The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

The black sedan drove silently through the morning rush hour traffic.

Li Weiguo gripped the steering wheel tightly, but all his senses were focused on the silent young man in the passenger seat.

Zeng Long's earlier words, filled with confusion, and the long silence that followed.

It felt like a huge rock was pressing on his heart, making him afraid to speak easily, for fear that even the slightest sound would disturb the other person's seemingly calm but actually turbulent inner world.

Suddenly, Zeng Long spoke, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable directness:

"Turn right at the next intersection."

Li Weiguo was taken aback and subconsciously glanced at the navigation:

"Turn right? That's not going to..."

"Go to Beijing Qing University." Zeng Long interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on the fleeting street scenes outside the window, his tone completely calm. "I want to go and take a look."

Countless thoughts flashed through Li Weiguo's mind in an instant—what was he going to do at Beijing Qing University?

Did he choose to attend Peking University?

Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision or something planned in advance?

How does this relate to the mystery of his origins?

But he didn't dare ask any more questions, and simply obediently turned on his turn signal, changing his original driving route.

At that moment, all he could do was unconditionally fulfill any request the young man made.

Jingqing University, a century-old institution, is solemn and tranquil.

Towering ancient trees, red brick buildings covered in vines, students hurrying by with books in their arms, and the sound of reading aloud by the lake...

Everything exuded the vibrancy of youth and the weight of knowledge.

Li Weiguo's identity came into play once again, and the gatekeeper respectfully allowed him to pass after careful verification.

The car came to a stop in the designated visitor area.

Minister Li asked, "Wait for me in the car." Zeng Long said, then opened the car door and got out alone.

He had no specific route; he simply wandered aimlessly along the tree-lined path.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on him.

He walked slowly, his eyes, which habitually scanned for danger and environmental details, now seemed to be greedily absorbing everything around him.

He saw groups of students sitting together on the grass, discussing something intensely, occasionally bursting into cheerful laughter.

He saw young boys on the basketball court, sweating profusely, running and jumping, full of vibrant energy.

He saw the focused profiles of people engrossed in their books behind the bright glass windows of the library.

He even stopped and listened for a while to the somewhat clumsy but enthusiastic rehearsal of a roadside music group...

These sights, these sounds, these unguarded joys and sorrows belonging to his age, like a warm yet unfamiliar current, slowly enveloped him.

Zeng Long stood under a huge ginkgo tree, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The air was filled with the scents of grass, books, and sunshine.

This was an atmosphere of "peace" and "normality" that he had never truly experienced before.

However, just as he tried to relax, trying to let the warmth seep into his cold body—

Deep in my mind, the sharp images, like poisoned daggers, suddenly pierced through this beautiful illusion!

The base was cold and damp, filled with the roar of Baroque, the wounds covering the young body, and the stench of blood mixed with the earthy smell.

In a pitch-black, cold room, I was fighting with hungry rats, their eyes glowing green, for a small piece of moldy bread.

On the battlefield, bullets whistled past, the roars of comrades echoed in my ears, and the stench of gunpowder and burning corpses filled my nostrils.

The target's face contorted in terror as they lay dying, the sticky feeling of warm blood splattered on my hands...

"Uh..." Zeng Long let out an extremely suppressed, almost suffocating groan.

His body tensed instantly, his fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

It brought a sharp pain, which barely suppressed the dark memories that were about to devour him.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead already covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

The sun was still shining brightly, and the students' laughter was still cheerful, but all of this seemed so glaring and so... out of place to him at this moment.

An invisible, thick barrier separates him from the normal world.

He is a ghost from hell; even bathed in the warmest sunlight, the depths of his soul remain a frozen wasteland and an indelible stain of blood.

He... couldn't fit in.

A tremendous sense of exhaustion and loneliness, almost overwhelming him, surged into his heart like a tide.

He was tired, really tired.

Tired of the endless killing, scheming, vigilance, and pretense.

At Harvard, he was an undercover agent, constantly on guard to avoid being discovered.

But here, under Li Weiguo's almost clumsy yet genuine care, he touched upon a possibility for the first time—

A possibility that might allow one to shed all pretenses and simply live as a "person," a "young person."

This desire is the most basic human instinct, and even he could not resist it.

He wandered around the campus for a long time, like a lonely lost soul.

Finally, he walked to the edge of Weiming Lake and quietly looked at the shimmering surface of the lake for a very long time.

The inner turmoil gradually subsided, replaced by a calm that bordered on despair. He made a decision.

He turned around, his steps no longer hesitant, but firm and clear, and walked towards the school gate.

Li Weiguo had been watching the rearview mirror intently, and when he saw Zeng Long's figure appear, he immediately sat up straight.

Zeng Long opened the car door and got in. He seemed to still carry the scent of sunshine and grass from outside, but his eyes behind his sunglasses were even more unfathomable than before.

The car started and slowly drove away from Beijing University of Science and Technology.

Just as Li Weiguo hesitated whether to ask, Zeng Long's calm voice rang out, echoing clearly in the carriage:

"Uncle Li."

Two words, spoken naturally and calmly, sent a jolt through Li Weiguo's body, making him almost unable to believe his ears! He abruptly turned his head to look at Zeng Long.

Zeng Long didn't look at him, keeping his eyes fixed ahead, but his tone carried an undeniable determination:

"I choose Peking University and Tsinghua University. Please complete my enrollment procedures as soon as possible."

He paused, then added, "My major... I'll go with finance and economics."

Li Weiguo was overjoyed! He had made a choice! Not only had he chosen the school, but he had also called him "Uncle Li"! This was a groundbreaking development!

But before Li Weiguo's joy could fully blossom, Zeng Long's next words were like a bucket of cold water, slowly poured down with a deep weariness and a hint of untouchable warning:

"I don't want anyone to bother me."

His voice lowered, carrying a genuine weariness that came from shedding all pretense.

"I don't want to touch any more missions, killings, or... those complicated things."

He turned his head slightly, his sunglasses facing Li Weiguo. Although Li Weiguo couldn't see his eyes, he could feel the weight of that gaze.

"Right now, I just want to be alone and live a normal life."

"I believe Uncle Li... should know and understand what I'm saying."

Li Weiguo's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, aching and sore.

He understood completely.

The child wasn't making a request, but rather stating a decision, a breathing space he had fought for with his last ounce of strength.

He entrusted the "peace" he longed for to himself.

"good!"

Li Weiguo spoke without any hesitation, his voice resolute and filled with the weight of a solemn promise.

Little... Little Dragon, don't worry!

You can find me anytime, whether in the capital or in China!

If you have any trouble, anything, Uncle Li will take care of it! Here, I'm your uncle! Just like a real uncle.

He didn't mention the Zeng family or his own background; he only emphasized himself. This was the promise that could reassure the child at that moment.

After listening, Zeng Long didn't say anything more, but nodded very lightly, as if he had finally exhausted all his strength. He leaned his head back slightly on the chair and closed his eyes.

The sunlight outside the car window swept across his cold profile. Beneath that seemingly calm sleeping face, no one knew what turbulent emotions and unspeakable exhaustion were hidden.

The car moved forward smoothly.

However, both Zeng Long and Li Weiguo knew in their hearts—

The storm never truly leaves.

The ordinary life he longed for was destined to be nothing more than a luxurious yearning.

Because he was destined for greatness. From the moment he chose to step into Peking University, a new vortex was perhaps already brewing unseen.

The suspense, like the changing light and shadow outside the car window, flows silently.