Chapter 3430: Combustion (19)

During the retreat, Song Yi was the fastest one to run back.

Even though they were serving their country, which was an honorable thing, their squad being the first to return might look bad to the higher-ups, who could easily assume they were slacking off or shirking duty.

But there should be GPS tracking; command would be able to see just how far they’d pushed into enemy territory.

Still, was it really okay to be this eager to retreat?

Song Yi went to report the situation, then rushed back and told the squad, “You guys rest. I’m going to find Wu Xianrou.”

“Wait up, Sir. We’ll go with you,” Old Two said to him.

Song Yi waved a hand. “Old Six and Old Three are both injured. Stay here and look after them. This is a personal matter. I can’t ask you to come along.”

“I’ll go with you,” Ning Shu said. “We should check flight information now.”

She still couldn’t understand why Wu Xianrou had come to a place like this.

Flights in countries like this were so risky that every safe landing felt like a miracle. People would stand and applaud like they were celebrating new life.

That alone said a lot about how unstable things were—so unstable that even a safe landing was worth celebrating.

Back home, who ever worried about something like that? No one had to.

“Right, right—don’t panic, Sir. I’ll check it for you,” Little Nine said. He pulled out his laptop and began tapping rapidly on the keyboard.

Song Yi stood there nervously, watching him. “Do you have anything yet?”

Little Nine nodded and checked the time on his watch. “If you leave for the airport right now, you might still make it. You should be able to catch her flight. But if anything happens to the plane… there’s no way to guarantee anything.”

Song Yi checked the jeep—fuel, engine, all systems.

He was ready to head out for the airport.

Ning Shu asked Little Nine for the location of the airport and the flight’s estimated landing time.

Then, she adjusted her gun and gear and climbed into the jeep.

“Get out. I don’t need you to come. Stay here,” Song Yi said to her.

Ning Shu sighed. “Everyone’s already worn out, and no one’s at ease letting you go alone. I’m the only one in shape to go with you.”

Song Yi pressed his lips together and started the engine. He drove aggressively. The jeep bounced violently as it tore down the road.

Ning Shu was jostled around in the backseat.

This maniac! Could he slow down!?

They sped to the airport, only to be told the flight had been delayed.

In other countries, a flight delay wasn’t a big deal. But here, it could mean the plane had been hijacked.

An entire plane full of people might be in danger.

And the flight was currently out of contact.

Song Yi’s face instantly turned grim.

He slammed his fist into the wall so hard it made Ning Shu wince just to watch.

She blinked. Don’t tell her he was about to requisition a military helicopter and go chasing after Wu Xianrou.

While she was still thinking it, Song Yi was already on the phone, ordering Old Six, the expert pilot of their squad, to bring over a military helicopter.

Ning Shu: …

Were they really just doing that? Was that even allowed?

On the other end, Old Six hesitated, then said, “Sir, all the helicopters are already in use. They’re transporting the oil company employees back home.”

“Don’t tell me there’s not a single one available?” Song Yi said anxiously.

“Sir, there are helicopters, but right now they’re all being prioritized to transport employees from the oil company. And I don’t have the authority to dispatch one,” Old Six said, scratching his head, clearly at a loss.

In the military, obedience was a soldier’s first duty. Although special forces enjoyed relatively more freedom, casually dispatching resources like this was still out of line.

“Just use one. If there are consequences, I’ll take responsibility,” Song Yi said directly.

“Sir, that’s not really appropriate…” Old Six said, torn.

“It’s fine. I’ll take full responsibility. Six, Miss Wu’s plane was hijacked.” Song Yi was anxious, but he still had to explain it clearly to Old Six.

Old Six wiped his face. “Shouldn’t this be reported? Miss Wu is a citizen of our country after all, and she’s also the daughter of Political Commissar Wu. We should definitely make every effort to rescue her.

“Wait a bit. Once Old Two reports this, it’ll no longer be your personal matter. When it goes through official channels, we’ll have access to more resources for the rescue.”

This way, they wouldn’t face disciplinary action, and they could still get the helicopter. Song Yi didn’t currently have the authority, and Old Six had even less.

They had no choice but to follow procedure.

Song Yi couldn’t do anything else either, and he had no choice but to wait.

Once he calmed down, he knew this wasn’t something that could be rushed.

Ning Shu stood off to the side, watching Song Yi pace back and forth in front of her like a cat on a hot tin roof. His anxious movements were so frantic they were enough to make anyone feel on edge.

“Sir, sit down and take a breather,” Ning Shu said, patting the chair next to her.

“This hasn’t reached the worst-case scenario yet. It could just be a delayed flight. We can’t even be sure Miss Wu actually boarded the plane.”

Song Yi was holding his phone, repeatedly calling Wu Xianrou, but she wasn’t answering. She wasn’t replying to his texts either.

That clearly meant something had happened. She had to be on that plane.

Song Yi sighed. Right now, Wu Xianrou wasn’t just his girlfriend. She was also a citizen of the country, and the daughter of his superior.

If anything happened to Wu Xianrou, there was no way he could explain himself.

He kept running his hands over his head, rubbing his face again and again.

“Old Six, has it been approved yet?” Song Yi asked over the phone.

“Sir, don’t be anxious. They’re still verifying Miss Wu’s identity,” Old Six replied helplessly.

“Try to hurry them along. Every second counts. Time is life.”

That kind of anxious panic that a person would feel when something happened to someone they cared about could drive them mad.

Every minute and every second dragged on endlessly.

Song Yi kept sighing, and it made Ning Shu want to punch him.

“Sir, give Old Six a break. He’s not the one who makes the final call on the helicopter. If there’s any news, he’ll definitely let you know right away,” Ning Shu said calmly.

Song Yi was acting irrationally out of worry. Just thinking about the danger Wu Xianrou might be in was enough to make him unravel.

He collapsed into a chair, holding his forehead. “You’re a woman too. Can you understand why Wu Xianrou would do something like this?”

Ning Shu said, “Wu Xianrou’s not a soldier, after all. She doesn’t really understand these things. But think about it—she came all this way to a dangerous place for you. That alone says a lot.”

What nonsense. If you couldn’t be helpful, at least she shouldn’t drag others down, alright? Was it really so hard to weigh the severity of the situation?

No one better talk to her about heartfelt gestures. Staying safely at home and waiting for his return would’ve been the best thing she could’ve done for Song Yi.

Ning Shu rubbed her face. The moment Wu Xianrou was brought up, she couldn’t help it. Some people just had the luxury of being reckless.

They could live however they wanted.

Song Yi let out a weary sigh. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe Wu Xianrou just isn’t a good match for me.”

Ning Shu simply said, “Everything has two sides. If you’ve chosen to be with Wu Xianrou, then you’ve chosen to accept both her strengths and her flaws. That’s just who she is.

“How’s she flawed? She’s naive, straightforward, with no real sense of the bigger pictures. She blindly follows her feelings. If you can accept it, then accept it. If you can’t, then part ways on good terms.”

Ning Shu was speaking from a neutral standpoint. She wasn’t trying to push them to break up.

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