Chapter 1, The Wounded

However, as the two fought together in the same trench, Fang Lang saved John's life, which left John, the American cowboy, deeply grateful. A comrade he had never met before risked his life to save him, and John felt he must repay this debt.

"Fang, how did you get out? Mr. John Clark is searching for you throughout the hospital!" The young nurse, whose freckles were clearly visible on her face, looked anxious.

Even now, Fang Lang's mind still occasionally goes blank, but upon waking, his overall spirit noticeably improves, and he gradually recalls many of his original memories, including some that he had long forgotten, such as the chalk writing left by the teacher on the blackboard in elementary school, which he can remember clearly

John patted Fang Lang on the shoulder and said, "Brother, don't be sad. I can go ask our logistics department if they have received your letter."

In fact, the hospital has never been able to determine exactly where Fang Lang was injured. He was in a state of coma when he was brought to the hospital. The frontline doctors believed that he had suffered brain damage from the shockwave of an explosion, which caused him to fall into a coma. He remained unconscious for a week, and it was initially thought that there was no hope for his recovery. It was only after John’s strong insistence that Fang Lang was transferred from the frontline field hospital to the naval hospital in Naples

The reason John wanted to bring Fang Lang out is quite simple: Fang Lang was injured while trying to save mhetushu.com. If it had not been for Fang Lang risking his life to drag the injured John out of the trench, John would have been directly blown to pieces by the shell that followed. It was precisely because Fang Lang was thrown nearly ten meters by that shell that he was injured and fell unconscious.

"Haha... Fang, should I hide away so as not to interfere with your confession?" A figure leaning against the wall, dressed in a similar hospital gown, draped in a U.S. military jacket, and propped up with a cane, teased from across the corridor.

We are already on the battlefield, thinking about these things is pointless. You said your father found you? What does that mean? Fang Lang did not want to continue contemplating the facts that could no longer be changed

Miss Lilith, you look truly beautiful today. Thanks to Fang Lang's twenty years of seafaring experience, he was able to communicate with this young nurse in basic Italian, albeit with some difficulty.

Before departing, I wrote him a letter, but I have not received any reply until now, so I do not know whether he knows where I am! Thinking about it, I still feel a bit unfilial. Fang Lang also does not understand why the original self was foolish enough to join this so-called Brazilian Expeditionary Force.

"Alright! If you could be a little gentler with me when you give the injection, I promise I won't run out again," Fang Lang said playfully as he walked into the hospital.

Haha... brother, you have no chance. Clearly, Lilith likes me, haven't you noticed?" John said with a confident expression, not forgetting to raise his eyebrows at Fang Lang.

Since the U.S. military landed in Italy, they have requisitioned this naval base and the surrounding auxiliary facilities, which evidently includes this hospital. The American soldiers are notoriously carefree, and they certainly have not refrained from teasing the young girl before them

John could not have imagined that two people would have such similar experiences. "Does your father know you are in Italy?"

"Hey! Buddy, from what you said, your father is quite an impressive figure, isn't he?" Fang Lang was indeed quite curious about what kind of person John's father was. Originally, he thought that John's situation in the U.S. military should be somewhat similar to his own in the Brazilian army.

What John did not know was that Fang Lang was no longer the Brazilian Expeditionary Force sergeant who had pulled him out of the trench at that time

Of course not, it is just that my relationship with my father is not good. We argue whenever we meet. He originally wanted me to join the Navy, but I wanted to stay away from him, so I joined the Army instead

"Father, my father has found me." John could not clearly express his feelings; he had never mentioned his father to anyone.

When he woke up again, he had become a soldier of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in the Italian campaign during World War II, named Fang Lang. In the initial days, Fang Lang felt as if he was in a state of chaos, with the memories of two different individuals continuously intertwining and repeating.

Hey... John, since you know you shouldn't make a sound, you should hide and not interfere with my confession

Thank you for your compliment, but that does not persuade me to agree to your continued exposure to the cold wind here. Come inside, the sea breeze outside is very cold, and your body has not yet recovered! Have you forgotten that you suddenly fainted while standing yesterday?" Lilith was clearly accustomed to Fang Lang's compliments.

Fang Lang only remembers that he was originally the chief engineer of a 100,000-ton container ship named Zhongyuan Shipping. While crossing the Drake Passage, he encountered a typhoon. Secured by a safety rope, he was checking the tightness of the equipment amidst the storm when he was directly struck by a wave, which sent him flying off the gangway. Dragged by the safety rope, he collided with a container and then lost consciousness

According to Fang Lang, it seems that only Brazil in all of South America joined World War II under the encouragement of the United States, and it appears that only about 20,000 to 30,000 Brazilians participated in the war. If it were to fight against the Japanese, Fang Lang would definitely not hesitate and would just go for it, but going to Europe to fight on behalf of the United States is certainly a sign of losing one's mind

Because John is not a Caucasian, it is evident from his yellow skin, black hair, and black eyes that he is definitely a minority. The proportion and status of minorities in the U.S. military should be comparable to that of Fang Lang, who is of Chinese descent in the Brazilian military.

Hi! What's the matter? My husband and I often argue. He always wants to control me, insisting that I take over the family business and manage the farm. Goodness! This is not a feudal society anymore; I have my own freedom, don't I? So, I secretly enlisted in the military! I wonder if he got angry at home because of it.

Fang Lang and John gently embraced and then laughed heartily as they walked back to the ward

He seemed oblivious, completely captivated by the warships docked in the naval port. It was not that these warships were particularly advanced or imposing, but the final grandeur of these massive ships and their cannons indeed left him profoundly impressed

The playful banter between the two made Lilith feel a bit shy, but she still imitated the tone of the hospital aunt and said: "You two rascals, you don't have any chance, hurry up and get into the ward, I am going to give you injections."

Today, his phone call reached the hospital, stating that his aide had already been arranged to come and find me. He wants to transfer me to the logistics department of the Navy. However, I have no desire to work under him, damn it. It is evident that John is quite dissatisfied with his father's intention to transfer him under his command for protection.

Are you implying that I am not gentle enough? Trust me, you will soon experience what it means to be not gentle at all

"What do you mean? Are you running away from home?" Fang Lang was actually not familiar with John. John served as a major liaison officer assigned by the U.S. military to the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, while Fang Lang was merely a sergeant major in the first regiment of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, and they had almost no interaction.

In November 1944, at the naval hospital in Naples, Italy, the cold sea breeze caused the hospital gown on Fang Lang to rustle.

I understand, but I do not need protection; I am an adult now, yet he still treats me like a child. John's way of thinking is indeed quite peculiar to Fang Lang, as he has such good resources yet does not know how to utilize them

"Hey! Brother, you have a good father; he wants to protect you, do you understand?" Fang Lang realized that John's father must be an extraordinary person when he heard that he was going to transfer John to the logistics department under his command

Because the Brazilian Expeditionary Force is actually a unit under the command of the U.S. military, with logistics, transportation, equipment supply, and even mail and allowances managed by the U.S. military, John thus asked to inquire if there were any letters for him.

No, trust me, the reason I ran out to feel the cold wind is that I fear I might get trapped in your tender embrace and never be able to escape. Therefore, I must let the cold wind of the Mediterranean awaken me. " Fang Lang gazed at Lilith with deep affection, causing her face to flush.