Chapter 132

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside. Xi Junjie pressed himself against the wall warily, glanced around, then grabbed a pillow from the bed and held it in front of his chest in a defensive posture.

The footsteps got closer and closer, and Xi Junjie’s expression grew increasingly tense. Even though this person had saved him, it was only right to stay highly alert without knowing their identity or intentions.

The footsteps stopped at the door. The half-closed door was pushed open, and Zhenzhen appeared at the doorway holding a cup of hot water. Xi Junjie was stunned. He rubbed his eyes and realized that the angry woman standing at the door was indeed his wife. He was dumbfounded on the spot: “Wife… wife…”

Zhenzhen gave a cold snort and handed the cup to Xi Junjie. His mind went blank. He instinctively brought the cup to his lips and drank all the water in one go before finally snapping out of it. “This isn’t a dream, right?” Zhenzhen snorted again, took the cup from his hand and set it aside, then placed her warm hand on his forehead. Sensing he wasn’t running a fever, she finally relaxed.

Smelling the familiar scent on Zhenzhen, Xi Junjie’s taut nerves instantly eased. He grinned and pulled her into his arms, rubbing his head against her neck like a spoiled child. “Wife, I missed you so much. I even dreamed you kissed me.”

Zhenzhen raised her hand, about to push him away, but seeing the wound on his forehead made her soften. She could only tap his forehead twice with some resentment. “What did you promise me before leaving? You said you’d be careful and not act recklessly. And now look—only a few days later, you almost got shot to death.”

Thinking back to the terrifying moments before he fainted, Xi Junjie also felt a bit shaken. “That place was isolated, no villages or towns nearby, not much cover. We didn’t expect to encounter an armed group there. Luckily, I started running the moment I heard gunfire, and since it was dark, they didn’t catch me.”

“Heh…” Zhenzhen tapped the wound grazed by a bullet and sneered, “So getting nicked by a bullet is considered lucky now?”

“Better than having a bullet lodged in me—already pretty fortunate.” Seeing her face getting darker, Xi Junjie nervously scratched his nose, then quickly changed the subject, “By the way, I remember they were chasing me. Who saved me? What happened afterward? Are we back in China now?” Looking at the familiar rosewood furniture, he began to speculate wildly, “Did they realize I was with the Chinese embassy and helped me across the border, and then I was rushed back home, and you didn’t want Mom to worry so you brought me somewhere to recover first?”

“No, we’re still in B Country. You’ve only been unconscious for five hours.” Zhenzhen fell silent for a moment, then decided to reveal her secret to Xi Junjie. Even in the Li family, only Grandma Li, Wang Sufen, and Li Muwu knew she had plant-controlling abilities. At the time, she was still very young and had to reveal her power to keep her family from starving. But the other powers—teleportation, consciousness, space—she had never told anyone.

“Only five hours? We’re still in B Country?” Xi Junjie instinctively looked out the window. Blue skies, white clouds, and a lush green forest in the distance. Aside from the occasional birdsong, it was silent—nothing like a war-torn country.

“Actually, I’ve been keeping a secret from you.” Zhenzhen gently pushed him back into bed and sat beside him, pondering how to begin. Seeing her solemn face, Xi Junjie held his breath. Zhenzhen scratched her head in frustration, then asked, “Have you ever noticed anything unusual about me?”

“You’re unusually beautiful!” Xi Junjie replied without hesitation.

Zhenzhen couldn’t help but laugh and rubbed his head. “Don’t think flattering me means I won’t settle accounts with you.”

He chuckled sheepishly, then quickly redirected, “Aside from being beautiful, I don’t think there’s anything else?” He paused, recalling something, “Wait, your luck is pretty crazy. Back in France, you almost looted that whole castle.”

Hitting on one of the key points, Zhenzhen immediately followed up, “It wasn’t luck—I could see it.” Seeing he didn’t quite understand, she added, “I could see everything hidden in that castle. Not just there—I can see very far and very deep. I can see underground, the bottom of the ocean, the distance… even—” She enunciated clearly, “I could see you, in B Country, nearly getting killed trying to find those two idiots.”

Xi Junjie’s brain went foggy. He understood the words but couldn’t grasp their full meaning. He asked instinctively, “Seeing far like that—doesn’t it feel awful?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Zhenzhen said. “I can control it.”

“That’s good.” Feeling her tension, he reached out and held her fingers. His eyes sparkled. “My wife is amazing.”

“I was different from other kids since I was little,” Zhenzhen said softly. Realizing she was about to tell a long story, Xi Junjie shifted to make space and patted the spot beside him. “Lie down here. I’ll hold you.”

Zhenzhen took off her shoes and slipped under the blanket, wrapping her arms around Xi Junjie’s firm waist. She looked up and met his eyes. “The year I was born was during the three years of natural disasters. Even in the resource-rich northeast, there was famine. Grandma told me that for months, there was no grain or vegetables. Besides some leftover old grain, we survived on wild mushrooms and greens from the mountain.”

Xi Junjie had been abroad and hadn’t experienced any of that. Though he’d heard times were tough back then, he hadn’t imagined they were that bad. He kissed her on the forehead and asked gently, “It must’ve been hard for you.”

“Compared to others, our family didn’t suffer much—because of me,” Zhenzhen said quietly. “We cleared a few acres on the mountain to plant crops, but due to limited sunlight, they didn’t grow well. My dad worked, so Grandma and Mom had to tend the land. They carried me along and set me down nearby. Mom said sunlight hit me and a golden glow appeared. Then all our crops ripened.”

Xi Junjie was dumbfounded. It sounded like a fairy tale. “Your grandma didn’t make that up to cheer you up?”

Zhenzhen smiled. “As I grew, I discovered I could control plants. As long as there’s a seed or even a bit of root—barely visible—if I bury it in soil, I can make it sprout instantly.” Seeing his skepticism, she waved her arm toward the window. Xi Junjie followed her gesture, and suddenly the top of an apple tree appeared, rapidly growing taller than the window. A branch full of apples stretched into the room. Seven or eight apples dropped onto the bed, and then the branch slowly withdrew. The apple tree vanished from view.

Holding a pile of apples, Xi Junjie was stunned. He turned to Zhenzhen. “Am I still unconscious and dreaming of a fairytale world with my wife?” He picked up an apple and took a bite. “So sweet. Tastes like the apples from our yard.”

Zhenzhen poked the big bruise on his forehead. “You tell me—dreaming?”

He flinched. “Ow, ow, ow! Okay, not dreaming!” Seeing her hand retreat, he grinned and took another bite. Then he had a realization: “So that’s why all the fruit in our yard tastes better than anything from outside—it’s your power, isn’t it?”

“Yep.” Zhenzhen sat up too, leaning against the headboard and munching an apple. “If I weren’t afraid of overdoing it, I’d grow lychees and durians too.”

“This ability is incredible,” Xi Junjie said admiringly. “Like something out of Eastern mythology.”

“There’s even more mythical stuff,” Zhenzhen said with a smile. “When I got older, I realized I could disappear from one place and appear directly in another.”

Xi Junjie nearly choked on his apple. Coughing and clutching his throat, he was completely stunned. “What do you mean by that?”

“Like I just told you, I can see very far. As long as it’s within my sight, I can instantly teleport there.” Zhenzhen looked at Xi Junjie, her tone no longer as relaxed as before. “Like when I saw you in trouble from home, I immediately went from home to Ba Country and rescued you.”

“You got there in an instant?” Xi Junjie tried to understand what she meant. “Like, in a few minutes?”

“Actually, it only takes a few seconds. I was delivering milk to the twins at the time. By the time I noticed, you’d already abandoned your car and fled.” Zhenzhen looked a little regretful. “I should have gotten there earlier. Then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“Well, it wasn’t too late either.” Xi Junjie smiled and pulled her into a hug. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”

Zhenzhen immediately turned her head and glared at him. “You still dare to say that?”

“So where did you take me?” Xi Junjie recalled the strange sight he’d seen through the window. “It looked like there were a lot of blue-and-white porcelains outside.”

“My treasure trove.” Zhenzhen looked at him excitedly. “Wanna come take a tour with me?”

Xi Junjie nodded immediately, eagerly put on his shoes, and got out of bed. Hand in hand, the two walked out of the Western-style house, and only then did Xi Junjie realize how much stuff was actually placed there.

“These are all things I’ve collected since I was a kid.” Zhenzhen pointed around proudly. “Once the country has the right policies in place, I’ll open a private museum.”

Xi Junjie nodded. Private museums were common abroad, and as long as Zhenzhen wanted to, they were fully capable of running one. “Good thing we made a windfall in France—the annual profits are enough to maintain the museum’s operations.”

The moment Zhenzhen heard the word “money,” she pulled Xi Junjie behind the house, where 300 large wooden crates were stacked. Xi Junjie touched one and looked at her in confusion. “This doesn’t look like any kind of antique.”

Zhenzhen smiled. “The valuable part is what’s inside.” She pushed the lid down, and a crate full of gleaming gold nearly blinded Xi Junjie under the sunlight.

“Gold?” Xi Junjie picked up a bar and weighed it, then looked at the hundreds of crates, dumbfounded. “Don’t tell me they’re all like this.”

“This gold was hoarded by a warlord from Yunnan during the Liberation. He was executed, and this became ownerless.” Zhenzhen waved her hand, and all the crate lids fell open. Xi Junjie didn’t even have to check them one by one—the glittering reflections under the sunlight made it clear they were all full. Zhenzhen picked up a bar and twirled it in her hand. “You know I’m not good at investments other than opening factories and businesses, so I’m entrusting all this gold to you. Make it grow.”

“Alright!” Xi Junjie laughed. “I feel a ton of pressure. This is the first time I’ve ever seen so much gold.” He paused and added, “Seems like even more than that batch of coins last time.” He put the bar back and looked around curiously. “Aren’t you afraid someone will find all this valuable stuff?”

“I told you, it’s my treasure trove.” Zhenzhen led him to the edge of the space. Xi Junjie looked at a glowing, doorway-like thing, feeling like his imagination had been shattered again. Zhenzhen pulled him through the doorway and into a corridor of light. As they walked ten or so steps, they reached the other end and stepped through. Xi Junjie found himself standing at the exact place he’d been attacked yesterday. “We’re still in Ba Country after all.”

Zhenzhen smiled silently and led him back into the corridor, heading to the other end. When they came out, Xi Junjie realized they were back at their home in the Imperial Capital. He spun around joyfully, and hearing the giggles of the twins from the other side of the wall, nearly rushed over.

Zhenzhen held his hand and brought him back into the space. “Are you curious why Mr. Wangwo and Mr. Zhang Renzhe are so good to me?” Seeing Xi Junjie nod repeatedly, she smiled. “Back during the movement, I’d just gained the power to teleport. I used to sneak around teleporting for fun and ended up bumping into Wangwo, who was about to jump into a lake. I’d heard my brother talk about him and read his writings, so I blindfolded him and brought him into this space. At the time, it was just these empty Western buildings—no cultural relics yet. Later, I found a matching valley in the Imperial Capital and made a duplicate setup. Then, while he was asleep, I moved him out.”

Xi Junjie had always found the surrounding mountains familiar. Hearing this, a lightbulb went off. “The valley where I proposed?”

“Yes, that valley. I was surprised when you chose that place.” Zhenzhen smiled. “Later, Mr. Wangwo treated me like a savior. They lived there for seven or eight years until the movement ended. Afterward, I leveled that place to prevent them from returning, restored it to a deserted state.”

“No wonder they treat you better than their own children,” Xi Junjie finally understood. “You saved their lives.”

Zhenzhen smiled sheepishly. “After I came to the Imperial Capital, I said it was my great-uncle who saved them. Because of his status, he couldn’t come forward. He doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, so just act like it never happened.”

Xi Junjie chuckled. “Those gentlemen are scholars, and your great-uncle holds high power. If it weren’t for you, their paths would never cross. By saying it was your great-uncle and that we should forget it, they probably kept silent to avoid causing trouble. I noticed even at the baby’s one-month celebration, both sides only exchanged pleasantries.”

They walked back into the house, and Zhenzhen made Xi Junjie sit at the table. Soon, she brought out a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup, two baskets of buns, and a few small dishes. “No matter how long the food stays here, it’s like it was just made. I’ve got plenty stocked up.”

Since leaving China, Xi Junjie had barely eaten properly, surviving on energy bars and bottled water. Seeing the fragrant food on the table and his smiling wife beside him, his appetite soared. He ate two bowls of noodles and a whole basket of buns before finally feeling alive again.

They sat on the couch, and Zhenzhen poured him a cup of jujube tea. “Stay here and rest for a few days. When our troops arrive, I’ll put you back where you were. But this space is my biggest secret—not even my grandma or mom knows. You have to keep it for me.”

Having seen his wife’s powers, Xi Junjie understood what kind of storm this would cause if exposed. “Don’t worry, I know the stakes. I won’t even tell the twins. Someday they’ll have families of their own—who knows when they might let it slip.”

“I know.” Zhenzhen replied. “You’ve been tired for days. After you finish the tea, go get some sleep. I need to go home—Mom will worry if I’m not there tonight. If you wake up and need anything, just call me. I’ll hear it.”

After surviving life and death, Xi Junjie couldn’t bear to part with her. When he heard she was leaving, a hollow feeling filled his chest. He grabbed her hand and looked at her pitifully. “Can you stay with me a little longer?”

Zhenzhen’s nose stung, and she interlaced their fingers. “I’ll sleep with you.”

They lay in the soft bed. Xi Junjie wanted to talk more with her, but the moment his head hit the pillow, exhaustion overwhelmed him. After days of unrest and tension, he finally felt safe again with the person he loved—and couldn’t stay awake.

Watching him fall asleep almost instantly, Zhenzhen’s heart ached. She held him for a long while before leaving the space.

Xi Junjie slept for a full day and night. When he opened his eyes again, the aroma of food drifted up from downstairs. He wiped his face and sat up, finished the warm water in the cup by the bed, put on his shoes, and went downstairs.

Zhenzhen brought steaming chicken soup to the table and ladled him a bowl. “Just made this. I even skimmed the fat—drink a bowl first.” Xi Junjie took the soup, inhaling its rich aroma, and looked at her flitting between the dining room and kitchen with a smile. “I didn’t feel it while sleeping, but now I’m starving.”

“Then eat more.” In no time, Zhenzhen had laid out five or six dishes. Since Xi Junjie’s meals had been irregular lately, aside from the nourishing chicken soup, the rest were all light and easy to digest.

“After dinner, I want to take a shower—my hair’s filthy.” Xi Junjie took a sip of the chicken soup once it had cooled a bit.

“No way,” Zhenzhen replied mercilessly. “If you’re all clean and fresh when the rescue team arrives, how are you going to explain that?”

Only then did Xi Junjie remember his situation, and he couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “I really hit my head too hard—I completely forgot.”

Zhenzhen chuckled and picked out two bites of food for him. “Your disappearance has already been reported back home. Dad didn’t dare tell Mom, and now he’s so anxious that he’s broken out in cold sores all around his mouth. China has assembled an emergency rescue team, and they’re currently making their way from the border into Ba Country. I estimate they’ll reach this area by tomorrow morning. Just now, I found a very well-hidden pit in the depths of the forest—when they’re close, you’ll need to hide in there first.”

Xi Junjie nodded, then asked his most pressing question. “Have the overseas Chinese all returned home?”

Zhenzhen checked the situation in the neighboring country with her consciousness and said to Xi Junjie, “Not yet. The embassy there secured a number of residences to let them rest for a couple of days. Due to the ongoing conflict, some of them are in poor physical condition. China’s emergency medical team has already arrived and is providing treatment. I estimate that once you’re found, they’ll coordinate the return for everyone together.”

Xi Junjie nodded. Because he had slept for so long, he wasn’t tired. That night, he picked up a book and read straight through until dawn before finally dozing off. He didn’t know that the rescue team, composed of special forces and medical personnel, was speeding toward him, driven by the belief that every minute sooner brought more hope. They arrived several hours earlier than Zhenzhen had predicted. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in constant communication with the militaries of both countries, requesting verification on whether any forces had obstructed China’s evacuation team or had kidnapped diplomat Xi Junjie.

As the rescue team neared, Zhenzhen quickly removed the bandages from Xi Junjie’s head and arms, moved him out of the space, and stuffed him into the pit. To make it look more convincing, she scattered dry grass over his head and patted dirt onto his body. Seeing no obvious flaws, she returned to the space alone. Because Xi Junjie had stayed up late reading, he was deep asleep and completely unaware that his wife had relocated him.

Shao Hong led the way, parking the vehicle in the same spot as before. Over twenty special forces soldiers quickly fanned out in a circular search pattern, looking for signs of Xi Junjie. The pit Zhenzhen had found was extremely well-hidden, with overgrowth concealing it. The soldiers passed by it twice without noticing anything. It wasn’t until the third round of their meticulous sweep that they spotted something unusual.

Pushing aside the tall, thick pile of dry grass, the special forces soldiers were thrilled to find the “unconscious” Xi Junjie. One immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie and shouted, “Xi Junjie found! Coordinates longitude XXX, latitude XXX! Requesting backup! Requesting backup!”

The special forces quickly converged on the coordinates. Medical personnel rushed over with a stretcher. Two soldiers lifted Xi Junjie onto it, and just as he groggily opened his eyes, an oxygen mask was placed over his mouth, an IV was inserted into his hand to deliver nutrients, and the wounds on his forehead and arms were re-bandaged.

Seeing Xi Junjie’s dazed expression, the nearby medical staff were moved to tears. “Don’t worry—we’ve come to save you.”

Xi Junjie smacked his lips—there was still a taste of chicken soup.