Chapter 278: I Can Let You Check
"What did you say?" Zhang Yang froze, wondering if he misheard or if her English wasn't clear enough.
"Willing to sleep with you, but you must help me." When Meixin said it the second time, she was clearly less shy than before, her fair and pretty face returning to calm, as if this was just a normal kind of deal.
Zhang Yang scratched his head, really wanting a mirror to see himself. Did he look like some horny wolf?
Although he knew Western women were less reserved than Eastern girls, they shouldn't be this bold, this straightforward—it was hard to stay calm.
Zhang Yang glanced at her delicate curves beneath the thin quilt and the two proud peaks beneath it. He coughed: "Cough… cough… Meixin, I must clarify something. I saved you not because you're pretty or because I had any improper thoughts about you."
"Zhang! I'm telling you, I'm still a virgin. You won't lose… anything." Hearing Zhang Yang reject her, Meixin was stunned. In her mind, how could a man refuse the advances of a beautiful woman? So she raised her stakes. "Of course, you must wait until I'm healed."
"Virgin? Meixin, don't joke." Zhang Yang looked at her face, even more shocked than she was. A virgin?
Damn it, even ignoring the fact that Western women were far more open about sex before marriage than Easterners—she was this gorgeous, already eighteen, and mixed with a bunch of men as a mercenary. Did she think he was an idiot?
If you're a virgin, then I must be a virgin too.
"You… don't believe me?" Meixin frowned, glanced at the door, and whispered, "You… close the door, I let you… can check."
Saying that, she reached out and lifted the blanket.
She was wearing patient clothing, but once she lifted the blanket, Zhang Yang realized—
Probably because of the injury on her inner thigh, her pants were only pulled halfway down. A woman's most precious place—
Completely bare, between her snow-white thighs, that soft patch, and a hint of tempting pink…
It was really pink…
Zhang Yang couldn't help looking for an extra second, then hurriedly pulled the blanket back over her. Even though the room was heated, she had just undergone surgery and still had a fever. She couldn't afford to get worse.
But of course, that tempting sight was already deeply burned into his mind.
"Alright, alright, I believe you. You don't need to do this."
"Then… this deal is agreed? Right?" Meixin showed a faint smile.
Zhang Yang thought for a moment and asked, "What do you want me to do? Say it first."
"I want you to take me to a place."
"Where?" Zhang Yang thought that if she wanted to return to Ukolan, he could help—provided she told him what she knew.
"Mana!"
Unexpectedly, her answer stunned him. She did say Mana, right?
"Mana?" Zhang Yang repeated with a frown. Why go to Africa? Mana was in the middle of war. Did she still want to work as a mercenary?
Staring at her beautiful face, Zhang Yang shook his head with regret. "You want to join the mercenaries again? That I can't agree to. Why don't you return to your home in Ukolan?"
"Ukolan… no home!" A faint sorrow appeared on Meixin's face.
Zhang Yang could tell the sadness wasn't fake. Something painful must be hidden in her heart. Why wouldn't she return to her homeland? Wasn't she from Ukolan?
Zhang Yang was curious, but even if he asked, she probably couldn't explain clearly with her limited English.
"Mana…" Zhang Yang thought for a moment.
Meixin, afraid he would refuse, hurried to explain: "You have big connections. Going to Mana is not problem, right? Think. This deal is worth it."
"I know Huaxia values tradition, so a virgin body is important, right?"
"I exchange my most precious thing, and you take me there."
Hearing her so anxious, Zhang Yang knew something big must be behind this. He wanted to ask now, but thinking she wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon anyway, he decided to wait for Yang Fei to arrive.
"I can consider helping you go to Mana, but everything must wait until you heal." Zhang Yang looked at her and added, "This afternoon my friends will come. They will help you. You must cooperate with them."
"Your friends… you… leaving?" Meixin asked with doubt.
"Yes."
"But Zhang… I need you." Meixin looked reluctant, showing a pitiful expression.
"It's fine. I'll come again tomorrow. Rest for a day. At most tomorrow night, I can come back." Zhang Yang could tell her expression wasn't fake.
But he also knew she couldn't possibly like him. She only knew him, couldn't reveal her identity, and was alone in a foreign place. The fact that she didn't suspect him of betraying her was already good enough.
"Then you promise—you must come pick me up tomorrow."
"Mm!" Zhang Yang agreed. If he followed Tang Qiqi to Wu Village tonight, it shouldn't be a problem. He could return by tomorrow evening.
After telling her to rest well, Zhang Yang stepped out of the ward. A young nurse called him over to collect Meixin's belongings.
Zhang Yang originally wanted to return them directly, but curiosity struck. She mentioned something important in her clothes. Could it be related to whoever sent the mercenaries to ambush him?
He sat on a bench and went through her things.
She had only been wearing camouflage clothes when carried in. Nothing else. The nurse handed him just the clothes.
But when he felt around, he soon found several items.
Her passport, some money—both Huaxia yuan and foreign currency.
Most likely Ukolan's gori. There was something else he recognized from her pocket.
A small pendant—a silver chain with a silver heart-shaped charm. Though thin—
It wasn't small. Larger than a thumb. And it looked like it could open.
Zhang Yang tried it. Sure enough, it was a tiny heart-shaped locket. Inside was an old-looking photo.
He checked the photo. It was a woman, looking quite similar to Meixin. Her mother, perhaps?
Zhang Yang searched the clothes again. Nothing else. No hidden pockets. So the important thing she mentioned must be this pendant.
He didn't think too much and tidied the clothes before taking them back to Meixin.
Sure enough, when Meixin saw her clothes, she immediately grew anxious and asked him to bring them to her.
Seeing she couldn't move well, Zhang Yang said, "Tell me what you need. I'll take it for you."
Meixin hesitated, then nodded: "I need…" She didn't know the word for necklace, so she gestured.
Once he handed her the pendant, her face lit up and she grabbed it tightly.
"Thank you!"
"She is…"
"My mother…"
"Oh!" Zhang Yang nodded. She clearly loved her mother. But he didn't ask further. After reminding her to rest, he left.
He checked the time and slowly walked to the emergency room where Pan Ningning was.
She had been inside for more than two hours. Many nurses were going in and out. A crowd of mid- and high-ranking officers had gathered. Four or five lieutenant colonels, even a senior colonel—the leadership of Pan Ningning's unit.
Tang Qiqi sat alone quietly. Seeing Zhang Yang, she frowned lightly and asked, "Why is Pan Ningning's surgery taking so long?"
Hearing this, Zhang Yang's heart moved. Being twins, sisters shared a bond, especially after being separated for years. The blood tie rooted deep in their souls couldn't be severed.
"I'll ask." Zhang Yang was just as nervous—maybe more—but he still acted calm.
He grabbed a doctor coming out.
When the doctor saw him, she comforted him: "Your friend is lucky. Her blood type is extremely rare. Fortunately, her sister was here. Don't worry—we have Director Liu Yanhong personally performing the surgery. It's almost done. Very successful. But she'll need time in ICU."
"Thank you, doctor." Zhang Yang truly felt grateful to this white-clad angel.
"You're welcome, Mr. Zhang Yang. Compared to your achievements, what we did is nothing." The middle-aged doctor smiled. "I must return to assist. Don't worry, she'll be fine. You look tired—go rest."
"Mm."
After thanking her again, Zhang Yang returned and explained to Tang Qiqi. She didn't comment, but he clearly saw her breathing grow steadier.
Just as he finished, Ao Tian called.
The first thing he asked was Pan Ningning's condition. After hearing the update, Ao Tian fell silent for a moment, then said, "Good… thank heavens. Right, I have news."
His voice was low, heavy.
Zhang Yang frowned. "What is it?"
"Something big is going to happen." Ao Tian lowered his voice.
"What's strange about that?" Zhang Yang said calmly. If today didn't count as something big, what would? Snipers, mercenaries, and finally special forces.
"You know nothing, kid. But I'll tell you this—you're going to benefit greatly from this misfortune."