Chapter 167 The People I Believe In, The People I Love, and The People I Protect
She took out her notebook from the drawer, turned to a new page, wrote the date down with her pen, and then carefully recorded:
"July 9th, commendation meeting.
A man in a baseball cap was secretly taking pictures in the back row. He quickly left after noticing.
At the dinner party, a newcomer named Lin Shen, a technical staff member and college student, showed up and paid excessive attention to me…
He claimed to live in the next dormitory and followed me home...
After she finished writing, she drew a question mark in the corner of the page and then gently circled it.
She knew that she couldn't let her guard down for a moment until she figured out Lin Shen's true purpose, and her younger brother was a precious treasure that she had to protect no matter what.
Will there be any new discoveries tonight that bring her one step closer to the truth?
It was late at night, but Xu Zhili was wide awake.
She knew that from the day she discovered Li Junzhe's suspicious behavior, her ordinary life had come to an end.
Now, a new fog is spreading.
She gripped her pen tightly and gazed out the window at the deep night.
No matter who comes, no matter how many undercurrents there are, she is prepared.
For everything she believed in, loved, and protected—
She will never back down.
The next morning, Xu Zhili had just finished dealing with the problems at the machinery factory and was planning to take her younger brother back to Xiangyang Brigade.
Just then, a military green jeep came to a steady stop beside her—Xie Yunze, who had disappeared for several days, leaned out from the driver's seat.
Xu Zhili saw Xie Yunze and was surprised. She blurted out, "Xie Yunze? What are you doing here all of a sudden? I haven't seen you for days. I thought you had already gone back to the army."
Xie Yunze's gaze fell on her face, gentle yet restrained.
He nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Comrade Xu, I apologize for bothering you, but there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
He paused briefly, as if carefully choosing his words, before softly adding, "...Ah Li."
This form of address made Xu Zhili pause slightly.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with a hint of inquiry, but she only responded with a single, "Hmm?"
The last syllable rose slightly, concealing a subtle probing.
For some reason, a sly smile curved her lips: "I don't mind. But Comrade Xie suddenly calling me that, is it..."
She tilted her head slightly, sunlight shining on her upturned face, her gaze clear and direct, as if trying to see into one's heart.
Xie Yunze seemed to be burned by that gaze, his eyes slightly turned away, and a faint blush spread across his ears.
Xu Zhian, who was standing nearby, immediately noticed something unusual and exclaimed, "Oh my, big brother's ears are red!"
Xie Yunze coughed lightly, subconsciously raising his hand to rub his earlobe, a rare hint of unease appearing on his usually composed face.
When Xu Zhili saw his expression, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The laughter was clear and melodious, like the sound of bells in the wind, bringing a moment of relaxation.
When she smiles, her eyebrows curve, and her lively expression is inadvertently etched into one's eyes.
She reached out and gently pinched her younger brother's cheek: "An'an, don't mess around."
Then he turned to Xie Yunze, his smile still lingering: "Comrade Xie, you're actually embarrassed by what a child says?"
Xie Yunze chuckled helplessly, shook his head, and quickly composed himself: "This kid... has an excellent eye."
He started the car and, getting back to the point, said in a serious tone, "I came to see you this time because I found some clues during the mission that may be related to the previous enemy spy case."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhili's expression immediately turned serious: "What clue?"
“While I was following up on another case, I discovered that the movements of several people overlapped with those of that group of enemy agents. They have also been secretly gathering intelligence on the factory area and surrounding facilities recently, with targets similar to those that Li Junzhe was trying to obtain.”
Xu Zhili frowned in thought: "Are they remnants of the same organization? Still not giving up?"
"Very likely. In addition, they seem to have a connection with a mysterious superior who is very well hidden and has not yet been broken through."
Xu Zhian seemed to understand but not quite, yet she clenched her little fists: "Sister, big brother, we must catch these bad guys!"
Xu Zhili patted his head, her voice gentle yet firm: "Don't worry, we will never let them succeed."
She turned to Xie Yunce, her gaze clear and sharp: "Yunce, now that we have a lead, we must get there before them."
“That’s exactly what I meant. You’ve dealt with them before and know how they operate. Your judgment could very well give us a new direction.”
After the two talked for a while, a figure suddenly flashed through Xu Zhili's mind—the new technician, Lin Shen.
Her expression hardened, and she immediately said, "There's someone I find somewhat suspicious."
She clearly and calmly recounted to Xie Yunze Lin Shen's sudden appearance, excessive focus on the details of the commendation, and the so-called "on the way" tailing last night.
Xu Zhian looked up at her rosy little face, glanced at her older sister Xu Zhili, and then turned to look at her older brother Xie Yunze.
The two were chatting away so enthusiastically that they completely forgot there was a little child beside them, who patiently waited for them to finish.
The little one's face instantly fell, her lips pouting slightly. With a hint of sleepiness and grievance, she said in a soft, sweet voice, "Sister, can we go now? An'an is so sleepy."
Xu Zhili then came to her senses, looked at Xu Zhian with apologetic eyes, gently pulled him into her arms, and tenderly coaxed him.
"An'an, be good. Sister will take you home to sleep now. Xie Yunce, let's take An'an home first, and we can talk about it later."
Xie Yunze nodded, his eyes full of tenderness, "The little guy must be exhausted, let's take care of him first."
"Xie Yunce, I think there seems to be something wrong with your car," Xu Zhili said with a slight frown and a serious expression.
Xie Yunze shook his head confidently, his tone certain: "Impossible. We checked this car carefully before we set off, and all its performance was fine."
Xu Zhili did not waver in her judgment. She pointed to the area near the wheels and said, "When I got out of the car just now, I seemed to smell something strange, like the smell of overheated rubber."
"Moreover, I felt a slight vibration when the car was moving. Although it was very subtle, I still noticed it."
Hearing her say this, Xie Yunze still had doubts, but decided to check again.
He turned on his flashlight, squatted down, and carefully inspected the wheels and chassis.
After examining him, his expression gradually became serious.
Xu Zhili did not waver in her judgment. She pointed to the area near the wheels and said, "When I got out of the car just now, I seemed to smell something strange, like the smell of overheated rubber."
"Moreover, when the car was moving, I felt a slight vibration. Although it was very subtle, I still noticed it."
Hearing her say this, Xie Yunze still had doubts, but decided to check again.
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