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

Huang Feipeng hid in the shadows, his footsteps and the beam of his flashlight fading into the distance, and the alley returned to silence. Only then did he dare to breathe a slight sigh of relief. Looking up, the faint light filtering in from the alley entrance illuminated the maple leaves along the street like flames, the bright yellow and red intertwined, swaying gently in the wind, as if silently telling the story of the changing seasons.

Looking at the maple leaves tinged with autumn colors, a sense of disorientation swept over him. Was it really autumn already? His life felt like a rushing torrent, almost never pausing to appreciate the subtle changes in nature, until now, when he suddenly realized the passage of time. He remembered the maple leaves of his childhood autumns, how he would pick up a leaf and carefully press it between the pages, letting its unique texture and color be imprinted on the pages. Those maple leaves would grow brittle and thin with time, but the beauty of that time would remain forever in his memory.

"Ah, such autumn scenery, in other circumstances, might be perfect for a cup of hot tea and a single maple leaf," he murmured to himself, a bitter smile creeping onto his lips. He thought back to the old days, when he might have been delighted to see a particularly beautiful maple leaf, even sharing it with his companions. But now, he could only walk this cold, dark alley, navigating danger, struggling for a sliver of survival amidst the enemy's encirclement.

He quietly approached the end of the alley, a complex emotion in his eyes. Pedestrians occasionally walked by with their heads down, no one noticing him in the shadows. No one knew that on this street covered in maple leaves, a fugitive and his endless struggle were hidden.

"Feipeng," he seemed to hear a familiar voice gently calling him from the depths of his mind. That voice seemed to pierce the barrier of time, pulling him back to that sun-drenched courtyard, the place he had once fled from yet longed for so dearly. Back then, he was always innocent and fearless, seemingly moved by the slightest breeze. But now, the maple leaves had turned yellow, and his heart could no longer be easily touched by such small, beautiful things.

Just then, a low murmur came from the alley entrance, instantly bringing Huang Feipeng back to reality. He quickly scanned the area, confirming there were no new threats, before quietly emerging from the shadows. A cold wind brushed his face, carrying the crispness unique to autumn, and he instinctively pulled his coat tighter. The pedestrians around him hurried on their way, no one noticing the somewhat weary and wary man, nor could anyone imagine the turmoil within him.

He casually plucked a maple leaf from beside him and gently brushed away the dust. Huang Feipeng stared at the leaf's veins, a long-lost warmth suddenly welling up inside him. The maple leaf trembled slightly in his palm, as if responding to some emotion within him. At that moment, his defenses seemed to falter slightly, and a wave of loneliness washed over him. He hadn't felt this way in a long time, and had almost forgotten that he used to stop and appreciate such small, beautiful things.

"What are you doing here?" A deep voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Huang Feipeng looked up sharply and saw a tall man standing at the alley entrance, his gaze cold, his eyes filled with scrutiny and inquiry. His figure was half-hidden in the shadows, his expression inscrutable, exuding a menacing aura.

Huang Feipeng's heart leaped into his throat. He didn't answer immediately, but quietly held the maple leaf in his hand, slowly scrutinizing the man before him. The other man was clearly a seasoned veteran, and Huang Feipeng could sense the dangerous aura emanating from his posture and wary eyes.

“I’m taking a walk,” he replied casually, trying to sound relaxed. In reality, however, every nerve in his body was on edge, ready to pounce at any moment.

"Taking a walk?" The man sneered, with a hint of mockery. "Who do you think you are? In this kind of situation, at this kind of time, you actually have the mood to take a walk?" His tone was disdainful, as if he didn't believe Huang Feipeng's words at all.

"What else?" Huang Feipeng retorted, his tone slightly mocking. "Life can't be filled with tension; there have to be moments of respite."

The other man frowned slightly, clearly not expecting such a response. The two faced off, the air thick with tension. Huang Feipeng stared at him, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, silently assessing his opponent's weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

"You're quite interesting." A cold smile curled at the corner of the man's lips, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "However, isn't your confidence a bit too much? To still be thinking about romance in this situation."

Huang Feipeng didn't respond, only smiled slightly, pinched the maple leaf in his hand, and slowly crushed it into powder. The maple leaf powder slipped from his fingers, drifted to the ground, and disappeared in the wind. His eyes grew increasingly calm, like a still lake, without a trace of emotion.

“Sometimes, confidence is just a disguise,” he said coldly, his voice carrying an unwavering firmness. “Like this maple leaf, no matter how beautiful it is, it will eventually return to dust.”

The other man seemed momentarily moved by his words, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, but it quickly returned to its coldness. The air between them grew increasingly tense, as if a life-or-death struggle would erupt at any moment. Huang Feipeng silently assessed the distance between them and his weapon. He knew he had to find an absolute opportunity to ensure a fatal blow.

Just then, a low siren sounded in the distance. Pedestrians on the street stopped and looked around, as if someone had noticed something amiss, and gradually gathered around. Huang Feipeng knew that this was a fleeting opportunity to escape, and he could no longer hesitate.

His eyes flashed, and he instantly suppressed all his emotions, abruptly turning and rushing into the crowd. The other person clearly realized this too and quickly gave chase. The two pursued each other under the streetlights, like a contest between hunter and prey. He nimbly weaved through the crowd, using pedestrians as cover to gradually increase the distance between them.

"Don't run!" the man shouted angrily behind him, his voice filled with resentment and rage.

Hearing the roar, Huang Feipeng's lips curled into a cold smile. He quickened his pace and rushed towards a small shop on the street corner without hesitation, quickly hiding behind a shelf. He held his breath, waiting for the other person's footsteps to approach. His heart pounded, but his mind remained extremely calm. He knew that such an opponent would never give up easily, so he had to remain absolutely vigilant.