Wednesday night, at 1:30 AM, Lin Xia, Su Xiao, and Zhou Yang departed on time. After a half-hour drive, they arrived near Xingtu Intelligence headquarters.
Thursday at 2 AM sharp, in front of Xingtu Intelligence headquarters building, the night was deep, with only a few streetlights emitting weak light. Lin Xia and Zhou Yang, wearing black tactical gear, lurked in the shadows across from the building, preparing to infiltrate. Su Xiao remained in the car, responsible for providing technical support.
"It's now 2 AM sharp," Su Xiao's voice came through the earpiece. "According to the security deployment map Lu Chuan sent, it's shift change time. Surveillance personnel are most tired. Operation begins."
"Alright," Lin Xia adjusted her earpiece and said. "Su Xiao, you stay on standby in the car outside, responsible for providing technical support; Zhou Yang, come in with me, responsible for filming evidence. Remember, be careful. Once discovered, retreat immediately."
"Understood," Zhou Yang said softly.
Lin Xia and Zhou Yang, using the technical support Su Xiao provided, successfully broke through Xingtu Intelligence's outer access control and surveillance systems, entering the building.
"Su Xiao, we've entered the building," Lin Xia said through the earpiece. "Now heading to the third basement level."
"Received," Su Xiao's voice came through the earpiece. "I've cleared the surveillance blind spots for you. Be careful to avoid the patrolling mercenaries. They patrol every 15 minutes. Five minutes have just passed, so you have 10 minutes."
Thursday at 2:10 AM, in Xingtu Intelligence's core server room, Lin Xia was operating a computer, attempting to extract Lu Chuan's consciousness data. Zhou Yang stood guard nearby, holding a camera, ready to film evidence at any time.
"Lu Chuan, I'm here," Lin Xia said softly. "I've come to save you. Hold on, I will definitely get you out."
She quickly operated the computer, connected to Xingtu Intelligence's core server, and began searching for Lu Chuan's consciousness data. The screen displayed complex code and data streams. Lin Xia's fingers flew across the keyboard, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.
"Found it," Lin Xia said in a low voice. "Lu Chuan's consciousness data is in the quantum storage module, but it's encrypted."
She took out the data drive Lu Chuan had left from her pocket and inserted it into the computer: "Lu Chuan left a quantum key in the data drive. I can use it to unlock it."
Lin Xia input the key into the system. The data stream on the screen accelerated, showing the progress of Lu Chuan's consciousness extraction.
"Progress 80%... 90%... 95%..." Lin Xia stared nervously at the screen.
Suddenly, the server room door opened. Several mercenaries rushed in, armed with weapons, shouting: "Don't move!"
"Go, quickly!" Zhou Yang shouted, pulling Lin Xia toward the emergency exit.
But Lin Xia didn't give up. At the last moment, she pressed the confirm button: "Extraction complete!"
Thursday at 2:20 AM, in the corridors of Xingtu Intelligence headquarters, Lin Xia and Zhou Yang ran ahead while mercenaries pursued from behind. Lin Xia tightly gripped the device containing Lu Chuan's consciousness data, afraid it might be damaged.
"Su Xiao, we've been discovered," Lin Xia said through the earpiece. "Come provide support quickly. We're retreating toward the back door."
"Received," Su Xiao's voice came through the earpiece. "I'm already waiting for you at the back door. There are two mercenaries on the way. I've remotely triggered the fire suppression system to create chaos. They can't pursue temporarily."
Lin Xia and Zhou Yang quickly ran to the back door. Su Xiao's car was already waiting for them there, engine running.
"Get in quickly!" Su Xiao shouted.
Lin Xia and Zhou Yang quickly got into the car. Su Xiao stepped on the gas, and the car sped away from Xingtu Intelligence headquarters.
"What about Lu Chuan's consciousness data?" Zhou Yang asked, panting heavily.
"Successfully extracted," Lin Xia said. "Lu Chuan's consciousness is now in my device."
Lin Xia sat in the speeding car, tightly gripping the device containing Lu Chuan's consciousness data, her heart filled with joy and excitement. Her heartbeat accelerated, as if she could hear her own heart pounding.
"Lu Chuan, we succeeded," she said softly. "I've rescued you. Do you know how long I've waited for this day?"
She thought of the scene when Lu Chuan sacrificed himself, thought of the pain when she lost him, thought of the hardships of searching for him. Now finally successful, her tears flowed uncontrollably.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from Lin Xia's device: "Xia Xia, it's me. I'm awake."
Lin Xia's eyes lit up. Her heartbeat accelerated, as if she couldn't believe her ears: "Lu Chuan, is it really you?"
"Yes, Xia Xia," Lu Chuan's voice came from the device. "I'm awake. I'm in your device. Thank you for coming to save me."
Lin Xia's tears flowed uncontrollably. She said excitedly: "Lu Chuan, I missed you so much. These days, I've been thinking of you constantly, looking for you. I thought I'd lost you forever."
"I missed you too, Xia Xia," Lu Chuan said. "In Xingtu Intelligence's core server, I was waiting for you all along. I believed you would definitely come to save me."
The car disappeared into the night, while Xingtu Intelligence's pursuers were still closely following behind. But Lin Xia didn't care anymore, because she had found Lu Chuan, found the most important person in her life.