Chapter 1: The Seven-Man Squad

  "I'll help you, though."

  Her eyes refocused on mine and she asked, "Why?"

  "I don't know, do I need a reason? But at least I hope you can keep this feeling for Su Chu Jun. Ming Ying," I paused, she stared at me and said "uh-huh", I continued: "I'm not a hero. I'm just an ordinary person. You asked for my help, I think it's not just because I helped you escape danger tonight, you think I'm still a reliable helper, right?"

  Mingying nodded slightly and didn't say anything.

  I said: "Don't you think that although the organization is willing to help you, they have their own purposes, but I, if I'm willing to help you, am a purely helpful Lei Feng?"

  Mingying looked at me, listened to this, and slightly curled up the corner of her mouth, revealing a hint of a smile, but didn't laugh out loud.

  I smiled awkwardly and said, "If that's the case, then if I really do something with you tonight, am I still a Lei Feng? Are you going to use this method to keep me in the future? Is my purpose as simple as you think?"

  Mingying lowered her head.

  I stood up and said, "It's getting late, let's go back to sleep early."

  She slowly buttoned up her shirt in bed, as if she was still struggling with something in her heart.

  I could only smile wryly and say, "Mingying. I said I'd help you, and I will definitely help you. Moreover, I also have to rescue Xiao Lüqi. But let's get the ugly words out of the way first."

  She had already buttoned up her clothes and lifted the quilt to get out of bed, looking at me.

  "Let me be upfront, I'm just an ordinary person. I get scared and I back down. I have all the weaknesses of a human being. If you ask for my help, you might end up finding that I'm actually quite useless."

  She seemed to pay no attention to my "ugly words", and without looking at me, she walked towards the door. When her hand grasped the doorknob, I called out to her, she didn't turn back, but stopped twisting the doorknob.

  I coughed lightly and said, "I hope tomorrow, you're still as cold as frost, I'm more used to seeing that side of you."

  "Alright then, I'll smile one last time." Mingying turned her head around and revealed a sweet smile.

  I was stunned on the spot.

  That night, I still accompanied myself with Wuzi Girl once again.

  When I was doing handicrafts with a sad mood, I didn't think of Mingying or Xiao Luqi. I just simply wanted to vent out the emotions that had been ignited earlier and fall asleep early. However, for Xiao Luqi's sake, no matter what, I would never go find Mingying.

  There is something one will do and something one won't do; this is what makes a man great.

  The next morning, Yang Ruihan knocked on my door, and I found that the long table in the dining room was set with a sumptuous breakfast.

  Mingying also walked over, as if nothing had happened last night, expressionless and sat diagonally opposite, without even greeting each other, they started eating.

  I didn't dare look at him and could only lower my head and eat bitterly. On the other side, Ling Kong and Li Yu Bo also walked over to have breakfast.

  I barely exchanged greetings with the two of them and asked Li Yubo how his hand was. He waved it around, saying that the old Chinese doctor was amazing, and had connected it back up in an instant, then applied a layer of ointment, and it hadn't hurt since.

  After having breakfast, the four of us sat in the living room. I was drinking Taiping Houkui tea brewed by Yang Ruihua, and it tasted just right. It was much better than the tea that Mingying had wasted so much of last night, which was bitter to death.

  Mingying sipped this tea, her face still expressionless, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

  Ling Kong said, "You can rest here for now, you can go out but don't go far. Ming Kong, go and submit Lin You's sick leave."

  Mingying didn't even nod her head, still with a cold face. I sighed silently and said, then I'll go out for a walk.

  Ling Kong asked: "Where are you going? Aren't you heading home?"

  I forced a smile and said: "You're so capable, yet you say I can only wander around nearby. Can I go home? I'll go get some money and buy a few clothes on the way."

  "Feel free to buy clothes. Once you exit the compound gate, 500 meters to the left is Jia Le Fu. We will arrange for someone stationed near your home to deliver your clothes and documents. Xiao Luqi can stay in our house, we will take care of her."

  When I heard him use the word "keep", it was as if Xiao Luqi was some kind of object or a real corpse, and I felt a wave of discomfort. I forced out a hum of agreement and walked outside.

  As I walked out of the neighborhood, I saw an ATM next to me and went over to withdraw some money. Yesterday when I left home, I only brought 200 yuan with me, although I earned 160 yuan from Chen Ziqi's wife Yu Xin, but this year prices are skyrocketing, this little money is not enough for a supermarket, let alone buying decent clothes and daily necessities.

  I didn't bring a bank card, but I have a black card that Mingying gave me, just to see how much "remuneration" is inside.

  I inserted it into the ATM machine and only then did I remember that I had forgotten to ask what the password was, so I hurriedly called Mingying, afraid that the card would be swallowed by the machine.

  Mingying answered the phone this time without any delay, but her tone was cold and detached, like a bird, she told me the password and then hung up.

  I entered "372371" and then clicked on the query balance button.

  If you count Mingying's use of this card to swipe two cups of coffee, it just happens to be 500,000, which is exactly the price Chen Ziqi sold this painting for.

  To be honest, I've never seen the numbers on my bank card exceed 4 digits - and that's only when I receive my salary. By the end of the month, they're all gone due to credit cards.

  It suddenly became six figures, making me very unaccustomed all at once.

  I'm also a rich man now!

  I was thrilled and my scalp felt numb, so I quickly took out 5,000 yuan and stuffed it in my pocket. Yeah, I know I can use credit cards for consumption, but I'm just afraid that this money will be suddenly withdrawn at some unknown time. Taking it out and stuffing it in my pocket makes me feel more secure.

  That's what they call: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Isn't it?

  Go to the supermarket! Spend money quickly!

  I started sweeping along the street, like a girl who loves shopping, rising with the sun and returning with the sunset.

  Ling Kong stared at me in amazement as I stood there with big and small bags all around me.

  I was stared at by him like a thief, no, even more timid than when I stole from Chen Ziqi's house, and I quickly ran back to my room in three strides.

  In the afternoon, Mingying came back. I secretly looked at her face, which seemed to be very bad. My leader Wang, even someone with a good temper like me couldn't stand him, let alone someone as strong-willed and proud as her? I also don't know if she had hit Wang's face with a straight punch again, just like last night, and also helped me vent my anger.

  With 500,000 in hand, I seem to have lost interest in this job. Money is an all-powerful thing. It can not only change your material living standards but also change your mindset.

  Li Yubo, who had gone out for a walk, also returned. Leng Kong called me out of the room and suddenly announced: "The day after tomorrow, all personnel will set out to garrison in Jinshan District."

  My heart skipped a beat as I was finally about to embark on an adventure journey.

  Suddenly, the bell rang, I looked at my mobile phone, and it was Fu Lidong who called.

  Everyone should still remember this former colleague of mine who was provoked by Mingying, right? This guy is very powerful and righteous. I walked into my room to answer the phone. Fu Lei Dong asked me anxiously what's wrong, my heart felt a warmth, there are still people who care about me, but I said it's nothing. He said that today he happened to go to your current company on business, a self-proclaimed "horse" girl said, "You have arrhythmia?"

  I was stunned for a moment, didn't expect things in the world to be so coincidental. I immediately put on a sickly tone and said, "It's not going well, I have to be hospitalized." Fu Lei Dong chuckled and said, "You can't even pretend to be sick convincingly."

  I know I just exposed too much and can only admit that I'm not sick.

  "What's going on? You'd better keep your good things to yourself!"

  I said I want to go traveling, walk around some bigger cities, okay?

  You're deceiving me, aren't you? Alright, hang up! As he said that, he really hung up the phone, without any hesitation.

  It's fine, I've already caused enough trouble and can't drag anyone else into this, especially my brother.

  Back in the hall, Ling Jun was talking with Mingying and Li Yubo. Yang Ruihua was making a record on the side.

  Is this the rhythm of the battle meeting?

  I walked over and sat down, Kong waved his hand at me, and Yang Ruihua handed me the "meeting minutes". I took it, and saw that the handwriting on the paper was elegant and beautiful, writing:

  Depart at 3:00 pm on June 6th

  Yang Kong, Zhao Kong, Ming Kong, Li Yu Bo, Jiang Nan, Lin You

  Heartbreak

  I raised my head and said: "How you arrange me is none of my business, I only have one request."

  Ling Kong narrowed his eyes and looked at me, saying: "You speak."

  "Take good care of Xiao Luqi and my kitten."

  "Don't worry."

  I returned the paper and board to Yang Yuhong. Sat on one side without speaking, just listening.

  Ling Kong combed his big bun, wearing a standing collar shirt, with a leader's demeanor, saying: "Rui Han, Xin Kong is in charge of logistics for this operation. All the necessary items will be purchased by him. Let him do his best, this operation is very important and complicated, and we must not make any mistakes like last time!"

  Yang Ruihan nodded in understanding.

  What's with last time? I'm telling you, this Xinkong sounds like an unreliable guy.

  After listening to their combat meeting, I roughly understood that the guy called Yang Kong is a special forces background, good shooting skills, and is in charge of this operation; This Zhao Kong, don't know what his name is, but should be a martial arts expert, estimated one against three shouldn't be a problem. As for Jiang Nan, being directly addressed by his name, probably has a relatively low position in the organization, but he is a local from Shanghai Jinshan District, and 80% of the time was brought over specifically to serve as a guide this time.

  This Li Yubo guy, from what I saw last night, has a very heavy bookworm air about him. When he encounters something, he panics and his ability to withstand pressure is too poor. If we encounter those armed thugs again on this trip to Jinshan, I reckon he'll be fertilizing the ground with his own blood on the spot. I really don't want to travel with him.

  It was decided to set off at 3 pm on June 6th. So, a sleepless night passed and I was woken up by Li Haibo's phone call the next day while I was still lying in bed. He told me that the matter entrusted to him had yielded results:

  There are three people's bodily fluids on that cigarette butt, two of which are specific to men and one of which is a secretion from a certain part of a woman's lower body. The powder is dried male-specific **, known in forensic medicine as semen stain, whose DNA is identical to one of the ** on the cigarette butt.

  I said thank you too much, did you get the report?

  Li Haibo said the report is with me, how can I give it to you?

  I'm telling you to help me keep it for now, it might be useful later. Don't spread this around outside. It's a bit complicated, so I won't say more about it, just help me save this report for now.

  Li Haibo and I have been brothers for many years, knowing each other inside out. Hearing me say this, he didn't ask any more questions, just said "I know" and hung up.

  I suddenly said: "Hai Bo."

  "Huh?"

  "......Thank you......"

  "Damn it, stupid. I'm dead."

  It feels warm in my heart.

  Take a deep breath and say quietly: "Alright, let's go!" With a rustling sound, he flips over the bed.