Twelve years. If human cells renew every seven years, it would have been almost two cycles by now. Yet here was the same person again. Coming full circle, she turned her head and there he was. Yu Hao couldn’t clearly describe this feeling, but at that moment, she felt that this man was perhaps someone she could love for a lifetime.

“When are you coming back?” she asked softly.

“Tomorrow,” said Lu Huaizheng.

“Then I’ll wait for you.”

“Good.”

For a moment, neither spoke, but neither hung up either. They just quietly held their phones, silently listening to each other’s steady breathing. With eyes closed, it felt as if he was right in front of her.

Lu Huaizheng asked with a smile, “Nothing more to say to me?”

Yu Hao replied, “Don’t you have nothing to say either?”

“No,” Lu Huaizheng paused, took a gentle breath, and stepped back onto the stairs, looking up at the sky. “I have a bellyful of things to say. What would you like to hear?”

“What kind of things?”

He chuckled softly, “Things like what I said earlier.”

He was teasing her again.

“Don’t you have anything serious to say?” Yu Hao scolded him while twisting the corner of her clothes.

“Haven’t you ever been in a relationship?” Lu Huaizheng stopped laughing and said seriously, “What else would we talk about in a relationship? Daily meals and bodily functions? That doesn’t seem right. Or would you rather discuss your scientific ambitions with me?”

“Who… is in a relationship with you?” Yu Hao’s face heated up.

Was he not going to formally establish their relationship? How could he just announce it unilaterally? Who shared this tacit understanding with him?

“Is that so?” Lu Huaizheng said casually, “But Old Li saw everything.”

Yu Hao’s face instantly turned red, her heart pounding like a startled deer. She gritted her teeth:

“You have the nerve to bring that up.”

“We’ve already done it, so what’s there to be afraid of mentioning?” His composure made her want to strangle him. “Old Li isn’t a gossip.”

He had been quite anxious that day, thinking in the car, wondering if he had been too forceful. If Yu Hao returned with swelling, he worried that even without Old Li saying anything, others would get the wrong idea. He hadn’t wanted to move that quickly; in the military, there were many taboos. If rumors spread, it wouldn’t sound good. He didn’t care about his reputation but feared it would tarnish Yu Hao’s name and embarrass Professor Han.

Seeing her like that when he left, he feared she would overthink it, imagining too much. With the vehicle about to depart, he had no time to consider. Acting on impulse, he had turned back.

At least she hadn’t rejected him, though she was awkward and bewildered.

By the end of the kiss, Lu Huaizheng’s heart was trembling slightly. It seemed they still had much to work on.

As the phone call reached its end, neither wanted to hang up. They remained silent, holding their phones, listening to the wind and subtle rustling sounds from the other end. This gentle atmosphere seemed to envelop the two in a warm halo of light that no one wanted to disturb.

Zhao Dailin, who had just finished calling Professor Han, didn’t want to disturb Yu Hao.

Xu Xu, who had come on Shu Hongwen’s orders to find Lu Huaizheng, didn’t want to disturb him either.

Until Lu Huaizheng actively hung up, put his phone back in his pocket, and turned to see Xu Xu watching him from a distance.

Xu Xu hurried over and said to him, “Quickly, the leader is looking for you.”

Lu Huaizheng put on his cap, and glanced at him, “Staff Officer Li?”

Xu Xu nodded, “That’s right.”

They chatted for a few more sentences.

Lu Huaizheng patted his back, said he understood, fastened his cap, and jogged toward the administration building.

He had just arrived at the bottom of the building.

On the fourth-floor corridor of the administration building stood two figures with their backs turned, hands clasped behind them, looking down. They saw Lu Huaizheng rush like the wind toward the entrance. An older man in military uniform standing to the side smiled and said to Li Hongwen, “This kid hasn’t changed a bit, still impetuous, just like when he was in school.”

Li Hongwen waved his hand, smiling and denying it with eyes full of sentiment: “He’s changed a lot. Since that incident before, his temperament has mellowed considerably. I suspect he’s guessed you’re here.” At this point, he counted on his fingers: “Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parent, Teacher—you still rank fifth at least.”

The man had gentle features, not as stern as Li Hongwen’s. His face was amiable, his physique slender, without Li Hongwen’s rocklike firmness. When not smiling, his eyes were keen, particularly piercing when looking at people, always carrying a sense of scrutiny—the image of a dignified old man.

The old man was named Jiang Yuanliang, Lu Huaizheng’s former teacher from the military academy and an expert in military communications.

Hearing footsteps from the stairwell, Jiang Yuanliang turned around, smiling: “No matter how clever this kid is, he couldn’t have guessed I’d appear here today. We spoke on the phone a few days ago, but I didn’t tell him I was in Hunan recently.”

“You don’t understand your student well enough,” Li Hongwen said, pointing at him with a smile.

Lu Huaizheng took the stairs two at a time. Seeing Jiang Yuanliang, he showed no surprise at all and respectfully called him “Teacher Jiang.”

Jiang Yuanliang smiled: “Looks like you guessed it already. Did you know I was here?”

“What?” Lu Huaizheng didn’t quite understand.

“You’re not surprised to see me? You knew I was here?”

“Xu Xu said you were here, so I was somewhat prepared.”

He almost forgot that Xu Xu had been their classmate back then.

The two old men had originally planned to surprise the young man, completely forgetting about Xu Xu. They exchanged glances, shaking their heads and smiling, lamenting how time flies.

Jiang Yuanliang patted Lu Huaizheng’s shoulder, asking, “How have you been recently?”

“Very well.”

“I heard from your leader that you’ve recently started dating?” Jiang Yuanliang said, glancing at Li Hongwen, who looked away awkwardly.

Lu Huaizheng did not attempt to hide it. “Yes.”

Jiang Yuanliang rested one elbow on the railing, casually scrutinizing him: “Which family’s daughter?”

Before Lu Huaizheng could answer, Li Hongwen spoke first, “You don’t know her, she’s a psychologist in our unit.”

Jiang Yuanliang nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s good, better than Old Li’s daughter.”

“Which Old Li’s family?” Li Hongwen asked.

Jiang Yuanliang raised an eyebrow, speaking frankly: “Which Old Li could it be? Secretary Li, of course. I don’t approve of his daughter. She’s always speaking sarcastically. A perfectly good Chinese person insists on speaking like a foreigner, suddenly blurting out English words. It gives me a headache.”

He shook his head, expressing his dislike.

Jiang Yuanliang spoke straightforwardly, without malice. His first impression of talking with Li Yaoxin was that it was exhausting. Li Hongwen dared not continue this topic, only smiling to indicate: “You and your student have similar tastes.”

Jiang Yuanliang laughed, “I have complete confidence in my student’s judgment.” Having just praised him, he then mocked: “I’m quite curious which unfortunate girl has been ruined by you.”

Lu Huaizheng smiled, not minding. Jiang Yuanliang always spoke this way, similar to Han Zhichen—very direct. Perhaps all researchers preferred a straightforward attitude. He was quite used to it.

Li Hongwen, however, couldn’t bear to listen anymore, being very protective. “Watch your language. To be honest, I think Old Han’s daughter might not be good enough for him. She doesn’t manage the household, and she’s a researcher too, already overwhelmed with her work. If it weren’t for this kid’s stubbornness…”

Before he could finish, Lu Huaizheng interrupted, deliberately provoking him: “You’re just jealous because you can’t understand academia. If anyone is unworthy, it’s me who doesn’t deserve her. I’m poor and just a soldier. The fact that she’s willing to be with me—in ancient times, that would be considered marrying beneath her station. What could she possibly see in me?”

Li Hongwen couldn’t be bothered to argue with him.

This kid was single-mindedly passionate and stubborn.

Seeing the two about to argue, Jiang Yuanliang quickly mediated: “Let’s stop meddling in young people’s affairs and talk about business.” He then turned to Lu Huaizheng, “Recently, Old Liang and I had a bold idea. We’ve obtained a material very suitable for making stealth aircraft. If successful, it could advance our country’s military capabilities by ten years.”

“Stealth aircraft? Like the B-2 bomber?”

Jiang Yuanliang nodded, “Yes, but this stealth aircraft would have an even smaller radar cross-section. Do you remember the experiment I conducted for you back then? The pilots could only detect a tiny point on the radar, which you all thought was a wild goose. Remember?”

Lu Huaizheng certainly remembered.

As soon as they had disembarked from the plane, Jiang Yuanliang had said, if that had been an enemy aircraft, you would all be dead already.

“Old Liang and I will be drafting a proposal soon. Finding the right materials is a process, and we may need your cooperation. Additionally, before the proposal, there’s a technical exchange meeting in Tuslane that Old Liang and I need to attend.”

After finishing, Jiang Yuanliang looked at Lu Huaizheng and adjusted his uniform.

“I remember you were very interested in this research back then.”

Lu Huaizheng laughed: “I’ve forgotten most of the specialized knowledge by now.”

“I’ve already requested from the leadership,” Jiang Yuanliang nodded as well. “When the time comes, you’ll bring a few people with me to ensure the safety of Old Liang and myself, and incidentally broaden your horizons.”

Lu Huaizheng wasn’t foolish; he naturally understood Jiang Yuanliang’s intention with this arrangement.

Jiang Yuanliang didn’t stay long. After explaining the matter, he left by car. Lu Huaizheng saw him at the military zone gate. Before getting into the car, they chatted casually for a few more minutes. Jiang Yuanliang delayed getting in, instead looking at Lu Huaizheng for a long time. In his eyes, weathered by the years, emotions surged, though ultimately he said nothing.

At graduation, Jiang Yuanliang had wanted to keep him by his side.

Li Hongwen disagreed. He wasn’t willing to simply hand over the talent he had painstakingly searched for to become Jiang Yuanliang’s student. Lu Huaizheng was a sentimental person who particularly remembered the first person who had been kind to him.

Beneath his rebellious nature lay an extremely sincere heart. Despite Jiang Yuanliang’s repeated invitations, he still returned to Li Hongwen.

“Seeing you like this is good. Old Li says you’ve changed, but I think you haven’t changed much, still the same as before. Next time, bring your girlfriend out to meet me. Don’t see me off, go back now.”

In terms of understanding, Jiang Yuanliang knew him better. Jiang Yuanliang didn’t compromise on academics, and wasn’t afraid to offend people, but was also a person with sensitive thoughts, often able to reveal Lu Huaizheng’s concerns in just a few words.

Li Hongwen, on the other hand, was more of a rough person, less sensitive to nuances.

The two bid farewell. Lu Huaizheng gave a few instructions to the driver but was impatiently shouted at by Jiang Yuanliang from the back seat:

“Enough, get going, you’re being fussy.”

He lowered his head with a smile, said no more, and closed the car door.

The wheels pressed down on the uneven mountain road, descending the gentle slope, leaving two clear tire tracks extending to the verdant mountain road’s end.

Suddenly, Jiang Yuanliang extended his hand from the car window, thumb up, other fingers loosely curled, then slowly pushed upward.

In aviation gesture language, this signified all preparations were complete and ready for takeoff.

Jiang Yuanliang said it also meant forging ahead bravely.

……

Yunnan Military Region.

Yu Hao had just finished her meal and was about to get up when Zhao Dailin hurriedly came in through the door, rushing over without a word and grabbing her hand to leave.

Yu Hao stumbled, her tray clattering all the way.

At the door, she placed the tray in the return area and then asked, “What’s wrong, senior?”

Zhao Dailin’s eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her expression troubled, seemingly a bit embarrassed.

After the incident with Di Yanni, Professor Han was already overwhelmed. That morning, he had repeatedly instructed Yu Hao to focus on her main responsibilities and avoid getting involved in other matters.

But now it seemed only she could help Sun Kai.

Zhao Dailin hesitantly looked at Yu Hao, who urged, “Tell me quickly, what happened?”

Zhao Dailin thought carefully—this shouldn’t count as “other matters,” right? It might even be somewhat related to Yu Hao’s professional duties. Thinking this, she bit the bullet and told Yu Hao: “Sun Kai captured someone at the border whose identity couldn’t be confirmed. Sun Kai says he might be an extremist militant, requiring further confirmation.”

“Why come to me for this?” Yu Hao laughed.

Zhao Dailin looked at her with troubled eyes, lowering her voice: “But there’s a problem now. Sun Kai found many homemade bombs on him, and apparently, there are several more buried in town, set with 24-hour timers. That means by six o’clock tomorrow evening, all these bombs will explode. Sun Kai is going crazy now…”

Yu Hao’s expression froze, her smile vanishing.

The town was mostly filled with elderly people and children; young men had gone out to work.

If he truly was an extremist militant, there was a possibility of indiscriminate killing. The town wasn’t large, but finding the bombs wouldn’t be easy either.

Zhao Dailin said through gritted teeth: “Sun Kai has already ordered the entire town sealed off, but searching like this is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Now, the only option is to force that person to talk first—”

“Where is he?” Yu Hao interrupted directly.

……

The interrogation room was dimly lit.

Sun Kai stood furiously outside the interrogation room’s glass window. Turning his head, he saw Zhao Dailin bringing Yu Hao in. His temper eased somewhat, and gone was his usual jovial manner. He nodded as a greeting.

Yu Hao stood beside him, peering through the interrogation room’s glass window.

She found the man wearing a coat similar to a ghillie suit, his head wrapped in a black turban, making his square face and fierce eyes more pronounced.

“Can I go in and talk to him?” Yu Hao asked Sun Kai while observing the man.

Sun Kai was startled, looking at her with a clicking tongue: “Aren’t you afraid?”

“What’s there to be afraid of? I’ve seen more vicious criminals than this,” Yu Hao took her gaze off the ghillie-suited man and turned to Sun Kai, saying, “Do you know about the Pingchuan Serial Dismemberment Case? The murderer was a gentleman wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a suit and tie who frequented high-end establishments. When women sat before him, they might even fall in love with him because of his exquisite and outstanding appearance. But after having relations, they were cooked… True psychopaths don’t show it on their faces. This one who looks fierce on the outside might be a hello kitty inside.”

After Yu Hao finished, Zhao Dailin nodded in agreement.

Sun Kai couldn’t help but laugh. He had thought Yu Hao was a delicate flower from a greenhouse, and that Lu Huaizheng would have his hands full pampering her. He hadn’t expected her to be such a tough character.

“Be careful when you go in.”

Yu Hao nodded, “Yes, and please help me lower the air conditioning in the interrogation room to 18 degrees, and dim the lights a bit, with the angle mainly toward him so I can see his expressions clearly, especially his eyes.”

Sun Kai gave an OK gesture, and Yu Hao went in.

Zhao Dailin was quite nervous, but still maintained composure in front of Sun Kai.

Sun Kai glanced at her, abruptly dropping a quiet “Thank you,” before turning to watch Yu Hao inside.

Zhao Dailin didn’t respond. After a while, she asked, “Does Lu Huaizheng know about the situation here?”

Sun Kai shook his head, grimacing: “Haven’t told him yet. Planning to call Hunan later.”

Sensing something off in his tone, Zhao Dailin turned to look at him.

“Why so worried?”

Sun Kai smiled bitterly, “If that old man finds out what Yu Hao is doing right now, he’ll probably kill me when he returns tomorrow.”

Zhao Dailin was surprised, “He’s coming back tomorrow?”

Sun Kai nodded: “Flight at eight tomorrow morning. Getting to town would take until three or four in the afternoon at least.”

……

Yunnan Military Region.

After sending off Jiang Yuanliang, Lu Huaizheng returned to discuss future arrangements with Li Hongwen. As he was about to return to the dormitory, the phone in the political instructor’s office rang. The instructor answered it, responded a couple of times, and quickly called out to Lu Huaizheng and Li Hongwen who were heading out.

“Captain Lu! Call from Yunnan.”

Lu Huaizheng looked puzzled, exchanging a glance with Li Hongwen, who thought it was Instructor Tang calling to hurry them back. “We’re returning tomorrow, why call now?”

The instructor said, “It’s Captain Sun, he says there’s a situation in Yunnan.”

Lu Huaizheng took two steps over and snatched the phone.

“Sun Kai?”

Sun Kai’s voice was crisp, explaining the situation concisely from beginning to end.

“Have you reported to the superiors?”

“Yes, they said they’re sending bomb disposal experts.”

Lu Huaizheng found this laughable, holding the receiver away and shaking his head in disbelief, “Calling bomb disposal experts for a few homemade bombs? Aren’t you afraid of being ridiculed?”

“It’s not about bomb disposal now, it’s about reinforcements. We don’t have enough manpower. Searching the entire town won’t be done by tomorrow evening.”

“What about the nearby armed police units?”

“They received the news and are on their way.”

Lu Huaizheng asked, his voice growing cold: “What kind of person is he?”

“Playing dumb, pretending not to understand when spoken to. Dressed like someone from the border, could also be a nomad. Can’t rule out that he’s an extremist militant.”

“What’s happening now?”

Sun Kai said: “Doctor Yu went in to negotiate.”

“Who?!”

“Yu Hao.”

Lu Huaizheng went back to the dormitory to pack his things and changed his flight to depart from Hunan that night. Li Hongwen had the instructor arrange a car to take him down the mountain and voluntarily returned his phone to him. “Use it to contact Sun Kai on the way. Give it to Instructor Tang when you get there, let him keep it for a few days. It’s only a few days until you all return anyway.”

Lu Huaizheng gave a sound of agreement.

After pocketing the phone, he turned and jumped into the military green jeep.

On the way to the airport, Lu Huaizheng sat in the passenger seat, one hand holding the phone propped against the window sill. His eyes scanned the scenery outside aimlessly as he called Sun Kai, fingers tapping rapidly in genuine urgency.

When Sun Kai heard he was on his way, his jaw dropped.

“You’re setting out now? What time will you arrive?”

“Around three or four in the morning.”

“Will there be a car coming up? Should I send someone down to pick you up?”

“No need, I’ve contacted the troops in the city. They’ll send a car.” Lu Huaizheng said, “Now put the receiver through to the interrogation room. I want to know what’s happening inside.”

……

Yu Hao discovered that the other person didn’t speak Mandarin. The first round of confrontation lasted half an hour, during which the other party didn’t say a word. Yu Hao was extremely patient and switched to communicating in English.

The man still looked at her with disdain, his eyebrows raised slightly as if admiring something beautiful and fresh. Yu Hao, suppressing her disgust, frowned and told him again in English:

“If you don’t speak, we have the right to hand you over to the judicial authorities, and then it won’t be as gentle as my questioning.”

……

Yu Hao’s cool voice came through the receiver.

Lu Huaizheng’s heart tightened.

After three seconds of silence.

The receiver transmitted the man’s voice, full of teasing and lustful intent.

“You’re very beautiful.”

“I want to enter your body.”

Damn it!

Lu Huaizheng violently kicked the front glass panel of the jeep. The car shook, and the driver’s face turned pale with fright, thinking he had taken a wrong turn. He hurriedly asked, “Wha… what’s wrong?”

Lu Huaizheng’s face was dark, his eyes smoldering with indistinct fire, rarely losing his temper.

“Just drive.”