Flower City.
Looking at the familiar skyline, Chen Mo felt a wave of emotion well up inside him.
Ever since leaving home for university, his visits had become fewer and farther between. Each year, the time he spent with his family seemed to shrink, his bond with home stretched thinner by distance and work.
Now, with the wedding preparations underway, it was the perfect excuse to return.
He had no siblings, and despite his insistence, his parents had refused to relocate to Binhai. He understood, but that didn't make it any less frustrating.
"Mom, I'm back!"
Chen Mo opened the front door, voice echoing down the hallway.
Inside, his parents were chatting with Zhang Yang and Zhen Zhen. At the sound of Chen Mo's voice, the group froze for a moment—then broke into warm smiles and exclamations of surprise.
"Speak of the devil!" Zhang Yang laughed.
"Xiao Mo's back!" Chen's mother beamed, rising quickly to greet him and Xiao Yu.
"Mom, Dad—this is for you," Xiao Yu said sweetly, handing over a bag filled with high-quality health supplements.
"You child," Chen's mother said, clearly pleased despite her protests. "We have more than enough of this at home. You don't have to keep buying so much."
Her words were scolding, but the joy in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Zhen Zhen, Uncle Zhang—it's nice to see you again," Xiao Yu said politely.
"Little Yu, watch your wording," Zhang Yang teased. "You and Xiao Mo are married now. Even if the wedding hasn't happened yet, the certificate is signed. You're officially family now. No more calling me Uncle Zhang—it's Dad now."
Xiao Yu flushed in embarrassment, then managed a soft, "Dad…"
"That's better! Come, sit down. We were just talking about you."
"They've just arrived, they must be hungry," Chen's mother said. "Meimei, cook some rice and make a few dishes."
"Right away, ma'am." The young woman named Ami smiled at the couple, took the bags from their hands, and disappeared into the kitchen.
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "A new housekeeper? When did this happen?"
"She's a girl from our hometown," his mother explained. "Her name's Chen Meimei. Just finished university. Her family's in a tight spot—her father fell ill and needed surgery. When I went home last time, I asked the village chief to recommend someone trustworthy to help around the house. He told me about her—bright, hardworking, and very filial."
"We gave her an advance on her salary to help with her father's treatment. She's been with us for two months now, very diligent and helpful."
"Even though we have cleaning robots, they're just not the same. They don't know how to take initiative. I like having someone to chat with and go shopping. Meimei's a sweet girl."
Chen Mo nodded. "Sounds like you made a good choice."
He and Xiao Yu took their seats on the living room sofa.
"About the wedding date," Chen Shanhe said, pulling out a folded piece of red paper. "We've consulted the almanac and found six auspicious dates. Take a look and pick one."
Chen Mo glanced through the list, then pointed at one. "April 16. This date feels right. What do you think, Xiao Yu?"
Xiao Yu checked her calendar app and nodded. "Looks great."
"I told your father you'd pick that one," Zhang Yang chuckled. "Called it."
"Now that the date is set, we'll inform Xiao Yu's parents and finalize the customs. You two don't need to worry about anything else—we've got it covered. What you do need to handle is the guest list. Classmates, friends, business associates—start preparing the invitations," said Chen Shanhe.
"Sure. Dad, just make a list of our family and friends. The wedding company will take care of the rest. Also, once we're married, Xiao Yu and I will move into the villa at Xianglutan Beach."
"Perfect! A new house and a wedding—double blessings!" said Chen's mother, eyes twinkling with joy.
"There's still over two months until the wedding," Zhen Zhen added, giving the couple a teasing glance. "You two better work hard—maybe we'll hear another piece of good news soon."
Xiao Yu blushed furiously, not knowing where to look.
Binhai Airport.
Two East Asian travelers stepped out of the arrivals gate—a man and a woman, dressed like tourists.
The man wore a black jacket, knit hat, and headphones, pushing a small black suitcase. The woman wore a red sweater and wool hat, sunglasses covering her face. She rolled a red suitcase behind her. At a glance, they looked like an ordinary young couple on vacation.
They scanned their surroundings and waited patiently.
A few minutes later, a car pulled up to the curb. A young man stepped out, gave them a nod, and popped the trunk. The couple exchanged glances, loaded their luggage, and got in.
"They've arrived?" the woman asked as they drove off.
"They've been waiting for you," replied the driver, Bai Feng. "They came two years ago. You've got the key to this mission."
Fifteen minutes later, the car pulled into the driveway of a secluded villa.
Bai Feng checked the surroundings before leading the two inside.
Three men lounged in the living room. One was cleaning a rifle, another played on a holographic mobile device, and the third was lifting dumbbells while watching TV.
The new arrivals were barely acknowledged.
"They're here," the woman said, setting her laptop down on the central table.
The three men casually put aside their activities and gathered around.
"Took you long enough," muttered the man with the gun. "I've polished this thing five times already."
"I love it here," said the gamer. "Holographic phones, holographic projections… I even watched an action film from an island country last night—felt like live streaming."
The muscular man nodded toward the woman. "So, what's the mission?"
"Wait," Bai Feng interrupted. He placed a finger-sized device on the table and activated it. A soft hum filled the room.
The gamer's phone suddenly disconnected.
"Hey! My match wasn't even over! That's just rude," he complained. "Can't I multitask during a briefing?"
Bai Feng snatched the phone and shut it off.
"Let me remind you—we're not in the West anymore. After that island country tried to steal from Marching Ant Company, Binhai has been under heavy surveillance by Huaxia's National Security Bureau. They've already caught agents like us before."
"These holographic phones use Marching Ant's AI. You know how advanced that is. To avoid detection, all mobile devices must be off during meetings, and all computers must be air-gapped."
Grumbling under their breath, the group complied.
Once silence fell, the woman opened a hidden folder on her laptop and projected an image into the air.
It was a photo.
Anyone familiar with global headlines would recognize the man in it instantly.
Chen Mo.
"The target must be captured alive and extracted from Huaxia," she said coolly. "Mission code: Falcon."