The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

"Why are you here?" he pressed, his tone no longer accusatory but more seeking a reasonable explanation. Despite his lingering wariness, he couldn't ignore the unique allure this woman possessed. Her demeanor, confidence, and composure were unlike any woman Huang Feipeng had ever met before.

The woman didn't answer his question directly. Instead, she turned slightly and walked deeper into the alley. Her steps were light, as if she didn't care at all whether Huang Feipeng would follow behind her.

"If you want to know the answer, come with me," she said without turning her head, her voice still carrying that calm and composed air.

Huang Feipeng stood there, his mind racing, weighing whether he should continue following her. Every second filled him with confusion. While the woman's appearance had quelled the immediate conflict, she herself had brought new mysteries. Although he knew that continuing to follow her might bring more danger, he couldn't control his curiosity about her and a certain inexplicable attraction.

Finally, he made up his mind and followed after him.

They walked through the narrow alleyways, the woman always leading the way with light steps, as if she knew every street and path intimately. Huang Feipeng followed closely behind, his heart filled with both doubt and an inexplicable anticipation. He had never met a woman like this before—calm, elegant, yet possessing an undeniable air of mystery.

"Who exactly are you?" Huang Feipeng finally couldn't help but ask again. He didn't like this situation—not knowing what awaited them ahead, especially on such a dangerous night.

The woman stopped and glanced back at him, a faint smile in her eyes. "My name isn't important," she said softly and lightly, but it seemed she was deliberately avoiding the question. "What's important is what we need to do now."

"What is it?" A sense of unease flashed through Huang Feipeng's mind, but at the same time he was drawn in by her words.

“You’ve been caught in a storm you can’t avoid, and I…” she said softly, a hint of something deeper in her eyes. “...may lead you to the answer.”

Huang Feipeng's heart skipped a beat. Although her words still sounded mysterious, a sense of trust inexplicably arose deep within him. This trust came inexplicably, yet it was so strong that he was willing to continue following her, no matter what lay ahead.

As they continued walking, the surroundings gradually opened up. Ahead, a dilapidated building appeared, its dim light filtering through broken windows, giving it an eerie and mysterious feel. Without hesitation, the woman walked straight inside, while Huang Feipeng hesitated for a moment before finally following her.

The interior of the building was far more complex than he had imagined; it resembled an abandoned factory, with mottled marks on the walls revealing its long history. The woman didn't stop, leading Huang Feipeng directly through several narrow passages until they finally arrived at a spacious room.

The room was sparsely decorated, containing only a few worn-out tables and chairs and a dim light. The woman walked to a table, gently pulled out a chair, sat down, and then looked up at Huang Feipeng, her expression still composed.

"You might find some clues here about what you're looking for," she said softly, gesturing for Huang Feipeng to sit down opposite her.

Huang Feipeng hesitated for a moment, but finally walked over and sat down opposite her. His mind was still full of questions, but the woman's calm demeanor gradually put him at ease.

"Do you know what I've gotten myself into?" Huang Feipeng asked, a hint of expectation in his eyes. Although he knew in his heart that this woman probably wouldn't give him a clear answer, he still couldn't help but want to know.

The woman smiled slightly and said softly, "What you are facing is not just those who are hunting you down... but a hidden game of chess."

Huang Feipeng was slightly startled upon hearing this. He couldn't help but gaze at the woman before him, a complex emotion rising within him. This woman was not only mysterious and unpredictable, but also possessed an irresistible charm. He felt himself being unconsciously drawn to her, not only because of her appearance, but also because of her temperament and that calm wisdom.

“You seem to know a lot,” Huang Feipeng said in a low voice, his gaze involuntarily falling on her eyes, which were bright and clear, as if they could see through everything.

Huang Feipeng sat opposite the woman, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Although the woman's words seemed like a joke, he knew there was a deeper meaning behind them. This place, this moment, and even this woman made him feel an unprecedented tension and anticipation.

"The process is more important than the result." This sentence lingered in Huang Feipeng's mind, like an invisible thread pulling at some memories and emotions deep within him. He remembered that in his youth, he would disregard everything in pursuit of a perfect battle, only to always end up exhausted both physically and mentally. At this moment, he didn't know whether he was running away or embracing a new challenge.

"Do you think I would really believe any of this?" he asked, feigning nonchalance, a slight smile playing on his lips as he tried to mask his inner nervousness. "It's like a war. Do you think I only need to enjoy the process of fighting and not care about the outcome?"

The woman's smile remained gentle, and her eyes shone even brighter in the dim light. "You'll find that often, the more you care about the outcome, the more easily you're swayed by it. Do you understand? This isn't a joke; it's a way of life."

Huang Feipeng was deeply moved by her earnestness. His intuition told him that this woman was no ordinary person; she seemed to have a unique perspective on the world. Even though her identity remained ambiguous, her presence was undeniably growing, as if she were the key to this game.

"The way to survive..." He murmured these words to himself, a thoughtful expression on his face, then asked softly, "What is your purpose in this place?"

The woman smiled slightly, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "Purpose? Perhaps I'm just searching for some kind of answer, just like you."

"An answer?" Huang Feipeng's heart skipped a beat, sensing that this sentence seemed to reveal a secret he wanted to understand more about. "What are you looking for?"

The woman lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought, before raising her face a moment later, her gaze firm yet gentle. "In this world, some things are hidden too deeply; the truth lies in the corners, waiting to be discovered." Her voice was deep and magnetic, as soft as a hypnotic whisper. "And I am willing to be that ray of light, to illuminate those dark corners."