Li Zan said, "It's fine, just remember it in your mind. You might not look at a photo often, but you can recall a memory anytime."

Song Ran was instantly comforted. She added, "But it was truly magical. A mirage should show the original colors of the scenery. Could there really be a forest of white olive trees somewhere?"

"Maybe there is, who knows?" Li Zan said, moving aside with the bags and cases to make way for her.

After she finished taking pictures, he pushed open the gate and then the inner wooden door. The space inside was small, and a few bags took up more than half the floor. He pulled the iron gate shut, then closed the wooden door, and only then pressed a button. "Which floor?"

"Fourth floor."

He turned his head to look at her. "When you ride the elevator by yourself, remember, you have to close the outer iron gate, or the elevator won't move."

"Mm." She nodded. After a moment, she said softly, "Is there anything you don't know?"

Li Zan was taken aback and a bit embarrassed. He laughed and said, "I've seen this type of elevator before."

"Eh? Where?"

"One year, I went to Volgograd for training and stayed in a building from the World War II era." The elevator car was cramped, and the two stood squeezed together. He looked down at her. "That building had this kind of old elevator."

"Oh." She felt they were standing too close; her heart felt a little unsteady. She looked around and said, "This poor elevator. It's like an old grandpa, still having to carry two young people like us."

Hearing this, Li Zan's lips curved into a smile.

The elevator slowly ascended. The semi-hollow side walls had windows, through which one could see the elevator shaft of the old building and the cables moving up and down.

Suddenly, with a lurch, the whole elevator shuddered. Song Ran was startled and grabbed onto Li Zan.

But the next second, the elevator was steadily ascending again.

Song Ran's face flushed with embarrassment. She immediately let go of his arm. With no room to retreat behind her, she could only stay pressed close in front of him, letting her cheeks slowly turn red and hot.

She looked down, smoothed her hair, her eyes darting everywhere as she tried to laugh it off. "I thought it was a bomb."

Li Zan's gaze also slowly shifted elsewhere. He explained, "This kind of elevator is just like that. It jumps a little when it reaches each floor."

"Oh." She nodded, looking down at his combat boots. The elevator lurched again. This time, she pressed her palms against the wooden wall, stood firm, and didn't lunge at him.

After a few seconds of silence, Song Ran changed the subject. "Volgograd is the historical Stalingrad, right?"

"Yes. The most brutal battle of World War II. The entire city was destroyed."

"I was obsessed with World War II history when I was in school," Song Ran said. "Is that city okay now?"

"It's a very quiet city. The sky is very blue, the streets are straight and wide, and there are monuments and cemeteries everywhere. But it's plagued by small flying insects. My comrade said it was because there were too many corpses in the past, too many people died. But I think it's probably just because the city is built by the Volga River and the trees are too lush."

"Oh." She listened to his description, imagining what the city looked like, and nodded.

Just as they were speaking, the elevator lurched again. They had reached the fourth floor.

Once the elevator stopped, Li Zan pulled open the wooden door of the car, then the outer iron gate, and looked back at her. "You go out first."

Song Ran ducked her head and brushed past him.

He moved the bags out one by one, closed the inner door, and then pulled the gate shut. He said, "When you come and go, if you don't have many things, try to take the stairs."

"Okay. I know." Song Ran understood what he meant.

In a war zone, power outages were one thing, but accidents could also happen at any time.

Song Ran's room was at the end of the hallway. The interior was simple: one single bed, and where another single bed would have been, there was a desk and chair instead. The TV had been removed from the wall, as had the air conditioner, which was replaced by a fan.

Li Zan pushed her things into the room, placed the cases side by side, and put the backpack on the desk.

Song Ran asked, "Do you want to wash your face?"

Li Zan shook his head and said with a smile, "I'm leaving now."

Song Ran's heart skipped a beat. She knew he wouldn't stay long, but at this moment, she felt a sense of attachment, and even a hint of bitterness.

In such a strange city, she was alone again.

She looked at him.

He also looked at her, his gaze quiet and gentle.

Afraid of losing her composure, she quickly averted her eyes and hurriedly found a bottle of water for him. "Here, take this water."

Li Zan refused. "You drink it."

"Just take it!" She grew a little anxious, her voice slightly sharp as she shoved the water into his hand.

He took the water and didn't let go this time, giving her a small smile.

The two looked at each other in silence. After this parting, they would each go to their own missions, and there was no telling when they would meet again.

Song Ran followed him to the door, insisting, "Let me walk you to the stairs."

"Mm."

The hotel corridor's carpet had been removed, and the sound of his combat boots on the floor was very clear.

Neither of them spoke now, walking in silence toward the stairwell.

With only a few steps left, Song Ran finally asked in a low voice, "Where are you staying?"

"The barracks."

"Where is it?"

Li Zan smiled but didn't answer.

Song Ran knew it was confidential.

He stopped at the top of the stairs and said, "Don't come down."

"Mm." She nodded. She wanted to tell him to be safe, but the words didn't come out. She just smiled and waved at him. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Li Zan gave her one last look and quickly descended the stairs. When he reached the landing, he looked up and saw she was still standing there. He called out, "Reporter Song."

"Yes?"

"Protect yourself," he said. "Don't die."