Hidden Assassin 100

## Volume 3: Cohabitation Era – Chapter 6: Azure Sky Below – Chapter 100: Homecoming

2013-02-08

Skirts swayed gently, the sea breeze light and airy. The vast ocean, calm and tranquil after the storm, was bathed in bright sunlight. The giant ship, cutting through the waves with ease, moved steadily westward. At the edge of the deck, leaning against the railing, Lingjing in her white dress and green skirt looked up with a pure smile, her long hair and azure ribbon fluttering in the breeze.

“Lingjing.”

At the sound of her name, Lingjing turned her head. Standing not far away was Dongfang Lu, wearing a crisp sailor uniform. To be honest, he was a very likable young man. Handsome, rich, but not arrogant. He always had a charming aura and a warm smile. Despite the injuries, with bandages on his arm and patches on his face, the curve of his lips still brought a sense of peacefulness. Lingjing smiled: “Hmm, Dongfang… Lu.”

She always felt this name was a bit strange.

“Ha, I saw you standing here alone… How is Huai Sha? Is she feeling better?”

Yesterday on the island, after meeting Lingjing and Jia Ming, Sha Sha fainted from exhaustion. According to Ya Han, she hadn’t eaten or slept properly during the search, and she would burst into tears whenever they received disappointing news. She had probably shed more tears in these few days than in the past ten years combined. Finding her and being reassured finally allowed her to collapse. Everyone admired and lamented the bond between the three of them, saying that the affection cultivated from childhood truly was the most genuine.

Hearing Dongfang Lu’s question, Lingjing nodded. “Sha Sha woke up. Jia Ming is with her. I came out to get some fresh air.”

“Having a friend like that is a lifelong treasure.”

“Yeah.” Lingjing smiled happily. “Jia Ming and Sha Sha both are. By the way, how’s Dongfang Wan? And your injuries…”

“He, thanks for your concern. My little sister is fine, just…” He tapped his forehead with his finger. “Hit her head. Maybe she got a little water in her brain… She’s always been a bit spoiled, so sometimes she says and does things without thinking. Don’t mind her, Lingjing.”

“It’s fine. I just don’t understand why… Um, she seems to be a little against Jia Ming. It’s not very obvious, though, maybe I’m being oversensitive…”

“He he, that’s because of the last sparring session.” Knowing Lingjing cared deeply for Jia Ming, Dongfang Lu smiled. “She vouched for him then, and later a lot of people joked that Jia Ming was her boyfriend. She might have a bit of resentment towards him…”

“Huh?”

“Of course, it was just a joke.” Dongfang Lu waved his hand. “Speaking of boyfriends and girlfriends, Jia Ming and Huai Sha must be a couple?”

Lingjing hesitated slightly before nodding, laughing. “How did you know?”

“Because Jia Ming told me on the island that he wanted to be a doctor because he has a friend who’s always getting into fights and injured. I think I’ve heard that Huai Sha is quite skilled in fighting. Didn’t think I would guess it right. By the way, I have to thank you for bandaging my wound on the island, Lingjing.”

“Uh, me?” Lingjing was slightly taken aback. “Didn’t Jia Ming bandage it for you?”

Seeing Lingjing had actually forgotten, Dongfang Lu couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. He raised his bandaged right hand. “He he, did you forget? When we were escaping to the camp, you gave my hand an emergency bandage, right? Although it’s a virtue to forget kindness, at least you have to give me a chance to express my gratitude.”

Hearing him mention it, Lingjing remembered she had indeed given Dongfang Lu an emergency bandage. She smiled, saying it was nothing, but then saw Dongfang Lu extend his right hand. “Well, I know you’re excellent in all aspects, Lingjing. You organized various school activities in middle school, and have always been an exemplary student. So, I wanted to invite you to join our student council. Please accept this request.”

Sacred Heart Academy, modeled after foreign aristocratic schools, had a very powerful student council, essentially consisting of the most outstanding students. Just having a good background wouldn’t get you in. Every year, eighty percent of the guaranteed admission and scholarship opportunities offered by various top universities went to student council members. Ordinary students who wanted to join had to go through rigorous assessments. Lingjing wasn’t lacking in ability, but being suddenly invited by Dongfang Lu made her a bit stunned. After a moment, she hesitated. “Uh, well… I’m already in a club, the one I set up with Sha Sha and Jia Ming…”

“He, the student council won’t conflict with club activities. It’s just some extracurricular activities, and you can ask for leave if you need to. Being in the student council will give you exposure to many things, which will be beneficial for your future university and even your career path…”

“But… I have other things to do in my spare time.” Remembering about playing the piano, Lingjing said. “I also need to go out to work.”

“Work?” Dongfang Lu asked with interest. “You’re so young, Lingjing, are you already thinking about working and studying?”

“Uh, no.” Shaking her head, Lingjing smiled dreamily. “It’s to support my family.”

Dongfang Lu seemed to want to say something, but Lingjing had already turned and waved her hand. “That, I have some other things to do. I’ll go find Jia Ming.” For some reason, Dongfang Lu suddenly felt like Zhang Jingfeng to her at that moment. No matter what, she should avoid him for now.

“Hmm, goodbye. Consider the student council thing, Lingjing. You can give me your answer later.”

With a light smile, Dongfang Lu leaned on the railing, watching Lingjing walk away. Then, his gaze fell on his bandaged right hand. People tend to develop all sorts of subtle feelings during times of hardship. The feeling he had when the girl carefully bandaged his wound amidst the roaring gunfire, a life hanging in the balance, had warmed his heart… Uh, unfortunately, she had forgotten…

**********************************************************

White walls, white sheets. Dressed in the same white patient gown, Sha Sha leaned on several stacked pillows, slowly sipping the hot porridge Jia Ming was feeding her. After finishing a bowl, Jia Ming picked up the bowls and chopsticks. Sha Sha reached out with both hands from under the blanket. “Jia Ming, I want to sleep…”

“Huh?” Looking at Sha Sha’s posture, Jia Ming pursed his lips and muttered, “But we didn’t bring that on the ship. Are you going to use a plastic bag?”

“You…” Sha Sha’s face flushed red. She hit Jia Ming’s head. “You’re always thinking about dirty stuff! I never said we had to do that if we sleep together… I just want you to hold me while I sleep…”

“But it’s still daytime, people will come to see you. If I sleep with you, that’ll be a big problem. Or I can go get Lingjing to keep you company. Or maybe get you a thicker brush… Anyway, we’re docking tonight. He he, I surrender, I surrender. I know I’m wrong… Stop hitting, stop hitting…”

His glibness earned him two pillows thrown by Sha Sha, knocking him flat on the bed. Suddenly, there was a “click” from the door. Lingjing popped her head out, smiling. “Uh, keep going, don’t mind me. I’m just passing by… Ah… Jia Ming, what are you doing…”

“The sleeping doll has arrived.” Jia Ming pulled Lingjing in, pushed her onto the bed, and was about to unbutton her clothes. Lingjing struggled and laughed. “The door’s not closed…” After closing the door, she sat on the bed, shielding her chest with her hands, symbolically resisting Jia Ming’s efforts to unbutton her. But naturally, it was to no avail. She blushed and laughed. “Why, you two always have to involve me…”

“Sha Sha wants someone to sleep with her, but it can’t be me now. So it has to be Lingjing. He he, you can scream your head off, no one will come to save you…” 熟练地解开她的衣扣，脱掉鞋袜、衣裙，随后将只剩下内裤和胸罩在身上的灵静塞进沙沙的被子，伸手在沙沙那略显得有些憔悴的脸上抚了两下，笑道：“好啦，洋娃娃已经送到了，你们俩好好睡，我在这里看着你们就好了。嗯？”

Sha Sha nodded obediently. Lingjing, on the other hand, was both annoyed and amused. She kicked out a leg from under the blanket. “Get out! Who wants you to watch us? Sha Sha and I are lesbians, you’re useless now…”

“Uh, I’ve never heard of abandoning a vibrator just because you’re a lesbian…”

The three of them laughed for a while. Lingjing and Sha Sha fell asleep in the blanket. Even though they were just holding hands before, they still instinctively hugged each other in their sleep. Jia Ming watched the two sleeping beauties from the edge of the bed, tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, and walked out the door.

The passageway of the warship was rather austere, devoid of any decorations other than fire extinguishers and lifebuoys. Long fluorescent lights stretched all the way down, leading to the kitchen where he returned the bowls and chopsticks. In the corridor, he ran into Zhang Yahán, who looked a bit unhappy. Even though they had exchanged glances from afar since yesterday, this was their first time meeting alone.

“Alright?”

“As you can see, everything’s fine.”

“I got some information about Yujinxiang from my dad, did you do it?”

“He he, that was my teacher.”

“Cut it out… Your room or mine?”

“Your room, we’re practically at the door anyway…”

It sounded like two lovers picking the best spot for a passionate encounter. But as soon as the door closed behind them, the atmosphere seemed to change instantly. Suddenly sensing a chilling murderous intent, Jia Ming instinctively ducked. A fierce kick swept past where he was just standing, aimed at his waist. As he turned around, he saw boiling anger in Ya Han’s eyes!

Those two eyes made Jia Ming remember a timeless saying: Never mess with a woman.

But… Jia Ming tried to recall what he had done to offend her. Then he realized he was innocent: I didn’t do anything to you, sis…

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