150: Chapter 150 Visiting Relatives 5

"Hello, Chu Ge. I'm from the County Investment Promotion Bureau. I came to talk to Jingran about some work-related matters. You... you know them?" Director Wu asked, pointing at Captain Gong and the others.

"I suppose you could say that. Isn't that right, Captain Gong?"

Captain Gong had a serious expression. He didn't dare joke with Academician Chu on this occasion, so he stood there solemnly with his chest out.

"Alright, since you all know each other, Captain Gong, have the guards take them out. I'm going to see Xiaowu and the others."

"Yes, Academician Chu."

Captain Gong gave a solemn salute. Chu Ge nodded to his elders and left, his clean face showing no emotion whatsoever.

Captain Gong made a few hand gestures, and the soldiers returned to their original posts. Once everything was arranged, he turned and went after Chu Ge.

Chu Jingran watched Chu Ge's back with a complex gaze; he seemed to have realized something.

Director Wu leaned in from the side. "These soldiers aren't from our county, or even from H City. Old Wang has already rushed over, and he told me to leave this place immediately because even he doesn't know the specifics of the situation. Do you know why?"

Chu Jingran didn't answer. He was still watching Chu Ge and the guards who were constantly saluting on both sides.

"Because our rank isn't high enough! Chu Ge, Chu Ge... this person is very famous now. He seems to be a Senior Colonel and is very powerful within the military system. No wonder so many soldiers are protecting him. I'm just not sure if his influence is as great in our system. If it is, and today's matter gets reported by him, I'll be in deep trouble."

"No way? Uncle Wu, what happened today doesn't even count as a misunderstanding." Chu Jingran finally withdrew his gaze, feeling that Wu Jun was being a bit paranoid.

"You don't understand; after all, you're not within the system." Wu Jun felt a chill down his spine. Despite the heat, he was breaking out in a cold sweat just because of what Old Wang had said.

Chu Ge walked down the path. Before reaching the bottom of the slope, he saw Chu Xiaowu and Dilireba Nazha walking up, both girls exhausted from carrying many bags.

Chu Ge helped lighten their load, and Captain Gong hurried to take the rest.

"Academician Chu, with the way you're set up now, no matter how I explained myself at the perimeter, it was useless. Someone had to come get me. I saw others being allowed to walk freely after a quick ID check, so why was I given special treatment?"

Dilireba Nazha pouted, complaining while catching her breath.

"Who did you say you were looking for?" Chu Ge asked from the side, his eyes involuntarily drifting toward his prospective girlfriend.

Dilireba Nazha was dressed casually today in a long beige skirt paired with a white puff-sleeved top. She wore light makeup, and her fair skin made her look like the girl next door.

"I said I was looking for Chu Ge!"

"Pfft..." Chu Xiaowu laughed wantonly beside them. Captain Gong had stronger self-control and held back his laughter.

"Well, there you go. It'd be a miracle if they let you in after that."

Dilireba Nazha looked at Xiaowu and realized she had been silly again. She pursed her lips, but her eyes kept drifting back to Chu Ge. She didn't pay much attention to the armed guards nearby; it was as if only Chu Ge existed in her eyes.

As the four of them reached the entrance of Chu Ge's house, they ran into Chu Jingran and Director Wu walking down, followed by a guard. Director Wu, now more cautious, hurriedly greeted Chu Ge.

"Academician Chu, I... I'll be heading out first. Ha, this must be your girlfriend? She's... she's truly beautiful!"

Chu Ge merely nodded. Director Wu probably felt his attempt at small talk was awkward, and seeing the look in Captain Gong's eyes, he instantly dropped any plan to continue the conversation and obediently shut his mouth.

Chu Jingran, however, stood still for a long time. He was stunned by Dilireba Nazha's beauty; every frown and smile of hers seemed to instantly steal his soul.

He hadn't expected to see a big star from the screen in this small county. He couldn't help but look again. Dilireba Nazha's hand was now hooked around Chu Ge's arm, her eyes full of tenderness, looking like a delicate little bird leaning on its mate.

His blood boiled even more, especially since that man was his childhood playmate.

Director Wu tugged at him from the side, and only then did he realize he had lost his composure. He lowered his head and walked away.

"Who was that?" Dilireba Nazha felt Chu Jingran's invasive gaze and leaned closer to Chu Ge as she asked.

"A childhood playmate. We haven't seen each other in a long time. Now that we're adults, it feels like those childhood feelings no longer exist."

Chu Ge replied and stopped looking at Chu Jingran, leading Dilireba Nazha into the house.

Director Wu and Chu Jingran crossed the cordon outside the main road below.

There were still many people standing around watching. The police maintaining order had already chased away several groups, but they were reaching their limit. These were all ordinary citizens with a bit too much curiosity; they couldn't exactly use force.

The mission instructions from above specifically mentioned this: unless absolutely necessary, no brute force was to be used.

After stopping for just a short while, the crowd grew exponentially. A small portion was clearly Dilireba Nazha's fans, hurriedly holding up signs. They had likely just received the news and rushed over from all parts of the county.

Chaos had almost broken out earlier when Dilireba Nazha, in her haste, had taken off her mask and was recognized on the spot. The crowd had instantly exploded.

Fortunately, Xiaowu had come down in time, and Dilireba Nazha was brought into the inner circle where SWAT officers with riot shields were stationed. Only then did the crowd stop their pursuit; riot police still held a certain authority among the populace.

Watching this scene, Chu Jingran couldn't help but marvel, "Are all these people here for Chu Ge?"

It was his first time seeing such a thing—a person who wasn't a celebrity generating such a massive sensation.

In the distance, another squad of police drove up, and the officers maintaining order began to divert the crowd again. With more help, they could form several lines of blockades and slowly push the tide of people back.

As the space for the crowd was compressed by the police and there was nothing left to see, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Once the crowd had scattered, a man in a military uniform waved to Director Wu. Wu Jun led Chu Jingran over.

"Old Wang from the County Armed Forces Department. Old Wang, this is the Chu Jingran I told you about, an executive at a multinational corporation in Shanghai."

The few of them exchanged greetings.

"Old Wu, you didn't disturb Academician Chu, did you?"

"No... I don't think so?"

"That's good. Let me tell you, those soldiers up there are all from Beijing, and several battalions from the H City Military Region have also arrived. The number of special forces just for the perimeter is at least eight hundred to a thousand. Our county's police and SWAT aren't enough, so they even temporarily transferred some from other counties."

Minister Wang blurted out all the news he had just received in one breath, looking excited. He had never encountered such a massive scene in his life; it would be strange if he weren't excited.

"Is... isn't this a bit of a waste of manpower and resources?" Chu Jingran suddenly interjected from the side.