A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

Liang Wanyi was a confident, independent, and graceful young lady from a prominent family. She looked up at Song Hongfei and found him staring intently at her, his bright eyes sparkling with a mixture of surprise and tenderness.

In Liang Wanyi's eyes, Song Hongfei possessed an aristocratic demeanor completely different from the纨绔子弟 (spoiled young masters) in high society salons. It was a calmness and confidence brought about by a good education and battlefield experience, a coexistence of gentleness and heroic spirit, with a strong and distinct blend of scholarly air and military might, giving him a unique temperament and charm.

Surprisingly, his tall, upright, broad-shouldered, and majestic body had a noticeably slender waist, which made his agile figure appear full of surging and vigorous tension.

Liang Wanyi also knew that he was decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, with outstanding military achievements, and that he showed great chivalry and tenderness towards stragglers and wounded soldiers.

His gaze could kill enemies and melt women; it seemed that all contrasts and contradictions could be reconciled in him. He was truly an incredible man, Liang Wanyi thought to herself, her heart already given to him.

Shen Jinying and Yu Peilan saw the expressions on the two men's faces and couldn't help but laugh. They said, "You two, don't stand there anymore. Sit down and let's chat."

"Let's go outside and let them talk to each other."

Shen Jinying, arm in arm with Yu Peilan, went out smiling.

Tears welled in Lin Shuyao's eyes, her delicate and intelligent mind deeply moved by the scene before her. Some people, once met, are unforgettable at first sight; this wasn't just a literary fabrication, but a real event unfolding before her very eyes.

She never expected that her words would actually come true. A mix of complex emotions welled up inside her: she was moved by the romance, she wished Wanyi well, she admired an outstanding man, and she also felt a sense of loss that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Song Hongfei walked over, each step seemingly landing on Liang Wanyi's heart.

“Wanyi, I’ve seen you before.” Song Hongfei’s burning gaze was undisguised.

He was not referring to their encounter that day, a fact that the intelligent and perceptive Liang Wanyi understood perfectly, as she shared the same sentiment.

“Hongfei, I’ve seen you before.” Liang Wanyi showed no shyness or evasion, but rather a poised and confident demeanor, exuding the pride of a noble lady. She met Song Hongfei’s gaze as he stared at her.

“I was thinking, since we seem to have met before, where is it... or... in a dream?” Liang Wanyi gazed at him quietly, lost in thought.

“Einstein proposed the concept of multidimensional spacetime in his theory of relativity. I think we may have met in another spacetime,” Song Hongfei said directly, looking straight at her.

Song Hongfei's words were loaded with meaning, and they touched upon the very question that was currently on his mind most urgently.

"If she were Liang Mengqiu, she would understand what I'm saying," he thought to himself.

"Another timeline? I don't quite understand. Is that a past life or a future life?" Liang Wanyi blinked her beautiful, bright eyes. "Do you believe in past lives and future lives?"

She was not herself after all, Song Hongfei sighed inwardly.

He couldn't quite describe his feelings upon learning the answer. Was it disappointment? Regret? Melancholy? Or something else entirely? It was truly indescribable. If it really was her, he was certain he would kneel down without hesitation to thank heaven for its favor.

Song Hongfei didn't know how to answer. He pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "Religions all have the concept of reincarnation. I don't know what my past and present lives were like. But I believe in fate. I have never believed in fate as much as I do today, and I am very grateful for this fate."

Once he said that, everyone understood his intentions.

“I also believe in fate.” Liang Wanyi’s cheeks flushed slightly as she said softly, “You know, when I first saw you that day, I had a very strange feeling, as if I had known you in a past life, and I could never forget you, and then we met again in this life.”

“I understand, Wanyi.” Song Hongfei’s lips curled into a happy and warm smile. “No matter what, we’re old acquaintances.”

Liang Wanyi's heartstrings trembled. She slowly raised her eyes and met Song Hongfei's deep, pool-like eyes.

His eyes were filled with a fiery tenderness that made her feel hot all over, and she couldn't help but be captivated by them.

They are all from wealthy families, well-educated, and exude elegance and sophistication in every gesture. They have also all studied and lived abroad, experiencing the charm and allure of different cultures.

Their similar backgrounds and life experiences give them a lot in common and resonate with each other.

They are all people who dare to love and hate, and dare to express their true feelings. When they meet someone they like, they will not hesitate to bravely pursue their own happiness.

Both were learned and talented. After several conversations, they found themselves increasingly compatible and kindred spirits. Their feelings for each other intensified rapidly.

In the main hall of the Song Mansion, Shen Jinying and Yu Peilan were beaming with joy, their happiness overflowing.

Yu Peilan smiled broadly and said, "It seems they really do get along very well!"

Shen Jinying also laughed and said, "Of course! They're a match made in heaven, a perfect union!"

Lin Shuyao was still deeply moved by the romance of their love at first sight, and immersed in a variety of complex and inexplicable emotions.

Lin Shuyao smiled and said to Song's mother and Liang's mother, "Aunt and Aunt, you don't know how romantic it was that they fell in love at first sight."

Lin Shuyao recounted to Shen Jinying and Yu Peilan the scene of their chance encounter on the street that day.

"My God!" Shen Jinying and Yu Peilan's eyes widened in surprise. "This, this, is unbelievable! It's so romantic! This is true fate!"

Shen Jinying and Yu Peilan exchanged a smile, overjoyed: "It seems this marriage was ordained by heaven."

In the reception room, Song Hongfei and Liang Wanyi had unknowingly moved to the observation deck.

In the distance, Xuanwu Lake glistens like a poem or a painting, while Zhongshan Mountain stands majestically between heaven and earth, offering a breathtaking view.

At this moment, the two stood side by side, admiring the distant lake and mountain scenery, their hearts filled with peace and contentment.

The two have opened their hearts to each other, sharing their past experiences and interesting stories. The laughter and tears, successes and setbacks of the past have become a bridge connecting their hearts.

“I have a question for you, and you must answer me truthfully.” Liang Wanyi raised her eyes and looked at Song Hongfei. “You only knew my name, but you didn’t know me or Shuyao. Just now, when we walked in together, how did you know which one was me?”

She is indeed exceptionally intelligent.

“Wanyi,” Song Hongfei called her name softly, “I don’t know if there is such a thing as reincarnation, but I think I really did see you in another time and space, and I have never forgotten you in my heart. It is really incredible that we met. Only today did I realize that we met so late in life.”

Liang Wanyi still didn't quite understand, but her heart was already filled with sweetness.

At least she knew that he, like her, was also preoccupied with someone he had never met but who seemed familiar, and most importantly—that person was herself! That was enough.

But Liang Wanyi was unaware of the vast difference. Her sense of familiarity only arose after meeting him in person, confirming that it was him. Song Hongfei, on the other hand, knew exactly what she looked like.

Song Hongfei didn't intend to tell her this either, since it was truly too unbelievable, shocking, and outrageous.

"Perhaps there really is someone exactly like me in this world, let's just consider it a dream from the past," he thought.

He had decided to bury it deep in his heart forever, let it slowly fade away and disappear in the long passage of time, after all, he had already devoted his whole life to loving and cherishing the person in front of him.

"What if, I mean, what if you're mistaken and think Shuyao is me?" Liang Wanyi persisted.

"There's no 'what if,' there's no mistake, and heaven won't let me miss you." Song Hongfei was full of confidence and domineering.

Liang Wanyi thought to herself, "What a domineering guy, but I'll forgive you because you're so devoted to relationships."

Liang Wanyi looked at him and said, "I'm very curious, how exactly did you achieve so many world-shaking research results? My father always mentions you to me, and I've also seen your name in many newspapers and advertisements. They all say that you are a genius who can make amazing achievements in so many unrelated fields."

“The publicity is too exaggerated, don’t take it seriously. The person in front of you is the real one,” Song Hongfei said. “Actually, they were all forced into this situation. They had no other choice but to rely on themselves and be self-sufficient. I was walking on thin ice and dared not relax for a moment. Perhaps when a person is focused and single-minded on doing something, the chances of success are greater.”

"But you also need to know how much hard work and effort, and how much cost, was involved behind the scenes. Since the research results caused a sensation, I have rarely appeared in public for reasons of confidentiality and security."

"The Military Commission and the intelligence department both have requests for me, and they have also provided various special training programs, such as techniques to prevent my facial features from being captured by the media. So Wanyi must have discovered that there are very few photos of me in all the reports, and even if there are, you wouldn't recognize me. The feeling is hard to describe."

Liang Wanyi revealed a touching expression of sudden realization and said softly, "If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known there were so many inside stories. It's really hard to imagine what it must feel like for someone to face all of this."

Song Hongfei could only smile wryly and sigh, "To be honest, it's really unpleasant. It's better if Wanyi doesn't experience it."

Liang Wanyi smiled and said, "You keep talking about Einstein's multidimensional spacetime. Are you very familiar with him?"

Song Hongfei said, "Ah, not familiar with him. I communicated with him when I was in MIT, but our research fields are different."

Liang Wanyi laughed again, "I heard your IQ is higher than his? No wonder you've made so many research achievements."

It seems she did a lot of research on him. Compared to her, Song Hongfei felt somewhat ashamed, thankfully he hadn't missed out on her.

Song Hongfei couldn't help but laugh and said, "At the time, I didn't know what an IQ test was at all. I just thought it was a bit fun, but it's not reliable."

Liang Wanyi chuckled and said, "You're just bragging to me."

Song Hongfei teased her, saying, "Heaven and earth can bear witness that every word I said to you was sincere."

"You're so smooth-talking, it seems you know how to please girls!" Liang Wanyi said, feigning anger, but her heart was filled with sweetness.

“I’m innocent,” Song Hongfei spread his hands and looked directly at her with burning passion. “It depends on the person. I’m only sincere to you.”

This time, Liang Wanyi felt a little shy in the face of Song Hongfei's intense gaze; after all, she was a girl.

After a long silence, she said softly:

"really?"

"real."

"No regrets?"

"No regrets."

"Forever and ever?"

"One lifetime! If there truly is reincarnation, then it is three lifetimes, life after life."

“Me too,” she said softly, her flushed cheeks incredibly beautiful.

Song Hongfei's large hand suddenly grabbed her slender hand, and she obediently let his warm hand hold hers.

The two gazed at each other silently, their eyes conveying the same message, and neither spoke.

My palms are burning hot right now.

"His hands are so warm," she thought.

Song Hongfei tightened his grip on her hand slightly, and she leaned softly against his shoulder. Her beautiful long eyelashes fell down, and she closed her eyes, saying nothing, only her breath as sweet as orchids.

At that moment, she seemed to hear the sound of her heart blossoming. The chill of early winter seemed to dissipate, replaced by a heart full of warmth and sweetness.