Chapter 63: He actually hesitated about giving up his best opportunity to avoid suspicion.

Voices of dissent rose and fell in the conference room.

Pei Jiqing leaned back in his chair, his pen making a few meaningless marks on the documents. No one was optimistic about his proposal. The military wouldn't allow such publicity; the risk was too great, the cost too high.

He glanced around: "How do you know the military won't agree if you haven't tried it yet?"

Pheromone drugs have been circulating on the black market for a long time. Every year, scores of people are poisoned, driven mad, or even die from substandard drugs, yet this industry chain has never been broken, and has only grown larger and larger. Why? Because the profits involved are enough to make some people take risks, even to the point of turning a blind eye by the top leaders of the United Nations.

Those liquids in cheap glass tubes, some mixed with sediment, some without labels, are simply injected into the fragile glands of Omegas or forced into the swollen blood vessels of Alphas.

They were all young men in their early twenties, their necks so rotten that the original skin was unrecognizable. The cause of death was organ failure caused by pheromone imbalance.

Pei Jiqing had also been injected with the same drug into his glands, and he nearly died in agony. He remembered his mother's final days, curled up in a twisted ball on her hospital bed, the toxins from the pheromone imbalance corroding her internal organs, and not even painkillers could stifle her heartbreaking screams.

He hated the unscrupulous drug dealers in the various United Nations. They

caused war and bloodshed.

It was said that the "special operations force" active on the border of the Asian Alliance was very capable, and it was said that they were all Alphas using a new catalyst.

No one asked why the average life expectancy of these soldiers was less than 35, just as no one had delved into the sudden proliferation of more than a dozen pharmaceutical factories on the borders of the various United Nations.

Pei Jiqing knew better than anyone what those drugs were—the stuff circulating on the black market, advertised as "suppressive" and "enhancing," but in reality, semi-finished products tested on human lives. He was lucky not to die during the estrus period, but many others didn't even have the chance to regret it.

Now it's even more outrageous, some people have started to use this thing for human experiments, and even extended their hands to the military.

This is why Chen Huixing had to resort to force to solve the problem. War is never the best solution, but it is often the last choice, just like some wounds must be cut off before they can heal.

Pei Jiqing stared at the approved document for a long time, the red seal was so bright that it was dazzling.

He didn't expect that this proposal would really be passed. After all, the opposition at the last meeting almost blew the roof off. The military liaison officer of the Linhe War Zone called and asked about the departure date in a businesslike manner. At the end of the call, he didn't forget to add "Be careful."

"That's good, let your wife do you a favor." Old Yu held a cigarette in his mouth.

"Ex-husband." Pei Jiqing corrected.

Old Yu scoffed. "What difference? If you want to do this, you know the Linhe War Zone better than I do. Could you have foreseen the consequences of an Omega barging in alone? Your ex-husband is still in the Third Legion, so he wouldn't stand by and watch you get into trouble."

Pei Jiqing knew better than anyone that as long as Chen Huixing was there, not a hair would be lost.

Yet, it was this almost instinctive thoroughness that left him feeling trapped in a glass case, able to see the sky but unable to touch the wind.

For years, every decision he made seemed to be haunted by Chen Huixing's influence. Even his promotions and transfers were once whispered about as a result of Chen Huixing's influence.

Those whispers clung to his back like a spiderweb, impossible to shake off or scratch.

"Pretentious," Old Yu snapped the metal casing of his lighter, making a crisp sound. "Chen Huixing can pave the way for you, but you have to walk that path yourself. You worked so many late nights preparing for the previous specials, and now you're talking about independence?"

Pei Jiqing suddenly recalled his first year hosting "Honey Talk Star Chef." He'd been so consumed by planning that his head was about to explode. Back then, no one knew whose husband he was, only that this new host was daring and determined.

And now, he was actually hesitating whether to give up his best opportunity to avoid suspicion.

"In the past, you didn't care about the process, you just wanted the result."

Old Yu's words were like a bucket of cold water, shattering his recent struggles. He suddenly realized he'd gone crazy, almost putting off his work in his pursuit of a clear break with Shen Huixing.

The registration form lay spread out on the coffee table, mostly empty. It was no surprise that no one wanted to go to the war zone; after all, not everyone wanted to take the risk. But Pei Jiqing recalled that when he'd been stationed with Chen Huixing, it hadn't seemed that difficult.

Three days later, a five-person team was put together temporarily. Lao Yu served as the photographer, and Hua Cai had been working behind the scenes since the host of "Honey Talk Star Chef" changed.

When Xu Ze heard the news that Pei Jiqing was going to Linhe, he paused and finally said only one sentence: "Have a safe trip."

Pei Jiqing thanked him.

Xu Ze suddenly smiled, and there were very shallow wrinkles at the corners of his eyes: "I have known for a long time that you always know what you want."

When he spoke, his eyes stared at Pei Jiqing very intently, neither like a compliment nor a politeness.

"It's actually very refreshing to see you fight for what you believe in."

Pei Jiqing suddenly felt something hit his heart. He had seen too many people look at him with worried or disapproving eyes, but this was the first time someone looked at him with such a look, as if he was just going to a pre-prepared date, not to venture into dangerous places.

He had been in contact with Xu Ze these days, and he had no purpose, and he was indeed very comfortable getting along with him.

"Wait until I come back," Pei Jiqing heard himself say, "I'll give you an answer."

Xu Ze nodded.

Because he was about to go on a long business trip, Pei Jiqing planned to entrust his daughter to Shen Xinze and Mu Xinbai.

When Pei Jiqing packed his daughter's luggage, he deliberately stuffed two extra boxes of Zhizhi's favorite candies into the suitcase, and the little girl's pajamas were neatly packed into the suitcase printed with cartoon patterns.

On the way to Shen Xinze's house, Zhizhi leaned against the backseat window to count the passing traffic lights, treating this as another pleasant "vacation at her uncle's house."

Mu Xinbai was waiting in the yard early. He skillfully picked up Zhizhi and shook her, and the little girl giggled.

Pei Jiqing said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, but the nanny who's taking care of her is old, and I'm afraid she can't handle it."

"Don't worry, go," Mu Xinbai stepped aside to let the nanny take the luggage, then turned to Pei Jiqing and said, "I just cleaned up a princess room for her a few days ago. The lights are so beautiful. It's right next to Shen Chengyu. When he comes back later, he will be so happy to see Zhizhi."

When Pei Jiqing was about to leave, Zhizhi suddenly rushed out of the house, and her small leather shoes made a clattering sound on the steps. She rushed over and hugged Pei Jiqing's legs, and the top of her head rubbed against his palm, making it itchy: "Daddy has to tell my father that I miss him too, and you have to come back to see me soon."

Pei Jiqing rubbed her upturned braids, looked at his daughter domineeringly, and smelled the scent of milk-scented shower gel on the child's clothes, and agreed.

The taillights disappeared behind the corner.

Mu Xinbai's grip on Chen Xinze's arm suddenly tightened. "Hasn't there been frequent exchanges of fire over in Linhe recently?"

Chen Xinze said, "With my brother here, how could my sister-in-law be in trouble?"

When the plane landed at Linhe Military Airport, the runway was still wet from the previous night's rain. Pei Jiqing walked down the gangway, carrying his equipment box, and a humid heat wave hit him in the face, bringing a sweltering heat.

Photographer Lao Yu cursed in the background, and Hua Cai was so hot that she had tied her coat around her waist.

The person who met them at the airport stood beside a military jeep, his posture straight as a javelin.

Pei Jiqing recognized him immediately—He You, Chen Huixing's adjutant, who had delivered New Year's gifts to his family the previous Spring Festival. The man took the luggage with a quick and decisive movement: "Madam, please follow me."

As the jeep drove through the city, Pei Jiqing looked out the window and saw colorful graffiti sprayed on the mottled walls and a few young people squatting at the entrance of the alley, puffing away.

Linhe was like a moldy cake, beautifully frosted, hiding countless dark and damp corners.

"Where are we staying?" Pei Jiqing asked.

He You paused on the steering wheel and turned onto the mountain road leading to the outskirts of the city. When the camouflage tents and guard posts came into view, Lao Chen gasped. This was clearly the camp of the Asian United Nations garrison. He You stopped the car, his calm face reflected in the rearview mirror: "The commander said it's safe here."

He You led them through the camp, his black military boots making a small sound on the gravel road.

"You can take pictures over there at the training ground, but don't go near the warehouse to the east." He passed his fingers over several key areas. "Remember to report before you go out. We will provide you with a car and guards."

The patrolling soldiers passed by in formation, startled by the sound of gunfire.

Assistant Xiaolin nervously clenched the strap of his camera bag. He You explained without turning his head, "They are all logistics troops. The front line is 20 kilometers away."

As he said this, a faint sound of artillery fire was heard in the distance, like thunder rolling across the sky.

The dormitory building was cleaner than expected. Pei Jiqing smelled a faint scent of camphor when he pushed open the door.

The bed was covered with snow-white sheets, and there was nothing on the desk. It was obvious that it had just been cleaned up not long ago and no one had lived there before. He threw off his dusty shoes and fell into the bed without even taking off his coat. After several days of travel, his tense nerves finally relaxed.

He didn't know how long he slept when the door lock suddenly turned in the darkness.

Pei Jiqing suddenly turned on the bedside lamp. In the dazzling light, Chen Huixing was unbuttoning his shirt, and a cold light flashed under the light of the watch on his wrist.

The two looked at each other, Chen Huixing's hand still resting on the half-open lapel, his expression frozen in a moment of astonishment. The sound of the whistle for the change of guard came from outside the window, awakening the frozen time.

Pei Jiqing supported himself on the mattress and sat up. The dim light cut across the outline of Chen Huixing at an angle. He realized that he had lost a lot of weight, and his jawline was as sharp as if it was carved with a knife. But those eyes were sharper than before, and the dark pupils stared at him without blinking , as if seeing an illusion that shouldn't be there.

Chen Huixing's Adam's apple moved, and the collar of his combat uniform was still torn open by him, revealing a fresh abrasion on his collarbone.

He stood still, with unhealed scabs on his knuckles. A searchlight swept past the window, and in the flickering light, Pei Jiqing saw a faint dark blue under his eyes, obviously he hadn't had a good rest for a long time.

There was less than three meters between the two of them. Chen Huixing opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He just raised his hand and turned off the ceiling light, leaving only a wall lamp dimly lit. When the shadow covered Pei Jiqing's head again, the sense of unreality in his eyes faded slightly, as if he finally confirmed that the person in front of him was real.