The two men sat down on the sofa at the same time.
Zhang Wan set down two cups of water and immediately turned back toward the kitchen to continue cooking.
After a brief, mutual silence, Fu Hu ventured tentatively, "Director Li, would it be convenient if I asked you a few questions?"
"Of course. However, some matters are classified, so please forgive me if I cannot comment."
"Naturally. I'd like to ask: when was this National Intervention Bureau founded? And what exactly are its functions?"
"The National Intervention Bureau was established thirty years ago. Put simply, it is responsible for predicting, intervening in, managing, and covering up major national-level uncertainties. We specialize in dealing with 'risks beyond the open surface,' serving as a backstop for national strategic security."
Fu Hu narrowed his eyes. "Earlier, you said my rank was too low and that it was normal for me not to know about the bureau. Why are you telling me so plainly now?"
Su Jin chuckled, picked up his cup, and cast a sidelong glance at Fu Hu. "Simple enough. Before long, the entire country will know about our department."
"Why..."
Just as Fu Hu was about to press further, Su Jin reached into his jacket, pulled out a disc, and held it out to him.
"Could you pop this disc in for me? Don't worry, it's just an ordinary movie. You're welcome to watch it too."
Fu Hu stared at the disc, thought quickly for a moment, and turned around to insert it into the player.
Su Jin crossed his legs, placed his notebook on the sofa armrest, and held his pen ready to write.
When Fu Hu turned back and saw him in this posture, he felt thoroughly bewildered once more.
"This has nothing to do with you," Su Jin said, waving his pen slightly. "Go ahead and keep asking, Lao Fu. Anything I'm permitted to say, I will tell you. Coming over unannounced was rather presumptuous of me, but since we're both our own people, I didn't want any misunderstandings between us."
Fu Hu nodded and pressed on, "You say you're a director at the National Intervention Bureau, but you look like you're only in your twenties. In such a critical agency... with such a post, how could they appoint someone so young?"
"In truth, I'm already in my thirties; I just happen to look young. Still, you're right. Even in one's thirties, holding this rank in such a department is extraordinarily rare.
"Yet the reason behind it isn't complicated: people like me are hard to find. The tasks our department handles are exceptionally grave. They require mastery of foreign cultures, fluency in multiple languages, expertise in mathematics, physics, computer science... even psychology, among other fields. The number of people across the entire nation who meet all these requirements can be counted on one hand.
"I only just returned to the country and rented an apartment. The Rencai Community happens to be where retired personnel used to live, so I picked this place. I never imagined I'd end up as your neighbor."
"Uh..." Fu Hu was momentarily at a loss for words.
A peculiar stranger, an unheard-of government agency.
Even though the man had produced some evidence, Fu Hu still didn't dare trust him.
It was strange—bizarre in every respect.
Even if the explanation sounded plausible, he still found it hard to accept that a young squirt could have climbed to the rank of director in such a high-stakes bureau.
What else should he ask...?
Just as Fu Hu sank into thought, Su Jin took the initiative. "Lao Fu, I know you don't believe me, but take a look at this and you'll understand."
With that, he unlocked the Xiaomi 6 in his hand and tossed it straight to Fu Hu.
Fu Hu caught it deftly with quick reflexes and immediately examined it.
The first time he laid eyes on this contraption, he had sensed it was out of the ordinary!
It was bound to be some cutting-edge high technology. Now that he had the chance to hold and inspect it, he certainly wasn't going to waste the opportunity.
"What is this thing called? What kind of text is displayed on it?"
"In essence, it's a mobile phone. The operating system has been modified by our department, replaced entirely with encrypted cipher that only insiders can read," Su Jin replied casually.
"The technology packed into this device integrates virtually every function of commercial electronic products on the market. It was developed under a classified foreign initiative, carrying epoch-making strategic significance. My mission abroad was precisely to obtain the relevant manufacturing schematics."
Filled with intense curiosity, Fu Hu fiddled with the phone until the screen locked. He looked up, squinting at Su Jin. "Such critical intelligence... aren't you telling me a bit too much?!"
Su Jin nodded. "Very good. As expected of a candidate once vetted for the National Intervention Bureau, your vigilance is commendable. But frankly, this isn't something that needs to be concealed anymore. A year ago, I transmitted all the manufacturing data back to the country, and trial production began internally six months ago.
"Once our bureau officially goes public, this device will also be released on the domestic civilian market. When that happens, it will be affordable for ordinary people, and it will undoubtedly cause a sensation on the global stage... By my count, that should be less than a month away."
"Is that for real?! High-tech like this, affordable for anyone?" Fu Hu's pupils dilated, his pulse quickening. "How much would that cost?"
"Around eight to ten thousand, give or take."
"Is that a price everyone can afford?"
"Interest-free installments."
"..."
Before Fu Hu could recover from his surprise, Su Jin seized the initiative. "You must still have plenty of doubts. You're uneasy about my identity, and you can't fathom why someone of my standing would appear here.
"To be blunt, I returned to the country secretly, keeping my superiors in the dark. My mission was completed long ago, and my declassification period ends next month. An incident occurred within the bureau, leaving the deputy director's seat vacant—a position that should have been mine. But because I've been away from Longshan for so many years, certain people in the bureau want to exploit the opening. That's why I coordinated privately with my subordinates and rented a temporary flat here.
"Running into you was purely an accident. Originally, I just wanted to borrow a television... There's no harm in telling you this, so long as you keep it strictly confidential."
The vigilance in Fu Hu's eyes showed no sign of fading. "With so much at stake, is it really appropriate to tell me all this?"
Su Jin chuckled dryly and leaned back lazily against the sofa, fixing his gaze on the television. "There's nothing inappropriate about it. You're not involved in the bureau, so you can't affect the outcome. Besides, spending years abroad, I couldn't possibly play all my cards at once. Once I decipher the rest of the intelligence and hand it over to leadership, that deputy director's seat will still be mine."
With that, Su Jin lifted the notebook in his hand.
The characters scrawled across the pages were identical to the symbols on the phone—completely illegible.
Fu Hu fell silent, lost in thought.
This matter was simply too monumental, and it had dropped out of nowhere.
Reason warned him that he couldn't take this kid's words at face value; he didn't behave like anyone inside the system at all... Yet Fu Hu couldn't find a single flaw to refute.
The main issue was that the background was too opaque, leaving him completely in the dark, while the artifacts presented were far beyond his realm of comprehension.
"Lao Fu..." Su Jin kept his eyes glued to the television screen. "Fate brought us together, and I've shared quite a lot with you. Right now, practically all my subordinates are being watched. If you'd be willing to run a few errands on my behalf, I'd be profoundly grateful.
"Money is no object. In ten days to half a month, my affairs here will be wrapped up. If you're looking for work, there's always an opening in our bureau's administrative office... starting salary over ten thousand a month."
A starting salary over ten thousand?!
Fu Hu shuddered slightly and lowered his voice. "Director Li, I suspect... this was your real motive for coming over and telling me so much, wasn't it?"
Su Jin let out a faint laugh. "Half right. Living across the hall from you truly was an accident. So, are you willing to do me this favor?"
"I'd still like to ask: exactly which country were you operating in?"
"My movements are top secret and will not be disclosed in the future... It's fine, Lao Fu. If you don't want to help, you don't have to. I won't interfere with your life."
"Thank you, Director... Uh, have you eaten yet?"
Su Jin's pen halted, and he glanced sideways at Fu Hu. "Not yet."
"Then why not stay and have dinner with us tonight?" Fu Hu offered.
"Would that be convenient?"
"Of course! Perfectly convenient! Let me go check on how the food is coming along." With that, Fu Hu cast a discreet glance at Su Jin, got up, and walked toward the kitchen.
Seeing Fu Hu enter, Zhang Wan half-closed the kitchen door.
Setting down her spatula, she leaned in close and whispered hurriedly, "Who is that? Who is that young man, and what is he doing here?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Something is wrong with that kid."
Chapter 14