Daisy ultimately chose to drive the Ferrari sports car to the base. It wasn't the least ostentatious among all the others, just a 2-seater silver model. But, of course, it was a limited edition luxury sports car, prized by collectors all over the world. It was still obviously a classic. But she had no other choice: Edward Mu's garage was filled with the most recognizable cars in the world, so it was difficult for her to be low key.
Since she wasn't wearing her military uniform today but instead her fashionable clothes with a pair of huge sunglasses, the gate sentry didn't recognize her at first. Naturally she was stopped.
"Ma'am. I'm sorry but this is high-security area. I need your ID please." As soon as Daisy rolled down the window, the soldier gave her a perfect military solute.
"It's me, Daisy Ouyang." She took off her sunglasses and revealed her cold petite face.
"Ah!" The soldier struggled to contain himself. Colonel Ouyang, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you." The soldier looked at her and then checked out her sports car. He seemed very confused. This was not the Colonel Ouyang he was used to. These new threads were so chic, so trendy, a far cry from the military fatigues she usually wore. And when did she get a new car? Didn't she always drive her VW POLO?
"It's alright. At ease, soldier. Carry on." Daisy nodded at him and started her car. When her car appeared in front the soldiers, she caused quite a stir. Some of the car aficionados knew exactly what she was driving, but they didn't know Daisy was the driver. Some even whistled at the car. Indeed, they rarely saw a famous car like this at the base. It was better suited to car shows.
Daisy parked her car, took a deep breath, and finally exited the vehicle. When they saw who was driving, the soldiers scattered. Who wouldn't run away? That was Colonel Ouyang! Who would want to be caned so hard that he couldn't get out of bed?
"Colonel, what brings you here? Didn't they tell you that you could extend your vacation?" Although he was happy to see her, Mark was still confused. And wasn't this car the one the colonel went home in last night? Then it must have been Mr. Mu who was in the car that day!
"Oh! It's nothing. I'm just here getting some of my stuff. I'll be back in the city soon." Daisy answered, shutting the car door.
"Colonel, let me give you a hand!" Mark guessed that she was moving back to live in the city. Although he didn't understand why, it was not his concern. It was the Colonel's personal life after all.
"Yeah! Let's go! And by the way, you can help me file the documents that I need." Daisy didn't pretend to be polite and accepted his offer.
Mark followed Daisy to the dorms. They accidentally ran into Kevin Gu.
"Staff officer Gu, I'm really sorry about last night." Although she was seriously drunk last night and affected by the drugs, she still remembered that he got into a fight with Luke Luo. That was cause for more than a little embarrassment.
"Fine, how are you?" Kevin seemed hurt when he looked at her, but he covered it up well.
"I'm well! Sorry, for the misunderstanding." Daisy quietly apologized since it was Edward who started it all.
"You're fine and that's all that matters. I'll be alright." Kevin then saw a thin love bite on her neck. His face paled immediately and his heart sank to rock bottom as well.
"Staff officer Gu, is something wrong?" Daisy noticed where he was looking. She tugged at her collar a bit, embarrassed. Her pretty face blushed, too. She spent much time to find this top with a collar, but it still couldn't hide the sexy bruise that Edward intentionally left on her.
"Oh! Nothing. I have things to attend to. I'll leave you two now, bye." Kevin awkwardly fled the scene. He couldn't stand there and watch Daisy looking shy because of another man. It would suffocate him.
Escaping from her sight in dismay, Kevin helplessly leaned on a tree. He knew that his affection would never be returned. Yet he still charged headlong into the arena of love, with no fear of consequences. He really thought that he and Daisy could be together, but he was caught on an endless merry-go-round which he could not escape from.
"Mark. What's with staff officer Gu?" Daisy was confused as she looked at Kevin's melancholy exit.
"Um... About that, I'm not really sure." Mark knew of Kevin's affections for Daisy. After all, he always followed her around, so he was able to observe and understand the people and their actions around her. But how could he tell the truth? How could he tell Colonel Ouyang that Kevin Gu was staring at her with such love? How could he tell her that Kevin Gu was like this because he was hurt by her.
"Never mind, let's go! He has been acting strangely recently." It seemed like that Mr. Mu was right; Daisy Ouyang was still a naive girl. She knew very little about such things. So for staff officer Gu, his love for her would remain unrequited for so much longer!
Daisy wasn't taking much with her. Mostly military uniforms and some casual clothes, along with some of the books and documents that she used on a regular basis. So she quickly put everything in order.
When she walked in front of her large stacks of newspapers and magazines, she couldn't help but stop and reminisce. These were the publications with stories about Edward. She caressed a photo of him with a trembling hand. For so many years, those magazines were all she had of him.
She carefully turned a page and saw a photo of him posing intimately with some popular actress. His hand was all over the woman's slim waist. His smile was intoxicating, but his eyes were fixated on the gorgeous woman in his embrace. That passionate look made Daisy jealous.
She turned another page and saw another beautiful woman beside his tall and dashing figure. The buzz was that this woman was close to him. He was around many women, yet that one was always there. Rumor had it that she was his favorite. Daisy knew that she shouldn't be thinking about these. They had grown way too distant now.
Daisy sighed and put down the papers. She didn't want the past to haunt her anymore. She was willing to try to believe that he truly felt for her and that it wasn't just a fling. She had nowhere else to turn now, as she was just hopelessly in love with him. She was so subservient in her love, so undignified, so painful, and so unconditional.
"Colonel, this is the phone you dropped last night. I packed the rest of your things into the car. Do you have anything else you want to take? Mark interrupted her thoughts and handed her the exquisite cellphone. She snapped back to reality in an instant.
"Oh! I think that's it. Thank you., I'll be going then. Call me if anything comes up. Daisy look around one more time to see if she needed anything else. She made sure that everything was taken care of and turned to leave. She quietly bade the place goodbye.