On this day, like any other, Mo Jingchun was practicing for the second driving test at the training ground. As for the first test, Mo Jingchun had already passed it last week.
Faced with the simple multiple-choice questions of the first test, Mo Jingchun effortlessly scored a perfect hundred.
From entering the exam hall to signing out, the whole process took Mo Jingchun less than ten minutes.
Of course, Mo Jingchunâs speed was only average as many people completed the process in five to six minutes.
At Hengâan Driving Schoolâs training field, Mo Jingchun was seated in the instructorâs car, enjoying the air conditioning while practicing the entire procedure for the second driving test.
They say learning to drive in summer will get you tanned, but not for Mo Jingchun.
These days, Mo Jingchun and Candy couldnât be touched by the wind or rain; to get a healthy tan, they would have to stand in the sun on purpose for an hour.
During a break, Mo Jingchun pulled Candy along to the convenience store to buy water. As they walked on the scorching asphalt, the little one clung to Mo Jingchunâs leg, as if afraid the sun-baked asphalt would indeed burn her feet.
In the supermarket, Mo Jingchun went on a small shopping spree and also asked the owner for a cup of plain water for Candy.
Mo Jingchun carried the bottle filled with plain water and, just after leaving the convenience store with Candy, his phone rang.
When he heard the ringtone, Mo Jingchun raised an eyebrow. Who would call him at this time?
"Qin Yuzhu?"
"Whatâs she calling me for? Could it be that the special medicine has results so soon? Thatâs unlikely."
With questions in mind, Mo Jingchun still answered Qin Yuzhuâs call immediately, knowing she wouldnât reach out without a reason.
"Hello?"
"Mo Jingchun, itâs me."
"I know itâs you. What do you want? Is there news about the special medicine?"
"No."
Switching topics, Qin Yuzhu asked directly, "Where are you now? Someone went to your apartment building and your office to pick you up, but you werenât found."
Mo Jingchun raised an eyebrow and asked, "First tell me what you want, and then Iâll consider whether to tell you where I am now."
"Of course, you could also use my phone signal to locate my precise position."
On the other end, Qin Yuzhu was fuming, "The project you participated in before has completed all preparations. Itâs scheduled for launch tomorrow morning at 5:43. You are invited to watch as required."
Mo Jingchun took a sip of the refreshing iced tea and laughed, "You shouldâve said so earlier. I wouldâve told you immediately."
"Iâm at Hengâan Driving School. Let your people come to pick up Candy and me."
At some base, after the call was hung up, Qin Yuzhu was infuriated by Mo Jingchun. She realized that Mo Jingchun was getting sneakier by the day.
Indeed, after being in business for a long time, one naturally becomes slick.
Inside Hengâan Driving School, Mo Jingchun stood at the convenience store entrance for less than ten minutes when he noticed a military vehicle parked at the schoolâs gate.
Since the convenience store was less than ten meters from the entrance, Mo Jingchun saw it right away.
Without further ado, as soon as the military vehicle stopped, Mo Jingchun carried Candy and walked towards it.
"Did Qin send you?"
The soldier, just stepping out of the vehicle, was about to say something when Mo Jingchun spoke first.
"Yes."
Mo Jingchun nodded and said, "Iâm Mo Jingchun, the person youâre supposed to pick up. Letâs go."
Soldier Yuan Zhiguo twitched at the corner of his mouth. Naturally, he knew that the person before him was Mo Jingchun; otherwise, how could they pick someone up?
The convenience store ownerâs wife almost had her eyes pop out watching Mo Jingchun leave in the military vehicle holding Candy.
Indeed, one cannot judge a book by its cover, nor can the depths of the sea be measured.
Who would have thought that an ordinary-looking young man and a little girl would be whisked away by a military vehicle?
But, upon second thought, the ownerâs wife found it quite normal.
After all, this is the Capital City!
Even the usually kind-hearted old man next door could be someone remarkable.
"Bro~ where are we going?"
In the back of the military vehicle, Mo Jingchun ruffled Candyâs hair and gently said, "Big brother is taking you to watch a rocket launch."
With curiosity, Candy looked up from Mo Jingchunâs lap and asked, "Bro~ what is a rocket?"
Mo Jingchun pondered, "Hmm~ A rocket... Itâs like the car weâre sitting in, only one runs on the ground and the other flies in the sky."
"Is the rocket fun?"
Mo Jingchun wasnât sure if it was fun since he had never experienced it, "It should be fun, I guess. Big brother hasnât played with a rocket either."
The soldiers in the driver and co-driver seats suppressed their laughter throughout the journey.
How could they not laugh! A rocket, such a national artifact, is meant for play?
Itâs meant to deter the enemy, for goodnessâ sake!
The military vehicle zigzagged into an airport where Mo Jingchun, along with many others, boarded a special plane departing from Jing City.
Upon arriving at the destination, he checked his phone and realized it was a public satellite launch site.
In todayâs world, only Xia Country, with its strong capabilities, would openly launch manned spacecraft under the nose of satellites from other countries.
By the time they arrived, it was already dark. With official arrangements in place, Mo Jingchun had dinner and directly headed for a rest, holding a room card and Candy.
The manned spacecraft wouldnât launch until five the next morning, so it wasnât practical to stay up until then.
Throughout the journey, Mo Jingchun hadnât seen anyone he knew.
He hadnât come across Academician Chen Xihe nor that strongwoman Qin Yuzhu.
As for Colonel Zhang Aijun, there was no mention.
As serene as the night was, at four in the morning, Mo Jingchun was roused by his phoneâs alarm. Barely woken by it, he felt a little pendant around his neck.
A small, white, tender leg.
Lifting the covers, Mo Jingchun saw Candy sprawled sideways, a small patch of drool on the sheet.
"Sigh, trying to strangle me, are you, my dear Guoguo."
Sighing, Mo Jingchun gently moved Candyâs little leg and got up to brush his teeth and wash his face.
"Candy?"
"Candy?"
Mo Jingchun patted Candyâs little bum, and the next moment, she burrowed back into the covers to continue her sleep.
The promise to watch the rocket launch yesterday had long been forgotten.
No matter how much fun something was, it was never as comfortable as sleeping.
After Mo Jingchun dragged her out of bed, Candy kept kicking her little legs, trying to crawl back in.
"Boohoo~ Big brother is mean."
In the bathroom, Candy squinted, allowing Mo Jingchun to wash her face.
"Bro~ Guoguo is clean now, stop washing."
Mo Jingchun unmercifully laughed, "Look whoâs got a little crust in their eye."
ps: Thanks to book friends 20200923144552290, Shanghua Pin Yu, Xianren and Young Master, Ghost Mesmerizing Day Yan for their support.