The two of them each started lighting cigarettes from one end, igniting three and planting them into the ground in front of each gravestone.
After lighting nearly a row of ten gravestones, they sat down back to back.
Right, just sitting on the ground, nothing fancy about it.
"Old Jiang, you think, if the guys were still around, would our lives be completely different?"
Jiang Ye didn’t deny the suggestion:
At least, the two of them wouldn’t have retired so prematurely.
A big group could have continued to live just like before, eating and sleeping together, going on missions, and so on.
That kind of life was really etched deep into their bones.
"We’ve taken our revenge!"
Hearing Lao Bai’s words, Jiang Ye shuddered:
"Yeah, we got revenge; the last enemy from back then is dead!"
Both glanced back simultaneously, sharing the same thought:
Revenge is taken, our brothers can rest in peace now!
Six years, that guy lived carefree for six more years!
Thankfully, there wouldn’t be another six years.
The boulders that had weighed on their hearts for so long had finally begun to disperse.
"Should’ve brought a bottle of liquor, having a hearty drink would’ve been great."
Jiang Ye kept his rationality intact:
"Your unit bans alcohol all year round, forgot?"
Lao Bai sighed deeply:
Jiang Ye looked at Lao Bai with furrowed brows, and after a long gaze, he slowly spoke up:
"Lao Bai, haven’t you moved on?"
At those words, Lao Bai’s eyes instantly reddened:
"I can’t move on, I’ll never forget in this lifetime.
Old Xiao died trying to save me!
That bullet was meant for me, it was Old Xiao who shielded me, and then..."
Watching a close comrade die by taking a bullet meant for oneself, that feeling, outsiders can’t possibly understand.
PTSD, this word, is often used right here.
And that scene will never be forgotten for as long as one lives.
Even replaying vividly in one’s mind every single day.
Jiang Ye patted Lao Bai on the shoulder:
"I know, I understand."
After all, someone had also died in a fire rescue trying to save him.
Unfortunately, his gravestone wasn’t here.
And now, late at night, there was nobody else around.
Otherwise, one would see two big, strong men, each crying more fiercely than the other.
Time slipped away unnoticed, and they had completely lost track of it.
It was only a phone call that snapped the two burly men back to reality.
"Old Jiang, seems like it’s yours."
Jiang Ye then took out his phone and saw it was indeed a call for him, answering:
"Jiang Ye, when are you coming back?"
Jiang Ye stood up from the ground:
"Then hurry up, I want to sleep, I’m scared to sleep alone."
Her voice got softer towards the end.
But Jiang Ye still heard it.
He gave a specific time straightaway.
The call ended on the other side.
Meanwhile, Lao Bai also stood up, teasing a bit:
"Is the little sister-in-law doing a roll call?"
Jiang Ye rolled his eyes:
"My wife doesn’t do roll calls; she’s just been a bit unsettled these past few days."
Lao Bai had accompanied Jiang Ye to that unfinished building and was clearly aware of the situation then:
"Spend more time with the little sister-in-law these days."
"Got it, alright, let’s go, it’s time to head back."
The moisture had long since left their faces, and as they were about to leave, they took a deep look at the row of gravestones:
"Guys, we’ll come see you again next time, and next time we’ll definitely bring you a bottle of good liquor!"