Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

"Yes." Faced with Yan Yu's direct question, Qiao Ming simply admitted, and he looked toward Lin Ning, asking softly,

"Lin Ning, do you already have a boy you like? Or are you already dating this Captain Yan?"
Experience tales with empire

Lin Ning hesitated, her mouth opening slightly, unsure whether she should lie to him to let him down easy, remain silent to avoid hurting him, or just directly admit that she did not want to start a relationship yet...

Seeing Sister Lin struggle to find the words, Yan Yu knew this woman was utterly unreliable. He sighed and said,

"Qiao Ming, the military has its regulations. You are free to pursue a relationship, but she is not."

"What do you mean?" Qiao Ming frowned slightly.

This answer was truly beyond his expectations. What did he mean by the military's regulations?

"Comrade Lin Ning is engaged in a classified project." Yan Yu spoke seriously, "She has to report it to her superiors if she wants to establish a romantic relationship. What if her partner is a foreign agent?"

"What a disgusting thought," Qiao Ming suddenly got angry, and said coldly, "Are you insinuating that I'm a foreign agent?"

"I didn't say that," replied Yan Yu coldly, "I'm only telling you the rules. The rules were not made by me, you can take it up with the Zhendong Army, or even go back and tell her parents so they can inquire with the military, and get a detailed understanding of the situation."

Qiao Ming watched Yan Yu with an icy gaze, but he noticed Lin Ning quietly tugged at the other's arm.

"Stop causing trouble," Yan Yu turned his head and scolded, "We're discussing serious matters here!"

"Don't argue with him!" Lin Ning whispered.

"Is this a matter to argue about?" Yan Yu was amused and irritated by her, "Comrade Lin Ning, if you feel the stirrings of affection, please have the decency to leave the service before pursuing romance. Don't drag the rest of us into this."

"What stirrings of affection!" Lin Ning was also frustrated, she kicked him hard under the table, "I already told you it's not a date!"

"It doesn't matter whether it is or not, I'm putting my foot down here. If you get involved in a relationship, your partner will be subjected to a political review. Don't be an idiot and implicate innocent people!" Yan Yu took the kick with a Barrier Charm and then looked toward Qiao Ming, unflustered, "So, Qiao Ming, what do you have to say?"

Seeing Yan Yu treat Lin Ning without pretense, even bordering on harshness, Qiao Ming couldn't tell if he was Lin Ning's boyfriend or admirer, and was left with no choice but to say,

"I can accept a political review."

"Yan Yu, stop this nonsense!" Lin Ning couldn't help but stand up, "Qiao Ming! That's enough from you too! I'm not interested in dating right now!"

The atmosphere quickly turned silent.

Qiao Ming was silent as he watched her, his expression visibly falling into dejection. Then he saw Yan Yu stand up calmly from the table and start laughing coldly as if he had played a successful trick,

"Had you said that at the start, wouldn't that have spared us all this time... You have five minutes to wrap things up, then hurry out! The training has been delayed because of you alone!"

"What do you mean 'wrap things up'! Mind your words!" Lin Ning couldn't resist retorting.

Yan Yu paid her no attention and simply walked toward the exit of the shop.

As he left, Lin Ning immediately felt a bit awkward, unsure what to say to Qiao Ming.

"Lin Ning." Qiao Ming took a deep breath, a bitter smile emerging, "Is it true that you're involved in a classified project?"

"Yes, it's true." Lin Ning nodded.

"So, if you were to date, it could interfere with your career," said Qiao Ming as he stood up gracefully, "I understand."

"Uh..." Lin Ning felt that there might have been a misunderstanding, but she also felt that this might be exactly the outcome that Yan Yu had intentionally orchestrated. Trying to clarify could likely make things worse.

"Don't worry about me," said Qiao Ming, seeing the concern and conflict in her eyes, he couldn't help smiling, "Whether or not we're meant to be, I still wish that you can achieve your dreams—that's my greatest wish."

"Goodbye. Lin Ning, keep going."

He raised his coffee cup slightly in salute to Lin Ning, then he turned and walked away with a carefree air.

Stepping out of the coffee shop, Qiao Ming let out a long sigh of relief.

Although he was somewhat saddened by not catching up with Lin Ning, the thought of his parting words and his decisive departure made him feel incredibly cool. This successfully and gracefully executed show-off dispersed part of his heartache and irritation from the unrequited love.

Then he saw Yan Yu standing next to the door playing with his phone.

"Captain Yan." Qiao Ming nodded at him.

"You guys don't have more to say?" Yan Yu asked without lifting his head. "I gave you five minutes."

"No need." Qiao Ming brushed his bangs aside and smiled nonchalantly. "She has her own life and path, and I won't be her stumbling block."

"You're actually more mature than she is," Yan Yu continued on his phone without looking up. "Some things are just beyond help, you have to let go even when you can't."

"Captain Yan." Qiao Ming suddenly asked tentatively, "It seems like Lin Ning has a pretty good relationship with you? I've never seen her kick anyone before."

"We're on the same team," Yan Yu lifted his head to look at him. "We've carried guns together, get it? If the relationship was bad, there would be problems."

"Right, I understand." Qiao Ming went on to ask, "So does she have feelings for you or maybe for any other guys on the team..."

"I don't know," Yan Yu said straightforwardly. "As long as it's unrequited, nobody cares."

"Got it." Qiao Ming's expression finally showed complete relief.

He crossed the street, hailed a taxi, and left.

Lin Ning was evidently watching from inside the store, and as soon as the taxi carrying Qiao Ming was out of sight, she immediately ran out to find Yan Yu:

"What were you doing talking like that just now!"

"Did I say something wrong?" Yan Yu looked at her, puzzled. "If I hadn't said it that way, who knows how long you would have dragged things out before telling the truth! Is it that hard to say 'you're not interested in dating right now'?"

"You don't get it!" Lin Ning stamped on his foot again with force. "He didn't start off by saying he liked me! Wouldn't it make the relationship awkward if I just directly said 'I don't want to date'?"

"Then you could have just said your dad is pressuring you to find a boyfriend and you're totally not interested in dating, would that not work?" Yan Yu ridiculed her without mercy. "To be honest, you're just too dumb to think outside the box."

"Your brain is the one that's dumb!" Lin Ning huffed angrily and walked towards the school gate. "I'm leaving!"

Yan Yu quickly followed at her side, as they walked shoulder to shoulder.

Once inside the school gates, Lin Ning looked down at her toes, following a straight line on the edge of the tiles, when she suddenly asked:

"Why wouldn't you use my initial plan?"

"You mean pretending to be your boyfriend?" Yan Yu scoffed. "Do you think you deserve that?"

"How do I not deserve it?" Lin Ning flared up instantly. "Tell me, in what way do I not deserve it?"

"Stop asking so many questions," Yan Yu hummed through his nose. "I advise you to be cautious with your words and not act rashly."

"Fine, I won't ask." Lin Ning, still annoyed, veered off the straight path and started to stride forward boldly. "If you weren't the only guy on the team, I wouldn't even think of asking you!"

"Let me be frank, resorting to someone pretending to be your boyfriend is a lousy idea to begin with," Yan Yu said, following her. "A clear explanation could have solved everything, but instead, you wanted to create a scenario of snatching love, which is escalating the conflict and asking for trouble..."

"I'm not listening, I'm not listening!" Lin Ning plugged her ears with her hands and activated Shifting Technique to run away.

However, she hadn't gotten far when Yan Yu, also using the Shifting Technique, caught up with her from the side.

"Why are you chasing me?" Lin Ning's eyes widened, and then defensively, she complained, "Don't you dare play out the 'chasing with corn syrup' trope!"

"Idiot, you're going the wrong way!" Yan Yu cursed irritably. "Our training field is that way!"