It was ti for him, the vice-captain of the Doomsday Squad, to pull himself together and return to the fold.
Li Ming’s smile held a renewed spark of life, as if he had returned to those war-torn yet vibrant days of the past.
Through the screen, Gu Xi watched him calmly. "So, you still recognize as your captain, right?"
"Of course." The unusually frail and aged Li Ming smiled and nodded. "You’ll always be our captain. The captain of the Doomsday Squad! Xiaoxi, there’s no doubt about that."
Li Ming was seized by another violent coughing fit.
Gu Xi’s brow furrowed slightly. She waited for his breathing to even out before she spoke. "Since you still recognize as your captain, then do as I say."
Li Ming smiled again.
’His Xiaoxi... still so soft-hearted.’
"Alright." He smiled and nodded, then sent the information he had collected over the years to Gu Xi. "Xiaoxi, since you’ve made your decision, I hope this can help you."
Gu Xi lowered her gaze and quickly scanned the information.
Li Ming was as reliable as ever. He had found a way to fill in the thirty years she had lost.
’With this information, at least I won’t be so on the back foot anymore.’
’It’s just... I’m still a few days too late.’
’If I’d gotten this information over a month ago, the trip to the Southwest would never have happened.’
’I would have been able to hide myself better. But now...’
’Never mind anything else, Lu Chenyuan has probably already been targeted.’
’Fortunately, it’s not too late.’
On the other side of the screen, Li Ming watched her quietly, his gaze gentle.
’He really didn’t want Xiaoxi to walk this path again.’
’If it were possible, he truly wished the little girl he’d watched grow up could live the life she wanted—basking in the sun, tending a garden, completely severing ties with the past. He wanted her to live her own life, not get dragged back into these filthy struggles.’
’But Xiaoxi’s personality...’
’So be it.’ Li Ming sighed. In any case, he could still hang on for a while longer.
Once Gu Xi had finished reading and destroyed the files, Li Ming spoke slowly. "Xiaoxi, it’s really not a good ti for to see you. But don’t worry, my body can still hold out for a while..."
Gu Xi knew what he ant.
’There were already plenty of people watching Li Ming. Now that I’ve appeared, even more eyes will be on him.’
’In his current condition, he probably can’t even protect himself...’
Gu Xi wanted to say she’d go to him, but the thought of the spies around her stopped the words from leaving her lips. After a mont, she could only say, "...Alright."
Just as Li Ming wanted to shield her from the things he knew she wouldn’t want to see, cleaning up the ss himself, Gu Xi didn’t want to drag him into danger and trouble because of her.
’But it’s clear now that sothing went wrong with my Doomsday Squad back then.’
’In that case, cleaning house is a duty I, as the captain, can’t avoid.’
After a mont of contemplation, Gu Xi had regained her composure.
"Ming," she said, "I’ll definitely have to make a trip to the NX1984 Area..."
Though Li Ming’s body was failing, his mind was as sharp as ever. He instantly followed her train of thought. "That’s fine. As for South City, you don’t need to worry. I’ve already made arrangents."
He no longer tried to dissuade her, instead helping her analyze the situation. "But you can’t rush this trip to the NX1984 Area. And don’t even think about going alone. It would be best to piggyback on a military operation."
As he said this, his fingertips, resting on his thigh, paused. "Xiaoxi, it’s not that I’m completely defenseless. In fact, over the years, I’ve planted so of my own people around the others..."
Gu Xi froze for a second, then her brow furrowed in an instant. "Ming, that’s not necessary," she refused.
’This is a grudge between and them. As their mutual friend, family, and comrade-in-arms, it’s best for Ming to stay out of it.’
But Li Ming just smiled. "Xiaoxi, I know. You don’t want to be caught in the middle, to be put in an impossible position between you and the others. You don’t want to ruin the bond I have with them. But Xiaoxi, you have to understand, the human heart is biased. You’re the child I watched grow up. You were always different."
Gu Xi didn’t know how to convince him. After a mont’s thought, she raised her hand. A small green sprout shot up into the cara’s view, wiggling the two tender little leaves at its tip. "Look," she said.
Li Ming stared at the familiar little green sprout on the screen. He leaned back in his wheelchair, catching his breath before smiling. "I haven’t seen Yabao in years. It seems a bit more lively than it used to be..."
As he spoke, Li Ming was overco by another fit of violent coughing.
Seeing the unconcealable exhaustion on his face, Gu Xi moved to end the call so he could rest.
Li Ming waved his hand, signaling that he was fine. After coughing for a little longer, he spoke slowly. "Xiaoxi, you’ve t Ye Junhan already, haven’t you?"
Gu Xi froze, then realization dawned on her.
Li Ming didn’t hide it from her. "Back then, after I learned about Plan G01, I knew the Abnormal Ability Research Institute would never give up on it. So later, I sent that kid, Jun Han, to Ye Xin..."
At this, he gave a sly smile, just like the wise, high-spirited young man from years ago. "Of course, to this day, Xiao Yu still thinks that kid Jun Han is his man."
"Ye Xin probably thinks so too..." Through the screen, Li Ming propped his chin on one hand, a boyish grin on his face.
Gu Xi smiled too, but her heart was filled with an indescribable, bittersweet ache.
"I understand." Gu Xi nodded firmly. She paused before continuing, "Ming, you have to take care of yourself. Wait for . I’ll co for you."
"Oh, right," Gu Xi added after a mont’s thought, "I’ve made so new friends since I woke up. They’re all good people. I’ll introduce you when the ti cos."
"Okay." The aged, gaunt man smiled gently and nodded firmly.
’Of course, he knew exactly who Gu Xi had t over the past six months. He’d already run background checks on them and knew those kids were decent. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to stay by her side.’
’With his thods, Li Ming had a thousand ways to make them quietly disappear from Gu Xi’s life.’
As the call was about to end, Li Ming straightened his back slightly. Half of his face was lost in the interplay of light and shadow as he looked deeply at Gu Xi. "Xiaoxi, destroy this personal terminal. And don’t try to contact from now on."
"Gu Xiaoxi, take care of yourself. I... will be waiting for you to co get ."
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