Seeing Meng Hao’s bewildered expression.
Zhang Xijin tilted her head, looking at him curiously.
“Is there a problem?”
Meng Hao seemed lost in thought.
His expression grew even grimmer.
“I recall Elder Ouyang saying he wouldn’t interfere with any of my actions.”
“My intention to travel to the country of A has never been publicly announced.”
“May I ask how you learned of this matter?”
It was clear.
Meng Hao had misunderstood.
Facing Meng Hao’s questioning.
Zhang Xijin simply continued to tilt her head, remaining silent… She seemed to be waiting for Meng Hao to continue.
“So, you’ve been monitoring me, is that it?”
“I detest this feeling.”
“Were it not for the shared hardships we’ve endured together, I would have even ordered you to leave.”
Seeing Meng Hao suppress his anger.
Zhang Xijin’s eyes narrowed into crescents.
No matter how much hardship she endured in the devilish special training camp.
As long as she thought of Meng Hao, she could persevere.
Just as her father, Zhang Weimin, had said.
Whatever you wish to obtain, you must pay for.
She genuinely liked Meng Hao… this exceptionally talented, yet occasionally foolish, young man… To win Meng Hao’s heart, Zhang Xijin, once a girl consumed by romance, truly underwent unimaginable suffering and torment.
“So, are you done speaking?”
Facing Meng Hao’s anger, Zhang Xijin was not the least bit upset.
Seeing Meng Hao’s somber and silent demeanor.
She then smiled and began to explain.
“I can guarantee with my honor that Elder Ouyang did not arrange for military personnel to monitor you!”
“However…”
Zhang Xijin lowered her voice slightly, as if afraid her words would be overheard by a third party.
“…our military has personnel stationed in all countries around the world, commonly known as spies.”
“And for a country like A, where even their warships and fighter jets are assembled from various nations, their intelligence systems and listening devices are naturally not independently developed and manufactured equipment.”
“In fact, it’s not just our Great Xia country; most major powers worldwide have informants stationed in the country of A.”
Huh?
Is the country of A that pathetic?
Even their intelligence department is so compromised it’s like a sieve!
However.
This was just Zhang Xijin’s word.
Meng Hao was still somewhat skeptical.
Seeming to sense Meng Hao’s hesitation.
Zhang Xijin raised her wrist and looked at her watch.
“Soon.”
“You will receive a phone call.”
“It will be from A’s ‘Nuclear Submarine Research and Development Task Force,’ inviting you to travel to A.”
What?
As Meng Hao stood there in a daze.
His phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID indicated that the call was indeed from A.
So impressive!
Meng Hao instinctively pressed the answer button.
This time, it wasn’t Songzan who called.
But a woman who spoke Great Xia fluently.
“Hello, Mr. Meng Hao.”
“I am Maya from the Nuclear Submarine Research and Development Task Force, inviting you to travel to our country of A… During your stay in A, I will be your translator and personal assistant.”
Meng Hao exchanged a few pleasantries.
And hung up the phone.
“Holy crap.”
“That’s amazing.”
“I wrongly accused you, I apologize!”
Facing Meng Hao’s apology.
Zhang Xijin shook her head dismissively.
“It’s alright, it’s normal. Let’s go!”
Meng Hao hesitated for a moment, then asked suggestively.
“How about I pack some things?”
Zhang Xijin no longer stood on ceremony, directly throwing her arm around Meng Hao’s neck and pulling him onto the helicopter.
“Forget it, no need to pack.”
“The country of A has prepared all your clothes and daily necessities for you, from head to toe, inside and out.”
“Do you think they’d give you the chance to wear your own clothes?... They’re afraid you might leak secrets!”
Huh?
The intelligence department of country A has already been infiltrated like a sieve!
A country like this is still worried about leaks.
Oh!
Right.
This self-deceiving country of A.
Has an inexplicable need to save face.
Even if they know their intelligence department is completely unreliable, they still need to maintain appearances.
…
The military helicopter stopped at the border, and they switched to a civilian chartered helicopter.
Even though the whole world knew that country A’s intelligence department was a joke.
They still needed to maintain face publicly.
If they had taken a military helicopter directly to country A, it would have been tantamount to openly telling them that the military of Great Xia already knew about country A’s invitation for Meng Hao to participate in the development of the J-2 nuclear submarine.
Don't hit someone in the face.
At least a modicum of respect was required.
…
Mendha.
Located in western country A.
It is the largest port city on the west coast of country A, and indeed the entire nation.
This was Meng Hao’s destination.
As soon as he disembarked.
He was immediately given a warm welcome by Songzan.
The son of the Admiral of the Navy of country A was very young.
Judging by his age, he was very similar to Meng Hao.
“Wow, Brother Hao, you’re so young!”
It was evident.
Songzan had undergone Great Xia language training.
However, his Great Xia, spoken with a thick curry accent, sounded extremely awkward.
“You’re not that old either.”
Meng Hao replied politely.
“Heh, I owe it to my dad.”
“Compared to you, Brother Hao, I’m just a loafer!”
“Just helping out with family matters.”
This Songzan, in a frank and unreserved manner, admitted his status as a military brat.
This honesty and sincerity indeed increased Meng Hao’s favorable impression of him.
“Let’s go, let’s have a meal together.”
“Because this matter is, on the surface, a civilian company affair, my dad can’t host you.”
“However, he repeatedly instructed me to accompany you well!”
It had to be said.
Dealing with someone like the rich military brat Songzan was enjoyable.
They were told he was coming to work.
But for more than half a month.
It was all about eating, drinking, and having fun.
They had toured almost half of country A with Songzan’s accompaniment.
If Zhang Xijin hadn’t been there every step of the way.
Songzan would have even planned to take Meng Hao to experience the country’s special adult entertainment industry.
…
More than half a month later.
At a quarantined laboratory in a bay in Mendha City.
Meng Hao finally saw the J-2 submarine.
And over a hundred extremely polite… and even humble… local researchers from country A.
“This is the J-2 nuclear submarine that requires technical breakthrough?”
Meng Hao curiously boarded the nuclear submarine floating on the sea.
“Strange, there seems to be a problem with this nuclear submarine?”
Meng Hao wandered around inside the submarine for a while, looking quite puzzled.
Due to the various equipment installed, the submarine’s living space was very small.
However, strangely.
As Meng Hao moved around inside the submarine, he felt no sense of confinement at all!
Facing Meng Hao’s question.
Songzan subconsciously scratched his head.