Rebirth Counterattack with Space
Chapter 328 - 318: Return Trip

Chapter 328: Chapter 318: Return Trip

"It’s all at the bottom of the backpack? What kind of excuse is that?"

It’s downright unreasonable. Does he think I don’t understand... Using such an excuse might not even fool a layman, let alone me. It would have been better to say there was no food left.

Zhuang Jun snuck a glance at Shitou, who looked particularly serious, and didn’t dare say anything more. He pursed his lips in a grievance and lowered his head to quickly place the bowl and chopsticks into the now empty pot. He shouldered his backpack and caught up with the others’ pace.

I wonder if there will be a chance to find something to eat after returning?

At this moment, Zhuang Jun hadn’t even begun to imagine how ruthless Shitou could be.

As soon as they returned to camp, without even a chance to catch their breath, he was reprimanded for his excuses and lackluster performance that morning with potential for improvement, and was promptly sent to the training field to start running laps.

Then, after being trained to near death and finally looking forward to a satisfying meal at mealtime, Zhan Hongtao told him that Shitou had praised his abilities, and from now on, all written reports from the three of them would be his responsibility...

Zhuang Jun nearly coughed up blood with regret for his earlier self-importance.

Of course, those were thoughts for later. At the moment, they consciously kept a little distance behind Shitou and Lu Yun, following them.

As the bright and frequently shunned third wheel, they’d been forced to develop self-awareness. They now deeply understood one truth: in any non-emergency situation, they absolutely should not attempt to disturb the couple’s quiet time with chatter.

...

"We’ll go straight back by helicopter. It’s parked not far ahead, in a clearing suitable for takeoff and landing."

As they walked, Shitou explained to Lu Yun with a tone of apology, "I finally took you out for some fun, and it got ruined by those people. Next time, I’ll take you out again and make sure you enjoy yourself."

"That’s not your fault. Actually, we had a lot of fun yesterday. I’m not mad at all, really. We came out to enjoy ourselves, not to get angry," Lu Yun said as she pulled on Shitou’s arm, her smile sweet and full of anticipation. "So don’t be angry either. But I’m looking forward to next time. I want to catch fish with my hands and make Zhuge-style grilled fish. And I want to eat roasted Bamboo Shoot Elephant Weevil. Hmm, we didn’t try frying them with oil this time; we should next time. And bamboo tube rice too."

"Okay, I won’t be angry."

Seeing her genuine and happy smile, Shitou finally relaxed, unable to refuse any of her requests.

He gazed deeply at her, thinking that this must be what it feels like to love someone deeply. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being slighted even the slightest bit, feeling that even if she was wrong, it didn’t matter. He wanted to use all his power to bring everything before her, to keep her smiling and happy at all times...

"Watch your step! Why do you keep staring at me? Is there something wrong with me?" Lu Yun questioned, feeling a bit embarrassed by Shitou’s overt gaze, and she couldn’t help but sneak a peek behind them to see if the distance between them and the group was safe. Reassured, she still chided him in a low voice.

"I just think you’re really beautiful, and I can’t get enough of looking at you," Shitou said, as if possessed.

"..."

Lu Yun’s face turned red with a mix of shyness and excitement. Whoever said Shitou wasn’t a smooth talker—this was natural talent, wasn’t it? Though it would be even better if such words were reserved for when they were alone.

Right now, though, they still had a whole bunch of third wheels tagging along. She wanted Shitou to repeat those words a few more times, but felt too embarrassed to ask.

Lu Yun sighed with regret and rightfully demanded using telepathy, "I haven’t heard enough, after we go back you have to repeat that sentence a few more times for me."

"Okay," Shitou laughed, knowing Lu Yun was shy and afraid of being overheard, so he couldn’t help but use telepathy to repeat it twice more, "I just think you are particularly beautiful and I can never get enough of looking at you--I just think you are particularly beautiful and I can never get enough of looking at you."

"Alright, alright, we’ll talk about it when we get back." Lu Yun’s face grew redder, but her eyes were sparkling with sheer happiness. She feared if she kept listening she would lose control, throw caution to the wind, and pounce on Shitou to nibble him a couple of times before anything else.

Lucky for Shitou, he had no idea what she was thinking at the moment; otherwise, he might have risked making Lu Yun furiously embarrassed to negotiate some "benefits" for himself. In front of "benefits," he admitted he couldn’t be too thin-skinned.

It took the six of them twenty minutes to reach the helicopter. Around the helicopter was a small team of Guard Squad members standing guard.

Seeing Shitou and Lu Yun approaching, the squad members relaxed slightly and greeted them with friendly smiles,

"Hello."

"Hello, thank you for your hard work."

After days of interaction, Lu Yun, who never forgets a face, was quite familiar with these Guard Squad members. Seeing them greeting her and the others, she too smiled warmly and responded naturally following Shitou’s lead.

After boarding the helicopter, Lu Yun noticed that the heads of several criminals, bound at the hands and feet and blindfolded, were clustered in the middle, sitting back to back with a Guard Squad surrounding them.

She glanced at them casually and soon her attention was drawn away by a dead snake next to them. Although it was no longer alive, it still looked fierce and terrifying, and its body was as thick as the trunk of a small tree.

"Hello."

When the Guard Squad saw Lu Yun, they all perked up, greeting her with an especially loud and excited voice.

Shitou and Lu Yun responded to them in kind.

No wonder the Guard Squad was extra enthusiastic towards Lu Yun—there was a saying about "biting the hand that feeds you." The duck meal that Lu Yun had treated them to, although some time ago, was still being savored and talked about by everyone.

Even more delightful to the Guard Squad was that Zhuang Jun’s wife wasn’t only exceptionally beautiful, but also kind and generous, with a good temperament and very approachable.

She was always smiling patiently at everyone. What made everyone even happier was that whenever someone ran errands for Deputy Director Pei’s family and bumped into her, she would almost always enthusiastically give them something delicious to take back.

It wasn’t that everyone was shallow and only cared about the food; it was the thoughtfulness behind the gesture that brought a warm feeling to everyone’s hearts.

"That python is quite big; snake meat is very nourishing. It should be enough to make snake meat porridge for everyone. However, there are many taboos about eating snake meat. You need to have the culinary team figure out what it can’t be eaten with. Also, some people should not consume snake meat," remarked Lu Yun, thinking of the nutritional benefits when she saw the python.

Upon hearing this, Shitou laughed, "Pythons are a national first-class protected animal."

"Ah?"

Lu Yun was startled, then quickly realized her faux pas and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Then never mind, let’s be good citizens and follow the rules. It’s not a good habit to knowingly break the law."

Shitou then patted her head and gave her an approving smile.