Huo Rou watched them enter the military hospital, her eyebrows raised as she flexed her wrists.
After leaving the military hospital, Qin Nishui and his group were urgently assembled and rushed away with a convoy.
Huo Rou picked out some of the medicine Shen Wuyou had given her and headed to the hospital.
She, who could move through enemy territory as if it were her own, found it easy to enter a hospital and find someone.
"Cheng Guozhong, you must live." Huo Rou reached the top floor, where several guards stood before a room.
It took her considerable effort to enter the room.
Hospital beds were already extremely scarce; upon entering the lobby, she almost had nowhere to stand. Due to the special nature of Cheng Guozhong's condition, he had been given a private room.
The room was small. Cheng Guozhong lay in bed, the gurgling of the ventilator unable to mask his labored breathing.
Huo Rou stopped a meter away, watching him by the bedside.
In a short time, Cheng Guozhong had gone from his previous robust physique to being incredibly gaunt. His body trembled, and with each breath, he struggled to inhale.
Huo Rou did not deliberately conceal her presence. Cheng Guozhong suddenly spoke, "Chief Qin? Is there something else?"
He turned with great difficulty, revealing a face so thin it had no flesh.
He looked even older.
Seeing that the visitor was slight of build, a sharpness flashed in his eyes. "Who are you?"
"Shh." Huo Rou brought a finger to her lips. "Don't you recognize me?"
"Xiao You?" Cheng Guozhong's eyes snapped open. He blinked, disbelief evident.
Huo Rou gazed at him steadily, saying nothing.
Meeting those icy eyes, it was undeniably Huo Rou.
Cheng Guozhong recognized her and, enduring the pain in his body, recoiled violently. The tubes attached to him swung precariously as he moved.
"Don't come closer, don't come closer..." Cheng Guozhong's voice trembled.
He pressed down on the ventilator tube, his breathing growing even more labored. He gasped for air, waving his hands, "Don't come closer."
"What is it?" Huo Rou frowned. "I'm not going to kill you."
Only then did Cheng Guozhong continue, "It's dangerous here, don't come! Hurry and leave!"
"This illness is contagious, you need to leave quickly!"
He was filled with anxiety, having already retreated to the edge of the bed.
Huo Rou froze at his words.
Cheng Guozhong's breathing became obstructed, his face flushed red, and his oxygen saturation began to drop.
"Stop moving!" Huo Rou's voice turned cold as she commanded.
Cheng Guozhong obeyed her words and stopped, gazing at her.
Huo Rou stepped forward and adjusted all the instrument wires and tubes on him. Cheng Guozhong still avoided her gaze, incessantly urging her to leave.
"I have something to ask you." Huo Rou took a few steps back, and Cheng Guozhong calmed down a little.
Cheng Guozhong took several deep breaths. "Xiao You, speak."
"Back then, did you submit a leave request?"
Cheng Guozhong's eyes, which had been downcast, suddenly widened. "Yes!"
It was as if he had been waiting for this question for a very long time.
"Was it approved?"
"It was approved."
"Then why did you participate in the mission?"
Huo Rou's palms grew sweaty without her realizing it. She clenched her fists, awaiting Cheng Guozhong's answer.
When Kete's plan appeared, she felt something was wrong. Combined with Grandpa Qin's words, the matter she had held onto for over a decade suddenly shifted.
If Cheng Guozhong had indeed leaked information, why would Kete have needed to track the signal's location? It was stated on the phone.
If it was truly Cheng Guozhong, why would he have requested leave? Was he not afraid of being unable to take on missions after his leave was approved?
All the questions connected, and no matter how she reasoned...
"I didn't expect it either. I was suddenly notified before departure, and the team was in a hurry..." Cheng Guozhong began to explain, word by word. These were words he had spoken before, but no one had believed him. Even the people and machines that could have testified for him were unable to corroborate his story.
However, since Huo Rou wanted to listen, he would tell it again.
"Who?!" The guards outside the door shouted loudly. Cheng Guozhong's words were interrupted. He looked at Huo Rou before him, then glanced at the door.
"Xiao You, you must hide quickly!" He was extremely anxious. "Don't let them misunderstand!"
Cheng Guozhong was frantic, but his body ached and he lacked strength. He was already under suspicion, and if people outside saw Huo Rou visiting him, it would be bad for her!
As he looked around for a hiding place, Huo Rou narrowed her eyes. "They're not calling for me."
The sounds of footsteps outside became chaotic, gradually turning into sounds of fighting. The shrill screech of blades against the wall made her vigilant.
"Who did you provoke?" Huo Rou pulled on her protective suit, drew a defensive weapon, and focused on the door.
Her question left Cheng Guozhong bewildered. Since falling ill, he had been mostly unconscious. He had only woken up today. Logically, he shouldn't have offended anyone...
The door was kicked open, and several people wielding knives rushed in.