A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

Gui Shuaizhen and Zhang Yi had never seen Song Hongfei so distracted. Song Hongfei had always given the impression of being a calm, composed, and steady general, but now he seemed somewhat absent-minded.

The two followed his gaze and looked across at each other.

"What, did you run into someone you know?" Gui Shuzhen asked.

Song Hongfei realized what was happening, unsure whether to agree or disagree, his gaze still fixed on the person opposite him, muttering to himself, "She looks a lot like someone."

Is it really her?

Judging from her expression... she seemed to recognize me? Or perhaps she wasn't sure?

Isn't this exactly how I feel right now?

Could it be... that she also time-traveled?

Thinking about it, it seemed unlikely. His situation was even more miraculous than those in later time-travel novels. Song Hongfei smiled bitterly to himself, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but the shock in his heart still lingered for a long time.

Song Hongfei had a keen eye, and he was certain he hadn't misjudged her. Even though they were separated by a street, her appearance was already clearly visible in his eyes, and most importantly, her refined, elegant, and extraordinary temperament was exactly the same.

If it weren't for her, would there really be two identical people in this world?

"Oh," Zhang Yi said with a wicked grin, "Who cares if we're familiar or not, go for it! Judging from her expression, she seems quite interested in you too."

"Hmm, that makes sense." Gui Shuaizhen looked at Song Hongfei's expression and couldn't help but smile.

"Hurry up, we can't miss this opportunity!" Zhang Yi shouted. "What if some rich young master has his eye on the Chevrolet luxury car?"

“Isn’t he himself the young master Song?” Gui Shuaizhen laughed.

"Hey, hurry up, they're leaving!" Zhang Yi called out again.

Liang Wanyi and her best friend Lin Shuyao walked out the door chatting and laughing. She tightened the cashmere scarf around her neck, wrapping her beautiful white swan neck in the soft fabric. The hem of her pale yellow plaid trench coat swayed gently with her steps, revealing a section of the moon-white cheongsam hem.

Lin Shuyao was holding her arm, talking enthusiastically about the newly released movie.

"Wanyi, have you seen Renoir's new film 'Grand Illusion'? It's showing at the Dahua Cinema. Let's go see it together."

Liang Wanyi was somewhat absent-minded. She sensed a piercing gaze fixed on her from across the street.

A young military officer, tall and handsome, with piercing eyes as deep as a pool and a sharpness unique to soldiers, was clearly looking at me.

The moment their eyes met, Liang Wanyi felt her heart skip a beat. She clearly didn't know him, but why did she have this feeling of déjà vu?

Who is he? Why is he staring at me like that?

What's this strange feeling? I've never experienced anything like it before.

Why is my heart pounding so hard?

Lin Shuyao quickly noticed Liang Wanyi's unusual behavior. Following her gaze, she saw a young military officer across the street wearing a straw-yellow woolen overcoat. His golden collar insignia gleamed in the winter sun, and his piercing eyes were undisguised as he stared intently at his best friend.

There were two other officers next to him, talking to him.

"Wanyi, who is he? He seems to know you."

Liang Wanyi came to her senses, a little embarrassed, and said, "I don't know him."

Lin Shuyao was displeased to see the officer still staring so brazenly. They had seen plenty of lecherous scoundrels like him. She said, "Ignore them, let's go."

She pulled Liang Wanyi toward the car parked nearby, noticing out of the corner of her eye that the officer seemed to be trying to catch up.

“Master Gu,” Lin Shuyao gestured to the driver with her chin, “do you know who they are?”

Master Gu is Lin Shuyao's father's driver. He has been with him for many years and is responsible for picking up and dropping off people at various occasions in Jinling's upper class. He is quite knowledgeable and experienced.

Master Gu turned his head and looked closely, then smiled and said, "Miss, I recognize one of them. He is Gui Shuaizhen, the commander of the Central Military Academy's Training Corps."

Lieutenant General Gui Shuaizhen, the commander of the Training Corps, had extensive connections and was a prominent figure in Nanjing. Master Gu recognized him.

"Oh, Training Corps, let's go."

Liang Wanyi seemed a little distracted.

Lin Shuyao glanced at her and teased, "The Training Corps, Wanyi, why don't you go ask them? Maybe—"

"What are you saying?" Liang Wanyi said quickly.

"See, see, I guessed what you were thinking," Lin Shuyao chuckled. "Then I'll go ask that Captain Gui for you."

Liang Wanyi was her distant cousin, and she knew why the Liang family's daughter had come to Jinling this time.

"Oh dear, if you keep gossiping, I'm not talking to you anymore." Liang Wanyi's ears were already burning.

The two girls laughed and played, while the car drove further and further away amidst the swirling golden leaves.

Song Hongfei was still staring blankly in the direction they had left, perhaps regretting not chasing after them.

“Ah—it’s so heart-wrenching,” Zhang Yi recited a classical poem in a refined manner, expressing his deep sorrow: “My longing is as deep as the sea, and the past is as distant as the sky. Countless tears fall, making my heart break with sorrow.”

Song Hongfei snapped out of his daze and kicked Zhang Yi in the backside: "How dare you talk to your superior like that!"

"Oh dear, you've got your secret exposed, and you're getting angry!" Zhang Yi laughed and dodged away.

Captain Gui laughed heartily.

"Let's go," Song Hongfei said, regaining his composure.

Gui Shuaizhen nodded and smiled, "If I didn't have to handle some business at the Ministry of Military Affairs this afternoon and also meet Director Yu at the Ordnance Department, I would have given you half a day off and arranged a car for you to catch up! There aren't many luxury cars like this even in Nanjing, so they're easy to find. Zhang Yi, write down the license plate number."

"I've got it! This concerns Commander Song's lifelong happiness, I won't forget it for a moment!" Zhang Yi laughed heartily.

Song Hongfei was somewhat amused and exasperated, but a ripple of emotion had already stirred within him.