Jian Jing twirled the fork in her hand, her tone subtle: "Why is it you again?"
"We are fated to meet," Zong Ye sat down in the booth across from her, using the potted plant beside him to hide his figure. "Every time I run into you, I have good luck."
She said coldly: "It's the complete opposite for me."
The first time Jian Jing met Zong Ye, Si Yingjie had suffered a fiasco. The second time she met him, the Paris terror attack happened, resulting in countless casualties. The third time she met him, she had spent 7 million.
This fourth time... "I should still keep my distance from you," she said.
Zong Ye smiled. His fox-like pheromones disseminated again. "It won't be too late to listen to what I have to say."
Jian Jing rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "If an explosion is about to happen here immediately, I would be grateful to you and then leave right away."
"This time it has nothing to do with civilians, but you will thank me," Zong Ye said surely.
She was alerted and guessed: "That guest in the VIP room?"
He nodded slightly.
Damn it! Jian Jing cursed silently. She got up at once. Kang Mu Cheng was still in the lounge.
"Don't rush, hear me out first," Zong Ye held her back and went straight to the point, "That's a high-ranking military official from a certain country. He plans to take a secure flight home."
An official? Jian Jing frowned slightly.
"We believe one of the people around him is..." The name was about to come out but he swallowed it back. Zong Ye smiled, "A person with the codename A."
However, Jian Jing was curious not about A, but — "You guys?" She weighed the word, "Who are you?"
Zong Ye didn't answer. He just took out a newspaper, "Take a look at this."
Jian Jing received it.
It was the English version of a local newspaper. In a corner column, there was a headline that read: "A Super Drug Lord Flees Again After Sudden Gunfight in Village Last Night."
The gist was: There was a drug lord in the Golden Triangle who had committed numerous crimes in the past decade with multiple lives on his hands. The drugs made by his gang had led countless families to break down.
The police had tried to arrest this person many times, but he always slipped through their fingers, shuttling back and forth across borders, causing the arrest operations to fail due to various reasons.
So far, the police still didn't know whether this person was male or female, fat or thin, or how old he was. According to gang members who were arrested, he was called "Boss" within the group. Only the second and third-in-command knew what he looked like. Very mysterious.
At the end of the report, the editor said that although the case was still under investigation, the "Boss" was extremely cunning. Perhaps the police would come away empty-handed this time as well.
After reading the report, Jian Jing's eyebrows were tightly knitted together.
Zong Ye said: "I can tell you this arrest operation is extraordinary. It must succeed and cannot fail."
"Why?"
He told Jian Jing more details.
It turned out when the Boss entered Yunnan, he had been pursued by Chinese police several times. He had almost lost his life once and harbored a grudge, determined to retaliate against the Chinese police and show off his capabilities to various factions in the Golden Triangle.
Earlier this year, when he heard outsiders were inquiring about him, he devised a retaliation plan.
He lured the investigating police officer into his lair and killed him in an extremely cruel way. He then ordered his subordinates to uncover the officer's identity and kill his wife and children.
For a while, his notoriety grew in the Golden Triangle, attracting countless followers.
The Chinese side was naturally furious and determined to eradicate this person to serve as a warning at the border.
Jian Jing shivered. She immediately asked, "The Boss is A?"
"The first-in-command is A, second-in-command is B, and third-in-command is C," Zong Ye said slowly. "C was arrested and interrogated for half a month before he was willing to identify A, but it was a trap."
His account was as concise as possible, but just a few sentences were enough to make one’s hair stand on end and send chills down one's spine: "Almost the entire team was wiped out. Three died on the spot. The rest are still in the ICU and have yet to be out of danger."
After a brief pause, he added: "So far, the death toll has exceeded 10 people."
Jian Jing sucked in a breath of cold air.
"The operation was basically deemed a failure, but an undercover agent risked his life to send a message that A had crossed the border. He is highly likely to try to meet up with a senior official to secretly escape home on an official flight."
Amidst the hubbub at the airport, Zong Ye's voice floated gently, too soft to be clearly heard without straining to listen carefully.
"That was the message late last night. When I rushed over this morning, there were only 15 minutes left before the flight took off. I thought I wouldn't make it, but luck was really on my side." Zong Ye said, "This is the best opportunity."
He wrote a few words on the table: "Wherever one gets arrested is where he gets tried. Once A flies back home, even if he gets caught, people behind him can get him out on bail. Only by capturing him in a third-party location can we avoid his power and extradite him back home for trial."
Jian Jing kind of understood.
She asked, "You want me to help you find this person?"
"Yes," Zong Ye acknowledged. "The VIP room is already under close surveillance. The slightest stir may startle the target. I need an accomplice."
Jian Jing fell silent.
To be fair, she didn't have any reason to refuse. The world would be better off with one less person like A. Her only concern was Zong Ye’s position.
"Why should I believe you?" Jian Jing asked bluntly.
Zong Ye nodded, "Reasonable doubt."
She spread her hands.
Lost in thought for a moment, he said, "Wait for me. You'll know in a bit."
"You'd better be quick then," The steak was ready. Jian Jing took the takeout box and left. While she didn't really trust Zong Ye, his information was unlikely false.
It would be best to get Kang Mu Cheng away as soon as possible.
But when Jian Jing returned to the VIP Room, she started worrying — how was she going to tell Kang Mu Cheng?
Kang Mu Cheng noticed her struggling expression.
Perhaps she had never paid attention to it herself. Whenever she wanted to do something but didn't know how to explain it to him, or when she was afraid of him finding out about something, she would reveal such an embarrassed look.
Her brows furrowed slightly. It was hard to detect this subtle change without looking closely. She pursed her lips tightly, the corners drooping like a sagging little tail, very similar to a sullen child's expression.
Such unique micro expressions were one of a kind. Kang Mu Cheng knew what was up as soon as he saw it.
What did she want to do again?
Kang Mu Cheng waited for her to speak, but after hesitating for a long time even taking a phone call in between, she still didn't say anything.
"What do you want me to do?" He closed his laptop and took the initiative to clarify things.
Jian Jing sized him up.
"Tell me. I'll do it if I can." His tone was calm.
Jian Jing struggled: "If the Director stays alone in the room..."
The VIP lounge at the airport provided services at several different levels: Ordinary VIP customers could use the public lounge with free access to the business area, children's area, dining area, and entertainment area to meet most passengers' needs during layovers.
If they were VVIP customers, they could request a private room or family room, but availability was limited and it was first come, first served. Once full, they would have to wait.
Finally, there was the ultra VIP level. They were usually royalty, senior government officials of certain countries, or ultra high net worth individuals. They could get independent suites comparable to 5-star hotel suites.
There was no doubt Kang Mu Cheng belonged to the top tier in terms of wealth. However, her personal interest lied in real estate. If properties had different classes like airlines, she would undoubtedly be an ultra VIP mega customer.
In daily life, the Kang family lived very simple lives and were still at the second level after so long. However, Kang Mu Cheng held the title of cultural ambassador. She had received invitations from the governments of many countries. As long as conditions allowed, she was always treated well.
Today, the only suite was occupied by the senior official, so Kang Mu Cheng was arranged to the family lounge. There was a bedroom, a living room, and a private bathroom.
Even if chaos broke out, it was unlikely to affect the lounge. It was relatively safe.
Kang Mu Cheng knitted his brows together, "Did something happen?"
"Nothing has happened yet," she said truthfully.
He looked deeply into her eyes.
Jian Jing felt bothered, "I didn't lie to you."
"I know," he fell silent for a moment, then said, "Alright. I'll go over right away. And you?"
She said, "Go grab a cup of coffee."
Kang Mu Cheng asked: "What about the dog?"
"Take him with you."
He nodded, gathered his belongings, and left.
Jian Jing heaved a long sigh, slumping dejectedly onto the sofa. She felt depressed.
To her, Kang Mu Cheng's care and affection were invaluable. In this world, he was the last person she wanted to hurt.
Yet, it is easier said than done.
Kang Mu Cheng did not want to experience the pain of losing her again. He hoped that she would be safe and happy, but she couldn't help taking risks over and over again, and she had no intention of stopping.
What should he do?
She could not give up her ideals and pleasures for others, so she expected him to compromise, just like every time in the past.
But this time, would he still give in?
If not...
He felt annoyed.
"Miss, here's the lemon mint sparkling water you wanted." The waiter in uniform brought over an iced drink.
Jian Jing looked up and saw a wireless earbud tucked under the tray.
She took it and secretly put it in her ear under the guise of tidying her hair. Soon, Zong Ye's voice came through: "Let me get right to it. The target has a family of four, with twelve entourage members. We need to identify a as soon as possible."
Jian Jing asked, "What kind of people are they?"
"The target has four male bodyguards, two female guards for his wife, as well as a nanny, private tutor and four hired professional bodyguards."
Voices continued in her earpiece as photos were sent to her phone simultaneously.
Jian Jing studied the airport surveillance footage carefully.
The key figure, a high-ranking military official from a certain country, was a middle-aged man between fifty and sixty years old with medium build and dark complexion, without any distinctive features.
Before he entered the airport, two professional bodyguards went in first to check for anything unusual.
Then two male guards cleared the way in front while two others protected the target on both sides. All four were military guards in plainclothes, tall and sturdy, looking vigilant.
Behind them was the official's wife. Compared to her ordinary-looking husband, the wife was much more beautiful - proportional figure, well-defined facial features. She held a child in each hand, looking gentle and virtuous.
The children were a boy and a girl. The girl was older, about eleven or twelve years old while the boy was younger, around five or six, still hopping around as he walked.
Two female guards followed closely behind the mother and children, also doing their job diligently.
After them were the nanny and private tutor, both female. The nanny was in her forties, honest-looking. The tutor was fashionably dressed, efficient and capable. The two chatted lightly, looking natural.
Finally, there were two other hired bodyguards. They walked while scanning their surroundings for anyone following or signs of ambush.
From the footage, everyone appeared natural without acting clumsy, drastically different from their profiles, or overly anxious and nervous.
Jian Jing watched several times but couldn't identify the suspect: "I can't see who it is."
"That's not surprising. a is very good at disguising himself and hasn't been caught on camera for over ten years." Zong Ye said, "But we're running out of time and have to take action before the flight departs."
Jian Jing asked, "What do you know about a?"
"Twelve years ago, a joined a drug trafficking gang. Eight years ago the leader was killed in a crackdown and he was shot but managed to escape. He took over the leader's men and started his own business. He made a name for himself in just five years because of his close ties with high-ranking officials.
"He is cruel by nature, once torturing and killing subordinates and relatives who betrayed him. Undercover agents are immediately executed if suspected. But at the same time, he builds roads and factories back home, winning over locals. Many villagers work in his factories so their relatives also become his informants.
"Last year the police planned a raid on his base but there was a leak and it was called off."
She sucked in a breath.
Zong Ye said, "From what we know so far, a is at least thirty years old, gender unknown. Skilled at disguising himself and has been shot before. Close ties with officials, even rumored to have bribed the royal family."
Jian Jing thought for a moment then asked, "What's the background of this high-ranking military officer?"
"His service record is very ordinary but the King trusts him greatly. His wife is the Queen's cousin and often visits the palace."
Jian Jing: "..."
No wonder they had to act before the plane took off. If he got away, there'd be no catching him.
"Is there anyone who can be ruled out?"
"Unfortunately no."
Looks like this would be tricky.
Jian Jing drank some lemonade and got to work.
