197: Chapter 197 Shall we decorate our new home together?

"Don't speak, just listen." Chen Zhi pulled up a chair and sat down, placing the document bag on the nightstand.

"The religious attack case is completely cleared. As for the current investigation, everyone on that line has been caught except for the superior, Lauren Sanchez, who wasn't in the country to begin with. We also rounded up quite a few small fry."

He paused, a cold sneer escaping his lips. "We blew up one of their overseas outposts and an armory as a return gift. They've truly suffered a double loss."

Hearing this, Lin Ning's heart finally settled, and a sense of satisfaction welled up within him—this was exactly how it should be done! Their loss was a testament to our capability, and it didn't stop us from retaliating. Only when they are hit where it hurts will they realize that Huaxia is not some insignificant little country to be trifled with.

Chen Zhi looked at Lin Ning's sparkling eyes, his expression a mix of relief and emotion. "Good job, Lin Ning. If it weren't for you..."

He wasn't used to speaking soft words, but he knew better than anyone.

The two Morning Prayer times were only two hours apart.

Just a little bit more, and it would have been a sea of corpses and blood.

It was Lin Ning who had pulled it back at the cost of his life.

But if Lin Ning kept pushing himself like this, how much more of his lifespan did he have left to squander?

Every time he thought of this, Chen Zhi's heart couldn't help but sink.

The heroic sacrifice of charging into battle was certainly shocking, but someone like Lin Ning...

Lin Ning watched as Chen Zhi's gaze gradually became affectionate and... pitying? He couldn't help but shudder.

What kind of terrifying thing was this older brother thinking about?

He quickly called out softly to wake Chen Zhi up, "Brother Chen?"

Chen Zhi snapped out of it, wiped his face somewhat unnaturally, and his tone cooled down. "However, they've issued a Hit Order. It's aimed at you."

Lin Ning was stunned.

"Langley issued a 'Hit Order for Lin Ning, Special Advisor to the Chinese Ministry of State Security'," Chen Zhi said calmly, though his tone carried a hint of mockery and coldness.

Lin Ning opened his mouth, letting out a faint breathy sound. "What kind of... little nobody am I? Are they just picking on the easy target?"

Chen Zhi's lip twitched, and he was speechless inwardly: Killing you is more valuable than killing me, or even the Director. It just so happens that one side is misled, and the other is completely oblivious.

He suppressed his emotions and comforted him, "They don't know who 'Lin Ning' is."

He leaned back, his tone relaxing slightly. "Do you know how many people you'd find if you searched for 'Lin Ning' in China?"

Lin Ning blinked.

"We've done internal statistics. In Beijing alone, there are over a thousand people named Lin Ning. Nationwide, there are tens of thousands," a hint of a smile appeared in Chen Zhi's eyes. "Recently, we'll arrange for dozens of decoys to operate in the surrounding areas. How many we catch will depend on how many fools there are."

Lin Ning was stunned for a moment, then laughed. His laugh was a bit raspy, but his eyes crinkled.

Chen Zhi looked at him with a serious expression. "But don't let your guard down. Although the country is our home turf, there are still moles. Keep a low profile lately; don't do anything to attract attention. They don't have that much time and resources to keep watching forever. We'll talk after the heat dies down."

Lin Ning nodded obediently.

Chen Zhi picked up the document bag from the nightstand and handed it to him.

Lin Ning took it and glanced at him.

"Open it and see."

Lin Ning struggled to open the document bag and pulled out a file.

On the first page, the header read: Property Title Transfer Certificate.

He looked further down.

An address near Yonghe Temple.

Then he saw that besides the living area, there was also the land area.

He hurriedly flipped to the land certificate beneath the red deed.

Lin Ning's breathing quickened, his eyes widening and growing brighter.

They were practically glowing.

He looked up at Chen Zhi, his lips moving, and it took a while before he could make a sound. "This... this is a Siheyuan? Mine?"

A smile also broke out in Chen Zhi's eyes. "Specially approved by the Minister. It's transferred to you first. Once you have enough merit, the debt will be cleared directly; if not, you'll pay it back slowly. I've calculated it for you; you currently owe the state 26 million."

Lin Ning nodded, humming in agreement, his eyes never leaving the certificate in his hand.

As for how much he owed the state, it went in one ear and out the other. It was like owing money to his own mother; he didn't say he wouldn't pay it back, but there was no rush.

He looked at the document again, then raised his head, his eyes terrifyingly bright, his voice filled with excitement. "My Uncle Minister... is so generous! I'll have to go pay him a New Year's visit later!"

Chen Zhi's smile froze on his face, a tingling chill running down his back.

Uncle Minister.

Lin Ning really dared to call him that.

He pretended not to hear, stood up, and patted Lin Ning's arm. "Recover well. After you're discharged, decorate your courtyard nicely, raise some birds, plant some flowers, and don't cause any trouble lately."

Lin Ning nodded repeatedly, his gaze still glued to the document, unable to look away.

Seeing his pathetic display, a hint of a smile flashed in Chen Zhi's eyes. He said nothing more and turned to walk out.

At the door, he brushed past Jiang Yu as she was coming in.

Jiang Yu had just returned from home with a bag of Lin Ning's fresh clothes. Seeing Chen Zhi, her steps faltered, and her fingertips tightened slightly.

Chen Zhi nodded to her, said nothing, and left.

Jiang Yu stood there, watching his back disappear at the end of the hallway.

She retracted her gaze and walked into the ward.

Lin Ning was still grinning foolishly at the document. Seeing her enter, he waved the certificate at her, his eyes full of excitement. "Jiang Yu... look!"

Jiang Yu walked over and looked down. A property deed with Lin Ning's name on it.

Seeing Lin Ning's shining eyes, she asked amusedly, "The deed for the house you bought before finally came through? You're this happy? Well, it's true, having a house gives you roots."

Lin Ning shook his head quickly, unable to stop the smile on his face. "It's not bought. Chen Zhi gave it to me. It's a Siheyuan near Yonghe Temple!"

Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment and subconsciously said, "You asked him for a favor?... No, he's the official! Wait, a Siheyuan?!"

Seeing her dazed look, Lin Ning laughed even more happily, his raspy laughter echoing in the ward. "Hahaha, look at how confused you are. It was specially approved by the Minister!"

Jiang Yu glared at him and reached out to gently poke his arm. "Don't get too ahead of yourself. Don't forget you're still lying there, unable to move."

Despite being "threatened," Lin Ning became even happier, the smile in his eyes impossible to hide.

Jiang Yu chatted and laughed with him for a while, then turned to start tidying up the clothes she had brought back.

Lin Ning leaned against the headboard, his gaze fixed on her, a gentle smile on his lips.

The afternoon sun shone diagonally on the tips of Jiang Yu's hair, dazzlingly warm. Her movements as she tidied the clothes were efficient and gentle, more vibrant than the sunlight in the ward.

Lin Ning's heart softened, and a hint of dryness rose in his throat—she definitely hadn't rested well these past few days.

He spoke very softly, with a touch of cautious anticipation, "Jiang Yu."

Jiang Yu turned to look at him.

Lin Ning's heart suddenly beat faster. He gripped the property deed tightly, his tone serious yet slightly anxious. "Shall we design the new home together? I want to keep a study, plant some flowers in the courtyard, and put out a lounge chair... What about... what about you?"

After he finished, he looked at her without blinking, his heart hanging in suspense.

Jiang Yu, still holding Lin Ning's clothes, looked at him and went silent for a moment. Her gaze swept gently over his dry hair and face before falling back into his eyes.

Then the tips of her ears slowly turned red, her eyelashes fluttered, and she spoke with a stiff, forced naturalness, "I have two cats. We need to leave a sunny spot for their beds."

Lin Ning was stunned for a moment, then a smile slowly rippled from his eyes to the corners of his mouth, revealing a row of white teeth as he grinned foolishly.

Jiang Yu glared at him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up as well, even as she scolded him with a slightly "fierce" tone, "What are you laughing at?"