He Qiang hesitated for a moment. "I'll make a phone call!"
"No need, just ask right here. Use the ones you're holding so you have something to report!"
He Qiang gave a bitter smile. "Alright, thank you very much!"
Sitting to one side, Wang Qian felt a chill run through her entire body.
She shouldn't have come today!
This was practically going to cost her her life!
"You served as a mercenary in Krajina, and in 2003 you became the captain of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Squad. You took on the mission to assassinate Boyika; a five-man squad that destroyed a heavily armed stronghold of one thousand men. Objective completed! In 2004, you went to Thailand and took the mission to wipe out Kachai's stronghold... In 2005... In 2006... In 2007..."
With every single item He Qiang read out, Wang Qian's pretty eyes widened a fraction more, and she gasped sharply.
By the end, Wang Qian had to brace herself against the table just to stay upright. Otherwise, she would have slid right down to the floor.
As for He Qiang, his eyes widened in utter shock, leaving him completely speechless.
"According to the Ministry of State Security investigation, you are also... the Dark Net's... SSS-rank assassin, ranked number one?! Bulao Cash, the American minister, also died by your gun. Britain, Japan, Germany..."
When he finished reading the last line, He Qiang broke out in a cold sweat!
It all made sense now. Everything was clear.
No wonder such a massive force had been mobilized—so many soldiers, even tanks and armored vehicles.
As it turned out... the young man sitting right in front of them at just twenty-three years old had such an astronomical background.
Gu Yang listened with an indifferent expression as his past exploits were read aloud.
Only when He Qiang finally finished did he let out a heavy sigh of relief in his heart.
"That's right, I did all of those things."
He Qiang looked at Gu Yang in bewilderment.
"At such a young age, you... why on earth would you do that?"
Gu Yang looked back at He Qiang in astonishment. "That was just my side hustle. I've also worked part-time as a waiter, picked up trash, and even lived as a homeless person for a while."
A side hustle?
He Qiang and Wang Qian exchanged a blank, stupefied look.
What decent person takes a side hustle as a mercenary? What decent person takes a side hustle as an assassin?
He Qiang shot Gu Yang a suspicious glance.
Beside him, Wang Qian stared at Gu Yang with equal disbelief.
Then He Qiang hurriedly picked up the documents and read through them again, line by line, with extreme care.
He clicked his tongue. "Well... this is all real, but..."
At that point, He Qiang didn't even know what to say.
Was this something he had the authority to handle entirely on his own?
How the hell was he supposed to handle this?
Who the hell would believe this if it got out?
"I need to make a call!"
Gu Yang nodded indifferently. "Make it quick. I still have to prepare for my exams."
"Okay, okay, right away!"
At that moment, He Qiang didn't dare to neglect anything in the slightest; this bastard was practically a god of slaughter.
Wang Qian looked at Gu Yang's Pinduoduo outfit with utter confusion. "Those... side hustles of yours must have made a lot of money, right? So why are you..."
Gu Yang's expression darkened slightly before he finally let out a sigh. "The Yunyan Charity Foundation—I founded it."
"What?" Wang Qian was dumbfounded once again. She looked at Gu Yang in sheer disbelief. "You mean that nationwide famous foundation where all the financial records are completely transparent and they only keep the bare minimum for operational costs?"
"Yes!"
"Hiss..." Wang Qian's gaze toward Gu Yang changed completely at that moment.
Yet Gu Yang had already drifted back into his memories.
"After my mother passed away, my father told me that if we do more good deeds, Mom might be reincarnated into a good family in her next life. I hope my mother can be reborn into a good family in her next life. So she won't... have to become an orphan. So she won't have to know what it's like to lack family affection or love, let alone go hungry or cold. So she won't have to face illness with no one to care for her, forced to fend for herself at such a tender age. And so she won't end up falling gravely ill, only to leave this world without ever getting to experience a wonderful life. That's why all the money I've earned over the years has gone entirely into charity."
*Click.* Gu Yang flicked his lighter and lit a cigarette. He had never spoken of these things to a single soul. Only facing Wang Qian—with that deep, maternal warmth she exuded—did he find himself repeatedly unable to keep from pouring his heart out.
Through the haze of smoke, Wang Qian watched as tears continuously fell from Gu Yang's eyes, yet his expression remained so detached. And yet, his eyes held such profound pain and sorrow!
A sour lump rose in Wang Qian's throat, and she covered her mouth with her hand as tears streamed down her face. All for... a baseless wish, Gu Yang had gone off to become a mercenary and a killer at such a young age. She simply couldn't imagine how much hardship Gu Yang had endured, or how many times he had brushed past the gates of death. He had truly... put his life on the line.
Yet, she did not know that Gu Yang had personally experienced what it meant to be an orphan. He did not want the mother who had loved him so dearly in this life to be reincarnated as an orphan in the next—not to come into this world to experience beauty, but to suffer.
"But now, I'm back, and I want to live a peaceful life. The foundation will probably have to close down before long, too."
Wang Qian shook her head through her sobs. "No, it won't. Auntie will help you. Just tell me how much money you need, and Auntie will give it to you!"
Gu Yang gave a soft chuckle, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and shook his head. "No need. I'll work hard myself. However long it can stay open, and however many people it can help, that's enough. The Yunyan Foundation does not accept donations from any outside funding."
Tears poured down Wang Qian's face like a waterfall. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she stepped forward and pulled Gu Yang into a tight embrace.
Gu Yang was taken aback. Feeling the abundant softness pressing against him, he frowned slightly. He couldn't help but feel that something... wasn't quite right!
He crossed one leg over the other and waited for Wang Qian to calm down. After quite a while, Wang Qian finally wiped away her tears and returned to her seat. Only her pretty face was flushed crimson, right down to the tips of her ears.
He Qiang returned and cast a deep, lingering look at Gu Yang. "You... can go!"
Gu Yang nodded.
"However..." He Qiang frowned as he looked at him.
He Qiang didn't dare meet Gu Yang's gaze. "However, you aren't allowed to leave the country anymore. The higher-ups have ordered us to keep an eye on you."
Gu Yang let out a disdainful scoff. He opened his mouth to speak, but then shook his head instead. "Fine!"
"By the way, is the AK any good?"
Gu Yang looked at He Qiang in surprise. "It's all right, I suppose. I prefer sniper rifles that can kill with a single shot. Oh, right—remember to help me clear my name tomorrow, or I'll file a complaint against you!"
With that, he walked out of the interrogation room right behind Wang Qian.
When all was said and done, even though he was the son of Gu Weiguo, the chief instructor of the special forces, his official status was still that of a common civilian. He wasn't like Gu Weiguo. He had certain privileges, yes, but not many. And even those privileges required going through Gu Weiguo to take effect. Ordinary people... gave him zero respect. He couldn't exactly stamp the three characters "Gu Weiguo" across his forehead, either. Besides, who among ordinary people even knew who Gu Weiguo was?
Stepping out of the police station, Gu Yang glanced at Wang Qian's luxury car. "Auntie, drive safe on your way back!"
Wang Qian nodded, lost in her own thoughts. Suddenly, she called out to Gu Yang as he headed toward the roadside: "Wait! Come here, get in the car and let's talk!"