Klay's transformation pleased both Long Zhan and Brian immensely. The drinking atmosphere became much more harmonious, and the conversation turned light and enjoyable.
"You brought Stella over last time but then disappeared on her. She didn't seem to be in a great mood afterward. I think you should take some time to talk to her. Otherwise, you might lose her," Brian said with a hint of warning.
Klay knew exactly who Brian was referring to and deliberately put on a smug expression.
With a teasing grin, he chimed in, "Stella's an amazing woman. I think she suits me well. If you're not interested in pursuing her, you can give me her contact information."
Their discussion shifted to women, and Long Zhan was reminded of the last time he interacted with Stella.
Recalling the previous occasion, he remembered how cheerful Stella had been when he picked her up. They had a lively conversation during the car ride.
But just as they arrived at the bar and hadn't even parked, Long Zhan received an urgent call for deployment. He had no choice but to leave her at the bar and rush back to the base.
Looking back, it was quite inconsiderate of him to call someone out for fun only to abandon them midway.
Brian's reminder was timely. Long Zhan agreed that he owed Stella an apology and needed to find a way to make it up to her—perhaps with a gift to express his regret.
However, figuring out how to invite her out again wasn't something he had planned. Missions had kept him too busy to think about it.
That said, it wasn't every day one met such an intriguing woman, someone with whom conversation flowed so naturally. They were only a step away from something more. Long Zhan wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by.
"Klay, let me warn you—if you keep scheming, you can forget about any chance with Stella or her stunning coworkers," Long Zhan joked.
"Whoa, hold on, buddy. My bad. This drink's on me as punishment for running my mouth," Klay said, raising his glass and downing it in one swift motion.
Even Brian couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
---
**The Next Day**
Bravo Team's official members had returned to their civilian lives, blending back into society.
Meanwhile, Long Zhan resumed his training with Green Team. Alongside him, Klay, who had started learning the importance of teamwork, continued their remaining two months of CQB (Close Quarters Battle) training.
One of the advantages of being smart was the ability to learn and adapt quickly.
Having grasped the essence of what makes a true special operations soldier and how to improve himself, Klay managed to synchronize with Long Zhan in just four days.
In their latest round of CQB training, the two completed their mission flawlessly for the first time, without a single error.
Adam, their seasoned instructor who had spent nearly a decade with Green Team, was highly observant—his insights were unparalleled. Watching Klay's growth and Long Zhan's consistent brilliance, Adam was confident that this year's selection process for Green Team would produce the strongest partnership in its history.
As an instructor dedicated to picking the best candidates for other operational units, Adam couldn't have been more pleased—or more excited.
After four intense days of increasingly seamless teamwork thanks to Klay's progress, Long Zhan finally earned his first weekend off since rejoining the team.
Determined to make amends with Stella, he planned a surprise.
After completing his daily fitness routine and spending two hours studying in the library, he grabbed lunch at the base cafeteria before heading into town.
His first stop was a jewelry store, where he spent $2,000 on a necklace, complete with a custom couple's engraving on the pendant.
Having recently undertaken two high-risk missions with Bravo Team, Long Zhan had earned substantial bonuses on top of his monthly salary. Once strapped for cash, his bank account now held nearly $20,000—more than enough to pursue Stella seriously.
With the glittering jewelry in hand, Long Zhan headed to a bookstore and picked up *Villette*, a semi-autobiographical novel by Charlotte Brontë. He tucked the necklace into the middle of the book before having it wrapped at a nearby gift shop.
The store clerk, a young woman, couldn't help but admire his thoughtful and extravagant gesture.
"If someone gave me a surprise like this, I'd say yes to being their girlfriend on the spot," she said, her admiration evident.
Though the girl was attractive, she wasn't Long Zhan's type.
Smiling politely, he paid and left quickly, marveling at how direct Western women could be in matters of affection—so different from the reserved nature he was used to back home.
Finally, with some time to spare before Stella's classes ended, Long Zhan stopped by a florist and picked up a bouquet of white roses, symbols of purity and nobility.
The choice was deliberate; Stella's temperament perfectly balanced grace and innocence, with a touch of youthful romanticism. White roses couldn't have been more fitting.
By the time everything was ready, night had fallen. Long Zhan timed his arrival perfectly, parking his motorcycle outside Stella's home just minutes before she returned.
When Stella stepped out of her car and saw him, she was momentarily stunned.
"These are for you. Do you like them?" Long Zhan asked with a warm smile, handing her the flowers.
"This is how you plan to apologize?" Stella teased, sniffing the bouquet lightly. A playful glint appeared in her bright eyes as she frowned slightly. "Leaving me alone all night and thinking a bouquet of flowers is enough? You've got a lot to make up for."
As a trained special forces operative skilled in reading microexpressions, Long Zhan instantly caught the flicker of amusement in her eyes.
From her subtle movements, he could tell with absolute certainty that Stella wasn't genuinely upset. Her displeasure was merely an act—a form of playful flirtation.
This realization put Long Zhan completely at ease.