Chapter 49: The Rescue Operation Begins

A clarity Hua Mu’ai had never known before now consumed her.

‘This Miss is her captain.’

‘To alleviate her teammates’ worries and solve their problems was simply her undeniable duty!’

Snatching up her ID badge, she whirled around and stormed out of the apartment.

Within her purple pupils, a fury she had never known before blazed fiercely.

‘No one, not a single soul, would dare to bully a teammate of This Miss!’

Hua Mu’ai dialed Qin Lan’s number.

“Hello?”

“Send This Miss the address of Xia Xingyan’s engagement banquet right now.”

A two-second silence hung heavy on the line before a faint sigh reached Hua Mu’ai’s ear.

“I’ve already confirmed with the Xia family; Xia Xingyan truly can’t attend the welcoming party today. Her parents are very resolute.”

“This Miss asked you for the address, so why are you spouting such nonsense?” Hua Mu’ai’s patience had worn thin.

“What do you need the address for? Hua Mu’ai, don’t do anything reckless.” Qin Lan’s voice had taken on a more serious tone.

“Don’t concern yourself with what I’m doing; just tell me if you’re giving it to me or not!”

Listening to the agitated voice on the other end, Qin Lan sighed once more, ultimately conceding.

She knew this person’s temperament all too well; whether it was the former Gu Qing or the current Hua Mu’ai, once a decision was made, not even ten wild oxen could drag them away from it.

“Alright, I’ll have the intelligence department look into it and send it to you once they find it. But promise me you won’t blow things out of proportion.”

“Understood.”

Hua Mu’ai abruptly hung up the phone, then began anxiously pacing back and forth by the roadside.

In less than ten minutes, her phone vibrated, and a message popped up.

[Oasis Grand Hotel, sixteenth floor, Rose Hall.]

Hua Mu’ai scanned the address, then hailed a taxi from the roadside.

“Driver, to the Oasis Grand Hotel, and please hurry!”

Outside the car window, the neon lights rapidly receded, streaking into a blurred ribbon of light.

Hua Mu’ai leaned back in the rear seat, a heavy tightness in her chest.

Her mind was consumed by visions of Xia Xingyan’s stoic face.

‘That idiot!’

Just days ago, she had solemnly sworn she would come, only to send such a text message today.

[I’ve been caught by my family.]

‘What kind of explanation was that? It only proved she was being forced. That brief sentence was nothing short of a desperate cry for help!’

What truly made her livid were the actions of Xia Xingyan’s parents.

‘Using a psychological illness as an excuse, and what was this forced assessment all about?’

‘Now, thinking back, the Xia family’s sudden agreement to the contract must have been a thinly veiled threat, using her joining the team as leverage.’

‘Honestly, why couldn’t she have told This Miss sooner?’

‘But rest assured, today, This Miss absolutely will get you out.’

‘You must attend the welcoming party we agreed upon!’

However, Hua Mu’ai quickly regained her composure.

‘While her pink-haired loli body was adequate for a mere argument, attempting to forcibly rescue someone would prove incredibly challenging.’

‘At the very least, she needed to switch to her Day Form, with some Star Power (TL Note: A form of energy or magical power in this world) to assist her.’

“And today’s remaining switch time was down to only half an hour.

The taxi pulled up to the magnificent Oasis Grand Hotel.

Hua Mu’ai paid the fare, then, without a backward glance, surged into the hotel lobby and made a beeline for the restrooms.

After confirming the restroom was empty, she slipped into an unoccupied stall, locking the door behind her.

The next second, a blinding light swallowed her.

When the light dispersed, standing in the stall was a charming girl with waist-length blonde hair.

It was Tian Lanxing, in his Day Form.

He looked down at the T-shirt and jeans he was wearing, and a frown creased his brow.

They had become considerably tighter, but thankfully, he usually favored loose-fitting clothes, or else they truly wouldn’t have fit.

Of course, changing now was out of the question.

‘After all, time was short, and the mission was crucial!’

Gu Qing pushed open the stall door and walked directly to the elevator.

****

With a soft ‘ding,’ the elevator doors opened onto the sixteenth floor.

A scene of pure opulence greeted his eyes.

Melodious violin music drifted through the banquet hall, where elegantly dressed guests, champagne flutes in hand, gathered in small groups, their faces adorned with refined smiles.

The entire hall had been transformed into a veritable ocean of roses, exuding an air of vibrant festivity.

Gu Qing paid no heed to the lavish display, walking directly towards the banquet hall’s entrance.

At the entrance stood two waiters in black suits, tasked with checking guests’ invitations.

The moment one of the waiters spotted Gu Qing, a flicker of disdain flashed in his eyes.

It couldn’t be helped; compared to the affluent and distinguished guests around them, Gu Qing’s inexpensive attire was glaringly out of place.

“Miss, please wait a moment.” The waiter extended a hand, blocking Gu Qing’s path, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer playing on his lips. “This is the engagement banquet for the Xia and Zhao families; uninvited persons are not permitted entry. Have you perhaps come to the wrong floor?”

Gu Qing halted, pulled a card from his pocket, and flicked it towards the waiter.

The waiter instinctively caught it.

It was a black card, and in its center was a star carved from mithril.

The waiter’s expression instantly changed.

‘She was actually from the GSA, and the red star emblem on the card indicated that she was at least a high-ranking official!’

His hand trembled, and the card nearly slipped to the floor.

“You… you please wait a moment, I need to go confirm with the steward!”

Cold sweat beaded on the waiter’s forehead as he clutched the card and scurried into the banquet hall.

Before long, he emerged with a middle-aged man in a tuxedo, who appeared to be the manager.

“My sincerest apologies! This humble one was so blind!” The waiter bowed immediately, returning the ID badge with both hands.

The manager also hastily squeezed out a fawning smile. “Officer, my sincerest apologies, my subordinate was ignorant.”

Gu Qing had no intention of bothering with the two men; he simply wanted to quickly enter and find Xia Xingyan.

The manager, rubbing his hands, spoke with a troubled expression.

“Sir, according to the rules, entering the banquet hall requires an invitation, you see…”

“I am on a mission, and I have every reason to enter,” Gu Qing said impatiently.

The manager’s Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed.

“This… this might be a bit against the rules…”

“Are you talking about rules?”

Gu Qing took a step forward, and an invisible pressure immediately enveloped the manager.

“If the mission fails, everyone who hinders me will lose their heads. Can you bear that responsibility?”

The manager shuddered in fright, his legs going weak, almost collapsing to his knees.

He was just an employee; how could he dare to oppose a behemoth like the GSA?

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare,” the manager’s back bent even lower, his face etched with terror. “Officer, please, quickly enter!”

As he spoke, he frantically gestured to the nearby waiter, urging him to move aside.

Gu Qing scoffed, then strode inside.

Within the banquet hall, the hollow revelry continued.

And his teammate was trapped within this gilded cage.

But all of this was about to end.

Because the rescue operation officially began now!

Inside the banquet hall, the male guests wore suits and ties, while the female guests were adorned with jewels.

Gu Qing, whose entire outfit combined cost less than a hundred yuan, instantly drew numerous stares.

There was disdain, curiosity, and more often, the condescending amusement reserved for a country bumpkin entering the city.

“Whose child is this? How did they manage to get in dressed like that?”

“How embarrassing. Don’t they feel ashamed?”