I Asked For A Favor

Long Zhao Feng pushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.

"What is it? Speak."

"There is a possibility to make an antidote by using the blood of poisoned victims. I did not think about it on the first day. I only had the idea after the two patients unfortunately passed away."

Xiao Yue did not know what was it with Long Zhao Feng. Maybe it was because she had been branded as a murderer by him before, or because she was suspected of poisoning Long Yan, but Xiao Yue always felt like she had to defend herself in front of Long Zhao Feng. She desperately needed to be seen as a good person with pure motives, regardless of her past.

Long Zhao Feng did not seem to notice that Xiao Yue went on defensive mode. He merely tapped on the table with the tip of his finger. He was looking down at the floor, his gaze a little forlorn. Almost like a sleepy little boy.

"Continue?"

"Medic Chen told me that it was unethical to even consider taking blood from the deceased. It is even unthinkable to ask this of the mourning families, but this is our best bet to ever get an antidote."

Long Zhao Feng stopped tapping at the table surface and looked up. Just like Caretaker Wang, he too quickly came up with the name of the deceased, and the only person who could give permission for extracting blood.

"You are talking about Zhou Zi Chen," he slowly said. "You want to get Zhou Zi Ran's permission."

Xiao Yue nodded.

"If... General Long is serious about getting an antidote... then please help me."

Long Zhao Feng did not immediately reply. It would be a lie to say that he could do that off-handedly, as if it were a little favor to ask of someone who had lost the only family member he had. Long Zhao Feng should be able to relate. Just like Zhou Zi Ran, he also lost his only brother.

Their parents had passed away years before. If it were him, would he have agreed to this kind of request? Not to mention that Colonel Zhou was not a reasonable person when it had something to do with his brother.

He was so scared, scared of losing this brother that he had specifically requested for him to not be drafted as a soldier. Zhou Zi Ran thought that working as a caretaker was harmless. When Zhou Zi Chen got poisoned from his carelessness, Zhou Zi Ran blamed himself first and foremost.

Why did he not think that something like this could have happened?

Why did he ask for a caretaker position for Zhou Zi Chen?

While Long Zhao Feng himself was actively seeking a way to get the antidote for the poison, Colonel Zhou came to him every time they met, just asking and asking for the General to save his only brother. Xiao Yue probably did not remember, but she was there when the man again asked whether he had found a solution. It was that morning before they departed from his estate.

Now that Long Zhao Feng had failed, and Zhou Zi Ran was left mourning, did he have the face to ask him for this favor?

Even if he had to break Zhou Zi Ran's heart, Long Zhao Feng still had to ask. Such was the burden of a general. The greater good surpassed individual needs.

Xiao Yue knew that she was asking a lot of Long Zhao Feng. At the same time, she was also concerned about the man. Long Zhao Feng came back past lunchtime. He must be hungry. Xiao Yue took out the lunch packet that she hid behind her back the whole time.

She had to fight to get this last lunch packet because some soldiers just could not get enough. They always wanted a second, a third helping. Xiao Yue thrust the lunch packet under Long Zhao Feng's eyes. The pair of sharp eyes gazed at the brown paper bag and gave Xiao Yue a quizzical look.

"This is... the lunch from today. I am sure you have not eaten."

"..."

Long Zhao Feng smiled. Xiao Ya the little duck was surely adorable.

"Thanks," he muttered, taking the paper bag from Xiao Yue's hands.

After she had said what she had to say, after handing over his lunch, Xiao Yue did not have any reason to stay in that tent, so she opted to leave.

"Well then, I will..."

"Wait," Long Zhao Feng said. He reached out and took Xiao Yue's wrist. "I am so tired, I don't even have the energy to feed myself. Why don't you help me out?"

"..."

It was pretty shameless, was it not? Long Zhao Feng grinned at the young girl. He enjoyed seeing that furious expression on her face whenever he teased her. Many times his teasing backfired on him, but Long Zhao Feng never learned his lesson. He would remember and refrain from bullying Xiao Yue for a few days but then he would forget and bully her again.

It was one of those days when Xiao Yue was especially immune to his bullying. She had a deadpan expression on her face as she unwrapped the pork burger and held it against the General's lips. The latter smiled and bit into the burger. He was not sure what he enjoyed more : the food or Xiao Yue's reddened cheeks.