"..."
"The decision is final, keep a close eye on things, and if necessary, call Ningning back!" Su Jiang was concerned that Ningning, the girl, might not be able to cope, given that she had just gotten married and her husband was about to embark on a mission.
Any wife would be displeased.
"Donāt worry, Ningning will definitely understand," Su Hai said confidently ever since he read the new script Ningning had written for Liu Yilan. Anyone capable of writing such a script wouldnāt be easily defeated or succumb to fate and setbacks.
"Youāre that confident?" Su Jiang was surprised. As a man, he really didnāt understand women well, and his only sister was unreliable with a capricious and selfish personality.
As her daughter, he didnāt have the confidence to feel the same way.
"Of course!" Su Hai felt a secret pride, knowing that Ningning was reborn ā a secret known only to him. Even his elder brother and father were unaware, so naturally, he was pleased.
"Thatās settled then!" Because they were in the office, Su Jiang couldnāt say too much about personal matters and ended the call in a timely manner. After all these years as brothers, they understood each other more than enough.
There was no need to spell out what they wanted to say or what the crux of the problem was.
"What happened?" The chief administrator asked anxiously after seeing him hang up the phone.
"Itās a big deal, a very big one," Su Jiang said with irony: "Some people treat me as if Iām just a decoration." He relayed the message he had received in brief, and upon hearing it, the chief administratorās expression became extremely grave.
His eyes showed worry, which was completely different from Su Jiangās anger. It could be said that his emotions were more profound, and what he was thinking and worrying about was much more complex and subtle.
Understanding his old friend deeply, having worked side by side in rescues for many years, Su Jiang knew a personās intent with just a glance. "Come on! Thereās no need to hide it from me; speak your mind."
The chief administrator stroked his chin and paced the office several times ā a habit when he was deep in thought. Su Jiang, knowing this, didnāt rush him. Instead, he poured a cup of water to soothe his throat while waiting for his friend to collect his thoughts.
"You... I... I donāt know if I should say this," the chief administrator said with difficulty.
"Speak, fear not."
"Do you remember Meng Fanās death?"
Su Jiang was startled, nearly dropping his teacup. He remembered Meng Fanās death all too well. The Southern Border rescue operation was almost complete when Meng Fan died during the very last rescue.
With Meng Fanās skills, abilities, status, and position, his death in that rescue shouldnāt have been possible. Yet sometimes fate is so unpredictable, with no rescue in desperate situations...
After saving the last person, Meng Fan perished together with the enemy.
As the highest leader of that rescue, he bore the greatest responsibility and pressure. It was also for this reason that he had to agree to transfer Xu Qigang to the Northern region. And because of this, he, the uncle-in-law, couldnāt stand tall in front of his brother-in-law.
"I know, go on, keep talking," Su Jiang said, sitting down and trying to calm his mind rapidly.
"Donāt you think Xu Qigangās current predicament is eerily similar to Meng Fanās situation back then? A rescue mission over thousands of miles..."
Without needing the chief administrator to finish, Su Jiang already understood.
"You really shouldnāt have said that." Su Jiang quickly regained composure, his face losing any trace of previous anger. He patted the chief administratorās shoulder earnestly and said, "We have to believe in the organization, and more importantly, in ourselves.