After parting ways with Yang Qingyin, Luo Ziling headed to the Military Headquarters compound.
He had already contacted Zhao Guosheng’s secretary yesterday and arranged to go over this afternoon to treat Zhao Guosheng.
Before setting off for the Military Headquarters compound, Luo Ziling contacted Li Haiyang again.
"You finally have some free time?" When he heard Luo Ziling say he was going to the Military Headquarters compound to treat him and Zhao Guosheng, Li Haiyang laughed heartily and said, "I was figuring you’d probably come see me in another two days. Didn’t expect you to show up today. Come on then, I happen to be free today. You go treat Zhao Guosheng first, and after you’re done with him, come sit in my office for a bit."
"Okay!" Luo Ziling agreed without hesitation.
What surprised Luo Ziling was that Zhao Guosheng had actually sent a car to pick him up.
When he saw Zhao Guosheng’s driver waiting at the school gate in his Audi with special plates, Luo Ziling changed his mind. He told Wuyue, who’d originally planned to drive him over, to go take care of her own business, and only had Zhu Yijun drive a car to follow behind.
Today, Wuyue had planned to drive Luo Ziling to the Military Headquarters compound, then, after he came out, drive him to meet up with Ling Ruonan.
And then send the mother and son together to the Ling Family Old Mansion.
Not only Luo Ziling hadn’t expected Zhao Guosheng to send a car to pick him up; Wuyue was also quite surprised.
That kind of treatment was rather high.
With Zhao Guosheng’s driver driving Zhao Guosheng’s car to pick up Luo Ziling, Wuyue had no worries about any danger, so after hearing Luo Ziling’s instruction, she went off to handle her own matters.
She had been away from Yanjing for too long, and a lot of things needed to be brought back under her control, so ever since returning from Paris, Wuyue had been busy every day, almost with no free time. Luo Ziling knew this, so he let her go take care of her own affairs.
Zhao Guosheng’s driver was a major in the army, and he came in uniform, driving a military-plated sedan to pick up Luo Ziling.
As the car headed toward the Military Headquarters compound, Luo Ziling jokingly asked the driver, "Comrade Major, does this count as using a public vehicle for private business?"
"This is official business; I’m carrying out an official duty," the major replied in all seriousness. "The chief told me to come pick you up and ordered me to make sure your safety is absolutely guaranteed."
"Alright then!" Luo Ziling stopped joking with the major and also treated his trip to the Military Headquarters compound today as an official activity.
Luo Ziling also understood that this was probably Zhao Guosheng’s subtle way of sending some sort of message to Ling Mingrui.
Riding in Zhao Guosheng’s car into the Military Headquarters compound meant enjoying VIP-level treatment.
Not only was there no stopping the car to check IDs, but as the vehicle drove through the main gate, the sentries on duty even gave the car a solemn military salute.
When he saw the two sentries on either side raise their hands in salute at the same time, Luo Ziling suddenly felt his vanity swell in satisfaction.
Perhaps this was exactly the feeling Zhao Guosheng wanted him to have.
When he saw Luo Ziling, Zhao Guosheng also acted very warm.
As soon as the secretary led Luo Ziling into his office, he immediately put down what he was doing and got up personally to welcome him.
"Well now, our hero is here!" Zhao Guosheng laughed as he extended his hand to Luo Ziling. After giving Luo Ziling a firm handshake, he went on smiling, "I’ve heard all about your outstanding performance in this Dragon Rise operation. Truly like father, like son!"
What Zhao Guosheng said left Luo Ziling quite amazed.
Even though Dragon Rise was a national trump card, a special forces unit directly under the Military Headquarters, Zhao Guosheng, who was in overall charge of Military Headquarters affairs, couldn’t possibly personally oversee Dragon Rise’s business. No matter how many missions Dragon Rise completed or how brilliant their performance, it wasn’t going to be reported directly to him.
Nor would Zhao Guosheng bother himself with such minor matters.
To someone like Zhao Guosheng, most of Dragon Rise’s affairs were small matters—unless they suffered massive casualties or achieved something with enormous impact.
Luo Ziling knew that Zhao Guosheng must have gone out of his way to look into Dragon Rise’s operations because of him.
"General Zhao, you flatter me!" Zhao Guosheng’s particular concern left Luo Ziling feeling a bit strange inside. He smiled awkwardly. "I just helped them out a little, hardly enough to be called meritorious service. What I did was nothing more than a small favor within my reach."
"What you can accomplish with a lift of your hand is something others might not achieve even with a lifetime of effort. That’s the difference between people," Zhao Guosheng said, once again giving Luo Ziling’s hand a firm squeeze before inviting him to sit.
Once Luo Ziling sat down, Zhao Guosheng asked with concern, "Have you thought about following in your father’s footsteps and joining the army? I know you’re currently an off-establishment member of Dragon Rise, and you’re in charge of training their military doctors. If you’re willing to join the army and obtain military status, that’s entirely possible!"
"I’ve never thought about joining the army!" Luo Ziling shook his head, a little embarrassed. "I have a lot of things to do right now. If I were to enter the military, I’d definitely lose control over my own life. I think the way things are now is pretty good—attending classes, lecturing students, traveling around when I have time, and occasionally using my medical skills to help others. My days feel solid and interesting. I like this kind of life."
"That’s true as well!" Zhao Guosheng smiled. "I know your mom probably doesn’t want you to be a soldier. I’m just putting it out there; it’s up to you to decide. By the way, I heard your parents are about to get married?"
"I’m just holding a make-up wedding for them!" Luo Ziling hadn’t expected even this to be on Zhao Guosheng’s radar and couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed. "Marriage is something many people only experience once in their lives, so it has to be grand. I’m planning to personally officiate their wedding and arrange a unique ceremony for them."
"So why haven’t you sent me an invitation?" With a playful look, Zhao Guosheng stared at Luo Ziling. "Sir Ling’s daughter getting married, and you, this national hero, officiating the wedding—that kind of lively scene would be a real pity to miss."
"Then I’ll definitely send you an invitation and invite you to attend my parents’ wedding." Although Luo Ziling had already guessed this outcome when Zhao Guosheng first mentioned the wedding of Luo Xusheng and Ling Ruonan, he still couldn’t help feeling a little emotional when Zhao Guosheng himself offered to attend it.
Relationships between people can sometimes be truly intriguing.
The way Zhao Guosheng was proactively showing goodwill was so obvious that it made Luo Ziling a bit uncomfortable.
He understood that what was operating behind the scenes was, naturally, power.
If Ling Ruonan weren’t Ling Mingrui’s daughter, and if Luo Ziling didn’t have the ability to speak directly in front of so many big shots, someone like Zhao Guosheng would never take the initiative to propose attending a wedding.
Luo Ziling knew that Li Haiyang would definitely attend Luo Xusheng and Ling Ruonan’s wedding, and it was quite possible that Wang Rongjun’s return to Yanjing this time was also for that wedding.
As for how many high-ranking military leaders would show up in person on the day of the wedding, Luo Ziling couldn’t quite imagine for the moment. But he knew one thing—it definitely wouldn’t be a small number!