You're a US police officer, what are you thinking about going back to the East for?

Chapter 245 First Meeting in the East - Part 3 (8k)

San Francisco, Sunset District.

Lu Henian sat behind his desk, the tea in front of him having been changed several times, the tea leaves completely sunk to the bottom of the cup.

Someone in the next room was using a fax machine. I could hear a slight mechanical whirring sound through the wall, followed by the rustling of papers being rolled in and then ejected.

The old man reached for the cup on the table, took a sip, put it back, and then turned on the computer.

The computer was an old IBM laptop, its edges worn smooth, and some of the letters on the keyboard were illegible.

There should be strict physical isolation between the international internet and intelligence systems, so this computer is never connected to the internet, and the network card was removed on the day of purchase.

The cursor is hovering over the input box in the upper left corner of the page, flashing.

Lu Henian's hands rested on the keyboard, his fingers hovering, not moving.

His eyes were fixed on the screen, his mind replaying the scenes from noon.

Leon rubbed his eyes with his fingers, and when he talked about the water pipe wrapped in an old quilt, he added the last word, "Damn it."

He doesn't need to write all these details in the main body of the report, but he needs to remember them and arrange them in order in his mind first.

After a few dozen seconds of silence, Lu Henian put his hands on the keyboard and began to type.

To: Domestic Intelligence Headquarters (CC: North American Operations Coordination Office)

Assessor: Judge; Assessor: Guiyan; Assessor Time: Noon, November 15, 2025; Assessor Location: Private Room "Pengcheng Wanli" on the second floor of Yue Lai Xuan Restaurant, Chinatown, West Side, Seattle.

I. Brief Description of Task Execution: My interview with the assessment subject began promptly at noon today and ended before 0 PM, lasting approximately one hour.

The interview was conducted in a private room. I sat on the opposite side against the wall. There were no unusual circumstances around me, and no security personnel were deployed outside.

As instructed, this interview must address two core issues: first, verify the reliability of the candidate and confirm their status as "one of us"; and second, inquire about their personal wishes regarding returning home or staying in the country.

After face-to-face verification and observation, clear conclusions have been reached for both tasks.

After typing the words "clear conclusion," he took his fingers off the keyboard, picked up the cup next to him, took a sip, and then put it back.

Lu Henian sat there, looking at the text on the screen, and finally continued writing on the next line:

II. Verification of Doubts and Preliminary Conclusions Regarding the Chinese source of the assessment object, I raised this question directly during the interview in accordance with procedure.

The person being evaluated told me, "I can't explain it."

One more detail needs to be added here.

In the file, Professor Zhou repeatedly used terms such as "comrade" to refer to Guiyan, which I had reservations about before.

But after today's meeting, I've confirmed one thing: if there really is such a thing as "one of our own," then Guiyan is one of them.

His understanding of "home," his feelings for "China," and his attachment to his homeland cannot be explained by "fluent language" or "having some experience related to China."

His behavior is closer to that of someone who has been out of contact with the organization for a long time, has gone through hardships but has never betrayed his original beliefs, when facing the organization.

It should be emphasized that during the hour-long conversation, he never attempted to find any excuses for the dubious origin of his Chinese.

He did not fabricate a close friend who had taught Chinese in Chinatown, nor did he imply that he had received any special training.

My judgment is based on the following points of on-site reaction:

(a) Changes in voice and facial expression.

When the conversation shifted from work to his personal background, Guiyan's voice showed a noticeable fluctuation.

He tried to control the fluctuations, but he couldn't.

Similarly, when he recalled details of his old home, the redness in his eyes was passive, not something that could be achieved with onions or external stimulation, much less something that a professional actor could precisely control. In particular, his quick attempt to cover it up by bowing his head and drinking tea after he finished speaking showed that this subconscious unease could not be faked.

(ii) Cultural identity.

When Guiyan talks about the East, he demonstrates a complete sense of cultural identity.

He spoke highly of how society functioned there and made it clear that he was willing to settle there permanently.

(iii) Emotional bond.

His recollections of his past residences are so detailed that they include highly private and non-public details such as "the square dance speaker was pushed over in a baby stroller" and "the old man used a chessboard drawer as an ashtray".

No amount of training can create genuine feelings for these kinds of everyday details out of thin air.

The roots of this memory run too deep for a foreigner to acquire through learning. My conclusion is that Guiyan always sees herself as "a person temporarily stranded abroad," rather than "a wanderer seeking belonging."

III. Psychological Analysis of His Identity: During my conversation with Guiyan, I discovered that he is an individual with an extremely strong will.

From a psychological perspective, Guiyan's anxiety during the interview was very focused. He was not afraid of "being found out," "exposing his identity," or "continuing to carry out missions in Seattle." What he was afraid of was "not being accepted and not being considered one of his own after giving everything."

The turning point in this mindset is when the conversation shifts from "examining his identity" to "listening to his story," at which point his psychological defenses and emotional valves open simultaneously.

This proves that he had too many things bottled up inside that he couldn't tell ordinary outsiders like middlemen, and these were his only concerns all along.

In terms of objectively verifiable background, such as his claim of having parents who were miners from the East, there are indeed unreasonable and inconsistencies.

However, psychologically, his identity, behavioral motivations, and psychological needs are highly consistent and there are no cracks.

IV. Recommendations for Follow-up (I) Emotional Connections Should Be Regular and Sincere The spiritual pillar of the assessed individual is essentially a simple patriotic sentiment, where "nation" refers to the East.

He doesn't need commendation, praise, or even much material reward.

But he needs emotional validation from the nation and organizations.

It is suggested that subsequent communication along this transportation route should be more humane.

During holidays and festivals, you don't need to give too many gifts, but you should send greetings and give feedback.

Let him know how those he sent back are doing, let him know where his efforts have been realized and where they have been put to rest.

My understanding is that the basic principles of intelligence work are information isolation and minimal exposure.

However, in the special case of Guiyan, I request that the higher authorities make appropriate adjustments.

For him, any greeting from the organization is a crucial support for maintaining his loyalty.

(ii) In terms of behavior, trust should be given to the person being assessed, who has a high degree of independent action ability and whose current environment is highly complex and random.

He has proven that he can adapt flexibly and counter various unexpected threats.

Therefore, when issuing instructions regarding his actions in the future, headquarters recommends adopting the approach of "trust and authorization, with consequences guaranteed," which means "I give you the authority to do it, and I will take responsibility if problems arise."

Don't be too controlling; sometimes it's better to look at the result than the process.

He has already demolished a building. If we impose too many restrictions on him, it might make him hesitant to act.

Leave him ample room to maneuver within the bounds of safety, and give him 100% trust, especially when dealing with local gangs.

When it comes to the relationship with politicians.

(III) Focus on its ideological construction It should be pointed out that although Guiyan has a high degree of cultural identity, no systematic theoretical armament has been found so far.

He understands that "the East is good" and knows some things he has learned from his surroundings in the East, but he may not be able to explain "specifically what makes the East good".

He has a desire to learn in this area, so I suggest giving him some pointers at the right time to help him elevate his simple emotions to a more mature understanding.

This was not only to arm his mind, but also to enable him to use a complete narrative to explain himself when dealing with anyone within the system in the future.

Therefore, it is recommended that when arranging for a dedicated person to contact him next time, in addition to discussing work, a deeper dialogue on values ​​should also be attempted.

He needs to know what the "order" and "justice" he upholds look like in another context.

(iv) Regarding the resettlement plan after returning to China, the person being assessed clearly expressed his willingness to stay during this interview, but this does not mean that he has no desire to return.

He chose to stay because of the organization's larger goals, and he was still actually interested in returning.

Therefore, it is advisable not to postpone the matter of returning home indefinitely because of his decision to stay behind.

This man has been living in America for many years, and even within the system he is still a pure American, which makes his situation more lonely than any of ours.

He really had nowhere else to go.

It is recommended that the headquarters prepare a preliminary plan in advance for their living arrangements and identity verification after returning to China.

We don't need to tell him the details now, but we should have a general idea.

V. Conclusion: The returning wild goose is an extremely special phenomenon.

His Chinese origins are indeed currently unverifiable, and there are some gaps in his growth trajectory that cannot be explained by common sense. I cannot erase these doubts in the report, nor will I conceal them for him.

However, the evaluator's basic responsibility is not to find all the answers; I only need to determine whether a person is trustworthy.

My judgment is that Guiyan is trustworthy.

I am responsible for signing off on this judgment.

His feelings for his motherland are genuine, his motivations are pure, and his value is irreplaceable.

With the submission of this report, I formally make the following request:

Therefore, when defining Guiyan internally, terms such as "high-value informant," "united front resource," and "controllable asset" should not be used. It is best to regard him as an "insider" who has been in a deep infiltration state for a long time and faces complex environments alone.

Assessor: Lu Henian, code name Judge Date: November 15, 2025 After he typed the last period, he saved the file as an encrypted file and then leaned back in his chair.

The shadow of the blinds outside the window had moved to the edge of the table, and the tea in the teacup had gone completely cold.

Lu Henian finished the cold tea at the bottom of the cup, then turned the teacup upside down on the tea tray.

Domestically, in the compound of a classified agency.

The door to the confidential conference room was pushed open from the outside. Zhao Qiming, carrying a brown paper document bag, entered with a half-step quicker than usual.

Zhang Jianguo followed behind him, closing the door behind him.

"The Judge's Report."

Zhao Qiming placed the file bag on the table, stood beside it, untied the white thread around the opening, and pulled out the documents inside. The edges of the papers still carried the residual warmth of the printer.

The two quickly glanced at the document, their eyes landing on the last few lines.

Trustworthy.

I will take charge.

The signature reads "Judge".

Zhao Qiming handed the document to Zhang Jianguo, then sat down firmly in his chair, resting his head against the back of the chair, and stared at the fluorescent light on the ceiling for a few seconds.

"Twenty years old Kang Lao's assessment and signature are responsible." Zhao Qiming frowned. "What do you think?"

"We've acknowledged Guiyan as one of our own." Zhang Jianguo put the document back on the table, rubbed his temples, and said, "Judge's report is quite long, and it contains a lot of analysis. This matter is no longer a question of whether to investigate or not."

"Yes." Zhao Qiming straightened up from the back of his chair and placed his hands on the table. "Before this, I was in charge of Guiyan's affairs. Now that the judge's conclusion is out, the nature of the whole matter has completely changed."

Zhao Qiming remained silent for a few seconds, then picked up the report and tucked it under his arm.

"This is a bigger issue than before; the two of us alone can't set the tone."

"Let's go, we need to report this to our superiors."

Zhang Jianguo had no objection and stood up along with Zhao Qiming.

"I agree," he said, then added, "This can't be delayed."

Zhao Qiming walked in front, with Zhang Jianguo following slightly behind. The doors on both sides of the corridor were closed, and the doorplates only had numbers, not names. There was an elevator at the end of the corridor.

The elevator jolted, and the two stepped out. This floor was quiet, with carpeted corridors and light gray walls. At the end of the corridor was a door without a nameplate, but a Party emblem was nailed to it. A wooden chair stood by the door, and a young man in a white shirt was sitting on it, reading a work diary.

He looked at Zhao Qiming, stood up, nodded, pushed open the door to go in and announce his arrival. A moment later, he came out, pushed open the door, and gestured for Zhao Qiming and Zhang Jianguo to come in.

The door was gently closed from the outside by Kang Qingren behind the two of them.

This is a very large office.

The window faces south, the curtains are half-drawn, and the afternoon sun shines obliquely on the desk. There is a green ivy on the windowsill, a row of neatly stacked internal documents on the bookshelf, and a world map on the wall.

A man was sitting behind the table.

He was over sixty years old, wore black-rimmed glasses, had his hair neatly combed, his temples were mostly white, his face had some wrinkles, and his eyes were bright.

He was wearing a dark gray Zhongshan suit, with the top button fastened all the way up. The collar was pressed straight and the cuffs had some wear marks, but they were ironed without a single wrinkle.

Beside him was an open confidential folder. Lu Hekang's assessment report had been opened and placed inside. Next to it were several related materials: the Seattle mission oath summary, the list of merits of the returning geese, and the expert group's assessment. Then he looked up and glanced at Zhao Qiming.

Zhao Qiming took the file bag in his hands and put them over his nose.

The man in the Zhongshan suit reached out and took it, placing it on the table without opening it.

He picked up a cup of tea from the corner of the table, took a sip, and said, "I had already read through what the judge sent back before you came."

He put down the hard glass. "And all the records of your contact with him in the previous phase, including those sent back by the middleman 'Pink Society,' those you discussed in the confidential meeting room, Professor Zhou and Old Wang's original words when they slammed the table and argued, and also the part you talked about in the meeting room about Beijing's evening rush hour."

Zhang Jianguo stood next to Zhao Qiming, a twitch forming at the corner of his mouth.

The man in the Zhongshan suit raised his eyes.

"Qiming, Jianguo, please have a seat," he said, gesturing with his chin toward the chair opposite him.

Zhao Qiming and Zhang Jianguo pulled out chairs and sat down stiffly, appearing somewhat restrained.

The man in the Zhongshan suit leaned back in his chair, picked up the last page of the report, and tapped it lightly twice with his index finger.

"Let's get down to business now."

He looked at Zhao Qiming, then glanced at Zhang Jianguo, his voice calm and measured, with the deliberate pace of someone who had long been engaged in organizational work.

With the four words "The judge is trustworthy" signed, the matter of "Returning Geese" was completely settled.

He placed his palm flat on the assessment report. "He's a twenty-year-old old man who did the assessment. Once he signed it, he said he was in charge. If I have to spend another three months to re-verify Guiyan's identity, then he's just a bureaucrat."

"The judge judged that Guiyan's feelings were genuine, and I think they are genuine too."

"Therefore, the background information of the returning geese is now officially classified as top secret."

"We keep it a secret even from our own people."

"Apart from the judge, the two of you, and the comrades on this line who must know, Guiyan's file shall no longer be disseminated, and no more people shall know who Ren Guiyan is."

"Regarding the issue of his Chinese source, the judge said he wouldn't explain, so he won't explain."

"Suspicious points should be sealed in the files, suppressed where necessary, and marked where appropriate, but no one should use this as a basis for writing articles."

"As for who Guiyan really is, from now on, he is our undercover comrade, not an asset or an informant. You must make sure this distinction is made clear, and from now on, no reports are allowed to use words like 'control'."

"If anyone asks, just say the organization has already verified it and there's no need for further verification."

"Because we need him to continue his hard work in Seattle. A white police officer, running a gray area in that place, screening technical talent, and sending things back to the country—if this gets out, it won't be good for anyone."

"It's not good for him, and it's not good for our overall strategy over there either."

He spread his palm out flat on the table.

"Then let's talk about the second thing."

"The judge and previous reports mentioned that Guiyan has already taken over the Psychedelic Cat nightclub in Seattle and is transforming it into a homeless enclave."

"We need to help him gain leverage over this stronghold."

He picked up the red pencil on the table and casually picked up the folder in front of him, which contained another internal document.

"But if we want to accommodate this, there's a problem: the channels for providing funding are still not working."

He flipped to a certain page of the document, glanced at it, then closed it and put the red pencil back.

"For a district to operate, it's not enough to rely solely on Uncle Chen's private channels to provide cash to Guiyan. Besides, this money can only be used in the black or gray channels, and any larger amount would easily attract the attention of the FBI or IRS."

"After a moment's thought, I decided I had to establish a legitimate source of income for him."

He leaned back in his chair.

"There's a garbage recycling station in the Chinese neighborhood, right at the intersection of Sixth Street and Jackson Street. We lured it in two days ago under the guise of being overseas Chinese businessmen. The owner, Chou Lin, is actually one of our people. These things are all legal or semi-legal gray businesses there; the federal government can't investigate them."

"7

"His identity is that of a former manager of a waste recycling company in Fuzhou. He now collects scrap iron and waste paper there and also helps us with surveillance."

"Whether his recycling station makes a profit or a loss is no one cares, we give him monthly subsidies."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Have this Boss Lin arrange for Yi Ying to add the business of buying old home appliances, old hardware, and construction waste to the scrap yard, and then have Gui Yan arrange for homeless people to do scrap recycling work."

"With this cover, the money can go directly into Guiyan's hands through the flow of the scrap yard, and at the same time, it can also give the homeless a job to eat."

"Qiming, you handle this matter."

As he spoke, he suddenly tapped the hard table with his finger, "But let me make this clear: do not send anyone directly into his territory, absolutely not."

"Boss Lin can collect recyclables for these homeless people on the outskirts of the city, but he must not step into the Psychedelic Cat."

"No matter what happens, our people cannot stand next to him. Physical distancing is essential."

Zhao Qiming wrote a few strokes in his notebook, then looked up.

"Sir, what if Guiyan encounters directional problems in the governance of Zha District?"

The man in the Zhongshan suit raised his hand to stop him.

"As I just said, we can't send anyone in."

He put his hands down firmly, his fingers interlaced in front of him.

Sending people in now would only make things worse.

"He's an American policeman, and suddenly a few newcomers who can govern the area appear out of nowhere. If he gets targeted, he won't be able to explain himself clearly. Guiyan's own team is already in place."

"but."

He hesitated for a moment, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then put it back.

"Suggestions, or rather, guidance, can be given."

"Although we can't send people in directly, we can provide assistance to him from the outside."

"Tell him how to conduct ideological mobilization, how to win over the hearts of the people at the grassroots level, and how to make this area more than just a welfare center."

"These are all theoretical and experiential issues. Guiyan may not have enough knowledge on this point, but we do, and we can tell him."

Zhao Qiming made two more notes in his notebook, then put down his pen and looked up.

"How should we deliver the guidance to him?"

The man in the Zhongshan suit tilted his head to the side.

"You could pass a note to see if the Pink Society is still interested in continuing. After all, his side business is such a good cover, or you could use the recycling center owner, Mr. Lin, as a temporary solution."

Zhang Jianguo steeled himself and finally spoke.

"Boss, there's one more thing."

"Guiyan had previously requested a foreign language version of the Selected Works through intelligence, saying he wanted to give it to an American pastor at St. Jude Church to do ideological work."

"That pastor was a former head of surgery, with top-notch medical skills, but he got into a fight with homeless people in church, and his faith is on the verge of collapse."

"Guiyan means to give him a different perspective."

The man in the Zhongshan suit nodded firmly.

"I know about this. It was mentioned in the report."

He placed his hand on the folder, leaned back in his chair, and thought for a few seconds.

"I need to talk about this separately."

"Guiyan is now a U.S. police officer, and a Seattle city government hero."

"His face is linked to the police badge and the media; his identity is deeply ingrained in the local system."

"This means that every move he makes in the open will be scrutinized and magnified."

"*It's fine to choose to show this only to Pastor Thomas."

"Providing ideological guidance to a pastor on the verge of collapse is essentially saving him as a person, helping him find a way out."

.

"One-on-one ideological work can be done. If you want to save someone, you have to use the right medicine for the right symptoms and guide them slowly to help them regain their faith."

"But it's different in the Jakarta area."

"If Guiyan were to openly spread anything related to 'the Lord's Mandate' in the area, and it were to be exposed by a reporter or informant, his political symbolic value would immediately become negative, and the Americans would not tolerate it."

"but."

He held his finger up and pressed it down hard.

"Not discussing the Lord's Day doesn't mean he doesn't speak human language; he can speak with reason."

He took his black-rimmed glasses, wiped the lenses clean, and put them back on.

"Think about what kind of people live in the area where the wild geese return?"

"They are all from the bottom class who were thrown out by the American system. There are former teachers, veterans, and architects. Compared to simple drug addicts and lazy people, these people are still relatively normal. They have lost hope in this system, but they still don't know where the problem lies."

"We can't just give them the answers, but we can let them find the problems themselves."

His finger tapped lightly on the table. "You, Zhao Qiming, should contact someone to do ideological work with Guiyan, and do it according to these two principles."

"First of all, don't hand out pamphlets, don't recite slogans, and don't explain to the homeless what class or surplus value is."

"The homeless people in Seattle don't understand these things, but they do understand that a vote can't buy them a full meal."

"Secondly, tell them more stories."

"Tell them there is such a place where the streets are lit up at 2 a.m., old men and women dare to dance in the square late at night and go home in the early morning, children don't have to worry about school shootings, and poor people can be hospitalized at low cost when they get sick."

"These are all tangible results of our development."

"Don't talk to them about grand narratives. Just casually bring it up a couple of times while they're registering, distributing soup, breaking stones, or carrying cement. Let them figure it out on their own and start talking to each other. As they talk, they'll discover that some people live their lives in a different way."

"Once the comparison is made, the ideological imprint loosens."

"If you plant a seed firmly, it will sprout sooner or later; that's our experience."

"These things have nothing to do with any particular astrological concept; this is called presenting facts to understand the underlying principles."

The man in the Zhongshan suit withdrew his fingers and placed them on the table.

"Moreover, these are things written in American law, things that Roosevelt said when he was implementing the New Deal."

"No one can find any fault with them. Then they will slowly realize why they have been stuck at the bottom."

"Once they start thinking about why," they'll stop taking their grievances out on others who are just as miserable as they are.

"They will begin to become a force with direction and action, and under Guiyan's strong leadership, they will be able to serve us."

Then the man in the Zhongshan suit paused and frowned.

"In the process, we may be able to help a lot of Americans, which is good, but we still need to remember to distinguish between primary and secondary interests. We are acting in the interests of the country, not in the interests of the Americans."

"We have given up exporting **."

"Just as the Chairman once said, I wish them progress. Americans need to be liberated again; that's their own business."

"Only Americans can do this, and even Guiyan has no obligation to help Americans unconditionally."

Zhao Qiming wrote two lines in his notebook. When he finished writing the last word, his pen paused for a moment, then he looked up.

"Boss, that's been going on for a long time—"

The man in the Zhongshan suit raised his hand to signal him to stop, then picked up his cup and took a sip of tea.

"Long-term? It's not time for long-term things yet."

He put the teacup back on the table and continued speaking.

"His current focus should be on making the region self-sufficient. Once the stronghold has truly become an economic entity capable of protecting the survival of the local people, and the foundation is solid, then we can talk about the hard way."

"As for the future, once his situation is settled, some things can be added to it."

"For example, could we select a few promising individuals from his stronghold and send them to the East for a look, then release them afterward?"

"Once these people go back, they will become the spiritual backbone of this region. They don't need anyone to teach them what to say; what they have seen with their own eyes is the most convincing evidence."

"even."

He spread his hands out.

"After that, we can also explore introducing some investment projects near Seattle, such as opening a factory to create jobs for them. These people will naturally form a cohesive force within the company, which can then influence American politics, such as gathering strength to elect a mayor or a governor?"

"But that's a matter for later; at least don't touch it during the semi-hyperthermia period."

He tapped his finger on the table one last time, then clasped his hands together.

"We don't need to give Guiyan a timetable. What he's doing now is something that very few people can do, and it wouldn't work if anyone else were in his place."

"So we don't rush, force, or put pressure on you. We just protect and help."

Zhao Qiming opened the notebook to the next page, wrote a few more lines on the blank page, and then slammed the pen cap back onto the fountain pen with a soft click.

"clear."

The man in the Zhongshan suit straightened up from the back of his chair, picked up the assessment report in front of him, and wrote his finger firmly on the page where Lu Hekang was to sign.

"There's one more thing. The judge suggested in his report that Guiyan be given theoretical studies to enrich his intellectual foundation, and that suggestion is correct."

He put the report down firmly and looked at Zhao Qiming and Zhang Jianguo.

"But it's not appropriate to do it right now. He's in Seattle right now, and he has to keep an eye on the police and the construction of the base. He doesn't even have much time for Kaixi all week. It's not appropriate to assign him a learning task at this time."

"However, there is one thing we can do now."

His speech suddenly slowed down even more than before.

"During the interview, Guiyan asked the judge, 'I'm afraid you don't consider me one of your own.'"

The office was silent for a few seconds.

"When a comrade who has faced various dangerous environments overseas and made so many great contributions asks this question, what does it mean? It means that he needs the organization's affirmation, and very specific affirmation at that."

The man in the Zhongshan suit picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

"We can talk about theoretical learning later when there's an opportunity, but before that, let's get our comrades in North America ready to get hard."

"Arrange for Comrade Guiyan to be admitted to the Party on the front lines."

Zhao Qiming's hand holding the pen paused for a moment.

Zhang Jianguo stared blankly at the man in the Zhongshan suit.

The man in the Zhongshan suit looked at the two of them.

"If you're going to treat him like one of your own, then do it this way."

"The organization can go far away, let him know for himself that he is now a glorious Communist Party member, a person of organization."

"This is more effective than having him read ten theoretical textbooks."

He pushed his chair back a little, stood up, and placed his hand on the assessment report.

"Let's settle these few things today. When you get back, refine the plan according to this framework."

"Have the North American action team activate Boss Lin's plan today."

"Remember to convey these messages from today. You can decide on the wording yourself, but make sure he feels the warmth of home."

Zhao Qiming stood up, with Zhang Jianguo following behind him.

"clear."

After saying those two words, Zhao Qiming opened the office door and walked out.

Zhang Jianguo followed him out.

The corridor is still the same corridor.

But when Zhao Qiming walked out of that door, his steps were a little slower than when he went in.

He took a few steps, then turned and glanced at the closed door at the end of the corridor.

Zhang Jianguo walked over to him.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhang Jianguo said.

"I'm thinking," Zhao Qiming said, squeezing the document in his hand, "what will Guiyan think if she finds out what was discussed in this room today?"

Zhang Jianguo thought for a moment, "I reckon he won't show any expression after he finds out about these things."

"It might just be saying, 'Okay, I'll keep going.'"

Zhao Qiming tucked the documents into his pocket, took a deep breath, and started walking back. "Then let's keep going."