The news of Godwin Reinis’s disappearance quickly spread throughout San Lorenzo.

However, most people’s reaction was one of approval, as he had bullied many people relying on the Reinis’s family identity. His disappearance was a cause for celebration, and no one cared where he had gone, whether alive or dead.

General Reinis had to offer a high reward, trying to find clues about his nephew’s whereabouts.

Rewards were offered, and tips poured in, but they were all false leads aimed at claiming the reward, not providing any useful information. Instead, they burdened the police department.

As time went on, the search for Godwin gradually came to a standstill due to the stalemate.

With the presidential election coming to a close, the final showdown between Reinis and Mo Xin’s father, Mo Zhenghong, intensified. They gave speeches on TV every day, keeping themselves busy, and Reinis couldn’t spare time to supervise the investigation into the disappearance.

As for the election’s outcome, many believed the result was already decided.

Now conflicts had erupted in many federated states and counties, with many imitating Lugo’s armed approach, engaging in small actions to gain benefits, which left the public constantly troubled by the conflicts.

It was precisely because of this that Mo Zhenghong, a conservative, supported the implementation of a pro-people and peaceful policy, winning the support of many people.

In contrast, Reinis, with his iron-fisted approach and military background, appeared less favorable. Many worried that if he were to win the election, he would inevitably push the federation into the abyss of war.

Wu Yahui turned off the TV, pinched Liang Qiuchi’s shoulder, and said, “It was a very wise decision to wait a few more days.”

Liang Qiuchi wasn’t as optimistic as her, “Even if Mo Xin’s father is elected president, it’s not certain he’ll help us restart the investigation.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Wu Yahui seemed confident, “Reinis is his political enemy. If he becomes president, he’ll definitely help us bring Reinis down completely.”

“This is certainly the ideal outcome,” Liang Qiuchi said, “But we should also come up with a backup plan, just in case.”

After all, eight years ago, he had already learned a bloody lesson once, and this time he certainly wouldn’t place all his hopes on one person.

Nothing is absolute.

Wu Yahui asked, “Have you thought of one?”

Liang Qiuchi shook his head, this was the most troublesome thing for him.

He neither wanted to hurt Mo Xin again, nor could he let all the efforts of these years go to waste, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with a way to have it both ways.

“Don’t worry, take your time to think, there’s still a week before the election results are announced,” Wu Yahui advised him, “Don’t they say everything will fall into place in due time? Besides, things might go as smoothly as I said, your worries are unnecessary.”

“Hopefully,” Liang Qiuchi smiled and went downstairs to find Mo Xin.

Mo Xin was surrounded by a group of people at the table, engaged in a competition to assemble firearms.

He was very quick, almost crushing his opponents, and won easily.

The losers stood dejectedly aside, and the next eager competitor stepped forward. But in less than a minute, they left like deflated balloons.

Seeing several consecutive defeats, the others hesitated to challenge him.

“Anyone else?” Mo Xin scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally landing on Liang Qiuchi, who was watching from the stairs, with anticipation in his eyes.

Following his gaze, the others’ competitive spirits were reignited.

Liang Qiuchi walked downstairs and approached them, saying to Mo Xin, “It’s been a long time since we last competed, how about a match?”

“Sure, the loser treats.” Mo Xin remembered that this was the rule they had in their previous competitions.

“Okay.” Liang Qiuchi agreed readily.

There were piles of parts in front of each of them, with Vincent acting as the referee. As soon as he gave the signal, Liang Qiuchi and Mo Xin quickly started assembling under the gaze of the crowd.

Their hands were extremely fast, making progress at the same pace. However, just as Liang Qiuchi finished assembling and was about to put down the gun, Mo Xin was a step faster and pointed the gun at him.

Even though there were no bullets in the gun, the people around were still shocked by his action.

Liang Qiuchi raised his hands in surrender and sighed, “I lost.”

Mo Xin flicked his wrist, the gun twirled lightly at his fingertips, then he put it on the table. He raised his chin and smirked at Liang Qiuchi, “I finally beat you.”

He couldn’t help but recall the nineteen-year-old Liang Qiuchi when they first met.

He had thought that with the passage of time, his feelings for Liang Qiuchi were more of an unattainable obsession, but now he was absolutely sure that the excitement in his heart from years ago was still vivid and had not been diluted by time.

Liang Qiuchi affectionately put his arm around Mo Xin’s shoulder, kissed his cheek, and then said to the people around, “We’re organizing a barbecue on the rooftop tonight. If you want anything, two people can go out and buy it, I’ll reimburse.”

Everyone happily agreed, thanked Mo Xin for the bet, and then dispersed cheerfully.

Vincent also tactfully walked away.

Liang Qiuchi took Mo Xin’s hands, looked at them left and right, Mo Xin curled his fingertips and tried to withdraw his hand, “What’s there to look at? They’re all calloused.”

“That’s even more reason to take a good look,” Liang Qiuchi rubbed the thin calluses on his hands caused by firearms, “I’ve been thinking about what you said that day these past few days. Every time I think about how you’ve been charging ahead with that kind of feeling over the years, I feel uncomfortable. I don’t know how to make it up…”

“Qiuchi,” Mo Xin tightened his fingers around his hand, and said seriously, “All that’s in the past now, let’s agree not to mention it again.”

Liang Qiuchi looked into his eyes, and the myriad complex thoughts that had been lingering in his mind for days suddenly dissipated in an instant.

He reached back and pulled Mo Xin into his arms, whispered, “Okay, let’s not mention it again.”

Mo Xin hugged him back, quietly enjoying the moment, and then said softly after a while, “I want to eat roasted sweet potatoes for dinner.”

“I’ll make it for you.” Liang Qiuchi placed him on a pool table, Mo Xin hooked his neck and kissed him, as the affection grew stronger, the untimely sound of a cell phone ringing interrupted them.

The caller ID was Mo Qi.

The two exchanged a glance, each with a sense of foreboding in their hearts because they had an agreement that unless there were special circumstances during this critical period, they wouldn’t call each other.

Sure enough, after the call was answered, Mo Qi changed his tone and with a relaxed tone but a serious and low-pressure manner, he said, “There’s been an incident.”

Mo Xin thought it might be related to the presidential election process not going well, or perhaps the federal authorities had caught wind of Liang Qiuchi’s whereabouts. But he never expected Mo Qi to tell him, “Dad is injured and unconscious, currently undergoing emergency treatment. Be prepared.”

At that moment, footsteps echoed on the stairs, and Wu Yahui hurriedly ran down, directly turning on the TV hanging on the wall. All channels were broadcasting the same scene.

That day, there was a live debate between Mo Zhenghong and Reinis in the presidential election process. To garner support, many people had gathered at the venue. When the debate ended and they were leaving, Mo Zhenghong, who had always followed a friendly approach, shook hands and interacted with the supporters as usual.

Four bodyguards surrounded him, forming a relatively safe small protective circle. Plus, everyone entering the venue had undergone strict screening. So, when Mo Zhenghong was forcefully pulled and stumbled by a big hand, then stabbed in the chest with a knife, everyone present was stunned.

In the violently shaking footage, chaos erupted on the scene, and the screams of the crowd instantly filled the entire venue.

Several security personnel rushed over and subdued the attacker, the scene of which became the final shot of the entire live broadcast.

The urgent news could only repeatedly play these scenes, occasionally connecting live to reporters at the scene of the incident and reporters lurking outside the emergency hospital.

Apart from concern about Mo Zhenghong’s condition, everyone was discussing the identity of the assailant and the possible consequences of this sudden event.

Unable to bear watching any longer, Mo Xin was about to shut down his phone when Liang Qiuchi suddenly took the remote control from Wu Yahui’s hand and pressed the pause button.

He took a few steps closer, carefully staring at the frozen image on the screen and said in a deep voice, “I know this assailant.”