What Ye Fei didn't expect was that the beautiful sharpshooter, Wei Qing, was also present at the gathering. Given their past tension, it surprised him to see her here.
Just as Ye Fei was feeling a little confused, Wei Qing walked up to him, her expression sincere. "Comrade Ye Fei," she said solemnly, "I apologize for my previous misunderstandings about you."
Her eyes were genuine, and Ye Fei could see that her apology wasn't out of respect for his strength, but rather an honest acknowledgment of her past attitude. Initially, Ye Fei had been a little irritated by her earlier disrespect toward his aunt, but now, seeing her candidness, he found her character quite endearing. He smiled and replied, "It's fine.
I've made some mistakes myself, and I hope you can forgive me as well."
Wei Qing thought to herself, Sure, you've been wrong, even if you're strong, you don't need to act as though you're above everyone. Still, she held back from voicing her thoughts. Instead, she smiled and said, "Then let's put our differences behind us?" She picked up a shot of vodka from the table, downing it in one gulp. "I'll drink to show my sincerity."
This was the first time Ye Fei had seen a woman drink so confidently. He was impressed, especially since his own aunt rarely drank anything stronger than wine. His mother and other aunt never drank at all, except for one celebratory occasion. The memory of that event stirred something in him, and he couldn't help but feel a sudden warmth.
"Well, Wei truly is a heroine!" Zhang Qiang, sitting nearby, was the first to comment, sparking cheers from the others. Turning to Ye Fei, he said, "Xiaoman, now it's your turn."
Ye Fei chuckled, picked up a full glass of vodka, and drank it all in one go. The burning sensation coursed through him from his throat to his stomach, but with his enhanced physical state, he managed to keep his composure. His face only reddened slightly before returning to its normal color.
"Good!" The room erupted in applause once again. The special forces soldiers had expected Ye Fei, a relative rookie, to struggle with the strong liquor, especially given his young age, but his performance earned their admiration.
Zhang Qiang took the opportunity to nudge Ye Fei and whispered, "Xiaoman, I've never seen Wei Qing drink with any male team members before. She must be interested in you. Try to recruit her for our Wanghai Special Forces."
Before Ye Fei could respond, Wei Qing overheard Zhang's comment and asked, "What are you two whispering about?" Though her tone was light, there was a subtle edge of embarrassment and frustration in her voice.
Zhang Qiang, caught off guard, turned red. "Ah, nothing," he stammered, "I was just asking about Xiaoman's injury."
Ye Fei laughed internally. He knew Wei Qing's sharp instincts from her basic internal training, which made her more aware than others. She had clearly overheard Zhang Qiang's comment, but she didn't press the issue, choosing instead to glare at Zhang before turning away.
Wei Qing had been annoyed by Ye Fei before, but now she was confused. Despite her earlier feelings of irritation, she found herself wanting to engage with him. It was odd for her, as she wasn't used to this kind of interaction. Perhaps, deep down, she enjoyed the attention Ye Fei had given her—even if it had initially annoyed her.
Wei Qing stared at the screen, then at Ye Fei. "You're lying," she said quietly. "You let me win. You could have hit the bullseye every time if you wanted."
Ye Fei chuckled, trying to downplay his ability. "That's just Zhang Qiang bragging about me. I'm not that good."
Wei Qing's expression softened, and unexpectedly, she asked, "Ye Fei, do you think I'm beautiful?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ye Fei hesitated. Looking at her flushed face, he couldn't deny that she was stunning. "Of course you are," he answered truthfully, though trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Really?" Wei Qing pouted, seemingly unconvinced. "Then why didn't you say it before?"
Ye Fei smiled awkwardly. "I didn't want to seem like I was taking you lightly. If you asked anyone here, they'd say the same thing—you're very beautiful."
Wei Qing smiled slightly, but pressed on. "Who's prettier, me or your aunt?"
Ye Fei grinned, sensing the playful challenge. "My aunt, of course. I'm biased!"
Not satisfied, Wei Qing leaned closer. "What if she wasn't your aunt? Who's prettier then?"
Ye Fei laughed, "You're both equally beautiful."
Before he could react, Wei Qing suddenly leaned forward, kissed him on the lips, and asked, "What about now?"
Startled by her bold move, Ye Fei didn't know how to respond. He quickly realized that if he didn't answer the way she wanted, she might escalate things further. Reluctantly, he said, "Alright, you're prettier."
Wei Qing seemed satisfied with his answer. She chuckled, and just as suddenly, her body went limp, falling asleep in his arms.
Ye Fei sighed in relief, realizing that Wei Qing had simply been too drunk to think clearly. He carefully carried her to her dorm, making sure no one saw them, and laid her down on the bed.