Chapter 1254 Chang'an Peace

“A miracle…this is simply a biological miracle…” Shen Henian shouted silently in his heart again, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.

All the grievances and complaints have long since vanished.

He had only one thought in his mind right now:

'We must obtain the qualifications to study this "living miracle," no matter what! Even if it means having him come to the office every day to draw blood, take records, or act as a babysitter, it's all worth it!'

He even started having wild thoughts, wondering if his research center should erect a statue of the girl in the future, so that his students and their followers could pray for inspiration and blessings before conducting experiments?

Of course, he only dared to keep these crazy thoughts to himself.

He carefully completed the blood draw, pulled out the needle, and gently pressed the puncture site with a sterile cotton swab, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a priceless piece of antique porcelain.

Then, he took two steps back, bowed slightly, and in an unprecedentedly reverent tone, lowered his voice to report to Gu Chengyuan, who was looking at him:

"Chairman, the initial sample collection is complete. Please rest assured, the process went very smoothly."

"This...this 'Miss's' vital signs appear to be very...stable for the time being."

He hesitated for a moment before using the relatively neutral word "stable," but the almost fanatical research gleam in his eyes betrayed the turbulent emotions within him.

Gu Chengyuan nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Shen Henian's face for a moment, seemingly seeing through his attempts to conceal his excitement, but he didn't point it out, simply saying:

"Thank you for your hard work, Professor Shen. Analyze the samples as soon as possible. Report any findings directly to Director Zhou Guihong and classify them as top secret."

"Yes! Please rest assured, Chairman!"

Shen Henian solemnly replied, holding the vial of blood—which he considered more precious than all the samples in the entire research center's inventory combined—as if it were a rare treasure, and carefully withdrew from the office.

The door closed softly.

The interior regained its tranquility under the sunlight.

"Lu Chong!"

After a long while, Gu Chengyuan's voice rang out in the now quiet office. It wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to the sofa in the reception area.

The call made Lu Chong and Jia Daiquan, who were already feeling uneasy, tremble slightly in unison, like elementary school students being suddenly called on by the teacher in class.

The two of them stood up simultaneously, as if they were training in Pacific Rim, springing up from the sofa and almost instinctively straightening their backs and standing at attention.

However, Lu Chong's casual leather shoe, which he lost while running in front of the government building, has not yet been returned to its original place, no matter how much he has squeezed Pu Guangqiang's eyes until they almost disappeared.

At that moment, he was wearing a shoe on one foot and a sock on the other, which, combined with his tense and uneasy expression, made him look quite comical.

Jia Daiquan was in no better shape. The powerful director of the Supervisory Bureau in Beibei, a gathering place for many, looked like a raw recruit, with his hands pressed tightly against his trouser seams, his lips pursed into a straight line, his eyes darting around, and fine beads of sweat seemingly about to seep from his forehead.

They are both really unsure of themselves right now.

Logically speaking, bringing back such an "important person" who has a special connection with the leader (which now seems to be quite deep) and carries a shocking secret should be considered a merit, right?

Lu Chong even had a vague feeling that he might have accidentally accomplished something big this time.

But upon further reflection, the process was truly terrifying!

The girl suddenly went berserk in front of the commander, kicking the door of a half-ton armored vehicle open. The scene was so dramatic that people would believe it was an attempted assassination!

If it weren't for the leader's reaction... well, it was the leader himself who rushed up and hugged the other person, defusing the crisis, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

If this were investigated, he would definitely be charged with "inadequate escort" and "putting the leader in danger."

Jia Daiquan felt a chill run down his spine. He was the first to discover and "escort" the person back, so if anyone was to be held responsible, he would be the first to bear the blame.

The line between merit and demerit is like walking a tightrope; it all depends on the leader's mood and mindset at that moment.

Looking at these two capable subordinates who were once powerful figures in their respective territories but were now so nervous that they didn't know where to put their hands and feet, and recalling Lu Chong losing his shoe and Jia Daiquan's ashen face earlier, Gu Chengyuan couldn't help but feel a bit more teasing than usual because of Xiong Yuting's good mood.

He first slightly adjusted his posture to make Xiong Yuting in his arms more comfortable, then his gaze swept over the two people who were standing straight and not daring to breathe.

"What is it?" Gu Chengyuan asked, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger, but carrying a calm that made Lu Chong and Jia Daiquan even more uneasy.

"Commander Lu of the Chongqing Military Region and Director Jia, the 'Upright Official' of Beibei, are standing at attention here, preparing to participate in the military parade?"

"Pfft—" Pu Guangqiang, the guard standing nearby, couldn't help but lower his head and his shoulders twitched suspiciously a few times.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chong's face instantly changed from a nervous white to a blushing red, and then from a red to an embarrassed dark red.

He instinctively wanted to look down, but when he did, he saw his own uncooperative foot, so he forced himself to stop. His lips moved a few times, and after stammering for a long time, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:

"Commander... I, I... I'm just... I'm worried, worried that this lady... she... her situation is special, what if she offends you..."

"Collision?"

Gu Chengyuan raised an eyebrow and looked down at Xiong Yuting, who seemed completely unresponsive to the conversation and was simply holding him tighter instinctively.

When she looked up again, the teasing in her eyes had faded, replaced by a deeper meaning, but her tone remained relaxed: "Do you think she's trying to 'bump into' me?"

Lu Chong and Jia Daiquan followed his gaze and saw that the "inhuman" being that had once terrified them was now quietly curled up in the leader's arms, like a child lacking a sense of security, completely different from its previous image of violently breaking down the door.

The two opened their mouths, but for a moment they didn't know what to say.

'This scene...it seems only the leader would be the one clashing with the other side, right?'

Of course, neither of them would dare to say this out loud.

However, the atmosphere in the office relaxed because of Gu Chengyuan's half-serious and half-joking words.

That invisible, suffocating tension gradually dissipated...

Seeing that the two were still somewhat uneasy but clearly relieved, Gu Chengyuan finally stopped teasing them, straightened his expression, and spoke in a gentle and solemn tone:

"Alright, sit down, everyone. Don't just stand there like two wooden stakes."

"Lu Chong, Jia Daiquan."

"This time... you did the right thing."

"Although the process was a bit thrilling, the result was good. It's important that you brought her to me."

"Not only was he without fault, but he also... made a contribution."

The words "meritorious" were like heavenly music, instantly dispelling the last unease in Lu Chong and Jia Daiquan's hearts.

Lu Chong suddenly raised his head, his eyes regaining their light, while Jia Daiquan felt a lightness on his back, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

“However—” Gu Chengyuan changed the subject: “Everything about her, including her existence, her condition, and her relationship with me, shall be classified as top secret from now on.”

"This is to be known only to a few people present and is strictly prohibited from being spread outside."

"I will personally decide on the next steps. Your task is to mind your own business and keep this matter to yourselves. Understand?"

"Yes, sir! Understood!" Lu Chong and Jia Daiquan immediately straightened their backs and replied, their voices loud and clear, filled with the relief and determination of someone who had survived a disaster.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyuan nodded, his gaze returning to Xiong Yuting's quiet profile in his arms, his eyes filled with a mixture of tenderness and complex thoughts.

Anyone with a sound mind could sense that Xiong Yuting was acting strangely... but just how strangely... he had no idea at that moment.

Whether it was a case of something lost and found, or just a pipe dream, only a more comprehensive inspection result will tell...

'Hope everything is alright...'