The night before the college entrance exam results were released, I redeemed my Peking University ad

Meanwhile, at a private estate in the United States.

The long oak table was covered with dark green tablecloth, and a half-smoked cigar lay in the crystal ashtray, its smoke rising in wisps, cut into pale blue mist by the halo of the crystal chandelier.

The group of people sitting around the table, each one of them, could easily make the front page of The Wall Street Journal.

But at this moment, they are gathered together, their posture relaxed as if they are discussing where to play golf this weekend.

"So, China wants to secretly send Ji Bai back to the country on a commercial airliner?" someone asked.

"That's how it looks for now!" The other person shrugged.

"Oh God! They don't really think they can just send someone out right under our noses, do they?"

"Gentlemen, do you know the cheapest way to acquire an extremely valuable patent?"

The group exchanged glances and then burst into low chuckles.

"Hahahaha, of course it's because the patent holder passed away unexpectedly!"

"However, this is on the premise that the patent holder has no legal heirs!"

"What a coincidence! That student, Ji, is an orphan with no living relatives!"

"But what if the Chinese government wants to inherit it?"

"No, no, no," the elderly man at the head of the group waved his hand.

"A genius like Ji Bai belongs to the whole world! His research results should naturally be shared by all mankind! How can they be monopolized by one country?"

"Haha, you're right!"

Someone raised their glass.

"Everyone will feel regret over a tragic plane crash, but the spark of technology will benefit the whole world in a more 'reasonable' way! Isn't that right?"

"Gentlemen, cheers!"

"No, no, no, it should be remembrance!"

"According to the Chinese way, this glass of wine should be poured on the ground!"

Whoosh—!

Several glasses of expensive champagne were spilled on the silk cashmere blanket.

"What a pity!"

Someone sighed.

"Such fine wine, what a waste!"

……

Philadelphia International Airport.

Using his false identity, Ji Bai successfully passed through security and boarded a commercial airliner bound for China.

The whole process was seamless; no one could connect this young man in a baseball cap and casual jacket with the legendary genius who had just won the Fields Medal.

He encountered no checks along the way; the customs officers at the exit only glanced at his brand-new passport before waving him through.

The process went so smoothly that Ji Bai felt that Counselor Liu's nervousness was an overreaction.

The accompanying body was protected by two undercover agents who had never been activated before.

It is said that there is an unwritten rule in the External Relations Department that certain identities that have been operating overseas for many years but have never been used will only be awakened in the most critical moment.

In order to protect Ji Bai, we had to urgently wake up the two of them.

One male and one female.

The man's name was Zhao Chuang. His public identity was a coach at a boxing club in Chinatown. He was burly and thick-waisted, with a neck almost as thick as his head. Standing next to Ji Bai, he looked like a breathing cement wall.

The woman's name is Zhou Ling. Her public identity is an emergency room doctor at a community hospital in New York. She wears gold-rimmed glasses, speaks softly, and smiles like a friendly older sister next door.

The above arrangement can be described as very appropriate, with one capable of fighting and the other capable of rescuing, which can handle almost any emergency.

After Ji Bai boarded the plane, he sat in a window seat. Zhao Chuang sat to his left in an aisle seat, and Zhou Ling sat diagonally behind him.

The three maintained a reasonable distance, neither too close nor too far.

Ji Bai leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

He was just about to close his eyes and doze off for a while when he heard a childish voice behind him.

"Mom! This is my first time on an airplane!"

"Yes, baby, you'll see Grandma and Grandpa as soon as you get off the plane! Aren't you excited?"

Ji Bai's expression changed slightly.

It's okay, everyone flies for the first time.

Kids are kids, it's normal for them to be excited.

Then, the captain's voice came over the loudspeaker:

"Good afternoon, passengers. I am Captain James McCullen of today's flight. I have been flying safely with United Airlines for thirty years."

"I'll retire after this flight!"

Thank you for flying with us. Have a pleasant journey.

A burst of spontaneous applause erupted in the cabin.

Ji Bai's expression changed twice.

Thirty years of safe flying, I'll retire after this flight...

Why do those words sound so harsh?

Before I could think any further, another sweet male voice came from ahead:

"Ranran, I'm already on the plane. Let's get our marriage certificate as soon as we land!"

Ji Bai's expression changed again!

Just then, Zhao Chuang on the left suddenly spoke up.

The burly boxing coach's eyes were slightly red, and his voice was a few decibels lower than usual.

"My five-year undercover mission is finally over. I can go home and see my daughter!"

"I didn't go back when my daughter was born, I didn't go back when she took her first steps, and I didn't go back when she called me 'Dad' for the first time. For the past five years, I've only been able to see photos sent by her mother in encrypted emails."

As she spoke, she shoved her phone screen in front of Ji Bai. The photo showed a little girl with pigtails, smiling and revealing a row of gap teeth, holding a lollipop that was almost bigger than her head.

"How is it? Isn't it cute?"

Ji Bai's expression changed several times.

Before he could even catch his breath, Zhou Ling spoke up from behind:

"Oh dear, I always buy accident insurance when I fly, how could I forget this time!"

"Is it okay if I don't buy it once?"

Ji Bai's face turned completely green.

No, are you two here to see me off, or do you want to get rid of me?

Just then, two flight attendants pushed a food cart down the aisle, their voices drifting over:

"Just now, a passenger in the back cabin suddenly started crying and shouting that he wanted to get off the plane, saying he felt panicked and didn't want to stay. We tried to persuade him for a long time, but it was no use..."

boom!

Ji Bai's expression changed drastically.

A child taking their first flight, a captain flying for the last time before retirement, a couple getting married right after landing, a secret agent about to see his daughter, a female doctor who forgot to buy insurance, and a passenger crying and shouting to get off the plane...

Oh no, the buff is fully stacked!

Even Jesus couldn't save this plane!

He quickly turned to the side and asked Zhao Chuang in a low voice, "Um, is it still possible to get off the plane now?"

Zhao Chuang put away his phone and shook his head.

"It's probably not appropriate to get off the plane now! The US has likely already received news that you're missing. After all, so many people at the ICM conference watched you leave; the news can't stay hidden for long."

"Getting off the plane now would increase the risk of exposure, so to be on the safe side, it's best not to!"

"Don't worry, with me here, there won't be any problems."

Zhou Ling leaned over and said, "That's right, it's too risky to get off the plane now! Don't worry, after another thirteen hours of flying, the plane will land at Beijing Capital International Airport, and you'll be completely safe!"

Ji Bai sighed.

Fine.

Tongzi, it's up to you!

He saved up for ten days with great perseverance, wasn't he waiting for this moment?

"System, synthesize a thousand-dollar option."

[Ding! Synthesis successful! The host currently has one choice opportunity worth 1,000 yuan. Would you like to activate it immediately?]

"Activate".