[Bu Peng Hai: Commander Jiang summoned us and gave us a stern lecture. There were too many problems with this military operation. Especially the mecha units, their actions were too fast, and they killed many people who shouldn't have been killed. This is all our fault for not setting up the procedures properly beforehand. There were also many deficiencies in the details. For security reasons, I cannot elaborate further here.]
[The engagement is still ongoing. The air force and naval forces of the exiled planet have lost all combat capability. Some areas have surrendered, but some areas are still resisting stubbornly, arming civilians to use as cannon fodder. The next phase of operations will be more difficult, mainly due to the need to be cautious. We cannot slaughter everyone just because one area is resisting. We will try our best to only kill those who resist, ensure the safety of civilians, and adhere to humanitarian principles.]
[Let's end the interview here. I haven't slept in two days and need to catch some sleep during this break. After the war ends, I'll tell you as much as you want to interview.]
Isabelle read through the interviews one by one. The reporter for this magazine was incredibly capable, interviewing people from all walks of life and classes, introducing this war from different perspectives and angles.
Moreover, the interviews in the magazine were only excerpts. At the end of each interview, there was a QR code with small print below it: "Scan the code to read the full interview dialogue and watch the interview video."
Isabelle took out her phone and scanned the code.
It cost four hundred yuan.
Isabelle got angry, "Damn, is this magazine robbing people?"
"I'll treat you," Liu Jizi said with a smile from across the table. "I've already scanned and bought it. I'll send you a screenshot later."
"Okay," Isabelle smiled.
She wasn't short of four hundred yuan. With her current wealth, she could earn eight hundred to a thousand yuan in the blink of an eye. It was just that she had lived as an ordinary person for too long in her youth and had developed a habit of saving.
The food arrived.
A small piece of paper was stuck to the bottom of Isabelle's wine glass.
She was surprised, peeled off the paper, and unfolded it. It was written in ballpoint pen.
"To the noble and beautiful lady, your demeanor captivates me. May I invite you out for a meal when you are free? - Covardale Abbott, Waiter"
Liu Jizi raised an eyebrow and looked at the note in Isabelle's hand, "What's that?"
Isabelle handed the note directly to her.
Liu Jizi glanced at it and then turned to look at the waiter in the distance in surprise.
"The waiters nowadays are so bold, daring to hit on customers. I know the owner of this place. Do you want me to call and get him fired?" Liu Jizi said.
"Go ahead and call," Isabelle nodded and smiled. "I don't want to come here for meals and have to worry about whether there's a note under my glass every time."
Liu Jizi immediately took out her phone and quickly made a call, changing her accent slightly to complain:
"How is your restaurant managed? I'm dining with my friend here, and a waiter put a note under my friend's glass, wanting to ask my friend out. What kind of nonsense is this?"
A man's voice came from her phone, also with a slight regional accent, "Oh dear, what a mess. Please apologize to your friend for me! What's the waiter's name? I'll fire him right away, he won't be able to stay in this town."
Liu Jizi gave the name and hung up.
Less than a minute later, they saw the manager come out of the kitchen, his face flushed red, pointing at a waiter who was serving dishes. The waiter's face turned pale, and he scurried over, immediately receiving two slaps from the manager.
"What do you think you are! Don't you have a mirror at home or any shame? Pack your things and get out of here immediately. Your remaining salary will be transferred to your account! Don't let me see you again! We don't have people like you in our establishment!"
The waiter stammered in fear, "Manager, why... am I being fired?"
"You're still asking me why? You harassed a customer! You've offended someone you shouldn't have!" the manager roared, kicking him into the kitchen.
Isabelle continued eating, without lifting her head, "You have so much influence."
"It's not my influence, it's that the owner of this place knows how to handle things and gives face," Liu Jizi said, looking down at her phone. "Besides, he also knows my habits. I don't dine with just anyone. The customers I bring to his establishment are definitely people he can't afford to offend."
"You exaggerate. I'm just in the logistics business, I don't have any official position. In the end, I'm just a wealthy commoner," Isabelle said.
"Joking aside, can a wealthy commoner sleep in the Commander's office? Can a wealthy commoner help take care of the Commander's only son?" Liu Jizi smiled.
"That's because Jiang Ye is approachable," Isabelle also smiled.
"I'm being a bit gossipy, but how did you meet the Commander?" Liu Jizi suddenly asked with curiosity.
"Didn't I tell you?" Isabelle was taken aback.
"No," Liu Jizi put down her chopsticks. "Tell me about it."
"Back then, Jiang Ye was the colonial governor. He drove a beat-up base vehicle, mining and farming in the wilderness. I was a courier back then, and he was the first person on the entire planet to order bulk goods. I went to deliver them," Isabelle said.
Liu Jizi waited for a moment, then blinked, "And then?"
"Then? Then we met, didn't we?" Isabelle said.
"What did you say to each other the first time you met?" Liu Jizi asked.
"I forgot," Isabelle rubbed her hair. "My memory isn't very good."
"So it was just a normal sign-off and then it ended?"
"Not exactly. The first time I delivered to him, my spaceship had an accident, and the ship and the goods burned up together. I had to reship the goods later," Isabelle said. "Thinking about it now, it might have been a blessing in disguise. If my spaceship hadn't broken down then and I hadn't stayed in his vehicle for a few days, Jiang Ye might not have remembered me, and I wouldn't be where I am today."
"Stayed for a few days?" Liu Jizi's eyes suddenly lit up, her gossipy spirit burning fiercely, "Did you sleep together?"
"Don't misunderstand, we just slept side-by-side, nothing more," Isabelle blushed.
"Really?" Liu Jizi winked meaningfully, "Are you still hiding things from your good friend? Just tell me if anything happened!"
"Really!" Isabelle said, half-laughing and half-crying, "What do you want to have happened?"
Liu Jizi remained silent, her smile full of cunning.
Isabelle glared at her.
The phone on the table suddenly rang, displaying Jiang Ye's name.
Isabelle raised an eyebrow, "Speak of the devil, and he appears?"
She picked up the phone and answered, "Hello?"
"In about two months, the first batch of alien industries and companies will be able to set up on the exiled planet. Do you want to set up there?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Hmm..." Isabelle hesitated.
"Don't be indecisive, just say yes or no. Go ahead," Jiang Ye immediately interrupted her. "Take some time in the next two days to come to the space city. I'll give you some materials. These materials are highly classified, related to the exiled planet, and cannot be leaked. You must read them on-site."
"Okay, I'll see which day I'm free," Isabelle said.
"Are you free tomorrow morning?" Jiang Ye asked immediately.
"Tomorrow... yes."
"Then come tomorrow morning. You should arrive by afternoon. Send me a message before you arrive," Jiang Ye said, then hung up decisively.
Isabelle pouted, "So domineering!"