Chapter 40: Destination Confirmed

He De’s words hung in the air, and the lively atmosphere in the room plunged into dead silence.

It wasn’t an order, but it carried more weight than any command.

Under such pressure, no one dared to speak first.

He Lilin glanced sideways at Duo Lin on the steps. Her expression swiftly shifted from stunned rigidity to eager enthusiasm.

“This housekeeper of mine has been taking such wonderful care of me lately—thoughtful to a fault. If she stays here with you, what am I supposed to do?”

“If she stays here and gets some proper training, she’ll be able to look after you even better.”

He Lilin’s face remained wreathed in smiles. “No need. Things are perfect as they are right now.”

Up on the steps, He De’s expression had cooled markedly, shedding the easy warmth he’d shown earlier on the sofa. It was as if the mere mention of Sern people flipped him straight into work mode.

“If it’s already so perfect, then why bring her here today? Aren’t you here to learn? In that case, stay and learn properly.”

Xu Fei stood off to the side, listening to their back-and-forth, her heart fluttering with anxiety. She wanted to chime in, but the tense atmosphere made any intervention likely to only heighten the awkwardness.

“If you’re putting it like that, I won’t stand on ceremony. Otherwise, how about I take A Ge home with me? She can train the other housekeepers while still looking after me—best of both worlds.”

A Ge was the housekeeper specially assigned to Xu Fei. She was proficient in every household chore and excelled at dietary therapies for health issues. Xu Fei’s chronic headaches and insomnia depended entirely on her for relief. The He family could afford to lose He De himself, but never A Ge.

At those words, He De’s fists clenched tighter. This rebellious daughter wasn’t content to deny him one person—she wanted to poach another. Was she forcing his hand into a compromise?

“Sure, take her along. She can help regulate your health too.” Xu Fei stepped forward at just the right moment, smoothly taking up the thread.

She had harbored some resentment toward Duo Lin in the past, but today the woman had been composed and courteous, treating He Lilin with utmost respect and without a hint of overstepping.

Besides, Duo Lin had already sparked endless arguments between He Lilin and He De before, culminating in He Lilin moving out to set up her own household.

Better to avoid stirring up more trouble. If it made He Lilin happy, so be it.

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll send A Ge back in a little while. Love you!”

“Good. And remember to come home more often afterward.”

“Of course, Mom—don’t worry about me.” He Lilin’s smile grew even brighter as she turned to He De. “Dad can rest easy too. Everything’s just fine with me.”

With that, she gave a wave and led her own staff—along with the new housekeeper—toward their “homeward journey.”

He De watched her retreating figure glide away smoothly. His lips twitched a few times, but he held his tongue in the end.

Flanking the He Family Courtyard were four streetlamps, their soft glows intertwining. As people walked through, their shadows twisted and merged, fragmented then fused again, as if their very souls were being laid bare and sifted under the light.

Having just survived a brush with death, Duo Lin’s fingertips still felt chilled to the bone. But suddenly, a hand reached out from beside her, grasping her fingertips and giving them a gentle squeeze. Confirming no tremor remained, it withdrew.

Duo Lin startled and looked toward the figure ahead and to the side. It was only in that grasp that she truly felt safe at last—clear of danger.

As they walked from the courtyard to the vehicle, she trailed behind He Lilin, watching the shadows shift beneath her feet. When they finally passed out of the lamplight into the darkness, He Lilin’s silhouette seemed to gain substance, rendered three-dimensional by the play of light and shadow.

She hadn’t bet wrong after all. He Lilin had gotten her into the Old He House—and gotten her out unscathed.

This young miss might be a bit wild at times, but when she set her mind to something, she always delivered.

It gave rise to a peculiar sensation… a mad sort of security.

…

After returning from the He family home, He Lilin eased up considerably on her vigilance toward Duo Lin, her trust evidently deepening.

Lan Zhijing, however, remained as wary as ever—not of any escape attempt, but of any boundary-crossing behavior.

In a way, Lan Zhijing almost hoped Duo Lin would try to flee. That would let the household deal with the troublemaker without her having to lift a finger.

After more than a month of feigned compliance, the ruse was bearing fruit. Surveillance of Duo Lin’s movements had loosened from constant watchfulness to intermittent checks, allowing her at last to pick up her basket and step out for some air.

She might have grown rusty on the elaborate dining protocols of the He De household, but the routes for shopping were second nature.

Stepping off the tram, Duo Lin entered Nante Market. She made her way past the spice shops and fresh produce stalls until she reached the fruit stand, where she began selecting with practiced ease.

May brought a bounty of in-season fruits: apples, watermelons, plums, and starfruit, all piled high in wooden crates, their skins polished to a vibrant sheen amid the market’s riot of colors.

Duo Lin was dressed brightly herself that day, in a linen blouse paired with a light pink pinafore dress. Her hair was woven into a fishtail braid, secured at the back with a fabric tie.

Such a radiant young woman was a perfect match for the gleaming fruit stall.

The stall owner, Dan Mu, nearly failed to mask his surprise upon seeing her.

It had been so long; he’d been fretting over her safety. Now here she was, safe and sound, out shopping alone. The crisis must have been mostly resolved.

Good news indeed—worth slashing prices for a loyal customer.

“The plums and starfruit are on special today, miss. Pick up plenty; they’ll keep well.”

Duo Lin didn’t hesitate, loading handfuls into her basket. Leaning toward the stall under pretense of selection, she murmured, “I’ve got some news. He De’s heading out soon—destination likely Vanden City.”

Dan Mu’s enthusiastic expression nearly cracked again. For a figure as high-ranking as He De to crop up in Duo Lin’s report?

Not long ago, she’d been fighting for her own survival. And now, so quickly, she was feeding them intel?

“How did you find out?”

Duo Lin plucked a few smaller fruits from her basket to prolong the exchange. “I went to the Old He House with He Lilin. I stayed in an inconspicuous corner the whole time, eavesdropping on their conversation.”

“Even the small ones are sweet—go by firmness mostly,” Dan Mu replied, dropping his voice. “You went to He De’s house? That’s… risky.”

“I know. But I wanted to do something useful, at least pass along some solid info.”

For her, days were confined to the Little He House, interacting only with Lan Zhijing, A Bin, Han Ya, and He Lilin.

She could learn plenty about He Lilin, but it offered no real help to the Giel Organization’s operations. To make progress, she needed to get close to He De— infiltrate the Old He House. Yesterday had been her first real try.

Dan Mu pondered for a moment, then took the basket and set it on the scale.

“Alright, I’ll pass the message up the chain. But no more solo actions from here on. If we need you, we’ll reach out.”

“Got it. Thanks.” Duo Lin paid up, flashing a rare smile. “Don’t forget your regular customer, shopkeep. Let me know about any more deals.”

…

May 11th, Summer Lotus Flower Shop.

May was peak season for both fruits and flowers.

With new stock flooding in, the racks and platforms demanded constant refreshing. Though Xia Lie had assistants to help, she was busier than ever.

Amid the flower shop’s booming sales and doubled revenues, she worked through the orders, apron-clad amid the heady fragrances. She often found herself wondering if she was too dedicated—or just neglecting her true work?

Was she so caught up in profits that underground operations were slipping?

But this Thursday, her real duties took center stage. Wen Du Guang’s visit brought not just business but fresh intelligence.

“You’re saying Ji Tingxi won’t be in North County this weekend?”

“Yes, she’s going out of town, but I couldn’t pin down the exact location.”

“No idea when she’ll be back?”

“Correct.”

Xia Lie wiped her hands on her apron. After a day of frenzy—even meals scarfed standing up—she could finally sit. But now her mind revved back into gear.

“Leaving at this timing is suspicious. The only thing I can think of is her heading to the North District Guard Investigation Station to consult Ling Tuofu on countermeasures against us.”

Wen Du shook her head. “Doesn’t fit. Ji Tingxi hasn’t said so outright, but she’s likely realized our organization has been around for years—right from Ling Tuofu’s tenure. Nothing surfaced under him, yet she’s shaken things up massively since taking over.

“Now she’s effectively outshone her predecessor. On such a touchy matter, she wouldn’t openly seek his advice. It’d be slapping her superior in the face.”

“So what’s your theory?” Xia Lie asked.

“No firm theory yet, but her departure feels tied to the organization probe. We can’t ignore it, or bigger problems might follow.”

“How about this: tonight, I’ll set someone to tail Ji Tingxi’s residence closely. If she heads out, we’ll track her the whole way.”

“But that only covers her moves inside North County City. If she hits the airport or calls in a chopper, we won’t know the destination.”

Wen Du’s enunciation grew clipped. “The destination is crucial. Only with that can we loop in local members for action.”

“Destination?” Xia Lie echoed, her eyes lighting up as she connected it to another lead. “Right—He De’s going out too soon. Are they traveling together?”

“He De’s leaving?” Wen Du looked up. “Where’d you hear that?”

Occupational habit among operatives: always verify sources, even if details stayed classified.

“From Duo Lin. She overheard Xu Fei and He De watching the weather forecast. After Vanden City came up, Xu Fei reminded him to pack extra clothes for the trip—unpredictable weather.”

“Xu Fei reminding He De to pack more clothes…” Wen Du pieced it together. “Sounds like he’s definitely traveling, and so secretly even Guard Institute insiders don’t know. We can safely assume he and Ji Tingxi are bound for the same classified spot.”

“So Vanden City it is. Destination confirmed.”

“No…” Wen Du frowned, shaking her head again. “Did Xu Fei mention the trip location?”

“Per Duo Lin’s report, no.”

“Then Vanden City is just Duo Lin’s guess. Even with family, we only give vague regions at home—never exact times or places. Sensitive stuff stays locked down.”

“But if not Vanden, we’re back to square one.” Xia Lie pulled out her phone to check last night’s weather forecast, scanning cities before Vanden.

“No need for the forecast. Pull up the East District map.”

Station chiefs like Xia Lie kept such data handy on their phones—officially flower cultivation hubs across the confederation, in truth a roster of contact points for coordination.

Wen Du took the map, zeroed in on the East District, and zoomed on the city layout.

Vanden City lay in Kelian Province of the East District. When chatting with Xu Fei, He De wouldn’t name the exact city but likely mentioned direction and province for packing purposes. Nearby cities to Vanden…

Wen Du mentally cataloged the East District’s hot spots, cross-referencing with the map for the likeliest match.

The East District’s sore point? The Sern Jili Organization.

Facing the new policies’ classifications and oppression, most Sern people fled or fell into exploitation. But a faction rose up, entrenched along the East District borderlands. Backed by Gailie Country, they resisted Bailunting—the Jili Organization of today…

In a flash, a name in her mind overlapped the map, swelling in her pupils until it dominated her thoughts.

Meisi! Meisi City in East District Kelian Province, just a hundred kilometers from Vanden City!

At the same moment, realization struck Xia Lie too. “Ah, Meisi! It’s Meisi, right?”

The name detonated Wen Du’s train of thought. Xia Lie’s exclamation only fanned the flames, her forehead burning hot.

With no reply from Wen Du, Xia Lie leaned in, scanning the map. Tiny Meisi City lurked amid bolder fonts, but its current relevance made it leap out, snaring both their gazes.

“There it is—right by Vanden. Pretty much confirmed!”

Seeing Wen Du frozen, Xia Lie traced up from her knuckles gripping the phone: arm, shoulder, neck. This body always seemed sheathed in a cool, dewy sheen, yet now her cheeks flushed, thought’s heat igniting her capillaries.

“Mm. Destination confirmed: Meisi.”

Silence fell. Confirming vital intel should have been cause for celebration, but neither knew what to say.

Meisi City had been utterly ordinary once; no one would name it among the East District’s standouts. But one prior incident transformed it into a prime Giel watchpoint.

The Zi Qin Sisters, aided by the Giel Organization, had tried to escape custody. Ji Tingxi recaptured them, bypassing North County Labor Camp for transfer to Meisi.

Now, at this critical juncture, Ji Tingxi and He De were secretly en route to Meisi. The implication was clear: they meant to re-interrogate the sisters, prying out leads on the shadowy organization.

The Zi Qin Sisters had met organization members and knew transport routes—holding key Giel intel.

They were the strongest witnesses against Giel today.