---
Where Xin Lei was having a wonderful dream, somebody else was not in their best mood.
Rodey was on a call with someone who was not at all happy with losing Gen Gen and his gang.
The certain someone gravely said, "This is not done. I don't like it."
Rodey cursed his luck. He wanted to call his boss informing him about the situation personally, but apparently, the boss already came to know about it.
"Forgive me, boss."
Silence. Even Rodey felt it too eerie.
"Didn't we take care of that soldier Bai Li before? Then why is he involved again? Why is he interfering again?"
"It is because of Xin Nianzu's daughter, Xin Lei. Somehow they met each other, and he got involved in finding her father."
"Which also reminds me that not only we lost Gen Gen, but Xin Nianzu also escaped."
Rodey gulped.
"Xin Nianzu…I hate him."
Rodey sensed the hatred and displeasure from the tone. He already knew that there was some beef between his boss and Xin Nianzu. He didn't know the details, but there was some personal resentment. That was why the boss didn't order to kill him when he was captive.
"Also, he is a capable lawyer. If he shows up at Fu Ting's preliminary hearing, then he can get out. And I don't want to let my scapegoat set free."
"I won't let that happen, boss."
"Hm. You are my right-hand man, Rodey. That is why I'm letting this slide. Otherwise, you know what the consequences of committing such errors and that too, two of them are."
Rodey took a sharp breath. He very well knew about the punishment.
"And."
Rodey straightened up.
"He is just one blind man. She is just one mute woman. They cannot possibly think of solving anything concrete. Don't waste time on such weak people anymore and finish them off."
Rodey didn't say it, but inwardly he disagreed.
He didn't know much about Xin Lei. But he knew Bai Li.
Surely, he was blind, but not to be underestimated. By no means, he was weak. Whether blind or not, Bai Li was a threat.
"Yes, boss."
*Xin Lei*, ---
The next morning, Bai Li, Cocoa, and I got inside Uncle Rong's Toyota. I got in the driver's seat while Cocoa sat in the back.
Guard Wu said, "Be careful on the way."
I nodded.
Uncle Rong patted my head. "I will do my best to get in touch with Nianzu."
Bai Li said, "Let's go."
As I drove, I thought about last night. We weren't officially dating, but we acknowledged that there was indeed something between us.
I grinned.
I stopped the car at a signal and checked if there were any police cars.
Thankfully there weren't.
On the left side of the pedestrian walk, I saw a little boy urging his mother to buy a toy for him.
I recalled the time when I was little, about nine years old. Big brother and I went shopping with Mom, and I, too, had similarly clung onto her to buy a doctor's coat for me. There was a children's size coat, and I was fascinated by it.
I waved my hands in sign language, saying, "Mommy, buy the doctor's coat for me please, please!"
Mom warmly smiled at me. "So, my daughter wants to become a doctor?"
I furiously nodded.
"Why?"
I felt sad. I raised my hand and pointed at my neck. I waved my hands. "I want to help people like me."
Then I saw Mom stiffen. Her eyes were shining in tears. I panicked.
"Did I say something wrong, Mommy?" I frantically signed.
She shook her head. She bent on her knees and took me in her hug. She gently combed her fingers through my hair. I didn't hear her sobbing, but I felt her shoulders trembling.
When she looked at me again, there were no tears, but I saw her cheeks still slightly damp.
"En. Become a good doctor who helps people in need, okay?" She whispered, "Who knows...maybe one day, God would bless your voice back as a reward for those good deeds."
She gazed at me with such strong emotions as if she was desperately hoping that to become true.
My voice?
I snapped out of that memory. I glanced at Bai Li and noticed that his head was slightly tilted in that boy's direction with a complicated expression.
I wanted to ask him, but the signal turned green.
Bai Li stirred. "There are no police cars, right?"
Uncle Rong had fit my phone on the sideboard so that I could quickly type.
"No."
"Good. Be alert."
I faintly smiled. His tone sounded a little lost. Perhaps, the little boy's whining made Bai Li recall something similar as well.
I kept on driving, only hoping not to run in cops.
---
Beijing Military Commission.
General Song Xiaosheng was sitting on his desk with a grave expression on his face.
Major general Shi Jianguo, Major Lin Zihao, and Captain Su Weiyuan were standing in front of him.
General Song said, "This cannot go on. We have to find Bai Li."
Silence.
"Do you have any leads? Did he try to contact any of you?"
Lin Zihao said, "No, General."
He squinted his eyes but said nothing.
"An ex-army officer's sketch is circulated everywhere. Wasn't it enough how he got a dishonorable discharge and now this? Do you have any idea how it would affect the Army's reputation?"
He glanced at Shi Jianguo. "Major General Shi, I leave it to you to find him."
Major General quietly nodded.
"There is Zhang Chao's election rally going towards Andingzhen today. I have to be there for his protection."
They saluted, and General Song left.
Shi Jianguo looked at them. "Bai Li must have contacted you two."
They kept quiet.
"No use hiding it from me."
They nodded.
Su Weiyuan said, "And there is a problem. Bai Li is going to Andingzhen too."
"We cannot let our esteemed General Song see him," mocked Lin Zhihao.
Shi Jianguo said, "Inform Bai Li. He must be aware of the General's presence today. He cannot be caught."