Robert was an absolute chatterbox. In just a few sentences, he had already skipped over the topic of marriage and gone straight to planning their kids.
If he kept going at this rate, he'd probably have Long Zhan's retirement home picked out by the end of the conversation.
"We don't even have kids yet. Let's not get ahead of ourselves with the nursery,"
Long Zhan said, politely declining. He wasn't even thinking about marriage yet, let alone children—that was something for after he'd made a name for himself, maybe in his forties. For now, he could only turn down Robert's good intentions.
He did it decisively—but forgot Stella was right beside him.
"Exactly. I don't want kids either, even though my boyfriend really likes them."
Stella said it with a smile, even linking her arm through Long Zhan's in a seemingly affectionate gesture. But Long Zhan heard something different in her tone.
He couldn't give her what she wanted right now, so he simply pulled her into his arms.
A silent gesture of comfort.
"You could plan ahead, you know. Remodeling gets more complicated once you've moved in."
Whether it was the thought of losing out on the commission for renovations or genuine concern for the couple, Robert wasn't ready to give up.
He earnestly added, "I always say, a good realtor is half a fortune teller. Trust me, you'll need that nursery someday."
Then he leaned in slightly and said in a more confidential tone,
"Just a word of advice... every time I work with someone from DEVGRU, I always tell them this: when choosing a house, what matters most is whether your wife likes it.
Because she'll be spending over 300 days a year alone in that house. How comfortable it is matters a lot more to her than to you."
It was true—being the wife of a military man was lonely. Even more so when that man was a special operations operative.
Long Zhan couldn't argue with Robert's words. What he *could* do was wonder how the guy figured out who he was—especially considering he was currently unshaven and didn't look anything like a serviceman.
Curious, he asked, "How did you know I'm DEVGRU?"
"This neighborhood's the closest to the coastal base. It's the top pick for guys in your line of work. I've had a lot of clients from DEVGRU, so I've gotten good at spotting you."
Robert said this with complete confidence in his professional experience. Then he turned to Stella, asking, "So, what do you think? Should we lock this in?"
Stella didn't answer right away. Instead, she asked, "There are a lot of DEVGRU guys living here?"
"Absolutely. I wouldn't lie to you. The folks living right across the street—323, see that number?—they're also my clients. DEVGRU, been here for years."
He pointed to the house directly opposite, giving her a solid reason to believe him.
"What do *you* think?" she asked Long Zhan.
She was clearly satisfied with the place, but she still wanted to respect Long Zhan's opinion. She wasn't the type to make a selfish, unilateral decision.
"I think Robert makes a great point. What matters most is that *you're* comfortable living here. So, you decide."
Her answer made Stella beam with happiness. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Long Zhan as a reward, then turned to Robert and said, "We'll take it."
"I promise you won't regret this decision."
With the deal sealed, Robert beamed, opened his briefcase, and said, "I've got all the paperwork with me—we can sign everything right here."
"Put it on my card. You hold on to the rest."
Long Zhan handed over his bank card, throwing in a little sweet talk as he did.
"I'm not making much right now, so sorry if this place is a bit underwhelming. But once I start making real money, I'll buy you a beachfront villa. That's a promise."
Stella had originally planned to go Dutch. In the U.S., there was no expectation for the man to buy the house, the car, or pay a dowry. But seeing the trust and love in Long Zhan's eyes...
Her heart melted.
So she decided to play the part of a traditional woman for once. She took the card from Long Zhan and started going over the rental agreement with Robert.
She even brought up areas of the house she wasn't satisfied with and offered suggestions for renovations.
Robert was a consummate professional. He quickly worked everything out with Stella, and they signed a three-year lease on the spot.
He also promised to complete all the requested modifications within a week at the latest.
With their living arrangements for the next three years squared away, it was time to start pre-ordering furniture, stocking up on household essentials...
And of course, making time for romantic moments together.
They strolled through parks, walked barefoot on the beach, dined at upscale restaurants, stayed at couples-only hotels and indulged in everything young lovers do.
Life was sweet. And the days passed by in a blur.
Three days flew by in the blink of an eye.
Stella and Long Zhan were so immersed in their round-the-clock togetherness that they completely forgot—Long Zhan was still an active-duty soldier.
Then came the *beep-beep-beep-beep...*
It had been five days since Long Zhan returned from Afghanistan. The call-up—random and unexpected—had come again, crashing into their lives without warning.
It didn't just interrupt their blissful time together—it signaled yet another looming separation.
"I don't want you to go..."
Stella curled up in Long Zhan's arms, holding him tightly, rubbing her cheek against his chest like a kitten refusing to let go of her owner's warmth.
"This is what life is like for a Tier 1 operator," he said softly.
"This is my first real mission."
He gently stroked her hair, breathing in her scent, savoring the softness of the body in his arms. His words were a subtle reminder—she'd made a choice, and that choice came with consequences.
He couldn't reveal more about who he truly was. "Tier 1 operator" was the most he could disclose.
"I know. I understand. I chose this... and I don't regret it. Just... give me one more minute, okay?"
Stella soaked in Long Zhan's scent, trying to sear it into her brain, make it something she could remember during the long lonely nights ahead.
Long Zhan didn't answer with words.
He answered with action.
He held her as tightly as he could, letting her feel the full weight of his presence.
And just like that, the minute was gone.
Stella understood the rules of a random call-up. She didn't try to stop him. She stood, kissed him, the covers slipping off her body to reveal her flawless figure.
Smiling, she said, "I'll wait for you. When you come back, we'll move into our new home. I just know it'll be beautiful."
"It better be. I'm the best mover you'll ever meet—no need to call a moving company if I'm around."
Long Zhan resisted the temptation radiating from her bare skin, rolled out of bed, and started getting dressed. His easy humor served as a cushion against the sharp edge of parting.
Before he left, he pinched her perky nose gently and said:
"Don't forget to think about me, okay? Who knows—maybe you'll wake up from a nap and I'll already be back."
He grabbed his car keys and walked out of the bedroom, leaving Stella staring at the closed door long after he was gone.