He Feng had originally planned to send the two Fujita siblings home first, then drop off Xie Chi, but Fujita Kiyono woke up halfway through the journey, so he had no choice but to take Xie Chi to her place first since it was closer.

The car stopped by the roadside near the apartment building. He Feng sat in the driver’s seat, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel, glancing outside from time to time.

He didn’t know what the two of them were talking about, but look at that little devil, grinning so happily.

He pressed the horn and impatiently shouted at them, “Let’s go!”

Fujita Kiyono turned back to look at him, then smiled and said to Xie Chi, “They’re getting impatient. You should rest early.”

“Alright.”

The two exchanged good nights and waved goodbye. No kiss, no embrace, they didn’t even touch fingertips. He Feng felt much more comfortable. He moved to the passenger seat and let Fujita Kiyono drive him to the hotel.

Just as He Feng got out of the car, Fujita Michi woke up. She immediately followed him out and grabbed onto He Feng. “Ryuji-nii, don’t stay here anymore. Come stay at my brother’s place with me.”

He Feng tried to push her away, but Fujita Michi became even more persistent, standing on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck and refusing to let go. “Come on, it’s dangerous for you to stay here alone. I heard there are many anti-Japanese underground organizations in Shanghai now.”

“I’ll be careful.” He Feng forcefully pried her off and stuffed her back into the car. “I’m leaving.”

Fujita Michi sat inside unhappily, pouting.

Seeing his sister’s sulking expression, Fujita Kiyono also tried to persuade him, “Michi is right. Why don’t you come stay at my place? I have many guest rooms.”

“I wouldn’t mind, but she’s still a young lady after all. It wouldn’t look good.” He Feng lit a cigarette and squinted at him through the smoke. “If Uncle found out, he’d have my head.”

Fujita Michi pressed against the window and hurriedly said, “He wouldn’t!”

He Feng moved closer and deliberately blew smoke toward her face. Fujita Michi coughed twice from the smoke, waved away the haze in front of her eyes, and heard He Feng say, “Go back. I’m going in now.”

Fujita Michi sighed heavily and slumped down. “Fine then. See you tomorrow.”

He Feng took a long drag of his cigarette and waved at Fujita Kiyono. “Drive carefully.”

“Alright.”

The car drove away.

He Feng strolled leisurely toward the hotel. He sat in his room for a while to prevent Fujita Michi from finding some random excuse to rush back. He calculated the time, figuring they should have arrived home by now, before heading out again.

Ever since taking care of Guoqiang, A’Ru always went to bed early with him.

The apartment was dark and quiet. Xie Chi quietly entered, left the front door slightly ajar, and sat on the sofa with a bottle of alcohol and a glass, waiting.

The alcohol didn’t make her more alert. Xie Chi half-lay on the sofa, her eyelids heavy and drooping, drowsy with sleep.

She squinted wearily at the dark ceiling, which seemed to press down oppressively close, making her feel suffocated. She suddenly slapped her cheeks and got up to take a shower.

The night was cold, and a single nightgown wasn’t enough. Xie Chi shivered as she went to the balcony to grab her robe and put it on. Just as she turned around, a flash of blade light appeared, and a hand struck toward her. She quickly dodged and engaged in a brief scuffle with the intruder. In less than three moves, she was pinned against the wall.

“Ow, that hurts.”

“You’ve improved, but you’re still far from good enough.” He Feng put away his knife and pinched her thigh. “Did you wait long?”

“If you hadn’t come soon, I would have flown over to find you.” She smiled, and taking advantage of his momentary inattention, hooked her leg and kicked toward his groin. He Feng clamped his knees together and nimbly blocked her. Xie Chi grabbed his arm for leverage and lifted her right leg high, clamping it around his neck and flipping him to the ground. Just as she was about to kick toward his face, He Feng grabbed her leg. “Are you really going to hit me?”

Xie Chi threw a punch at him. He Feng laughed as he dodged, then hoisted her over his shoulder and pressed her against the window. Her robe slipped and bunched at her elbows, her straps had also fallen down, and her hair was disheveled in the warm breeze from outside.

He Feng drew the curtains and slipped off her other shoulder strap, pressing his chest against her back. “Still want to fight?”

Xie Chi’s hands were pinned behind her back, unable to break free. She used her movable fingers to lightly scratch his firm abdomen. “I’m done fighting.”

He Feng felt his heart race from her touch. Just as he was about to let go, Xie Chi spun around behind him and wrapped herself around his back, tightly choking his neck. He Feng couldn’t breathe properly and raised both hands in surrender.

Xie Chi loosened her grip a bit and laughingly hugged his shoulders. “I won.”

He Feng pulled her around to face him and held her. “You sneak attacked me.”

“When killing someone, who cares about fighting fair or sneak attacking? What matters is the result.”

“You even took a shower.” He sniffed her hair. “Smells so good.”

Xie Chi pushed him away. “I haven’t even asked you my question yet. Where did you sneak off to alone earlier?”

“Want to know?” He Feng smiled and nuzzled her hair. “Beg me.”

“Be serious.” Xie Chi cupped his face and struggled to stand on the ground. “And what about that little brother of yours? Is he still alive?”

He Feng didn’t want to answer her questions. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms. Suddenly lifted into the air, Xie Chi leaned into him and naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I’ll tell you when I have time.”

Xie Chi ran her fingers through his hair. “You have time now.”

“No, I don’t.” He Feng carried her out of the balcony. Just as he was about to put her down on the sofa, Xie Chi clung to his waist and wouldn’t let go. “I don’t live alone. There’s a young woman and a child who came with me from Nanjing.”

He Feng glanced around and looked at the only room with an open door. “That room?”

“Mm-hmm.”

He picked her up again and walked toward the room, using his foot to close the door behind them.

Thud.

“Keep it down.”

He Feng looked at her with amusement and placed her on the bed, unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re the one who needs to keep it down.”

Xie Chi caught the scent of grass on him. “You didn’t shower.”

“You mind?”

“Mm-hmm.” Xie Chi pinched her nose and deliberately teased, “You stink.”

“You didn’t mind the stench even when I went months without washing.” He Feng pulled her hand away. “Move it.”

Xie Chi spread her arms wide, remembering how grimy and dark he had looked in Nanjing. Joy, heartache, and resentment all surged through her at once.

They were both still alive.

How wonderful.

He Feng felt a scar on her back and turned her over. “New scar. How did you get it?”

“Last month I was assassinating a traitor and underestimated him.”

He Feng looked at it for a while, then lowered his head and gently kissed her back. “Does it hurt?”

Xie Chi buried her face in the bedding. The wound had long since healed, but when he asked like this, she somehow felt it aching again. Just like how sorrow always becomes more bitter when comforted, for a moment she suddenly wanted to tell him so many things—every person she’d met, every place she’d passed, every candy she’d eaten, every drink she’d had…

She turned over and hugged him tightly, her heart suddenly aching. “It hurts, it really hurts, it’s killing me.”

He Feng moved his hand from her waist to her ear, gently stroking her head. “I’m sorry.”

…

A thunderclap made Fujita Kiyono jolt awake.

It was the rainy season, when storms would come without warning.

All drowsiness left him. He sat up and rubbed his temples.

The rain grew heavier. Unable to sleep, he simply got up and poured himself a drink. Standing by the window, he watched the winding raindrops streaming down the glass, remembering what his sister had said at lunch.

When would he get married.

Besides embarrassment, what he felt more was fear.

He liked Xie Chi very much and treasured this relationship deeply. When facing her, he felt inferior. He both yearned for and feared any progress in their relationship, afraid she would discover his unspeakable secret.

He drained all the alcohol in one gulp. Looking at this terrible weather, he felt even more depressed.

…

Xie Chi didn’t dare turn on the lights, afraid that A’Ru might get up during the night and see light leaking from under the door.

Occasionally a flash of lightning illuminated the two people embracing on the bed.

Xie Chi lay on top of him, scratching his Adam’s apple with her fingernail. “Have you slept with any women this past year or so?”

“Yes.”

“How many?”

“One.”

Xie Chi pressed harder with her hand. “What was she like?”

“Especially beautiful.”

“Oh.”

“Jealous?”

“Mm-hmm, quite sour.”

“She can make clothes, ride horses, and she’s pretty good at fighting too.”

Xie Chi smiled with her lips pressed together.

“She just has a bit of a temper. She even kicked me today, and it still hurts.”

“I didn’t realize you were so fragile.”

“I’m invulnerable out there, but as soon as I’m in front of her, I turn into paper—one little poke and I fall apart.”

Xie Chi pressed on his Adam’s apple. “What else?”

“What else? She likes to play with my neck.” He squinted at her with amusement. “Is it fun?”

Xie Chi moved her hand away and traced his prominent brow bone. “Oh, so it was me.”

“Who else?” He Feng’s hand settled on her waist and moved downward, giving her a light pinch. “I told you before, besides you, I don’t want to sleep with anyone. But with you, I could sleep for ten days and ten nights straight.”

“That impressive?”

“Haven’t you experienced how impressive I am?”

“I forgot. My memory’s been bad lately.”

“That’s easy to fix. Tonight I’ll make you remember for a lifetime.”

Just as He Feng was about to pull her underneath him, Xie Chi braced her hands against the bed. “Aren’t you going to ask me?”

He Feng stopped and continued holding her. “If you want to tell me, then tell me. If you don’t want to, I won’t ask.”

Xie Chi suddenly turned cold. “I’ve been with him twice.”

He Feng blinked lightly. “Mm-hmm.”

“Mm-hmm what?”

“Well, what else can I do? Kill you or kill him?”

Xie Chi looked at his serious expression and suddenly laughed. “You took that seriously?”

He Feng frowned. “You dare lie to me.” Before he finished speaking, he started tickling her everywhere. Xie Chi burst into uncontrollable laughter from his attack, immediately bit her lip, and kicked him away. “Stop fooling around.”

He Feng pressed her down beneath him. Xie Chi pressed her hands against his chest. “We’re not done talking.”

“We’ll talk when it’s daylight.”

“Dawn is still far away. I want to talk.”

He Feng lay down beside her. “Fine, ask away.”

Xie Chi looked at him silently. “Never mind, I won’t ask.”

He Feng glanced at her sideways. “What’s wrong?”

“I can pretty much guess.”

“Tell me.”

“There’s nothing much to say. It’s probably just that you survived the disaster and hid somewhere. When your health improved and you found an opportunity, you continued infiltrating the Japanese army under the identity of Koike Ryuji. If I’m not mistaken, you should have been in Nanjing the whole time.”

“I left once, went to Tokyo.”

“Did you see the message I left in the basement?”

“I saw it. I thought you had left with those Americans, but later found out you had used a Japanese person. I never imagined the world was so small—it turned out to be one of the Fujita family’s pups.”

“Were you shocked to see me at the dinner that night?”

“Yes.” He Feng admitted frankly. “Both happy and scared.”

“I knew you would attend the dinner. I felt the same way—happy and scared. Before I came to Shanghai, I had already thoroughly researched all information about Fujita Kiyono. My superiors gave me a file detailing information about everyone close to him, including you. That’s when I confirmed you were still alive.”

“When was this?”

“Three months ago.”

“Then why didn’t you come find me?”

“The organization has discipline.”

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand being constrained? How did you end up joining the Party again?”

Xie Chi was silent for a moment. After a while, her tone was calm but firm, with a slight smile in her eyes. “From the moment I stepped out of Nanjing, my body and soul belong only to the country.”

The conversation was taking a heavy turn. He Feng smiled to lighten the mood. “Looks like I can’t talk you out of it.”

“Now many people are calling me a female traitor. I finally understand how you felt when they cursed you back then.” Xie Chi faced him, gazing into his eyes. “You’ve had it hard.”

“Just some cursing, it’s not like I’m losing any flesh.” He Feng closed his eyes and massaged her shoulders. “Someone once told me, ‘Do you know how much grain, ammunition, and how much of the soldiers’ lifeblood the name Koike Ryuji is worth? A real man can bend and stretch. This war won’t be over in a day or two. I don’t want you to become famous in one battle or die a martyr’s death. I want military supplies, materials, and the devils’ strategic intentions.’ I believed his nonsense and went to spend three years in the little devils’ territory. Later, when I couldn’t stand that frustration and wanted to give up several times, he would scold me again: ‘No matter how fast you are, you’re not faster than bullets. No matter how good your kung fu is, you’d still be blown to pieces by a tank. On the battlefield, how many devils can you kill? A battalion? A regiment or a division? Your value isn’t in charging into battle. One useful piece of intelligence is worth more than a hundred He Fengs. We need fearless soldiers to march forward one after another, bleeding for the motherland. But you can become the one who helps them shed less blood.'” He Feng recalled how indignant Shen Zhan had looked when saying these words. His heart felt like it had something stuck in it, and even long sighs couldn’t relieve it. “Unfortunately, I never got to see him one last time.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Having come this far, there’s nothing to regret. I used to only think about going to the battlefield. Later when I actually went to the front lines, I discovered many things were beyond my control. Instead, working behind enemy lines seems to have some value.” He Feng turned over. “So are we going to talk about national affairs all night?”

“Sure.”

“I only want to be romantic with you.”

“We’re from different camps. If anyone discovered I was having an affair with you, I’d be disciplined.”

He Feng spread her legs apart. “I’ll share some intelligence as a reward.”

“Mm?”

“The devils have a newly built munitions depot in Tongshi Town. Have your people blow it up. Based on your people’s capabilities, you’ll need at least ten to fifteen people.”

“What do you mean ‘our people’s capabilities’?”

He Feng lifted her by the waist. “If they were all like me, two or three would be enough.”

Xie Chi smiled and pinched his arm.

“Ow, that really hurts—A’Zhi.”

…

He Feng didn’t return until dawn, and even ate breakfast at a street stall outside.

As soon as he went upstairs, he saw Fujita Michi sitting on the sofa with a long face.

He Feng walked past her as if nothing had happened. “You came so early.”

Fujita Michi crossed her arms, her gaze following him, completely different from her usual innocent and cute demeanor—serious and displeased. “So early? Where did you go? I came before dawn.”

“Had breakfast.”

Fujita Michi walked over to him. Seeing his bloodshot eyes, she demanded, “You didn’t come back all night? What were you doing last night?”

He Feng lazily pushed her away. “Nothing much.”

“You’re lying to me. I’m going to tell Uncle Koike you went out fooling around. I—I’m going to tell my father.”

What a headache.

“I wasn’t fooling around.” He Feng rubbed his temples and said casually, “I went running.”

“Running? All night?”

“Yeah.”

“What were you doing running all night?”

“My health isn’t great. Just exercising.” He Feng splashed cold water on his face and went to bed.

“Did you go find women?”

He Feng didn’t want to deal with her.

“I heard there are several large dance halls and brothels in Shanghai.” Fujita Michi grabbed his blanket and tried to pull it off the bed. “You weren’t—”

“No.” He Feng interrupted her, snatched back the blanket, and wrapped himself up tightly. “Just pure exercise.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Swear it?”

“I swear.”

…