The City Hunter (Complete) - 30

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter 199 Revisiting

the Past: The terrorist attacks in Japan not only shocked the world but also threw the National Security
Bureau into a frenzy. The fact that the National Security Bureau had received absolutely no prior intelligence was terrifying; the problem
was serious, concerning national security. The entire National Security Bureau was mobilized at full speed, searching for every
suspicious clue. If the problem remained unresolved, the National Security Bureau would likely face considerable pressure. During that period, the National Security Bureau
was under immense pressure from all sides; even Director Liu almost lost his job. However, the Tokyo incident was too
peculiar . The terrorists who carried out the operation were incredibly skilled, leaving no suspicious traces whatsoever
. Despite the National Security Bureau's best efforts, they couldn't find any clues.

Ultimately, the National Security Bureau stumbled upon a clue by chance. This clue was brought
to them . If Zhang Ziwen hadn't valued his honor so much, this matter would likely
have remained a mystery to the National Security Bureau forever. What brought Zhang Ziwen to the forefront was the East Turkestan intelligence he possessed. When the military
shared the East Turkestan intelligence with the National Security Bureau, the Bureau was puzzled by the accuracy of the intelligence and its typical American characteristics. How could
Zhang Ziwen have such important intelligence?

Investigate, follow the clues. The Iron-Blooded Organization is not to be underestimated. This investigation quickly uncovered Zhang Ziwen's
movements in the United States. The National Security Bureau had a detailed understanding of Zhang Ziwen's connection with Chen Yan. At that time,
the National Security Bureau already knew Chen Yan's identity. The National Security Bureau used its powerful intelligence network to trace all of Zhang Ziwen's itinerary in the United States, and finally
found out that he and Chen Yan flew to Tokyo.

Sensitive and with a keen sense of smell, the National Security Bureau had already begun to suspect that the Tokyo attacks were inextricably linked to the US CIA.
Connecting this to US political trends and counter-terrorism methods, the National Security Bureau concluded that the Tokyo terrorist attacks were
orchestrated by the US CIA. However, figuring out how Zhang Ziwen got involved took them considerable time.
Why cooperating with the US CIA? What were his motives? What benefits did he gain? Through deduction, analysis, organization, and intelligence
summarization, the National Security Bureau quickly grasped Zhang Ziwen's motives. Their analysis and deduction were exceptional.
They even analyzed his psychology regarding women. When the East Turkestan intelligence was handed over to the military, the National Security Bureau further analyzed
Zhang Ziwen's final motive.

Even the head of the National Security Bureau felt this conclusion was somewhat absurd, mainly because
the motives of this "super terrorist" were ridiculously simple. Such simple motives could create a terrorist
attack —risking everything for a woman, risking everything for honor—and it was precisely this simple, contradictory combination of factors.
However, the head of this iron-blooded organization was still quite impressed. To handle the Tokyo incident so flawlessly
was truly remarkable; he couldn't find anyone among his subordinates who could do such a job so skillfully. No wonder he was a
former military elite. Zhang Ziwen's actions were indeed as reported: a heroic, iron-
blooded figure with a touch of roguish charm.

Zhang Ziwen's initial guess was correct; the Tokyo terrorist attack involving the US government and Chinese nationals had
become top state secret. This matter, including the military's, had been restricted to a certain level of secrecy.
The declassification of state secrets was likely not until a century later. The original plan was to secretly deal with Zhang Ziwen,
but this was abandoned after the astonishing power behind him was confirmed, and the matter itself became a top state secret.

Besides guessing that his own affairs were top secret, there were other complex factors involved that Zhang Ziwen
couldn't have foreseen. His willingness to risk everything for his honor was indeed risky; his life hung by
a thread. One could only say his luck was exceptionally good.

The purpose of the National Security chief's visit today, besides wanting Zhang Ziwen to personally confirm this, was,
more importantly, to meet this legendary super terrorist with his own eyes.
He was filled with curiosity about Zhang Ziwen, a highly controversial figure and undoubtedly a super talent. In any case, the National Security chief had already decided to
recruit Zhang Ziwen and had submitted Zhang Ziwen's materials to the Ministry of National Defense. However, judging from the military's attitude,
it seemed that it was none of his business. But in his own opinion, the military probably didn't have much of a chance either. Not to mention that
Zhang was already a billionaire with a net worth of hundreds of millions and a current global hot topic, plus his background
involving European royalty and the European Union, who would need him? Even if they had designs on him, it would depend on whether Zhang Ziwen was
willing, or his patriotism and sense of honor. Based on the analysis of Zhang Ziwen's personality, it wasn't
impossible.

The questioning by the head of the National Security Bureau had ended. Seeing that Zhang Ziwen had achieved his goal, and judging from the expressions of
the two generals, it seemed he had nothing more to do now, Director Liu tactfully stood up
and bid farewell to Zhang Ziwen and the generals present. Everyone was very polite, wearing perfunctory smiles. After a round of
small talk about strengthening ties and cooperation, Director Liu left Zhang Ziwen's office.

With the head of the Iron Blood Organization gone, Zhang Ziwen felt a significant reduction in pressure. The generals had made him feel awkward and restrained,
while the head of the National Security Bureau had instilled pressure and tension. In short, neither side could be
easily fooled. However, as a former soldier, he preferred to face the military rather than provoke the Iron Blood
Organization; it was definitely not a place for ordinary people.

Now only military personnel remained in the office. Although Zhang Ziwen dared not act presumptuously, as the owner of the company
, he still had to fulfill his duties as host, offering Panda cigarettes as a token of respect, and also satisfying his own craving. The two generals were not polite
at , and Wang Bing, needless to say, had never smoked Panda cigarettes before. He was now
basking in the glory of the generals. Since he knew Zhang Ziwen possessed such a treasure, he would most likely try to get a pack or two before leaving. In
the special environment of the military, smoking and drinking were inseparable, and this stuff could easily shorten the distance between people and make communication
more casual.

Four packs of cigarettes instantly filled the luxurious office with smoke, creating a smoky atmosphere. Fortunately, everyone present
was a heavy smoker, so this kind of smoking had no adverse effects on these soldiers.

"I must say, you're quite capable, managing to get your hands on this stuff. Not bad at all." General Ha,
as the commander of the North Sea Fleet, even getting his hands on these limited-edition Panda cigarettes was difficult.

Zhang Ziwen smiled modestly and said, "I don't have any special skills to get these cigarettes; a friend
got them for me."

General Huang laughed and said, "Friend? I mean your girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?" Zhang Ziwen was slightly taken aback and said, "She's a woman, yes, but not my girlfriend." Tang Ying
"It would be so nice if she could be my girlfriend,
" General Huang said meaningfully. "This is just a thought, the kind that makes my heart ache just thinking about it." "Heh, you're always finding the right words, but your girlfriend isn't just anyone," General Huang said.

"Yes. I know that. She's truly remarkable." Zhang Ziwen absolutely acknowledged Tang Ying's remarkable nature. He didn't know
how big , but all signs pointed to her as an extraordinary woman. However, Zhang Ziwen wasn't
interested in her background; he only cared about the person.

General Huang glanced at him and smiled, saying, "You know? Good to know, heh. In the future, you and
your remarkable friend will have to contribute more to the country. But she's already done enough, heh, she's very
protective of our national interests."

Zhang Ziwen didn't quite understand General Huang's words. He was a little puzzled about what Tang Ying's contributions to the country had to do with it. Was
the contribution the old commander was referring to simply paying more taxes? He paid quite a bit of tax himself, didn't he? But regardless, Zhang Ziwen
could only nod.

General Huang was satisfied with Zhang Ziwen's attitude. He turned to Political Commissar Zhang and said with a smile, "Old Zhang, you
should tell this kid your intentions. It's about time. Say it and leave, so he won't feel uncomfortable."

General Zhang nodded, looked at Zhang Ziwen, and said calmly, "Comrade Zhang, first of all, on behalf of
the Naval Military Commission, I want to thank you for the intelligence you provided. According to your intelligence, the Naval Special Forces have destroyed
several secret bases of the East Turkestan. The unit completed this mission well and received
commendations . This honor contains your patriotic enthusiasm. Here, on behalf of the Naval Military Commission, I sincerely
thank you for your great contribution to the territorial integrity of the country."

Zhang Ziwen bowed slightly and said politely, "This is what I should do. You're too kind, Commander
." The Central Military Commission has been alerted? He was a little dizzy.

General Zhang smiled and said, "Because of your outstanding contributions, our Naval Military Commission, after careful consideration, has
decided to reward you accordingly. You can state your request now; I'm here today to hear
it."

Request? Zhang Ziwen was taken aback. His request was to have his military status reinstated, to regain his former
military identity. However, this seemed a bit difficult. General Zhang had asked him to state his request, but he didn't know
how to answer.

General Zhang noticed Zhang Ziwen's hesitation and smiled kindly, saying, "Hehe, it's alright. Say what
you want to say. Speak boldly. Our Navy can consider all your requests. Comrade Zhang,
don't have any reservations, hehe."

An opportunity, a rare opportunity! Zhang Ziwen gritted his teeth and carefully said, "Then I'll make a request.
I'd like to ask if the disciplinary action I received could be reduced a little." Zhang Ziwen spoke this sentence effortlessly,
each word carefully chosen. Overturning a seemingly insurmountable issue was difficult, and sweat beaded on his forehead; he
was too nervous.

General Zhang and General Huang exchanged a glance, a subtle, knowing smile playing on their lips.
Both were shrewd old foxes, their expressions revealing a deep cunning. Zhang Ziwen missed the smiles, but he noticed their expressions.
Both generals had become unusually serious; the problem seemed difficult. This
was understandable Zhang Ziwen was too nervous in front of these two high-ranking officers and hadn't dared to look them in the eye. He
couldn't help but feel anxious.

General Zhang hesitated for a moment before saying, "You're talking about the military registration issue, right? This matter caused quite a stir back then
; even the Central Military Commission didn't know. It was circulated throughout the entire army." His brows furrowed deeply,
his meaning clear: this was a difficult situation.

Zhang Ziwen's heart sank further. It seemed unlikely he had any chance. Alas, what could he do when he had caused such
a loss? The general was right; the commotion had indeed been huge, even the Central Military Commission knew about it.
Hope was slim.

Zhang Ziwen sighed inwardly and said with a somber expression, "Commander, I know my situation is very serious.
It was my lack of political awareness and poor thinking that led to these serious consequences. I did something that let down the army. My
request was a bit excessive. Just pretend I didn't mention it." After saying this, Zhang Ziwen sighed again. It seemed that this
knot in his heart could never be untied.

"What do you mean by low political awareness? What do you mean by failing the ideological test?" General Huang, sitting to the side ,
couldn't help but interrupt after Zhang Ziwen finished speaking. He suddenly said, "Kid, I don't like hearing what you're saying. Although the army punished you for
what , it doesn't mean
you tarnished the army's reputation. Those bastards, killing a few wouldn't be enough. Yes, your methods were a bit excessive, and the army punished you, and you paid the price, but
that doesn't mean your political awareness and ideological awareness are lacking. My soldiers can pass the test. Sit up straight,
don't hang your head, stand up for yourself." General Huang's words were filled with anger. A bunch of damned bastards had caused
him somber words just now
pained the old general. In his heart, he never thought Zhang Ziwen had done anything wrong. If it were him, it probably
wouldn't just be a matter of a few lives; he would have wiped out their entire base.

Seeing General Huang's anger, General Zhang quickly smiled and advised, "Old Huang, don't get agitated. Haha, no one said your
soldiers lack awareness. Comrade Zhang has a deep understanding; a comrade who can recognize his mistakes is still a good comrade. Besides,
he accidentally injured several civilians. Comrade Zhang really didn't handle this matter well back then."

Hearing the last sentence, General Huang instantly lost his temper. He pointed at Zhang Ziwen, his eyes
showing regret, the meaning clear: What kind of thing did you do, kid? Did you lose your senses and become unable to distinguish
right from wrong when you were in a bloodthirsty frenzy? General Huang's deepest pain stemmed from this, partly due to his inability to stand firm back then. At the height of the storm
, the families of the wounded protested at the military base, and the Navy's Central Military Commission investigators caught them red-handed.

Zhang

Ziwen's unit couldn't hide it; the unit not only paid over a million yuan in compensation to
the families of , but General Huang himself also received a demerit. The military and civilians are one family—this is
the foundation of military discipline, and iron discipline cannot be violated. In the eyes of the Navy's Central Military Commission investigation team, this incident had a severely negative
impact . Since it had already caused a bad influence locally, Zhang Ziwen was doomed;
no amount of merit would help.

Seeing the general's slightly angry and regretful expression, Zhang Ziwen felt ashamed and wanted to disappear. It wasn't for his impulsive actions back then...
He felt ashamed. He felt ashamed that he, a so-called elite, had wrongly harmed innocent people. At that time, he was so blinded by
rage that he couldn't tell who was who. What made him even more ashamed was that he had caused several promising military officers to be transferred to civilian jobs prematurely,
including the battalion commander and political commissar of his own battalion, as well as the company commander who was trying to protect him. His old captain
was confined for 15 days. If it weren't for his outstanding military achievements, he probably wouldn't have escaped the fate of being transferred to civilian jobs as well.
To this day , the old captain has lost one silver star on his shoulder insignia. What was even more ashamed of was that his old superior had also
been implicated because of his actions. He felt ashamed. At this moment, Zhang Ziwen even wanted to go to a military court again.
He would rather be executed than have military status. Zhang Ziwen was filled with remorse. He brought up the old matter again and faced his old superior. He truly
regretted bringing it up.

Seeing Zhang Ziwen's ashamed expression, the old general could only point at him and shake his head. He
was disappointed in him . The old general sensed Zhang Ziwen's deep regret and shame,
and couldn't bring himself to scold him. After all, Zhang Ziwen was one of his favorite and most admired elites in the army. If this kid hadn't left the army,
he would probably be a junior officer by now. The old general sighed softly in his heart...

As the atmosphere grew heavy, General Zhang smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Comrade Zhang, I've thought about your
request . I'll go back and study it carefully, and discuss it with the Central Military Commission. After all,
your matter has a huge impact on the army. Do you have any other requests? Please bring them up."

Zhang Ziwen glanced at General Zhang, gently shook his head, and said, "Sir, I have no other requests.
I voluntarily handed over the intelligence to the army as a small compensation for my past mistakes. As for the previous
punishments, I have no objection, so I won't trouble the army any further." Zhang Ziwen felt a pang of sadness; he was too
ashamed to bring up the matter of restoring his military status.

"Hehe... Comrade Zhang, you're so devoted to the army, well done, a good comrade..." General Zhang said
with a smile , "Your deeds have been constantly reported in the news lately. Especially the anti-terrorism operation on the plane, saving
over 300 lives! Just for that, the fact that you were once a soldier cannot be erased.
The intelligence you submitted this time has once again rendered a great service to the army. Our army emphasizes rewarding merit and punishing wrongdoing. You've
already been punished for your past mistakes, and now you've rendered another service, bringing honor to the army. That's truly commendable.
Our army's attitude is very clear: we must
reward comrades like you who, even after leaving the army, still think of it wholeheartedly. Your request just now wasn't excessive. Regarding your desire to reinstate your military status, I believe even
the comrades will treat it with caution. Hehe... In my opinion, the chances are quite good..."

Zhang Ziwen's heart skipped a beat. General Zhang's words seemed to leave a lot of room for maneuver. Was there really hope for reinstating his military status?
With such an ironclad case, was there really a chance? Zhang Ziwen was somewhat skeptical, but he could definitely sense the veiled meaning in General Zhang's words.
Political commissars were always like this; they never explicitly stated anything, only conditions. The thought flashed through Zhang Ziwen's mind:
there must be some condition.

The subtle change in Zhang Ziwen's expression didn't escape General Zhang's notice. He smiled and continued, "Actually,
even without your request, our army is already considering your status.
We've conducted a detailed investigation into your actions after leaving the army. Very good; you've done many acts of bravery and even helped the police solve
a bank robbery. The police have a very high opinion of you, saying you're an elite trained by the army. In their eyes,
you're a soldier, a good soldier. If our army doesn't acknowledge this, it wouldn't be right. So your
materials have been submitted to the Central Military Commission, and I believe the approval will come soon. In any case, I hope
Comrade is mentally prepared to return to the army at any time. Hehe, you've fallen behind in your military academy courses quite a bit
, haven't you…"

Return to the army? Military academy? Returning to the army would definitely be a bright future for him. Zhang Ziwen's head was buzzing.
How did restoring military status become returning to the army? General Zhang's tone made it clear that
he was prepared. Zhang Ziwen's heart pounded. Was it real? Could he really return to his beloved
army? Wear his cherished uniform again? Graduating from military academy would make him an officer. Was this a dream? Zhang Ziwen
couldn't believe it. He was overjoyed, ecstatic. This happiness seemed to have
come too suddenly; he was a little overwhelmed.

The two generals exchanged a smile. They saw the burning light in Zhang Ziwen's eyes, felt his
pounding heart , and sensed the young man's boundless love for the army. The two generals were pleased; this kid
had the makings of a general.

At this moment, what could Zhang Ziwen say but nod and listen? Restoring his military status was enough; what
else could he think of? He could simply wait patiently for news from the army at home. No matter what, the army remembered
him and hadn't erased his contributions. Judging from General Zhang's words, although the army hadn't officially issued a document, they had already
acknowledged his military status. That alone was enough for him. However, he felt a vague
unease about returning to the army. Military status was what he wanted; returning to the army was something he had never even considered,
as it was a complete fantasy. But at this moment, Zhang Ziwen was simply going along with it, so
why uneasy?

General Zhang was very satisfied with Zhang Ziwen's expression and attitude, and said with a smile, "Our
mission here today is twofold: first, to thank you on behalf of the military; and second, to visit our young comrade Zhang and hear your requests.
Now, my mission is complete." After speaking to Zhang Ziwen, General Zhang looked at General Huang and said
, "Old Huang, is there anything else you'd like to add? Hehe, it's getting late, so go back after you've finished."

General Huang smiled. Turning to Zhang Ziwen, General Huang said, "Kid, stay home and wait for news. Don't have any
mental burdens. If you can go back to the army
, do your best. If you can't, don't be discouraged. In short, you're a good soldier in this old man's heart, and that will never change. No matter what happens, stand tall and be a decent person,
understand?"

Zhang Ziwen stood up abruptly, instinctively snapping to attention, and said loudly, "Understood, please
rest assured, sir."

"Hehe...kid. You think this is the army?" General Huang chuckled as he stood up, patted
Zhang Ziwen 's shoulder, and his eyes were full of gratified smiles.

As soon as the old commander finished teasing him, Zhang Ziwen realized what was happening, his expression a little embarrassed, and he slightly relaxed .
He relaxed a bit, deeply influenced by the military; this subconscious military style was impossible to shake off. At that moment,
General Zhang also stood up, and like General Huang, patted Zhang Ziwen's shoulder amiably, saying with a smile, "
Comrade Zhang, we're heading back now, hehe, I hope we'll meet again someday, hehe..."

Zhang Ziwen quickly stepped aside to see the guests off. The generals' star power was dazzling, and Zhang Ziwen's eyes were almost blurry. Even with two generals casually
standing before him, he felt a mountain-like aura, an imposing presence. The demeanor of high-ranking people was indeed
different. The officers in the hall, seeing Zhang Ziwen accompanying the two generals,
abruptly stopped . One by one, their bodies ramrod straight, they froze in place, and the hall fell silent. The silence was absolute; the moment of
stillness was instantaneous. A dozen or so security officers quickly and silently formed a protective formation, their movements swift and their protective netting
impenetrable. Accompanied by Zhang Ziwen and his staff, the two generals entered the elevator first, followed by six fully armed
helmeted soldiers. The remaining officers and soldiers filed into three other elevators. Zhang Ziwen escorted them only
to the elevator doors. Watching the doors of the elevators carrying the generals slowly close, Zhang Ziwen let out a soft sigh of relief.
At the same time , a long sigh of relief came from beside him. Zhang Ziwen smiled and looked at the person standing next to him—
Wang Bing. Wang Bing was also looking at Zhang Ziwen. Their eyes met in a relaxed exchange of smiles, and then, fists
slammed into each other's chests simultaneously. A series of exaggerated grimaces and hearty laughs from the two old comrades echoed in
the quiet stairwell…

The two old comrades, escorted by a group of bodyguards, walked towards the parking lot, chatting and laughing. It was quite amusing. Zhang Ziwen
and Wang Bing are both highly skilled individuals, yet they still need protection. But what can be done? Zhang Ziwen is a major celebrity
these . The distance from the building to the parking lot is short, but Zhang Ziwen was immediately recognized by passersby
. Things got lively; everyone swarmed around them, instantly forming a dense crowd,
with some young women even screaming. It was incredibly enthusiastic. Luckily, Zhang Ziwen had six
bodyguards . Otherwise, they would have blocked the road. Watching his bodyguards struggling to hold off the crowd, Zhang Ziwen thought to himself
that he would need to increase the number of bodyguards. After

finally breaking through the encirclement, Zhang Ziwen and his companions got into his BMW,
drenched in sweat. Zhang Ziwen inwardly groaned that he couldn't take it anymore.

"Damn, you're doing pretty well, aren't you? You even have bulletproof glass in this beat-up BMW? You're quite delicate,"
Wang Bing said, tapping on the car window. He could immediately tell the material of the glass.

"Hehe, what can I do? My wife was worried I'd get into trouble again, so she put it on. It's good this way; if it were a regular window ,
it would have been shattered by now." Zhang Ziwen said, waving to the crowd outside the car. His wave elicited
another round of screams from outside, quite excited.

"Look at that little brat, being a celebrity is pretty cool, isn't it? How come I never get to experience this? Even going home to visit family results in
a hijacking or something?" Wang Bing leaned back comfortably in the passenger seat, his tone slightly sarcastic.

Zhang Ziwen chuckled. How could this old captain say something like that? Who would hope for a hijacking or other bad luck?
But Zhang Ziwen still felt his luck wasn't bad; what he said on the plane was brilliant, thrilling enough.

At the Grand Hotel, Zhang Ziwen could only bring Wang Bing to this extremely vulgar place for a welcome dinner, because only
here could they avoid being disturbed by outsiders. This hotel had long been acquired by Zhang Ziwen, and its function remained the same:
catering to underworld figures and corrupt officials. It was practically Zhang Ziwen's territory. Before coming, Zhang Ziwen had already
informed Long Wu, the hotel manager, that the welcome dinner would be held in a luxurious private room.

Those who frequented the hotel recognized the famous Brother Wen. Upon Brother Wen's arrival, whether they were from the underworld
or had previously been involved, they were all extremely respectful, bowing and greeting him from afar, not daring to get too close to
ingratiate themselves. This was a special instruction from Long Wu; no unauthorized personnel were allowed near Zhang Ziwen. These arrogant
figures were quite sensible; otherwise, given Zhang Ziwen's fame, the fervent atmosphere would be no less than outside, allowing him to become an idol-like figure
in both the legitimate and criminal . Life is unpredictable; this was something Zhang Ziwen probably never anticipated.

The private room was quiet, and no one came in to disturb the gathering of Zhang Ziwen and Wang Bing, two old comrades-in-arms. The table was full of delicious
food, along with top-grade Wuliangye liquor and special-supply Panda cigarettes. Today, the old captain was eating, drinking, and smoking without holding back. Since the brothers
were doing well, the older brother didn't need to be polite and let them have their fill.

After the nth drink, Wang Bing laughed and said, "...Hey brother, after I retire, I'll follow you
around . You're living too comfortably, I should at least get some of that credit."

Zhang Ziwen clinked glasses with him and laughed, "Come on, retire? It's a long way off. Even if you wanted to retire,
the army wouldn't let you go. You're already a one-bar two-star officer, if you keep working for another 10 years or so, you'll definitely get a gold-studded
bar. I'm eager to go back to the army now, and you want to come out? Who are you trying to fool?"

Wang Bing shook his head and said, "I'm not kidding you. To be honest, I haven't been
as motivated . You know how well we worked together back then? What did we like to do most? Weren't we just doing
things like slitting throats and breaking necks? Now, it's all about throwing missiles. This time we're taking 3..." "Two of the East Turkestan territories
were blown up, and the other one wasn't even my problem; the snipers took care of it all. It's not fun. I'm practically a reconnaissance
coordinate soldier now. It's pointless. If you were here, the army would definitely have had us two covertly deployed. Because you weren't here, damn it,
the commotion is huge. Now the whole world is talking about it, saying our army conducted some kind of exercise and even deployed missiles
onto other countries' territory. What's the point of this?" Wang Bing finished speaking, tilted his head back, and
downed another glass of his depressed premium Wuliangye liquor…

(Chapter 201, Chapter 11: First Hearing of the Bad News

) "Really? The army has plenty of covert operations experts, right? Why go all out? Didn't they always do
it secretly before? A single missile costs millions, right? Isn't this a waste of money?" Zhang Ziwen was a little confused.
Had the military budget for missions increased? Even though defense spending doubles every year, there's no need to be so
extravagant . And making a scene all over the world—this should give the country's top leaders a headache for a while.

Wang Bing sighed and said, "Why would I lie to you? The higher-ups probably feel uneasy. If we blow it up, the old
commander won't have anything to say. Without you, he's not sure what to do. Among those who go overseas to do this, you
have the most experience, or it's the former company commander. The new recruits we're training now are still greenhorns and need time to mature.
They're far from being ready to graduate."

Zhang Ziwen nodded and fell silent. The old captain's words were indeed true. In the past, overseas missions were basically
handled by him and the captain, and the company commander also did a lot of work. He and the two captains were considered the
iron triangle of overseas assault. Unfortunately, due to his own situation, the company commander was transferred to civilian work early, and the current company commander, Wang Bing, could not carry the load alone. For

Marine Corps recruits to carry out overseas missions, good skills alone are
not enough. They need to have superb adaptability and comprehension, especially their senses, including their keen sense of smell and sharp perception. No wonder the old commander regarded
Zhang as a treasure. The military would probably spend millions of dollars to train an elite among elites.
When they discovered Zhang Ziwen, this top-notch talent, they spent money on him. However, Zhang Ziwen's
abnormal skills are indeed rare, even among the best. The military's investment was worthwhile. It turned out
that .

Another bottle of wine was opened. Zhang Ziwen suddenly remembered something and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Wait a minute,
I remember the intelligence said there were a total of six secret East Turkestan bases. How come it's only three?"

"Damn it, you shouldn't have mentioned it. It makes me furious! Those three territories were taken over by the reconnaissance
battalion . They did it covertly, it's infuriating! They didn't make a single move,
acting like the victims. This not only makes the old commander lose face, but the entire Navy loses face.
Now people say the Army reconnaissance battalion's work is no worse than our Marine Corps'. Isn't that shameful?"
Wang Bing finished, his eyes bloodshot with displeasure. He downed two glasses of wine in quick succession, those two glasses costing at least
3000 RMB.

Zhang Ziwen sighed, his expression somewhat somber, and said, "This is really my fault for making a mistake back then. Otherwise,
the company commander wouldn't have been transferred back to civilian life early. If the company commander were still here, the unit wouldn't have lost face because of this.
It's all my fault..."

Seeing Zhang Ziwen's somber expression, Wang Bing smiled and comforted him, "Brother, don't think about it anymore. It
's all in the past, there's no point in bringing it up again. Hehe, do you think the old commander came for nothing? I reckon your return to the unit
won't be a problem. The two generals came in person today to gauge your attitude. Hehe, you performed well; everyone can see your love for
the army . I reckon your transfer order will come down soon, then we brothers
can fight side-by-side again. Hehe..."

Fight side-by-side? Wang Bing's words stirred Zhang Ziwen's blood. He could return to the passionate and unrestrained army,
and once again carry out all sorts of thrilling missions. Zhang Ziwen's eyes shone with longing and anticipation. He raised his glass to
Wang Bing and said, "Come, old captain, let me toast you. Let's drink to fighting side-by-side in the future."

Wang Bing clinked glasses with Zhang Ziwen and downed his drink in one gulp. Exhaling a breath of alcohol, he said, "
Actually, your request to have your military status reinstated has already been settled. I only found out about your return to the unit today. Returning to
the unit was the Navy Military Commission's decision. Even the old commander hadn't considered this. When he learned of the Navy Military Commission
's intention, he was a little worried you wouldn't want to go back, so some of what I said today was to test you."

"No? Returning to the unit is a good thing! Why wouldn't I want to? What was the old commander worried about?" Zhang Ziwen asked, quite
puzzled .

"Damn, what's your status now? A big celebrity, a tycoon, surrounded by beautiful women, luxury cars, mansions,
you can have anything you want, why would you go back to the army to suffer like that?" Wang Bing looked at Zhang Ziwen and said with a smile, "
Was that your mistress who poured you coffee in the office today? With such a beautiful woman by your side, you would go back to the army? Don't say
the old commander doesn't believe it, I don't believe it either."

"The mistress who poured coffee? Damn, you mean Xiao Shu? That's my most beloved woman, what mistress
..." Zhang Ziwen was a little drunk, and after realizing what he meant, he smiled and said, "That's Tang Shu, your future brother's
wife , hehe, that girl is my darling." After Zhang Ziwen finished speaking, Tang Shu's gentle and beautiful
face appeared in his mind, and at the same time, his heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed softly, "Oh no!"

"What's wrong? What's the problem?" Wang Bing noticed Zhang Ziwen's expression was off and asked again, "
What happened ?"

Zhang Ziwen paused, then shook his head with a wry smile and said, "...Nothing, just thinking about
home. Hehe, let's drink." Zhang Ziwen picked up his glass and clinked it with Wang Bing's, downing it in one gulp. Inwardly, however, he
was cursing. Something terrible had happened. Today, he'd been so excited about returning to the army that he'd forgotten about all
the women . Foolish, utterly foolish! Returning to the army? The women at home would go crazy if they found out. His older sister
would be the first to retaliate; she was extremely unhappy about being discharged from the military. God, what to do?
Zhang Ziwen dared not think any further. Now he finally understood why he felt uneasy in the office: returning to the army
was definitely not a good idea.

"What are you thinking about?" Wang Bing asked with a smile, noticing Zhang Ziwen's absent-mindedness. "Thinking about your wife?
Hehe, your wife is really quite beautiful. Do you remember Li Xiu? That girl was a real
beauty , it's just a pity, sigh..." A hint of regret flashed in Wang Bing's eyes.

"Li Xiu?" Zhang Ziwen didn't react.

"Damn it, stop pretending. That pretty girl who owns the flower shop, you even gave her a necklace, didn't you?
I didn't expose you about that. Soldiers aren't allowed to date, you've really hidden it well. If she hadn't come to the army,
I really wouldn't have known you'd already broken the rules." Wang Bing was very dissatisfied with Zhang Ziwen's pretense.

"...Opening a flower shop? You mean she's Sister Xiu?" Zhang Ziwen's mind conjured up Li Xiu's pretty
face. He chuckled and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I date in the army? I just treated her like my
sister. And let me tell you, she really does look a bit like my older sister. I gave her a necklace for her birthday
. That necklace only cost me a little over 500 yuan, it's not worth much."

Wang Bing laughed and said, "Hehe, you spent your whole month's allowance on that, and it's not even worth much. You didn't even have money for cigarettes
that month, just sponging off me. I told her about it, hehe, that girl was so touched
she cried. It was heartbreaking to see." Zhang Ziwen smiled and asked, "By the way, how is she now? I haven't contacted

Sister Xiu since I left the army ." Wang Bing glanced at Zhang Ziwen, shook his head, and said, "She...she's gone? Dead, passed away over two years ago. Ah, such a good girl, just gone like that..." "Dead? How could that be?" Zhang Ziwen's expression changed drastically. Li Xiu was like a second sister to him. It was him...

Her flower shop, the warmest and most peaceful haven during his time in the military, was where he liked to sit and help out whenever he returned from a mission or on Sunday leave. Now, upon hearing the devastating news, his heart suddenly ached.

"Sigh...yes, how could such a good girl leave this world so soon?" Wang Bing sighed,
a touch of sadness in his voice. "She came to see you many times when you left the army, seeing how much she cared for you.
I didn't dare tell her you'd been discharged, I kept giving her the runaround, saying you were away on a
long mission. Sigh...every time I saw her happily coming to see you with good cigarettes and alcohol, and then
leaving so sadly, it really hurt me. What kind of thing have you been doing?" Wang Bing shook his head
repeatedly, sighing deeply.

After Wang Bing finished speaking, Zhang Ziwen's eyes welled up with tears, a trace of sadness lingering in his heart. He could already
imagine her lonely figure when she couldn't find him, and her disappointed mood. In the army, she had really been
good to him. Her gentleness and thoughtfulness had moved him deeply. At this moment, Zhang Ziwen didn't speak,
and neither did Wang Bing. He could sense the pain in Zhang Ziwen's heart. The atmosphere in the private room became somewhat
quiet, shrouded in a faint sadness. At this moment, Zhang Ziwen's thoughts had returned to the past, to
the warm times he had shared with Li Xiu...

After grueling training at the Naval Political University, Zhang Ziwen was assigned to Green Island City, the base of the Marine Corps. In Green Island, he
would undergo six months of intensive training. At that time, Zhang Ziwen was just a reserve member of the Marine Corps.
The daily intensive training was quite grueling for him. In order to become a formal Marine Corps soldier as soon as possible,
Zhang Ziwen worked hard day and night, studying diligently. With his strong will and superb comprehension ability, he finally
stood out among the reserve members and was chosen by the old captain to become a full-fledged Marine three months ahead of schedule.

Zhang Ziwen met Li Xiu on the very day Li Xiu officially became a full-fledged officer. That night, Zhang Ziwen and a group of comrades drank heavily to celebrate their promotion.
The small tavern didn't have a restroom, so Zhang Ziwen, drunk, had to find a secluded place to relieve himself.
The back of Li Xiu's flower shop next door was secluded enough. Zhang Ziwen, feeling a bit tipsy, reached behind it and was about to pull out
his penis to relieve himself when he heard Li Xiu's angry voice from the front door, followed by
the sound of breaking glass. The unusual noise made it impossible for Zhang Ziwen to urinate. Frightened, Zhang Ziwen turned
around and saw a group of thugs harassing him. Faced with such a situation,
how could Zhang Ziwen and this hot-blooded young man ignore it? With a combination of drunken punches and old fists, they immediately subdued the thugs, sending them running for their lives.

Because he had drunk a bit too much, Zhang Ziwen was slightly injured. After the group of thugs stumbled and disappeared
, the soldier who had rescued the damsel in distress immediately received the tender care of a beautiful woman. How gentle!
When those delicate hands bandaged the wound on his arm, Zhang Ziwen was a little dazed. In his drunken state, he mistook Li Xiu for
He Li and hugged her while she was still bandaging her wound, crying and laughing at the same time. He missed
his sister so much . If it weren't for his murmuring of his sister's name and the genuine emotion in his drunken eyes, Li Xiu would have almost thought that
she had just escaped one wolf's clutches only to fall into another. Fortunately, Zhang Ziwen's sincerity and the military uniform he wore gave Li Xiu a sense of
security . She only struggled slightly before giving up on his passionate embrace.

Drunk, Zhang Ziwen stayed at Li Xiu's flower shop that night. Although nothing inappropriate happened between them
, Zhang Ziwen was still terrified when he woke up the next day. Staying out all night was a serious offense in the military. He immediately discussed countermeasures with
Li Xiu to deal with the military's investigation. Li Xiu even asked a friend at the hospital to get a fake certificate. Even
so, Zhang Ziwen was still put in solitary confinement for a week for staying out all night. Being put in solitary confinement on his second day after being promoted
made him a first in the Marine Corps. Fortunately, during his confinement, the military investigated at the flower shop and found out that Zhang Ziwen had been injured while
doing something brave . With Li Xiu's familiarity with military discipline covering for him and the hospital certificate, the military
only gave Zhang Ziwen a warning. The military did not investigate further because they saw Zhang Ziwen as a rare elite talent. If they had
investigated thoroughly, Zhang Ziwen would probably have been expelled from the Marine Corps long ago.

Now Zhang Ziwen was filled with gratitude towards Li Xiu. He was grateful for her strenuous efforts to protect him and
for spending a lot of money to get a hospital admission certificate. To repay her, Zhang Ziwen
would help out at her small flower shop during his holidays. Over time, they became familiar with each other, and their feelings deepened. On her birthday,
Zhang Ziwen even bought her a necklace with his entire month's allowance.

With this soldier regularly looking after the flower shop, the local thugs no longer dared to harass her.
Li Xiu felt a sense of security she had never experienced before. Before, she was truly terrified of being harassed. Knowing her own beauty, she
didn't know how to cope. For her younger sister studying in another city, she could only grit her teeth and endure it.
Now , she was no longer afraid because she had a handsome soldier taking care of her.

In this city where she had no relatives left, Li Xiu considered Zhang Ziwen the man she could rely on.
At that time, Li Xiu eagerly awaited Zhang Ziwen's leave every day.
She had developed a deep dependence on him and had fallen in love with him. However, she knew the military discipline—soldiers couldn't date in the local area. She didn't want to
hurt Zhang Ziwen for her own feelings, so she could only bury her dependence and love for him deep in her heart. She was waiting for him; she
wanted to express her love to him when he became an officer or retired…

Chapter 202: The Belonging in Her Heart.

Zhang Ziwen was completely unaware of Li Xiu's hidden love. Subconsciously, he always regarded
Li Xiu, who was older than him, as an older sister. She looked so much like He Li, and even gentler than He Li.
Zhang Ziwen himself loved going to flower shops. The long, arduous, and intense training, the monotonous military camp… Life had led him
to a haven where he could temporarily relax, and Li Xiu's little flower shop was
the place he longed for most at that time. There, Li Xiu, who resembled his older sister, awaited him. At the flower shop, he would receive Li Xiu's boundless
tenderness. He could eat delicious food, drink specially prepared Green Island beer,
and a cup of fragrant tea would be placed before him. Everything in the flower shop made him feel warm and cozy; everything was
so natural and tender. It allowed Zhang Ziwen, on leave from the arduous military camp,
to feel the care and affection of an older sister in this little flower shop. He also harbored a little secret: he loved to look into Li Xiu's beautiful eyes
; those eyes could speak, could speak tender words…

She was gone. He would never see those speaking, gentle eyes of Sister Xiu again… Upon receiving the devastating news…
Zhang Ziwen's sorrow at this moment was unimaginable. He tried to
drown
, hoping to temporarily numb his grief. But no matter how much he drank, he couldn't stop the torrent of sorrow. Li Xiu, so kind, so gentle and considerate, was gone just like that. Knowing he would never see her again, Zhang Ziwen's heart bled;
the pain was unbearable.

Wang Bing stopped Zhang Ziwen's hand, which kept raising its glass, and sighed, saying, "Brother... don't drink anymore. It's
useless. She's gone. Torturing yourself like this won't bring her back. Don't drink anymore..."

"...Old Captain... please tell me... how... she died?" Tears streamed down Zhang Ziwen's
face , the grief in his eyes heart-wrenching.

Wang Bing could sense Zhang Ziwen's overwhelming grief and sighed, "Terminal illness. She had
a terminal illness. I went to the hospital before she passed away. She was on her deathbed, and she was calling
your name as she passed. Ah... the longing look in her eyes as she looked at you was truly heartbreaking..." Wang Bing couldn't continue.
He really didn't want to recall Li Xiu's dying eyes; those eyes were so desolate, filled with so much longing
and worry...

"...She was thinking of me as she passed?" Zhang Ziwen murmured, his heart aching,
struggling to breathe . He couldn't control his sorrow; he covered his face with his hands, but
couldn't stop the tears from flowing like a spring. This tough yet tender-hearted man trembled slightly. He could imagine
Li Xiu endless regret; his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

Wang Bing understood Zhang Ziwen's grief. He patted Zhang Ziwen's shoulder and gently comforted him
, "Brother, don't think too much about it. I believe Li Xiu wouldn't want to see you like this in heaven..." Wang Bing
then remembered something. He continued, "Oh, right... I almost forgot to tell you,
she has a younger sister. I learned that Li Xiu was critically ill from her sister. She came to the army specifically to find
you, wanting to see her sister one last time, but... I didn't dare tell her about your discharge from the military. I really can't bring myself to say something
so shameful. The only thing I can do for you is to go to the hospital to see Li Xiu one last time..."
Wang Bing sighed deeply. Zhang Ziwen's discharge from the military had always been a thorn in his side, and
he didn't want to tarnish Zhang Ziwen's reputation after he left the army. He had already tried his best to keep it from Li Xiu and her sister.

"...Sister Xiu has a younger sister?" Zhang Ziwen removed his hand from his face; his eyes were red and swollen, and his
cheeks were streaked with tears.

"What? You didn't know Li Xiu had a younger sister?" Wang Bing looked at Zhang Ziwen with some surprise.

Zhang Ziwen gently shook her head and said, "...I don't know. I've never heard Sister Xiu mention her. Where is her
sister ? Is she still on Green Island? I really want to see her and ask her if she needs any help.
It would be even better if I could take care of her sister for Sister Xiu.

I want to do my part..." Wang Bing thought for a moment and said, "She...it seems she's not on Green Island. I remember she said she passed the exam to
become a flight attendant. Right, she should be in Zhonghai City. Yes, I remember she said Zhonghai Airlines..."

"Zhonghai Airlines?" Zhang Ziwen exclaimed. Her heart skipped a beat. Wasn't An Yun with Zhonghai
Airlines?

"That's right, it's Zhonghai Airlines." Wang Bing found Zhang Ziwen's reaction slightly strange, then suddenly realized and
said , "Right, it's the airline you used to fight the hijacking. You might have even met her. Li Xiu's sister
is very likely a flight attendant on that plane. Her sister is quite pretty, just like Li Xiu."

"Then...what's her surname?" Zhang Ziwen's heart pounded. Could it really be such a coincidence? An Yun had also
lost her sister. Could it really be her? Her surname was An? At this moment, he had a vague premonition.

"An... what was it again? Right, An Yun. Li Xiu took her father's surname, and her younger sister took her mother's surname
. Her name is An Yun." Wang Bing said with certainty. He had a deep impression of An Yun. That girl's beautiful eyes
were very lively, as if they could speak.

"...An Yun... it really is An Yun..." Zhang Ziwen murmured. He felt like he was suffocating.
No wonder she hated me all this time, hated that I didn't see her sister one last time. She was Xiu's sister. She
hadn't mistaken me all along.

"What's wrong? You really saw An Yun?" Wang Bing heard him clearly.

Zhang Ziwen nodded, and said somewhat sadly, "...I've met her. She
's living in my house now. I met her in Tokyo. She even helped me out of a predicament back then. Later, we bumped into each other on a plane. Now, An Yun
has been recognized as my sister's younger sister, but this younger sister hates me, her brother."

"Hates you? How could An Yun hate you? Two years ago, she rushed to see the army coming to find you. Look at
how ; she really seemed to think of you as her brother-in-law." Wang Bing was a little confused; he could see An Yun
's mindset when she searched for Zhang Ziwen.

Zhang Ziwen sighed and said, "Well, it's a long story. Because I didn't know she was Sister Xiu's
sister back then, we had a lot of misunderstandings. Sigh... I even yelled at her..."

Zhang Ziwen finished speaking, feeling deeply guilty towards An Yun, and then recounted how he met her in Tokyo and all the misunderstandings
they had . After finishing, Zhang Ziwen shook his head regretfully and said, "...At the time
, I always thought she had mistaken me for someone else. She cursed me terribly, and I always thought of her as an unreasonable and unruly girl.
Sometimes, when she angered me, I even yelled at her. Now that I think about it, she really didn't wrong me. Wasn't I just a heartless person?"
"Sister Xiu was so good to me, and I didn't even get to see her one last time. I...I hate
myself ..." Zhang Ziwen finished speaking, tearing at his hair in anguish. He hated himself for not
contacting Li Xiu after leaving the army, hated himself for being too ashamed to see her again. If he hadn't deliberately avoided Li Xiu,
perhaps he could have seen her one last time, but now it was too late...

Seeing Zhang Ziwen's pained expression, Wang Bing reached out and took Zhang Ziwen's self-harming hand, gently comforting him:
"Brother, don't blame yourself like this. Many things are beyond your control. But now it's alright, An Yun has
moved into your house. You can take care of her. This is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. It's true that there are
such coincidences in this world. The world is so big, and you and An Yun can meet. This kind of coincidence shows that many things are
predestined ..." At this point, Wang Bing said with a hint of relief: "...Maybe Li Xiu
's spirit in heaven sent her sister to you, so that you can take good care of her sister in the future, brother."
" God, make up for everything you owed Li Xiudi by giving it to An Yun. Be good to her, and the misunderstandings of the past can
be cleared up. Be good to An Yun, cherish her. That's the greatest compensation you can give to Li Xiudi."

Zhang Ziwen sighed and nodded gently, saying, "...Maybe it's really as you say. It really is
Sister Xiudi's spirit in heaven who sent An Yun to my side...I...will not fail Sister Xiudi's trust in taking good care of An Yun." After
Zhang Ziwen finished speaking, he made a silent promise in his heart, "Sister Xiudi, please rest assured, An Yun is now by my side.
I will definitely take good care of her for you. I will never let her suffer any more grievances in the future.

" Wang Bing saw that Zhang Ziwen's sadness had lessened slightly, patted his shoulder and said, "Alright, let's stop
thinking about unhappy things now. Don't think about it anymore. Let's talk about something else. A man should act like a man. Cry and then let it go. Look at the
state you've become. Go wipe your face. What will people think if they see you like this? Isn't this a disgrace to our soldiers
?" "

Tonight's a welcome-back party for the old captain. This is really depressing, and I'm truly letting him down." After hearing
this , Zhang Ziwen forced down his sorrow, wiping away tears from his cheeks and forcing a smile, saying,
"The old captain is right. I don't want to think about it anymore. Come on, brother, let's have a drink." Zhang Ziwen raised his
glass .

Wang Bing laughed, "Hehe, that's more like it. But this is about enough. We've had three
bottles already, that's enough. You're not in the mood for drinking today. It's settled, this is the last one." Wang Bing
clinked glasses with him.

Zhang Ziwen downed his drink and said, "Wait until next time? It's fine if we don't drink tonight, but we don't have to wait until you come back
. We'll continue tomorrow. It's rare for us to get together, brother, I must drink this with the old captain." Zhang Ziwen
thought to himself that the old captain was right; he wasn't in the right state to drink with him tonight. It seemed he
could only keep the old captain company properly tomorrow.

Wang Bing shook his head and said, "No way, I have to go back to the unit with the commander tomorrow. Hehe,
we can't drink tomorrow, but we brothers will have plenty of time to drink together. Once you're back at the unit, we'll
get really drunk."

"You're leaving tomorrow? So soon? You didn't stay long last time you came. Back then, I was doing poorly, and
I didn't have much to offer you. Now that I've finally made something of myself, I should at least show you some hospitality. Can't you ask the old commander for a few more days off
this time ?" Zhang Ziwen
's tone was very reluctant to see his comrade-in-arms, with whom he had shared life and death, leave tomorrow.

"Hehe, no way. What kind of leave can you get these days?" "With how poorly you handled this overseas mission,
the old commander won't grant you leave. He'll have to rush back to train those greenhorns. Heh, you'd better get ready to go back to
the unit . Damn, without your help, I'd really struggle on my own." Wang Bing, thinking about Zhang Ziwen's impending return to
the unit, became excited and his speech became rough.

Back to the unit? Hearing Wang Bing mention returning to the unit again, Zhang Ziwen's heart skipped a beat. Facing the old captain,
his thoughts weren't as muddled as when facing the general. At this moment, Zhang Ziwen's eyes dimmed. He
was afraid be able to return to the unit. He was different now than before. He wasn't a bachelor who only cared about himself anymore.
He had a woman at home who loved him deeply, and they would definitely not let him go to the unit. Zhang Ziwen didn't know how to respond to
the old captain. Seeing Wang Bing's somewhat excited expression when talking about returning to the unit, he felt a little confused and could only
remain silent

Wang Bing's eyes were sharp. He noticed the unease in Zhang Ziwen's expression and tentatively asked, "What's wrong?
Why like this when you mention returning to the unit?" "This is quite different from your previous reaction. Don't tell me you
don't want to go back to the army." Wang Bing had a slightly uneasy feeling.

Zhang Ziwen glanced at Wang Bing and said thoughtfully, "...Old Captain, don't be upset if I say this, but
I really might not be able to go back to the army. Because I'm not the same as before.
When I didn't think it through; I was just happy. Only afterwards did I realize that going back to the army was a bit inappropriate.
My wife needs me to take care of her, my career is just starting out, and I can't leave right now. More importantly
, I can't leave my family, and I won't leave them." After saying this, Zhang Ziwen
felt a sudden sense of relief. He could feel his heart; his belonging was no longer the army he once loved.
That was in the past. Now, his true belonging was his warm home.

Wang Bing was worried that Zhang Ziwen would reveal the truth and panicked, "Damn it, what's wrong with you?" "You begged the old
commander to reinstate your military status and restore your honor. The old commander and I both know you love the army, cherish your honor, and yearn to
return to the barracks. That's why we tried every possible way to help you, to ask for favors, you know that? The old commander even went to the Central Military Commission
to beg for you, and now things are basically settled, and you're not coming back? Damn it, are you out of your mind?"
Wang Bing 's eyes were wide like saucers.

A trace of guilt flashed in Zhang Ziwen's eyes, and he said softly, "I'm sorry, I can only say
I'm sorry. Please believe me, this isn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. I've already made my decision. I'm sorry..."

Chapter 203 Unfathomable Thoughts

"Don't say sorry to me!" Wang Bing interrupted Zhang Ziwen abruptly, glaring at him and saying, "I'll just
ask you one question: is not returning to the army your true feeling? Answer me!"

Zhang Ziwen looked at Wang Bing, a resolute look in his eyes, and slowly said, "Old Captain, you know my heart .
Yes, when I was sent back to civilian life by the army, I thought about the
day I could return to the army every moment. I longed for the barracks, longed for the day I could fight alongside you again. But now I'm not
alone , you know? I have attachments, so many attachments. I can't leave this home, I can't.
Old Captain, when you go back, please tell the old commander that I won't be returning to the army. If my military status can only be restored by returning to
the army, I... have no choice but to give it up."

"Is this your final decision?" Wang Bing stared at Zhang Ziwen, his heart aching,
feeling betrayed.

"My final decision." Zhang Ziwen returned his murderous glare, his heart filled with
guilt towards his old captain, but there was no room for compromise now.

Wang Bing understood; he heard the determination in Zhang Ziwen's tone and the unwavering resolve
in his eyes . This must be his true decision. Wang Bing's heart clenched; he could feel that the army was about to lose this
elite soldier, and he himself was about to lose this good brother who had fought alongside him. Because he knew Zhang Ziwen too well...
Once he made his decision, no one could change his mind—not himself, not even the generals. Even
threatening him with a gun to his head wouldn't work.

"You...you've disappointed me greatly, disappointed the old commander," Wang Bing slowly stood up. He
didn't want to stay here any longer; he was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist attacking Zhang Ziwen. He had already lost control.

"I'm sorry..." Zhang Ziwen also stood up. He saw Wang Bing's clenched fist and felt
his tense muscles—a signal of impending attack.

Wang Bing's lightning-fast gaze fixed on Zhang Ziwen. He sensed Zhang Ziwen's relaxation; his most
valued and beloved brother was ready to face his thunderous blow, prepared to withstand it. He didn't intend to
retaliate; Wang Bing could sense it.

"Fine...you...take care of yourself...I...I'm leaving..." Wang Bing sighed, turned, and walked towards
the door . His steps were heavy, his body slightly unsteady.

The invisible pressure eased instantly. Zhang Ziwen watched Wang Bing's departing figure, his back radiating an unspeakable loneliness.
He could sense the old captain's heartache and extreme disappointment in him. Zhang Ziwen didn't call out to him;
he didn't want to change his mind or explain his decision. But he was deeply grateful to the old captain for sparing
him. His powerful attack could have easily reduced him to his original form, rendering him completely incapable of fighting
. Zhang Ziwen had prepared to cripple himself, but the old captain hadn't
done so ; he couldn't bring himself to do it. He had spared him…

The night was deep, chilly, and the streets were nearly deserted. People were probably
all snuggled in their warm blankets, enjoying the comfort. Zhang Ziwen quietly leaned against his BMW, the CD
playing a soothing melody. Music can relax one's mind, but Zhang Ziwen couldn't find any relief.
He felt deep remorse for failing the army and guilt for betraying the old captain and his superiors.
Tonight, he had made a very difficult and helpless choice. This choice meant that the army would be completely
removed from his life from now on, and the beliefs and loyalty he had always upheld would also be completely changed. The army would no longer be his
final destination, from the moment Wang Bing left him. His life trajectory would slide onto a different
path...

As time passed, Zhang Ziwen let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed all his frustrations
were released with that breath. He had figured it out. Now he had let go of his worries and resolved the knot in his heart that had been nagging at him for over
two years . From now on, he would no longer be troubled by matters of the army, because he had thought it through
very clearly. Life is like that; everyone goes through different stages. He had simply ended
one stage of his life's journey. He believed in himself and believed that there was an even more meaningful life waiting for
him. His thoughts were maturing. Tonight, Zhang Ziwen had truly grown up, and his thinking had also undergone a qualitative
leap...

The apartment elevator slowly opened, and Zhang Ziwen, stepping out, raised his wrist to check the time. It was already
past 4 a.m. The women at home must be sleeping soundly right now, right? A smile played on Zhang Ziwen's lips.
Thinking the women in his home filled him with warmth and tenderness…

Carrying the chill of the night, Zhang Ziwen tiptoed into his house. The air conditioning radiated warmth, comforting
him. The living room was dark, so Zhang Ziwen didn't turn on the light. He tiptoed towards the stairs, not wanting to disturb the
sleeping women. Just as he touched the handrail, the living room light suddenly came on. Someone was still awake?
It was Xiao Shu, it must be Xiao Shu. Only she would wait for him so late. A wave of warmth washed over Zhang Ziwen.
He turned around, but instead of his beloved Xiao Shu, he saw An Yun. Why wasn't she asleep?

"…It's so late, why aren't you in your room?" Zhang Ziwen asked,
a different feeling he had for An Yun.

"…I…I was waiting for you," An Yun yawned.

"Waiting…waiting for me?" Zhang Ziwen was incredulous. She had waited for him all this time?

"Nonsense, who else would I wait for if not you? What am I supposed to do?" An Yun rolled her eyes at him, then dragged her feet
back to the sofa and settled in.

Zhang Ziwen walked over and sat down. Seeing her still looking a little sleepy, it seemed she
'd been curled up on the sofa for quite some time. An Yun was Xiu Jie's younger sister, and a pang of tenderness welled up in his heart.

Zhang Ziwen asked softly, "...Where are Xiao Shu and the others? Are they all asleep?"

"Xiao Shu went to Sister Qing's company. Sister Qing has to work overtime tonight, so Xiao Shu went with her. Sister Li and
Sister Lin are both asleep..." An Yun finished speaking and couldn't help but yawn again. She'd been waiting too long; the little girl was really
sleepy.

Seeing her eyes drooping slightly, Zhang Ziwen said softly, "...Xiaoyun...you don't need to wait for me if I
come home . It's so late now. Go to sleep."

An Yun pouted and said, "...Who wants to wait for you? Humph, I'm angry with you, angry that you made me work all
day for nothing. I waited for you just to scold you."

"...Angry that I made you work all day for nothing?" Zhang Ziwen was a little confused by her words.

"Yes, yes, you're just making me angry." An Yun pouted and said angrily, "...Do you know
how long I've been cooking chicken soup today? You didn't even say a word before you came home. Humph, what do you take me for? I kindly
made soup for you, and you didn't even make a phone call." As long as she had a fight with the big jerk in her mind, her
drowsiness would disappear and she would immediately become energetic.

She waited for him for this? The reason was a little strange, and Zhang Ziwen breathed a sigh of relief.
He had never been able to figure out what was going on in An Yun's little head. Luckily, it wasn't anything serious. He smiled and said, "I
told Xiao Shu I wouldn't be home for dinner. Some of my comrades from the army came today, so I can't come home."

"...I know, Xiao Shu told me, but you still have to call me if you're not coming home next time. Humph
, I'm the one who cooks. Otherwise, I'll make a lot of dishes and you won't come back, wasting everyone's hard work." An Yun
seemed quite dissatisfied.

Getting angry over such a small thing? Zhang Ziwen found it amusing and a little touching. He could sense An Yun's
concern , even if her way of expressing it was a bit unusual. Zhang Ziwen smiled and said, "Okay, I promise you, I
'll call you in advance if I'm not coming home next time. Is that alright?"

"That's more like it. Remember what you said. Humph, if there's a next time, I won't listen to you. I'll let you starve to death."
"You cook for me." An Yun said, a hint of a smile appearing in her beautiful eyes.

Zhang Ziwen was amused by her last sentence: "Yes, yes, I remember. There won't be a next time. If I
forget you won't cook for me anymore. Hehe..."

"Hmph, shameless. Who's being cheeky with you?" An Yun rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't hide her
smile.

"...You big jerk, are you...hungry now?" An Yun suddenly asked a little shyly.

Zhang Ziwen was slightly taken aback. Her question made him realize he was indeed a little hungry. He had drunk a lot of alcohol tonight and
hadn't eaten much.

"...What are you daydreaming about? I'm talking to you." An Yun pouted again. This guy
was always .

The little girl was unhappy, so Zhang Ziwen quickly nodded and said, "I...I'm a little hungry. Is there anything else to eat
?"

"Of course there is, there is...I specially saved some chicken soup for you. Wait a minute, I'll heat it up for you." An
Yun smiled, and before he could speak, she stood up and went into the kitchen.

A moment later, a large bowl of steaming chicken soup appeared on the coffee table in front of Zhang Ziwen, its aroma
filling the air. It looked like it contained a lot of ingredients.

"This...so much?" Zhang Ziwen felt the bowl was rather large.

"This was specially made for you. Sister Li and the others didn't drink much of it; this is all for you.
Drink it all, don't leave a drop."

"All...all of it?" Zhang Ziwen thought to himself, no wonder he felt stuffed.

"Yes, drink it all. It's very nutritious. Sister Li said you need to replenish your energy." An Yun
blushed . She'd let

something slip; talking about tonics with a grown man was a little embarrassing. Zhang Ziwen felt awkward and quickly buried his head in his soup, inwardly scolding his older sister for not being careful with
her words in front of the young girl.

The soup was incredibly delicious, and Zhang Ziwen couldn't help but praise it inwardly. This girl seemed to have
put a lot of thought into it.

"...Is it...good?" An Yun asked, noticing the small amount of soup, but she seemed pleased.

"Not bad, not bad...good," Zhang Ziwen mumbled, having already finished more than half the bowl of soup,
yet he wasn't feeling full.

"Slow down... Ugh, how can you do this? Your lips are all messed up..." An Yun,
pleased that he found the soup delicious, took a napkin from the box and handed it to him, almost unable to resist wiping his lips.

Zhang Ziwen actually finished the whole bowl of soup. It felt good; his stomach felt warm and
comforting. He let out a satisfied sigh, then sprawled out on the sofa, feeling slightly full.
He didn't want to move anymore.

An Yun lit a cigarette for him and brewed tea for him. It seemed she understood Zhang Ziwen very well. Her everyday habits,
everything she did seemed so natural, so unpretentious. Although she often bickered and
teased , these little details never neglected Zhang Ziwen. Her thoughts were truly
hard to fathom.

Looking at An Yun's gentle side, at her beautiful face, Zhang Ziwen was momentarily
lost in thought. At this moment, he saw the shadow of Sister Xiu in An Yun. As long as An Yun didn't show her domineering side,
she was truly a good girl; she was actually very kind-hearted.

"Hey…why are you staring at me like that?" An Yun said coquettishly. She couldn't stand Zhang Ziwen's
direct the tenderness in his eyes made her heart tremble.

Zhang Ziwen snapped out of his reverie, looking at An Yun's shy and reproachful expression, his heart overflowing with tenderness. He said softly,
"…Xiao Yun, from now on, Brother Wen will be good to you. I was wrong before; I was a little harsh with you.
I will never be harsh with you again, and I will never let you suffer." "

Hey, what's wrong with you? What nonsense are you talking about?" An Yun was a little stunned. What happened to this big jerk? How did drinking
chicken soup turn him into this? Did it damage his brain?

Zhang Ziwen smiled slightly and said softly, "I'm not talking nonsense, I'm telling the truth."

"Is something really wrong?" An Yun muttered, touching his forehead with her hand. This big jerk seemed a little off,
quite different from his usual rascal self.

An Yun's hand didn't reach Zhang Ziwen's forehead; she felt her hand tighten as he held it firmly. His
hand was so warm and thick. Her face flushed, and she tried to pull away, but his hand was strong, and she couldn't break free
. The big jerk's eyes were a little strange; his gaze was full of tenderness as he looked at her. An Yun felt a little flustered.
Her face was so red, and her heart was pounding like a rabbit's. Had he really been damaged by the soup? Did he want to do
something bad ? An Yun felt a little shy... A hint of annoyance gradually appeared in her beautiful eyes…

Chapter 204 Important Meeting

At this moment, in Zhang Ziwen's eyes, An Yun had become the embodiment of Sister Xiu, because she had the same
beautiful eyes as Sister Xiu, eyes that could speak volumes, and even the shyness in her eyes was exactly the same as Sister Xiu's
. How come he hadn't noticed this similarity before? Zhang Ziwen sighed a little.
He was really oblivious when it came to women. Maybe it was his personality. The two sisters' personalities were too different. The older sister was gentle
as water, while the younger sister was stubborn and willful. No wonder he couldn't associate these two sisters…

“You big jerk! If you don't let go, I'll bite you!” An Yun's pretty face was angry, and she slightly revealed her cute white teeth.
She really wanted to bite.

Zhang Ziwen was slightly stunned and said, a little confused, “Bite me? Why would you bite me?” Then he realized that
he was still holding her soft little hand, and quickly let go, saying, “I…I'm sorry…I'm sorry.” He inwardly
cursed himself for being distracted. Holding the little girl's hand like that was a bit inappropriate.

"Ugh, you're such a brat! You've hurt my hand." An Yun rubbed her wrist; the big rascal's hand
was so strong, leaving faint finger marks.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Zhang Ziwen noticed the marks on her delicate wrist and
said apologetically, "I'm so sorry, I... I didn't mean to, please forgive me, Brother Wen?"

An Yun wanted to take this opportunity to act coquettishly, but seeing his apologetic face, she felt it was inappropriate to pick a fight with him. She could only snort
unhappily and give him a disgruntled glare. At the same time, An Yun felt that the big rascal
was very different from before, but she couldn't quite put

her finger on what the difference was. "...Are your... hands alright? Let Brother Wen rub them for you?" Zhang Ziwen
extended and sincere.

"Oh my god, how cheesy!" Zhang Ziwen's tenderness made An Yun's heart leap into her throat. She couldn't stop getting
goosebumps , especially since they were alone together. Staying in the living room was a bit dangerous, so An Yun quickly stood up. She didn't dare look
at him; this big jerk was seriously out of control tonight. She practically ran upstairs, leaving Zhang Ziwen alone in the living room.
He was a little stunned. Why was this girl running away?

These past few days, commuting to and from work had been a very painful experience for Zhang Ziwen. Wherever he went,
he caused a commotion. Not only were there huge crowds, but the screams of young girls were almost deafening, their
fervor was outrageous. And the reporters were even more dedicated, waiting 24 hours a day on Zhang Ziwen's usual route. As soon as he
appeared, it was a bombardment of cameras and flashes, making his eyes blurry.
This was the pain of being a celebrity. He finally understood the pain of being a celebrity like the big star Song Lin, and
Zhang Ziwen was helpless about it. One could only sigh inwardly, "Being a big shot really isn't something an inhuman can do..."

After returning to Zhonghai from South Korea, time flew by, and it was already the end of the month. During this time, Zhang Ziwen devoted himself entirely
to his company, seizing the time to implement his pre-planned strategy. With the help of Tang Shu, Long San, He Li, and
two senior consultants, his plan was being implemented step by step. As various conditions matured,
a grand plan for the company's future development had taken shape in his mind. For half
a month worked tirelessly, convening separate meetings with the senior management of Longteng, Creative, and Independent companies. The meetings were continuous,
and one development plan after another emerged. With a group of ambitious elites supporting him, the efficiency
was astonishing . Now, all the necessary conditions were in place. All that remained was for Zhang Ziwen to make the final decision…

Today, the last day of the month, an important meeting was to be held at the headquarters of the independent company. In the spacious and bright
conference room, the heads of various companies entered one after another and took their seats. Among those seated were
Tang Shu Liang Ling, Vice President; Long San, General Manager of Independent Company; He Fang, Senior Assistant; Long Wu
, General Manager of Longteng Company; Liu Xiaofei, Vice President; He Li, Senior Financial Director; Yang Zhen, Senior Consultant Director; He Jin, and others.
At senior management personnel were gathered together, each with an excited expression on their face. Because
of a series of recent actions, these senior executives had already sensed the importance and significance of today's meeting.

The last person to enter the meeting room was the head of the company,
Zhang and smiled as he glanced at everyone present. Seeing that all the senior executives were present,
he nodded slightly to Tang Shu, who was sitting at the head of the room on the right, indicating that the meeting could begin. Upon receiving the signal, Tang Shu, the meeting host, stood up with
a smile and walked gracefully to the podium. Tang Shu's report was very detailed. As
the slides on the meeting room screen changed continuously, she systematically summarized the recent work of each company, from
the establishment of the first company to its current widespread expansion. The performance and current status of each branch were presented in Tang Shu's sweet voice
.

In less than an hour, the perfect presentation concluded amidst applause. The meeting proceeded to the next
agenda item . Tang Shu smiled and glanced at all the senior executives present, her voice sweet and clear as she announced, "Now,
I have some good news to share with you all. The merger of Longteng, Creative, and Independent companies has been approved.
I am honored to announce that Independent Investment Group is officially established today."
The meeting room erupted in excitement. The establishment of the group company paved the way for a future IPO. Although many
present had already heard the news, hearing it from Tang Shu in a formal meeting
was still incredibly exciting for the senior executives.

Once the excitement subsided, Tang Shu smiled and waved for everyone to quiet down,
saying with a smile, "Next… Mr. Long Xiaotian, one of the founders of Independent Group, will report on the latest
progress ." Tang Shu then gestured for Long San to take the stage, while she herself stood
aside.

Long San walked to the podium and stood still. Today, he was dressed in a suit and tie, his hair slicked back, and his face was ruddy.
After serving as a CEO for some time, Long San gave off a completely different vibe; his former gangster aura had largely
disappeared, and he no longer resembled a mafia boss. Long San smiled, cleared his throat, and said, "I believe everyone
is already excited by the good news announced by President Tang. Now, I have two more pieces of good news to share..."
After speaking, Long San chuckled and glanced at the crowd. Apart from Zhang Ziwen, Tang Shu, and He Li, the other
senior executives all pricked up their ears, eagerly awaiting his next words. It seemed there was quite a lot of good news coming from today's meeting.

Long San smiled and said, "As you all heard, the two major companies under Independent Group, Longteng and Creative, have been merged
. Now, I want to add that Independent Group will also have two new companies with physical entities.
Some of you may not know this, but these two new companies have already been registered. One is called Sihai Real Estate Industry Co.,
Ltd. , and the other is called Xingyao Entertainment Co., Ltd. These two companies will be officially merged into Independent
Group... The second piece of good news is that Sihai Industry has received the support of the Jiangbei District Government and
has allocated a piece of land in a prime location. The Independent Group headquarters building has already broken ground, and in the near future,
everyone 's offices will be moved into our Independent Building..." Long San smiled and said,
"That concludes my announcement of the good news. If anyone has any questions, please ask President Tang to explain."

Long San's speech was met with thunderous applause, and the atmosphere in the conference room became lively once again. Some of
the senior executives had no idea about these two new companies. The sudden appearance of two new companies was both exciting
and unbelievable. Just how powerful was Independent Group? It was likely that even those outside Zhang Ziwen's core team didn't
know.

Tang Shu's further explanation cleared up everyone's doubts. Before Zhang Ziwen
left . With the strong support of Han Changhe, the district head of Jiangbei District, the company's
registration and land acquisition were quickly approved. Because this company had an official background, Long San strictly followed Zhang Ziwen's
instructions , ensuring everything was conducted in secrecy. Only Tang Shu, He Li, and
two super advisors knew of the company's existence. The other company, Xingyao Entertainment, was even more secretive, established even earlier
. This company was originally set up by Zhang Ziwen to launder the Black Dragon Society's image, and naturally, it couldn't be made public. Now...
The core work of the entire Independent Group revolves around its future IPO. Now that the time is ripe, these
two companies naturally need to emerge under the guise of acquisitions.

Tang Shu's explanation was skillful; she didn't mention the complex backgrounds of the two newly joined companies at all, explaining everything as a
legitimate acquisition. This alone was enough to excite everyone present. With these two
companies with substantial assets joining, the Independent Group's IPO was only a matter of time. Some people were still speculating that
the Independent Group's acquisition activities would definitely continue, and this was just a prelude. But no one present could have imagined
that Zhang Ziwen's so-called acquisitions were actually assets he already owned.

It was all a smokescreen, all part of a plan for the IPO. Zhang Ziwen's initial investment
was closely linked to his own plans. Zhang Ziwen's businesses are all quite successful. With Tang Ying providing strong
financial backing, all subsidiaries are developing rapidly. Except for Sihai Company, which is still receiving additional investment,
all other subsidiaries are profitable. Sihai's profits are already tangible. The Independent Building is located in a prime location, and
the property management and leasing alone are enough to cover all the group's daily expenses. With government support,
it will be impossible for them not to make money when they open new properties in the future. It can be said that Sihai Industry is the most important pillar industry of the entire Independent Group.

From the moment Zhang Ziwen established his first small advertising company, Tang Ying had already recouped her initial
investment in just a few months. The rapid development of Zhang Ziwen's company surprised even Tang Ying herself. She now
admitted Zhang Ziwen's risky move to whitewash the Black Dragon Society was the right one. Not only did it powerfully propel the company's growth, but
more importantly, Zhang Ziwen used this opportunity to align himself with the government. With government support, Zhang Ziwen's
business was incredibly smooth. Coupled with the help of his loyal and dedicated elites,
the future of his independent group was limitless. Tang Ying's investment hadn't gone wrong; she had discovered Zhang Ziwen, and in effect, discovered an
inexhaustible gold mine. The projects she couldn't personally manage were now thriving under Zhang Ziwen
's leadership. She believed her wealth would multiply under his efforts, and her complicated relationship with Zhang Ziwen would continue
…

The meeting continued, and the next agenda item didn't require much time. During the meeting, the establishment of the group company and the positions and shareholdings of
the senior management were announced. As per Zhang Ziwen's separate consultations in the previous days,
the announcements were only made at the meeting. Everything proceeded as agreed beforehand. Soon, the list of senior management appeared on
the slide screen. Zhang Ziwen, the chairman of the independent group, was prominently listed at the top. In order were Tang Shu, the executive general manager of the board of directors; Long Xiaotian, the group's executive general manager ; and He Li, the financial director. The members qualified to join the board of directors were Long Wu, Yang Zhen, and He Jin. Han Changhe, the district head of Jiangbei District, was also a board member, but due to his official position, only his surname was shown on the screen to represent him. Company veterans Liu Xiaofei and Liang Ling made great contributions to the early work in securing advertising space in Jiangbei, which also brought in the first gold for the group company . Based on their outstanding work performance and contributions, they were also officially admitted to the board of directors of the independent group at this meeting. Liu Xiaofei and Liang Ling probably never dreamed that the insignificant little company they joined would have such an unexpected future. In just a few months, the company's development was nothing short of phenomenal, its scale unimaginable. They certainly didn't expect to rise like rockets from salesperson to manager, then to vice president , and now to the board of directors with decision-making power. Liu Xiaofei and Liang Ling felt like they were in a dream, as they only just learned they were board members. They were excited, thrilled, and grateful. The other senior executives present, including Long San, Long Wu, and the two senior investment advisors, watched excitedly as their names appeared on the screen. Although they already knew they would be on the board, they still felt like they were dreaming, almost floating on air. These executives were deeply grateful for Zhang Ziwen's generosity. He truly treated this independent group as everyone 's company, making everyone feel a sense of belonging. Zhang Ziwen's magnanimity and boldness fostered the loyalty and devotion of these executives. Zhang Ziwen's thinking was simple: money is never enough for one person; wealth is only enjoyable when shared…

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