Natasha actually hung up right after saying that, determined to go track down Lightbulb and demand justice for Chen Ge.
Chen Ge hurriedly called her back. He couldn't let Natasha scold Lightbulb, or that guy would be making sarcastic digs at him every single day.
"Natasha, stay out of business between us men. I was just venting a little. Let's talk about something else. How are your studies going? Are you confident about doing a continuous bachelor's, master's, and doctoral track?"
"Oh, wait, the Russian higher education system is different from China's. It should be called a specialist and candidate-of-sciences consecutive program, right?"
Natasha tilted her head and beamed, her smile blooming like a sea of flowers—unfairly breathtaking.
Chen Ge imperceptibly shifted his gaze away. That smile was a little too lethal. Looking at it too long wouldn't do his peace of mind any favors.
"I am! I plan to finish graduate school and then go to China for my doctorate. A Chinese friend of mine is planning to go to Peking University, and I want to go there too."
"I'm already working hard on my Chinese, trying to pass HSK Level 6 before graduating from college."
Not bad—a genuine straight-A student. How had a muscle-brained brute like Lightbulb ended up with such a smart, beautiful sister?
"Keep it up! If I'd chosen to attend college back then, my gaokao score would have easily gotten me into Peking University. We'd have been alumni."
"Huh? Hammer Brother, your grades were that good?"
The corner of Chen Ge's mouth curled up, and he said with a hint of pride, "Ranked eleventh in the entire province on the college entrance exams. What do you think?"
Natasha was stunned. She knew just how cutthroat China's gaokao was; for Chen Ge to achieve such a high rank, he had to be an absolute genius.
"Wow, Hammer Brother, you're amazing! Why didn't you go to university?"
Chen Ge gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "My dream was to become a fighter pilot or an astronaut. Unfortunately, I failed the political background check, so I chose to head abroad to make my way in the world."
Failed the background check?
Natasha knew what that meant; Russia had security screenings as well.
"Did... did someone in your family commit a crime? I'm sorry, that was very impolite of me! Hammer Brother, you don't have to answer."
The moment the words left her mouth, Natasha regretted them and rushed to apologize.
"It's fine, I don't mind. My father..."
Chen Ge explained the whole story from start to finish, his face full of regret as he said, "My dream was strangled in the cradle, and most of my life was ruined along with it."
Natasha felt a swell of complicated emotions. She had thought her own life was miserable enough—losing her parents early, depending solely on her brother, the two of them struggling through hardship to grow up.
She hadn't expected Chen Ge's story to be even more tragic; he was an orphan too.
Torn between sympathy and heartache, her face flushed with anger. She despised the scumbags who had hidden drugs in his father's truck, not only destroying Chen Ge's family but wrecking his entire life.
"Hammer Brother, that's not fair to you. You should appeal! You should clear your father's name!"
Chen Ge shook his head helplessly. "It can't be cleared. My grandparents ran around for over a decade searching for clues, still looking just two months before they passed away from illness. They never found out who planted the drugs. Besides, the statute of limitations for an appeal has long passed, and overturning a drug conviction in Chinese judicial practice is virtually impossible."
Natasha knitted her brows tightly, boiling with fury as she cursed, "Bastards, those shameless bastards! Hammer Brother, what will you do from now on? Aren't you ever going back to China?"
"No. I'm going to build my life abroad from now on. What about you? What are your plans for the future? Your brother wants you to settle down in China and asked me to introduce you to a Chinese man to marry."
Natasha rolled her eyes in a charming pout, stared at Chen Ge for a few seconds, then mustered her courage and asked, "Why don't we date?"
Chen Ge leaned back in tactical retreat, marvelling inward at how bold foreign girls were. Even a well-behaved girl like Natasha wouldn't beat around the bush or act bashful when she fancied a man.
Of course, looks played an overwhelming part in that. Across the entire world, every single woman was swayed by a handsome face.
Men were the same. Who dared point to the ceiling and swear to the heavens that they didn't care about looks or figure when looking for a partner?
Chen Ge pondered for a few seconds, still unable to bring himself to hurt such a good girl.
"That won't work. You know what I do for a living. I'm not cut out for marriage."
Natasha puffed out her cheeks, brazenly trying to argue her case.
"Just like my brother, you only have six months left on your contract! I know you'll both come back safe and sound. Hammer Brother, you speak English and Spanish, and you've got such a great build. You could become a translator, work as a model, or go back to school and get a job in Russia after graduation!"
If not for his mutation, Natasha's suggestions would have been great options; he had considered every single one of those fields in the past.
Things were different now. He was choosing to stay in the PMC business!
Making money—raking it in violently, raking in massive wealth, making buckets and buckets of cash.
Buying villas, luxury cars, private jets, yachts, estates, castles; waking up every day to a flock of gorgeous, long-legged, hot-bodied maids—black hair, brown hair, blonde hair—waiting on him hand and foot; walking out surrounded by an entourage, bathed in envious, jealous, and spiteful stares. That was the wonderful life a vulgar man like him truly wanted.
Chen Ge shook his head, his tone gentle yet unyielding, every word sounding deliberate and thoroughly considered.
"Your suggestions are very good, but I don't intend to change careers. Once my contract is up, I plan to start my own PMC!"
Natasha's expression shifted, and she asked anxiously, "Why? Being a mercenary is so dangerous..."
Without hesitation, Chen Ge replied, "I want to make a lot of money. Aside from a PMC, what other industry could turn me into a billionaire?"
Natasha parted her lips, wanting to say there were so many ways to earn a living and asking why he had to be a mercenary, but she swallowed the words back down.
Thinking it over carefully, it seemed that aside from running a PMC, there really wasn't any line of work that could make Chen Ge fabulously rich.
"Alright... Will my brother be with you?"
"I don't want him. Once his contract expires, he's going back to Moscow to find you a sister-in-law and give you some nieces and nephews."
Natasha felt a secret pang of relief, but the thought of Chen Ge continuing as a mercenary made her anxious all over again.
"I still want to date you and have your baby. If you die, I'll raise the child, take them back to China, and carry on your family's bloodline."
Chen Ge froze entirely, nearly choking on his cigarette. His face was a picture of sheer bewilderment, completely thrown by Natasha's explosive declaration.
What kind of thought process was that?
"Wait, are you out of your mind?"
Natasha looked dead serious, her tone thoroughly earnest. "I'm not. You saved my brother, and I want to repay you."
Good grief. Repaying a debt on her brother's behalf? He wasn't even going to bother calling her out on that flimsy excuse.
With a half-smile, Chen Ge asked, "I don't need your repayment. Your brother has saved my life before too. Does that mean I should repay you?"
A flicker of slyness flashed across Natasha's eyes, and she nodded vigorously.
"Of course you should! China has an old saying: 'A drop of kindness received in need should be repaid with a gushing spring.' If you marry me and treat me well, that will be your way of repaying my brother for saving your life!"
"We can repay each other. I'll marry you, bear your children, do your laundry, and cook your meals. Deal?"
Well, that made sense. Remarkable sense.
Chen Ge could see right through her: Natasha just wanted to drag him back into the normal world.
Once a man had a wife and children, he would have ties, hesitations, and fears, and he wouldn't dare take reckless risks anymore.
There was probably another reason too—she worried her brother would tag along with him and keep working as a mercenary.
"Fine. Once you finish your doctorate, we'll get married."
Natasha beamed radiantly and hurriedly said, "Then I won't get a doctorate!"
"I don't like women with low education levels."
"..."
The smile on Natasha's face instantly froze. She glared at Chen Ge in huffy indignation, her teeth grinding audibly.
"You don't genuinely want to marry me! It takes eight years for me to finish a doctorate. You're horrible!"
Chen Ge tapped the ash off his cigarette, leaned back against the headboard, and said in all seriousness, "In eight years, you'll be twenty-seven and I'll be thirty. Perfect age to get married. Assuming I'm not dead, of course!"
Natasha tilted her chin up and let out a haughty huff.
"By the time I finish my doctorate, you won't even be good enough for me! I won't marry you!"
"Even better. I hope you live a peaceful, happy life, instead of spending every day on pins and needles, terrified that your boyfriend or husband is going to die out on the battlefield!"
Chapter 24