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Instinctively, Quan Shaoqing didn’t want Gu Xiaoxi to leave, let alone send soldiers who had only joined the special forces a few months ago to their deaths.

He was well aware of the undercover work in Mi Xi’s Sunshine Group.

These people could very likely not be human; Sunshine Group was very wealthy. It could be said that Mi Xi’s company could rank in the top twenty of the world’s rich list. Yet, such a company was running a side business, opening bars in little corners.

"Superior officer, Sunshine Group is establishing a branch in Liuli Country and it’s currently under construction.

It will begin operations in a month. They need to recruit a CEO’s secretary, a very rare opportunity.

If we could take this chance to make contact with Mi Xi, we could get our hands on much more.

If we wait until another incident like the Nascent Soul happens, it would be highly disadvantageous for our Liuli Country," Lin Mi explained anxiously.

Facing Quan Shaoqing’s anger, he was still somewhat afraid.

Quan Shaoqing was silent for a moment; as the highest commander here, he was a soldier who loved his country and his people.

He couldn’t disregard a soldier’s wishes just because he was simply worried about Gu Xiaoxi.

"Are there no other suitable candidates?" Quan Shaoqing asked gravely.

"Yes, the police and our side have both arranged for two female soldiers to apply for jobs. As long as we can stay within the Sunshine Group, that would make us the undercover agents," Lin Mi said.

Quan Shaoqing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. With Gu Xiaoxi’s capabilities, she probably wouldn’t be able to handle the secretary position!

That’s what he thought.

...

The next day, during the tactics class, Gu Xiaoxi boldly took a seat at the front.

Whether or not Quan Shaoqing would notice her, she was prepared to leave.

During the class, she no longer hid herself, actively participating and striving to leave the unit to undertake undercover work.

Quan Shaoqing didn’t expect Gu Xiaoxi’s knowledge of tactics to be so profound; she answered all his questions fluidly.

She even answered questions on subjects he hadn’t taught yet.

After the class, Quan Shaoqing was so angry he was steaming.

"This woman clearly knows everything, and yet she deceived me." He felt that Gu Xiaoxi simply had a way of enraging him.

"Superior officer, don’t be mad! If she’s that capable, you should be glad. It means she’s qualified for the undercover mission," Lin Mi explained.

Quan Shaoqing walked briskly to his office area, his face ashen.

After class, Gu Xiaoxi took a walk with Yun Xiao around the track.

"Xiao Xi, do you really want to go?" Yun Xiao knew that if Gu Xiaoxi really wanted to go, she would definitely succeed.

And with her reserved personality, she didn’t even stand a chance of being selected.

"I’ve already decided," Gu Xiaoxi said firmly.

"How long will you be gone?" Yun Xiao was worried about her safety. Going undercover was one of the most dangerous tasks.

"Until I crack Mi Xi’s case in Liuli Country, then I’ll come back. It might be a month, or it could be much longer. Just like Number Seventeen, it could be years," Gu Xiaoxi said calmly. No matter how long it took, their goal was the same.

To make the bad guys pay and to protect the safety of the country and its people.

"I don’t want you to go!" Yun Xiao grabbed Gu Xiaoxi’s hand. "You have so many enemies, and there will be no one by your side. Xiao Xi, I want to go with you."

"I’m enough by myself. If two people go together, it’s easy to raise suspicion. Yun Xiao, if you feel lonely, just go back to Yearn Residence. If you truly like him, then don’t mull over it too much. We’ll be family from now on," Gu Xiaoxi said with a gentle smile, lifting the corner of her mouth.

She was Ai Xiang’s sister, and Yun Xiao was Ai Xiang’s relative. In that sense, her relationship with Yun Xiao was the closest.

Biting her lip and struggling to hold back tears, Yun Xiao nodded. "Xiao Xi, be careful. I’ll wait for you to come back. And the superior officer, he must still love you. Even if he’s forgotten your past, he’s still very interested in you."

Gu Xiaoxi nodded.

She was preparing to leave just to get away from him.

"Yun Xiao, when I’m not here, you take my place and protect him." Gu Xiaoxi gripped Yun Xiao’s hand. This was her only wish.

She would return alive, and she hoped Quan Shaoqing would wait for her.

"Yes! He’s the commander, so protecting him is also our duty," Yun Xiao nodded solemnly, her eyes already red. "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as the logistics are arranged and the exam is over, I will leave. Probably this Sunday!" Gu Xiaoxi said.

The exam was something Quan Shaoqing required for those participating in the undercover operation—a special investigation to ensure that every person sent on the mission was qualified.

In the end...

Gu Xiaoxi’s exam results made Quan Shaoqing even more irritable.

There was no doubt that she was the best performer among everyone!

She had once again maintained her top spot in all subjects.

The night before Gu Xiaoxi was to leave the military, Quan Shaoqing sought her out once more for a private conversation.

This time it wasn’t at home, but in his office.

The man sat on the sofa, his face more solemn than ever.

Gu Xiaoxi, however, stood relaxed and calm before him.

"You chose this path yourself, so I have nothing to say. But as a soldier under my command, I have some advice for you before you go. Be safe, and if anything comes up, you can contact me. Don’t act recklessly."

"I know!"

"Looking at you, it seems you are prepared. In that case, I wish you a successful mission. Also, if you do complete the mission successfully, I’ll promote you when you return," Quan Shaoqing said, his gaze complex as he watched her.

"Thank you!" Gu Xiaoxi gave a military salute, her demeanor distant, respectful, and indifferent.

Quan Shaoqing was at a loss for words for a moment.

His gaze rested on her and didn’t leave.

Gu Xiaoxi stood there, allowing him to size her up, without a trace of discomfort.

"Don’t you have anything to say to me?" After a long time, Quan Shaoqing finally looked away and asked.

Gu Xiaoxi pursed her lips, and in her line of sight, the man’s profound eyes were full of worry.

She didn’t know why Quan Shaoqing would show such an expression at this time, which made her feel both happy and afraid.

Happy that he could still worry about her but fearful of the things she didn’t want to happen occurring again.

"I will strive to complete the mission!" Gu Xiaoxi raised her voice and declared loudly.

Quan Shaoqing clenched his fist, his aura suddenly turning chilly.

He stood up, walked over to Gu Xiaoxi, and glared at her.

In the end, his gaze locked onto her bright, large eyes, "Have I forgotten many things about you? Tell me, what was our relationship in the past? Why do I always have a sense of familiarity with you? Even when I try to dislike you, I can’t bring myself to truly loathe you."

Gu Xiaoxi’s silhouette stiffened, a flash of panic crossing her eyes. In an instant, she regained her composure and quickly explained, "Superior officer, you’re overthinking it. If there really were something, it’s that you like me, but I don’t like you!"

"Gu Xiaoxi, you really dare to say that. I like you, but you don’t like me? What are you trying to convey?" Quan Shaoqing was even more certain that Gu Xiaoxi was hiding something from him.

It wasn’t just Gu Xiaoxi—everyone around him was keeping things from him.

"What I want to say is, superior officer, I already have someone I like and it’s definitely not you. I married you for money, and now that I have the money, the farther away from me you are, the better," Gu Xiaoxi said coldly.

Her words were filled with heartlessness!

Quan Shaoqing felt a tightness in his chest; he hadn’t expected Gu Xiaoxi to speak like this.

It was one thing for her not to like him, but for her to bluntly tell him that she married him only for money was another.

And to think she had someone else she liked...

"Do you know what the consequences will be if you provoke me? If you think you can just take the money and leave, don’t even think about it. Gu Xiaoxi, I won’t let you off," Quan Shaoqing said, not knowing why he felt like he was about to explode with anger. A fire was surging within him.

"Superior officer, we are talking about official matters; please do not bring personal issues into it. And I’ll say it again, I don’t like you.

From the beginning of our marriage, I never liked you.

I did know you before, but it was only as a superior and subordinate," Gu Xiaoxi finished speaking, only to feel the air around her drop several degrees, a chill spreading from her neck to her limbs.

"Then why do my parents treat you so well?" Quan Shaoqing countered.

"..." Gu Xiaoxi was left speechless.

She couldn’t lie any more in front of him; the more she said, the more inconsistencies there would be.

She decided it was better to say nothing at all. She lowered her head, her attitude cold and resolute.

She didn’t like him anymore, nor could she allow herself to like him again. So, it was best for her to leave as soon as possible.

"Why aren’t you speaking now? All of you deceive me. At first, you could fool me, but you can’t anymore. Gu Xiaoxi, just go!... I will find out the truth," Quan Shaoqing clenched his fist, his tone resolute.

But Gu Xiaoxi stood still in her place.

He would find out the truth...

If he questioned everyone, then of course, he would get to the bottom of it.

However, she didn’t want him to understand everything about the past so clearly.