“That’s not how things work.” Speaker Long smiled languidly and said, “You are making the Senate proud by working with Department Six. I will remember this, so you don’t need to worry.”
Speaker Long was already older and had great difficulty finding a good successor, so he treasured Gu Nianzhi very much.
Since Gu Nianzhi was very young, Speaker Long had thought that she had very strong abilities but not enough composure. He was intentionally allowing her to travel and gain more experience.
Gu Nianzhi’s cheeks burned red from Speaker Long’s praise, so she accidentally mentioned Rong Mingxing’s situation in her excitement. “…Speaker Long, there was something else too. Rong Mingxing helped us a lot this time; you have to record her merit too,” she said.
Gu Nianzhi couldn’t help but recall Special Assistant Yang when she mentioned Rong Mingxing. She knew that Rong Mingxing was alone and helpless in the Embassy, so her life might be in danger if Special Assistant Yang wanted to hurt her.
So, Gu Nianzhi thought about it and finally decided to expose how Special Assistant Yang colluded with the Japanese Tokko elite agents in an attempt to harm her and Rong Mingxing. She even explained that Department Six happened to rescue her and Rong Mingxing when they were pursuing the elite agents.
With this explanation, she was able to cover up her and Rong Mingxing’s experience while also creating a reason for why the Special Operations Forces appeared in India.
Finally, she added, “Speaker Long, Rong Mingxing has evidence of Special Assistant Yang colluding with the Japanese Tokko elite agents. I have evidence as well, but I can’t come back to you just now. Please be careful. He might get desperate and harm you.”
Speaker Long originally thought that Special Assistant Yang envied Gu Nianzhi’s abilities, so he never imagined Special Assistant Yang would have the guts to become a traitor, collude with foreign powers, and harm his comrades and fellow Huaxia citizens!
“You don’t need to worry; I won’t let any one of these traitors escape!” Speaker Long’s tone grew harsh.
He always had a great temper and was considered the kind old man in political circles. But when he was young, his moniker was Smiling Tiger.
He hadn’t lost his temper for many years, so perhaps his subordinates thought he was just a sick house cat now?!
“I know that Speaker Long will certainly bring those traitors to justice!” Gu Nianzhi exclaimed with her fists clenched.
“Don’t worry. I already ordered for Special Assistant Yang to be taken into custody.” Speaker Long controlled his temper, then continued happily, saying, “We will be returning to the Huaxia Empire as soon as you come to pick up your luggage. Nianzhi, you will have to fend for yourself from now on and need to be more careful. You don’t belong to Department Six, so you don’t need to rush to the frontlines. Do you understand?”
Gu Nianzhi nodded quickly and said, “I know, I know.” She wanted to help Rong Mingxing too. “Speaker Long, Rong Mingxing’s position within the Embassy will be very awkward now that Special Assistant Yang got into trouble. She was a big help and maintained her own principles and bottom line in the face of great adversity, so I hope that you will give some consideration and take her back to the Senate Secretariat. I think that she has great potential as Senate personnel.”
Speaker Long did not agree immediately but only said, “I will talk with her. Rong Mingxing will be required to assist in the investigation on Special Assistant Yang’s case, so she was going to return to the Huaxia Empire with us anyway.”
Gu Nianzhi finally felt assured and laughed, saying, “Speaker Long, I trust you. I will leave Rong Mingxing in your hands.”
“Silly child, you still need to be taken care of too. Why are you always thinking about other people?”
Although Speaker Long hadn’t worked with Gu Nianzhi for very long, he could already tell that she was a very kind girl who treasured friendships.
She was eager to return any kindness and do so tenfold.
Of course, she wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate if someone hurt her.
She was generous, yet possessed a tenacious spirit. Speaker Long admired this very much.
He had been part of the political circle for so long, so he knew that she was the type of person that allowed people to relax the most.
He didn’t have to worry about her being incapable and causing trouble for him, nor did he need to worry that she would stab him in the back one day.
This was the only type of person that he could train without concerns…
…
After ending the call with Speaker Long, Gu Nianzhi thought that her face was a bit feverish.
Putting away her phone, she touched her face to discover that it was actually hot.
Huo Shaoheng called her from the other end of the hallway. “Nianzhi, come inside if you’re finished with the call. Don’t catch a chill at night.”
Gu Nianzhi turned around and gave him a small smile. Under the moonlight, her face was luminous like a cactus flower in the night; extremely subtle, yet incomparably glamorous.
Huo Shaoheng’s throat bobbed as he suppressed the fire rising up in his chest. He beckoned for her to come over.
Gu Nianzhi walked up the steps to the hallway and smiled. “When will my luggage arrive?”
“I already sent someone to go pick it up. It should be here very soon.” Huo Shaoheng grabbed her hand, pressing it against his lips to kiss it and whispering very quietly, “…I’ll go over to your room tonight?”
Gu Nianzhi smiled without giving a clear answer, gently pushed him away, and went inside.
Huo Shaoheng crossed his arms as he watched Gu Nianzhi’s back, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
The little girl had really grown up now. Not only had she grown up, but she also knew how to seduce him…
…
The next morning, Gu Nianzhi and Huo Shaoheng woke up at nearly the same time.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
They shared a look and ended it with a long morning kiss.
“We need to visit those clinics today. Which one do you want to check out first?”
Huo Shaoheng climbed out of bed and dressed first. He put on a loose-fitting pair of brown camouflage pants and a camouflage T-shirt that concealed his toned and slightly tan torso.
Gu Nianzhi hugged the blankets and sat up to ask, “Where is my luggage? All my clothes and toiletries are in there.”
Huo Shaoheng picked up his phone and called his subordinate. “Where did you put Miss Gu’s luggage?”
“Chief, we put it outside Miss Gu’s bedroom.”
Huo Shaoheng ended the call and went outside to open the door. He brought Gu Nianzhi’s luggage inside then turned to leave.
As soon as he closed the door, he saw He Zhichu standing at the entrance of the room across from them. The other man glared icily at him.
Huo Shaoheng, “…”
“Professor He, did you sleep well?” Huo Shaoheng nodded slightly, greeting him as though nothing was amiss.
He Zhichu closed his eyes and replied coolly, “I heard that you wanted to bring Nianzhi on the mission?’
“Not me, but us.” Huo Shaoheng crossed his arms. “Me, you, and our mercenaries.”
He Zhichu looked at him expressionlessly, hands stuffed in his trouser pockets and tone growing colder as he said, “…Why? Didn’t you arrest Reinitz already? What more do you want?”
“There has been a change in the situation.” Huo Shaoheng gave a simple explanation of their findings on the clinics, then said, “We need to go check those clinics ourselves today.”
He Zhichu rubbed his forehead in annoyance when he heard that it was related to the Angels on Earth charity again. “…Don’t you people know when to stop? That charity is about to lose the lawsuit, so everything they own will then belong to Nianzhi anyway. Must you go look at the clinics right now?”
“…But this is related to Nianzhi’s father.” Huo Shaoheng stared at He Zhichu, not missing a single reaction. He squinted his eyes and asked, “Could Professor He not want Nianzhi to find her father soon?”
He Zhichu became even more annoyed but didn’t reply. He merely waved his hand and said, “Do whatever you want.” He then turned around and walked towards the staircase.
Huo Shaoheng was in no rush to go down but leaned against the wall by the door to wait for Gu Nianzhi.
Gu Nianzhi finished washing up and changed into a pale green lace dress with three-quarter length sleeves. There were two pockets on the sides of the dress, so Gu Nianzhi liked it very much.
Opening the bedroom door, she saw Huo Shaoheng leaning against the wall and exclaimed, “Huo Shao, you didn’t go downstairs yet?”
“You should be calling me Alex,” Huo Shaoheng reminded her. “You can’t slip up in front of Reinitz.”
Of course, Alex was the name of Huo Shaoheng’s mercenary alter ego. It was not his real English name.
He didn’t have a real English name.
Gu Nianzhi quickly nodded and immediately changed her greeting, saying, “Alex, do you want to get some breakfast? When are we leaving?”
They chatted as they made their way to the dining room on the main floor.
The Special Operations Forces field personnel finished breakfast a long time ago, so they were working out in the gym.
He Zhichu sat alone in the dining room.
He snapped his fingers to ask for food to be served when he saw them come in, then said, “You can make all the arrangements from this point on. I won’t interfere.”
Gu Nianzhi sat across from He Zhichu and smiled. “Professor He, we want to visit the clinics today. You don’t want to come with us?” she asked.
He Zhichu didn’t even look up as he replied dryly, “No. I am very busy.”
Huo Shaoheng sat down next to Gu Nianzhi and smiled. “…I plan to pretend to be husband and wife with Nianzhi. That way, we can go to the clinic for a consultation.”
He Zhichu immediately looked up at him, his eyes flickering like lightning, and he automatically objected, saying, “You’re pretending to be husband and wife with Nianzhi? Absolutely not!”
