"This... are you sure?" Fang Zhongtian looked at his daughter with doubt.
"Dad! I saw it with my own eyes, how could there be a mistake? Don't you believe your daughter? You value him too much! He's a downright scoundrel, who only plays with women." Fang Ni glared at Fang Zhongtian, feeling that he held Ye Hao in too high regard.
"Haha! I find it hard to believe that kid would do such things! Because he reports his tasks every day and has daily activities, plus his mercenary work is a day's journey away from Bangui! How would he know two beautiful women in the primordial forest of the tropical rainforest? As for accepting a reward, did you really see him take someone else's money?" Fang Zhongtian, being more experienced, saw things more comprehensively.
"Even if he didn't take the money, he was still reaping undue favors. How can such a person be worth your high regard?" Fang Ni thought of how Ye Hao indeed didn't accept Lin Ruyu's money, threw it back to her, and walked away nonchalantly.
"So, how much money did others offer him?" Fang Zhongtian deftly led his daughter into a detailed analysis.
"One hundred thousand." Without thinking, Fang Ni directly described the situation at the time.
"One hundred thousand in the capital city isn't much! But for someone like Ye Hao, who's living a mercenary life, it could sustain their entire mercenary group comfortably for a while — excluding mission-related expenses. Do you think Ye Hao, forced to return, could have a lot of money on him? Ten units of Bangui's currency is equal to only one unit of ours in Huaxia. Given that Ye Hao could refuse one hundred thousand RMB, think it through, is that really undue favor?" Fang Zhongtian chuckled.
"But… but he is two-timing! Such a person has no character." Despite her father's comments, Fang Ni understood that Ye Hao might not have been after undue favors, but she strongly disliked Ye Hao's two-timing nature.
"Haha! That's even more absurd. Ye Hao, when acting as a mercenary, is the big boss. Do you think he has that much time to indulge? Besides, Ye Hao just completed a mission recently, and as soon as it was done, he was forced to return. In such circumstances, where would the time for indulgence come from?" Fang Zhongtian, shifting from his earlier hesitance, was now completely defending Ye Hao to his daughter.
"Could it really be that he didn't?" With her father pointing it out, Fang Ni felt uncertain. She also recalled what Ye Hao said before leaving, claiming he never intended to reap undue favors. He was just passing by, he wasn't a wealthy man, couldn't afford luxuries like those two beautiful women could with their five-star hotels awaiting their stay; he still needed to find his economic housing...
Thinking to this point, Fang Ni suddenly felt an unpleasant sensation. It was already past 1 a.m.! If Ye Hao couldn't find a place to stay, wouldn't that mean he'd end up sleeping on the street? A soldier who fights on the frontline for the nation every day, returning to his own country only to end up sleeping on the streets? Thinking of this made Fang Ni feel deep regret!
She realized how irrational she had been! What right did she have to deny him based on the words of two strangers? What right did she have to deny him at all? Overcome with regret, Fang Ni quickly opened the door and ran out.
"Where are you going?" Fang Zhongtian loudly asked his daughter, seeing her about to head out again.
"I'm going to find him! I might have really misunderstood him; dad, don't wait up for me..." Fang Ni's voice came from outside the courtyard, soon drowned out by the roar of a car engine.
Ye Hao, aimlessly wandering after leaving the airport, walked leisurely along an asphalt road! On him were only two thousand Bangui notes, but in the capital of Huaxia, few people would accept such currency, meaning he might indeed have to sleep on the streets without a penny!
However, Ye Hao showed no sign of dissatisfaction. Such days were far better than his mercenary days! At least he didn't have to fear being shot at from the shadows! Streetlights lit the way ahead of him, no need to traverse the primordial forest at night with a flashlight like in his mercenary days!
The hidden dangers in the primordial forest were far greater than those in this city! Venomous snakes, strange creatures, and other natural disasters were plentiful.
"Qianqian, when you hacked into the city network earlier, did you see any reasonably priced rental rooms in the capital?" Ye Hao asked while walking, using his mental connection with Qianqian.
"Yes, master, there are quite a few," Qianqian transmitted the information mentally to Ye Hao.
"Where?" Ye Hao asked excitedly.
"Qingqing Hair Salon, Yihong Hair Salon, Loli Hair Salon..." Qianqian transmitted her message.
"Stop! Why are they all hair salons?" Ye Hao asked, speechless.
"According to the online information, those hair salons are low-cost places. And they fit your wealth perfectly, just enough for you to spend a night," Qianqian replied with a laugh.
"Hair salons? Hair salons..." Ye Hao mumbled twice, then suddenly realized — aren't those places notorious for hidden agendas? If he went there, wouldn't his superiors flay him alive?
"No way! I can't go there. Is there anywhere else?" Ye Hao shook his head repeatedly.
"There are also under the bridge, tunnels, and eaves; these are widely known places on Earth..."
"Alright! No need to say anymore." Ye Hao helplessly gestured to Qianqian to stop talking. If he ended up under a bridge and his comrades found out, wouldn't they die laughing? It was acceptable during missions, but without any tasks now...
Helpless, Ye Hao had to sit on the railing by the roadside! The weather in the capital was slightly chilly! He wore only a thin vest, but his strong build left him unfazed. Only the passersby in cars who saw him showed a hint of sympathy.
Just as Ye Hao was about to retreat into his inner space, he heard some honking.
"Honk honk!"
Ye Hao turned around and saw a black Toyota car slowly approaching…
Ye Hao wondered, isn't that the woman's car? Why is she here again?
Sitting in the car, Fang Ni saw Ye Hao just sitting on the road barrier, maybe planning to spend the night like that, and her heart ached even more. If it were in South Africa, wouldn't it be even more unbearable to see? I mocked him so coldly before, perhaps I really hurt his heart?
Coming to the side of the barrier, Fang Ni lowered the car window, looked at Ye Hao, and said, "If you have nowhere to go, I can take you to stay at my place for now."
Ye Hao was astonished, has this woman really changed? She was mocking him a moment ago! Why did she suddenly have a change of heart? But thinking that having a place to stay is better than sleeping on the street, Ye Hao didn't try to act tough and responded with a smile, "I really don't have anywhere to go! If you hadn't come, I'd probably have sat here waiting for dawn."
Ye Hao's words instantly reddened Fang Ni's eyes; she was right, this man really had nowhere to go! Other than missions where he has a set place to go, returning to this country, he has no place to call home.
"Don't worry, it won't happen again. As long as you're back in the capital, you can stay at my place! You won't have to sleep on the streets again." Fang Ni's voice choked up a bit, but she still gave Ye Hao a deep glance.
This time, looking at Ye Hao, she noticed his face seemed even more resolute and his demeanor more sunny and charming.
"Thanks! But I don't know if I'll even have the life to return to this city after finishing the next mission!" Ye Hao forced a smile, even though Fang Ni's earlier words warmed his heart, he knew he couldn't stay in this city forever.
"You will! You'll definitely come back, my home is your home from now on." Fang Ni felt extremely distressed hearing Ye Hao's words! Working in the intelligence department, she received news daily of people failing missions and losing their lives! But she had never felt the impact as strongly as hearing Ye Hao say it to her face.
"Maybe!" Ye Hao smiled, then asked, "Why did you come out so late?"
"Perhaps I misunderstood you before. Once I understood, I couldn't let you sleep on the streets!" Fang Ni's eyes were slightly red, but her smiling appearance made Ye Hao feel particularly at ease.
"Haha! It's actually nothing, just helping them in Bangui and then having a small misunderstanding on the plane." Ye Hao explained with a smile.
"I knew it! I'm sorry, I misunderstood you." Fang Ni turned her head to look at Ye Hao and said.
"It's okay! Thank you for coming out so late to find me." Ye Hao nodded.
"Hehe..." Fang Ni chuckled without saying more.
Ye Hao was also not much of a talker; seeing Fang Ni didn't speak, he simply closed his eyes to rest.
A night passed in the blink of an eye! Ye Hao spent the night at Fang Zhongtian's house! It was the least stressful night he'd had in many years, and he even drooled in his sleep! It's not surprising, even when he was a mercenary, he had to sleep with one eye open to avoid being sneak-attacked.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
There was a knocking sound outside the room, and Ye Hao quickly put on the clothes Fang Ni gave him!
"Good morning!" Ye Hao opened the door, seeing Fang Ni wearing an apron, looking like a housewife, smiling and greeting him.
"Breakfast is ready, come out and have a bite! My dad is waiting for you." Fang Ni laughed as she saw Ye Hao's messy hair.
"Oh! Okay, the old leader is waiting for me, let's go quickly!" Ye Hao had deep respect for Fang Zhongtian, and upon hearing Fang Zhongtian was waiting for him, he was eager to meet him.
"No need to rush, you should sort out your hair first!" Fang Ni rolled her eyes at Ye Hao with a smile, seeing his hurried demeanor.
Ye Hao made an apologetic gesture and said, "Ah! Over there, I don't even remember to comb my hair, it's a habit turned natural, sorry! I'll be right there." After speaking, Ye Hao quickly went back to his room to tidy up.
Seeing Ye Hao like this, Fang Ni laughed happily, feeling that communicating with Ye Hao was extraordinarily easy, as if she could let go of all troubles.
Having hastily tidied up, Ye Hao quickly came out and went downstairs with Fang Ni to the hall.
In the hall, an older man with some white hair, dressed neatly in a Zhongshan suit, was already seated on the sofa.
Ye Hao's first action upon entering the hall was to step forward, salute, and greet, "Leader, sir! Ye Hao reporting..."
"Haha, no need to be so formal, today it's just us men, relax a bit." Fang Zhongtian smiled, seeing Ye Hao wearing the clothes he had worn before, which fit quite well.
Ye Hao looked slightly nervous at Fang Zhongtian, feeling an immense pressure from him! Even facing an enemy, there would still be a chance to fight back, but facing Fang Zhongtian, Ye Hao felt like he was facing Mount Tai, full of pressure...