36 Chapter 49: As It Was

For two years, Mu Qinglin carried a heavy weight in her heart. She often went drinking in the lawless stretch of East Street known as Red Gate Alley.

One fateful evening, she happened to save a sharp-tongued little hedgehog with attitude to spare.

She coaxed her into going to school, watched her grow up, smoothed down her quills one handful at a time. The little hedgehog set her sights on Mu Qinglin, pulled out every trick in the book to win her over, and once she had straightened out the tangled things in Mu Qinglin's heart, swore she would stay by her side for the rest of their lives.

But then, without any warning, she left. Years passed with not a single word.

In the years after their breakup, Zhou Yi walked tens of kilometers a day across the grasslands thousands of miles from home, using nothing but her own flesh and blood to protect the wildlife there and the habitat that was always at risk of being brutally slaughtered.

Brutal. Monotonous. Unknown to anyone.

When yet another patrol member was lost to inadequate medical and equipment conditions, Zhou Yi, the deputy captain of the patrol team, decided to return to China to seek funding.

At a drinking dinner with the leaders of a foundation, Zhou Yi was made to down cup after cup of baijiu. She excused herself to the restroom to throw up.

When she came back out, she ran straight into the face she knew so well. Zhou Yi's mind short-circuited, and she called out without thinking, "Sis—"

In the seat of honor, Mu Qinglin was silent for a few seconds. Then she burst out laughing. "Who is Captain Zhou calling, exactly?"

Zhou Yi snapped back to reality and rubbed her face roughly. "Sorry. Thought you were someone else."

The smile vanished from Mu Qinglin's face in an instant. For the rest of the night, she didn't let go of her drink.

That evening, Zhou Yi dragged her exhausted body back to the temporary rental. She had just come out of the shower when a hand clamped down hard on her wrist and pinned it behind her back.

Mu Qinglin, reeking of alcohol, loomed over her and asked through gritted teeth, "Someone else?! Zhou Yi. It's only been five years. How dare you erase me from your memory so completely?!"

Zhou Yi pressed her lips shut tight, not daring to say a word.

All these years, she had missed this person's scent so desperately it drove her half-mad...

Content Tags: Strong Leads, Devoted Love, Reconciliation, Favorites of Heaven

One-Line Summary: Mutual redemption, and a desperate bid to win back a lost love.

Theme: Never give up.