“If we could find him, we would have taken him down long ago,” Director Li said. “This guy is extremely wary. We can always catch a tiny signal, but he disappears at the slightest sign of trouble. There’s a reason why we haven’t caught him after all these years of his high profile.”
Yi Heye breathed a sigh of relief—signals were still being detected from time to time, proving that there were still signs of activity. It seemed that the guy had probably gone to hide somewhere to bide his time.
"How did such a cautious guy get exposed?" Yi Heye asked.
Director Li had no suspicion of his own son and blurted out everything he knew: "I think it's very likely some kind of accident. When you were on a mission with ISSAC, Xiao Song from the cyber security team said that they suddenly detected a very clear signal from SHEEP on a slaughtering machine. Xiao Song tracked it down and spent a lot of effort to finally pinpoint Jian Yunxian..."
Yi Heye fell silent—if he remembered correctly, what Director Li was referring to was the time when he was about to be crushed by the roof and this guy suddenly appeared and went berserk in the form of a slaughter robot.
This guy got into trouble because of me, and thinking about it made Yi Heye feel even worse.
"In fact, because the signal was exposed so strangely and obviously this time, we even had a meeting to discuss whether it was possible that SHEEP was using a smokescreen to divert attention, or that it was a frame-up by other forces," Director Li said. "But the facts are there. The real culprit behind the ISSAC incident has not yet been found, and his signal just happened to appear on a slaughter machine in this company, so we must remain suspicious of him and never give up the investigation."
Director Li's words left Yi Heye with mixed feelings—he was relieved that at least his organization was very rational and objective about SHEEP's situation, rather than blindly suspecting them, but he was also very worried because it was clear that due to various "coincidences" or "deliberate framing," SHEEP was being accused of more and more unfounded crimes.
Regardless of whether he has done anything wrong in the past, at least it wasn't something he did, so he absolutely cannot be made to take the blame. Yi Heye thought to himself.
"Oh, right, Xiao Yi," Director Li suddenly remembered something and said, "Do you want to move back to the station for a while? That little bastard surnamed Pei doesn't treat you well, and I'm already worried about leaving you there."
Yi Heye had also had enough of the lonely and oppressive environment here, and hurriedly said, "Yes! I can't stay here for even a second longer!"
The way the child was rushing home made Director Li feel even more heartbroken. He was both angry and annoyed, and regretted his actions: "The bureau has been so busy lately, and I was worried that no one would take care of you when you came back. I thought that Xiao Pei was a thoughtful child and that I felt guilty towards you, so I should take good care of you. I never expected... Ugh! This good-for-nothing!"
Yi Heye refused to say a single good word for Pei Xiangjin, only exaggerating his own misery. Director Li, protective of his son, wished he could fly to the security department right now and drag that heartless man surnamed Pei out for a good scolding.
But in the end, after calming down, he still said, "Although this son of a bitch has no conscience, we are all working for the public after all, and we should still cooperate with some things."
"Hmm." Yi Heye nodded in agreement—what Director Li said was true. Putting all that aside, he had no personal grudges against Pei Xiangjin; they were just doing their jobs for the public good.
Before hanging up the phone, Yi Heye remembered something else: "By the way, Director Li, my new prosthetic limb hasn't been installed yet. Should I have the surgery done when I get back, or...?"
"Come back, come back!" Director Li said impatiently. "It's not that we can't arrange this, but I don't trust him with it! Just tell me what you need, and I guarantee I'll arrange for someone to make an exact replica for you!"
Yi Heye: "Thank you, Director Li. I have no other requests. Just design it according to my previous style."
"Okay, come back first, I'll arrange a car to pick you up," Director Li said. "I'm going to settle the score with that little bastard Pei Xiangjin in a bit!"
Yi Heye finally smiled brightly: "Okay!"
After making the call to Director Li, Yi Heye experienced the best moment of his life since his injury.
He hugged Xiaoyunduo and gave her a big kiss, then quickly packed his luggage and waited for the organization to pick him up.
He changed out of his hospital gown and went out into the corridor for some fresh air, where he saw Pei Xiangjin covering the phone while bowing and scraping with an ugly expression: "I'm sorry, Director Li, this is indeed something I didn't consider... Please calm down... Yes, yes, I really am a scoundrel..."
This was the first time anyone had ever seen Pei Xiangjin act so humbly. The junior police officers in the corridor stopped what they were doing and started peeking out to watch Pei Xiangjin get scolded. But when their boss glared at them, the kids quickly shrank back.
Yi Heye watched with amusement, leaning against the corridor, cracking sunflower seeds as he watched the spectacle with great fanfare, completely forgetting his previous sadness and distress in no time.
Pei Xiangjin also glared at him a few times, but unfortunately Yi Heye was not his subordinate and did not seem intimidated at all. Instead, he smiled at him even more rudely.
Pei Xiangjin clenched his fists, thinking that he must hold back his anger, but unexpectedly, another fearless person rushed over at this moment.
With a "bang," the door to the forensic lab was pushed open, and Yu Yili's gloating face popped out: "Hilarious! I heard Captain Pei got a scolding?!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was met with Pei Xiangjin's incredibly long and sour face.
The guy had just hung up the phone and was standing right in front of him, no more than two meters away as the crow flies.
"Uh..." Yu Yili licked his lips awkwardly, and just as he was about to retreat to protect himself, his gaze was drawn to Pei Xiangjin's tie, which had been bent crooked in anger.
He had just reached out to help Pei Xiangjin when Pei Xiangjin slapped his hand away with a "smack".
Yu Yili immediately shrank his neck: "I...I'll go back and read for a while..."
"Stop looking." Pei Xiangjin looked at him with a forced smile. "Seventy-eight cases from last year need to be reopened, and thirty-five of them require re-organizing the forensic and autopsy reports. You have three days."
After hearing his explanation, Yu Yili's eyes gradually lost their sparkle: "W-why?"
"Don't ask me, go ask our dear Director Li next door," Pei Xiangjin said through gritted teeth. "They've dug up all the old cases involving artificial intelligence from the past few years to find fault with them. I'll definitely handle what I can, but as for the rest, you're on your own..."
Amidst the wails of agony, Yi Heye felt an extreme sense of ecstasy. He dragged his luggage and happily walked to the door.
The colleagues from the AI Management Bureau had already gone upstairs. After greeting the Security Department, they helped Yi Heye check his luggage again before taking him downstairs to go home.
Yi Heye rarely interacted with these internal staff members, and they might not even recognize each other if they met on the street. However, when the other party showed his AI Administration Bureau credentials and told Pei Xiangjin that he was going to take him back, Yi Heye felt an unprecedented sense of belonging.
Indeed, the AI Administration Bureau was Yi Heye's true home, the place where he could truly find solace.
"Commander Yi, you've suffered here." The office clerk said as he helped Yi Heye carry his suitcase in the parking lot downstairs.
"Hmm." Yi Heye got into the car and sat in the back seat. "But I'm still alive. It's good that I'm back."
The two chatted casually all the way back by car, and the atmosphere was more relaxed than expected.
Just then, Yi Heye suddenly remembered: "Has Ms. Gu's husband... been found?"
The office clerk shook his head: "Judging from their transaction records, there is probably no hope of survival... As for the specific destination, since it involves the interior of Area A, it will be difficult to follow up."
Yi Heye sighed and asked again, "Then what about that dead Awei? Was he even human?"
“We haven’t found his exact identity yet… There’s still so much to figure out in this case.” The office clerk sighed.
Amidst this somewhat negative atmosphere, the car soared onto the high-speed air, passed through the intersection, and just skimmed over the giant screen in the central square.
This screen is the iconic landmark of the entire B area, a prime location where companies are willing to spend a fortune on advertising, and being able to appear on this screen is the dream of countless celebrities.
At that moment, the giant screen beside me flickered, switching from an environmental protection promotional video to a celebrity's personal promotional video.
The screen was so big that the official car was practically inside the celebrity's eyes. Yi Heye turned his head and looked into those eyes, which were as clear as the deep sea.
These are familiar eyes, forever carrying a radiant, pure smile.
"This kid's name is Tang Ruoqi. He was a victim of the ISSAC incident. After he got out, he did a few commercial performances and gave some interviews, and suddenly he became an overnight sensation." The office staff said, "It's only been less than a month, and his shadow is everywhere on the streets. He has shot a lot of commercials, but before they can be finished, his fans are paying out of their own pockets to send him photos and videos. He's really very charming."
“My daughter also really likes him. I didn’t really support her idolizing celebrities at first, but after watching a few live streams with her, I felt that this girl is also very capable, has a positive outlook, and a sunny personality. Regarding the ISSAC incident, he didn’t run away from it, nor did he take advantage of the situation to profit from it. He handled the situation very well. I think he can indeed be a positive role model for teenagers.”
As Yi Heye listened to the office clerk's words, he thought of the upright and sunny Tang Ruoqi and couldn't help but smile.
Just then, their car passed right by Tang Ruoqi's eyes, past his curved eyelashes, and landed on his cheek, capturing his sparkling smile.
The next second, the slideshow switched to a photo of his first commercial performance after leaving ISSAC, which fans called his masterpiece.
In the photo, glistening sweat drips from his hair, and his face displays his signature, healing, and genuine smile.
With a guitar hanging around his neck, a microphone in one hand, and the other hand raised high above his head, he pointed to Yi Heye and his group's car flying in the air, and to the dazzling lights in the photo.
This scene reminded Yi Heye of Chen Sang, and of that once dazzling girl.
At that moment, a rainbow slowly rose in the sky, spreading beneath their wheels, sprinkling onto Tang Ruoqi's fingertips, and landing on his guitar strings.
"It's truly dazzling," the office worker laughed.
“Yes,” Yi Heye laughed, “that’s what celebrities are like.”
Author's Note:
I'll secretly amaze everyone in the dead of night, at midnight.
Chapter 122 (Number 122)
After embarking on the return journey, Yi Heye's mood noticeably improved.
He held a soft, fluffy cloud in one arm while gazing down at the sky—
This is Zone B, the closest point to the center of the entire "target-shaped map," the highest point that ordinary people of humble origins can reach, a vibrant and thriving dream city.
This is the hub of the entire "target," protected in the center by the other three rings, and also serves as the last line of defense, fiercely guarding area A at the center.
As Yi Heye drove high in the sky, from this angle he could see the towering city walls of Area A in the distant city center.
By this time, they had reached the maximum altitude allowed for aerial travel, but they still couldn't see the other side of the high wall. The fortress that pierced the clouds was like a Tower of Babel reaching to the heavens, clearly defining the center of the target.
"What's it like inside Area A?" The office worker couldn't help but ask as he saw the high wall in the distance. "Because of the ISAAC case, a few young people were arrested a few days ago for trespassing into the restricted area with their aircraft."
This familiar charge reminded Yi Heye of Fang Chunyang, who, before his death, had also been imprisoned for excessive voyeurism about "forbidden zones."
Because of the tight security, Area A has never been illegally invaded by outsiders. However, it is also because of this impenetrable defense that this forbidden area has become shrouded in mystery, attracting many daring young people who are willing to risk their lives like moths to a flame.
Yi Heye remained silent. He knew that this place was now inextricably linked to Jian Yunxian. He had once been curious about the secrets behind it, but now, from this position, he should no longer harbor too much curiosity.
Seeing that Yi Heye showed little interest in the topic, the internal affairs officer, who had heard a little about his relationship with Jian Yunxian, wisely changed the subject. He glanced at the little cloud in Yi Heye's arms and laughed, saying, "I heard from the comrades in the security department that this little guy ate all the potted plants in the hospital, including the director's favorite competition-grade potted plants. The cash loss is huge."
Yi Heye had been focused on healing his injuries and hadn't paid much attention to Xiao Yunduo's matter. Upon hearing this, he looked at Xiao Yunduo in surprise: "Really?!"
Little Cloud was lying in Yi Heye's arms with her legs crossed, listening intently to the two adults chatting. Suddenly, she realized the conversation had turned to her, and immediately glanced guiltily out the window.
Yi Heye pinched the fat on its cheeks and scolded it for being a spendthrift.
"However, these expenses are all reimbursed by the security department. If the child likes it, let him eat it," the clerk said with a smile. "But let me make this clear beforehand: he can't eat like this when we get back to the bureau. I'm afraid Director Li's heart won't be able to handle it."
Upon hearing that he wouldn't be held responsible for the time being, Little Cloud was overjoyed and confidently assured him, "Baa!"
On the way back to the station, the two men and the sheep chatted amiably, making the journey seem less long.
As the car slowly landed in front of the parking lot in front of the Administration Bureau, a group of leaders who had been waiting at the entrance rushed over, led by Director Li.
"Xiao Yi is finally back!"
"Oh dear, the child is suffering!"
"Stop talking, let him rest. His dorm room is all set up!"
Because of Yi Heye's outstanding performance, the leaders in the bureau have always been very fond of him. However, he used to take such favoritism for granted. But now, after experiencing a hardship, the concern and care he receives have completely melted away his hard shell.
"Director Li!" Like a child who had been wronged and was now acting spoiled with an elder, Yi Heye ran over as soon as he got out of the car.
Director Li first watched his figure from afar, and after the child rushed over, he couldn't help but reach out and touch his head—a long time ago, when Yi Heye was not yet mature and not so rebellious, Director Li often touched his head affectionately like this.
This time, it seems that everything has returned to how it used to be.
Yi Heye had already said what he wanted to say on the phone, so he just lowered his head and silently let Director Li pat his head.
After calming down, Yi Heye looked at the elders who had gathered around him and belatedly realized that his left arm was now empty.
He had always felt inferior about his incomplete self, and now, surrounded by a crowd of gazes, his face turned red to the roots of his ears.
He didn't want anyone to see him like this.
"I...I'll go back to the dorm first." Yi Heye used his luggage to cover himself, then grabbed Xiao Yunduo and ran back in a flash.
To make it easier for him to live here, they prepared the best single room for him. But he used to be too stubborn. He always felt that he couldn't integrate into the life of Block B because he came from the slums. So he would rather buy a terrible unfinished house in a corner of Block D than move here.
At this moment, the room, which had never been lived in, was spotless and fully equipped. The sheets and pillows were brand new, and there was even a little nest specially prepared for Xiaoyunduo, obviously made especially for him to stay when he returned.