Chapter 75 Chapter 75 (2/2)
But for the seventh squad, their real time experience far exceeded that.
Song Qinglan spoke politely but also not very courteously, “But don’t worry. I believe Advisor Ji will not do anything that will disturb the timeline.”
*
Leaving the Inspector’s office, Song Qinglan’s expression was dark.
He passed by the brightly lit Tianqiong base, passed by the transmission cabin and passed by many offices.
With his long legs and tall height, he walked at a quick pace. Along the way, he ran into many colleagues.
Those who liked to gossip quickly retreated when they saw his unpleasant expression. Knowing that the seventh squad had returned with one member missing, they only dared to briefly give him a greeting.
Chief Wang stood at the end of the corridor. Wearing a pearl-white coloured suit and a pair of heels, she clearly had been waiting for a while.
“Xiao Song!”
Seeing him come, Chief Wang stretched out both arms.
Song Qinglan leaned down and hugged her, “Chief Wang.”
Not Professor Wang in the bubble world, but the real Chief Wang.
For a moment, Song Qinglan felt like a lifetime had passed.
Chief Wang comfortingly patted his back. When they separated, her eyes were already red. It was unknown if she was comforting Song Qinglan or comforting herself.
The sentimentality of this middle-aged female leader made Song Qinglan’s heart feel warm. His tense expression relaxed considerably.
“Thanks for your hard work. After hearing the news of your return, I rushed to Tianqiong to see you.” Chief Wang said, “This is the first time you needed to deal with the Inspectors after all this time. They are all like this. Regardless of whether or not you need to rest, they will insist on following the set protocols before letting you go.”
Song Qinglan nodded, “I understand.”
Chief Wang had watched over Song Qinglan’s growth for many years and knew his temper well. She had rushed over early in the morning because she feared that he wouldn’t cooperate.
But it seemed that so far everything was going well especially since Song Qinglan was let out.
Chief Wang gathered herself up and spoke gently, “The news has already been sent out. Your family will be notified separately. There are however a lot of matters that will need to be dealt with in the coming days. You will be able to go home after everything is done.”
This was the usual procedure.
Song Qinglan also understood this.
But Chief Wang continued, “It’s just that from Xiao Ji’s side….We are unable to explain this matter to his family for the time being. It’s a bit difficult to explain.”
Chief Wang wasn’t Ji Yushi’s direct superior, nor did she manage the Inspectors, so she didn’t know anything about Ji Yushi’s private affairs let alone his wish to return to that year.
For her, she was more worried about something happening to Ji Yushi or him becoming trapped in a time and space somewhere.
Song Qinglan was silent for a while. He then said, “I’m here to contact Chief Lin.”
Chief Wang nodded and said, “When Old Lin heard you returned, he called to check. He had asked about him several times saying that his cat(s) are almost about to develop depression. Xiao Ji’s family are all scholars. His father is a professor at Ning City University and his older brother is a teacher. His major is even somewhat related to ours. It wouldn’t be difficult letting them understand the situation—–” (KKnotes: Again, there is no plural form in Chinese so they could be talking about one or more cats. Chief Wang is technically talking about the three cats but Song Qinglan still thinks that he only has one)
“Ji Yushi’s cat?”
Song Qinglan remembered that Ji Yushi had mentioned that he missed his cat(s) before he left. It seems that he probably didn’t miss them all that much since he still ended up running off.
“Yeah.” Chief Wang accompanied Song Qinglan to the stairs, “Said he raises three of them but due to some family matters, he couldn’t take care of them and sent one to Chief Lin’s place.”
Ji Yushi’s adoptive father was Chief Lin’s friend. Doing something like this wasn’t surprising.
But Chief Wang’s words made Song Qinglan feel that something didn’t seem right. This feeling however was only very fleeting.
After conversing a few more times, Chief Wang patted him on the back, “Shave your beard and rest up. You can head back.”
Why was everyone paying attention to his beard?
Song Qinglan didn’t have the time to take care of this. He strode straight to the seventh squad’s training ground. The five other teammates were also sitting there. It seemed that none of them were asleep.
“Cap Song.”
“What did the Inspectors call you to talk about?”
“Damn, why haven’t they gone to find Advisor Ji?!”
Everything they had experienced together made it seem like they had known each other for years.
None of the teammates weren’t worried about Ji Yushi. This was particularly so for Li Chun who was typically quite heartless. After knowing that it was because of himself that everyone had to return separately, he felt extremely guilty. Even if the difference between the two groups returning was only two minutes, he still felt that he was at fault — It was as if as long as Advisor Ji didn’t separate from Cap Song, something like this wouldn’t have happened.
Song Qinglan briefly gave everyone an idea of what they talked about and chose to leave out the part about Ji Yushi’s choice.
The small eyed Zhou Mingxuan who hadn’t spoken a word until now finally asked, “Cap Song, do you know where Advisor Ji may have gone?”
Everyone was surprised. Song Qinglan knew?
Song Qinglan didn’t deny it, but he also didn’t admit to it.
The others could tell from his expression that they shouldn’t continue asking about it but being someone who knew him too well, Zhou Mingxuan wasn’t afraid of him.
“When parting in the central block, you asked Advisor Ji to wait for you and said that there was something important you wanted him to consider seriously.” Zhou Mingxuan said, “If it weren’t for you saying ‘That year, I will go with you’, I would have thought that there was something going on between the two of you.”
“Fuck, the mood at that time did seem pretty gay.” Duan Wen commented, “I can’t believe I didn’t notice it.”
“Plus one.” Tang Le raised his hand.
“It didn’t seem like talking about business matters and instead more like pursing someone.” Even Tang Qi thought so, “I’ve seen Li Chun flirt with chicks. It was similar to that.”
Song Qinglan: “……”
The corners of Zhou Mingxuan’s lips twitched and he let out a laugh. He asked, “So did Advisor Ji redeem his reward and go to another time and space?”
Everyone quietened down.
Regardless of what choice Advisor Ji made, once the doors are closed, it was a matter that involved the seventh squad.
As long as Song Qinglan wanted to, he could deal with this group of people.
But none of them were idiots and they were also genuinely concerned about Ji Yushi. Song Qinglan could only vaguely let out a grunt.
Tang Qi said, “That can’t be. I thought Advisor Ji agreed to wait for Cap Song?”
Having mentioned this, everyone present recalled the moment before the parted.
Tang Le shook his head, “He didn’t agree at first, but it seemed like he later agreed.”
Duan Wen, “Said something like, hasolamu?”
Tang Le, “Yeah, that’s the one. Didn’t it mean something like hope everything goes well?!”
As everyone discussed noisily, Song Qinglan’s temples throbbed.
“You guys must have heard wrong.” At this moment, Li Chun who was squatting on the ground weakly raised his hand, “It’s just that……..Hasolamu, it means I like you.”
Everyone, “!!!”
In an instant, the training ground became so quiet, the sound of a pin falling to the ground could be heard.
Song Qinglan lowered the hand massaging his temples and stiffly turned his head, “What did you say?”
Li Chun looked at Song Qinglan and, recalling his captain’s PTSD, he said with a guilty conscience, “I was bored as hell back in the space capsule and I couldn’t spend the entire time partying, so I learnt a few words from Big Beard to use to flirt with chicks when I return.”
He then quickly added, “But how could Advisor Ji say that! I wasn’t there and I’m also a study slag….Your pronunciation isn’t accurate either so I’m sure I made a mistake!!”
KK has something to say:
!!!