557: Chapter 552: The Scars in the Heart 557: Chapter 552: The Scars in the Heart Gao Yang’s sudden change of attitude took Eileen by surprise, and Cui Bo also seemed relieved.
“Brother Yang, you finally see the light.
Although a major general is indeed impressive, we aren’t going to Germany, and Eileen isn’t contacting her family, so what could go wrong?”
Cui Bo spoke dismissively, and although Gao Yang knew things were not so simple, he just smiled and said nothing.
Eileen was very excited; she stood up and looked at Gao Yang, “That’s great, but why?
Why did you change your mind?”
Gao Yang shrugged and said, “Who said I changed my mind?
Who said I had to reject you?
This was never set in stone, you know.
I just had to consider the potential troubles your identity might bring, but I never said it was out of the question.
Besides, your words moved me, so let’s just settle it this way, okay?”
After finishing, Gao Yang paused before adding, “Actually, the key point is, I don’t like what your father does.
I think, perhaps I could give you a chance to live the life you want, to join the mercenary group.
Once you’re in, your life or death is no longer in your hands, but whether you live or die, it’s your choice.”
Eileen nodded and said, “That’s right, I’m mentally prepared.
Injury, or even death, won’t shake my resolve.
I’ve become a soldier, and I must put what I’ve learned to use.
I don’t care whether the place I use it is just or not!
Commander, thank you for giving me the chance.”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “You know?
You have a remarkable father, but I have a good father.
He’s just a small businessman, and with his hard work, he provided a comfortable life for our family, perhaps, even middle-class status.
From a young age, he had many hopes for me.
He wanted me to become a civil servant—well, that generation tends to think like that.”
Gao Yang began to talk about his father while Eileen and Cui Bo quietly listened.
Since he spoke in Chinese, Harley, who sat beside them, was utterly confused and couldn’t understand a word they were saying.
With a smile of nostalgia on his face, Gao Yang continued, “My father, he wanted me to become a civil servant and urged me to study hard.
However, when I was young, I took a liking to shooting.
I wanted to be a marksman, and after he struggled with himself for a long time, he sent me to a shooting school.
I learned shooting for a few years, but eventually, I grew tired of it and gave up the idea of becoming a marksman.
My father was glad I changed my mind.
He took me back, and to get me, who had fallen far behind in school, into a good one, he worked very hard.
He went around asking favors, and then he finally managed to get me into a school.
My grades weren’t good enough for me to attend a good university, and my father was disappointed, though he never showed it.
However, I knew he was.
Later, he hoped I would become a good businessman, someone who could make a lot of money.
But when I graduated from school, I became fascinated with making knives and wanted to become a professional bladesmith.
Actually, my father didn’t want me to become a bladesmith; he thought the profession had no future in Huaxia, but he said nothing.
When I worked on forging knives, I needed a lot of materials and space.
My father helped me find a location and the materials I needed.
I hadn’t asked him for help, but after I mentioned it, he started looking everywhere for me.
Then later, I changed my mind again and focused on becoming a foreign trade merchant.
My father was relieved to see the change, but then, when I decided to go hunting in Africa, I spent all my savings, ended up in Ethiopia, and was stranded in South Sudan after a plane crash.
Everyone thought I was dead, but my father didn’t think so.
He spent all his savings, sold the house, sold the factory, and went to South Sudan to find me.
He bankrupted himself.
Not until I returned home and saw my father, who had just returned from Africa himself, did I realize he had cried.
But from beginning to end, he hadn’t said a word to me.
He hadn’t blamed me, even though I always made decisions without notifying him.
He would advise me, but never reprimand.
He would only silently support my choices, saying, ‘Son, whatever you want to do, I support you, as long as it’s not illegal or hazardous.
I’ll support you in whatever you do.'”
As he spoke, Gao Yang realized he was close to tears.
For some reason, he just felt like talking about his father, though he had never spoken about him to anyone before.
Wiping away his tears, Gao Yang shrugged and said, “In the end, I once again went against my father’s wishes.
I secretly killed the scum who harmed him, and from then on, I could only live outside of Huaxia as a wandering mercenary.
My father was deeply saddened, very much so, but even then, he didn’t blame me.
You know, I really miss him now, truly miss him.
He wasn’t very authoritative as a father, and some might say he pampered me.
But truly, he was a good father.
When we’re young, we tend to take our parents’ love for granted.
The times I could see him, I just found him annoying, but now, I really wish I could see him again and say I’m sorry.”
Talking about it brought tears to Gao Yang’s eyes.
He himself was surprised, but after hearing Eileen talk about her father, he just wanted to talk about his own.
For some reason, it just seemed right, and it was unstoppable.
After Eileen’s words touched the softest, deepest, and most painful part of Gao Yang’s heart, he couldn’t control his emotions and let them pour out uncontrollably.
Reflecting on the past, Gao Yang shook his head helplessly and spread his hands to Eileen.
“You mentioned your father, and it made me think of mine.
I feel like I must help you fulfill your wish, even if it’s out of sympathy.
Eileen, let your father see, let the people of Angel Mercenary Corps see, let them know how amazing you are.”
Eileen and Cui Bo both fell silent.
After a long while, Eileen spoke in a grave voice, “Commander, you have a great father.
Really, he may be ordinary, but he’s truly great.
I envy you more than you can imagine.
And Commander, I will make them see.”
Cui Bo too patted Gao Yang’s shoulder, his voice solemn, “Brother Yang, don’t get too excited.
You’ll definitely see your uncle again, there will come a day.”
Gao Yang wiped away his tears, embarrassed, and let out a smile.
“Sorry, I got a little too emotional.
Okay, let’s talk business now.
If there are no other issues, can we leave?
I feel very uncomfortable being here.
You know, what I did just now was, um, quite embarrassing.”
Eileen nonchalantly said, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Commander.
What you said will only make people envious.”
Gao Yang waved his hand, “Hurry up and take care of your business.
We need to get to the shooting range; others are waiting for us.”
Eileen nodded, walked up to Harley, and after hugging her, said in English, “I’m leaving.
You shouldn’t stay here by yourself; it’s too dangerous for a single woman.”
Harley seemed somewhat at a loss, “But where could I move to?
The nicer communities are too expensive.
However, don’t worry about me, Eileen.
I’ll take good care of myself.”
Eileen waved her hand dismissively, then looked towards Gao Yang.
“Commander, you seem to be quite wealthy?
Harley has been a big help to me, and I don’t want to leave her behind, so…”
Gao Yang gestured with his hand, “Cut to the chase, how much?”
Eileen was loyal and knew how to return favors, which Gao Yang greatly appreciated.
Eileen shrugged, “How much could I possibly earn?
Maybe I could get an advance on a month’s salary?
Or consider it a loan from you.”
Now with a bank account, Gao Yang pulled out a checkbook and quickly tore off ten checks of one thousand dollars each.
“Tell me the name to write.”
In America, cash is rarely used for purchases; it’s all done with credit cards or checks.
After encountering many issues for not having a bank account, Gao Yang quickly obtained a set of traveler’s checks instead of the personal ones that could be made out for any amount.
There’s a risk of writing bad checks with personal ones.
They are often denied once he left his place of residence.
However, traveler’s checks purchased with cash can be used as cash, so Gao Yang directly bought several tens of thousands of dollars in traveler’s checks to carry with him.
These checks can be cashed at a bank anytime or used like cash; the only inconvenience is that the amounts are fixed.
Eileen looked at Harley and, after stating Harley’s full name, said, “Write her name as the payee on all of them.
I don’t need the money for now.”
Gao Yang finished writing the payee’s name on the checks, signed his own name, and casually handed them to Eileen.
Taking them, she slapped them against her hand and chuckled, “Thanks, Commander.
You’re not only devilishly handsome, but your generosity is truly charming.
I owe you this money; just deduct it from my salary when it’s time to pay up.”
Harley didn’t know how much the traveler’s checks were worth.
When she got the money, she immediately exclaimed, “Oh my God, ten thousand dollars!
This is too much, Eileen, way too much.
Two thousand dollars would have been more than enough, and this is just excessive.”
Ten thousand dollars was a substantial sum for most people.
Holding the checks, she seemed a bit frightened, while Eileen grandly declared, “Keep it.
It’s enough to last you until the end of your internship.
I plan to make big money in the future.
This is nothing to me.
Take the money and move to a better community as fast as you can, preferably today.
I’m leaving now, goodbye.”
After they left Eileen’s place, Gao Yang pulled Cui Bo aside and whispered, “Today’s been strange.
Why didn’t you flirt with that Harley?”
Cui Bo replied with disdain, “Forget it.
If I hadn’t seen what she looked like before makeup, maybe I’d have been interested.
But after seeing that, well, I’d better save myself the trouble.
Honestly, I think Harley doesn’t need to worry that much.
As long as she doesn’t wear makeup when she goes out, she should be pretty safe, I guess.” (To be continued.
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