Chapter 417 Why Are You Here
Counting on me? For what?
To save her? Or does she mean something else?
Bai Rong soon realized her hand was trembling.
Lowering her head, Xia He wrote the secret in her palm. The operation didn’t actually exist.
Her words confused Bai Rong. What do you mean?
It was a drill. The operation was fake, but the deaths were real.
Still confounded by Xia He’s words, Bai Rong cast a bewildered gaze at her.
Tell Gu Mingchen about this. He’ll understand what I mean. So, if the operation is fake. Why is there a spy? Xia He continued writing.
A chill ran down Bai Rong’s spine. How do you know this?
I needed money, so I took on some missions. While I was doing my missions, I went to Spaunia, and I came to know a president. I sneaked into their database and found out about a scandal. Their vice president was a witness we were supposed to save. He has a mistress in Xyperia. Our mission coincided with the mistress’ labor. Although the vice president announced to the public that he was going to A City, he actually went to Xyperia.
If the person we’re supposed to be saving isn’t there, what’s the purpose of the operation? The entire time, Xia He took her time writing her story, afraid Bai Rong might not understand her.
At that, Bai Rong widened her eyes at her.
She was not involved in the matter; she had only heard Gu Mingchen talking about it. Now that she was listening to the details, it seemed all too terrifying, and she could not help but shudder.
Xia He continued, This is vital information. We can’t let anyone know about this yet, as I’m afraid a commotion will break out. It’ll affect the relationship between our country and Spaunia.
Coming back to her senses, Bai Rong wrote back, You were caught right away in the airport because someone tipped them off in an anonymous call. Have you contacted anyone and told them about your whereabouts?
This time, it was Xia He’s turn to be stunned.
She shook her head. I’ve always been a lone ranger. Even when I take on missions, I never tell them my real name. I was just wondering why I’ve been caught right away since I’ve changed my passport.
That means someone has been following you. They must know you went to Spaunia for a mission. Bai Rong grew worried.
They know I went to Spaunia for a mission, but they won’t know I know this secret. As I said, I’m a lone ranger when I’m conducting my missions. I’m worried I’ll die once they find out I know about this secret too. That’s why I can’t tell anyone. You and Gu Mingchen are the only ones I can trust. Moreover—
Xia He’s fingers paused as a vicious look flashed past her eyes. Glancing at Bai Rong, she continued, If they determine me as a spy and sentence me to death in the military court, I’ll reveal the secret. After all, I don’t want to die as a spy. That’ll be humiliating my family, and it’s something I’ll never be able to atone for even if I reincarnate. I hope things will turn out well. I, too, want to know what’s going on in that mission. I’ve been a clueless scapegoat for so many years.
“I understand,” Bai Rong answered in a low voice.
“I’m counting on you,” Xia He repeated.
Nodding, Bai Rong turned and left the room that Xia He was locked in. The moment she exited, Leng Xiao suspiciously sized her up. “You know Xia He?”
“I met her by chance. Sorry for the trouble.” Bai Rong did not wish to speak more words. Now, like Xia He, she trusted in few.
“Follow me.” Leng Xiao then led her and handed her over to a soldier. After going through many twists and turns on various paths, she finally saw Gu Mingchen’s car.
At the same time, he caught sight of her as well, and he quickly led her into the car. Once her seatbelt was buckled, he drove off.
Bai Rong was silent the entire time, afraid that her voice would disrupt his concentration on the road. After half an hour, they finally reached the main road.
Similarly, Gu Mingchen was silent as he drove. Another half an hour later, he stopped in front of a manor.
“Gu Mingchen, let’s talk first,” Bai Rong stopped him.
Unbuckling his safety belt, he turned and uttered, “Go ahead.”
“Xia He said your operation didn’t exist.”
Gu Mingchen knitted his brows. “What operation? What do you mean by it didn’t exist?”
“You brought your men to save a government official, and everyone but you, Xia He, and Zhou Hailan died. However, the truth is, the government official was in Xyperia back then. He never came to A City. That’s why the person you saved isn’t Spaunia’s vice president.”
As Gu Mingchen gazed at Bai Rong, his eyes darkened.
“I know it’s difficult for you to accept this, for you lost a lot of your comrades back in that operation. However, we can’t only listen to Xia He’s words. Regardless, I think you can investigate this and find out what the truth is. There’s another thing. Xia He said that if she’s sentenced to death, she’ll reveal all of these.”
Gu Mingchen gritted his teeth. “A week after I brought the man back, the man, who was still in Ministry of Foreign Affairs back then, even gave his thanks on television.”
Bai Rong retorted, “That’s because his paramour had been in labor in Xyperia. He was using the incident to cover up his scandal. This is the information Xia He unintentionally found out. Do you mean the person you saved looked exactly like the vice president?”
“When I rescued him, his face was covered in blood, so I couldn’t see his features clearly. Moreover, everything had been rushed back then. I couldn’t take a good look at him,” Gu Mingchen answered.
“Who did you hand him to? Who instructed you to take the mission?”
Staring at her, he continued, “My superior back then was Cai Qingyun, but he’s now dead.”
“Maybe he took orders from someone else as well. Who do you think can give him orders?”
“There aren’t many who can give orders to someone his position. The commander-in-chief, the two deputy commanders, and the council.” Gu Mingchen mulled over her words. “If it’s a fake mission, why would my comrades die?”
Bai Rong was silent at that. She had yet to know Gu Mingchen back then, so she had no answers for him.
“If the mission was fake, that means there isn’t a spy, and that means Xia He must have been set up. However, if this is revealed to the others, A City and Spaunia’s relationship will be affected,” Bai Rong pointed out.
“I’ll send someone to Spaunia to check the authenticity of this before we come up with a plan.”
Listening to his words, Bai Rong lowered her gaze. I hope there’ll be enough time for it.
Upon entering the room with Gu Mingchen, Bai Rong realized there were eight people in the room. She knew none of them.
“Mr. Gu, please have a seat.” They moved aside to make space for him.
After Gu Mingchen sat down on the main seat, there was no space left beside him. Thus, Bai Rong went to sit somewhere else.
The moment she sat down, she saw Su Xuyan walking toward her with a wine glass.
Upon noticing her, a look of surprise flashed past his eyes, and he blurted out, “Why are you here?”
