Few weeks after they came back from the orphanage, Yue Yue and Zhi An started to hang out more often. They would go for a daily run during early morning hours around 5AM at a local park in Shenzhen before heading for work. Sometimes if they had time, they would spend some time in the café during break time. As days go by, Zhi An's mood improved a lot. He would smile a bit more and he would interact with customers if they had any questions. Overall, he's becoming a bit warm compared to the past. They would text each other everyday.
She was determined to help him face what he truly fears no matter how long it will take. She knows it doesn't happen overnight but it will be a gradual process for him. She also wanted to help Zhi An to conquer his own fears of failure and insecurities. Although she has a crush on him, she remained as his friend for now as she helps him to recover since too much pressure won't do any good for them.
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White Wolf Counter-Terrorism Unit Base- Shanghai
Chief He made a phone call to the other SWAT base team captain based in Shenzhen. Annually, they would do a combined training with other SWAT members in different provinces. This year, they would be doing training exercises in Shenzhen.
Everyone on the unit received a text alert that they will be leaving in two hours. Chief He gathered everyone in the loungeroom.
"We will be doing combined training exercises with the SWAT team in Shenzhen. Everyone, clean and gather up your belonging. The bus will be here in two hours. I want everybody to hurry up. Go!"
Ever since Commander Li left, Chief He appointed Yu Haobing as a team captain. Yu Haobing was one of Commander Li's closest buddy and friend. Yu Haobing was told to watch over his team well during training exercises.
Yu Qi and Xiao Xia were in the same team under Yu Haobing including Lin Jiayu and Wu Xiaotong. These four girls are all top-scorers and they've been training under Yu Haobing for almost two years. There were several others who will be training with another team captain.
Few hours later....
When everyone arrived in Shenzhen, the bus took them to a hotel. Since it wasn't tourist season, hotels were quite empty. Yu Qi took a look at their schedule and gasped, "Look, we have break time!!! We barely get any break time back in Shanghai. Everyday was just training..."
"Is there somewhere you wanna go?" Xiao Xia asked her.
"There's a really well-known café that's quite close to our training location. We can drop by tomorrow and check it out." Yu Qi replied.
"Sounds good." Xiao Xia sat on the bed and lied down.
That evening, everyone was in the loungeroom. Yu Haobing discussed plans with his teammates and making sure they know what to do for tomorrow's training exercises. After discussion, everyone was free to do whatever they want. Yu Haobing went out and sat in one of the couch outside, he was scrolling his phone and checking WeChat status. It's a habit for him to check Commander Li's status every now and then. He chuckled and said, "What am I thinking? He's not here anymore."
Chief He came and sat down with him.
"What were you doing? You looked quite happy."
"Happy? Yeah I'm quite happy. I'm glad you appointed me as a team captain. I'll do my best and make everyone proud." Haobing smiled and looked very optimistic. He secretly smirked and thought to himself, "Li Zhi An, don't ever think about coming back. Even if you do, I'll be making your life a living hell."
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Li Zhi An came back from work and turned on the TV while making himself some light dinner. He left work early since there weren't too many customers. He called Yue Yue and asked her if she will have some time tomorrow.
"I'll meet you at the cafe tomorrow afternoon at 3pm. See you!" Yue Yue hung up as she was still working. Few hours later, she finished seeing patients and went home feeling accomplished. She lied on her bed and closed her eyes but she was awoken by a phone call.
"Hello?"
"Yue Yue, this is your father." Yue Yue sat up and adjusted herself.
"Yes, father? Is something the matter?" She asked.
"No, I was just wondering how you're doing. Are you eating properly? Have you gotten enough rest?" Her father was concerned like any other parents. Yue Yue smiled and replied, "I'm taking care of myself very well. I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to go to Shanghai and visit you."
"No, no. You don't have to. I'm doing well. As long as you're well, I'm glad. I won't bother you anymore. Go and rest now. Okay?" They hung up and her room was quiet again.
"Hope I'll get a restful sleep tonight." She thought as she climbed on her bed and snuggled with her teddy bear. She fell asleep in a matter of seconds.
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That afternoon, Yue Yue only had her white lab coat on since she didn't have time to change. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she had minimal make up on. She checked on phone and got on the taxi. Yue Yue texted Zhi An that she will be at the café soon. Zhi An came out of the café store and waited for her.
From a distance, Zhi An spotted five people. As they came closer, Li Zhi An noticed they were his ex-teammates. He lowered his black cap and hid behind a large tree. He wasn't ready to face them yet. When Yue Yue got off the taxi, she was in a hurry and accidentally bumped into Yu Haobing. He was also very handsome and lean just like Li Zhi An.
"I'm sorry, I was in a rush." Yue Yue apologized and Haobing smiled, "Be careful."
As she was looking for Li Zhi An, she felt someone grabbing her hand as she went behind the tree.
"Hey!" She shouted in a surprise.
"Shhh." Li Zhi An told her to stay quiet, "My teammates are here. I can't let them know that I work here." Yue Yue nodded and stayed silent. Li Zhi An was hugging her tightly and she heard his heartbeat being twice as fast.
"Are you scared of them?" She asked.
"I'm not in the right state to see them just yet." Zhi An replied.
After waiting for a long time, Zhi An saw Yu Haobing and his teammates coming out of the cafe. Haobing looked around and Zhi An suddenly kissed Yue Yue. She was dumbfounded but she wasn't mad. She was glad her first kiss was Zhi An, he was her first crush.
He looked at her and said, "Just until they leave." Yue Yue nodded and gently kissed him back.