Boom!

An ear-splitting gunshot rang out and a target two kilometres away was knocked to the ground.

The shot had hit the bullseye. Long Bing smiled. “This is the sniper rifle I want. I think it can probably shoot even further. Hm, the effective range seems to be at least 3,000 metres, close to 3,500. Lei, go help me move the target back three hundred metres. I’ll try again.”

Xia Lei looked a little sullenly at the faraway target but he still went. He ran, and the trip there and back took him about eight to nine minutes. However, before he got back to Long Bing’s side, she fired for the second time. She did not hit the bullseye this time but she still hit the target.

Effective range of 3,300 metres - this should currently be the most advanced sniper rifle in the world.

Long Bing’s smiles multiplied. “Lei...”

“Hold up.” Xia Lei was annoyed. “Go yourself.”

Long Bing spoke laughingly, “I’m not finished; how do you know what I want to say? I’m not asking you to move the target, I just want to praise your handiwork.”

Xia Lei let out a breath. “No need to praise me. I’m happy enough that you find it good to use.”

“Yep, it’s good. Your Thunder Horse Manufacturing can try making this modified sniper rifle. If you can guarantee the same standards then I daresay that purchase orders from the military will keep flying in,” said Long Bing.

Xia Lei shook his head. “Regular machinists cannot do it. This gun was something I’d done personally for you. Thunder Horse Manufacturing also doesn’t have the capacity to manufacture sniper rifles so I’m not going to go into this business. But if Bureau 101 needs it, I can modify a few for you guys, no problem.”

“Not being able to manufacture them now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to in the future. Let’s talk about this another time.” Long Bing changed the subject and said, “I want to tell you something too. Annina is doing well but I am unable to persuade her to join Bureau 101. She isn’t even willing to join the logistics department. She’s an elite engineer from Krupp Mak Maschinenbau and has valuable skills we need. Boss Shi wants you to go talk to her. When do you have time?”

“Okay, I’ll try but I can’t guarantee anything. I’ll try my best to persuade her,” said Xia Lei, “She’s a German after all and has a different ideology.”

“It’ll work for sure if you go,” said Long Bing. “Right, her new identity now is Julia. Her Chinese name is Xia Mei.”

Xia Lei couldn’t help laughing. “Who gave her such a cheesy Chinese name?”

“She did.”

Xia Lei was speechless.

“Another thing.” Long Bing looked straight at Xia Lei. “Liang Si-Yao has left the country. What happened between you two?”

Xia Lei almost said ‘She was a spy’ or ‘She’s a high-ranking CIA intelligence officer’ but swallowed his words in the end. “Nothing. We broke up.”

It wasn’t actually difficult to speak of Liang Si-Yao’s identity but it was related to his father, Xia Chang-He, and he couldn’t face Long Bing when it came to that.

“Broke up? Not because of something else?” Long Bing’s gaze was probing.

Xia Lei shrugged. “What other reason did you think it was?”

Long Bing spoke evenly, “I was just asking. I’m not interested in who you date or who you broke up with. But I do have to remind you to never do anything that will disappoint your country.”

Xia Lei spoke with a laugh, “I’ve been serving the country well till now, okay? You guys don’t even pay me a cent.”

“All right, if that’s the case then run your mouth more in front of Boss Shi. No use talking to me about it. Let’s go; the gun’s been tested. Let’s go see Annina. Persuade her and I can take her back to Jing-Du tonight,” said Long Bing.

Xia Lei knew that Long Bing must have guessed something since she had suspected Liang Si-Yao in the beginning. He did not know how much she had guessed but he could do nothing even if she’d guessed Liang Si-Yao’s identity as the spy. He was a consultant for Bureau 101, that was right, but he had no obligation to catch a spy, not to mention a spy who was a women he had loved deeply.

He wasn’t worried either if Boss Shi or Long Bing found out the truth one day. He had not done anything that would harm the nation in the entire process - he was actually a victim.

The two of them drove to a hidden location deep in the mountains. Before Xia Lei saw Annina, however, he was surprised to see Tang Yu-Yan and Tang Bo-Chuan.

The siblings were not simple people - one a moving beauty and the other handsome and well-proportioned. They were both excellent specimens.

“You all know each other. No need for me to make introductions,” said Long Bing.

Xia Lei smiled and greeted, “Hello, Miss Tang, Mr Tang.”

Seeing Tang Yu-Yan and Tang Bo-Chuan here cleared up some things Xia Lei had been thinking about, and that was that these two were indeed people who worked for Bureau 101. Tang Yu-Yan was most likely Boss Shi’s god-daughter too.

Tang Bo-Chuan walked over but did not shake hands. He patted Xia Lei on the shoulder instead. “What’s with the formalities? Xia Bro, you were shockingly skilled that day on Emei’s Jinding. I am in admiration. I’d like us to be friends - yes?”

“Of course,” Xia Lei said with a laugh, “It is my honour to have a friend like you.”

“Look at you, being all formal again with me.” Tang Bo-Chuan smiled.

Tang Yu-Yan interrupted them, “Big Brother, if you’re friends now, does this mean I have to call him Big Brother too? Should I use ‘Big Brother Xia’ or ‘Big Brother Lei’?”

They were both people from Bureau 101 but Tang Yu-Yan was very different from Long Bing. One was cold as snow while the other was lively and cheerful.

Xia Lei spoke a little shyly, “I’m not worthy of being your ‘Big Brother’. Just call me Lei.”

Tang Yu-Yan smiled. “Then you’re ‘Big Brother Lei’.”

Xia Lei gave a laugh of acknowledgement.

Tang Yu-Yan looked at Long Bing. “Big Sister Bing, I have a mission right now. Can I get Big Brother Lei to help?”

Long Bing spoke disinterestedly, “What’s the use in telling me? He is a consultant for Bureau 101, not part of our organisation. You have to first get Boss Shi to agree and Xia Lei himself to agree before you can get him to help.”

This seemed to be a hint to Xia Lei that he could choose not to help if he weren’t willing.

Xia Lei understood her words but made no outward reaction and made no sound. He didn’t know what mission Tang Yu-Yan had and it was not a good idea to agree to help her. But then he recalled Tang Yu-Yan’s mysterious appearance close to his neighbourhood a few nights ago and he couldn’t help guessing. ‘Was her appearance close to my home that night for this aim?’

Tang Yu-Yan gave a laugh. “Okay, I’ll talk to Godfather when I get back.”

“Lei, go persuade Annina,” said Long Bing.

Xia Lei nodded and walked towards the room Annina was in.

After Xia Lei entered, Long Bing said, “Yu-Yan, your mission is too dangerous. He is not prepared yet. Plus, he’s a businessman. He has no way of handling a dangerous situation where the enemy is targeting him.”

Tang Yu-Yan laughed. “It’s just going to Pakistan to release some hostages. Just my brother and myself are enough; no need for him to help. Is this okay for you now?”

“I can lend you my gun. Xia Lei helped me modify it. It can accurately hit the target 3,300 metres away,” said Long Bing.

“Wow! That good? I’d like to take a shot or two and try it out.” Tang Yu-Yan got distracted by that.

In the room, Annina looked at Xia Lei quietly and smiled brightly.

“Are you better now?” asked Xia Lei in concern.

Annina drew close and hugged him, then kissed his cheek. This was an European custom and she did it naturally; Xia Lei was bashful and nervous.

Annina let go of Xia Lei. “I’m fine. I don’t like this place, and I don’t like those people outside.”

“Never mind, you’ll slowly get used to it. You’ll adapt,” said Xia Lei comfortingly.

“Miss Long brought an interpreter yesterday to persuade me to work for China. I didn’t agree. You know that I want to go to your company and work with you,” said Annina.

“I came to persuade you,” said Xia Lei.

Annina’s expression changed. “You came to persuade me too?”

Xia Lei spoke in a gentle voice, “You know very well what situation you’re in. You need a new identity, a new life. China can protect you but you have to do something too. It’s no problem at all for you to come work at my company but the time is not yet ripe for that. You need to wait till the dust has settled before you can show your face again.”

“Do you really want me to go?”

Xia Lei nodded. “Yeah. I actually really want you to come to work with me at my company. My company still lacks a Chief Engineer and you are undoubtedly the best candidate. But we must wait for the right time. How about this - I’ll keep the position of Chief Engineer open for you at Thunder Horse Manufacturing. You go along with whatever Miss Long arranges for you for now. What do you say?”

Annina thought for a bit and said, “I want another position besides being Chief Engineer at your company.”

“What position?” Xia Lei spoke breezily, “No problem, any position you want is yours.”

“Your secretary,” said Annina.

Xia Lei paused, then smiled. “No problem.”

“What if Miss Liang doesn’t agree?”

“She’s gone back to America. Uh, we... broke up,” said Xia Lei.

“Huh?” A smile appeared on Annina’s face but she quickly hid it and changed her expression to an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

People from different cultures were different indeed. Jiang Ru-Yi had guffawed but Annina kept her joy inside and even apologised.

“It’s okay. Let’s go out for a walk. It’s not good for your health to stay cooped up in the room,” said Xia Lei.

“Okay. Can I hold your hand?” Annina looked at Xia Lei, all smiles.

“That’s... no problem.” Xia Lei smiled. If that made her happy then he would not bother about trifles. He didn’t care what the three people outside would think of him.

The experience with Liang Si-Yao had cut at his heart like a knife, subtly affecting him, changing him.

Xia Lei walked out of the room holding Annina’s hand and the gazes of the three people in the yard went to them. They looked at them oddly. Kissing and hugging were the norm in Germany but this was China and the action of holding hands was something only couples would do. This was why the three of them had such an odd reaction.

Xia Lei gave them a regular smile. “She’s agreed. Carry on with your chat - I’m accompanying her on a walk.”

Annina spoke in stilted Chinese, “Hello you, walk walk.”

Long Bing watched Xia Lei and Annina walk into the distance on the small mountain path. After a while, she spoke. “He’s changed.”