Snow Wolf Special Forces Base.
Yangge stood outside the office door, a trace of confusion in his expression. He had been pulled from training and called here alone. That wasn't normal.
He wasn't the captain of the special forces—just the vice-captain. Under ordinary circumstances, orders like this wouldn't come to him directly. His instincts told him something unusual was going on.
He knocked on the door and stepped inside. Sitting behind the desk was a lean, sharp-eyed middle-aged man—Brigade Commander Zou Kai.
"Reporting in, sir." Yangge saluted crisply.
"You're here. Sit." Zou Kai nodded and gestured to the chair across from him. "We need to talk."
"Yes, sir." Yangge took the seat without ceremony.
"I'll get straight to the point," Zou Kai began. "What I'm about to tell you is top secret."
Yangge immediately straightened up, posture rigid. His focus sharpened to full alert.
Zou Kai waved a hand, signaling him to relax slightly. "There's a project underway—strictly voluntary. Once you choose to participate, there's no backing out. The risks involved are... considerable. Disability, or even death, is on the table."
His voice was calm, but the weight behind his words was heavy.
"But if you succeed," Zou Kai continued, "you'll be assigned to a newly established elite unit. Higher clearance than me. You'll vanish from the public eye. Your identity, your missions... all classified."
Yangge didn't respond right away. He was still processing it.
Top secret.
Voluntary, but permanent.
Life-altering risk.
And the promise of something far beyond his current position.
"Take some time to think it over," Zou Kai said. "Give me your answer tomorrow. And remember—the confidentiality rules apply. Not a word to anyone."
"Yes, sir." Yangge stood, saluted again, and walked out—his mind weighed down by the decision ahead.
Late autumn in the capital was far colder than the south. The crisp air carried a sharp chill, especially in the open spaces of the military base.
A large military transport plane touched down smoothly on the runway.
Chen Mo stepped off the aircraft and took a deep breath of the cold northern air.
Military transport.
This was the first time he had experienced this kind of high-security travel. The level of treatment surprised even him.
As he exited the airfield, he was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Comrade Chen Mo."
Standing outside the cordoned area was Li Chengzhi, waiting with a smile. Unlike their usual casual interactions, he now addressed Chen Mo formally—this was official business.
Chen Mo immediately snapped into a proper military posture and saluted. "Good afternoon, sir."
Li Chengzhi blinked, then laughed. "You don't have to be so formal."
But the salute hadn't come from nowhere. Chen Mo had undergone military training back in university. His form was correct, movements precise. It caught Li Chengzhi a little off guard.
"You're something else," he said, shaking his head with amusement. "Come on, I'll take you to your temporary residence."
As they walked, a soldier followed behind carrying Chen Mo's single suitcase.
"The personnel screening is taking longer than expected," Li Chengzhi explained. "This isn't something we can assign to just anyone. The risks are real, so everyone has to be vetted. But we're almost there."
Chen Mo nodded. "Understandable."
"Do you have your documents? You'll need them to enter the Engineering Institute." Li Chengzhi asked.
"Brought them with me."
"Good. Facial recognition handles most things, but for a high-clearance facility like the Institute, your ID is still required. Misplacing it would be a pain."
After a 30-minute drive, their vehicle stopped at the gate of a secure courtyard.
A quick verification later, they were waved through.
"This area houses researchers and their families," Li Chengzhi explained. "These days, it's not like the past—researchers don't have to spend decades away from home. Families live nearby, under protection."
After completing registration at the management office, Chen Mo's facial data was entered into the system, and a staff member escorted them to his assigned residence.
They arrived at a tidy two-story apartment nestled among a row of similar homes.
"This will be your place during your time here," Li Chengzhi said. "The surrounding apartments also house other researchers."
Just then, a surprised voice called out from nearby.
"Li Instructor?"
They turned to see Wu Bing, standing outside a neighboring unit. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Li Chengzhi—and even more when she saw Chen Mo.
She hadn't expected to see either of them here, especially not together.
Chen Mo met her gaze calmly, his expression unreadable.
When Wu Bing had first met him, she had written him off as just another second-generation rich kid, casually introduced to her at a business function. After learning who he really was, her entire perception had flipped.
Physicist. Computer genius. Materials expert. Now dabbling in medicine and biology. If she hadn't witnessed his achievements herself, she wouldn't believe someone like this could exist.
The more she learned about him, the more incredible he seemed.
"Academician Wu," Li Chengzhi greeted her with a smile. "I remember you live here, don't you?"
"Just next door," Wu Bing nodded. "Come by for tea sometime."
"Will do." Li Chengzhi grinned, then gestured to Chen Mo. "He'll be staying here for a while—looks like you two are neighbors now. You can visit anytime."
"Welcome, Mr. Chen Mo." Wu Bing extended her hand politely.
"Thank you." Chen Mo returned the handshake with a calm smile.
"I'll let you settle in," Wu Bing said, retreating to her own apartment.
Once she was out of earshot, Li Chengzhi leaned in with a smirk. "So, Chen Mo... what do you think of the good academician?"
"She's very capable," Chen Mo said evenly. "And beautiful, too."
Li Chengzhi raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Four words?"
"Mm." Chen Mo shrugged.
"Seriously, though. Still single. Remember that exchange meeting? Her uncle, Academician Wu Hequan, introduced you two. I think it was intentional."
Chen Mo chuckled. "She thought I was just some rich heir back then. Rejected me outright."
"And now?"
"She probably regrets it a little." Chen Mo smirked. "But you know my situation. Xiao Yu and I already registered."
"Oh, trust me, I know." Li Chengzhi laughed. "Of all the young talents I've met, you're the fastest to get your marriage certificate. Most people your age aren't even thinking about settling down."
Chen Mo gave him a look. "When you meet the right person, you don't wait. Xiao Yu's been with me through everything. I owe her that security. It's my responsibility."
Hearing this, Li Chengzhi nodded with approval. It was rare to see someone so grounded.
—
After helping Chen Mo unpack, the two went out for dinner. By the time they returned, night had fallen. As Li Chengzhi prepared to leave, Chen Mo pulled out a small black hard drive.
"This contains the final formula and all technical documentation for the enhancement drug," he said. "Encrypted. The password is the date we first met."
Li Chengzhi accepted the drive solemnly, placing it into a secure portable safe.
After he left, Chen Mo finally took out his phone, intending to call Xiao Yu.
Just as he was about to dial—
Knock knock.
He paused.
"Who is it?" he called out.
"It's me. Wu Bing."