Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yin Shixiong had asked the Cuban Air Force for a rather old helicopter. It had been produced by the former Soviet Union, but it was robust, reliable and strong. It flew at a stable speed but was quite loud. Yin Shixiong sat next to Gu Nianzhi and plugged his ears to shout, “Old Mao’s things are all like this! No bells or whistles, kind of ugly, but safe and reliable!”
Gu Nianzhi’s thoughts were interrupted by Yin Shixiong, so she glanced at him with a slight pout.
“What is it? Look at your mouth, you’re pouting like a fish.” Yin Shixiong tapped her lips, asking curiously, “Hmm? How come you’re injured? Who bit you?”
Gu Nianzhi finally couldn’t hold back from rolling her eyes and sneering at Yin Shixiong to reveal two rows of tiny white teeth to indicate she had bit herself. Yin Shixiong looked at the small and delicate bite marks and secretly knew they couldn’t have been from Hup Shaoheng… He giggled at her. “Then why did you bite your own lips? Were you craving meat? If that’s the case, just tell your Brother Xiong, and we’ll get barbecue meat as soon as we land!”
More barbecue meat! Gu Nianzhi had already rolled her eyes 100 times in her mind. The memory of this “barbecue” on the sea was too vivid. She thought she would not want to have barbecue meat for the rest of her life now…
…
Huo Shaoheng took a call not too far from the others. He was using the special phone line on the helicopter. Although the technology was rather old, there was almost zero possibility of being eavesdropped on.
“Shaoheng, what happened, exactly?” General Ji was very anxious over the phone. “How could something happen? Didn’t you say you would bring Gu Xiangwen back? Did someone interfere with you?”
Huo Shaoheng considered it carefully and thought he couldn’t rule out that possibility for now. He was also very interested in Gu Xiangwen’s electric fence and wanted to take the opportunity to see what information he could get out of Gu Yanran. He wanted to figure out how much she knew, or ask about where Gu Xiangwen had conducted his research to aid their investigation.
“Chief, the investigation is still ongoing,” Huo Shaoheng replied carefully. “And we also have new information and hope to not only successfully bring him back, but also bring new technology with us.”
General Ji instantly knew that Huo Shaoheng had found something good again, but he didn’t ask about it over the phone. He sighed in relief and replied, “That’s great! That’s great! You must complete the mission despite any cost! That way, I can answer all those other people.”
General Ji was facing a lot of pressure because Huo Shaoheng had run into issues in Barbados. The Supreme Military Council, the Senate, and Prime Minister Dou’s Cabinet were all questioning him and asking him to answer as to why Huo Shaoheng had deviated from the itinerary on this overseas visit… General Ji read Prime Minister Dou’s request for “questioning,” which, in itself, was almost considered a leak of intelligence. He cursed in his study for nearly half an hour afterward.
“Shaoheng, I’m telling you to ignore it if you receive any letters of inquiry from the Cabinet—forward them to me, and I’ll deal with them!” General Ji had always been very protective of his people, and now that he was emboldened, he planned to put Prime Minister Dou in his place.
Huo Shaoheng asked in shock, “Prime Minister Dou didn’t resign yet?” He remembered that Prime Minister Dou had been exposed colluding with the Yamaguchi-gumi even before he went abroad.
“…When is it ever that simple?” said General Ji. “He refused to resign. If the Senate impeaches him, they’ll have to start the grand jury process, which will take at least six months to a year to assemble. Also, the election is in a month, so everyone is saving the trouble by simply not reelecting him during the election.” General Ji punched the table lividly.
Stunned silent for a moment, Huo Shaoheng gently tapped the small square table with his fingers. “Do the voters know about his scandal? If they don’t and end up reelecting him…”
“You don’t have to worry about that. His scandal is posted everywhere now—online, in print, on TV. It’s all over the place, but Old Dou is very tenacious. No matter how much pressure he receives from others and the public, he ignores it all and continues to be Prime Minister.” General Ji shook his head with pity. “But politics are not our business, so we don’t have to worry about it. You just need to bring that man back for me.”
“Roger, Chief.” Huo Shaoheng instantly stood straight to accept the command. Setting down the phone, he returned to Gu Naiznhi’s side to see her giggling with Yin Shixiong. Huo Shaoheng walked over next to her to help adjust her blanket. “Can’t sleep?”
Gu Nianzhi looked down before shaking her head and turning her body so that her back faced him and Yin Shixiong. Yin Shixiong scratched his head. Something didn’t look right… Nianzhi always obeyed Huo Shaoheng, why was she rebelling now?!
Glancing at the two of them, Yin Shixiong stood up and muttered, “I’ll go see how Little Ze is doing…” He finished speaking and left. But where could he even go in a small helicopter like this? He could only walk a few steps and find another place to sit down.
Huo Shaoheng sat next to Gu Nianzhi and was speaking with Chen Lie, who was checking Gu Nianzhi’s vitals. “…What did you examine? Are you sure she’s ok?”
Chen Lie looked at the data stats with a shake of his head. “She really is ok, but over-exhausted. According to what you said, the electric arcs in the waters of the blue hole were very powerful. Nianzhi’s health was impacted to a certain degree, so she must rest well for a few days.”
Huo Shaoheng nodded. Chen Lie’s diagnosis was nearly identical to the one from He Zhicu’s doctor. However, the other doctor didn’t seem to know about Gu Nianzhi’s special body constitution, so Huo Shaoheng couldn’t set his mind at ease. Now that Chen Lie had fully examined her, he could finally be reassured that Gu Nianzhi was really okay.
Gu Nianzhi closed her eyes as she listened to Huo Shaoheng and Chen Lie quietly discuss her condition. She was somewhat displeased. Huo Shao was asking so much to confirm that she was ok, but what did that mean, exactly? She was ok now but had truly been injured… It also hurt a lot. The extent of the pain was equivalent to when she’d donated bone marrow to Huo Shaoheng’s mother, Song Jinning. The pain burrowed itself in her marrow. The only strength she had over others was her ability to tolerate pain… But how was that a good thing?
Gu Nianzhi was very depressed. Facing the wall, she looked at the old and worn paint on the helicopter. After staring for a while, she somehow fell asleep slowly.
By the time she woke up, they had already returned to the Huaxia Consulate General in Barbados. She was in her own room, and the light was on. The warm yellow glow had the ability to warm and calm her heart. Opening her eyes, Gu Nianzhi looked around and thought she was alone. Slowly getting up from the bed, she removed the thin blanket covering her body and dizzily got out of the bed to put on slippers. But as soon as she took two steps, her legs gave out, and she fell with a thump on the carpet.
Huo Shaoheng stood up from the sofa in the room and walked over to pick her up. “Why did you wake up? Where do you want to go?”
Gu Nianzhi was shocked. “Huo Shao? You’re here? Why didn’t I see you?”
“I was sitting on the sofa over there.” Huo Shaoheng turned his body so Gu Nianzhi could see that the round sofa in the middle of the bedroom that had a higher back. Huo Shaoheng had been sitting there, and if he didn’t make a sound, Gu Nianzhi really wouldn’t have noticed him sitting there.
“Oh.” Gu Nianzhi composed herself and pushed away his hand to reply calmly, “It’s late. Huo Shao should go back to rest. I’m ok here.”
“Are you really ok?” Huo Shaoheng couldn’t help laughing. “Why are you pouting like that if you’re ok? I’ll stay here with you if you say you’re not ok.”
“If you’ll only stay with me if I say I’m not ok, then what’s the point?” Gu Nianzhi looked away, unable to dispel the feeling of being wronged.
