hotmtlnovel 078 Opening
078 Opening
The party officially began at 7 p.m.
Caesar climbed the spiral staircase to the second-floor platform and stood in front of the microphone.
"Ye Sheng and Jiu Deyaji were once just like us," Caesar began.
"They sat in the classrooms we used to attend classes, trained on the tracks we used to run, and even shared a pot of braised pork in the cafeteria. They were students at Kassel College, partners in the executive department, and had completed the most dangerous missions together."
"The word 'partner' carries special weight for people in the Executive Department. It means entrusting your back to someone else, putting your life in their hands. In the deep sea, in the midst of a raging storm, when the road ahead is uncertain and you can't see the direction, the only thing you can hold onto is the hand of the person next to you."
"A friend in need is a friend indeed," Caesar said. "This may sound cliché, but some sayings are cliché because they have been proven true by too many people."
"Ye Sheng and Ya Ji became each other's most trusted people on the battlefield, and this trust eventually grew into the feelings we are celebrating tonight."
He raised his glass.
"A tribute to the future and to love that will never fade."
As soon as she finished speaking, the whole audience burst into enthusiastic applause. Aki lowered her head and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, but everyone saw it.
As the applause subsided, Professor Schneider, the Executive Director, walked onto the stage from the side passage on the first floor.
He stood in front of the microphone, his expression obscured by the light behind his mask, and pulled a folded piece of paper from his suit pocket.
"Retirement approval document from the Executive Department of Kassel College, number 0808," Schneider read aloud. "Ye Sheng, leader of the third underwater operations team of the Executive Department. Jiu Deyaji, deputy leader of the third underwater operations team of the Executive Department."
He quickly read through a series of official, routine statements, and then announced, "With the unanimous approval of the Executive Department's review committee, effective immediately, the two are officially withdrawing from combat missions."
Schneider put away the approval document, looked up, and looked at Ye Sheng and Aki in the first row below the stage.
"Ye Sheng, Jiu Deya, thank you for your contributions," he said. "Operation Kuimen is the most successful combat case of the Executive Department in the past ten years. You completed the target recovery at a depth of fifty meters underwater, held your posts during the Dragon Servant attack, and cooperated with the entire crew of the Moniah to complete the evacuation."
"You are outstanding members of the executive department, truly elites. Retirement is not the end, but a new beginning for you."
Professor Schneider handed the documents to Ye Sheng, who took them and shook hands with Schneider. Then Aki also stepped forward to shake hands with Schneider and bowed.
Professor Mans took his cane out of his wheelchair and slowly stood up, leaning on it.
Selma reached out to help him, but he shook his head and said no, pushing her away with his other hand.
After climbing the steps one by one, he tapped his cane on the ground.
"I'm not good at giving fancy speeches," Mans said.
A low chuckle came from the audience. Professor Mans was known throughout the university for never stopping during his Magical Mechanical Design class and for speaking for three hours straight without a pause.
"Then I'll make it short."
"Ye Sheng," Mans called his name.
"Here," Ye Sheng replied reflexively.
Low laughter echoed through the venue once again.
"Relax," Mans waved his hand, "you're not on a mission."
Ye Sheng's shoulders relaxed slightly, but his back remained ramrod straight.
Mans continued, "The first time you went underwater, you turned the oxygen tank valve on wrong and almost inflated yourself into a balloon underwater."
Ye Sheng's face turned bright red, and the audience burst into laughter. Aki covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, her shoulders trembling from holding it in.
"Aki." Mans's gaze shifted to her.
Aki lowered her hand and straightened her posture.
"When you first boarded the Moniach, you were a complete landlubber and got seasick, vomiting all over Ye Sheng."
Another long round of applause erupted from the audience. After hearing the couple's classic embarrassing stories, the ordinary students suddenly realized that the elites of the executive department were just like them, and they suddenly felt much closer to the two of them.
"But you two are the best partnership I've ever had," Mans said. "Underwater, on the ship, in all the storms, you've never let go of each other's hands."
"Now that you've retired, in your daily lives from now on, in every moment, you can hold each other's hands and never be apart again."
He took two small boxes out of his pocket and handed them to Ye Sheng and Ya Ji respectively.
Ye Sheng picked up the ring, took Aki's left hand, and slipped it onto her ring finger. Aki lowered her head, tears falling onto the back of Ye Sheng's hand.
Mans saw Aki put a ring on Ye Sheng's finger and said, "Live well from now on."
The entire audience stood up.
The cup was raised, and the clinking sound was like a dense raindrop.
"Kiss her! Kiss her!" Selma shouted from the audience.
The sound was quickly picked up by more people, turning into a unified shout.
Ye Sheng looked at Aki, who blushed and stood on tiptoe. The two embraced and kissed.
Mans walked down the steps with his cane and found Selma sitting in his wheelchair.
The Latina girl held her heart in her hands, her eyes red, and stared intently at Ye Sheng and Ya Ji, who were still surrounded by the crowd on the stage, completely unaware that two tear tracks had already appeared on her face.
What's she thinking about all day? If she's envious of others, she should just go find one herself. Mans stood beside the wheelchair and sighed helplessly.
"Selma".
no response.
"Selma, give me back my wheelchair!"
She snapped back to reality, jumped up from her wheelchair, wiped away her tears, and quickly helped Mans sit down.
"Professor, you spoke so well," she sniffed. "They are so happy."
"Stop reading those ridiculous romance novels," Mance said, placing her cane across her knees. "Maybe you'll find a boyfriend that way."
"professor!"
"Let's go."
The conductor raised his arm, and the student council band began to play, the soothing and melodious waltz flowing through the hall.
Ye Sheng took Aki's hand and led her to the center of the dance floor. He wasn't a very good dancer, his steps were a bit stiff, and his hand on Aki's waist was noticeably too high, as if he was afraid of touching something. Aki held his shoulder and whispered something. Ye Sheng moved his hand down a little, and their steps gradually matched the rhythm.
Susie stood by a pillar by the dance floor, watching them.
"Chu Zihang".
Chu Zihang stood next to her, his gaze also fixed on the dance floor.
"Want to go dance later?" Susie asked casually.
"Now we'll return to our normal security schedule," Chu Zihang said. "Once the ceremony is over, the Jiu De family should leave."
"Yes, that's true," Susie said.
She looked down at the tips of her shoes.
"However," Chu Zihang added, "we can adjust the duty shifts to inside the lobby, and hand over the outer perimeter to Group Two."
Susie blinked blankly for a moment, then a bright smile bloomed on her face.