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The man immediately staggered a few steps, coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, and fainted.

Gu Xiaoxi gracefully landed on the ground, patted her pretty little hands, and let out a cold huff, "Dare to infringe upon the dignity of Liuli Country and think of running away? Not even four legs would help."

She promptly took out her mobile phone and reported the situation to Quan Shaoqing.

Quan Shaoqing had already reached the base in Jing Yuan with the professors and handed over the three professors to his team.

After hearing Gu Xiaoxi’s phone call, he hurriedly led his team back in their vehicles.

Gu Xiaoxi, with her military cap on, had already tied up all the unconscious people and was waiting by the roadside.

"Report, eight captured, six injured. Three dead," reported Gu Xiaoxi.

Quan Shaoqing got out of the car, glanced at her, saw that she was not injured, then looked at the unconscious people and commanded his subordinates, "Take them back for strict interrogation!"

...

Back at the Second Military Region headquarters in the Imperial Capital.

Gu Xiaoxi and the others returned to their dormitory, took showers, and relaxed properly.

The mission was a complete success, and everyone was very happy.

Yun Xiao felt she hadn’t exerted much effort.

Gu Xiaoxi safely retrieved the scientists and caught the traitors among them, earning everyone’s admiration.

"Xiao Xi, do you have plans tonight? If not, let’s practice techniques together!" Yun Xiao asked.

Gu Xiaoxi shook her head, patted Yun Xiao’s shoulder, and said, "You go ahead! I’ve got something tonight with Shaoqing."

"Oh my... tsk tsk... looks like you’re firmly in the palm of our superior officer’s hand as Madam Quan. Hurry on then! I’m going to practice with Shao Changfeng," Yun Xiao said cheerfully.

As long as Gu Xiaoxi was doing well, she supported her silently as a friend from behind.

"All right, you go ahead! I’m off," Gu Xiaoxi waved goodbye to Yun Xiao.

Being a top soldier had its perks, having a good deal of free time aside from missions.

They were equipped with dedicated mobile phones and were free to train, being summoned only when there was a mission.

Of course, the missions they were sent on were significant, and they were seldom called for emergency tasks.

Gu Xiaoxi left the dormitory and walked across the lawn where everyone usually trained.

She took out her mobile phone and dialed Lin Mi’s number.

Shortly after, Lin Mi answered the call with a beaming smile, "Madam, what can I do for you?"

Gu Xiaoxi felt a chill at this address and couldn’t help but retort, "You’d better just call me Xiao Xi in the future! That title sounds awkward."

"I don’t think so! You’re our future General’s Wife, I dare not neglect you," he replied.

"Enough with the lip service. Where’s Shaoqing? What’s he doing?" Gu Xiaoxi asked.

"He’s busy! There’s an Eight Divisions council meeting this afternoon about the recent unstable situation, and the superior officer wants everyone to make some advance preparations. They’re discussing it right now," explained Lin Mi.

"Then I’ll head home first. If he finishes work, tell him to come back early too," Gu Xiaoxi said and hung up the call.

She drove out of the Second Military Region.

In fact, it was very close from the military district to the estate where she lived.

It was unclear whether Quan Gui had calculated well or had the foresight to choose their marriage house in the Imperial Capital early on. While it surprised her, she couldn’t help but acknowledge that Quan Gui was a wily character.

Gu Xiaoxi left the military base, put down her work phone, and switched on her personal phone.

No sooner had she turned it on than she received a message.

"Xiao Xi, do you have time tonight? I’d like to meet you at the Imperial Capital Grand Hotel."

It was from an unknown number.

Gu Xiaoxi immediately called back, curious about who it might be.

The call connected after a moment, and a nervous yet excited voice came through.

"Xiao Xi, it’s me!"

... Gu Xiaoxi was stunned for a while before recognizing the owner of the voice, and couldn’t help but respond with a cool tone, "What do you want with me?"

"Dad knows you’re in Imperial City, and it took a lot of effort to track down your number. Dad wants to see you!" Fu Qiuyi said, his voice trembling with nervousness over the phone.

Gu Xiaoxi clutched her phone tightly and after a moment of hesitation, said, "Seven o’clock! Wait for me!"

This was her biological father, a bond of flesh and blood. Even if she did not want to acknowledge him, it was an unchangeable fact.

Gu Xiaoxi hung up the phone, parked her car on the side of the road, and did not rush to drive away.

The sunset fell, and night arrived.

In the darkness of the car, her beautiful features immediately became solemn and weighty.

When the hands of her watch pointed to half-past six, she realized she had been sitting foolishly by the roadside for half an hour.

Gu Xiaoxi then gripped the steering wheel tightly, stepped on the accelerator, and headed towards the designated location.

Imperial City Grand Hotel, where traditional Liuli Country cuisine was served, and only those with the highest status in Imperial Capital could afford to dine here.

The dishes here were all exquisite, with very small portions, yet every bit was a creation of essence.

Gu Xiaoxi parked in the parking lot and walked through the luxurious hotel entrance.

At the entrance, Fu Qiuyi’s subordinates had already been waiting for her.

"Miss, the sir is waiting for you upstairs," the person said respectfully.

Gu Xiaoxi flipped her long hair and followed the person into the elevator with an expressionless face.

Soon, they arrived at a room called Meixiang Pavilion.

Upon opening the door, the room was spacious and luxuriously decorated.

Fu Qiuyi sat alone, seemingly deep in thought.

Hearing the door open, he quickly stood up, walked over with a smile, and pulled out a chair for Gu Xiaoxi.

Gu Xiaoxi glanced at the obliging Fu Qiuyi but did not take a seat.

"What did you want to see me for?" she asked coldly.

Fu Qiuyi, seeing her still distant, immediately felt awkward and said to his subordinate, "Wait outside, and don’t allow anyone to approach."

After his subordinate left, he pointed again to the seat beside him and said to Gu Xiaoxi, "Please sit! I didn’t need anything specific, I just wanted to see how you’ve been doing lately."

Gu Xiaoxi looked at the chair that had been pulled out, turned around, walked towards another chair that hadn’t been touched, pulled it out herself, and sat down.

"If there’s nothing important, then I’ll go ahead with what I have to say," Gu Xiaoxi said, her arms crossed and her face indifferent as she looked at Fu Qiuyi.

At this moment, groups of servers started to bring in the dishes.

Soon, the table was full.

Looking at the colorful, fragrant, and beautifully plated dishes in front of her, Gu Xiaoxi spoke blandly, "I came to ask one question. Do I have a mother?"

This caught Fu Qiuyi off guard. Afterwards, he explained with forced affection, "Everyone has a mother, and you are no exception. But why did you suddenly start asking about this?"

Gu Xiaoxi picked up a glass of water from the table, took a sip, and said with a steady expression, "I see others with their mothers, and just wondered if I might have sprung from a crack in a rock instead."

The loss and sadness in her words were not hard to detect.

At this point, Fu Qiuyi’s eyebrows sank, his eyes filled with sorrow as he said, "I was wrong for making you go through so much hardship since you were little. Xiao Xi, please forgive Dad and give me a chance to love and care for you properly."

Gu Xiaoxi placed the teacup down and looked at Fu Qiuyi with an expressionless face, her tone cool, "You’re too busy doting on your other daughter to care about me. However..."

She let out a scoff, her fingers brushing through her hair as she continued, "I already have someone who cares for me. In the future, it’s enough if you just refrain from telling others that I am your daughter."

"Xiao Xi, listen to me. If you’re willing to come back with me, I will dote on you even more than Fu Xin. It was all Dad’s fault that you were left alone for so many years..."

"Enough. Don’t say anymore." Gu Xiaoxi clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, feeling even more repulsed the more he explained. "The mother who raised me, she’s great. Not only does she take good care of me, but others also like me very much. On the contrary, I live very well without you."

Yet, in Fu Qiuyi’s eyes, it seemed that Gu Xiaoxi really cared about her parents.

It was just that she was too stubborn to admit it.

"We were both wrong. Dad doesn’t ask for your forgiveness but only hopes to make some amends to you." When Fu Qiuyi said this, his heart also hurt as if being cut by a knife.

Gu Xiaoxi was the child he raised single-handedly until she was three.

From a chubby baby barely bigger than a pair of chopsticks to a three-year-old Cutie.

Even when life was tough, he never let her suffer, buying her the best formula and her favorite toys.

Though they didn’t live in wealth, he was always by her side, watching her grow bit by bit.

Even though he had two other children, the most time he had spent with a child in his life was with her.

He devoted all of his patience and love to her.

Yet he still made mistakes that could not be mended.