Chapter Fifteen: Even the Overseas Students Must Return to Me!

Chu Xiao knew all too well that in situations like this, most people had already forgotten about the overseas students.

“Yes,” Li Hai admitted; though he had issued the call, there were still many unwilling to return.

Of course, some students hadn’t even waited for the official summons—just hearing the rumors, they rushed back on their own.

“It’s my fault! There’s simply been too much happening these last few days—I nearly forgot all about this,” Chu Xiao said, not blaming Li Hai in the slightest.

Li Hai felt somewhat embarrassed.

“I’ll call upon all the overseas students to return!” Li Hai promised.

Chu Xiao raised his hand. “Don’t rush. Hear me out first.”

“There’s a great deal of talent among those students. Register them in detail. Find out what fields they excel in, so when a specific skill is needed, we can draw upon the right people quickly.”

“And of course, you know as well as I do—we have to carefully check for enemy agents or spies. Leave no stone unturned.”

“Also, once they’ve left, they can’t come back in. If there’s any trouble, detain them, but never let them go free again.”

“One last thing: for foreign nationals who truly love China, arrange for their transfer and supervision in groups.”

“China is a one-way gate now. Entry is allowed, but no one leaves. If anyone tries to force their way out, they’re to be executed on the spot.” A steely light flickered in Chu Xiao’s eyes; he would not allow any of China’s affairs to leak out and risk unnecessary international disputes.

“At once! I’ll instruct my subordinates to act,” Li Hai replied, turning to leave. He knew that time was running out.

“Wait!” Chu Xiao called him back, his mind preoccupied with other matters.

Li Hai turned, puzzled.

“I’ll go with you to the airport and see the situation for myself.”

“Alright.”

The First Leader looked on, a little worried about Chu Xiao’s health, but there was no time to lose.

Pearl Airport.

Three hours earlier, Li Hai had contacted Chinese embassies around the globe, issuing an urgent notice to all overseas students: if they did not return within three days, the gates of the nation would close to them forever, and they would no longer be considered citizens of China.

The moment this announcement was made, every overseas student realized something serious was happening at home. If they didn’t return, they would lose the right to call themselves Chinese.

To any true Chinese, that was a humiliation.

So what if they were studying abroad? They were still sons and daughters of China, and would not abandon their homeland for the slightest foreign advantage.

For a time, as the ultimatum spread, overseas students scrambled to return home.

Because if they delayed, what difference would there be between them and traitors?

It wasn’t just students. Ethnic Chinese around the world, upon seeing the news, also began transferring their assets back home and rushed to board flights to China.

Still, a small minority chose not to return, their personal interests outweighing all else.

Chu Xiao stood at the airport entrance, watching the returning students with satisfaction. Each one radiated vigor and promise—exactly the kind of people they needed.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

But by the time he hurried after her, she had disappeared into the crowd.

That silhouette—no one could be more familiar to him. He was certain he hadn’t been mistaken.

It was Wang Lulu.

Chu Xiao had never imagined he would see her again at such a moment—a surge of joy swept over him.

He had thought their paths would never cross again, but fate had brought them together once more.

Ah! My beloved from a previous life!

In that former life, Wang Lulu had died at the hands of the Hades’ humanoid weapon, sacrificing herself to protect him.

This time, he would never let anyone hurt her again.

Chu Xiao pressed through the crowd, searching intently for that familiar figure.

At last, he saw her.

Her short hair was still jet-black and lustrous, captivating to the eyes.

Slowly, Chu Xiao approached the familiar silhouette, memories of their first meeting flooding his mind.

“Excuse me, you dropped something,” Chu Xiao said, picking up the wooden stick that had fallen from Wang Lulu’s hand and holding it out to her.

To his surprise, Wang Lulu threw her arms around him, weeping uncontrollably. “I was so scared! I thought the Hades’ humanoid weapon had found me!”

Chu Xiao gently comforted the woman in his arms, who was, at that moment, a stranger to him. “It’s alright. I’ll protect you.”

Back then, Chu Xiao, too, had lost his parents and was alone, fleeing Hades’ pursuit.

His words settled Wang Lulu’s heart completely.

In the midst of the apocalypse, two lonely souls found solace in each other.

“Excuse me, are you alright?” Wang Lulu blinked her bright, limpid eyes, puzzled by the man who had been standing behind her in a daze.

Chu Xiao snapped out of his reverie—thank goodness, he still had a chance.

“It’s nothing. May I ask what you’re studying?” As soon as he spoke, he wanted to slap himself—so clumsy at starting a conversation.

Wang Lulu looked a bit awkward. “I study artificial intelligence, and I’m passionate about wilderness survival. Why do you ask?”

For some reason, looking into his eyes, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

“Would you be interested in joining the base construction in Xishan Province?” Chu Xiao asked urgently. He was determined not to let Wang Lulu fall into danger again.

Even if she didn’t know him, he wanted to be her strongest shield.

Wang Lulu took a step back, wondering if she had run into a lunatic.

Realizing his abruptness, Chu Xiao hurried to introduce himself. “Forgive me, I forgot to say—my name is Chu Xiao, and I’m one of the leaders of the ‘National Mass Production’ movement.”

“Chu Xiao!” Wang Lulu’s eyes widened in shock. She had heard of him during her adventures abroad.

She had been curious about him, but never expected Chu Xiao would appear before her, inviting her to join the Xishan base project.

She didn’t know the details, but it certainly sounded exciting.

“Um, do you have any identification?” Wang Lulu asked quietly. She wasn’t about to take a stranger’s word for it.

Chu Xiao nodded quickly and handed her his ID card.

Wang Lulu scrutinized the card for a long moment, finally concluding—this really was Chu Xiao!

Oh my God! She could barely contain her excitement and almost threw herself at him.

“Alright, I’m in!” Wang Lulu replied, pretending to be serious even as her heart raced with anticipation.

She doubted she’d get any sleep tonight.

Chu Xiao wasted no time, grabbing a slip of paper and writing down his mother Qin Lihua’s phone number.

“Here you go,” Chu Xiao handed her the number. “That’s my mother’s. Once you arrive in Xishan Province, just go straight to her.”

“We need AI specialists—especially those with wilderness survival skills like yours.”