Director Zhao looked over, only seeing Qin Ningyi.
The police officers who hadn't caught up yet could see Huo Rou's back from where they were. "Hey! Talking to you, what are you hiding for?"
Just after they got out of the car, they saw this woman take two steps behind that man. Now that the director had gone over there, she had moved back again. What was this if not hiding?
A serious-looking officer strode forward, attempting to pull Huo Rou to the front.
Although Qin Ningyi didn't know why Huo Rou had been intentionally or unintentionally leaning behind him since Director Zhao appeared, he couldn't let this person roughly grab her.
He turned and stood in front of Huo Rou, this action perfectly exposing her to Director Zhao.
She was looking back at the officer, with only her black hair facing Director Zhao and the others.
"Come here!" Director Zhao narrowed his eyes and commanded in a deep voice.
Huo Rou sighed inwardly, she couldn't evade it anymore.
She had no choice but to turn and look at Director Zhao.
Her face showed helplessness.
Director Wang didn't notice Director Zhao's momentary stiffness. He puffed himself up with a bit of borrowed authority and shouted, "The director is calling you, why aren't you coming quickly! What's with that expression, unwilling? Dawdling..."
Before he could finish speaking, Director Zhao next to him suddenly stood at attention.
His posture, chest out and head held high, was very upright.
Director Wang's words were interrupted by this sudden change. He looked at Director Zhao in bewilderment, then with shocked eyes withdrew his gaze and silently took a step back.
At this moment, Director Zhao was just like he himself had been a moment ago, not only standing tall but also showing utmost respect.
He even actively saluted!
Except for necessary occasions, they usually bowed and shook hands when meeting superiors, rarely saluting. Even if they saluted, it wouldn't be as prolonged as Director Zhao's current salute.
Just like when he went to greet Director Zhao earlier, he had only extended his hand for a handshake.
The shocking things had not ended yet.
Director Zhao's voice was loud and extremely respectful as he called out to Huo Rou.
"Captain Huo!"
In stark contrast to Director Zhao's excited expression was Huo Rou's calm demeanor.
She merely nodded, a perfectly measured smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
"Long time no see, Zhao Wen."
Her tone was familiar, clearly indicating she knew Director Zhao and even directly addressing him by name.
Director Zhao, whose name was called out so casually, did not seem angry at all. Instead, he was exceptionally excited, "You remember me?"
Huo Rou nodded. Seeing his extremely serious demeanor made her feel a strong urge to scold him. She smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, put your hand down."
A silly smile appeared on Zhao Wen's face, which had been stern since his arrival.
He obeyed and lowered his hand, then walked forward proactively.
"Captain Huo, uh, I..." The thought of how he had just ordered Captain Huo to come over made him want to slap himself.
"It's alright, it's business as usual, it's good." Huo Rou didn't mind. She just hadn't seen or contacted her former comrades in a long time and didn't know how to face them.
However, Zhao Wen was fine; he was just her teammate from the Flaming Fire Assault Team, and they had even bid her farewell when she left after passing the assessment.
"Heh heh, Captain Huo, is this a mission you're on this time? And you're the one who apprehended thesebdd people, right?" Zhao Wen's smile at this moment was a little like Director Wang's earlier, but the difference was that his smile was from the heart, not feigned.
Director Wang watched this scene, looking somewhat stunned. He had distanced himself from Huo Rou quite a bit earlier.
"Political Commissar, does this person have any other background?" He tugged at the Political Commissar's sleeve, asking timidly.
He only received a warning glance from the Political Commissar.
He had no choice but to let go and stand aside like a timid wife, not daring to leave or speak further.
"Mission?" Qin Ningyi heard the word and felt that what he had been suspecting seemed to be in the right direction. Only in the military were terms like "mission" commonly used.
Huo Rou thought of her sudden departure and fell silent.
Leaving Flaming Fire back then was understandable. But the departure after that...
She dared not recall her time in the military, and those memories now surged back.
"I am... just an ordinary person now." Huo Rou carefully chose her words, speaking this sentence with great difficulty.
Logically, she should have let it go long ago, but in front of her former comrades, she found it somewhat difficult to speak of.
Zhao Wen also noticed Huo Rou's awkwardness. He laughed heartily, "Regardless, Captain Huo, you must have your reasons for being here."
"And these people from the Jiang family were brought by you too?" He glanced back at Wang Haozhuo. Seeing him like this, the scar on his face didn't seem as menacing.
It was quite pitiable, to be disfigured at such a young age.
Wang Haozhuo met Zhao Wen's sympathetic gaze and shivered. Why did it feel so creepy? Perhaps he should be more aggressive towards them; this was the proper atmosphere for the police and the Jiang family.
Seeing Huo Rou nod, Zhao Wen smiled even more heartily, "As expected of Captain Huo, bringing out good soldiers wherever you go. I thought these people were extraordinary just now; they look even better than the ones our neighborhood captain brings."
If not for the sincerity practically overflowing from Zhao Wen's eyes, the Political Commissar would truly have believed that the usually stern and aloof Director Zhao Wen had suddenly become more approachable.
It was difficult to believe these words were not flattery.
Speaking of leading soldiers, a bitter smile touched Huo Rou's lips. She wondered if those people resented her.
She changed the subject, "How did you end up being a director?"
Zhao Wen replied earnestly, "After you left, Captain Huo, I was promoted. I didn't do it for long before being transferred here to fill in. You don't know, but it's only after not being in this line of work that I realized how much you worried about us back then..."
The Political Commissar felt that his words were becoming increasingly outrageous. He interjected, "Director Zhao, we still need to escort the prisoners back."
If he let Zhao Wen continue, he would get goosebumps.
"That Giles is an important figure. If you are unsure, you can report it to Flaming Fire." Huo Rou offered a suggestion.
Zhao Wen nodded obediently, extremely compliant.
"Captain Huo, why don't you come with me? After we deal with them, I'll gather our brothers in Yu Chang City, and we can have a meal together. Everyone misses you dearly."
Zhao Wen was quite capable, and entrusting people to him was reliable. Huo Rou shook her head, "Not today, I have other matters."
"Alright, then Captain Huo, may I have your contact information? Once you're free, I'll arrange another gathering." Zhao Wen's posture was extremely humble.
After they exchanged phone numbers, Director Zhao, looking very satisfied, turned back to direct his men to receive the prisoners.
His gaze swept over the cowering Director Wang, who was like a turtle shrinking into its shell. He remembered Director Wang's earlier words. How could Captain Huo have any issues? This person was quite skilled at talking nonsense.