the training ground. Xiao Shi was still awake and yawning constantly. Jiang Yang was clearly thinking about something, looking preoccupied. He wanted to ask Xiao Shi but didn't know how to start.

After running a few laps, Xiao Shi's breathing became disordered and he said, "What's wrong with you? You can't run anymore?"

Jiang Yang said, "I came back late last night and didn't get enough rest."

Last night? Did you and Brother Jiu just come back? What about the ninth brother? Why haven't I seen him?

Brother Jiu went out again early in the morning. I have no idea where he went.

Xiao Shi chuckled and said, "I guess it's either a mission or looking for Miss Xin."

Jiang Yang: "How do you know?"

"Needless to say, anyone with a discerning eye can tell."

Jiang Yang deliberately smiled, "I really can't tell."

Xiao Shi thought of what Cheng Jiu had told him to keep his mouth shut. He felt that Jiang Yang was one of his own, not an outsider. Besides, this matter was not something to be ashamed of, so it was fine for him to tell Jiang Yang.

You know Miss Xin, the one who has been staying at the inn all along. She and Brother Jiu used to be engaged. From now on, we should call each other "sister-in-law".

Jiang Yang let out an "Oh" and said, "Is it true?" How do you know?

"Brother Jiu said that." Xiao Shi warned him in a mysterious tone, "Don't tell anyone else. It seems that Brother Jiu doesn't want to make it public yet. Look at him, this iron tree has already blossomed. And then look at us. We don't know when we can win the beauty's heart."

Jiang Yang fell silent and said, "But when did Ninth Brother have an engagement? Why have I never heard him mention it?"

There are so many things we don't know. We've been with Brother Jiu for several years. Do you know he has a younger sister? I only found out yesterday too. Brother Jiu is really keeping it a secret. But Jiangyang, I'm telling you, please keep this a secret.

Jiang Yang smiled and agreed, "Sure, I'll keep it a secret. But there's still one thing I want to ask you. Didn't you run into Yu Tou's men when you went out with Jiu Ge a few days ago?" Was it just you and Ninth Brother at that time?

Xiao Shi scratched his hair when talking about this and said, "Miss Xin is here too."

Are you okay? Aren't you injured? Jiang Yang had never seen Xin Gan, nor had he heard Cheng Jiu mention it.

"It's okay. It was a close call."

"That's good. By the way, I still have something to ask you. Let's find a place to chat. The cafeteria is open now. Let's go for breakfast and talk as we walk." "

Xiao Shi: "Just speak your mind. Who between us and who?"

...

Cheng Jiu arrived at the inn very early in the morning. When passing by the breakfast stall in the market, he bought some soy milk and fried dough sticks. It seemed that she was used to eating them, but instead of going upstairs to look for Xin Gan immediately, he ran to ask the inn's landlady if Xin Gan had ever left.

The landlady said, "No. I've been staying in the room all along."

Cheng Jiu nodded slightly and was about to go upstairs when the landlady suddenly called out to him, "Captain Cheng, wait a moment."

He turned around and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Captain Cheng, did you bring this breakfast for a girl?" The landlady covered her mouth and laughed.

Cheng Jiu: "Yes, it's for her."

"Can't tell, Captain Cheng? That girl must have a special relationship with you, right?" Don't blame me for being meddle-minded. I was just curious to ask.

Cheng Jiu smiled but said nothing. In the eyes of the landlady, he had tacitly agreed. Since he had tacitly agreed to the relationship, the landlady told him directly, "I think that girl is a nice person. There's something I think it's necessary to tell you, Captain Cheng. That Miss Jiang has come a few times before, always looking for that girl. It seems that every time it's not very pleasant."

"I happened to pass by and heard a couple of words. Captain Cheng, that girl seems to be a bit unhappy about this matter. She stays in her room all day and doesn't come out." "

The landlady told him about this out of respect for Cheng Jiu. Xin Gan gave a very good impression. After getting to know her for a while, the landlady had a good impression of her. Compared to Jiang Tang, who was somewhat overbearing, she was much better.

Cheng Jiu understood and said thanks.

The landlady didn't care. During the time Xin Gan stayed at the inn, all the money was paid by Cheng Jiu. He could afford it and specially reminded the landlady to take good care of her because he didn't come often.

...

Xin Gangang talked to Shen Ruxin on the phone and told her about the flight for the evening. He estimated that they would arrive at Yongcheng Airport around eight o 'clock tomorrow morning.

Shen Ruxin repeatedly confirmed the flight time with her over the phone, then reminded her to be careful. Of course, she also asked her to tell Cheng Jiu first that it would be impolite to leave without saying goodbye.

Xin Gan sighed at the thought of telling Cheng Jiu. She was afraid of something unexpected and decided to act first and report later. She would call Cheng Jiu when she got to the airport.

She didn't know Cheng Jiu very well. Seeing that he was tall and strong, if she said it to his face, she was afraid that he would use violence to keep her. After all, he looked like a man who would do such a thing.

So the safest approach is to act first and report later.

Hearing the knock on the door, Xin Gan came to her senses, glanced at her watch and thought Jiang Tang had come again, so she didn't want to pay any attention.

But the knocking on the door kept going. She said crossly, "Who?"

The knocking on the door came to an abrupt halt. After a minute of pause, a familiar yet unconfident voice rang out outside the door.

"Me, Cheng Jiu."

Her heart suddenly stopped and she let out a deep sigh. It seemed that her plan was wrong and Cheng Jiu still found her.

She went to open the door, stood at the door and looked at him.

Cheng Jiu raised his eyebrows and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

Xin Gan saw him carrying soy milk and fried dough sticks in his hand and was stunned for a moment, then said, "I, I've eaten."

So early? What did you eat?

"..." Xin Gan didn't say a word. She felt a bit embarrassed and uneasy.

Cheng Jiu walked past her and into the room as if she were naturally familiar. As soon as he opened the door, he saw her outfit, clearly indicating that she was going home. He pursed the corners of his lips and looked around the room calmly. Sure enough, he saw a suitcase that had already been packed up. The bed was spotlessly clean, the quilt was neatly folded, and there were no more bottles or jars of skin care products on the table that he couldn't name. As expected, he was about to leave.

Xin Gan couldn't stop him from entering the room, so she didn't stop him and openly let him check the room.

Cheng Jiu placed the soy milk and fried dough sticks on the table, his cheeks taut. He said, "Have you put everything away?"

Xin Gan: "Um." She didn't deny it. She admitted it directly.

She admitted it quite quickly. After responding with a nod, she remained silent and didn't want to offer any explanation. Cheng Jiu had some integrity and had never seen a woman like her before.

Cheng Jiu pulled over a chair from the side, sat down in front of her, thought for a while and said, "Don't you want to say anything to me?"

Xin Gan asked, "What do you want me to say?"

When is the flight?

Tonight.

Cheng Jiu rolled his Adam's apple a few times and his words were rather sharp: "Xin Gan, you turn a deaf ear to my words?"

Before Xin Gan had completely enraged him, I hadn't seen him be so strict with me before.

And this was because she was leaving. He sensed something and came up to question her. She didn't explain, and he was somewhat unhappy.

She saw his frowning eyebrows, the corners of his mouth curved down in unhappiness, and his tone was stern and sharp. She felt a bit intimidated and froze for a while, then whispered, "I can't get used to staying here. I want to go home."

She knew she couldn't be stubborn with him. Being stubborn might really make him very unhappy. So she decided to lower her head for the time being and soften her attitude.

This was also what she had learned in He Chengna, even though she had always been reluctant to admit it.

Xin Gan wanted to go back and stay away from him.

Cheng Jiu couldn't help but think of He Cheng, the name she would call in her sleep. When she heard that, she didn't expect it to be He Chuan's younger brother, He Chuan.

Although He Chuan never explicitly stated what had happened between her and He Cheng, the lock screen and the name she murmured in her sleep were sufficient to show that there must be some story between them.

Cheng Jiu looked at her. She was so frightened by the gaze that she stood back for a moment and said, "You can't..."

What can't I do?

Xin Gan: "..."

So what can't I do?

Xin Gan was so humiliated by the criticism that she lost her confidence and dared not look him in the eye. She quickly averted her gaze.

Cheng Jiu sat there without showing any anger, exuding an air of authority. Xin Gan was intimidated by his appearance and naturally dared not say anything that would make him unhappy.

Moreover, the flight ticket she booked was for the evening. At such a time, one can't have a conflict with him.

Cheng Jiu called her, "Xin Gan, speak up."

Xin Gan had witnessed his outburst that time. It wasn't particularly serious, but she felt her self-esteem had been humiliated. Even though there was no one else at this moment, she still felt her self-esteem had been hurt. She had never done anything wrong, so why was she being questioned by him here as if she had done something wrong?

She looked into his eyes again and said, "You've seen it all. What else is there to say?"

Are you sure you want to leave?

"Um." She nodded without hesitation.

Cheng Jiu chuckled softly, and in an instant, he regained his usual image as a tough and ruthless man. He said, "If you want to leave, just tell me directly. I'll take you to the airport. If you really want to leave, I won't force you to stay."

Xin Gan subconsciously asked in return, "Really?"

"From what you mean, do you think I'll insist on keeping you?" "

"That's not what I mean either..." She has softened again.

Cheng Jiu choked his chest with one breath. He had no way to deal with her and couldn't scold her as he would a subordinate. So he could only ask her, "Have you put everything away?"

Xin Gan wasn't quite sure what he meant and asked again, "Are you really willing to let me go?"

"Otherwise?"

Xin Gan said "Oh" but said nothing.

Cheng Jiu kept looking at her expression and observing the emotions she was revealing. "If you want to leave, I can't stop you."

Neither her heart nor her body is with him. It's meaningless for him to force her to stay.

After a long standoff, Xin Gan broke the silence and said, "Thank you."

She had nothing else to say to him except thank you.

Cheng Jiu got up and took a few steps closer to her. Her alarm went off and she stepped back. Cheng Jiu froze for a moment, his voice dropping a little as he said, "Am I so scary to you?"

"No, no."

"Xin Gan, your body has betrayed you."

Xin Gan was exposed for his true thoughts and sighed helplessly, "Yes, I'm afraid of you. If we really fight, I won't be your match."

"Then you still flirt with me." "

Where did I flirt with you?

All the time.

Xin Gan: "..."

How intelligent she was! She wouldn't fail to understand the meaning of his words. From the moment he changed his mind, she realized something was wrong.

At this moment, when he said such words again, ripples welled up in her heart. She didn't want to think deeply, nor did she want to understand or explore. All she wanted was to stay away, to escape far away.

She didn't respond and fell silent completely.

Cheng Jiu's mobile phone rang again at an inappropriate time. It was a call from home, and it happened to be his mother.

He said to Xin Gan, "My mom's phone number."

Xin Gan was a little nervous.

Cheng Jiu picked up the phone. The other end got straight to the point: "How are you and Xin Gan doing?"

"Nothing much."

Mother Cheng: "What do you mean by 'nothing good'? It's been so long since the ups and downs, and you haven't made any progress at all?" Or did you do something not well enough and make others unhappy? I said you're not in a hurry. We are. You're not young anymore. Xin Gan has finally graduated and returned to China. Can we settle the matter between the two of you first?

Xin Gan looked at Cheng Jiu nervously, fearing that if he told Cheng's mother directly, she would be in a very passive position.

Cheng Jiu said, "I'm not in a hurry. Why are you in a hurry?"

"Why not be in a hurry? Your grandpa has given a strict order. This year, you two must get married. Grandpa Xin also said the same. You mustn't cause any trouble." " Mother Cheng sighed, "You had a girlfriend in college. Don't think I didn't know. If Xin Gan knew about it and got angry because of it, I wouldn't let it go with you."

Cheng's mother has always remembered this incident. At that time, when Cheng Jiu was in a relationship, she turned a blind eye and didn't overly obstruct him, but she did put a lot of pressure on the woman in private.

Cheng Jiu didn't say anything either, avoiding the main point and saying, "I see."

You know, you should also listen. Be kind to her. It would be best to bring her home during this period to get the marriage certificate first. The rest of the wedding can be held after you take your wedding leave.

Mother Cheng has made up her mind and is just waiting for the two of them.

Mother Cheng was very anxious. On the one hand, she considered that Cheng Jiu was really not young anymore. On the other hand, Xin Gan was young, beautiful and had a good personality. She was afraid that if Cheng Jiu didn't pay attention, it would be bad if something changed in the marriage.

Mainly, Cheng's mother really likes Xin Gan, otherwise she wouldn't be so full of praise for her.

Cheng Jiu gave her a few perfunctory words, hung up the phone and asked, "What time is the flight? I'll see you off."

"Evening." Xin Gan bit his lip and said, "Is it Aunt Cheng?"

"Um." Cheng Jiu thought for a moment and said, "When you go back, they will surely ask you about the two of us. Have you thought about how to say it?"

Xin Gan: "I don't know yet."

"Just mention it to me if you don't know?"

It was her turn to sigh, "Take it one step at a time."