The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

Along the way, researchers and technicians kept casting surprised glances at them—the experimental field was an absolute no-go zone, and Little Sweetie should never have been here.

As soon as they stepped into the command center, they bumped into Commander Liu, Chief Designer Wang, and several key experts who had rushed over upon hearing the news. Everyone showed a shocked and complicated expression when they saw Tian Tian in Liang Zhe's arms.

"Sweetie?!" Commander Liu strode forward, his tone stern yet subtly concerned. "You child, what are you doing here? Don't you know the base is in complete chaos!"

Liang Zhe blushed: "Commander, you already knew?"

"You're trying to keep this from me!" Commander Liu glared at him angrily. "Li Guihua lost Tiantian and was so worried she almost jumped into the river. Such a big thing, how could the base not tell me?"

Chief Designer Wang frowned as well: "Ground testing could be dangerous at any time; a child like you shouldn't be here. This is utter nonsense!"

"Commander, General Wang, it's my fault for not watching the child properly, the responsibility lies entirely with me..." Liang Zhe immediately took the initiative to admit his mistake.

"Grandpa Liu, please don't criticize Daddy. Tian Tian wanted to come herself." Tian Tian wriggled in Liang Zhe's arms, pointed her little finger towards the test bench, and said in a childish but unusually firm voice, "There's danger there!"

"What did you say?"

Commander Liu's expression suddenly changed, and the experts exchanged glances, their expressions gradually becoming serious.

Everyone present had witnessed Sweetie's special abilities firsthand—accurately locating water sources, spotting schools of fish, pointing out sweet potato fields, and even obtaining vitamin injections and fruit from the town thanks to her guidance. This child had never made a mistake.

"Sweetie," Commander Liu crouched down, trying to keep his voice calm, "tell Grandpa, what danger do you think there is there?"

Sweetie scratched her little braids and tried to describe it: "It's like... a whirring, cracking sound in the big house, like Daddy's teacup falling on the floor... There's a big pipe that says 'It's too hot,' 'It's going to burst'..."

"Too hot? It's going to burst?" The experts looked at each other, completely bewildered. "What kind of malfunction is this?"

"Sweetie, you can't just say things like that!"

Huang Weizhi, director of the system research and development office, spoke with a somewhat stiff voice. He was in charge of engine design and trial production, and carried out the production based on key parameters such as thrust curves, fuel flow, and combustion chamber pressure provided by Qian Lao and other chief design departments.

If the engine malfunctions, he will bear the primary responsibility.

"That jet nozzle is the culmination of six months of hard work by all of us. The data has been checked dozens of times, so there can't be any problems."

"Director Huang, please don't be hasty," Liang Zhe interrupted. He knew that Tian Tian's description was too abrupt and hard to believe. He turned to Commander Liu and said in a deep voice, "Sir, when I picked up Tian Tian, ​​she also told me two things. First, she discovered a sea buckthorn forest; second, someone not only wanted to destroy the sea buckthorn forest, but also wanted to hunt down Tian Tian."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the command post plummeted to freezing. At the same time, Liang Zhe called out to those behind him, "Company Commander Gao!"

Company Commander Gao of the guard company carried a small basin of washed red sea buckthorn berries, and a clerk from the chemical inspection department came along with him.

"Commander, these are indeed top-quality sea buckthorn berries. They are reddish because they are rich in anthocyanins. These berries are both food and medicine, and they are very effective in treating heart disease, high blood pressure, and other ailments. Sweetie has done us a great service."

"Then the second question," Commander Bai said sternly, "is who wants to destroy the forest and harm Tian Tian?"

Liang Zhe said the answer slowly and deliberately: "It's Wan Hongxin, the technician who came to provide support."

"It's him?"

"How could it be him?"

"There must be some mistake."

A series of dissenting voices arose, filled with disbelief and shock. Many knew that Wan Hongxin had come with water conservancy expert Jiang Guoqiang, geologist Zheng Hong, and Zheng Hong's assistant Gao Yanzhou, contributing significantly to the base's construction; the circulating refrigeration equipment put into use at the base was their work. Yet, equally, no one present wanted to believe that Tian Tian would lie.

"Call the base immediately, and be sure to keep it confidential," Commander Liu decided decisively.

The phone rang for three seconds before being answered. The communications soldier reported to his superior, "Commander, the call has been connected!"

"Let Wan Hongxin answer the phone!"

"Reporting to the commander, Technician Wan has gone out with the main force to search for little Liang Tiantian, and has not yet returned."

"And what about Jiang Guoqiang? Take him into custody immediately!" Commander Liu said coldly.

A few minutes later, the phone rang urgently again, and Jiang Guoqiang's angry voice came through the receiver: "This is Jiang Guoqiang! I demand to see Commander Liu!"

Commander Liu cut to the chase: "Comrade Jiang Guoqiang, where is Wan Hongxin?"

"Hong Xin?" Jiang Guoqiang was clearly taken aback. "Didn't he leave the base with everyone to find little Liang Tiantian?" He suddenly snapped out of his daze, his voice filled with anger. "If you want to find him, go find him! Why are you detaining me?"

"I'm telling you clearly, Wan Hongxin attacked Tiantian and is suspected of being an enemy agent."

"Impossible!" Jiang Guoqiang roared angrily. "Hong Xin participated in local revolutionary movements in his early years and was later selected by the organization to study in the Soviet Union, specializing in hydrogeology. After returning to China, he has been working with me on scientific research. His political background check and historical record are spotless!"

"That's just your judgment! Now we have direct testimony from the victims."

"The victim is Liang Tiantian? A three-year-old child?" Jiang Guoqiang laughed angrily. "Just because of a child, you want to label us, master and apprentice, as enemy agents? I won't accept this! I'm going to appeal to the organization!"

"I allow you to appeal to your superiors, but for now, you must accept close surveillance and investigation," Commander Liu said firmly. "Of course, if you can provide Wan Hongxin's whereabouts, we can consider letting you redeem yourself."

"I have absolutely no idea where he is!" Jiang Guoqiang cursed furiously. "Liu Zhenbang, let me tell you, if you can't find evidence that I'm colluding with the enemy, I will definitely go back to Beijing and sue you for abusing your power!"

With a sharp "snap," the phone was abruptly hung up, plunging the command center into a deathly silence.

Commander Liu took a deep breath, breaking the silence: "Comrades, the situation is extremely serious. If the enemy agent is indeed Wan Hongxin, we must not only capture him, but also thoroughly investigate how much sabotage he has committed during this period. Comrade Bai Shuyong!"

Brigade Commander Bai immediately stood up: "Commander!"

"Notify the troops remaining at the base to conduct a full-scale search for Wan Hongxin and ensure he is contained within the Gobi Desert. Do not allow him to escape. At the same time, seal off all entrances to the town to prevent him from escaping from there."

"Yes, sir!" Commander Bai immediately picked up the internal phone to relay the order.

"Next," Commander Liu looked around, his gaze heavy, "we have to make the most difficult decision: whether the ground test at nine o'clock tomorrow morning will proceed as scheduled."