Su Ding jolted, her beautiful eyes widening.
She looked at Jin Ye beside her and nudged him – what should they do?
Unexpectedly, Jin Ye nodded at her with a serious expression, then slipped into her covers.
"Hey!"
Su Ding gave a soft cry, and before she could react, Zhao Yang's voice came again.
"Miss Su, are you alright?"
"Ah, I'm fine," Su Ding replied, her heart in a flutter.
Zhao Yang quickly said, "Do you know? That man isn't in his room; I don't know where he went. You need to be careful. I told you he's unreliable."
Su Ding glanced at the man holding her leg in the covers and replied with a calm expression, "Okay, I know. Thank you. You should go back to sleep."
"I have something else to tell you. Can I come in?"
"Uh, I'm already asleep," Su Ding said hastily, feeling anxious. "We can talk about it tomorrow."
Zhao Yang's tone immediately sounded disappointed. "Alright, but you must lock your doors and windows tightly, so that man doesn't come tonight. If anything happens, call out immediately; I'm in the room around the corner."
"Okay, thank you."
Su Ding breathed a sigh of relief as she heard Zhao Yang leave.
Fortunately, he didn't force his way in, or they would have been exposed. If Zhao Yang became suspicious of them, it might attract the attention of hostile forces.
Only when the footsteps outside grew distant did Jin Ye poke his head out from the covers.
Su Ding looked at the usually aloof Jin Ye sneaking around in her covers and couldn't help but want to laugh. "You should go back to your room. It won't be good if you're discovered."
"Just a little longer," Jin Ye rolled over, pulled Su Ding onto him, and hugged her gently, exhaling a breath.
Su Ding nestled in his embrace and soon fell asleep.
...
The next morning, when Su Ding opened her eyes, Jin Ye was no longer in the room.
When she went out, she saw Zhao Yang staring at Jin Ye with a look of horror.
Jin Ye let him stare, his expression always indifferent. "After breakfast, we depart."
His demeanor even made it seem as if he were the host.
"There's nothing for you." Zhao Yang said angrily, his face displeased, then turned to Su Ding, his expression immediately breaking into a smile. "Miss Su, you're up. Let's go eat."
Su Ding still glanced at Jin Ye and didn't move.
Zhao Yang was speechless. With a dark expression, he said, "Eat together!"
After breakfast, the three of them got into a car and headed for Huang Tian Fort.
Back gate of Huang Tian Fort.
Several members of the military squad were on duty here. Seeing Zhao Yang approach, they quickly went to meet him.
"Captain."
Zhao Yang nodded at them. "These people are here to provide special supplies to the Fortress Lord. We need to discuss prices personally. I'll take them in."
The guards naturally didn't dare to question further; the person led by their superior couldn't be wrong.
Upon entering the back gate of Huang Tian Fort, a beautiful, fairyland-like scene unfolded. There were mountains, water, corridors, and sculptures. The architecture blended traditional classical beauty with European opulence, looking as beautiful as a painting.
"I'll take you to see the Fortress Lord immediately. Later, if you meet anyone, don't speak. I'll handle everything." Zhao Yang's expression was cold, carrying a bit of the captain's authority.
Su Ding and Jin Ye both nodded.
As Zhao Yang walked, he continued to instruct, "When you meet the Fortress Lord, you must be polite, explain what needs to be said clearly, and don't say the wrong thing. Although the Fortress Lord is kind, you know it's a special period now."
"Mm-hmm," Su Ding nodded.
"And you," Zhao Yang turned to Jin Ye, his attitude less amiable, "you're not allowed to run around. If anything goes wrong, I won't bail you out."
Jin Ye raised an eyebrow, offering no comment.
Just as the three were about to reach the main fortress where the Fortress Lord resided, a group of people suddenly came out from the front.
Leading them was a familiar face.
A Da and A Xiao!
Su Ding's face lit up with joy. Before she could speak, she saw Zhao Yang looking at them with a solemn expression. "Those ahead are important figures. All of you be quiet; I'll go handle it."
With that, he quickly went to meet A Da and A Xiao.