High-Altitude Misunderstandings

The Special Combat Division’s primary objective for this mission was that very national treasure.

As soon as the auction concluded, the organizers officially entrusted the transport to the Special Combat Division. A significant number of agents were stationed outside the high-security vault; for the duration of the night, Zhou Kai remained on-site personally to oversee the transition.

Seeing Ji Fengjing approach the backstage area, Zhou Kai hurried to meet him. “Boss.”

“How’s it looking?” Ji Fengjing asked.

“No issues so far tonight,” Zhou Kai reported. “Originally, we were going to transport it by armored car, but apparently, the wealthy mogul who won the bid is donating it to the museum and even arranged for a private helicopter. It should be arriving shortly. Hopefully, the transport process goes off without a hitch.”

“He even called in a helicopter?” Ji Fengjing’s estimation of Wen Xingshen’s wealth jumped another level. Is being a celebrity really that lucrative?

Although Ji Fengjing had watched many of Wen Xingshen’s movies, he had only focused on the acting; he hadn’t bothered to research the man’s background. Consequently, he had no idea that Wen Xingshen wasn’t just personally wealthy—his family’s accumulated assets reached a staggering, almost terrifying figure.

“Tell me about it,” Zhou Kai added, his tone tinged with envy.

A report crackled through Zhou Kai’s earpiece: the helicopter had arrived and was idling on the rooftop helipad.

Ji Fengjing checked the time. The auction had started at 7:00 PM; it was now 10:30 PM. To be safe, they planned to move the treasure to the museum under the cover of night.

“I’ll see you all to the roof.”

Carrying the reinforced safe containing the porcelain, Zhou Kai and his team followed cautiously behind Ji Fengjing and stepped into the elevator. When the doors opened, there were already people inside—two middle-aged men wearing staff badges.

Ji Fengjing swept a glance over their IDs: venue staff.

As the team entered, the two men automatically moved to the back to make room. Zhou Kai had his subordinate press the button for the roof, but Ji Fengjing reached out and pressed the button for the 33rd floor.

Noticing this, Zhou Kai—who was already on high alert—became even more guarded.

The elevator was silent. Ji Fengjing kept his gaze lowered, leaning casually against the wall, his long, straight legs crossed in a relaxed posture. Meanwhile, Zhou Kai and his men held the safe in a tight defensive formation.

Ding. The 33rd floor arrived.

Ji Fengjing didn’t say a word to Zhou Kai’s group, acting as if they were total strangers, and stepped out of the elevator. Once the doors closed, he walked to the adjacent elevator bank and pressed the “up” button.

While waiting, he pulled out his earpieces and put them in. The voices of Zhou Kai’s subordinates immediately filled his ears.

“All units, attention. The Captain has issued a warning; suspicious individuals have appeared.” “Where is Captain Zhou?” “In Elevator No. 3. He’s taking the safe to the roof. The suspects are in the elevator with him.” “Heh, they took the bait. Where’s the actual transport vehicle?” “Left before the auction ended. Currently on 5th Avenue, nearing the museum.” “Excellent. Let the Captain continue the act and take the decoy safe onto the helicopter.”

Hearing his team’s orderly coordination, Ji Fengjing felt at ease. The safe Zhou Kai carried was merely an empty decoy intended to mislead anyone watching. By calling in a high-profile helicopter, everyone would assume the treasure was being flown out; no one would guess it had been smuggled out in a plain car before the event even finished.

Now, he just had to wait for Zhou Kai to play along and lead the thieves into a trap. Everything was going according to plan. The mission was proving easier than expected, and Ji Fengjing was in a great mood.

Just then, his elevator arrived. Before the doors even slid open, he heard voices from within.

“Mr. Wen, we’re truly sorry for the trouble, having you accompany us for this trip after you’ve already helped us so much…”

“It’s no trouble.” The man’s voice was deep and resonant—a voice that was becoming very familiar to Ji Fengjing.

Sure enough, as the doors opened, the tall, handsome figure of Wen Xingshen appeared. He was so tall and his features so striking that he commanded the attention of any room he entered.

Wen Xingshen clearly didn’t expect to see Ji Fengjing there; a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

“Brother Shen,” Ji Fengjing greeted first after a brief stun.

Wen Xingshen waited for him to enter the elevator before speaking. “I thought you went home.”

“No,” Ji Fengjing shook his head. “I had something to take care of, so I stayed.”

“Is it finished now?” Wen Xingshen asked.

“Pretty much.” He didn’t really need to do anything else; Zhou Kai had handled the arrangements perfectly. He checked the time, guessing that on the roof, Zhou Kai had likely already apprehended the suspects. The mission would be over soon.

Wen Xingshen asked again, “Then why are you here?”

“Ah, that…” Ji Fengjing looked at the button for the roof and tried to think of a plausible excuse.

Seeing the hesitation, Wen Xingshen—for reasons known only to him—felt a certain depth of understanding settle in his gaze. He realized he perhaps shouldn’t have been so blunt. Why else would Ji Fengjing be here?

It could only be for him. This wasn’t the first time, either. Ji Fengjing seemed to have a habit of “accidentally” following him. He had even tried to advise the youth to be a “rational fan” before.

This guy… he really didn’t take my words to heart, Wen Xingshen thought.

The man who had been speaking to Wen Xingshen earlier noticed Ji Fengjing hadn’t pressed a button. “Hey, handsome, which floor? You haven’t pressed anything. Don’t end up following us to the roof by mistake.”

Ji Fengjing realized that since Wen Xingshen had arranged the helicopter, the actor was likely accompanying the (decoy) safe out of the building. Ordinarily, a regular citizen shouldn’t know about the helicopter transport, so he had no logical reason to go to the roof.

He had hesitated because he was deciding whether to just tell the truth. After all, Wen Xingshen was the buyer, and the Special Combat Division was the security detail; telling him wouldn’t exactly be a breach of protocol.

He was just about to say, “Actually, I’m…”

But Wen Xingshen cut him off: “He lives next door to me. He’s coming back with me.”

“Oh! I see!” The man nodded, enlightened. He assumed they had pre-arranged to fly back together. Just then, his phone rang, so he stepped aside to answer it without further questions.

While the man was distracted, Wen Xingshen lowered his voice, sounding slightly helpless. “Next time… you don’t have to follow me secretly like this.”

Ji Fengjing: “…Huh?”

Wen Xingshen worried that being too direct would hurt the youth’s pride. Looking at that confused expression, he realized Ji Fengjing probably didn’t even recognize that his behavior was textbook “sasaeng” (stalker fan) behavior.

Wen Xingshen pursed his lips and, unable to help himself, reached out and gave Ji Fengjing’s head a gentle pat. “It’s fine. Forget it.”

Since it was an act of “unintentional” devotion, he decided not to hold it against him.

Ji Fengjing, having his head patted out of nowhere, was left completely bewildered. He subconsciously touched the spot on his head where Wen Xingshen’s hand had been, feeling that something was very, very off.