Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Of course, you’re amazing… Ok. You’re not mad anymore?” Huo Shaoheng kissed her again, his tone sounded like he was patronizing a child.
Gu Nianzhi’s eyes flickered when she finally reacted. Huo Shaoheng was truly patronizing her. All the previous excitement instantly faded. She smiled with a shake of her head, leaning against Huo Shaoheng’s chest and keeping quiet. She really was in over her head to believe that Huo Shao would surrender so easily. That was even less likely than the sun rising in the west… But Gu Nianzhi no longer bickered with Huo Shaoheng.
This incident made her keenly aware of the gap between them—not only in terms of status and identity but also age and life experience. She was an 18-year-old student, as easily read as a transparent crystal to the esteemed, 28-year-old Major General Huo Shaoheng. She wasn’t yet his opponent. Gu Nianzhi’s long lashes lowered as she quietly lost herself in thought.
And for Huo Shaoheng, he believed the incident ought to come to an end. He didn’t have all that time to focus on personal things. Huo Shaoheng gently patted Gu Nianzhi’s shoulder, whispering in her ear, “We’ll go see your father at the hospital the day after tomorrow. This is an official mission, not a drill. I’ll discuss the specific plans with you.”
Gu Nianzhi perked up and slid off Huo Shaoheng’s lap with a nod. “I’ll go change and then you can tell me the whole plan. I have a simple computer program in which I can enter all the various conditions of the operation. We can see if there is any room for improvement.”
“Ok, no rush. You get changed.” Huo Shaoheng was already in work mode. He stood up. “I’ll go make guinea fowl for you.”
Gu Nianzhi watched him leave her room with a sigh in her heart, then went to the bathroom to change and shower. Because she was in a bad mood, taking a bubble bath and applying relaxing rose body cream helped alleviate her emotions. At the crux of it, she couldn’t base all her emotions on other people. She had always been able to talk herself through these sorts of things and didn’t get stubborn.
…
Huo Shaoheng busied himself for an hour in the consulate’s kitchen. Once the guinea fowl was braised, he called Yin Shixiong. “Big Xiong, we’ll go talk to Nianzhi about the operation on the day after tomorrow.”
The two men arrived at Gu Nianzi’s room just as she stepped out of the bathroom.
Clad in a bathrobe and with her hair still dripping with water, she used a pure white towel to dry her hair as she called out through the bedroom door, “Is that Huo Shao and Brother Xiong? I just showered, you guys. Wait a bit…”
Huo Shaoheng and Yin Shixiong sat down in the living room outside the bedroom. Taking out their tablets, they began a drill on the operation using the schematics. Once Gu Nianzhi came out after drying her hair, she sat across from the two men and listened intently to the course of action. After he finished explaining, Huo Shaoheng looked at Gu Nianzhi.
“Do you have any other questions?” he asked. “Did you understand?”
Gu Nianzhi considered it for a moment before asking, “Are you sure I just need to show my identity, and we’ll be able to discharge Gu… My father?”
“According to the rules and regulations of that hospital, that’s the case,” said Huo Shaoheng. He mused, “Our personnel also compiled some information about the hospital. We have limited time, so it’s not very complete, but we were able to clearly research their rules and regulations.”
“Right, and if they still refuse, then that means either something is fishy with them, or something is fishy with Gu Yanran. No matter which one it is, we are confident we can get Gu Xiangwen.” Yin Shixiong pounded the coffee table, his expression solemn.
Gu Niaznhi carefully read the action plan again and took out her laptop to break it down into main segments to input into the simple program she’d created. After running the program, she pointed to the results.
“It doesn’t look like there are any issues,” she said, “but if they have a backup plan or hidden conditions, then our plan might get derailed.”
“So, we must prepare for the worst possibility.” Huo Shaoheng made a fist with his right hand to prop his chin up. Looking at Gu Nianzhi’s laptop screen pointedly, he replied, “Nianzi, send me a copy of this program so I can study it tonight.”
Gu Nianzi nodded with a smile. “This was prepared for you guys, anyway… But I didn’t get a chance to give it to Brother Ze.”
Yin Shixiong clapped soundly. “Nianzhi is too amazing! Little Ze has a successor. How wonderful!”
“Brother Ze, don’t talk about things you don’t know about. If you keep blabbing mindlessly, Huo Shaoheng might punish you!” Gu Nianzhi ribbed Yin Shixiong with a smile, her mood greatly improved from earlier.
Huo Shaoheng assumed she had gotten over it, so he packed up and used a flash drive to copy Gu Nianzhi’s computer program and the earlier results. He quickly left Gu Nianzhi’s room with Yin Shixiong.
Gu Nianzhi sat alone in the living room for a long time before standing up to shrug and pick up her laptop. She went back to her bedroom to continue researching the operation for the day after tomorrow. This was the first time she was officially participating in Huo Shaoheng and his men’s missions. She was a bit like a special guest, so she had to give it her all and not drag them behind.
…
After busying herself, Gu Nianzhi really did forget her little grievance and lost track of time. When she got the call to go downstairs for dinner, it was already 6:00 p.m.
Gu Nianzhi was finally able to eat the delicious and tender guinea fowl. These wild pheasants could be domesticated, but the flavor couldn’t rival wild ones.
“This soup is so fresh!” Gu Nianzhi drank two bowls in a row, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “Huo Shao, what spices did you put in?”
“How could it taste fresh if there are too many spices?” Huo Shaoheng shook his head with disapproval. “I only added a bit of salt.”
“Then this was the actual flavor of the ingredients? No wonder it tastes so fresh and delicious!”
Gu Nianzhi continued to gush over the soup and ate so much she could barely walk. She couldn’t sleep right away because she was too full, so she walked around the consulate and finally arrived at Zhao Liangze’s treatment room. Opening the door, she saw Huo Shaoheng sitting on the sofa in front of Zhao Liangze’s bed. He had his head down and was typing something on his tablet. Gu Nianzhi’s eyes dimmed as she rested her hand on the door handle, unable to enter or leave. Should she go in or not?
Just as she was hesitating, Yin Shixiong came up from behind her to pat her shoulder with a chuckle. “Nianzhi, are you here to see Little Ze? Why aren’t you going in?”
Gu Nianzhi couldn’t escape. Yin Shixiong took her inside Zhao Liangze’s room. Hearing the door, Huo Shaoheng turned around to see Yin Shixiong bring Gu Nianzhi inside.
“Need something?” Huo Shaoheng asked calmly, his gaze taking in Gu Nianzhi’s expression.
Gu Nianzhi had no choice but to walk over. She glanced at Zhao Liangze on the bed. She asked, “Is Brother Ze any better? Did he wake up yet?”
“He’s much better, and all his vitals are normal.” Huo Shaoheng spoke slowly, each word chosen with discretion.
Gu Nianzhi frowned. “Then why hasn’t he woken up yet? It shouldn’t take this long.”
“It’s ok. He already woke up once over the past couple of days. Chen Lie said it was a subconscious action. He must rest for another two days before he consciously wakes up.”
Chen Lie also opened the door to come in. “Nianzhi, you’re here? Are you better? Here to see Little Ze?”
“…I’m ok. I just came to see if Brother Ze woke up yet or not.” Gu Nianzi was a little embarrassed, unsure where to look.
“Yeah, he’s no longer oxygen-deprived, so he will recover,” Chen Lie consoled Gu Nianzhi, giving her a pat on her shoulder.
Huo Shaoheng stood up and walked over to the window. Crossing his arms, he waited for Zhao Liangze’s test results to come back. This was an important prerequisite. Zhao Liangze was crucial to the success or failure of their operation. Chen Lie gave Huo Shaoheng a look, and they both left Zhao Liangze’s room to speak in the empty hallway outside.
Yin Shixiong came over to adjust Zhao Liangze’s blanket and turned back to see a helpless Gu Nianzhi. He asked in confusion, “Nianzhi, what is it? It’s not your fault Little Ze is hurt. Why do you look like this?” It was as if she had wronged him.
Gu Nianzhi looked down and mumbled, “…It’s because of me that Brother Ze got severely injured. Brother Xiong, is my father Gu Xiangwen worth all this sacrifice?”
“Nianzhi, even if your father is not that capable, our operation is absolutely still worth it because of you.” Yin Shixiong reassured her with confidence.
Eyes glistening with tears, Gu Nianzhi nodded. “Ok. I understand. We will be successful the day after tomorrow!”
