On a small island, at the central control console of a laboratory, a woman in a white long dress stood before the self-destruct device.
Through the glass door, a middle-aged man with a hideous expression lay sprawled on the ground. There were three bloody holes in his body, and around him stood many black-suited bodyguards.
The middle-aged man glared viciously at the woman before the self-destruct device.
“Jiang Zhi, I am your biological father! Are you planning to commit patricide?”
The woman’s tone was mocking; her face was pale, yet it could not conceal her elegance.
“Jiang Heng, have you ever treated me as your biological daughter?”
“I am nothing more than a blood bank for the Jiang family to keep you alive.”
Suddenly, she smiled.
“In that case, let’s all go to hell together. The Jiang family, all together and accounted for—how does that sound?”
A relieved smile on her face, her finger pressed down on the red button before her.
Jiang Heng’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the scene. “No, don’t!”
The Jiang family members rushed forward recklessly to stop her, but they were blocked by the locked bulletproof glass door, forced to watch helplessly as the woman pressed that button.
Explosions rang out one after another, flames burst in all directions. The weakened woman collapsed to the ground as the floor gave way beneath her.
Her body was ice-cold, and unbearable pain spread through every limb and bone.
Jiang Zhi closed her eyes, tears of blood tracing down the corners of her eyes.
“A-Yan, I’m sorry… goodbye…”
The island sank rapidly. The people on the helicopter watched as the island on the sea gradually submerged.
Someone was screaming in heart-wrenching agony: “Zhi Zhi!”
Three years later.
National Security Bureau building, conference room.
Director Liang brought Li Zhenmian in to introduce her to everyone.
The woman wore training attire, tall and slender, with her hair tied up high in a ponytail.
The black training uniform made her skin appear even fairer.
The several people seated shifted their gazes to the woman’s cold, stunningly beautiful face. The moment they saw Li Zhenmian’s appearance, they were all stunned.
Jiang Cheng was so agitated that he stood up directly, staring at her for a long time without being able to speak.
Director Liang slapped the table and scolded him, “Sit down,” and gave him a warning glare.
Seeing everyone’s intense reactions, Director Liang sighed inwardly, his expression somewhat complicated.
“This is Li Zhenmian. From now on, she will be the captain of the Fifth Squad.”
Though Mo Yu and the others showed nothing on their faces, a storm was raging within their hearts.
Similar—too similar. This face bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Zhi Zhi.
Then, in tacit understanding, everyone looked toward the handsome, noble man sitting across from them, but saw that he had lowered his head, seemingly indifferent.
Li Zhenmian raised her cold, clear eyes to look at the people with varied expressions.
The woman’s voice flowed into their ears like a spring stream.
“Hello, I am Li Zhenmian.”
As she introduced herself, her gaze swept across the faces of the people below, a trace of something unreadable flashing through her eyes.
These people’s reactions really are strange.
Her gaze finally came to rest on the man sitting beside the head seat.
Qi Siyan wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his hands resting on his legs, his fingers rubbing the ring on his hand.
Though the man sat in a languid posture, the imposing, sharp aura emanating from him could not be ignored.
For some reason, Li Zhenmian caught a glimpse of loneliness in him.
Sensing Li Zhenmian’s scrutinizing gaze, the man lifted his eyelids and met her eyes.
Li Zhenmian’s gaze immediately fell into his pitch-black, deep-set eyes, and the woman’s exquisite, delicate face was reflected in his profound pupils.
Qi Siyan’s movement of rubbing his ring came to a halt.
The people in the conference room could clearly feel the temperature in the room plummet to freezing point.
Everyone else watched the two cautiously, not daring to breathe too loudly.
As if breaking free from the man’s deep, dark gaze, Li Zhenmian narrowed her eyes slightly and looked away.
And Qi Siyan had lowered his head at some point, continuing to turn his ring with a dark, unreadable expression.
That similar face made Qi Siyan’s expression grow even more gloomy. No wonder Liang Yi had insisted he come today.
So this was the purpose.
Mo Yu received a signal from Director Liang and stood up, nodding to Li Zhenmian as he introduced everyone.
“Hello, I am Mo Yu, captain of the First Squad. The people beside me are Jiang Cheng, Yan Susu, and Xiao Jiying, captains of the other squads respectively.”
Mo Yu paused and looked at the person sitting across from them.
“This is the Supreme Commander of the Command Division, Qi Siyan, and his deputy, Su Pei.”
Qi Siyan had already retired three years ago. Upon hearing this, he lifted his gaze and gave Liang Yi a cold, indifferent look. Director Liang guiltily avoided his eyes.
Mo Yu extended his hand toward Li Zhenmian. “Welcome to our team.”
……
Mo Yu brought Li Zhenmian to the base to handle the handover of the Fifth Squad, and also to familiarize her with the base and introduce the situation of the Fifth Squad.
At that time, the members of the Fifth Squad were training. Mo Yu called Li Weizhong over.
Li Weizhong ran over and stared at the person across from him, dumbfounded. Th-this, this is…?
Li Zhenmian raised an eyebrow at his reaction.
These people’s reactions to seeing her are each more interesting than the last.
Li Weizhong’s eyes turned red. Had their Captain Jiang returned?
“This is your new captain, Li Zhenmian.”
Li Weizhong was still in a daze, and Mo Yu gave a soft cough, trying to snap him out of it.
Li Weizhong snapped back to reality, hastily composing his expression and suppressing the confusion and shock within him.
“Captain, I’m Li Weizhong.”
Mo Yu added, “Li Weizhong is your vice-captain.”
Li Zhenmian curved her lips into a faint, ambiguous smile. “Hello.”
Mo Yu and the others led Li Zhenmian before the members of the Fifth Squad. Unsurprisingly, she saw the same reaction on some of their faces.
After Mo Yu finished the introductions, she also noticed a few people wearing expressions of defiance.
“Captain Mo, I’m a bit curious—everyone seems quite surprised to see me.”
“What’s the matter? Do I look that strange?”
Mo Yu steadied her expression. “No, no. It’s just that this position has been vacant for three years. They’re simply not used to it yet.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
“Is that so?” Li Zhenmian looked straight into Mo Yu’s eyes and caught a flicker of evasion.
But she didn’t press further. Instead, she turned to face all the members of the Fifth Squad.
“Hello, my name is Li Zhenmian, and I’m your new captain.”
“I know some of you must have doubts about my abilities.”
Every previous captain had been selected through rigorous screening by the base, and their capabilities were evident to all.
But Li Zhenmian’s sudden arrival in this position made them question things.
As she spoke, she walked up to a young man, patted his shoulder, and parted her red lips:
“Not convinced?”
“A little.”
The young man nodded, honest and straightforward.
“Oh. Then hold it in.”
Li Zhenmian flashed a brilliant smile after saying that.
The young man clenched his fists tightly, stubbornly lifting his chin, his face turning red from holding back…
After wrapping up with the squad, Li Zhenmian was about to leave when she turned and spotted a tall, slender figure not far away, with Su Pei following beside him.
Li Zhenmian crossed her arms over her chest and stood there waiting as the two approached slowly. When Qi Siyan drew near, she gave a slight nod.
“Mr. Qi.”
Qi Siyan gave her a cold look, then brushed past her.
Li Zhenmian: “??”
She narrowed her eyes, a little annoyed.
As Su Pei followed behind Qi Siyan, Li Zhenmian reached out, grabbed his arm, and yanked him back, leaving Su Pei watching his master’s figure grow farther and farther away.
“Is your commander mute?” Li Zhenmian stared at the retreating figure.
Su Pei nearly choked on his own saliva at those words and quickly waved his hands.
“No, no, Captain Li, please don’t be upset. Our master just has a cold temperament and doesn’t talk much.”
Li Zhenmian said flatly, “Is that so.”
Su Pei rubbed his forehead, unsure how to explain.
Mo Yu, standing nearby, helped him out of the bind.
“Commander Qi is like that with everyone. You’ll get used to it. He’s not deliberately targeting you.”
Li Zhenmian furrowed her brows, her smile turning cold. “With that personality of his, Mr. Qi had better be careful—no one might want him in the end.”
With that, she patted Su Pei’s shoulder and left.
Su Pei: …
He lowered his head, his expression turning sorrowful at some thought. His master had someone who wanted him once, but that person would never come back.