The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)
Chapter 1144

Zion's face turned sullen gradually.

Who else would contact him with this method other than the members of his team?

"Benjamin?"

Zion quickly sent a message over to Benjamin.

Meanwhile, the other party responded swiftly.

"Sir, it's me."

Benjamin's message popped up in the notification panel. When Zion saw this, he suddenly started missing his members again.

"Can't you send me a proper message if you want to talk to me? Why do you have to hack my computer, huh? Heh. Are you keen on finding out which one of us is better at designing the Trojan horse virus?" Zion's fingers danced across the keyboard as he typed rapidly.

However, Benjamin paused for a moment before he replied, "Sir, I have bad news for you."

"Urgh! The new year is coming up soon. Can't you at least bring me some good news?"

Zion thought that Benjamin was quite an

interesting guy.

However, the latter changed his font colour into black and white directly as he said in a heartfelt tone, "Sir, one of our team members, Sasa, was sacrificed on a mission."

Zion paused for a movement when he read the message.

"Huh? What did you say?"

Sasa was a member of their team, and she was also the only female who was over eighteen years old in the team. Before Zion joined them, Sasa had always been the leader. However, she gave up her position because Zion had great computer skills. Despite this, she still took good care of her team members.

Zion had always seen Sasa as an older sister. In his memories, she was as gentle as his mother and as bright as Rita was.

So, why did someone like her have to die?

"What happened?"

Zion noticed that his hand was trembling slightly as he typed this.

Suddenly, Benjamin let out a sob out of the blue before he sent a video call request to Zion.

When Zion saw that Benjamin was bawling his eyes out, he felt extremely upset.

"Hey, stop crying. Tell me, what's going on?"

Zion growled in a low voice, and Benjamin stopped crying immediately. He said with a shaky voice, "Base's father was a member of the special task force. Not long ago, he went abroad on a peacekeeping mission, but our enemies shot him while he was there. The terrorist h...held him hostage and threatened us to retreat from the battlefield. Then, Sasa caught wind of it somehow. She secretly went there behind everyone's back and confused the enemies with her hacking skills. However, she didn't last long, and our enemies killed her on the spot while she was trying to save her father. Sir, they told me that she bl...bled a lot, and they also said that a plane will bring her home soon. So, boss asked us to gather at the airport and welcome her home. Argh!"

Benjamin sobbed as he spoke.

When Zion heard this, he felt himself tearing up as well.

Fresh blood!

He had been plagued by the notorious bright red hue of blood in his dreams recently.

However, he would never have imagined that the blood one of his comrades would be spilled in the battlefield.

At this thought, tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably.

"I'll be right there. Keep your mouth shut and stop crying! We will always be proud of Sasa. She is a hero and a fallen martyr! She is coming home, so we can't welcome her with teary eyes." Zion's voice was hoarse and filled with suppressed emotions as he spoke.

Meanwhile, Benjamin tried his best to hold back his tears, but he really couldn't help it.

After that, Zion hung up the video call directly and rest his head on the computer. His shoulders were trembling.

Sasa was a comrade that he had worked together for a long time, but he would never see her again after this. After she was buried in the martyrs cemetery, she would never be seen in this world again. Zion was overwhelmed by intense sadness when he thought of this.

After all, he had never known the cruelty of war. However, he realised that there were still many people who were sacrificed everyday even though they lived in a peaceful era.

He remembered the fear he felt when he first shot a person, but at this moment, he felt that it wasn't terrifying anymore.

After all, his enemies deserved death!

That criminal had violated the law and endangered Zion's parents, so he was a heinous man instead!

Meanwhile, Zion was a soldier who served the public.

Thus, he had to protect the countless civilians that were relying on him.

They didn't know how to fire a gun, nor did they have the right to do so. Therefore, if their country got into a war, they would be the most venerable people. On the other hand, he was a soldier. Therefore, his duty was to protect the civilians.

So what if he shot that person?

He was only performing his duty!

Suddenly, Zion seemed to have understood many things. Thus, he decided to use those negative emotions and the pressure that he was facing to move forward.

At this thought, he raised his head and wiped his tears away. Then he quickly changed into his usual clothes and went downstairs.

Nathaniel and Mango had just packed up their stuff. They were about to get Zion when they saw him downstairs in a military uniform, so they couldn't help but freeze momentarily.

"Wait! Zion, what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to the airport. Mom, can you send me there? I'm fine with Mr. Ye sending me there as well. My team member... someone is seeing my comrade back home by plane now. I'm the team leader, so I'm going to welcome her home."

Tears still clung to his eyes as she said this, but there was a determined and solemn look in those orbs as well.

Mango felt that her son seemed different, but she couldn't pinpoint the difference. However, Nathaniel could tell the subtle change that had happened in Zion.

After all, his son was more mature now.

Zion seemed to have understood a lot of things in just one day, and he became more emotionally reserved now.

"Your comrade has fallen, right?"

Nathaniel had experienced this before, so he naturally understood the hidden sorrow in Zion's eyes.

Zion almost couldn't choke back his tears, so he nodded his head in reply hastily.

"I'll bring you to the airport then."

When Nathaniel saw this, he stopped what he was doing straightaway.

However, Mango was a little worried.

"I'll go with you guys then!"

"I'll tag along too."

Wisdom chimed in as well.

Nathaniel noticed that everyone had requested the same thing. Besides, he would be worried too if he left them at home. So, he simply nodded and brought them with him as they left the Ye's Mansion. Meanwhile, Zion was quiet on the way to the airport.

When Mango saw this, she nudged Nathaniel with her elbow worriedly. She asked in a voice that was only audible to the two of them, "Is Zion's secondary personality in charge now?" "Nah, I think he's acting pretty normal now."

When Nathaniel said this, he threw a glance at Zion and noticed that the latter was looking outside with eyes full of sorrow.

He sighed softly as he said, "Alas! I think Zion looks depressed. I don't know how long it'll take for him to climb out of the pit of sadness this time."

Mango had never served in the army before, so she naturally couldn't understand the depth of comradeship between comrades. However, she was a little worried when she saw her son in this state.

"He hasn't cured his personality disorder yet, but now his comrade is dead. I'm worried that he won't be able to take all these at once."

"Nah, that won't happen."

Nathaniel said calmly, "Perhaps his personality disorder will be cured after this too."

"Huh? Why do you think so?"

Mango asked as she was baffled.

However, Nathaniel didn't answer her question.

Soon, the car that they were riding in arrived at the airport.

Since Sasa was a martyr, the airport had specially allocated a passage for the soldiers that served in the military.

The bustling soldiers had arrived in their usual uniforms and stood in their respective teams.

On the other hand, Zion came alone because he was on leave.

This was the first time Mango had encountered such a solemn occasion, so she was stunned for a moment.

After that, Zion tidied up his clothes and hat before he opened the car door and walked out.

Nathaniel hadn't completed the procedures for retirement yet, so naturally, he still had his rank in the military. He also put on his military uniform today as he said to Mango, "Wait for us in the car with Wisdom." "Alright."

Mango nodded in reply.

Then, Nathaniel held Zion's hand as they walked in together.

Wisdom suddenly said enviously, "Mom, I think that being a military doctor is a good idea. Uncle Noah used to be a military doctor, right?"

"No! You're not allowed to do so."

Mango refused right away and felt even more worried inwardly.

"I was so worried for Zion when he joined the army that I couldn't sleep, so don't you dare to get involved. If you want to study medicine, your dad and I won't stop you, but you can't work for the army. We have already decided to let Zion venture into business after this incident, so don't you even think about it."

Mango took this opportunity to discourage any weird thoughts that Wisdom would possibly have.

Why did he want to join the army?

After all, Mango regretted letting Zion join the army till now!

Wisdom was Nick's only son. If anything terrible happened to him, who would bear this

responsibility?

Therefore, Mango would rather Wisdom remain mediocre for the rest of his life than letting him charge headfirst into the battlefield.

When Wisdom heard Mango's words, he couldn't help but stick out his tongue and say, "Mom, you don't have to worry. I was just joking!"

"I hope so then."

Mango was still a little concerned when she said this.

After a while, they could hear the national anthem playing inside the airport, and eight soldiers walked outside carrying a stretcher.

A young girl around eighteen years old laid on the stretcher. She had a pale face, and her body was wrapped in the national flag. When the stretcher was brought out, every soldier around her took off their hats with sorrowful faces.

"This..."

For the first time, Mango learned of the dignity and solemnity of death.

Then, she caught sight of her husband and son.

Nathaniel and Zion were walking on the left and right side of the stretcher respectively.

Zion's eyes and nose were both red, and the children behind him were already crying their

hearts out.

Of course, Mango could never understand the sorrow that they felt, but she suddenly felt a little envious.

After all, all humans only lived once. If they died such a meaningful death, it meant that they had lead worthwhile lives indeed.

What a pity! The deceased was such a beautiful young girl.

At this thought, Mango was suddenly choked with emotions.

After that, a military vehicle waited outside while the soldiers carried Sasha to the martyrs' cemetery.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman ran towards them. She broke into tears the moment she saw Sasha.

"No! Sasa! My dear daughter!"

The woman wailed bitterly when she saw her daughter's body, and this was such a heartbreaking sight. Suddenly, Mango was a little frightened.

After all, she was afraid that Zion would be carried by others back to his house like this one day as well. Mango was agonized by the thought of such a

scene.

No! This was something that she never wanted to see!

She didn't want this to happen to her son!

She would never allow it!

Thus, Mango made up her mind. She had to get Zion to retire from the army.

After all, she wasn't so selfless, and she didn't have dreams of protecting her country. Thus, she only wanted her son would be safe and healthy by her side.

People could call her selfish or say that she wasn't supportive enough even though her child served in the military. However, she just couldn't let her son risk his life out there in the dangerous front lines and battlefields.

When Wisdom saw Mango's ashen face, he couldn't help but reach out and hold her hand.

Her hands were icy cold, and so was her body.

Thus, Wisdom asked concernedly, "Mom, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Mango faked a tough smile, but then she saw Sasha's mother pass out after all the crying.

The eyes of many soldiers reddened at this scene as well.

After that, Mango was not allowed to walk with them to the martyrs' cemetery as only soldiers were allowed to do so.

Thus, Nathaniel motioned for her to bring Wisdom back first.

However, Mango did not want to leave just yet.

She asked Wisdom to get on the car and drove behind the military vehicle as they headed to the martyr cemetery.

When they were about to reach the martyrs' cemetery, her car jolted a little abruptly. She almost hit the windshield as she was not careful enough.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Wisdom was a little on edge when she saw this.

Mango waved her hands in reply and said, "Maybe the car broke down. I'll go and have a look."

After saying that, she got out of the car directly. However, Wisdom had an uneasy feeling about this.