Time flies like a white steed passing a crack, slipping away unnoticed.
For the final exams of the first semester of freshman year, Tong Yang returned to school.
Her dormitory belongings had already been packed up by Chu Shiyu and sent back to Yang Lin's parents' place.
The two were not in the same exam hall, so they had no chance to meet.
After the exams, Tong Yang went back to Yang Lin's parents' place early, greeted the elders, and then took Tong Le and Yang Lin with some gifts to visit Grandma Yu.
"You're here?" Grandma Yu was hanging clothes on the balcony. Hearing the noise, she turned to glance at them.
"Grandma."
"Hello, Grandma!"
"Hello, Grandma."
Tong Yang helped the two kids change their shoes, walked into the living room, and put down the things in her hands.
"What did you bring?" Grandma Yu asked casually.
Tong Yang said, "Some health supplements, good for the body."
Grandma Yu snorted, "The things you've sent are already piled up with no place left."
"You're getting older, working hard during the day, you look quite worn out. You should nourish yourself more."
"You still have a way of saying things that's not very pleasant to hear."
Tong Yang sighed, "Is that so."
"Grandma, you go rest, I'll do it." Tong Le trotted over to the balcony and took the clothes pole from Grandma Yu's hands.
"I've grown a lot taller, you know."
Grandma Yu pulled him to the wall and measured against a mark, "Not bad, you've grown. Reached one meter sixty. You might even catch up to your sister before graduating from middle school."
Tong Le beamed, "Because Mom Yang makes delicious food every day, and I have to drink milk."
"And Linlin has grown taller too."
"Yang Lin, come here, let me see."
"Not bad, just over one meter fifty."
Tong Yang checked the time and said, "Grandma, I brought them to see you. I have other things to do later, so I won't disturb you anymore."
Grandma Yu's face fell, "You've taken a leave from school, we never see a trace of you. The New Year is almost here, how can you be busier than us? Don't you even have time for a meal?"
Tong Yang said, "Don't worry, I won't let it affect my studies."
Grandma Yu's face instantly darkened even more, "If you don't make it into the top ten of your grade for the final exams, get back to school for classes immediately!"
"Top ten in the grade? How is that possible." Tong Yang held up two fingers, "At least top two in the grade. Even though I'm very busy, I haven't neglected my studies at all."
Grandma Yu: "..."
Tong Le: "..."
Tong Le hugged Grandma Yu and said, "Grandma, sister is busy with very, very important things. She'll take good care of herself. She'll definitely come see you often once she's done."
Yang Lin chimed in, "Right, Sister Tong Yang has no problem with her studies!"
Tong Yang nodded towards the two little ones, "It's getting late, let's go."
"Goodbye, Grandma!"
"Grandma, we'll come see you again next week during the break."
"We're leaving."
Grandma Yu waved her hand, "Go, go, go! Hurry up and leave."
Tong Yang took the two and left Grandma Yu's place, heading to a fried chicken restaurant to eat.
"Sister, Grandma Yu wasn't really worried about your studies just now."
Tong Yang nodded, "Is that so?"
"Yeah, Grandma Yu just wanted you to stay for a meal."
Tong Yang nodded as if understanding, "Then she should have said so directly. But I really don't have the time."
Tong Le took a sip of cola and asked quietly, "Sister, are you leaving again soon?"
"Yeah."
"Where to? When will you be back?"
"Abroad. Around June next year."
Tong Le immediately widened his eyes in shock, "That long?"
"Yeah."
"Can't you come back even once?"
"No."
"When are you leaving?"
"In four hours."
Tong Le froze, then silently lowered his head.
After sending her last message to He Jingjing, Tong Yang suddenly noticed the surroundings had become very quiet. The two little ones weren't making a sound.
When these two were with her, their mouths almost never stopped, eager to tell her even how many sips of water the teacher drank each day.
She looked up and saw Tong Le burying his head gloomily, lips pressed tightly together, while Yang Lin wore a worried expression looking at the two of them.
"What's wrong?" Tong Yang asked, puzzled.
Tong Le sat stiffly, not saying a word.
Tong Yang pinched his cheek, "Full?"
Tong Le still didn't answer.
Tong Yang didn't think too much of it and said, "Then let's go. I'll take you back."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a transparent teardrop slid down Tong Le's cheek.
Tong Yang was taken aback, tilting his face up, "Why are you crying?"
Tong Le's eyes were red, brimming with tears. He sniffled and shook his head hard, looking utterly pitiful.
Tong Yang wiped his face with a tissue, "It's not like I'm never coming back."
"But it's for so long." Tong Le sobbed.
"What can we do about it? And it's only four months." Tong Yang said, "Don't we talk on the phone sometimes?"
"But... but I'll miss you so much."
"It's not like I'm dead. We can still contact each other by phone."
Tong Le's little mouth quivered, tears streaming down.
"Alright, we didn't see each other for a while before either, right?" Tong Yang cupped his face and poked his red nose.
"I've been holding it in... I thought this time when you came back you wouldn't be so busy anymore... You're leaving today, you won't even come back for New Year. Are you going to spend New Year alone? Who will be with you? And... and we were always together before..."
"You're so busy and tired now, it's not even as good as when we were in the old neighborhood..."
"Tong Le." Tong Yang's voice hardened, her expression serious.
Tong Le's eyes welled up, tears falling pitifully.
Tong Yang pressed her lips together tightly, not speaking.
After a long while, Tong Le cautiously glanced up at her, tears plopping down. Afraid of making her angry, his chest heaved. He turned and hugged her waist, burying his head in her shoulder, and choked out, "Sister, I'm sorry."
"I know sister worked very, very hard to bring me out of the old neighborhood. I shouldn't have said things like that."
Tong Yang looked down at him, her expression somewhat complex.
"Sister, I just can't bear to be apart from you. Before, I could see you every day. Even when you were in your second year of high school, you'd still be with me on weekends."
"I know you have very important things to do now, and I know there are always police officers following and protecting us when we go out. I believe sister has the ability to protect herself. Sister is amazing, the most amazing in the whole world, but..."
He sniffled, voice trembling, "But... I really will miss you so much, and I'll worry about you."
Tong Yang patted his back, "Alright, people are watching."
Tong Le was clever indeed, having even noticed the police secretly protecting them.
Tong Le pulled away, wiping his tears, "Oh..."
"I'll try my best to make time to contact you. We're in different schools anyway, so we didn't have much time to meet before."
"That's different though." Tong Le mumbled.
After the meal, Tong Yang took the two back to Yang Lin's parents' place.
She rang the doorbell. The one who opened the door was Chu Shiyu.
"Hmph." Seeing Tong Yang, Chu Shiyu crossed her arms and let out a cold snort.
Tong Yang greeted her, then said hello to Yang Lin's parents before immediately preparing to leave.
"Tong Yang, when will you be back next time?" Yang Lin's mother asked, standing by the door.
Tong Yang waved her hand. "Auntie, I won't be back until next year."
"That long? Not even for the New Year?"
"No, I can't make it back for New Year. It's getting late, I should head off now."
"Alright, travel safely. Remember to call home."
Hearing Yang Lin's mother's words, Tong Yang's steps faltered slightly.
The word "home," coming from Yang Lin's mother, felt so unfamiliar to her.
Yet, it didn't feel out of place.
"I will." Tong Yang waved to them, turned, and left.
"Goodbye, big sister!"
"Goodbye, Sister Tong Yang."
"Be careful."
Once out of the residential complex, Tong Yang pulled down the brim of her cap.
That old fox Wu Pingxue hadn't originally allowed her to leave the training base alone. She had threatened him with his prized collection of tea cakes to finally secure this chance to leave, and he still docked fifty thousand from her wages, warning her not to draw attention.
Although Tong Yang wasn't short of fifty thousand anymore, having that much deducted for just a few hours away still annoyed her.
Reaching the roadside, a black MPV flashed its hazard lights.
Tong Yang walked over familiarly, opened the rear door, and got in.
Ye Huai was wearing a high-necked white sweater, his long legs crossed, a document resting on his knees, his fingers with distinct knuckles pinching a corner of the paper.
"How is Tong Le?" Ye Huai asked.
"You saw him?"
"Yes, I've been parked here the whole time."
Tong Yang said, "He's fine. He'll be better in a couple of days."
The siblings had similar personalities; when they threw themselves wholeheartedly into their studies, they couldn't be bothered with much else.
"You don't seem to be in a good mood," Ye Huai said, his eyes curving into a smile.
"I was out for less than five hours, and Wu Pingxue docked fifty thousand from my pay," Tong Yang complained.
"That much?"
"Yeah."
"Coincidentally, I have some spare cash on hand, a few tens of thousands. I can pay you back some first."
Tong Yang shot him a sidelong glance. When the White Horse Group first ran into trouble, the Ye family genuinely couldn't come up with ten million in liquid assets. After Ye Huai took over the company, its performance had been excellent. She often saw the media praising him as a talented young entrepreneur. His daily life, from clothing to accommodations, didn't seem like someone strapped for cash. She didn't believe he couldn't scrape together ten million to repay the debt.
"Only a few tens of thousands?"
Ye Huai was quite frank. "More than that."
"If you have money, why aren't you paying me back?"
It wasn't that Ye Huai wasn't repaying; he just did so in small installments—hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, up to a couple hundred thousand at most, never exceeding two hundred thousand. In Tong Yang's memo, his debt entries alone occupied an entire page.
Moreover, whenever they met for business through Wu Pingxue, he covered all expenses. Being stingy here, he probably had spent enough on miscellaneous things to cover her ten million.
Ye Huai closed the document in his hand, avoiding a direct answer. "For the remaining debt, we can calculate interest. You can set the rate."
"As high as I want?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you just giving me money?"
"Paying debts is only right and proper. Since I can't pay it all at once, of course there can be interest."
Tong Yang laughed. "Forget the interest. I'm afraid you might die before finishing the repayment, saving me the trouble of keeping track."
Hearing this, Ye Huai lowered his eyes with a hint of regret.
Tong Yang glanced at the document in his hand. "How's the progress?"
While managing his company, Ye Huai was also assisting researchers with their studies.
"Progress is decent." Ye Huai handed her the document. "The chip you brought back from the First Zone last time has been very helpful."
"Really?" Tong Yang looked surprised.
Back in the First Zone, to ensure the scalp transplanted onto her wouldn't disappear again, Tong Yang had killed the researcher and dug out the chip embedded in her brain, handing it over to Department 749.
She hadn't heard Dr. Luo mention anything about it since, so she thought the chip was useless.
Ye Huai explained, "Human science in the real world couldn't possibly achieve the level of brain development seen there. The chip has a micro-receiver capable of directly connecting to satellite signals. Dr. Luo and his team tried to simulate and create a similar chip. They even had me take them to the parallel world to connect to satellite signals, but they couldn't achieve a one-to-one replication."
Tong Yang pondered for a moment. "Insufficient technological level?"
"No." Ye Huai shook his head. "Dr. Luo and his team are among the top scientists. It took them less than two weeks to replicate the flawed virus. Dr. Wu only provided them with a solution for the virus's large-scale spread."
"That chip has actually been perfectly replicated, but it's missing one crucial element."
"What is it?"
"The magnetic field energy of the parallel world."
Ye Huai sighed. "It's a completely unimaginable energy, dozens of times more powerful than Earth's geomagnetism."
Tong Yang's expression turned serious. "I can imagine."
"But we still made a breakthrough."
"What is it?"
Ye Huai said, "We've successfully replicated the chip, including its micro-satellite receiver. Testing shows that, although still somewhat unstable, it can now receive satellite signals from both worlds."
Having handled electronic devices from the parallel world, Ye Huai knew how to bridge the connection between devices and satellite signals. The micro-signal receiver was developed with his assistance.
Tong Yang looked momentarily stunned. "So that means..."
A smile spread across Ye Huai's lips. "After a few more rounds of testing, once the program stabilizes, installing the micro-signal receiver into a SIM card will allow connection to the parallel world's satellite signals."
"People pulled into the parallel world will be able to call the real world directly via their phones. Moreover, with this chip, they can call for help from anywhere on Earth, even where signal towers don't reach."
As he spoke, Ye Huai couldn't hide the happiness in his eyes—a recognition of his own efforts.
Tong Yang lowered her eyelashes, a sincere smile on her face. "You've all done amazing work."
Ye Huai pursed his lips and continued, "To prevent the situation from escalating, after connecting to the parallel world's satellite signals, phones will only be able to dial emergency numbers. Incoming calls received via satellite signal will be routed directly to staff specially handling these incidents."
Tong Yang relaxed her tense body, leaning against the seat, and looked out the window.
The car window was cracked open slightly, letting in a cold breeze.
Tong Yang found it gentle, a refreshing wind she hadn't felt in a long time.
Ye Huai went on, "Department 749 is short-staffed. The state has organized a confidential team of several hundred people to assist them."
Tong Yang hadn't been aware of Department 749's recent progress. She followed orders not to contact others related to the incidents, and neither Wu Pingxue nor Chu Shiyu from World A would disclose such details to her.
"That's good," Tong Yang said with a soft sigh.
Ye Huai smiled. "So you don't need to worry too much."
"Yes, I understand."
Soon, the car dropped her off at the airport.
"Overseas isn't like home. Be extremely careful in all matters."
Tong Yang said nonchalantly, "I'm going there to cause trouble for them, what's there to be afraid of?"
"I know you're not afraid." Ye Huai took the luggage out of the trunk. "I've already mailed some other things ahead."
"Thanks." Tong Yang gave him a wave. "I'm going in."
"Tong Yang." Ye Huai stood by the car and called out to her.
"What?" Tong Yang turned around, looking at him with confusion.
"Nothing, go ahead."
"Mm."
Without hesitation, Tong Yang turned and walked into the airport terminal.
After starting to work with Wu Pingxue, Tong Yang traveled by helicopter most of the time. Unless the distance was too great or circumstances didn't allow it, she preferred to pilot the helicopter herself.
After checking her luggage and passing through security—they had already checked in online to save time—she entered the departure lounge. Scanning the crowd, she spotted He Jingjing and Chu Shiyu from World A.
Chu Shiyu from World A originally had no identity. For the convenience of travel, after negotiations with the state, she was simply given an ID number.
"Boarding in twenty minutes."
"Mm."
Tong Yang responded absently.
He Jingjing had suspended her studies and hadn't returned to school. She usually trained with them and had become quite adept at helping Wu Pingxue with tasks.
Soon, it was time for passengers to board.
Their destination was the location of the Meng family, the capital of Country M, related to a black market. The specifics of the mission wouldn't be known until they arrived.
Once on the plane, the two of them ended up in the same row.
With her phone in flight mode, Tong Yang was bored.
Chu Shiyu from World A had brought a tablet and had pre-downloaded cartoons—a dialect version of Tom and Jerry. She played it with the sound on, laughing uproariously. Flight attendants asked her several times if she needed headphones, but she completely failed to grasp the hint behind their words and refused every time.
Finally, on the last attempt, a flight attendant said tactfully, "Miss, some passengers have mentioned that the volume from your device is a bit high. If you need headphones, I can provide them for you."
Chu Shiyu from World A said unhappily, "Which passenger complained? Let them come and tell me themselves."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a voice drifted over from the row behind. "Me."
Tong Yang stared expressionlessly out the window. The plane soared above the clouds, the scenery picturesque.
Chu Shiyu from World A turned to look, her tone unfriendly. "Why is it you?"
"I was about to ask the same thing!"
He Jingjing, sitting in the middle seat, glanced back as if to confirm something, then turned her head forward again. Her expression mirrored Tong Yang's as she silently turned to look out the window.
"You noticed her earlier?" He Jingjing whispered.
Tong Yang looked complicated. "You guys didn't notice at all?"
He Jingjing said, "No."
"She's so conspicuous I spotted her in the terminal."
He Jingjing sighed. "What a small world."
"Tell me about it."
Xu Junyue tossed her ash-gray hair. She was wearing contact lenses of the same color, dressed like a vampire, and said loudly, "Turn the sound off. It's annoying."
"I won't turn it off. What are you gonna do, bite me?"
"You said it."
Xu Junyue grabbed her arm and bit down.
"Damn! Are you a dog?" Chu Shiyu from World A stared at her in shock.
A flight attendant looked embarrassed. "Please, both of you, calm down."
Passengers around them kept casting strange looks their way. Tong Yang and He Jingjing simultaneously lowered their heads, trying to make themselves less noticeable.
"Didn't you tell me to bite you?"
"If I tell you to bite, you bite? If I tell you to die, why don't you go die then?"
"Sure, as long as you die with me."
"Fine, have the guts to jump out with me right now?" Chu Shiyu from World A challenged.
"Let's go! Whoever chickens out is a dog!"
"Come on then!"
Several flight attendants who had hurried over tried to dissuade them.
"Please, both of you, calm down! The plane is still in flight. Please do not unfasten your seatbelts."
"You don't dare?"
"Who doesn't dare?"
"Then let's go!"
"Let's go!"
"Miss, are you friends with them? Could you please try to calm them down?"
Tong Yang and He Jingjing didn't even look up, shaking their heads in unison to indicate they didn't know them.
Xu Junyue sneered, "How could they possibly be friends with her? They're both my friends!"
"Miss, you two..." the flight attendant said helplessly.
"Don't know her."
"Never seen her before."
"Fine, you two, pretending not to know me, huh?" Xu Junyue said, flustered and exasperated.
Tong Yang was speechless. When she saw Xu Junyue at the airport, she had deliberately avoided her. Who would have thought they'd end up on the same flight, heading to the same destination, even sitting in front and behind each other.
She knew things would devolve into this mess.
"Shut up, sit down. Make another sound and I'll throw you both off the plane." Tong Yang's tone didn't sound like mediation at all, making the flight attendants nervous, afraid she was adding fuel to the fire.
The two girls glared at each other. Though their faces were full of defiance, they obediently sat down.
He Jingjing said with an awkward smile, "Sorry about that. They're both mentally ill. We're taking them for treatment on this trip."
The flight attendant visibly relaxed. "Please keep an eye on them. Call us if you need anything."
"I will, thank you."
After the flight attendants left, the surrounding passengers reluctantly withdrew their gazes.
He Jingjing said through gritted teeth, "I never want to travel with you again."
Chu Shiyu from World A rolled her eyes. "What's it got to do with me? Didn't she start it?"
"Ah." Xu Junyue suddenly let out an exaggerated sigh. "Some people have really fallen, consorting with the mentally ill."
Tong Yang pretended not to hear her insinuation and closed her eyes to rest.
He Jingjing clicked her tongue. "Consorting with the mentally ill... doesn't seem like it's the first time."
Xu Junyue shot her a glare, lips pressed tight, looking thoroughly displeased.
During the more than ten-hour flight, the four of them acted like strangers who happened to be seated together, none speaking to the others again.
Tong Yang ate something midway, asked a flight attendant for a blanket, earplugs, and an eye mask, and fell asleep.
The flight was very smooth, and Tong Yang slept quite comfortably until the plane landed with a jolt, waking her from her sleep.
After disembarking, they went to collect their checked luggage.
The local time was 5 AM, the weather cold, the sky dark.
After collecting their luggage and walking out of the terminal, they saw Xu Junyue standing by the roadside arguing with a foreign man.
The man was jabbering away. Xu Junyue said impatiently, "I don't understand. Speak Chinese."
The foreigner continued to jabber. Xu Junyue, probably annoyed by the pestering, warned, "I'm waiting for my driver. If you keep yapping, I'm going to get physical."
"If he could speak Chinese, he'd probably tell you he is the driver you contacted in advance." Tong Yang stood behind her with her arms crossed.
"Oh? Who's talking to me? I generally don't talk to strangers. Afraid of being corrupted." Xu Junyue said sarcastically.
Tong Yang gave a derisive laugh. "You're afraid of being corrupted by others?"
"Anyway, I don't talk to strangers." Xu Junyue sneered, turning her head away.
Tong Yang slid the suitcase over to her with a thud. "You were quick to leave, but forgot your luggage?"
Xu Junyue's eyes lit up. "I knew I was forgetting something! So it's you, my dear? You found your way back on your own? How adorable."
Tong Yang pursed her lips and turned to the other two. "Let's go."
"Hey!"
A voice came from behind. Xu Junyue, pulling her suitcase, bumped into Tong Yang and threw an arm around her shoulders. "You're really leaving? I was just joking!"
Tong Yang staggered from the impact and shot her a glare. "Get off."
"I won't! I want to go with you."
"I have serious business." Tong Yang gave her a sidelong glance.
"What a coincidence, I happen to have nothing to do!" Xu Junyue said shamelessly. "Don't think I don't know you've already met with President Ye and Chu Shiyu!"
Chu Shiyu from World A said with disgust, "No, I don't want to be with you."
Xu Junyue wasn't having it. "Then walk by yourself? The boss only has ties with you because she has no choice. Don't even think about coming between our bond."
"What bond do we have?" Tong Yang asked coolly.
"The bond of sisters who've been through life and death, of course!"
Tong Yang sighed helplessly, brushed Xu Junyue's hand off her shoulder, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Xu Junyue replied, "I have an aunt in the US. She asked me to come celebrate the New Year with her."
"Then go find your aunt."
"No way. My aunt is busy from dawn till dusk, never a moment's rest. The house is empty, it's so boring! Let me go with you! I promise I won't hold you back at all."
After the defective product incident, Wu Pingxue hadn't explicitly forbidden her from meeting others, only from contacting them privately. If Xu Junyue chased after her on her own, that shouldn't be her responsibility.
"Suit yourself," Tong Yang said indifferently.
Hearing this, Xu Junyue acted as if she had won a great victory, shooting a provocative look at Chu Shiyu from World A.
After explaining to the driver who came to pick them up, the group got into the vehicle sent by the Meng family and left the vicinity of the airport.
"Tong Yang, firearms can be legally traded here," He Jingjing reminded her.
Tong Yang nodded. Back in China, she almost always encountered assassins sent by various factions during her travels. However, due to strict checks, only a very few killers carried firearms, so most confrontations were resolved in close combat.
In Country M, firearm ownership is legal, and the major black market for such transactions is overseas. The situation they would face here would become more severe, and their enemies would be more formidable.
"Go back if you're scared," Tong Yang said nonchalantly.
"That's what I wanted to say to you."
Before long, the driver brought them to a manor in the suburbs, where the Meng family resided.
Led by a butler, the four entered the estate.
The typically European-style manor was completely different from any place they had seen before.
An endless stretch of lawn, seemingly a private golf course, flanked by meticulously trimmed plants along the brick-paved paths. At the end stood a dreamlike castle.
As they got closer, they saw seven or eight uniformed security personnel standing near the castle. Their upright postures added a touch of solemnity to the castle.
The Meng family was originally an established family in China. Later, as the business gradually shifted to Country M, they moved the entire household here.
The butler walked to the door and gave two light knocks, breaking the castle's serene atmosphere.
"Mr. Meng, the guests have arrived."
A standard foreign face, yet speaking fluent Chinese.
"Hmm."
Then, the butler bowed and made a careful "please" gesture to them.
Tong Yang entered the hall first. An air of antiquity washed over her, with a faint scent of fragrance floating in the air. A middle-aged man in a suit sat elegantly on the sofa, his hands folded on his knees, looking at them gently.
"Please, have a seat."
Tong Yang sized up the middle-aged man opposite her, who was simultaneously observing them.
After the four were seated, Mr. Meng asked with a smile, "You're all quite young, aren't you? It's surprising that the motherland sent you to cooperate with Country M."
There was no hint of disdain in Mr. Meng's words.
Tong Yang countered, "Why is it surprising?"
Mr. Meng said, "My apologies. I'm not surprised that the motherland sent you, but rather that you are so young and outstanding, already worthy of the motherland's trust."
Tong Yang replied evenly, "Thank you."
Her composed attitude made Mr. Meng's eyes crinkle into a smile.
"May I ask, are you Miss Tong?"
"You know me?"
Mr. Meng said, "Of course. You saved my daughter, and indirectly saved me as well."
Tong Yang was puzzled. "Why do you say that?"
"If Police Officer Lin hadn't found me in advance with your agreement, I would have betrayed the real world."
Tong Yang had no patience for further pleasantries and asked, "Let's get to the point. What's the specific situation?"
Mr. Meng said, "No rush. You've traveled through the night to get here. First, go back to your rooms to freshen up and get some proper rest."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Junyue and Chu Shiyu from World A yawned simultaneously.
"Your friends are tired too."
Since the Meng family wasn't in a hurry, Tong Yang decided not to be either. After all, she would be staying here for at least four months.
"Alright, thank you."
They were taken to their respective rooms to settle in. After having some Western-style breakfast, they fell fast asleep.
Tong Yang was still somewhat energetic. She checked in with Tong Le and Yang Lin's mother to let them know she was safe.
Around noon, the other two woke up one after another, found Tong Yang, and prepared to go out for food before inquiring with Mr. Meng about the incident.
Learning of their needs, the butler first took them to the dining room. Worried they might not be accustomed to the food, he prepared some Chinese-style lunch. The flavor wasn't much different from what they usually ate.
After the meal, as they left the dining room, Tong Yang asked about Mr. Meng's whereabouts.
The butler bowed and said, "My apologies. Sir is currently having lunch with the young lady. Please wait in the main hall for a moment."
Tong Yang didn't ask further. "Alright."
The four returned to the main hall. A servant brought some fruit and tea. After consulting their preferences, he turned on the TV and played a foreign film.
Mr. Meng's lunch took quite a while. The movie was nearly halfway through when he finally returned from outside.
"My apologies for the long wait," Mr. Meng said, his face full of regret as he entered the hall and bowed slightly to everyone.
"It's fine. The movie's quite good," Xu Junyue remarked casually.
"My apologies." Mr. Meng took off his coat and sat down. "Tingting threw a bit of a tantrum. Calming her down took some time."
Tong Yang asked, "Mr. Meng, you don't live with your daughter?"
Mr. Meng's expression turned helpless. "She lives with her mother."
Hearing this, Tong Yang nodded and didn't inquire further. It sounded like Mr. Meng and his wife lived separately.
"Can you tell us now?" Tong Yang said.
"Of course!" Mr. Meng replied.
Mr. Meng took the teacup handed to him by a servant and took a sip.
"Since last October, I have been cooperating with the governments of both countries to crack down on the black market trade chain. We discovered that the black market is even more extensive than we imagined."
"Last year, the two countries jointly destroyed several human organ trafficking bases, preventing the possibility of organs being delivered from the parallel world to our reality. However, this is far from enough." The author, Jiao Yang, reminds you that "The Horror Melon Group [Unlimited]" updates the latest chapters first on [website]. Remember [()]? 'Visit [] to read the latest chapters? Complete chapter' ().
Mr. Meng's expression was grave as he said, "Besides the black market for human organs, it also involves drug trafficking, smuggling of cultural relics, and human trafficking, among other illegal trades. Shockingly, traces of the parallel world can be found in all these transactions. I find it unbelievable too."
Tong Yang remained silent. If even remote towns within the country showed signs of the parallel world's influence, it was inevitable that places abroad where these black markets thrived would be even more affected.
"What does the government want us to do?" Tong Yang asked.
Mr. Meng stated solemnly, "The authorities hope our homeland can dispatch special forces to cooperate with them in completely dismantling M Country's black market industry chain within four months."
"Within four months?" Tong Yang frowned. "Isn't that too short a timeframe?"
Mr. Meng sighed. "To be honest, I think so too. But Dr. Wu has already agreed."
Tong Yang was taken aback. "Wu Pingxue agreed?"
"Yes. Besides your team, our homeland will dispatch special forces to assist you covertly. The reason... I believe you understand."
Tong Yang pressed her lips together, realizing something.
She and He Jingjing's group were essentially Dr. Wu's people, working for him.
If they openly attacked the black market under Dr. Wu's banner, they would inevitably offend many beneficiaries. Most people unaware of the truth would transfer their hatred from the two governments to Wu Pingxue, who is from the parallel world.
Even though he has now broken with the parallel world, very few know this—perhaps only the masterminds behind the black market, as very few within those circles actually have contact with the parallel world.
The two governments are leveraging Dr. Wu's identity as a parallel world human to draw the full hatred of the black market beneficiaries, while secretly assisting in the cleanup of M Country's black industry chain.
However, this means they will be operating in the open, putting them in great danger.
Mr. Meng said, "This mission is extremely challenging. Dr. Wu only sent the four of you. I'm actually... a bit uneasy. It's not that I doubt your capabilities, but the number is simply too small."
Xu Junyue said, "It's not just the four of us."
Hearing this, Mr. Meng relaxed slightly. "It's good there are others. Where are they now?"
Xu Junyue pointed at the two beside her. "The old man Wu only sent these two. I tagged along on my own, being shamelessly persistent."
Mr. Meng: "..."
Tong Yang offered no comment on this and said, "The parallel world can obtain my coordinates. Is it wise for me to be involved in this?"
Mr. Meng looked at her in surprise. "You don't know?"
Tong Yang was puzzled. "Know what?"
Mr. Meng couldn't hide his astonishment. "It seems you really don't know."
"Weren't you curious why this must be completed within four months?"
"Yes, why?"
Mr. Meng explained, "Dr. Wu recently provided a method to conceal your coordinates. The effective period is precisely four months. Furthermore, to prevent your identity from being exposed, both countries have used satellite technology to scrub your information and photos from all devices."
"Whoa? Our tech is that advanced now?" Xu Junyue exclaimed in amazement.
Tong Yang, however, narrowed her eyes. "Wu Pingxue provided you with a method to hide coordinates?"
"What's wrong?"
Tong Yang gritted her teeth and cursed, "That damn fox!"
He clearly had a way to hide coordinates all along but didn't reveal a hint of it before. That cunning old fox probably even knows how to obtain the coordinates of parallel world humans!
Although she had long known Wu Pingxue wouldn't easily share what he knew, she still felt intensely irritated.
"What if I refuse to cooperate? What's your plan then?"
Mr. Meng frowned. "Dr. Wu didn't mention that possibility."
"Then what did he mention?"
"He set a precondition with the authorities."
"What is it?"
"If the cleanup is completed within four months, the M Country government will pay you twenty million US dollars as remuneration."
Tong Yang's expression went blank for a moment. "...How much?"
"Twenty million. US dollars."
"Is the contract signed? When is payment?"
"Signed. Within one month after mission completion."
"Deal!"
Tong Yang's reply was decisive and immediate. !
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