Chapter 352: Okay, I’ll Wait, No Matter How Long It Takes
Chapter 352: Chapter 352: Okay, I’ll Wait, No Matter How Long It Takes
Bai Ye stared blankly at Yun Sheng. The slight sourness and displeasure in his heart were instantly smoothed over by her gentle kiss and sincere words. He hadn’t really been angry; he was just afraid she wouldn’t want to acknowledge him openly. Now, looking at her sparkling eyes and the affection within them, all of his displeasure dissipated.
Bai Ye raised a hand and gently cupped the small of Yun Sheng’s back, pulling her slightly toward him. He lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers, his voice still a little hoarse. "You have to keep your word."
"Mhm, I will," Yun Sheng nodded firmly, her expression gentle. "I won’t lie to you."
Bai Ye chuckled softly and squeezed her hand again, his touch incredibly gentle. "Alright. I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as it takes."
He no longer dwelled on going public. As long as she had him in her heart and as long as he could openly have her in the end, a temporary secret relationship was nothing at all.
"Let’s go. If we dawdle any longer, I’m really going to be late," Yun Sheng urged with a smile, gently swinging their joined hands.
"Okay," Bai Ye agreed obediently. However, he maintained a firm grip on her hand with no intention of letting go, accompanying her at a leisurely pace toward the Tower.
It wasn’t until they reached the area opposite the Tower, where foot traffic gradually increased, that he finally brought himself to release her. The warm touch suddenly withdrew, though the warmth of her skin still lingered on his fingertips.
Yun Sheng looked up at him with a faint smile and bid him a soft farewell. "I’ll go in first. Message me anytime if you need anything."
"Alright." Bai Ye nodded. His gaze was glued to her, and he stood perfectly still, watching her walk across the street.
Yun Sheng walked briskly through the Tower’s main entrance, took the elevator, and headed toward the Ninth Squad’s office. There was still some time before the official afternoon shift, but the squad members were practically all at their posts, resting or organizing their gear.
Zhou Yi spotted Yun Sheng the moment she pushed the door open and immediately got up, striding toward her. "Yun Sheng, you’re just in time. Higher-ups just issued an emergency field mission. The entire squad needs to gear up and roll out, and you have to come along. Hurry and pack your equipment; we’re assembling for standby right now."
Yun Sheng nodded in agreement without asking any questions. When the squad went on field missions, Sentinels were the main force. As a guide, she was only responsible for auxiliary stabilization, mental guidance, and self-defense, so she didn’t need to carry complicated gear.
She walked over to her locker, opened the door, and began to pack simply. She packed only two Mental Soothing Agents to deal with any mental agitation the Sentinels might experience during the mission, along with a lightweight, compact laser pistol for self-defense. These few items were quickly stuffed into a lightweight field backpack, and she was done in no time.
Right then, Lu Chen walked out of the captain’s office. Dressed in a pristine combat uniform, his expression was cold and indifferent as his gaze slowly swept over the fully geared squad members, finally landing on Yun Sheng. He frowned slightly, as if he found her a bit disagreeable, or perhaps he was still harboring his inherent aversion to guides. Ultimately, he said nothing and coldly retracted his gaze.
The room fell silent for a moment before Lu Chen issued his order in a cold, hard voice. "We depart in exactly ten minutes."
The squad members quickly fell into formation, no one daring to slack off. Taking advantage of the wait, Zhou Yi gave everyone a brief rundown of the mission details. The objective wasn’t complicated, but it was a crucial part of the Capital Star’s recent stabilization efforts.
Recently, traces of the Dark Nest’s remnant forces had frequently appeared in the abandoned energy plant district on the outskirts of the Capital Star. These remnants were well-hidden and operated in scattered groups. They specifically hid in unpopulated areas to steal scrap energy and secretly modify contraband equipment, posing a significant threat to the Capital Star’s public safety. Previous patrol teams had come up empty several times. The enemy was cunning and possessed strong anti-reconnaissance capabilities. Since ordinary security forces couldn’t suppress them, the higher-ups directly assigned the Ninth Squad to take over the extermination, investigation, and cleanup operations.
"The core of the mission is simple," Zhou Yi said, lowering his voice as he quickly laid out the key points with a serious tone. "Our squad is responsible for clearing the area, hunting down the Dark Nest remnants, and conducting a comprehensive sweep for security threats in the plant. Remember, if you spot any Dark Nest members, apprehend them immediately. Taking them alive is the priority; we need to retain as many clues for interrogation as possible."
All the squad members present nodded solemnly and voiced their acknowledgment in unison. They quickly adjusted into combat readiness, standing quietly in formation to await the departure order.
Carrying her lightweight field backpack, Yun Sheng stood quietly at the back of the line. Taking advantage of the last bit of free time, she lowered her head and opened her terminal. She sent messages to Bai Ye and Si Jin in turn, briefly explaining the situation and informing them that she was going on a field mission with the Ninth Squad to the abandoned energy plant on the outskirts to exterminate the Dark Nest remnants.
Less than two seconds after the messages were sent, replies popped up from both sides almost simultaneously.
Bai Ye: [I have an important meeting this afternoon and can’t get away. Yun Sheng, be safe. Don’t push yourself if something happens; prioritize your own safety above all else. Update me that you’re safe whenever you can.]
Followed closely by Si Jin’s reply.
[I’ve finished dealing with the matters at hand. I will follow you secretly and protect you. You don’t have to worry, just focus on completing your mission with peace of mind.]
If it were a standard stabilization field mission, Yun Sheng definitely wouldn’t want special treatment; she’d just want to stick with the squad and complete the mission normally. But this operation involved the Dark Nest remnants. They were ruthless and already wanted to capture her. Thus, she didn’t dare lower her guard in the slightest, nor would she try to act tough. She obediently replied to Si Jin.
[Mhm, let me try to handle things myself as much as possible. If there’s danger, I’ll rely on you to protect me~]
Her fingertips rested on the terminal screen, a faint smile still lingering on the corners of her lips. Just as she was about to turn off her terminal, a heavy gaze fell upon her.
Lu Chen had walked over to the side of the formation at some point. His face was grim and cold as he stared at Yun Sheng, obvious dissatisfaction hidden in his eyes. Right now, they were about to execute a dangerous operation to wipe out the Dark Nest. The entire squad was fully prepared for battle, yet Yun Sheng was the only one who looked relaxed and casual, constantly texting and smiling right before departure without a shred of seriousness.
"We are about to set off on a mission, and the whole squad is getting into the zone. Yet you’re the only one with the leisure to look down at your phone and entertain yourself?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of the surrounding squad members shot over in unison. The originally solemn atmosphere of the formation instantly became awkward and tense.
Seeing that Yun Sheng didn’t speak, Lu Chen took a half-step forward. His expression grew even colder and harder, his tone carrying a clear warning. "This time, we are facing the Dark Nest remnants, and the dangers are unknown. Since you have joined the Ninth Squad, you must abide by the squad’s rules. Watch yourself during the mission later. If your distraction or lack of focus drags the squad down and affects the mission, I will report it immediately and have you transferred out of the squad right away."
In the past, being warned by Lu Chen like this again might have prompted Yun Sheng to argue back a bit. But remembering what Si Jin had told her, and considering she really had been texting just now, she suppressed her emotions and gave a low, "Mhm."
This submissive attitude surprisingly left Lu Chen, who had been gearing up to reprimand her even more severely, temporarily at a loss for words.
"Captain Lu, it’s time. Let’s move out." At this moment, Zhou Yi stepped in to smooth things over.
Lu Chen cast a faint glance at him, stopped looking at Yun Sheng, and shouted, "Move out!"