A dozen minutes later, when Shen Qiang came out of Ye Xiaolei's room, he was about to wash up when he heard a sound from the kitchen. This surprised Shen Qiang, and he couldn't help but walk a few more steps. Then, standing on the stairs, Shen Qiang saw Qian Shanxue, usually dressed in military attire, wearing casual clothes and preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

Her navy blue skinny jeans accentuated her incredibly long legs, and the fitted sweater not only perfected her waistline but also highlighted her curvaceous hips.

Her waterfall-like waist-length hair was simply tied behind her head with two strands from the temples, adding a touch of ladylike elegance.

Moreover, this was the first time Shen Qiang saw Qian Shanxue in casual clothes and also the first time he saw her cooking.

"Up so early?"

Qian Shanxue, while preparing breakfast, didn't turn around but unusually greeted Shen Qiang.

Shen Qiang smiled, inhaling the aroma of eggs and milk drifting from the kitchen, and remarked, "You seem to have gotten up even earlier."

Qian Shanxue smiled and said, "By tomorrow at five-thirty in the afternoon, my Major General promotion competition will be over. By then, Ali and Ye Xiaolei will apply for demobilization. So I suddenly thought, you've all followed me for so long, and I've never really done anything for you, so I got up to make breakfast for you."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Don't you always buy breakfast?"

"I'm not bad at cooking," Qian Shanxue said charmingly. "As a foodie, I put a lot of heart into cooking. Although I can't compare with a top chef like you and Chu Qing, I'm definitely not inferior to any ordinary woman in culinary skills."

Shen Qiang smiled and looked at Qian Shanxue, who had removed her military uniform for the first time, revealing her charming face.

She was exceptionally beautiful, but usually cold as ice, with an 'I'll do what I want' attitude.

So cold and proud that it was difficult for anyone to approach her.

Shen Qiang once thought that was all there was to Qian Shanxue.

But in fact, it wasn't.

Her arrogance and indifference were merely because she had witnessed too much death.

Especially since she was a main force in the Combat Team.

Before Shen Qiang came, there were always comrades dying in battle around her.

So, instinctively, she used coldness and a distant attitude to interact with others, because only this way, when they left, she wouldn't be so sad.

Shen Qiang knew this.

Because Shen Qiang still remembered Qian Shanxue's gaze when he operated on Ali.

And remembered when Ye Xiaolei was pierced by a sword on the cliff, Qian Shanxue would rather risk herself than use her true strength out of stubbornness.

So Shen Qiang understood.

This outwardly indifferent, proud, self-willed Qian Shanxue, who never liked walking the conventional path, who treated food with almost religious fervor, had a hard and cold exterior that was just a mask to protect her tender heart.

But now.

She started cooking.

This meant she already knew that her performance was severely lagging behind, not to mention defeating Wenren Meiqiao for first place, even advancing to second place to smoothly obtain the Major General's rank was problematic.

Was she disheartened?

Shen Qiang didn't think so.

Because that was not in her character.

But simultaneously, Shen Qiang knew she had undoubtedly prepared to face failure.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be in such a hurry to do something for Shen Qiang, Ali, and Ye Xiaolei.

"Well, keep it up then, we'll come down to eat soon."

The gorgeous Qian Shanxue smiled charmingly and brightly, "Alright."

Going back upstairs, he washed up and changed clothes.

After getting ready, Ali was also up.

The three of them went downstairs.

It was just seven-thirty in the morning, and Qian Shanxue had already prepared breakfast.

She made a cake.

The taste was excellent.

And she was unusually chatty and cheerful.

This abnormal behavior made Ali, Shen Qiang, and Ye Xiaolei realize that her mental stress must be quite significant now.

After the meal.

Ali and Ye Xiaolei scrambled to help clear the table.

But Qian Shanxue refused.

She insisted on doing it herself.

For this, Shen Qiang, Ali, and Ye Xiaolei had no choice.

"The Colonel must be stressed, or she usually prefers to buy breakfast rather than cook," Ali said. Then her expression inexplicably brightened, and she laughed, "I didn't expect the Colonel to have such long legs, wearing military gear all the time, I never noticed."

Ye Xiaolei laughed, "When it comes to physique, we can't compare with Colonel Qian Shanxue at all. Her height is right there, just a tad shorter than Shen Qiang. Wearing high-heeled boots, she clearly stands taller than Shen Qiang, with a figure absolutely rivaling those of world-class models."

Ali nodded, "Hmm, if I had her figure, those long legs, humph, I wouldn't even look at someone like Shen Qiang!"

Innocently shot at, Shen Qiang looked stunned, originally wanting to mock Ali. If it weren't for her risking her life several times, being alone with Ali on that island, would Shen Qiang even be interested in her?

"And the Colonel is so beautiful too, didn't you notice? In casual wear, her charm is mature and soft, that face, put a tail on her, she's practically a nation-bringing Su Daji," Ali teased. "Otherwise, how could she be like a magnet, with Shen Qiang staring at her intently?"

Once again dragged into it, Shen Qiang was helpless. Amidst Ye Xiaolei's snickering, he said, "Let's talk about the serious matters. Everyone knows the current situation; Qian Shanxue is thirteen points behind the second place."

"It's sixteen points," Ali corrected, "Just now, their points were updated again."

Shen Qiang frowned.

At this moment, Qian Shanxue, having tidied everything up and walked over, deliberately said nonchalantly, "It's just a dozen points, we can catch up."

Hearing this.

Ali sighed, "I know saying this will make someone unhappy again, but facts are facts, and now we're driven to a point of no return."

Checking the time, Ali said, "It's eight in the morning, and there are just thirty-nine and a half hours left until tomorrow at five-thirty in the afternoon. In such a short time, if we wait around hoping for a miracle, I guess we've already lost."

Glancing nervously at Qian Shanxue, Ye Xiaolei signaled Ali, "Stop talking."

Qian Shanxue smiled and said, "Losing isn't scary, as long as we've done our best, at least we have no regrets,."

At this time, Shen Qiang calmly said, "Conceding now is too early, because we're not without a chance to turn the tables. As long as we can solve that old case, we can win."

Qian Shanxue sighed, "But that old case has no leads now, I don't think we can catch him in a day and a half."

Shen Qiang smiled, "Wishful thinking is useless, let's start investigating, it's our only chance now."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.