Long Hongzhuo and Liu Yuankai left the President’s Office, their faces pale and strained.
In the office, Wen Nian was still listening to the news broadcast.
A criminal had disguised himself to enter the Xilin Military Region, and fortunately, he was discovered in time before the incredibly powerful miniature bombs went off.
So far there had been no casualties, at least that was some good news...
Wen Nian thought about the three test sites at Xilin Military Academy—each site having about one thousand five hundred candidates. It wasn’t certain that she was at this particular site, and even if she was, being one among fifteen hundred, what were the chances that she would be taken hostage?
Wen Nian, don’t forget, her hands were chubby, and she had always been lucky. When she was young, she would often win another bottle under the soda cap!
Once, she was hit by a bus while crossing the road on her bike, thrown several meters away. Everyone on the bus was shocked, and the driver got off, his head dripping with sweat, only to see the girl get up, dust herself off, and say,
"Uncle, it’s okay, I just scared you, right?"
Then she picked up her bike and continued to cross the road, and God knows, when he heard this description from her classmate, he was so frightened and yet found it amusing.
"That’s because my mom is watching over me from heaven. Try making someone else get up and walk!"
She was quite proud of herself.
She was lucky. Even if something bad happened, she would turn danger into safety, and she often brought luck to others—
"The student hostage held is named Tang Xiaohua..."
Those three words pierced Wen Nian’s ears like sharp needles!
After that, the broadcaster said some more, but he could barely listen.
Tang Xiaohua... That was the name Lili used on the identity card when she boarded the train.
On the day of the exam, Song Lili got up early. Though the test would be over before noon, she wouldn’t be back until the afternoon.
So she had to prepare Xiaocao’s breakfast and lunch, keeping them warm in a thermal box.
"I’m heading out, you stay home, wait for me, and don’t open the door to strangers, alright?"
Tang Xiaocao nodded, seeing Song Lili out,
"Sister, good luck on your test!"
Xiaocao’s chirpy voice was adorable, and Song Lili couldn’t help but smile, "Yes! I’ll try to be number one!"
Tang Xiaocao gave Song Lili a thumbs up.
Walking on the road, Song Lili thought about how well she got along with Xiaocao. The child was so easy to look after, probably because she matured early due to her parents’ early deaths.
She drove the car Lu Ziqing had lent her to Xilin Military Academy.
Xilin Military Academy wasn’t far from the military region, both located on the same mountain, the military region at the peak, and the academy mid-mountain.
The exam began at nine, and by eight o’clock, the site was already swarming with people.
Each candidate, after having their ID and admittance ticket checked, entered the examination hall, where soldiers stood guard, military region leadership managed discipline, and academy instructors proctored.
Pairs of stern eyes filled you with an involuntary reverence for the exam hall.
Song Lili briskly walked to her exam classroom and, in the corridor, happened to run into Officer Duan Chen walking towards her—Song Lili instinctively nodded a greeting,
"Good morning, Officer!"
Duan Chen glanced at her and walked past.
In the moment he passed by her, Song Lili’s heart suddenly raced...
Back in the train compartment, she had mistaken Duan Chen for a criminal, yet felt his demeanor didn’t match that of a terrorist.
But today, in that instant... it matched.