Chapter 697: Chapter 697: This Scene Pierces Everyone’s Heart

Compared to Qiu Qianghai, his grief was even more overwhelming.

The two men, either crying silently or aloud, influenced everyone in the room with their sorrow.

"Knock knock—"

The door was knocked on.

It was like a death knell, also a signal.

Everyone in the room turned their eyes to the door.

Qiu Qianghai and Gu Jiajie stared fixedly at the door.

Gu Jin supported An Mingji’s arm, her body gently leaning against his, lacking the courage to open the door.

No one knew her inner sadness; that girl Minmin was really well-behaved and sensible, how could she just leave like this? How could one accept this?

No one went to open the door until Wanqi Jingyi stepped forward.

He lifted his foot toward the door and slowly opened it.

Outside the door stood two men in dark green uniforms, the leader quickly saluted, "Hello, comrade."

This person was Hong Fei, who had connected with Gu Minmin at the border.

The person behind him held a square box in his hands.

Upon seeing the wooden box, a heaviness flashed across Wanqi Jingyi’s deep eyes.

Looking at the shoulders of the two outside, he knew their identities were not low, understanding this was a special unit.

"Come in."

Wanqi Jingyi stepped aside to let the two enter the room.

Hong Fei glanced around the room, meeting several pairs of bloodshot eyes, especially the two men sitting on the sofa, whose grief was most apparent.

Before coming, Hong Fei had reviewed Gu Minmin’s files and immediately recognized Gu Jiajie, knowing he was Gu Minmin’s brother.

He turned, received the wooden box from his comrade behind him, and walked toward Gu Jiajie.

"Hello, Comrade Gu Minmin fell in action, sacrificing herself to protect many comrades. This is her ashes, awarded the highest honor by the leadership—"

From the moment they appeared and he saw the urn, Gu Jiajie’s ears began ringing, and he felt his world turning upside down.

He didn’t want to hear Hong Fei’s words, his eyes bloodshot, fixedly staring at the urn in Hong Fei’s arms.

"Give her, to me!"

He spoke the sentence in two parts.

The grief and choking in it were heartrending.

Hong Fei stopped talking, gently pursed his lips, and took a step forward with the urn, respectfully placing it in Gu Jiajie’s hands.

"I’m very sorry, that while fighting alongside Comrade Gu Minmin, I couldn’t protect her."

If only he could have caught Red Eagle a moment earlier, this nineteen-year-old girl would not have sacrificed herself.

A nineteen-year-old girl, not yet officially enlisted, managed to avoid the casualties of hundreds by herself.

This was what they truly admired and regretted.

None of Hong Fei’s words reached Gu Jiajie.

The moment Gu Minmin’s ashes entered his arms, he held it tightly, releasing a low, pained roar: "Ahhhhh—"

He howled sadly, tears sliding down his face like water, uncontrollable.

"Minmin! My Minmin!!"

Gu Jiajie’s eyes were vacant, lifeless, filled with grief.

He collapsed onto the sofa, curled up, holding Gu Minmin’s urn tightly, wanting to protect her so she would never be harmed again.

This scene stung everyone’s eyes.

Except for Qiu Qianghai.

At the instant he saw Gu Minmin’s urn, his tears stopped.

Aside from slightly red eyes, his face was calm as if nothing was amiss.

He slowly stood up, moving with stiff steps, mechanically walking towards Gu Jiajie.