Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

In the darkness of night,

A minivan is speeding along the Second Ring Road.

Inside the carriage,

Xiao Zhan frowned, his deep gaze looking out the car window at the bustling metropolis under the night sky.

Meanwhile, fireworks burst into the night sky above Beijing, soaring into the heavens and exploding into dazzling blooms, while neon lights flashed among the skyscrapers, creating a vibrant picture of a prosperous and harmonious society.

Xiao Zhan murmured to himself, "Is this the happy life we've always wanted to pursue?"

Since seeing the mysterious man, Xiao Zhan had remained silent, lost in deep thought…

Beside her, Xia Keke hesitated for a long time before finally biting her red lips and saying, "Xiao Zhan, I think the appearance of the mysterious person is too suspicious, and many details don't stand up to scrutiny."

Don't you think so?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan withdrew his gaze from the distance, looked into Xia Keke's bright eyes, and brought his thoughts back from their wanderings, saying, "You mean the mysterious person might be an imposter, not the big shot we know?"

Xia Keke bit her lip and nodded, continuing, "I'm not entirely sure either, but I just feel that this matter is too strange, and the details can't stand scrutiny. Think about it, why would the big boss secretly meet with Liu Shiyuan during this very sensitive period, and why would the two of them burn incense together? This is too abnormal, as if they deliberately let us see it."

"As the saying goes, there must be something fishy going on when things are out of the ordinary. Logically speaking, Liu Shiyuan should be hiding in his cave with his tail between his legs."

At this moment, Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is this your reason?"

Xia Keke shook her head and said honestly, "I just think the appearance of the mysterious person was too sudden. Besides, if the mysterious person is really the person we think he is, why would he wear a mask and not dare to meet people with his status and position? Moreover, he and Liu Shiyuan have always been at odds, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe the grudge between the two as irreconcilable. How could they meet in secret?"

"Xiao Zhan, think about this carefully. Why would he secretly meet with Liu Shiyuan on New Year's Eve, and why would they even burn the first incense together? Furthermore, he didn't show his face at all, and he didn't say a single word. Don't you think that's illogical?"

There's a saying: "Things reach their extreme and then reverse." If you act like this, you've overdone it, and it naturally becomes fake.

"All these signs can only mean one thing: someone is deliberately creating a false impression to make us back down and give the other side enough breathing room."

After listening, Xiao Zhan's eyes flickered a few times, and he raised an eyebrow and said, "Your analysis makes sense, but what about those four black-clad guards? Even Zhang Guoqiang recognized them as Red Wall bodyguards at a glance. And those several identical high-level bulletproof cars—no one but a few big shots in the central leadership can mobilize these vehicles. These are not vehicles that ordinary people can just summon at will."

Xia Keke frankly admitted, "Yes, that's one of the reasons why I'm not entirely sure, but my intuition tells me that the appearance of the mysterious person is both real and fake, and there must be a big conspiracy involved."

"Clatter."

Xiao Zhan lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled, saying, "You and I have already figured out who the mysterious man is from his walking posture, height, and build."

"Director Xia, are you unwilling to believe that the mysterious person is someone we know and are familiar with?"

"Or do you just lack the courage to admit it's him?"

"Because you're afraid that if you admit the mysterious person really is that person, our worldview will instantly collapse, right?"

Xia Keke blushed deeply at Xiao Zhan's question, her gaze darting away as she avoided his eyes. She murmured, "Xiao Zhan, I don't believe it's that person."

Xiao Zhan: "I don't want to believe it's that person either."

Suddenly, Xia Keke looked up sharply and stared directly at Xiao Zhan, saying in a very firm tone, "I don't think that person would collude with Liu Shiyuan to do things that violate the law and conscience. As one of the central leaders, he is already within reach of the pinnacle of power, so why would he associate with someone like Liu Shiyuan?"

"The key question is, what political benefits can he gain by cooperating with Liu Shiyuan?"

Suddenly, Xiao Zhan grinned.

"Hahaha…."

Xia Keke and Shen Jun both looked at Xiao Zhan with complete bewilderment.

I wonder what he's laughing at?

A few seconds later, Xiao Zhan stopped laughing and said, "Xia Keke, you think exactly the same thing as me. That person who looks exactly like a big shot must be a smokescreen set up by Liu Shiyuan. It's what you said before, a cover-up, to confuse the public and disrupt our rhythm, so that his later plan can proceed smoothly."

After Xiao Zhan said that, Xia Keke became even more convinced of her suspicions, and said with a firmer tone, "Liu Shiyuan thought that the appearance of the mysterious man would intimidate us and that we would no longer dare to monitor him. He took the opportunity to prepare for his next move."

Xiao Zhan sneered, "I admit that Liu Shiyuan is indeed quite capable and ruthless. It's not easy for someone his age to be so decisive in killing. However, in my eyes, he is still not enough. He thought that by joining forces with the Human Butcher Squad and CiA, he could secretly bring in another batch of mercenaries from abroad and then use a feint to make me lose my balance and become disorganized, so that he could seize our quantum communication technology in the chaos."

"Pah! He's dreaming big."

Seeing Xiao Zhan's confidence, Xia Ke asked, "Have you already figured out a way to deal with Liu Shiyuan?"

Xiao Zhan: "When water comes, earth can cover it; when soldiers arrive, generals will meet them. He has Zhang Liang's plan, but I have a ladder to climb over the wall. Let's see how he makes his move."

"squeak!"

At this moment, the driver stopped the car and said, "Young Master Xiao, we've arrived."

Xiao Zhan looked up and saw the car parked in front of No. 7 Fuxing Road, so he said to Xia Keke, "I'll be right back."

Then he said to Shen Jun, "Come with me to see the captain."

Shen Jun said happily, "It's an instructor."

As soon as Xiao Zhan got out of the car, a man came out of the guardhouse and called out, "Hello, Captain Xiao."

Xiao Zhan recognized the person by the streetlight and immediately smiled, "Yuan Hongjun, it's you! Where's the brigade leader?"

Yuan Hongjun: "The Deputy Chief of Staff sent me to pick you up and take you inside."

Xiao Zhan asked in surprise, "Deputy Chief of Staff?"

Yuan Hongjun: "Captain Xiao, you don't know yet, do you? The battalion commander has been transferred to headquarters as deputy chief of the general staff."

Xiao Zhan glanced at the address plate for No. 7 Fuxing Road and said, "I was wondering why the captain asked me to come to headquarters to see him. Turns out he got promoted, hahaha."

Yuan Hongjun gestured for him to enter, and said with a smile, "Captain Xiao, please. The Deputy Chief of Staff is waiting for you."

So Xiao Zhan led Shen Jun into the No. 7 compound on Fuxing Road.

After half an hour,

Xiao Zhan walked out of the compound looking radiant and full of energy, got into the car, and even Shen Jun, who was following behind him, couldn't hide his excitement and exhilaration...

Seeing this, Xia Ke couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Zhan, what good thing happened to you?"

Xiao Zhan first said to the driver, "Drive, take me home."

Then he said to Xia Keke, "Director Xia, our previous guesses and deductions were completely correct. That mysterious person was indeed a fake; it was just a smokescreen set up by Liu Shiyuan!"

Xia Keke: "Looks like the old man has run out of tricks."