From the way Joy spoke, it seemed like he really had no idea about it.

Ling Lan was not so ready to let her guard down and dismiss her suspicions toward Joy, 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"You mean to tell me the president of your country isn’t in his own nation and none of you are aware? How is that possible? Joy, I advise you to stop playing dumb and lay out your schemes in full! Otherwise, get ready to be chopped up and fed to the wolves!"

Joy replied gravely,

"Are you seriously lacking a brain?"

His retort was equally ruthless,

"If I truly were part of the so-called conspiracy you’re talking about, do you think I’d hang around here waiting to be caught by you?"

"..."

"Why would I, who can freely come and go as I please, stay here and not leave? Isn’t it just because of the alliance between us that in case you face an issue, I might be able to offer my advice?"

Joy spoke with apparent sincerity.

Ling Lan, however, tugged at the corner of her mouth, clearly unconvinced by his words,

"Perhaps you’re staying here to lower our guard, and isn’t that a form of surveillance in itself? Your conspiracy is devised so intricately—surely it requires an inside man?"

"I thought that having followed Chief Qing Luo around, you would be a more intelligent adviser."

"..."

"Billions in military funds just handed over to you like that, are we insane? Increase your military strength first and then provoke a conflict?"

There was reason in Joy’s words.

Ling Lan seemed ready to argue, but Hui Yan held her back,

"Ling Lan, don’t be clouded by emotion. Think about it; what Joy is saying isn’t wrong."

"...But Chief..."

"I believe the Chief will return. Joy, our cooperation remains true, but given the current situation, I cannot let you go."

Joy narrowed his eyes...

"Only after we ascertain the whereabouts of the Chief Qing Luo and the whole truth of the matter will I be able to give you an answer. Until then, please make yourself comfortable at the base."

"Even if you didn’t ask me to stay, I would remain. If Chief Qing Luo has died, I reckon our cooperation might need to be re-evaluated."

"..."

Joy flicked his wrist dismissively, scoffed, and walked out.

Hui Yan gave a subtle signal to one of the subordinates beside him,

"Keep an eye on him, especially his contact with the outside world. Report everything back to me."

"Yes!"

After Joy left, Hui Yan called for an emergency meeting in place of Qing Luo.

Meanwhile, as soon as Joy returned to his room, he immediately sent a message home:

"Master, President Wen Nian is in Chuhai."

One simple sentence struck a person in G country speechless.

In the Bai Family household, the night was suddenly disturbed.

Bai Cangqiong dressed swiftly and began calling to inquire about President Wen Nian’s affairs.

The fact that President Wen Nian wasn’t at the mansion but was instead in the Chuhai Mountains of M country spread like wildfire!

The President Mansion, the Vice President Mansion, the Cabinet, the Anlin top families...

The news traveled extraordinarily fast, reaching Qu Yu’s ears after midnight.

Long Siyan knocked on Qu Yu’s office door,

"Secretary Qu, what do we do next? I have no idea how the news leaked, but in no time, by morning, people will be swarming the President Mansion. I’m afraid the President’s absence from the country can’t be kept secret."

Qu Yu took a deep breath,

"Have you been able to contact Mr. President?"

"The President is in a signal blocking area; there’s sporadic signal access, but too brief to establish contact with Mr. President for now."

"Tell the people below to keep trying. We must establish contact with Mr. President."

Qu Yu spoke earnestly.

"What about... how should we handle tomorrow?"

"Minister Long, you take the President’s Guard Team to carry out the routine work, but add two more people at the entrance to the President’s Office."

"...That’s doable."

"Tomorrow, I’ll be guarding the entrance of the President’s Office all day long. Without my permission, no one can step inside."

Qu Yu had already used up all the excuses he could.

The President had been absent for a full four days, and ministers with ulterior motives like Zhuo Ting had grown suspicious long ago.

However, he couldn’t have imagined that Wen Nian would go to M country.

Since the President’s whereabouts had slipped from the lips of those with intent, he had no choice but to employ the most foolish method.

To block every attempt to peep into the President’s Office.

Long Siyan pursed his lips, perhaps guessing Qu Yu’s intention, but...

"The people coming tomorrow will be difficult to deal with. Are you sure you can hold them off?"

"What’s the harm in trying?"

Qu Yu shrugged, "It’s certainly better than letting them confirm Mr. President’s presence in M country."

Long Siyan nodded in agreement,

"But... Secretary Qu, why didn’t you stop the President from making such a reckless and absurd decision at the time?"

Remembering this infuriated Qu Yu,

"On that night, when he left with the Osprey Assault Team, weren’t you there? Why didn’t you stop him?"

Caught by Qu Yu’s accusation, Long Siyan was left speechless,

"At the time... I didn’t realize Mr. President would act so rashly..."

Qu Yu exhaled deeply.

Initially, Long Siyan wasn’t sure what Wen Nian intended, but before Wen Nian left, he left Long Siyan a letter to be collected after two days.

That’s when he knew Mr. President had left the country to save the President’s wife.

"To be honest, such actions by Mr. President, once known to the public, would be detrimental to his political career."

"Minister Long, a truth both you and I understand, how could Mr. President not?"

Qu Yu drew in a breath,

"When the President left, I was profoundly disappointed in him. Serving in the highest position of the country, he’s allowed personal feelings, but to take it this far is too much!"

Long Siyan agreed.

"But these past few days, I’ve also come to see..."

Qu Yu sighed, "The President has truly sacrificed a lot for this country, bearing the weight of a nation at such a young age."

"In the years I’ve been by his side, I rarely saw him laugh sincerely or expose his true feelings."

"For those in their forties or fifties, having or lacking emotions is secondary, but for the young President Wen Nian, power and position are not privileges, but burdens."

"It’s only with the President’s wife that Mr. President shows his emotions, his genuine feelings."

"It seems the first lady is indeed crucial to Mr. President."

"Not just crucial, but of utmost importance. She is the heaviest burden on his heart."

Qu Yu corrected Long Siyan, then smiled faintly,

"I am truly disappointed with Mr. President’s actions, but I couldn’t stop it. Minister Long, you and I are trusted by Mr. President for many years."

"Without Mr. President, there would be no stage for us to display our talents and achieve our ambitions."

"...Yes."

"So, since Mr. President has chosen to protect his wife at all costs, our duty is to hold the line and protect Mr. President!"