"Then, what about this?"
Long Zhan, who had already made a backup plan, retrieved a wrapped book from the motorcycle seat and handed it over. With a deliberately mysterious tone, he said, "Open it; there's a surprise inside."
A woman's curiosity far surpasses a man's.
Stella, intrigued by Long Zhan's words, couldn't suppress the anticipation building in her heart. Her pulse quickened as she carefully unwrapped the package while holding the bouquet in one hand.
"Violet?"
Seeing the large title on the cover, Stella looked at Long Zhan in astonishment.
This was Stella's favorite novel, one she had never mentioned to anyone. Yet, Long Zhan's gift was precisely that book.
How could she not be pleasantly surprised?
"I read your academic paper about this book. I really liked it, and your writing skills left me in awe. If you were to pursue a career in writing, you would undoubtedly become the next Charlotte Brontë," Long Zhan said sincerely.
Charlotte Brontë's fame needed no explanation. Her masterpiece *Jane Eyre* alone had enshrined her as one of the greatest female authors in history.
Long Zhan comparing Stella to such a literary giant and giving her such high praise made her heart flutter. The sweetness of the moment felt almost tangible.
Her radiant smile outshone the white roses in her hands.
Stella indeed loved writing and was interested in developing her skills further. Long Zhan's compliments hit all the right notes, filling her with joy.
Coupled with the budding romantic tension between them, how could Stella not be excited?
"Looks like tonight is promising!"
Long Zhan noticed the change in Stella's gaze, realizing his efforts had laid an excellent foundation. Just as he was about to guide her toward discovering the surprise within the book and seize the moment to win her over—
"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
The untimely sound of his phone ringing interrupted the moment.
"Shit!"
Long Zhan pulled out his phone, glanced at the message, and couldn't help but curse under his breath.
Despite his frustration, he could only shrug helplessly and say, "Sorry, I have to go again. I was really looking forward to a romantic evening with you..."
"Go ahead."
Stella's eyes sparkled brightly, showing no sign of her good mood being dampened. She seemed even happier than before.
Because now, Stella's inner speculation had become a certainty.
With a faint, knowing smile, she teased, "I understand the nature of your work. I think... I really need to get used to your sudden disappearances."
Her words were a clear hint, and Long Zhan immediately grasped their meaning. His previously sour mood, caused by the sudden call, instantly improved.
"I think these sudden disappearances and reappearances can add a certain charm to our relationship."
In high spirits, Long Zhan playfully winked at Stella, then mounted his motorcycle with practiced ease. "I'll treat you to a big dinner tomorrow, same time, same place. Don't stand me up."
With that, Long Zhan revved the engine and roared off into the distance, leaving Stella to discover the surprise hidden within the book on her own.
"This confident jerk," Stella muttered, biting her lip lightly as she watched him leave. Her tone was filled with an alluring mix of annoyance and admiration.
---
For Bravo Team's official members, receiving a random summons from the base meant they were heading out on a mission, often requiring a briefing that would keep them busy for hours.
For trainee recruits, however, a random summons usually meant a simple training exercise, with the group disbanding shortly after assembling.
Long Zhan, still a newcomer in the Green Team, obviously wasn't being called for a mission. But today, he had no choice but to stay at the base.
The instructor had informed him to report to headquarters to meet Blackburn.
Long Zhan's earlier plan—to surprise Stella with an impromptu return after dismissal—was now out of the question.
Blackburn was the commanding officer of Bravo Team, someone Long Zhan had never interacted with directly.
Being summoned so late at night made Long Zhan uneasy. He couldn't help but wonder if his secret theft of the treasure map had been discovered.
At that moment, Long Zhan deeply understood the saying, "A guilty conscience fears accusation."
Fortunately, his years of battlefield experience had honed his emotional control to perfection.
With just a brief adjustment, he concealed his unease, presenting a calm and composed demeanor.
From the moment he entered Bravo Team's headquarters on the third floor and stepped into Blackburn's office, Long Zhan betrayed no hint of anxiety.
As their conversation unfolded, it turned out Long Zhan had been overthinking.
Blackburn had summoned him solely because he had learned from Jason that the final strategy for the Nighthawk operation had been devised by Long Zhan.
While impressed by Long Zhan's ingenuity, Blackburn was also concerned.
He worried that Long Zhan, being so young, might let his pride get the better of him and inadvertently reveal classified information.
To protect this promising talent, Blackburn had called Long Zhan in to remind him to stay discreet and align his statements with Jason and the others.
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Long Zhan felt an immediate sense of relief.
He also felt a surge of excitement!
To receive special attention from Bravo Team's commanding officer as a newcomer was no small feat.
Though he maintained a composed expression, Long Zhan was inwardly ecstatic. He was now confident that his transfer to Bravo Team was all but guaranteed.
In fact, even if Long Zhan were reluctant to join Bravo Team, Jason would likely force him into it.
After two flawless performances on external missions, Long Zhan had successfully cleared all hurdles for his transition, securing a direct path to Bravo Team.
Now, all that remained was to complete his current training smoothly and do everything in his power to save his friend Brian, whose life was tragically cut short in the original timeline during a parachute drill.
In the original storyline of *SEAL Team*, Brian's sacrifice—despite his immense talent, personality, and potential—had been a source of great sorrow for Long Zhan as a viewer.
With Brian's abilities, he was destined for greatness, likely surpassing Clay's achievements. At the very least, he wouldn't fall short of them.
Now that Long Zhan had entered this world and possessed the capability to change its course, he was determined to prevent history from repeating itself.