The White Olive Tree – Chen Zheyuan, Liang Jie

Song Ran came to Dongguo to work as a journalist. During her time there, she experienced many unforgettable moments. On the day she was about to leave, Song Ran felt very reluctant to say goodbye. Reina sent her some snacks, and her son took a photo to send back. She was very happy and asked Song Ran to help take a photo for her son. While she was watching, Song Ran saw an explosion in the distance and was deeply shocked.

Song Ran went to the rooftop to prepare for a live broadcast. She received a call from the station, telling her that the cameraman was stuck on the road and wouldn't be able to make it. Therefore, the live broadcast would have to be done by her alone. Just as the explosion occurred, Song Ran was hurt by the shockwave. But there was no time to treat her injury, so she immediately started the live broadcast and reported the situation.

Her leader thought she did a good job, but the team leader was dismissive, saying that this was just a basic requirement for a journalist, and if you couldn’t do it, then you shouldn’t be a journalist at all. When Song Ran was riding her bike, she didn't hear Li Zan telling her to stop. She accidentally stepped on a landmine. Li Zan arrived and Song Ran begged him to save her.

Li Zan reassured her, saying he wouldn’t let her be blown up. He checked the landmine and comforted her. Li Zan’s companion pointed out that there was a mother mine and four sub-mines in the area. Song Ran accused Li Zan of lying to her. Li Zan removed the dirt, revealing the mine. There were 8 minutes left on the timer.

Song Ran told Li Zan to hurry and leave, saying she didn’t want to drag him down with her to die there. Li Zan told her to trust him. Li Zan asked Song Ran how far she could run in five seconds. Song Ran replied that she didn’t know, as she had never run that fast before.

Li Zan said that today she would have the chance to try, and he would try to buy her an additional five seconds, allowing her to run as far as she could. Once the countdown ended, Song Ran quickly ran, and the landmine exploded. Li Zan shielded her, and fortunately, neither of them was hurt.

Li Zan’s companion arrived and said that this kind of thing should be handled by soldiers, not by Li Zan, who was just a volunteer mine-clearer. Song Ran discovered that Li Zan could speak Chinese. Li Zan’s companion explained that he was from Dongguo and was of Chinese descent. He had been to China when he was a child. Song Ran was scheduled to fly back to China at 3 PM that afternoon, but the road ahead was blocked.

Li Zan suggested that she go to a repatriation station in the western suburbs' industrial park. They were evacuating people there today, and he could take her to that place. On the way, Song Ran got into the car, only to realize that Li Zan’s bracelet had accidentally gotten caught on her backpack. She wanted to call him over to remove it, but he didn’t hear her, and the car drove off.

Upon arriving at her father’s house, Song Ran’s father praised her for the report, saying it was very well done, as expected of his daughter. He asked what her mother had said. Song Ran replied that her mother didn’t say much. Her father, displeased, expressed that he didn’t believe he could raise her well on his own.

Her stepmother told him to say less, and Song Ran, seeing them enjoying their family moment, decided to leave early, saying she couldn’t stay for dinner. Song Ran had asked many people but still hadn’t found any information about the volunteer. Her friend reminded her that the person might not be Chinese, but of Chinese descent. Her team leader knew people in international organizations, so Song Ran should ask him.

There was a leak in the renovation upstairs, and the worker came to see Song Ran. She didn’t understand much, so she just followed his advice. The man said that sometimes when you try too hard, you can't find something, but when you stop looking, it unexpectedly shows up. Song Ran went to her team leader for help. He gave her a business card and suggested she try contacting the person on it. Song Ran then went to see Luo Zhan. Luo Zhan told her that there were too many volunteers, and he didn’t know all of them.

Song Ran went to find her team leader’s friend, hoping to gather information about Li Zan. She was initially disappointed when she found nothing, but just as she was leaving, Li Zan suddenly appeared. It turned out that Li Zan was good friends with Luo Zhan, who was also Shen Bei’s friend. However, Li Zan seemed to have no recollection of their past encounter. Seeing Li Zan again, Song Ran was overwhelmed with excitement.

She tried various ways to gather more information about him and learned that his parents lived in Liangcheng—the same city as hers. Whenever he had the chance, he would return to stay with them for a while. Eventually, she couldn’t hold back any longer and asked Li Zan if he remembered saving her. Li Zan openly admitted it, explaining that he hadn’t brought it up earlier because he wasn’t sure whether that memory would be traumatic for her.

While having a meal with Luo Zhan, Li Zan still couldn’t help but watch Song Ran’s videos. Luo Zhan invited Li Zan to help him with something after completing his volunteer work, and Li Zan agreed. Noticing Luo Zhan’s excessive praise, Li Zan quickly realized that Luo Zhan had a favor to ask. Seeing that his intentions had been exposed, Luo Zhan straightforwardly asked Li Zan what he thought about journalism.

At that moment, an image of Song Ran flashed through Li Zan’s mind, and he described journalists based on his impression of her. At the TV station, the leadership decided to have Song Ran and her team leader, Shen Bei, compete with their respective topics for the next month’s front-page feature. Song Ran felt uneasy about it, as she had no intention of stepping on Shen Bei’s position.

However, Shen Bei said that fair competition was the norm, and everyone had to rely on their abilities to secure opportunities. On the weekend, Song Ran had no reason to see Li Zan, so she used the excuse of returning his umbrella. She placed it on his car and waited inside her own vehicle until he finally appeared. Only then did she happily get out to greet him.

Song Ran had been looking forward to seeing Li Zan, but when they finally met, she found herself feeling nervous. Suddenly, Li Zan brought up the red string bracelet. Song Ran was a bit surprised and didn’t want to return it just yet, so she deliberately claimed she didn’t have it with her. Using an interview as an excuse, she managed to get Li Zan’s phone number.

As they were about to part ways, Li Zan pointed out an error in one of her video segments. Song Ran was thrilled—this meant he had genuinely watched her program. Back home, Song Ran’s mother was dissatisfied with her video, commenting that while it might be good enough for a TV station, it was far from making a national impact. Having never received her mother’s approval, Song Ran felt disappointed and left the house under a random excuse.

At the office, Shen Bei reviewed Song Ran’s topic and found it impressive. She had initially suspected that Song Ran was scheming against her, but after piecing together some clues, she realized that Song Ran wasn’t playing any tricks. That evening, Song Ran had dinner with her mother. She told her that even though she didn’t like her videos, there were still people who did.

Their conversation was sharp and filled with strict words, as their relationship had always been tense. However, deep down, they cared for each other—especially Song Ran’s mother, who was about to leave by plane and strongly insisted that Song Ran see her off at the airport. When the TV station announced the list of top journalists of the year, Song Ran’s friends believed she should have been selected. However, the leadership declared that the award would go to Shen Bei.

Shen Bei invited the production team for a meal and specially reserved a seat, announcing that her boyfriend would be joining them. She revealed that he was a volunteer mine-clearer in Dongguo. Upon hearing this, Song Ran was shocked and couldn’t believe it. But when Li Zan walked in, she had no choice but to accept the truth. Overcome with emotions, she quickly found an excuse to leave.

Seeing Song Ran walk out, Li Zan also found an excuse and followed her. Outside the private dining room, they met again. Song Ran didn’t say much—she simply returned the red string bracelet to him and then left. Shen Bei was captivated by Li Zan’s unique personality and expressed her admiration for him. She even told her father about it. Song Ran returned to Dongguo once more.

This time, her team specially assigned Sa Xin, a person of Chinese descent, to receive her. She was arranged to stay at a military camp. Early the next morning, as she was preparing to go out and film, a group of mercenaries spotted her. Their leader, a Chinese-descended man, approached her with a mocking and sarcastic greeting.

During the two months back in Dongguo, Song Ran's life became incredibly rich and fulfilling. Each day, she absorbed new knowledge and experiences like a sponge. One day, as she was sharing the simple joy of washing her hair with rice water with Jiang Lin, an unexpected figure—Li Zan—quietly appeared in her line of sight. Song Ran looked up in shock, her eyes meeting Li Zan’s. She had not anticipated encountering him at that moment.

Li Zan approached her with a gentle smile and softly asked if she needed a comb. This unexpected act of kindness warmed Song Ran’s heart. Following Li Zan’s lead, Song Ran stepped into his dormitory. The room was simple and tidy, exuding a sense of masculine order and discipline. Li Zan took out a brand-new towel from his cabinet and was about to hand it to her, but Song Ran hesitated.

Not wanting to trouble him, she politely declined the towel, worried she might dirty it, and instead asked only to borrow the comb. Li Zan nodded with a smile and handed it to her. As Song Ran combed her damp hair, she curiously asked why Li Zan was there. He explained that his volunteer hours were not yet complete—his previous stay had been just a temporary rest.

Now, he had returned to this challenging and opportunity-filled place to continue fulfilling his mission. Hearing his explanation, Song Ran felt a surge of admiration for him. She quickly packed up her things and prepared to leave. Seeing her rushing off, Jiang Lin asked with concern what was wrong. Song Ran simply shook her head with a smile, assuring him she was fine. The next day, Song Ran followed Li Zan and his team on a demining mission.

Jiang Lin, worried for her safety, repeatedly reminded her not to step onto unexplored paths. Li Zan jokingly remarked that if anything happened, it would be Jiang Lin’s responsibility. With a resigned smile, Jiang Lin assigned Song Ran to stay close to Li Zan, making him responsible for looking after her. During the demining task, Li Zan demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a calm demeanor. He keenly noticed a grenade hidden beneath a landmine and quickly commanded his teammates to retreat.

Song Ran nervously recorded the scene while Li Zan carefully disarmed the grenade. Noticing her filming, he smiled, took the camera from her hands, and personally captured the intense yet invaluable moment for her. Amid their busy work, a doctor hurried over, urgently stating that she needed to go into the village to retrieve antivenom to save a patient. Jiang Lin firmly opposed the idea, as the area was still being cleared of explosives and was too dangerous.

The doctor anxiously explained that the hospital had run out of the serum, and only the village clinic had it. She estimated that it would take her ten minutes to get there, but if she couldn’t retrieve the serum within half an hour, the patient’s life would be at risk. Upon hearing this, Li Zan immediately stepped forward, offering to retrieve the serum himself. He then asked for the patient’s name.

Song Ran quickly handed over her notebook, and the doctor wrote the name down. It was only then that she realized Song Ran’s identity. Introducing herself, she said her name was Pei Xiaonan, and she was a doctor. Suddenly, a distant explosion sounded, making Song Ran’s heart tighten. However, Jiang Lin remained calm, stating that it was likely Li Zan handling an explosive detonation. Before long, Li Zan safely returned with the serum. Pei Xiaonan was overwhelmed with gratitude.

An elderly man also came over to thank Li Zan for saving his life and offered him some snacks as a token of appreciation. Although Li Zan wasn’t fond of snacks, he accepted them, knowing that doing so would make the old man happy. During a break in the demining work, Song Ran saw two children playing. A little girl named Siya approached her, claiming that a boy had taken her ring.

Song Ran patiently listened and learned that the ring was a wedding gift from Siya’s mother, making it extremely precious to her. However, the boy insisted that the ring belonged to him, leading to a dispute between them. Siya confided in Song Ran about her desire to learn demining—her dog had been killed in an explosion. Coincidentally, Li Zan had recently found a stray dog and had given it to her as a form of comfort.

When Siya asked if he missed the dog, Li Zan handed her his badge as a keepsake, telling her she could come find him anytime. Watching this scene unfold, Song Ran’s admiration for Li Zan deepened even further. Meanwhile, the team leader expressed interest in traveling to Dongguo. At the same time, Song Ran was preparing an interview plan aimed at speaking with demining experts. Jiang Lin suggested interviewing Li Zan, but Song Ran, feeling shy and nervous, hesitated to take on the challenge.

Song Ran returned to her residence, still reflecting on Li Zan’s earlier words. Those words were like a lighthouse in the fog, leaving her both puzzled and curious. At that moment, the mercenary leader, Benjamin, happened to run into Song Ran while she was buying apples. Smiling, he approached her and attempted to strike up a conversation. However, Song Ran already understood his intentions.

She told him directly that she preferred a simple pastoral life—growing vegetables was far less complicated and much purer than dealing with intricate human relationships. Seeing her firm stance, Benjamin did not insist and instead offered to escort her home. Song Ran politely declined, explaining that she lived nearby and there was no need to trouble him. While Song Ran wasn’t paying attention, Benjamin secretly took an apple.

Sa Xin witnessed the act and immediately called him a thief, demanding that he return the apple. Instead of getting angry, Benjamin provocatively questioned Sa Xin’s disdain for mercenaries, even mocking him by saying that if Sa Xin’s country were strong enough, it wouldn’t need to hire mercenaries for assistance. Hearing this, Sa Xin’s expression darkened, his anger surging. Song Ran, drawn by the commotion, asked Benjamin about the apple.

Benjamin tried to argue that it had simply fallen, but Song Ran easily saw through his lie—the apple was unblemished, showing no signs of a fall. Without further confrontation, she took Sa Xin with her and advised him not to take Benjamin’s words to heart. Though Sa Xin outwardly claimed to be furious, he couldn’t deny that Benjamin’s words held some truth, which only made him more frustrated.

Just then, Raina arrived with a basket of fruit, saying they were from her son. Song Ran immediately recognized them as the same fruit Sa Xin had handled earlier and suddenly realized that Raina’s son was, in fact, Sa Xin. Sa Xin was confused by his mother’s secretive approach to meeting him. Raina, with no other choice, revealed the truth—she didn’t want people to know that Sa Xin had a mother like her, fearing it might affect his future.

Furthermore, Sa Xin’s father also disapproved of their meetings. She pleaded with Song Ran to keep this secret. Song Ran agreed but also shared her own perspective—there was nothing shameful about it. Later, Song Ran and Sa Xin worked together to deliver essential supplies to the local residents. The experience brought Song Ran an unprecedented sense of joy; for the first time, she felt she had truly made a tangible difference in people’s lives.

From a kind elderly woman, Song Ran received a meaningful gift—seeds of a white olive tree. Li Zan had once told her that olive trees symbolized peace, yet in this land of Dongguo, ravaged by sandstorms, olive trees struggled to survive, appearing dim and lifeless. When Benjamin caught sight of the olive tree seeds, his face was full of disdain, convinced that Sa Xin had conspired with others in some kind of scheme.

Just then, Li Zan arrived in time to firmly defend the truth—something Benjamin had never personally witnessed. Taking advantage of the moment, Benjamin brought up Sa Xin’s inappropriate actions at the hotel, further fueling Sa Xin’s anger. At that moment, a shadowy figure sneaked into their view. Li Zan, sharp-eyed, immediately sensed something was off. He swiftly took the camera from Song Ran and captured a crucial image, unexpectedly revealing a bomb.

Instantly alert, they realized this was a meticulously planned attack, and the atmosphere grew tense. However, they were unarmed, making their situation extremely dangerous. Thinking quickly, Sa Xin remembered a guard post not far ahead and suggested they seek reinforcements. But Benjamin, seeing himself as merely a mercenary rather than a soldier, declared that he would be of no help. At this critical moment, Li Zan and Jiang Lin stepped forward without hesitation.

With swift movements, Jiang Lin subdued the suspect, while Li Zan began defusing the bomb. He soon discovered that it was a dual-trigger explosive, making the disarming process exceptionally difficult and time-consuming. Meanwhile, Sa Xin noticed that a window on the top floor of an abandoned building had been unexpectedly opened. A suspicion arose in his mind—an ambush could be waiting. He immediately ordered Benjamin to investigate.

Sure enough, someone in the shadows began throwing stones, trying to lure them into the open. Fortunately, Benjamin reacted quickly and pulled Sa Xin aside, preventing a disaster. Time was running out. In a decisive move, Li Zan drove a vehicle straight into a wall, creating chaos and buying precious time for bomb disposal. A sudden explosion rang out, making Song Ran’s heart jump into her throat.

She rushed to the hospital, only to see Li Zan’s clothing, leading her to believe he had perished. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. But at that moment, Li Zan appeared. Through his intelligence and bravery, he had narrowly escaped death. Seeing him safe and sound, Song Ran finally let out a sigh of relief. Li Zan revealed that he had used the suspect’s body to weigh down the detonator, avoiding the blast. This harrowing experience strengthened the bond between them even further.

During the hotel bombing crisis, Sa Xin anxiously searched for Song Ran. His face was filled with worry as he revealed that his mother, Raina, was inside the hotel, while the bomb was located on the floor below. Desperate to rush into the hotel, Sa Xin was stopped by the soldiers. Seeing this, Benjamin immediately ordered the soldiers to let him through, allowing Sa Xin to enter. Song Ran followed closely behind, stepping into the hotel alongside Sa Xin.

Inside, Raina was still busy organizing the guests’ belongings, completely unaware of the impending danger. Sa Xin, frantic, tried to pull Raina away, but she stubbornly insisted on finishing her work. She worried that these were valuable items belonging to VIP guests, and if anything went missing, she would lose her job. Sa Xin was deeply frustrated by this—he found it unfair that those privileged guests fled for their own safety while leaving Raina behind in such a perilous situation.

Seeing this, Song Ran joined in persuading Raina. Eventually, Raina agreed to leave, but not before taking Sa Xin’s trophy with her. At that moment, the hotel manager rushed in, his face full of anger. He scolded Raina for focusing on retrieving "insignificant" items while neglecting the guests’ valuables. Benjamin stepped in at the right time, grabbing the manager and suggesting that if those items were so important, the manager should retrieve them himself.

However, this was just a trick—by then, the bomb had already been successfully defused, and Li Zan was well aware of this. Soon after, the returning guests attempted to cause trouble for Raina, but Sa Xin, Song Ran, and their companions firmly stood their ground, blocking them from doing so. As Song Ran and Li Zan made their way back, she remained concerned about Raina’s job security.

Li Zan reassured her, reminding her that some things could not be changed overnight, and all they could do was remain vigilant. Just then, Siya hurried over to them, urgently informing them of an explosion elsewhere. Her friend, Solon, was trapped inside, and his fate was uncertain. Without hesitation, Li Zan and Song Ran rushed to the scene and eventually found Solon buried under the rubble, barely clinging to life.

After an initial medical examination, the doctor confirmed that Solon was not in immediate danger but needed to be taken to the hospital for further treatment. Li Zan carefully carried Solon toward the ambulance, while Siya followed closely behind, tightly holding Solon’s hand. The scene deeply moved Song Ran, prompting her to capture this precious moment in a photograph. Since Siya was not Solon’s direct relative, she was not allowed to ride in the ambulance with him.

In response, she slipped a ring onto Solon’s finger, declaring herself as his wife. Touched by their deep bond, Li Zan explained their relationship to the doctor, who made an exception and allowed Siya to accompany Solon. Song Ran handed Li Zan an apple, symbolizing safety and peace, as a gesture to share the moment with him. While tending to the wounds he sustained from his heroic rescue, she realized that he needed professional medical treatment.

She could only perform a simple bandage on his hand. Li Zan decided to seek medical attention, and Song Ran offered to go with him, planning to interview Jiang Lin on the way. However, before they could proceed, Jiang Lin’s younger brother called. Worried that his brother might be concerned, Jiang Lin requested to reschedule the interview. Understanding his situation, Song Ran and Li Zan decided to head to the hospital first.

At the hospital, Benjamin and his team unexpectedly encountered Dr. Pei Xiaonan. Initially, Benjamin mistook her for a nurse. When he learned that she was a Chinese doctor and could understand him, he was both surprised and impressed. When Pei Xiaonan informed him that his wound required stitches and a tetanus shot, Benjamin resolutely refused anesthesia, insisting on enduring the procedure without it. As she removed her mask, Benjamin was momentarily captivated by her beauty.

Meanwhile, during his visit with Jiang Lin, Li Zan revealed his intention to travel to Hepu. Jiang Lin was shocked, believing that the situation in Hepu was unstable and that, as a volunteer, Li Zan might not be able to handle it. However, Li Zan was resolute, stating that it was his choice. Deeply moved by his determination, Jiang Lin decided to join Li Zan on this uncertain journey, ready to face challenges fearlessly.

At the same time, Song Ran received exciting news—her photograph had gone viral online, sparking widespread attention. Upon hearing about this, Shen Bei proactively approached her director, requesting to be sent to Dongguo for field experience to sharpen her skills. The director readily approved her request, unaware that Shen Bei had a hidden personal motive for making this decision.

Song Ran unexpectedly ran into Li Zan and excitedly expressed her desire to follow in their footsteps and travel to Hepu for filming. Faced with her enthusiasm, Li Zan hesitated. He admitted that he had originally planned to look for her but was worried that if he failed the selection, he would lose face. Just as he was wavering, Song Ran’s sudden appearance saved him from his dilemma. Seeing that it was still early, Li Zan suggested having lunch together.

In a small restaurant filled with the enticing aroma of grilled meat, Song Ran chose barbecue without hesitation and generously let Li Zan order, stating that she had no dietary restrictions. The conversation soon shifted to Shen Bei, and Song Ran mistakenly assumed that she was Li Zan’s girlfriend. Li Zan quickly clarified, explaining that Shen Bei was introduced to him by a friend, and he had no romantic intentions toward her.

As it turned out, the meeting had been arranged by Luo Zhan. Li Zan had originally intended to decline, but out of politeness, he still went. Shen Bei, being a perceptive person, noticed Li Zan’s attitude. Although she expressed that she wouldn’t give up on her feelings for him, she also respected his decision. At that moment, Jiang Lin walked out from the selection site, trying to conceal his failure, but Li Zan saw through him immediately.

Jiang Lin laughed and said that Song Ran was much more cooperative than him, unlike his own miserable state. Jiang Lin then introduced Li Zan to everyone, revealing that he was a demining volunteer about to depart for Hepu and had successfully passed the selection. Benjamin, however, questioned this, believing that it was not a place for volunteers to be involved. He then mentioned that he had also passed the selection.

Li Zan merely smiled and responded that their motives were similar, except his had nothing to do with money. Jiang Lin enthusiastically invited Song Ran to visit their camp and even generously offered to give her some vegetables. Benjamin, not wanting to be left out, also insisted on joining. When they arrived at the camp, they found everyone busy trying to catch a runaway goose, creating a rather comical scene.

The goose nearly crashed into Song Ran, but Li Zan quickly stepped in to protect her. A single feather floated down and landed gently in Song Ran’s hair. Li Zan thoughtfully pointed it out, and she shyly removed it. After collecting the vegetables from Jiang Lin, Song Ran noticed that Li Zan was still waiting in place and curiously asked him why. Li Zan smiled and replied that it was getting dark, and he wanted to escort her home.

On the way, Song Ran asked about Li Zan’s plans for the next day. He told her that he still had a full day of training ahead and that it might be his last day in the area. A ripple of emotion stirred in Song Ran’s heart upon hearing this. Back at her residence, Song Ran received a call from Sa Xin. He informed her that a journalist had been injured, and he had been urgently dispatched to assist.

To her surprise, one of the injured was someone she knew. Without hesitation, Song Ran called her editor-in-chief and expressed her willingness to continue reporting from Hepu. After careful consideration, her editor approved her request. Meanwhile, Shen Bei had quietly arrived in Dongguo. The next day, Song Ran set off on her journey. Along the way, she encountered a military patrol. The soldiers carefully checked her credentials and seemed to recognize her, even mentioning the photos she had taken.

Song Ran politely borrowed a map and marked her intended destination. Then, realizing that the map belonged to someone else, she quickly apologized. The soldiers, however, reassured her that it was nothing to worry about. Shortly after, Li Zan and his team happened to pass through the same area. The soldiers mentioned to them that they had just encountered a Chinese girl. Li Zan immediately recognized that it was Song Ran.

But when he saw that the location she had marked was a conflict zone, he became extremely anxious. Song Ran attempted to avoid a group of people but was accidentally discovered. She hurriedly hid inside a house while those outside searched the area. Her heartbeat quickened as she concealed herself in the shadows. Just then, Li Zan appeared unexpectedly, shocking and delighting her at the same time.

He quickly signaled for her to stay quiet, and Song Ran immediately nodded in understanding. Li Zan led her through the building, using the windows as cover. He swiftly leaped into another house, guiding her along. The searchers outside noticed the open window but, seeing no footprints, gave up their search. Once the danger had passed, Li Zan quickly took Song Ran away.

At that moment, Jiang Lin contacted them via radio, instructing Li Zan to take her away first while they handled the rest. In this sudden crisis, the unspoken understanding and courage between Li Zan and Song Ran made them each other’s most reliable support.

Li Zan drove Song Ran to Highway 7, where the fighting had stopped, and both sides had agreed to meet at the military base in Hepu City. The mercenaries who had just finished fighting also took an interest in Song Ran. Li Zan felt a bit jealous and protective of her, which made Song Ran happy and even a little shy.

As they drove along Highway 7, chatting happily, Song Ran suddenly noticed that Li Zan had a wound on his neck. Concerned, she examined the injury. At that moment, their eyes met, and the atmosphere became charged with new feelings. Song Ran carefully applied medicine to Li Zan's wound, and they were close enough that they could feel each other's breath. After driving for a while, Song Ran spotted a group of refugees by the roadside.

A little girl was curled up in her mother’s arms, clearly hungry. Li Zan stopped the car, and Song Ran got out to give the little girl some of the food she had with her. Seeing this, many other refugees surrounded her, hoping for food. Li Zan immediately moved to shield Song Ran, but to his surprise, the refugees formed a line, waiting patiently for their turn. Looking at these pitiful people, Song Ran felt a deep sense of guilt.

She distributed all the food she had, but there wasn't enough to go around, and many still hadn’t received anything. She looked at the remaining refugees, their eyes full of hope, and felt an overwhelming sadness. She didn’t want to disappoint them, so she desperately searched for more food, but ultimately, there was nothing more to give. Watching the refugees leave with disappointed expressions, Song Ran felt deeply sorry, and her heart was heavy.

She admired how the people of Dongguo, despite their hunger, still maintained order and politeness. After traveling a bit further, a beautiful sight appeared in front of them: a field of white olive trees. It was a stunning landscape. Under the beauty of the scene, the two made wishes. Li Zan used the radio to report the situation with the refugees to Jiang Lin. Song Ran eagerly awaited his response.

As expected, Jiang Lin decided to help the refugees, which made both Li Zan and Song Ran very happy. Unknowingly, Song Ran fell asleep, and in her sleep, she reached out and grabbed Li Zan’s hand. Not wanting to wake her, Li Zan moved his hand slowly and kept the car steady as he drove. Meanwhile, Benjamin noticed a group of children sneaking into the military camp to pick flowers.

He pretended to be the bad guy and let all the children go free. Just then, he saw Pei Xiaonan arrive, holding the flowers the children had stepped on. He decided to take the flowers to her, and Sa Xin, who was nearby, mocked the flowers as being stolen. Pei Xiaonan, however, took the flowers without hesitation. Benjamin saw an opportunity and asked Pei Xiaonan out for dinner, which she agreed to—but with a catch.

She told him he would have to do some heavy lifting since she was there to deliver medicine to the camp. Benjamin thought that Sa Xin was always opposing him because he liked Pei Xiaonan and felt that Sa Xin and Pei Xiaonan were not a good match—she was too young. Sa Xin denied this and said he was just there to interview people before walking away.

Li Zan and Song Ran finally reached the military camp where they were supposed to meet. They coincidentally ran into Pei Xiaonan, who, upon seeing Li Zan’s injury, immediately showed concern. Song Ran and Pei Xiaonan sat down with drinks in hand, sharing stories about the events of the day.

Pei Xiaonan went to get some drinks, leaving Song Ran alone and feeling a bit bored. She picked up her phone and started watching cartoons. Just then, Li Zan arrived, but Song Ran didn’t recognize him at first. She thought it was Pei Xiaonan returning and told her not to let anyone know she was watching cartoons. Li Zan sat down next to Song Ran and joked around with her.

After drinking a bit too much, Song Ran slowly lay down and fell asleep. Li Zan then took Song Ran back to the dormitory, where Pei Xiaonan was already asleep. At that moment, Benjamin walked in, seeing that both the girls were drunk and sleeping. With a sigh, he left, disappointed. The next morning, Song Ran was woken up by the noise of training in the military camp.

When she saw the time on her phone, she realized it was already late and began packing her things to leave. Just then, Li Zan appeared and informed her of her schedule for the day. Song Ran was surprised and asked how he knew. Li Zan explained that she had mentioned it the night before when she was drunk. Song Ran, a bit embarrassed, tried to remember what she had said, especially some of her secrets.

Li Zan and Song Ran went to the hotel where she was supposed to do the interview. They took the hotel elevator, and every time the elevator moved up a floor, it required a little bounce. At first, Song Ran didn’t realize and instinctively grabbed Li Zan, which made her feel a bit awkward. Sa Xin introduced Song Ran to his colleagues, and they happened to meet an industry professional that Song Ran greatly respected, Mike.

Song Ran was about to greet him, but he ignored her. Sa Xin gave Song Ran a bulletproof vest. The group was talking about a famous piece that Song Ran had photographed, which caught Mike’s attention. However, Mike seemed to have some prejudice against Song Ran, speaking rudely to her. Song Ran stood her ground and argued back. Suddenly, gunfire rang out as the rebels, now in a more ruthless state, were attacking civilians. The entire city was in danger.

Song Ran then overheard people selling tickets on the black market. With the current situation in Hepu, people were desperate to escape, but there were limited tickets. Song Ran saw a few civilians pleading with the ticket sellers to lower the prices, but the sellers were unmoved. She borrowed money from her colleagues in an attempt to help buy tickets, but Mike thought Song Ran’s actions wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Despite everything, Song Ran threw herself into her busy work. One day, while she was writing an article, she suddenly heard gunfire outside the window. Worried about Li Zan, she learned that Jiang Lin was leading a team to fight the rebels while Li Zan had put on his bomb disposal suit, preparing to defuse landmines. At the height of the battle, the rebels used children as human shields, and no one dared to shoot.

However, Benjamin seized the opportunity when the rebels were careless and shot one of them accurately. The child who had been taken hostage was the same child Benjamin had helped in the camp earlier that day. The child was strapped with explosives, and Li Zan quickly moved to help defuse the bomb. Song Ran, anxious about Li Zan’s safety, rushed to the combat zone. She happened to see an explosion, and with great worry, followed the others to safety.

However, there were more explosives that were triggered, and Li Zan urgently told everyone to evacuate. Song Ran stayed by the bomb as it neared its detonation time. As the bomb was about to explode, she couldn’t help but shout Li Zan’s name at the top of her lungs. Li Zan was thrown by the shockwave of the explosion, but he wasn’t seriously hurt. Seeing that he was okay, Song Ran was deeply relieved and felt a surge of emotions.

Jiang Lin found Benjamin and told him that next time he shouldn’t act without consulting others. When the child was taken hostage, everyone was hesitant to shoot, but Benjamin, without informing anyone, shot and killed the bandit. While this time it worked out, it was extremely dangerous, and if things had gone wrong, the child might not have made it back. Benjamin didn't seem to care about the warning.

During the explosion, Li Zan’s red string was severed, and Song Ran believed that the string had protected him from disaster. So, she decided to buy a new red string for him. This event brought Li Zan and Song Ran closer to each other, and their bond deepened. After the battle ended, Li Zan had to leave, and both of them had their own tasks to attend to.

They parted ways again, but before leaving, Li Zan suddenly made a decision. With newfound courage, he handed Song Ran an apple. Seeing the apple in her hand, Song Ran felt moved and excited. Song Ran met Sa Xin, who appeared very downhearted. He felt as though his country was like a fruit-bearing tree with no ability to defend itself. Anyone could come into his country, pick a fruit, and leave without hesitation.

No one spoke up for his country, and no one had any sympathy. It felt as if his country was doomed, and there was no solution. Hearing this, Song Ran also felt deeply sad. There was nothing she could do to help. At that moment, the person who had lent Song Ran money earlier to help the refugees sent her a message.

Since Song Ran had borrowed the money to buy tickets for the refugees, the people had no intention of asking for the money back. She showed the message to Sa Xin, trying to encourage him by reminding him that many kind people wanted to help his country. After reading the message, Sa Xin felt much better. Back at the hotel, Song Ran lazily lay on the bed.

Just then, her mother called, scolding her for not coming back home and sounding very stern. In the past, Song Ran would have found her mother’s tone harsh, but now, hearing her mother’s voice, it felt warm and comforting. For the first time, Song Ran spoke softly and gently to her mother. Surprised by her daughter’s tone, her mother didn’t continue the scolding but just reminded Song Ran to be careful.

Jiang Lin felt the same way about his country and was also comforted by Li Zan. Under Li Zan’s words of encouragement, Jiang Lin’s mood improved significantly, and he decided to take Li Zan out for drinks to cheer up. Sa Xin also took Song Ran to the bar to drink. Watching Sa Xin smile like the sun, Song Ran admired him. Just as they were talking, Benjamin came over holding a drink.

Sa Xin, however, didn’t like Benjamin very much. Song Ran noticed Pei Xiaonan in the bar, happily dancing in the middle of the dance floor. At that moment, Li Zan also arrived at the bar. He and Song Ran sat together, drinking and chatting happily. After the explosion earlier, Song Ran asked Li Zan about his condition, showing concern. As Song Ran got a little tipsy, Li Zan noticed it was getting late and suggested taking her back.

They walked down the street, and when Li Zan saw there was no one around, he boldly invited Song Ran to dance. Song Ran agreed with a smile, and just as they were about to dance, a couple passed by quickly, also dancing. This encouraged Song Ran to become more daring, and the two danced together, elegantly and boldly, like a gentleman leading his partner in a graceful dance.

Benjamin, in an attempt to improve his relationship with Sa Xin, decided to help him get the star. However, Benjamin deliberately teased Sa Xin, which made Sa Xin a bit angry. While Sa Xin was in the restroom, he happened to see Benjamin greeting another woman with a warm hug. Coincidentally, Pei Xiaonan also saw this. Pei Xiaonan, feeling upset, threw a drink at Benjamin before leaving.

Sa Xin, however, was pleased, as it turned out that Benjamin didn’t actually know the woman. The woman had dropped her key, and Benjamin had picked it up and returned it to her. Sa Xin's opinion of Benjamin changed, and he explained to him why he was so eager to get the star. Upon hearing this, Benjamin made a drink called "Starry Sky" for Sa Xin, and the two happily drank together.

Afterwards, Li Zan and Song Ran returned to their place. As they were walking, they encountered two drunk men coming toward them. Instinctively, Li Zan shielded Song Ran and pulled her into his arms, which made Song Ran feel a little shy. They started talking about going back to their country, and Li Zan expressed that he hoped Song Ran would stay longer.

It was clear that Li Zan was trying to express his feelings, wanting to spend more time with her. Song Ran was delighted to hear this. After parting ways with Li Zan, Song Ran joyfully ran back to the hotel, only to find Shen Bei there. Song Ran was surprised, and Shen Bei openly admitted that she had come to fight with Song Ran for Li Zan. Song Ran, pretending to be unconcerned, left.

Shen Bei realized that Song Ran had changed and had grown. She recalled seeing Li Zan and Song Ran together at the hotel entrance and made up her mind to win Li Zan’s heart. Song Ran met Sa Xin, and he reminded her that Li Zan might have feelings for her. Song Ran was caught off guard but also felt a surge of joy inside.

Meanwhile, in the military camp, Jiang Lin and Li Zan were talking when Benjamin came over. The three of them teased each other, and just then, a soldier came to report that a female journalist was looking for Li Zan. The three of them thought it was Song Ran. However, when Li Zan arrived at the camp gate, he saw that it was Shen Bei.

Shen Bei told Li Zan that since Song Ran’s work period was over and she would be going back to her country in a few days, she was here to take over for Song Ran. Benjamin, who had come to find Li Zan, was surprised to see it wasn’t Song Ran. Song Ran and Sa Xin then went to the orphanage, where they found Shen Bei conducting an interview, but she was being turned away.

Song Ran decided to step forward and greet her. Sa Xin noticed that Shen Bei had some hostility toward Song Ran and didn’t really like Shen Bei. However, Song Ran didn’t mind and even offered advice on how to conduct the interview so that it wouldn’t be rejected. She even offered to help bridge the gap, but Shen Bei wasn’t receptive and continued to show hostility. Song Ran, hearing this, gave Shen Bei a sharp rebuttal, leaving Shen Bei speechless.

Back at the hotel, Shen Bei was packing her bags to return home, but her competitive nature wouldn’t allow her to give up. So, she decided to stay. Meanwhile, Benjamin was driving and happened to spot Vina, who was injured and carrying two children. Benjamin immediately asked Vina what had happened. Vina explained that she was a volunteer and hadn’t been mistreated. Benjamin then took Vina to the hospital for treatment. Coincidentally, Pei Xiaonan saw this and approached them.

Since Pei Xiaonan knew that the incident the other night had been a misunderstanding, she greeted Benjamin. Benjamin, once again, asked Pei Xiaonan out, and she readily agreed.