Hello, Mr. Major General

“Someone tried to hunt you down?! How could someone try to hunt you down in Germany?!” Chen Lie’s round eyes grew wider as his last bit of hope plummeted. His heart felt like it was steeped in turmeric juice, completely bitter inside and out.

Gu Nianzhi didn’t know what was wrong with Chen Lie and why he was suddenly asking her things like that. She glanced at him with a half smile. “Yeah, I was bored and had someone hunt me down for fun. Are you satisfied with this reason?”

Chen Lie instantly knew he was being uncouth, and beads of sweat formed on his round forehead. As he took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, he began to apologize. “Nianzhi, Nianzhi, I didn’t mean that. I was… I was feeling horrible…” He began to choke. “This was… Dr. Ye’s fault. If it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t have been hunted down. She didn’t tell me about the texts and calls you made to me. I only found out just now…”

Gu Nianzhi also widened her eyes and hadn’t expected this at all. “What on earth happened? How could Dr. Ye have anything to do with it?!”

“I didn’t believe it in the beginning, either.” Chen Lie spread his palms. “But Boss presented evidence, and Dr. Ye… also admitted it herself.”

“Oh? It was really her?!” Gu Nianzhi straightened up. “Could the two field personnel getting killed also have something to do with her?!” The death of the two field personnel was the biggest regret in Gu Nianzhi’s heart because they died for her. She had sworn in Germany to find the mole and avenge the two field personnel, but she never expected Ye Zitan to be the mole.

“It’s related to her. She was the one to leak their information in order to allow those people to hunt you down.” Chen Lie’s eyes reddened again, and he quickly wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Boss won’t let her off. He’s already asked me to go see her for the last time.”

Gu Nianzhi didn’t know what to say. Typically, she would console Chen Lie, but when she saw how sad he was, she was also reminded of the families, relatives, friends, parents, wives, and children of the two field personnel. How sad they must be! Also, she had been betrayed by Ye Zitan as well. Not only did she lose the precious chance of communicating with the base for help, but she also nearly perished. If it wasn’t for the fact that the enemy wanted to extract more from her, she would’ve been buried in the Alps a long time ago like the two field personnel.

Gu Nianzhi’s eyes grew solemn as she clenched the blankets on the hospital bed and controlled herself before finally replying, “Brother Chen, it’s very unfortunate that I can’t console you or say it’s okay, because what Dr. Ye did was completely unforgivable.”

Chen Lie’s tears fell even faster.

“I know Dr. Ye well and could even consider her a friend, but as soon as I recall the two field personnel who got killed because of her, I hate her so much I want her dead immediately. But I know Brother Chen loves her a lot, so I shouldn’t cast salt on your wounds at a time like this. But if you blame us, her victims, because of her, then I’m sorry to say that I will stop being your friend.” Gu Nianzhi removed her blankets and steadied herself on the bed frame to get up.

Chen Lie quickly helped her up, and although he was still crying, he sniffled, “Nianzhi, Nianzhi, don’t be angry. I really don’t blame you guys. I know what she did was unforgivable and was truly cold blooded. But you know that I’m human and have feelings, too. I loved her for so many years, and although me investing my emotions is a personal issue, I can’t possibly retract it immediately. I actually realize that she’s not the person I thought I loved, or maybe I never really knew her. But when I hear you say her name and think of her impending fate, I can’t help…”

“Then cry. But after you cry this one time, don’t shed another tear for someone like that. It’s not worth it.” Gu Nianzhi inhaled deeply. She had also loved someone deeply before, and although it was often one-sided, she could still empathize with Chen Lie’s sadness and despair. She pulled out a few tissues from the tissue box on the desk and passed them to Chen Lie. “Brother Chen, stop using the handkerchief. Use this.” She then took Chen Lie’s arm and they walked to the sofa against the wall of the ward to sit down. “Brother Chen, you’re so amazing, smart, and funny. There’s actually many girls who like you, and in the future, I’ll introduce you to some nice girls so you’ll learn that having a one-sided crush is unreliable.”

Chen Lie cried some more and felt a bit better. He wiped his face with the tissues and said dejectedly, “Fall in love? I think that’s a waste of time and pointless, too.”

“That’s right!” Gu Nianzhi couldn’t help clapping. “Brother Chen, your words hit my heart. Falling in love is unreliable, a waste of time, and makes people complacent. I think I realize that now.”

“Realize that now? Just how old are you for you to realize that now? Then what about Boss?” Chen Lie finally laughed from her words. “Hey you, that’s rich coming from someone who has a boyfriend. You know people will want to beat you for saying something like that.”

Gu Nianzhi smiled faintly. “Since when did I have a boyfriend? Brother Chen thinks too highly of me. I was just shamelessly latching on.”

Chen Lie was momentarily dumbfounded. This doesn’t sound right? This is serious. “Nianzhi?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you get a concussion form the electrocution?”

“…?”

“You’re talking nonsense now. How is this not a concussion?” Chen Lei turned to her. “But I already did a CT scan on you, and your brain is fine. Also, you’re not showing signs of nausea…”

Gu Nianzhi draped a hand on her forehead and leaned back against the sofa. “Brother Chen, I’m being serious. Just like how you had an epiphany from your feelings about Dr. Ye, I also had the same thing.”

Chen Lie frowned at Gu Nianzhi and thought something was wrong with her. But he had been through so many shocks lately that his body couldn’t handle it anymore. His brain was currently refusing to perform any logical analysis. He yawned. “I can’t take it anymore. I have to nap for a while then go see Dr. Ye for the last time before dawn. I want to tidy up.”

Gu Nianzhi replied, “Go sleep for awhile, then. When do you want to wake up? I’ll call you.”

Chen Lie glanced at his watch. “I’ll nap for two hours. You can call me at 3:30.” He then asked Gu Nianzhi. “You really don’t want to nap?”

Gu Nianzhi shook her head. “Feels like I slept for a long time already. I’m not tired at all.”

Chen Lie was also aware of Gu Nianzhi’s special body constitution, so if she said she wasn’t sleepy, she really wasn’t. He didn’t pretend to be polite. “Then you stay put and don’t go anywhere. I still need you to wake me up. There’s an iPad here and also a computer that you can play with.” Chen Lie pointed to the entertainment facilities there then went to his office to nap.

The single person ward was lit by only one light, the bright white casting on all sorts of medical equipment in a soft glow. Gu Nianzhi sat on the sofa outside alone and used the iPad to begin listing her personal property to see what belonged to her and what belonged to Huo Shaoheng. She planned to break up with him, so she would certainly move out of his place. Although he already transferred the title to her name, she didn’t want it or anything else at all. Those things constantly reminded her that everything she owned was actually charity from him. She was not at the same level as he was and didn’t belong with him from any aspect. She had already lost her love, so she couldn’t lose her self-respect as well.

…

When Huo Shaoheng brought Yin Shixiong to the classified military court, Bai Yueran and Zhou Qiyuan were already trying hard to convince the judge.

“Judge Liao, we’ve completed all procedures, and the evidence is clear. Why can’t you sign off on the death penalty sentence right away?” Bai Yueran brought a clause regarding espionage to the judge and argued word for word, “Her situation is unique, so there is ample reason to undergo special procedure.”

“Director Bai, you are also a law professional, so you must know that special procedure is especially taboo. That is not legal procedure.” Judge Liao obviously had a particular resistance to this case and opposed executing someone so rashly.

“Judge Liao, that’s not right. When has it been a legal taboo to undergo special procedure? As long as the law allows for special procedure, then it is considered legal and reasonable.” Although Bai Yueran had debated with Judge Liao for half an hour now, her demeanor was still pleasant. Not only was she very professional, but she was also very mature when it came to social conventions. She understood the key points and let minor things slide, while also knowing when to use soft and hard power. Sometimes she dealt with situations even more smoothly than her father, Bai Jiancheng. It could be said that ever since Bai Yueran headed the legal department of the Special Operations Forces, not only did the efficiency increase dramatically, but the relationships with other departments of national institutions also eased.

Huo Shaoheng listened at the door for a while before entering. He gestured for Yin Shixiong to give them the evening snack they bought on the way. “Judge Liao, Director Bai, thank you for the hard work. Have some snacks now and rest before continuing the discussion.”

Yin Shixiong bought famous shrimp, pork, and pan-fried clam buns from Dahuchun. Huo Shaoheng asked him to get three servings. As he opened the takeout boxes, the freshly prepared shrimp, pork, and pan-fried clam buns were still steaming. The round and plump snow white buns looked so delicate and delicious at first glance. Even the ramrod straight, by-the-book Judge Liao couldn’t stop himself from eating three in a row. He then had a steaming glass of soy milk they bought along with the pan-fried buns. In the hungry night hours, the extremely mentally-drained people receiving nourishment from the evening snacks suddenly felt recharged.

Judge Liao became much easier to talk with. “Huo Shao, I don’t mean to disrespect you, but is there truly no room for negotiation on this matter?” Judge Liao returned after washing his hands and sat before Huo Shaoheng to discuss quietly.

Huo Shaoheng sat with his legs crossed on the sofa and also appeared exhausted. “If there was a possibility, I would also want to delay it, but she has committed a very foul crime. Also, our Special Ops division is newly established, so if we let her off easily this time, it’ll be difficult for us to continue working in the future. You also know that for a unique institution such as ours, the biggest taboo is betrayal. A hundred years ago, our ancestors punished such a crime with extermination of the entire family. One time our ancestors let two children off out of the goodness of their hearts, but ended up betrayed by them. The children pointed out many of our secret agents to the enemy and resulted in many more personnel losing their lives. Please tell me, how can we recoup the loss?”

Judge Liao’s hairs stood on the back of his neck, and he shivered from Huo Shaoheng’s words.