He Feng had kicked some relative of the editor-in-chief of “Shengjing Times.” He hadn’t listened carefully, just stared at the green-shaded desk lamp in a daze.

Sagawa knocked on the table, and He Feng came back to his senses, glancing at him.

“Kikuchi-kun is very angry and called Tokyo. Your father couldn’t reach you, so he called my office asking you to apologize in person.”

“I won’t go.”

“He broke three ribs and is making a fuss about publishing it in the papers. You know his connections in Shenyang – if this really blows up, everyone will look bad.” Sagawa sighed deeply. “International attention on Manchuria is very close right now. We nearly had the pharmaceutical research incident exposed recently. You’re too arrogant in Xinjing. The incident where you beat that Chinese woman to death was barely suppressed. You wouldn’t want to bring shame to your family, shame to the Great Japanese Empire, and be recalled to Tokyo by your father, would you?”

All this chatter annoyed He Feng terribly. He stood up reluctantly. “I’ll go.”

There was only one train to Beiping this afternoon. He Feng timed it right and went to the hospital first.

As soon as Little Kikuchi saw him enter, he was so angry smoke nearly came from his seven orifices. Wincing in pain, he spat out garbled Japanese.

He Feng calmly walked to his bedside and set down a bouquet of flowers.

“I won’t let you get away with this! Apologizing is useless – I will definitely report your evil deeds!”

He Feng put one hand in his pants pocket and stood by the window without saying a word.

Seeing his inexplicable behavior and how he didn’t take him seriously, Little Kikuchi became even more furious. “Are you deaf! Did you hear me speaking!”

He Feng turned around, saw a pack of cigarettes on the bedside table, walked over, shook one out and lit it. “Still in the mood to smoke – seems it’s still not painful enough.”

“Get out!”

He Feng took a deep drag, bent down, and blew the smoke in his face.

“You!”

He Feng smiled provocatively and stuck the cigarette in his mouth. Little Kikuchi spat it out and didn’t dare move, only lying there roaring continuously.

He Feng lit another cigarette and stood by the window, silently listening to him vent for a while. After finishing the cigarette, he walked to the bedside and forcefully stubbed it out in the ashtray, looking down at Little Kikuchi expressionlessly.

Little Kikuchi’s face was flushed red, cursing until he could barely breathe, his chest heaving violently, grimacing in pain.

He Feng looked at his expression and really wanted to laugh. He bent down and patted Little Kikuchi’s chest. “I came here – that’s giving you enough face. Who told you to curse me? Curse me one more time and I’ll kick your spine to pieces too, make you sit in a wheelchair for life.”

Little Kikuchi weakly raised his hand to swat at him, his hand trembling. “I… I’ll tell my uncle.”

“Telling your ancestors won’t help.” He Feng patted his face. “I heard this is your first time in Xinjing – you haven’t heard much about me, have you?” He suddenly made a figure-eight gesture with his fingers, his fingertips falling in front of Little Kikuchi’s pupils, scaring him into quickly closing his eyes.

He Feng smiled and straightened up. “Don’t be nervous, I won’t really poke your eyes out.”

“Someone! Someone come – Doctor! Throw him out!”

He Feng checked his watch – about time.

He picked up an orange and peeled it in a few moves, ate half in one bite, and stuffed the other half into Little Kikuchi’s mouth. Little Kikuchi choked and coughed continuously, spitting it beside his face, his features contorted in pain.

He Feng smoothed the blanket covering his chest. “Don’t get excited.”

Little Kikuchi struggled to raise his hand and frantically pressed the call button. But with He Feng there, no one dared enter.

He Feng gripped his wrist and put his arm back under the blanket. “Alright, stop making a fuss.”

Little Kikuchi looked like he was about to cry.

He Feng positioned his other arm as well. “Sorry for kicking and breaking your three ribs. When you recover, I’ll stand still and let you kick me back. How’s that?”

Little Kikuchi pouted, looking unwilling.

“Still not satisfied?” He Feng smiled and pulled out his gun. Little Kikuchi was so scared he tried to hide toward the edge of the bed. He Feng put the gun in his hands. “How about you give me a shot?”

Little Kikuchi didn’t dare. If he fired this gun, forget about the Koike family not letting him off – just his brother Koike Taichi alone could skin him ten layers deep. In truth, he didn’t dare make a real fuss – he was just trying to scare this Koike Ryuji. Since he’d already apologized and given him a way out, he’d just consider himself unlucky to have met a living devil and let it go.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard He Feng say: “I hate being threatened by others most. You know I’m not to be messed with – my brother, my father, my mother, none of them are to be messed with. So don’t go looking for trouble. Just nurse your injuries obediently. If you keep making trouble, I’ll send you underground to accuse me.”

Little Kikuchi opened his mouth but couldn’t get a word out.

He Feng peeled another orange and stuffed it to him. “Quite sweet, try it.”

Little Kikuchi looked at his cold eyes and obediently swallowed it.

“That’s better. We’re all subjects of Great Japan – we should get along harmoniously.” He ate the orange and left leisurely. “Wishing you a speedy recovery.”

Just as He Feng turned out the door, he ran into a nurse waiting in the hallway outside. “Go on in.”

Just as the nurse reached the doorway, He Feng raised his arm to block her path, flirtatiously raising an eyebrow at her. “Where do you live?” This scared the nurse’s face white then red, lowering her head as she ducked under his arm.

He Feng smiled and looked back at her, casually tossing an orange peel at her bottom.

The nurse blushed red and quickened her pace, going around to the other side of the bed, never daring to lift her face.

He Feng left the hospital leisurely.

He came to a rooftop not far from the station and sat on the rooftop for over ten minutes in the wind.

Xie Chi sat in a rickshaw stopped by the roadside. He Feng had good eyesight and stared at her intently, watching her get down with only one suitcase. He Feng couldn’t guess exactly what was in her suitcase, but he had a pretty good idea of her purpose for coming here.

That year, he’d searched for Xie Chi on and off for over a month.

China was so vast – who knew which city she’d run to. Without power or influence, finding someone was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The mine had been blown up, his family was dead, and he couldn’t focus entirely on romantic feelings. Hatred nearly occupied his entire heart.

So He Feng and Qing Yangzi wanted to go to Northeast China. Before departing, someone found them. His name was Shen Zhan, originally a scholar who for some reason became a bandit and became the leader of bandits on a mountain in Northeast China. He’d had dealings with He Zhanghui in their youth and their relationship was deep. He Feng had met this uncle when he was five, but later he was recruited and worked for the party and nation, gradually losing contact.

He Feng wanted to follow him to fight devils, but Shen Zhan only took Qing Yangzi and didn’t want He Feng, choosing another path for him.

He Feng’s mother, Luo Lingshu, had studied in Japan and got pregnant before marriage. After graduation she returned to China, but while traveling mountain roads encountered bandits and was taken to their stronghold. What she carried in her belly was indeed a Japanese man’s child. He Zhan’s biological father was called Koike Ryoichi, Luo Lingshu’s teacher, a famous figure in Japan’s economic circles. Later Luo Lingshu cruelly abandoned him and He Zhan and went to Japan again, rekindling her old romance with Koike Ryoichi and even marrying him. She’d always felt that falling into a bandit’s nest was the shame of her life and never told her husband about it. Koike Taichi was Koike Ryoichi’s son with his former wife, making him and He Zhan half-brothers. After Luo Lingshu married Koike Ryoichi, she had no more children. When her son suddenly came looking for her, regardless of the reason, she was very happy in her heart.

Both He Feng and He Zhan took after their mother in looks, having been four or five parts similar since childhood. Add ten years of not seeing each other, and even Luo Lingshu couldn’t tell which was which. Time was kind to beauties – she was still the same as before: elegant, dignified, impossibly beautiful. Koike Ryoichi treasured her like a precious jewel, obeying her every wish. So He Feng took root in Tokyo this way, enduring humiliation for over four years, surrounded by various teachers they arranged, constantly studying, studying, studying…

Finally returning to China early last year, but the government was incompetent – first handing over the four eastern provinces, then letting devils run wild in North China. Shen Zhan served the party and nation on the surface but secretly contacted the Communist Party, helping the Northeast People’s Revolutionary Army fight the Japanese. He Feng had no party stance – in times of national crisis, anyone who could fight devils was one of his own.

Over this past year and more, he’d made himself notorious in Northeast China – a waste in Japanese eyes, garbage in Chinese eyes, an object of mockery among traitors. On the surface he was a relationship-dependent, unlearned, time-wasting connection, but in reality he penetrated deep into Japanese military high command, obtaining and transmitting intelligence.

Only three people in this world knew his identity: Qing Yangzi who’d joined the army, Shen Zhan, and himself. He didn’t dare easily reveal it to Xie Chi, even though her movements were suspicious and she might be one of his own. But this identity was too precious to allow even the slightest error.

He believed that perhaps one day they would meet again under blue skies and white sun.

When that time came, he could openly reintroduce himself to her:

“My name is He Feng, and I’m Chinese.”

…

Xie Chi didn’t stay long in Beiping. There happened to be a train to Tianjin leaving, so after saying goodbye to Xiao Wangyun, she headed to Tianjin to transfer back to Nanjing.

Returning again, everything still looked the same, yet everything was different.

She saw Xiao Wangyun again in winter when he came to Central University to give lectures, staying in Nanjing for five days.

Xie Chi’s qipao shop was doing quite well. She’d made quite a bit of money over the years, donating most of it to the Anti-Japanese Allied Army. She’d recently taken on a big order with good income, so she treated Xiao Wangyun to a big meal at Fuchang Restaurant.

Looking at the table full of dishes, Xiao Wangyun called it wasteful.

Xie Chi gave him a look and just said: “Only once or twice a year.”

After dinner, Xie Chi invited him to listen to opera.

Xiao Wangyun always loved listening to opera. Every time he came, he insisted on dragging her to four or five shows.

Xie Chi took him to an unknown small opera house with shabby tables and chairs and hardly any audience.

Xiao Wangyun thought maybe they sang well. But as soon as the dan actor opened his mouth, he lost interest.

Xie Chi listened with relish and even cracked sunflower seeds.

A man in a long robe suddenly entered the opera house. Xie Chi kicked Xiao Wangyun and moved closer to him, eyeing the fat man. “See that fat guy who just sat down?”

“What about him?”

“This person’s been hanging around Yuhuatai lately, acting sneaky. I’ve been watching him for two days and found he has dealings with a rice shop owner – secretly stuffing notes into brick cracks under long benches. Soon after he leaves, the rice shop owner sits over and takes the notes. Twice now.”

“Don’t meddle in things that aren’t your business.”

Xie Chi scoffed. “Just consider me bored.”

A girl with twin braids came down to serve tea. Walking beside them, she was nearly knocked down by a big man getting up. Xiao Wangyun caught her. “Careful.”

The girl was still shaken, looking at the man holding her, suddenly unable to look away.

Xiao Wangyun helped her stand steady and lowered his hands.

The girl stared straight at him.

Xiao Wangyun felt somewhat uncomfortable. “Miss, why are you looking at me?”

The girl smiled. “Tea?”

“No need, thank you.”

Xie Chi had eaten too many sunflower seeds and felt thirsty. “Top me off.”

The girl went around to pour for her. “Are you two married?”

Xiao Wangyun said: “No.”

The girl nodded and left with a smile.

Xie Chi drank tea while laughing.

Xiao Wangyun looked sideways at her. “What are you so happy about?”

“That face of yours really is loved by all.”

“…Don’t joke around.”

“How are things with Miss Jiang? Why haven’t you settled down yet?”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

Xie Chi nearly choked. “What are you two waiting for?” She shook her head. “Mutual affection – if it were anyone else, they’d have children by now.” As soon as she spoke, He Feng’s face suddenly flashed in her mind.

She immediately became unhappy and set down her teacup heavily.

“Moody as the weather.” Xiao Wangyun sat properly and adjusted his sleeves. “With your temper, which man could stand you?”

Xie Chi fell silent.

Xiao Wangyun looked again at the fat man not far away. “What do you want to do?”

“Keep observing.”

…

The next day, Xie Chi returned from Yuhuatai.

She saw a girl sitting in the qipao shop.

It was raining outside, so she thought it was just a customer taking shelter.

A’Ru took her umbrella, shook it, and hung it on the hook.

The girl inside saw Xie Chi return and quickly stood up. “You’re back.”

Xie Chi looked at her uncomprehendingly. This girl was strange – the way she spoke made it seem like she was the host.

Xie Chi greeted her: “Hello.”

The girl came closer, smiling sweetly. “Things here are too expensive. I’ll come buy when I have money.”

“Alright.”

“I’m Meng Yuan.”

“Mm, Miss Meng.”

Xie Chi walked behind the counter and looked at the pile of account books. Perfect for a rainy day with nothing to do – she could do the accounts. She picked up the abacus and started working, seeing Meng Yuan still not leaving. “Is there something else?”

“Nothing.”

“I can lend you an umbrella.”

“No need, I’ll wait a bit.” Meng Yuan stood outside the counter watching her calculate. “Do you need a shop assistant?”

“No.”

A’Ru was embroidering nearby and smiled upon hearing this. “We could hire another one – our business keeps getting better.”

Xie Chi focused on her calculations.

Meng Yuan propped her face on her hands watching her. “That gentleman who was with you that day – when will he come again?”

Xie Chi didn’t lift her eyes once. “Stop scheming – he has a sweetheart.”

“He’s single – I asked around.”

Xie Chi smiled. “Now I remember you – the girl serving tea at the opera house.”

“I’m also a performer, but the opera house business hasn’t been good this year, so I serve tea and water on the side.”

“Mm.”

“So when will he come to Nanjing again?”

“Don’t know.” Xie Chi stopped and looked at her. “Go home.”

“It’s pouring rain.”

Xie Chi continued calculating. “Then sit for a while.”

The shop fell into quiet.

Only the clicking of the abacus and the patter of rain outside.

…