Chapter 215: Indifferent Grace

“I am his future father-in-law, working under him as a diplomat—these days are tough.”

Ning Ze Hao’s head wobbled like a rattle-drum.

“Dad, why are you stuck with the old ways? You are a diplomat of the heavenly realm, not of Du Qiu’s,” Ning Shuangshuang couldn’t help but argue.

Ning Ze Hao looked at his daughter, who was pouting childishly, and felt a stir in his heart. Since she had joined the security department, she rarely acted this way around him.

Unexpectedly, as the father and daughter discussed matters today, such sincere emotions were revealed, showing she was quite relaxed in mindset.

In her opinion, Du Qiu’s current situation was not good, yet she was evidently very trusting of Du Qiu’s capabilities.

It seemed that the heavenly realm Du Qiu wanted to establish might indeed be possible.

“Shuangshuang, your dad has dedicated his life to the nation’s diplomatic affairs and is getting old. I won’t meddle in you young folks’ endeavors anymore.”

“Dad, old? You are only fifty-five, there’s still a few more years to retirement,” consoled Ning Shuangshuang at once.

Her father had just said he was not old, but now he was changing his tune.

Ning Ze Hao shook his head and said, “My reassignment this time is the last stand. I always see things through to the end, especially matters of state, so don’t try to convince me otherwise.

As for your mom at Du Qiu’s, you ask her after you go over. If she’s not comfortable, she should come back to the country to be with me. We’ve been apart more than together over these years; it’s time we actually got together.”

Ning Shuangshuang’s eyes reddened as she listened. Both of her parents prioritized their careers, which meant that she had to follow them around as a child.

Thus, at times, her parents could be living in separate places, hardly able to take care of her.

For the sake of her education, she had to live with her second uncle for a significant period, and as a result, she fell into a hostage crisis in Magic City.

The adolescent Ning Shuangshuang witnessed first-hand how Du Qiu’s father risked his life to save her, sparking her obsession with becoming a police officer, and later, quite by accident, she joined the security department.

After surviving several life-and-death situations, she thought of transferring back to Magic City, rather than returning to the capital.

“Dad, after you retire, maybe…”

“Old, ok!” Ning Ze Hao waved his hand, “Tell Du Qiu that no matter where he builds the heavenly realm, it can’t be separate from the foundation of Blue Star.

It’s best to establish a broad alliance with the nations on Blue Star. The United States will decline sooner or later, and the West is not a monolithic block.”

Ning Shuangshuang looked at her father and suddenly noticed that there were many more white hairs between his temples.

“Dad—” she called out softly, unable to refrain from hugging her father’s arm.

Ning Ze Hao’s hand touched Ning Shuangshuang’s head, “You’re not getting younger, while your mom is over there, why not handle the wedding matters with Du Qiu.”

“Dad, aren’t you coming?”

“After you leave, it’ll be even harder for me to go abroad. I don’t want to break the rules of the country; these are my lifelong beliefs. I’ll bless you in advance.”

++++++++

On her way, Ning Shuangshuang mulled over her father’s words, which left her feeling a bit sour. She was about to step into the arrival hall without realizing it.

“Shuangshuang—” a sweet shout came.

Ning Shuangshuang looked up, a smile leaking onto her face, “Yanran, how did you know I’d be back now?”

The woman in front of Ning Shuangshuang, dressed in a black OL (office lady) suit with sheer stockings encasing her perfectly straight legs, sparked endless fantasies.

This woman’s face displayed the same cool demeanor as Ning Shuangshuang; even when seeing her, there was not a trace of a smile.

“I, of course, know all about your movements,” the woman replied.

Ning Shuangshuang realized immediately and said, “Are we heading straight to the company now?”

“Yes, there are some things you need to handle.”

They conversed and made their way toward the parking area.

“Ning Shuangshuang!”

Suddenly, a shout came from behind.

Ning Shuangshuang paused and turned to look, her expression cooling instantly.

“Why is it you?”

Not far behind stood a woman in her early thirties, sporting short hair with unremarkable features, and of short stature.

However, the woman was dressed in a police uniform, astonishingly donning the rank of a third-grade police superintendent on her shoulder.

Proudly approaching Ning Shuangshuang, the woman declared, “Ning Shuangshuang, I’ve been transferred to Magic City to take over your position. What do you say now? Oh, you’ve resigned, so whatever you say won’t be taken seriously anymore.”

Ning Shuangshuang looked at the woman calmly and replied indifferently, “This position isn’t easy to keep. If you think you can secure it through connections, then I wish you well, Liu Fan.”

Having said that, she pulled on the arm of the Leng Yanran, “Let’s go.”

Liu Fan’s eyes flashed with venom as she extended her hand to block Ning Shuangshuang’s path, “Don’t think you’re the only one capable. I earned this position by accruing merits.”

“Really?” Ning Shuangshuang’s voice tinged with scorn as she sized up Liu Fan, “Values probably accumulated over the blood of subordinates, I presume.”

“You…” Liu Fan pointed at Ning Shuangshuang, but witnessing the icy gaze from the Leng Yanran beside her, she felt a shiver down her spine and abruptly ceased her abusive words.

Instead, she retorted, “Hmph, I won’t stoop to your level. I am warning you, even though you’ve resigned, you’re not allowed to leave the country by regulation. I hope you don’t let me catch you slipping up.

I wonder how long you and that Dr. Du’s love will last when you are separated by countries. Hey, what are you trying to do…”

As Liu Fan was talking, the arm she extended was suddenly seized by the Leng Yanran, feeling her arm go numb.

Then she saw Yanran’s back closing in on her, clearly setting up to give her a back throw.

Liu Fan’s left hand instinctively raised in an attempt to push Yanran away.

“Yanran, don’t use force!” Ning Shuangshuang called out urgently.

The Leng Yanran’s throwing movement paused, and then she suddenly stomped on Liu Fan’s foot and collapsed to the ground just as Liu Fan’s hand was about to make contact.

“Ouch! The police are beating people up!” cried the Leng Yanran from the ground, her voice attracting many men to surround them.

Seeing what appeared to be a plain-looking policewoman bullying two delicate beauties, the onlookers’ sense of justice surged.

Of course, the men knew they couldn’t attack the police, but verbal support was essential.

“Think you’re above the law, a police officer beating people in public?”

“If you weren’t a woman, I would’ve hit you by now!”

“Beauty, are you okay? I suggest you sue her!”

“Let me help you up…”

…

Various condemning words and flattery filled the area, once again proving that looks equate to righteousness.

Livid, Liu Fan shouted, “Who hit her? She stepped on my foot…”

“It’s just a little footstep accident; you can’t just push her down!”

“That’s right. The state trains you in combat not to use it on the citizens!”

“Look at us, talking all this time without offering a helping hand.”

“Let me help you up, miss…”

As several onlookers attempted to help up the Leng Yanran, she quickly got to her feet and said, “Thank you so much, big brothers, uncles, grandpas, I’m fine, really…”

Ning Shuangshuang barely held back her laughter as she glanced at Liu Fan, “It’s not easy to sit in my place; take care of yourself.”

With that, she no longer paid any mind to Liu Fan and walked away with the Leng Yanran through the crowd.

As the crowd watched the main characters leave, they dispersed.

Liu Fan suddenly felt a strange pain in her right foot. She looked up and saw the Leng Yanran walking away in a pair of stiletto sandals, slender and elegant.

Frustrated, Liu Fan couldn’t help but yell at the retreating figures of Ning Shuangshuang, “Ning Shuangshuang, with me watching, you won’t be able to leave the country!”

After shouting, Liu Fan crouched down to rub her sore foot.

“This secretary Yanran is indeed skilled; where did Du Qiu find her? Too bad there are too many Chinese descendants from Star Country; I can’t find any useful information on her.”

“Team Leader Liu, should I take you to the hospital?” asked Xiao Zhou, a team member who had been observing from a distance.

Annoyed, Liu Fan said, “What are you standing around for? Follow Ning Shuangshuang and don’t let her escape. If she does, you’ll be responsible.”

Xiao Zhou couldn’t help but mutter, “Got it, Team Leader Liu!”

After speaking, he followed the departing Ning Shuangshuang towards the parking lot.

Liu Fan then activated her concealed microphone’s communication channel, “Attention everyone, from now on, Ning Shuangshuang must not leave your sight.”

“Team Leader Liu, don’t joke. Once Ning Team Leader enters Dream Technology, we can’t follow in,” Deng Quan’s voice came through the channel.

“Ning Shuangshuang has resigned and is no longer your team leader,” Liu Fan, finding the term “Ning Team Leader” particularly grating, said in response.

“Team Leader Liu, you haven’t told me how to get into Dream Technology yet.”

“We are in the security sector, just follow her in. If someone blocks you, it’s considered obstructing official duties.”

“Team Leader Liu, it won’t work. Dream Technology has two security lines; the outer one is controlled by our bureau’s Fang Tianji’s team, and inside is supposedly the military. I can’t breach either security line, why don’t you demonstrate for us?”

Liu Fan paused, realizing her blunder.

“If Ning Shuangshuang is now inside Dream Technology, then blockade all the exits. Think of it as adding a temporary security line for Dream Technology. Any vehicles and personnel leaving shall undergo your inspection.”

“Alright, you’re the team leader; your word stands!” Deng Quan said.

Since her arrival in Magic City, Liu Fan and her current subordinates had fallen out because she made preventing Ning Shuangshuang from leaving the country the team’s top priority.

Due to this, team members like Deng Quan even approached Director Mo, but to little effect, which made the team members somewhat lax in their duties.

Usually, border control by the border defense department is sufficient for watching someone closely unless it is a target person in an important case.

Yet Liu Fan escalated this mission so high, it was no wonder the team members were disgruntled.

Director Mo, however, had already been reminded from above that Liu Fan, representing a certain significant figure’s granddaughter taking over Ning Shuangshuang’s role, was a form of compromise and thus did not intervene further.

In the car, the Leng Yanran said to Ning Shuangshuang, “Sister Shuangshuang, the master has instructed that you be evacuated today.”

Ning Shuangshuang was taken aback, “So soon?”

“Master’s important research has been successful, and the heavenly realm plan will speed up. It’s feared that too many people are watching you. Look, your former colleague is already following us.”

The Leng Yanran handed her a tablet showing the tracking vehicle clearly.

“How should I evacuate?”

Ning Shuangshuang didn’t expect Liu Fan to so blatantly keep tabs on her—it would hinder a lot of work, indicating a need to leave soon, otherwise, Magic City’s counter-espionage efforts might be delayed.

But why would Director Mo allow Liu Fan to do this? Thinking of Liu Fan’s background, she somewhat understood. The country was managed by a group of people; it was normal for them to have differing opinions about Du Qiu’s absence.

However, this made Ning Shuangshuang slightly worried about her father being alone in the capital.

“When you arrive at the company, just follow my arrangements. When night falls, the evacuation operation will start, and the master will give you a surprise.”

“A surprise? He shouldn’t be spending extra energy,” Ning Shuangshuang was somewhat surprised and worried.

She did not want any accidents at this time.

Yanran assured her, “Don’t worry, the whole process has been precisely calculated. There will be no issues, and you’ll be guaranteed safe departure.”