Ming Chuyan said righteously, "I don't believe I only have achievements but no humanity!"
"What's going on? What's your judgment?" the Deputy Commander sneered. "What was the mission the department assigned you?"
The Deputy Commander's triple question left Ming Chuyan speechless.
The department's mission was to rescue as many of Xia Kingdom's seven researchers as possible.
But he believed rescuing seven was impossible.
So he immediately dismissed the thought.
Without a second thought, he chose to save only Yuan Da.
But...
He had only wanted to complete the mission.
"Don't use your judgment, your assumptions, to complete the department's mission," the Deputy Commander said, his eyes cold. "You thought it couldn't be done, so why... was Mo Zheng able to complete it so excellently?"
Ming Chuyan's lips pressed tighter, and he lowered his head in silence.
"Not only did she complete the department's mission, but she also rescued ten researchers from other countries, earning Xia Kingdom the gratitude and respect of those nations, and securing Xia Kingdom's future."
The Deputy Commander's gaze grew colder. "You, because of Mo Zheng's appearance, ruined your grand plan for merit, and after Mo Zheng rescued the mission targets, you attempted to use criminals to kill Mo Zheng!"
"Tell me, should the department punish you!"
Ming Chuyan squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. "Yes."
"The department revoked your position. Was that a mistake?"
Ming Chuyan: "...No."
"Then do you have any complaints?"
Ming Chuyan was silent for a few seconds, then slowly said, "No."
"If not, then explain it clearly to your family. The department... will never be stained!" If it weren't for this family having some connection to Miss Ming Zheng, he wouldn't have bothered to waste so many words with Ming Chuyan.
Most importantly...
They actually blamed Miss Ming Zheng for Ming Chuyan's dismissal.
And they misunderstood that Miss Ming Zheng and him...
He was already old and half in the grave!
This wasn't ruining his reputation in his twilight years?
And... Miss Ming Zheng was only nineteen years old!
Still so young!
This was ruining someone's reputation!
If he didn't clarify everything for Miss Ming Zheng in front of this family.
Who knew what they would say about Miss Ming Zheng behind her back!
Ming Father and Ming Mother's expressions changed back and forth, glancing at the Deputy Commander, then at Ming Chuyan.
"No... impossible, Sixth Brother..."
They shook their heads in disbelief.
But their earlier arrogance was gone.
Their bravado in shouting at the Deputy Commander was also gone.
Clearly, they understood the cause and effect.
But, having escalated to this point, they couldn't, or rather, dared not, admit it.
Their son hadn't completed the mission.
Someone else had completed it.
And completed it hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of times better than their son.
Their son, out of jealousy... even wanted to kill the one who completed the mission.
How... how was this possible?
How could they accept this?
"Dad, Mom, please stop talking. It's true! It's all true!" Ming Chuyan feared his parents would say something even more astonishing.
He abruptly bowed towards the Deputy Commander. "Deputy Commander, I apologize! It was my problem, my mistake, that implicated the department. I sincerely apologize to you and to the department!"
"The person you need to apologize to isn't me," the Deputy Commander said.
Ming Chuyan was stunned for a moment.
His gaze slowly shifted to the girl standing to the side.
Ming Zheng had her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, with a smile that seemed like she was watching a good show.
When she met his gaze.
She raised an eyebrow playfully.
Her bright and dazzling face, against the brilliant wall lamps of the corridor, was momentarily blinding.
Vaguely.
It seemed to overlap with the striking woman in black, with her high ponytail, on the cruise ship that day.
But the thought lasted only for a moment.
He shook his head forcefully.
Ming Zheng was just a good-for-nothing.
How could she be that Mo Zheng who had completed the mission so effortlessly on the cruise ship?
It must be because their names both had "Zheng" in them, making him hallucinate.
He pursed his lips, a trace of unwillingness in his eyes.
To apologize to the Deputy Commander.
He had no objections or hesitation.
But to apologize to Ming Zheng...
He couldn't do it!
"What? Do you think you shouldn't apologize to Miss Ming Zheng?" the Deputy Commander's tone deepened, his commanding presence filling the air, making it heavy and oppressive.
Ming Chuyan immediately succumbed to the "true fragrance theorem" and turned to Ming Zheng. "Ming... Ming Zheng, I'm sorry."
The relaxed and languid girl nonchalantly raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Sorry for what?"
Ming Chuyan's expression stiffened, and his brows furrowed.
But when he caught the Deputy Commander's gaze.
He gritted his teeth and spoke again. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have blamed you for my dismissal, and I shouldn't have shifted the responsibility for my dismissal onto you."
Ming Zheng gave another indifferent "Oh."
She offered no further reaction.
Ming Chuyan could only maintain his bowing posture, motionless.
Until a minute passed.
Ming Father and Ming Mother, snapping out of their shock, were about to erupt in anger.
The Deputy Commander's sharp shout, "Get out!"
Startled, Ming Father and Ming Mother's just-ignited anger instantly extinguished.
Ming Chuyan quickly responded, "Yes, yes, yes!"
With that, he led Ming Father and Ming Mother away.
Seeing this, the other bodyguards dared not act presumptuously in front of the Deputy Commander, and they all left swiftly.
Just as Ming Father and Ming Mother reached the corner.
The Deputy Commander suddenly spoke again, "Wait."
Their footsteps halted.
The Deputy Commander raised his eyebrows, his gaze stern and cold, darkening slightly. "Mrs. Ming Chairman just said something that I also want to ask."
"Is there any parent in the world who wouldn't worry about their child?"
"But aren't you precisely a pair of parents who don't worry about their child?"
After speaking.
He strode forward.
Following Ming Zheng into her room.
Ming Father and Ming Mother's faces turned slightly pale.
-
"Miss Ming Zheng."
The Deputy Commander's face was grim, his brows furrowed. "Do you need the department to intervene?"
Ming Zheng shook her head. "No need. They don't dare to cause trouble anymore."
Every time they caused trouble, it resulted in personal injury or financial loss.
Now, with the Deputy Commander present, they wouldn't dare to approach her for a while.
Moreover...
It was just the Ming family.
There was no need to waste the department's strength.
That would be a waste of resources.
The Deputy Commander wanted to say more, but seeing that Ming Zheng had no intention of continuing the topic, he didn't press further.
Indeed.
Those people were, after all, Miss Ming Zheng's relatives.
Yet they treated Miss Ming Zheng like this.
No matter who it was, they wouldn't be able to accept it.
Having such family.
Would surely be difficult.
He quickly changed the subject.
His original purpose for coming was merely to escort Ming Zheng home.
He had only come upstairs because he heard the Ming family was causing trouble.
Now that the matter was resolved.
After sitting for a few minutes, the Deputy Commander left.