The next couple of days flew by.
For Lu Mian it was the most blissful two days she'd had in both her lifetimes. She could code to her heart's content, be present only for meals and accompany Huo Moshe to and from school.
For the first time in her life she wasn't apologising for her existence. Or pleasing someone to be liked. She wasn't slaving away under the banner of "love". She lived wholly for herself. It was paradise.
Her happiness was visible. Her eyes sparkled with quiet confidence, her complexion glowed with health, and a soft, unguarded smile seemed to live permanently on her lips.
It was not the same for a lot of others.
For Huo Shen and his team, the days were a blur of relentless surveillance, redacted files, and sleepless nights. Code was rewritten again and again, traps refined to lethal precision.
They bore it with the stoic calm and discipline of a soldier. They knew what it meant when a mission was just about to launch and they didnt question it.
For Han Zheyu, it was endless waiting. He knew the trap was going to be sprung. He felt it in his bones. So he waited with the readiness of a panther - even when it seemed endless.
The person who suffered the most was Huo Yichen.
The operation had gone catastrophically wrong. Now, even after two days, he couldn't trace the missing professor. Or explain how Black Lotus could infilterate.
And worst of all Cai Jun, a soldier under his command, was still in surgery. They were fighting to save his legs.
But it didn't seem optimistic.
Huo Yichen could not be present at his bedside, however. For he had endless debriefings to attend.
Today was the final one - an enquiry commission. This would decide his fate.
Huo Yichen stood rigidly outside the conference room, back straight, boots aligned perfectly with the tiles beneath his feet. He had been waiting for over an hour. Yet, there was no word from inside.
He took a deep steadying breath. This is just a power move, meant to break him.
I am the most promising soldier currently. This is a setback, yes. But, I will claw my way out of this he promised himself.
Just then the door opened. Liang Wen, his grandfather's secretary and first in command, stood at the door and gestured him to come inside.
Not a word was spoken. But Huo Yichen understood - his grandfather couldn't shield him this time.
He stepped inside, marched to the center of the room, and snapped a sharp salute.
Despite the short walk, his eyes had already catalogued everyone present. There was Director Xi, President Fu. Expected.
His grandfather was also there. Despite his pride, knowing his grandfather was there loosened something in his chest. It wouldn't be too bad with Grandpa felt relieved.
And then, there was General Shen.Of course! Whenever the Huo family stumbled, General Shen would dive in like a carrion bird, determined to make it worse for them.
"Well well well" drawled General Shen, with barely suppressed glee. "Looks like the illustrious Huo bloodline has really disappointing heirs. This one is worse than his uncle. Tell me, Grand Commander, do your officers receive medals now for losing people and missions"?
Huo Yichen's blood boiled. Just you wait you sarcastic old man. I will win more merits and bury you with it. We will see who has the last laugh.
Outwardly, he couldn't let his feelings show. He merely waited, for a real question.
President Fu cut to the chase. "Have you identified the whereabouts of Senior Mo?" With the Nexus files missing, locating Senior Mo was critical.
"We think Black Lotus have her sir" he replied with confidence. "And…"
"Think? Major Huo, do you have solid evidence? This is not child's play" probed Director Xi. He intensely disliked this kid. Not only was he too full of himself, he doesn;t seem to understand exactly what was at stake.
"Black Lotus breached control tower. Senior Mo was there - she activated the emergency comms. Once Han Zheyu incapacitated me, he took her away." he continued evenly.
"That's nonsense" yelled a voice from the door. It was Professor Tong Yaohui - the fake professor Mo who had been held hostage by Black Lotus.
"I was there - someone else came through the window to take her" he finished indignantly. "Major Huo you were unconscious then, after all, shouldn't you check the information first?" he challenged.
Professor Tong Yaohui was a senior professor in particle physics and worked closely with Mo Jiali. After Senior Mo, it was he who knew the most about the project. Mo Jiali and Professor Tong had worked together for almost 5 years now - and when he heard she would be targeted by Black Lotus, it was he who had suggested the identity swap.
Huo Yichen frowned. This wasn't in Chi Yang's debrief.
"I was indeed unconscious. But two of my subordinates were at the tower. I read the report made by Chi Yang. My report is based on that" he clarified.
General Shen laughed "and you believed it? What if he was the mole? He would've lied". This kid is an idiot, he thought gleefully. The downfall of the Huo family is soon!
The question cut through Huo Yichen like a flame. He had automatically trusted his subordinates. But what if Chi Yang was the leak?
It did seem really suspicious, now he considered it. Chi Yang was the only one who didn't get injured. And, if what this Professor was saying was true, then why did he lie in the report?!
Huo Jingchuan closed his eyes briefly at his grandson's incompetence. Huo Shen wouldn't have made such a mistake. The thought came to him, unbidden before he chased it away. It was important to focus on the issue at hand.
From Huo Shen's report, Huo Jingchuan had already realized Mo Jiali was abducted at the control tower. The only two conclusions were - either Black Lotus extracted her by a different route. OR, there was a third player.
Either way, there was only one option available.
"Whoever has Mo Jiali will make a move soon" he commented. 'And when they do, we can get them. Major Huo you.."
"Negative Commander General" interjected President Fu firmly. "We cannot afford to have Major Huo bungling this up"
Huo Yichen's face flamed. He had no defence.
"I agree." said General Shen gleefully. "This time, I trust the Grand Commander General won't resort to nepotism and give competent soldiers a chance. Major Shen can…"
"Major Huo will assist Major Shen in this mission" said Grand Commander General as though it was his plan all along. "Major Huo, this is your final chance - we will re-assess you after this mission is completed. For now, your rights to lead soldiers is suspended and your salary for the next 3 months is withheld" he finished.
Huo Yichen saluted. "I will not let down your trust" he said resolutely and left the room.
Even though this hurt his pride, he knew his grandfather had already done his best for him - at least, there was no demerit on his record.
"Report to Major Shen at the barracks in 30 minutes" Liang Wen informed him and shut the door.
Huo Yichen's fists curled. The barracks were atleast 45 minutes away. This was meant to punish him. He knew this powerplay always existed. But he had been shielded by his grandfather.
"I make one mistake and now you've withdrawn your protection" he scoffed in his head. "Grandpa, so much for all your love and affection."
But right now, he had bigger fish to fry. Huo Yichen immediately called Chi Yang. The call rang. And rang.
"So now you don't even answer promptly?" he snarled. "Because you don't report to me anymore?"
"Boss," Chi Yang said hoarsely, exhaustion thick in his voice. "That's not it…"
"Then tell me how it is - why did you lie in the report?"
There was a pause.
"I didn't," Chi Yang replied quietly. "Everything in my report is exactly as it happened. I swear on my honor."
Huo Yichen's rage turned glacial. Betrayal. He couldn't get over the fact that his subordinate, the person whom he had sincerely helped develop would turn against him.
"Boss? Chi Yang enquired cautiously. "Boss, Cai Jun is out of danger now, thankfully. The doctor said there's a chance to save his legs if we can…"
"What's that got to do with me now?" snarled Huo Yichen. Betray him and then try to get benefits from him? No chance!
"Isnt it common to get injured in the line of duty. He should've been more capable. Wait for benefits from the command" and rudely cut the call.
I treated him so well, this white-eyed wolf he fumed. Looks like he needed to get answers himself.
Mind racing, Huo Yichen left the gates of the Qinghe university.
Ironically, today was the day the final Olympiads were held. The gates thronged with family and students again - they had already forgotten the threat that just happened.
As Huo Yichen moved through a crowd, he saw a familiar face at a distance.
It was Her. She was walking into the exam gates, surrounded by family he couldn't see clearly.
Realization hit him like a flash. That's right, this student would know what happened - she was at the control tower too!
Kicking himself for the oversight, Huo Yichen raced back to report for the mission.
I will interrogate her privately he resolved. Once he knows the truth, he can win back the honor he had lost.
At that moment, Huo Yichen had already forgotten that he had just ignored two of his subordinates when they needed him the most. He hadn't just cut a call.
He had shattered the illusions of two people who would have stood beside him when everything else fell apart.