Chapter 42 Preparing for the Mission

“Leyao? Oh my, Leyao…” Grandma Cui was overjoyed to see Ming Leyao at the door, nearly jumping on the spot with excitement.

“Slow down, Grandma Cui.”

“I’m just happy to see you.”

“I’m happy too.” Ming Leyao affectionately took Grandma Cui’s hand and walked into the house, placing the things she brought on the table and asking, “Where’s Grandpa Cui?”

“He went to work. Once his health got better, he couldn’t sit still. Plus, it seems like the higher-ups have been pushing things lately… He doesn’t dare to relax for even a second, afraid something might go wrong.”

Grandma Cui pulled out an enamel mug from the glass cabinet, added some tea leaves, poured in hot water from the thermos, and handed it to Ming Leyao. Then she pushed a bright red tray toward her, pointing at the peanuts inside.

“These peanuts were bought by my eldest daughter-in-law. They’re quite fragrant. Try some.”

“Okay, thank you. Oh right, Grandma Cui, these are all for your health. There’s malted milk, powdered milk, and some tea I personally blended. Just one little pouch is enough for a whole day.”

“You’re so thoughtful. I know you and your grandpa care about us. You never bring anything bad. Alright then, I’ll shamelessly accept them.”

“Take them without worry. If the tea works well, just ask me for more later.”

“Alright. Oh, Leyao, are you staying at the same guesthouse downstairs again?”

“I’m staying near the train station.”

“What? Oh dear, that area’s not safe. You should move right away. I’ll have your Grandpa Cui send a car to help you move your things.”

“No need, Grandma Cui. But… I do have something I’d like to ask Grandpa Cui. Could you help me check if he’s free?”

“Sure, I’ll ask him now.”

Grandma Cui walked over to the phone and dialed, requesting to be connected to the mayor’s office. After a short wait, Grandpa Cui’s deep voice came through the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Old man, Leyao’s here. She says she has something to discuss with you. Can you come home?”

“Huh? Okay, okay. Just tell her to wait a moment.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, Grandpa Cui immediately had someone drive him home. When he opened the door and saw his wife chatting happily with Ming Leyao, his face lit up with a wide smile.

“Leyao, my little girl, you still remember to come visit your Grandpa Cui?”

“Grandpa Cui, it’s been the busy double harvest season. I really didn’t have time. But now that it’s over, I came right away.”

“You old fool. You miss her but won’t say a nice word, and now you’re complaining about her not coming.”

“Alright, alright. My bad.” Grandpa Cui wasn’t upset. He took off his Zhongshan jacket and sat down beside Grandma Cui, across from Ming Leyao.

“Little girl, what do you need Grandpa for? Is someone bullying you? Tell me and I’ll make it right.”

“No, Grandpa Cui. I just have a few questions. If it involves classified information, you don’t have to answer.”

“Classified?” Grandpa Cui was surprised. He didn’t expect her questions to involve state secrets and immediately became serious.

“Go ahead and ask.”

“Is Nanxing City… unstable lately?”

“Yes, there are two factions stirring up trouble behind the scenes, making a mess of things.”

“Has the military been taking action?”

“You mean…?”

“On my way here yesterday, I ran into someone and learned a bit about the situation.”

Grandpa Cui, experienced and sharp, immediately grasped the key points from Ming Leyao’s brief words.

“That person you met—was he from the Shangjia Bridge Unit?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

Ming Leyao relayed her conversation with Fu Wencheng exactly as it happened.

“This situation is indeed troublesome. Two months ago, the higher-ups sent a secret directive asking me to cooperate, but I haven’t received any personnel until now. So it turns out…”

“Grandpa Cui, I have a plan. I might need your help with it.”

“Go ahead.”

Ming Leyao laid out her plan in full. After hearing it, Grandpa Cui immediately rejected it.

“No way. It’s too dangerous. Those two people are classified as top-level threats to national security. If you go alone, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“It’s okay, Grandpa Cui. I have a trump card. To eliminate threats to the country as soon as possible, I believe it’s worth taking a risk.”

“No. I can’t let you put yourself in danger.”

“Grandpa Cui, defending the country is every citizen’s duty. If I could come up with this plan, it means I’ve prepared thoroughly. I promise—even if it fails, I won’t drag myself down, and I absolutely won’t involve the military.”

“You…”

Grandpa Cui knew her words were right. But if it were anyone else, he wouldn’t hesitate this much. Say he’s biased or too attached, fine—but he truly treated this girl like his granddaughter. How could he send her into the lion’s den?

One old and one young sat on the sofa, neither willing to back down. One was insistent, the other firmly opposed. A heated debate ensued.

Grandma Cui sat silently by the side. Though she said nothing, she clearly didn’t support the idea either.

In the end, with no other choice, Ming Leyao pulled out her trump card.

“Grandpa Cui, the groundwork has already been laid. If I don’t follow through, it’ll be hard to clean things up.”

“You little rascal, why didn’t you discuss this with me first? You just…”

Grandpa Cui was truly angry, but also helpless. In the end, he could only compromise.

“What do you need me to do?”

Ming Leyao explained to the old man what she required. Without hesitation, he agreed—it wasn’t anything major to begin with, and especially not when it was for something like this.

Dinner was eaten at the Cui household. Afterward, Ming Leyao quietly slipped back to her guesthouse, returned with a package, and followed Grandpa Cui to a hidden courtyard.

“A car will come to pick you up soon. Get yourself ready.”
“Alright.”

Grandpa Cui rushed off to gather personnel, while Ming Leyao began preparing herself in the courtyard.

She put on a wine-red battle dress and carefully donned a voluminous wavy wig. In the mirror, she instantly transformed into the image of a glamorous Hong Kong starlet. She took out her cosmetics and meticulously enhanced her facial features, giving herself sharper, more sculpted lines—she looked just like a mixed-race beauty.

Lastly, she applied bright red lipstick, slipped into high heels, and packed her bag full of cash, jewelry, gold bars, and goldfish-shaped trinkets. Then she toyed with a small dagger—her “Little Li Flying Dagger”—and lit a cigar with a sultry flair.

She took a seductive puff…

And was immediately overtaken by a violent coughing fit.

Damn, what the hell is this stuff? It’s choking me to death!

But there was no choice—she had to get used to it to match the persona she was about to play.

When the person Grandpa Cui sent came into the room to collect her, they were hit by the thick scent of cigar smoke.

Through the haze, Ming Leyao sat—radiant and bewitching—blowing smoke rings with captivating allure. She slowly lifted her eyelids, and her dark eyes swirled with smoky seduction, ensnaring the soul.

The person stood there dumbfounded, completely frozen, mind blank.