Don't call me a singing god, I just want to go back to doing scientific research.

"That's what I think too." Li Mingjun nodded. "Comrade Zhuoying is a seasoned intelligence officer with a strong mentality, so he won't have any problems in the short term. But the problem is that his being taken away means that everyone who has had contact with him will be put on the surveillance list. Especially you, a public figure with a special status, who had a 'chance encounter' with him during this sensitive period."

Li Mingjun's face was grim: "I just checked, and from now on, the security level for all flights from New York to China has been raised to the highest level. Our original flight is now under close surveillance."

Upon hearing this, Ling Luo fell silent.

Outside the window, the dazzling night view of Manhattan is like a cold, shimmering galaxy.

But this hotel room became an isolated island.

The US wants to trap them and then slowly find a way to break through.

The data resides in Ling Luo's mind; he himself is now a portable USB drive. If it were confiscated, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"They don't dare to directly touch me for now." Ling Luo walked to the window, looking at the traffic flowing below. "Without evidence, taking action against an influential Chinese artist would cause a diplomatic incident. But they can stall, using various excuses to keep me here. As long as I can't leave, they have plenty of time to investigate slowly."

"Then what do we do?" Li Mingjun asked. "Going to the airport now is like walking into a trap."

Ling Luo remained silent, her fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the windowpane. Her brain was racing, connecting and analyzing all the information and possibilities.

Memorizing the data is to prevent the physical carrier from being intercepted.

Refusing that pen was to lull the surveillance into a false sense of security.

Using the media to publicize their whereabouts is to make everything seem reasonable.

Every step was considered, but the vigilance and reaction speed of the other party were still underestimated.

They would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.

"We can't go to the airport," Ling Luo suddenly said, turning to look at Li Mingjun.

"At the very least, I can't go to the international airport, nor can I take any plane to China." Ling Luo turned around, a calm light flashing in his dark eyes. "All their attention right now is focused on 'how to prevent me from returning to China'."

"You mean...?"

"Let's try a different approach." Ling Luo walked to the table, picked up her phone, and started searching for flights.

"When everyone thinks you're going east, you openly head west." Ling Luo's fingertips flew across the screen. "They're eyeing the finish line, but we can change our route."

Li Mingjun instantly understood what Ling Luo was doing.

  

On the screen, Ling Luo had booked two first-class tickets for the earliest flight to Los Angeles. The departure time was two hours later.

"From New York to Los Angeles, it crosses the entire United States, but this is their domestic flight, so the security level won't be that extreme." Ling Luo put down her phone. "Once we get to Los Angeles, we'll figure out how to go to a neighboring country, like Mexico or Canada, and then transfer there to return home."

This plan sounds absurd, but it is currently the only way out.

"What if they check too?" Li Mingjun still hesitated. "And our passports and visas..."

"My passport is a Category O visa, an entertainment visa, which allows me to move freely within the United States. As for you," Ling Luo looked at him, "your role is that of my assistant, so it's perfectly reasonable for you to come with me."

"I'm not afraid of them investigating. As long as I'm in America, they won't restrict me too much, unless they really find something they want on me. But right now, we have nothing on us."

Ling Luo glanced at the time: "Brother Mingjun, pack your things now, we'll leave in half an hour."

Ling Luo quickly packed his luggage; he didn't have much, just a small suitcase. He changed into casual clothes, put on a baseball cap and a mask, covering himself completely.

Half an hour later, the two quietly left the hotel and got into an ordinary taxi that was already waiting at the back door.

The car merged into the traffic in the night and headed towards LaGuardia Airport.

Ling Luo leaned back in the back seat, her eyes closed, as if she were resting.

The taxi drove through the night, the neon lights outside the window flashing by, casting flickering shadows on Ling Luo's face.

Li Mingjun sat next to him, his body tense, his eyes glancing at the rearview mirror every now and then, as if checking to see if any vehicles were following him.

"Mingjun, relax." Ling Luo's voice was soft but calm. "We just finished work, and here, I have very few fans, so there's almost no danger."

Ling Luo spoke cryptically, but Li Mingjun understood. He took a deep breath and nodded, but his clenched fist remained tightly closed.

The domestic departure hall at LaGuardia Airport was brightly lit and bustling with people.

The two, wearing baseball caps and masks, blended into the crowd and discreetly made their way to the security checkpoint.

"Identity." The security officer held out his hand expressionlessly.

Ling Luo handed over her passport and plane ticket.

The security officer gestured for them to put their belongings into the basket.

Ling Luo's luggage contained only a few changes of clothes and a laptop, which was unbelievably simple.

The security guard picked up the computer, glanced through it routinely, then looked at Ling Luo, seemingly finding him somewhat familiar.

"Hey, aren't you that...?"

Li Mingjun's muscles tightened instantly.

The security guard thought for a while, then slapped his forehead: "I remember now, I saw your VC interview video, the one where you said New York is like black coffee! That was really cool!"

Ling Luo took off her mask and smiled at him: "Thank you."

"Can I get your autograph?" The security guard excitedly pulled out a piece of paper.

Ling Luo took the pen, quickly signed her name, and even drew a small musical note on the side.

"Cool! Have a pleasant journey!" The security officer waved and let him through with satisfaction, not giving Li Mingjun another second glance.

The two passed through security smoothly and entered the waiting hall. Only after sitting on the soft sofa in the first-class lounge did Li Mingjun finally let out a long breath; his back was already ice-cold.

"They did indeed only set up the highest alert level on international flights," Li Mingjun said in a low voice.

"Their system is too large; it takes time for information to be synchronized between different departments." Ling Luo found a corner to sit down. "We just took advantage of their time difference."

On a red-eye flight to Los Angeles, the cabin lights were dimmed.

Ling Luo leaned against the porthole, her eyes closed, but her mind was racing.

He repeatedly reinforced that complex string of numbers and letters in his memory palace, ensuring that every character was etched deep within.

Five hours later, the plane landed smoothly at Los Angeles International Airport.

It was completely dark, and the air carried the slightly salty and humid air characteristic of the West Coast.

The two collected their luggage and walked out of the airport terminal. Li Mingjun was about to call a taxi when Ling Luo stopped him.