"So, only the people associated with Netherian Military have access to this club?" Qingyue curiously asked after they were allowed to enter the premises.
"Yes." He nodded to her. "And their immediate family. However, at any one visit, we can bring along upto two guests." He informed her. "The access extends to the next two generations of the Military Officer in the Family. And I have access to these facilities because of my Grandfather. However, unlike him, who enjoys everything here on the expense of the Government, we have to pay for the services."
"I see." She nodded to him and curiously looked around the lobby, where several Soldiers and Officers were sitting, chatting with each other, and the rest were on their Guard duty.
Keith had to submit his Identification Card at the Reception, and then all three of them received E-Tags, in form of wristbands, before they were free to roam around the club and enjoy the services.
Qingyue was quite surpised to see the number of female soldiers and Officers. Yes, the Netherian Military was amongst the few in the world that had its Female Population comprising more than 25% of its active Military, but still seeing lots of females at the facility, she could not help but appreciate such a sight.
"Why are you so surprised?" Keith caught on her expressions and chuckled. "We have the world's largest Military Force of over 5 Million active personnel, and 1.25 of them are female. Don't you know that most of them, 0.95 Million to be exact, hail from the Northern Provinces like ours?"
"Actually, I did not know that." She truthfully said and then curiously asked. "But why is that so?"
Keith shrugged at her question.
"There are no Quotas, so, it must be that the Northern ladies are built different when compared to the Southerners."
The two of them casually chatted about things and Keith kept informing her more about the Netherian Military. They were on their way to the Indoor Firing Range when they passed by an open restaurant, where they caught sight of an acquaintance.
"Isn't that Rebecca Grayson?" Qingyue asked as she looked at the golden blonde girl in a tracksuit, chatting with a Military Officer in the hallway.
And by the looks of it, the Officer was clearly hitting on her, and she seemed quite comfortable with it.
"Yes, that's Rebecca Grayson." He frowned and nodded.
It was indeed a surprise for him, since he was not expecting her to be here. Of course, he knew why she would be here, but he had not thought that they would meet here today.
"Do you think that's her boyfriend?" The grey-eyed girl curiously asked as he looked at the tall and muscular man standing next to their acquaintance.
"Boyfriend?" Keith grinned in his heart at her words. 'More like a Toyfriend', he thought. "I guess not." He shook his head. "I have never heard about her having any boyfriend."
"Mhm." She nodded her head at his answer as she too had never heard any such rumors.
There were rumours, of course, linking her to various men, but none ever proved to be true or was confirmed by either side.
"Let's go! We have to take left from here." He deliberately grabbed her hand, which she did not refuse, and followed after him.
"We are not greeting her?" She asked.
"Do you want to intrude on her privacy?" He chuckled.
"No!" She brightly smiled and shook her head.
Unbeknownst to her, the Golden Blonde had caught sight of them when they turned left, and her curious Ocean Blue eyes did not miss them holding hands.
"Excuse me." She lightly smiled at the tall and muscular man, who was her acquaintance, and simply walked off towards the Firing Range, leaving him frozen at his place, surpised by her sudden change of demeanour.
Keith, Qingyue, and Yingying arrived at a stairway that led down to the Firing Range, and he lightly smiled when he caught sight of the Golden Blonde girl enter the hallway.
Their eyes briefly met in the mirror even if they were more than a dozen meters apart, and the light smile on his lips made Rebecca's heart uncomfortable for some reason.
How could she have known that there was actually someone in the world who knew her secret, and it was the very man who had just smiled at her?
She was born special, possessing beauty and mind that few possessed, however, she had a secret. And her secret was that she could recall everything since her birth, even bits of times when she was in her mother's womb, as clearly as possible. Yes, she had Absolute Memory or Panmnesia as one would call it. And Rebecca had never told a soul about her secret, not even when she was a little child did she ever bring it up to her parents or friends.
And the Golden Blonde had not missed the look in Keith's eyes when their eyes met in the mirror. He was expecting her, and his smile was the proof of that.
Never in her wildest dreams would she have that this very man knew all her secrets. Secrets that even she was not aware of.
"Have you decided on which gun you would like to use?" The soldier girl who was working as one of the Receptionists asked.
"Bretta M 27s."
"Customizations?"
"Standard, and no Optics."
"Magazine Capacity?"
"9+1.40 Super."
"Rounds?"
"250." Keith brightly smiled at her, making her a little flustered.
"I will be right back with your order." She said after she wrapped up the Guns that she had just showed him, and entered the Armory to prepare his order.
Keith glanced at his left where Yingying was guiding Qingyue about the Gun Safety. He had asked her to do it so that they can get to know each other better after the conversation they had earlier in the car. And he hoped that it would ease the dissatisfaction Yingying held in her heart against Qingyue.
"Interesting choice." A sudden melodious voice commented, and Keith instinctively turned to look at the gorgeous lady, who was half-leaning on the reception desk.
He couldn't help as his eyes inadvertently glanced at her bosom, which was quite well-endowed and tantalising to stare at, but he schooled himself quite quickly.
"Miss Grayson!" He politely smiled and nodded to her. "What a pleasant surprise!"
"Pleasant, indeed." She lightly smiled back, and then turned to look at the second Receptionist. "I have the same order, but replace the rounds with.45 ACP."
"Very well." The Receptionist nodded to her and joined her colleague in the backroom to prepare her order.
"How's Amelia doing?" She suddenly asked, curiously glancing in Qingyue's direction.
"I hope she's doing fine." He chuckled. "Haven't seen her for the last four days."
"Oh." Rebecca surpisedly looked at him before she realized the reason behind it. "She's in Beijing with your mother?"
"Yes, World Telecom Congress. Your Father should attending it too." He nodded to her.
"He is." She nodded to him and then mischievously smiled at him. "As newly weds, you were supposed to go on Honeymoon with her. But my, my, here you are, and there she is, all alone with your mother."
"I am not sure what you mean by that, Miss Grayson." He chuckled and feigned ignorance.
"Of course, you don't." She smiled. "So, when are you taking her out on a Honeymoon?"
"Not anytime soon." He casually said. "We have lots of things to attend to. And there's a long life ahead of us, so, no rush." He shrugged.
"There's something I am very curious about, Young Master Demiliore."
"And what is that, Young Lady Grayson?" He playfully smiled at her.
"Why did you help my mother?" She asked, looking right into his eyes.
"For you." He brightly smiled at her question and unhesitatingly answered.
Rebecca narrowed her eyes at his words, feeling more uncomfortable in her heart.
"You are not my type, Young Master Demiliore." She said and then lightly smiled.
"That's harsh!" He feigned some hurt. "Well, congratulations! You are the first one to say that to me!"
"Is that so?" She smiled some more. "What do the girls even see in you?"
"Who knows?" He shrugged. "It isn't like I am ridiculously handsome, culturally refined, and ridiculously rich."
The last Receptionist, who was listening on their conversation, could not help but burst out in giggles when she heard his words.
"Oh, fair lady. Why do you laugh at me?" He teasingly said, folded his arms on his chest and then leaned in, approaching her with hopeful eyes.
"N-no. I am not laughing at you!" The Receptionist called out in a high-pitched flustered voice, and her cheeks soon reddened in embarrassment.
"It's okay. I am used to people laughing at me." He chuckled and then grabbed her hand, softly planting a kiss on her knuckles. "You have a beautiful voice." He complimented her with a gentle smile.
The Receptionist looked dumbly at him, and when he let go of her hand, she felt quite agitated at the loss of the warmth of his hand.
"You are good!" Rebecca giggled.
"No, I am not good. I am better than you." He shook his head and plainly said, which made her Ocean Blue eyes smile at him.
"Are you?"
"Yes." He grinned.
"How about we hold a competition?" She suggested once the two Receptionist brought them their orders.
"What's the bet?" He did not refuse and asked.
"If I win, you will tell me why you helped my mother and family. And I expect the truth, Mr Demiliore." She straightforwardly said.
"Well, in case I manage to win. You owe me a date, Miss Rebecca." He chuckled and picked up the case that held his order.
"Here are your Earmuff and Safety Goggles." The Receptionist handed the additonal items to them.
"Thank you!" Rebecca nodded. "Can you open the seventh Alley for us?"
"Of course, Miss Grayson!" The Receptionist happily nodded and scanned their E-Tags once more before opening the Private Firing Alley for them. "You can stay inside for two hours."
"That's more than enough." The Golden Blonde smiled and then simply walked off with her case towards the lift.
Keith glanced at Yingying, and then nodded to her before following the blonde inside the lift.
"What's your best score?" Rebecca curiously asked.
"I don't have a best score." He chuckled and shook his head, taking her off-guard.
"Do you even know how to shoot a gun?" She doubtfully asked.
"Don't worry. I should be fine with it." He assured her.
"I hope you don't disappoint me, Mr Demiliore." She simply said and looked away.
"I hope you wear purple on our date." He confidently said, which irked her some more.
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