"Us? Hah, who said there's an 'us'?" Ji Yanzhi sneered. "Even if we agree, it absolutely won't be for your sake."
"I know." Qin Zaiye had at least that much self-awareness.
The decision now rested with Ji Ting. Only if he agreed would this have any chance of happening.
After a long silence, Ji Ting finally spoke. "Qin Zaiye, regardless of whether you earn any commendations on your mission, you'll still have to serve your sentence when you return."
For a military offense involving a breach of duty, Qin Zaiye would likely receive a fixed-term sentence of less than three years. If he distinguished himself while carrying out a wartime mission, however, that sentence could be revoked and his actions would no longer be treated as a crime.
Ji Ting's condition added one final safeguard against the possibility that Qin Zaiye was merely putting on a righteous act to get himself off the hook.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Zaiye nodded firmly. "All right. And I promise I won't seek a suspended sentence."
At that, Ji Ting looked straight to the side. "Ji Yanzhi, let's go."
Ji Yanzhi understood that Ji Ting had agreed, and the two of them left the visitation room together.
Team Leader Sun came out of the monitoring room as well. He had plenty of questions, but before he could ask any of them, he saw Ji Ting avoid Ji Yanzhi's outstretched hand.
Ji Yanzhi froze in surprise. Before he could recover, Ji Ting had already walked ahead. "Team Leader Sun, could I trouble you to help me contact Qin Mingzhong?"
Team Leader Sun raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. "You want to see Qin Zaiye's father?"
"Yes."
"That can be arranged..." Team Leader Sun considered it for a moment, then said, "But you can't meet