The makings of an elite agent

"What exactly is going on?" Zhang Wan asked in a hushed voice.

Fu Hu frowned. "No idea. He just showed up out of nowhere... says he's some big shot from the National Strategic Risk Bureau, but I've never even heard of that department. He's got my credentials and knows my service record... I really can't tell whether he's legit just yet. But he also has this high-tech gadget. That thing is definitely cutting-edge equipment, not something an ordinary person could get their hands on."

"What he's saying could be true, but then again, it doesn't seem possible... I don't dare offend him, either. If he really is an official, we'd be in trouble."

"Oh, honestly." Zhang Wan sounded worried. "Could he be a con artist? You need to keep your wits about you, Old Fu. You were just an ordinary soldier. What major business could possibly involve you? If he so much as asks for money, we're calling the police!"

"Don't get worked up. I invited him to dinner. I'll fish around a little while we eat. If he's a fake, do you think some young punk could fool me? Watch for my signals!"

"What a mess. All the good food I bought today was meant to nourish our daughter. She's finally got an appetite for once, and now some stranger gets to help himself." Zhang Wan waved a hand in irritation.

"Quit fussing and get cooking."

"Fine. Tell Qing Dai to lock her door. She can eat later."

The table was filled with dishes, and the cups and utensils were all set out.

Su Jin picked up the remote and watched the movie at increased speed. He had already filled two whole pages with notes.

After setting down the last dish, Fu Hu turned his head. "Director Li, are you finished watching?"

Su Jin paused the television, closed his notebook, and got up to approach the table. He smiled at the couple. "I'm sorry to impose on you both today!"

"Let me introduce you. This is my wife, Zhang Wan... and this is..." Fu Hu gestured as he made the introductions.

"Li Haocheng, director of the National Strategic Risk Bureau." Su Jin turned to Zhang Wan with a smile and a nod.

"Sit down, please!" Fu Hu nodded repeatedly.

The three of them sat down, and silence briefly settled over the table.

Fu Hu raised his glass toward Su Jin. "Director Li, you said earlier that fate brought us together. Let me offer you a toast!"

Su Jin raised a hand in polite refusal. "Sorry, I never drink outside working hours."

Fu Hu and his wife exchanged a glance. Zhang Wan smiled. "That's right, drinking less is good for your health! Have some more food, then."

With that, Zhang Wan picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it in Su Jin's bowl.

"Director Li, I overheard you two talking earlier. I think you mentioned something called the National Strategic Risk Bureau? How come I've never heard of it? Could you tell me more? When did our country get a department like that?"

"Of course. Actually, this department was established quite some time ago, hmm..." Su Jin broke off halfway through, turning to look toward Fu Qingdai's bedroom before facing them again. "Is the girl in that room your daughter? Why not call her out to eat with us?"

"No need, no need. That child is always eating snacks instead of proper meals. Don't mind her." Zhang Wan looked displeased. "Please go on, Director Li."

"Ah... may I ask your daughter's name?" Su Jin changed the subject.

The moment he asked, both Fu Hu and his wife grew wary. Under the table, Zhang Wan secretly jabbed Fu Hu with a finger.

"My daughter's name is Fu Qingdai. Why?" Fu Hu asked coolly.

"That girl..." Su Jin hesitated before finally speaking. "Has something happened to her lately? Her mental state doesn't look very healthy to me."

Fu Hu and his wife exchanged another glance, their expressions changing this time.

Something immediately came back to Fu Hu, and he hurriedly asked, "Director Li, you said you were well versed in psychology... can you really tell what's wrong?"

Su Jin gave a confident smile. "Of course. With sufficient expertise, you can spot a problem at a glance... so your precious daughter really has been having some trouble, hasn't she? Call her out and I'll take a look. I can't guarantee I'm better than the leading experts, but I'm certainly no third-rate doctor."

Before Fu Hu could speak, Zhang Wan had already gotten up to fetch Fu Qingdai.

Soon, Fu Qingdai was sitting at the table too, her head lowered, not daring to make a sound.

"Say something! Greet him! Call him Uncle Li!" Zhang Wan prodded Fu Qingdai's shoulder.

"U-Uncle Li..." Fu Qingdai bit down hard on her lower lip, stole a quick glance at Su Jin, then hurriedly lowered her head again.

"Director Li, could you tell us what's wrong with her?" Zhang Wan asked urgently. "Lately, she's always..."

Just as Zhang Wan was about to describe the symptoms, Fu Hu cut her off in a low voice.

"Don't say anything. Don't interfere. Let Director Li take a proper look!"

Well versed in psychology, was he? Let's see just how well versed he really is. One test would tell whether he was genuine!

Su Jin lowered his head slightly and made a show of studying Fu Qingdai. After pretending to ponder for two minutes, he was ready.

Under the couple's attentive gazes, Fu Hu slowly began, "This child... judging by her expression and complexion, she's under far too much stress. I even sense some suicidal tendencies. Usually, at her age, this is caused by academic pressure."

Zhang Wan immediately turned to Fu Hu with an I-told-you-so look.

Fu Hu shot her a sidelong glance, displeasure written on his face.

This damn woman! He's barely said a few words, and she's already falling for it! Completely useless!

"Have her grades been slipping lately, starting with math and physics?"

"Yes! Exactly! Her math grades get worse by the day!" Zhang Wan exclaimed in amazement. "Director Li, you can even tell that?"

"That's perfectly normal. It's a matter of probability," Su Jin said. "Qing Dai, lift your head. I have a couple of questions for you."

Fu Qingdai raised her eyes and timidly nodded twice.

"What time does your school's lunch break start, and what time do you eat?"

"The break starts at twelve. I eat at twelve thirty."

"And what do you eat for lunch? Who do you eat with?"

"It's different every day..."

Su Jin asked more than a dozen questions about her daily routine in succession, leaving Fu Hu and his wife utterly baffled.

Fu Hu's brow remained tightly furrowed, and his gaze never left Su Jin.

Only after finishing his twentieth question did Su Jin lift his glass and take a sip of water, a smile returning to his face.

"I think the problem is quite clear now."

"What is it, Director Li?" Zhang Wan asked hastily.

"I already mentioned the first issue: excessive academic pressure. But the second is more complicated... she's been dating."

"I haven't!" Fu Qingdai immediately protested, one small hand pinching the top of her thigh fiercely.

"You have... and the boy isn't in your class. My guess is he's in the class next door. His grades aren't good, but he should be fairly athletic... you were together for at least two months, and then he fell for someone else and dumped you. You may have gone to see him again, only for him to humiliate you. Am I right?" Su Jin looked straight at Fu Qingdai.

Hold it together! You have to hold it together!

Tears brimmed in Fu Qingdai's wide eyes, and she had already pinched a bruise into her thigh. Then she burst into loud sobs and threw herself into Zhang Wan's arms, crying uncontrollably.

Their daughter's sudden breakdown made Fu Hu and his wife exchange yet another glance. This time, their expressions changed completely.

This... this... this was incredible!

Even the hospital hadn't uncovered so many problems, yet a few casual questions had exposed the root cause!

Was this what made an elite agent?

"See? I told you!" Zhang Wan rounded on Fu Hu in a rush of excitement, feeling thoroughly vindicated. "She's just under too much pressure at school, and she's been dating! There's nothing else wrong with her, but you insisted on sending her to a psychiatric hospital!"