He Feng went out drinking almost every night – partly to avoid Fujita Michi, and partly to gather intelligence, such as strategic deployments, military supply transports, resource extraction, which Nationalist government officials had turned pro-Japanese, which wealthy merchants had business dealings…

During the day, he would pretend to be completely drunk, hiding in his room and refusing to come out, no matter how much Fujita Michi knocked and shouted outside.

Today, light snow was falling in Changchun.

Early in the morning, Fujita Michi brought a locksmith over and had his door opened.

He Feng wasn’t actually asleep and clearly heard every sound until Fujita Michi pulled off his blanket and suddenly climbed onto his back.

He Feng rolled over, deliberately knocking her off the bed.

Fujita Michi hit her head and lay on the floor, almost crying.

He Feng squinted and pulled her up, “How is it you?”

Fujita Michi covered her forehead, her eyes reddening, “It hurts so much.”

It would be better if you hurt to death.

“Let me see.” He Feng moved her hand away, “It’s nothing, it won’t hurt in a moment.”

“…” Fujita Michi sat on the edge of the bed and hugged his waist, “You’re not allowed to sleep anymore. Come out with me for a walk – today is New Year.”

He Feng pushed at her but wasn’t successful.

If her father weren’t Fujita Yasuo, he would definitely grab her head and slam her hard against the wall.

The distinctive Japanese fragrance oil scent made He Feng’s stomach churn, “I won’t sleep anymore. I’ll go out with you. Let go.”

Fujita Michi twisted against him coquettishly, “I want to hold you a little longer.”

He Feng pushed her away forcefully and jumped off the bed barefoot.

“Where are you going?”

“Stomach ache.”

The door slammed shut. He Feng frowned in disgust and brushed himself off, taking out a cigarette from a half-empty pack on the shelf and putting it between his lips.

He leaned against the washstand and smoked two cigarettes before going out.

This was the first day of 1937, with light snow.

Fujita Michi dragged He Feng out to stroll the streets, watch performances, and eat delicious food.

In the afternoon, they went to a theater run by Japanese people.

They were performing “White Spring.”

“It would be great if Second Brother were here. The scripts he writes are particularly interesting.”

“Last time he had a falling out with Father, he’s still in London and hasn’t come back. I haven’t seen him for so long, I miss him so much.”

“Second Brother seems to have never been to China.”

He Feng was absent-minded and didn’t respond to a single thing she said.

Fujita Michi frowned slightly, “Are you listening to me?”

“I’m listening.”

“Then what did I say?”

“You said Kiyono writes interesting scripts and he’s still in London and hasn’t come back.”

Seeing his perfunctory expression, Fujita Michi asked, “Don’t you want to go out with me?”

He Feng ignored her, “Watch the performance.”

She was so angry she puffed up her cheeks and stopped talking.

After the performance ended, they walked out one after the other. Fujita Michi deliberately put on an unhappy expression, thinking He Feng would coax her, but he had no reaction at all.

“You must be tired. I’ll take you home.”

Fujita Michi didn’t make a sound and walked ahead sullenly by herself.

He Feng was too lazy to deal with her, but afraid she might have some accident that would affect his own affairs, so he had to follow silently.

Fujita Michi suddenly turned around, “If Brother Ryuji doesn’t want to see me, I’ll go back to Japan tomorrow. I wasn’t supposed to stay many days anyway.”

He Feng thought to himself:

That’s wonderful,

hurry up and get lost.

He moved closer, “It’s not that I don’t want to see you. I’ve just been drinking too much lately and am a bit tired.”

“I finally managed to get leave to come see you. I just wanted to spend more time with you, but you’re always preoccupied. What are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about sleeping.”

“You—” Fujita Michi turned and walked away.

He Feng grabbed her sleeve, “Alright, don’t be angry anymore. Let’s go eat something.”

Fujita Michi snorted.

He Feng casually picked a flower from a street flower vendor, paid for it, and held it in front of Fujita Michi, “If you keep drooping your face, you’ll become ugly.”

She smiled and took it, “Thank you, Brother Ryuji.”

…

Four days later, Fujita Yasuo sent someone to escort Fujita Michi back to Japan.

He Feng was finally at peace and could continue doing what he needed to do without distraction.

…

In early April, Xiao Wangyun came to Nanjing with two colleagues to organize the Second National Art Exhibition. After settling everything, he found time to visit Xie Chi’s qipao shop.

She was being pestered by a troublesome customer and couldn’t get away for the moment. Xiao Wangyun stood at the door watching her for quite a while.

Xie Chi saw him, nodded, and waved her hand, gesturing for him to come in, then continued talking with the customer.

A’Ru led Xiao Wangyun upstairs, “Mr. Xiao, please sit for a while.”

“Alright.”

A’Ru poured him tea, “You seem to have gotten darker.”

“I took students out for plein air painting recently and got tanned.”

“The shop has been busy lately. The boss was going to pick you up, but this customer has been going on and on with one demand after another. Just listening to her is driving me crazy.”

“Let her be busy, I’m not in a hurry.”

“Then I’ll go downstairs first. Just call me if you need anything.”

“Alright.”

After A’Ru went downstairs, Xiao Wangyun took his cup and walked to the balcony, looking at the street scene outside.

The saying goes “Jiangnan is a land of beauty, Jinling the capital of emperors.”

Red buildings and green waters, jade gentlemen and beautiful ladies – truly a beautiful Nanjing city.

Xie Chi came upstairs rubbing her neck, “What are you looking at?”

Xiao Wangyun turned around, leaning back against the railing, took a sip of warm tea, straightened up and walked into the room, “It’s quite lively.”

“This area is too noisy, the constant noise gives me headaches every day.” Xie Chi refilled his tea cup, “Did you come alone?”

“How many did you expect?”

“I thought you’d bring your sweetheart. She’s from Nanjing, isn’t she? Last time we even passed by the Jiang family’s old mansion in the car – quite impressive.”

“Beiping is quite chaotic now, with student demonstrations every few days, giving speeches and promoting anti-Japanese resistance. She’s too busy to get away.”

“Then why did you come here?”

Xiao Wangyun leaned against the low table beside her, “Education for national salvation—”

“Education for national salvation, art for national salvation.” Xie Chi interrupted him and sighed, “I’ve read several articles recently, all just shouting slogans.”

“For the art exhibition on the 18th, I actually think you should participate.”

“Too late.”

“There’s time. What’s this organizing committee for if not this?”

“I’m out of practice, haven’t held a brush in a long time.”

“What a pity, you shouldn’t have let it go.”

Xie Chi half-opened her eyes and glanced at him, “How long are you staying here?”

“For some time, I still have several lectures to give.”

“Such a busy person.”

Xiao Wangyun saw her looking exhausted, “Nothing troubling you lately?”

“There is.” Xie Chi pointed at the wine bottle, “Pour me a glass.”

Xiao Wangyun walked over and poured her a cup of tea.

“I want wine.”

“You look dazed enough already, don’t drink.”

“I’m perfectly clear-headed.” Xie Chi still took the tea cup and sipped it twice, “Japanese spy activities are frequent, and they’ve developed quite a few traitors, scurrying around like rats. The day before yesterday I discovered one – an employee at a pen shop. Guess how they transmitted intelligence?”

“Fountain pens?”

“Exactly.”

“Boss—”

A’Ru came running upstairs, “Mrs. Liu sent someone to pick up clothes.”

“Just give them to her.”

“Then I’ll collect the money first, you can count it later.”

“Alright.”

A’Ru ran back downstairs.

Xiao Wangyun put down his tea cup, “I’ll talk more later, I have something to do and need to go first.”

“Alright.”

…

Meng Yuan followed Xie Chi around all afternoon, pestering her for news about Xiao Wangyun. When Xie Chi was having dinner at a nearby small restaurant, Meng Yuan rushed to pay the bill.

“He’s not yours, give up this idea.”

“I can’t give up, he haunts my dreams.”

“There are plenty of good men. He’s been devoted to another woman for years and won’t easily change his heart.” Xie Chi gently blew on the scalding hot glutinous rice balls, then continued, “Do you want to replace her? Or be a concubine? The country has clearly stipulated monogamy. Although it’s practically meaningless, from my interactions with you, you don’t seem like someone with feudal ideas. Moreover, from what I know of Xiao Wangyun, this is absolutely impossible.”

Meng Yuan sighed, “I haven’t thought that much about it.”

“Don’t be discouraged. You’re so beautiful, you’ll meet someone who will be devoted to you alone.” Xie Chi smiled and took a bite, “This tastes quite good, you should have a bowl too.”

“I have no appetite.”

Meng Yuan folded her hands and leaned on the table, “What’s the woman he likes like?”

“I’ve only met her twice, don’t know her well, but she seems gentle and virtuous, very composed.”

“Is she pretty?”

“Beauty is comparative.”

“Compared to me?”

Xie Chi looked up at her again, “A bit prettier than you.”

“Even prettier than me!” Meng Yuan straightened up, “What about compared to you?”

Xie Chi picked up her bowl and drank two sips, mumbling, “She’s a few points behind me.”

“…” Meng Yuan snorted, “You’re not modest at all.”

“That’s just the truth.”

Meng Yuan suddenly leaned in to look at her closely.

Xie Chi let her examine her, “How is it? Am I beautiful?”

Meng Yuan pulled back, “Beautiful.”

“I think so too.” Xie Chi smiled, put down her spoon and stood up, “I’m finished, thank you for treating me.”

…

In the afternoon, Xiao Wangyun and the organizing committee went to handle exhibition matters.

He didn’t come to find Xie Chi until evening.

The door was locked, but the lights were on in the shop.

Xiao Wangyun stood at the door waiting. Soon, Xie Chi returned, bringing another woman with her.

From far away, Meng Yuan saw a tall, straight man standing at the qipao shop – it was Xiao Wangyun! She was overjoyed. She had pestered Xie Chi all afternoon without success, but unexpectedly met him here. Fortunately, she had left her coat at the qipao shop and needed to come back with Xie Chi to get it.

She was straightforward by nature, always saying what was on her mind without hiding anything. She had prepared a whole speech to confess her feelings to Xiao Wangyun, but seeing him in person, she couldn’t say a word.

“You still ran into him.” Xie Chi glanced at her and curved her lips, “Why are you wilting now?”

Meng Yuan poked her waist, “Don’t say anything yet.”

Xie Chi made an “mm” sound and quickened her pace, with Meng Yuan silently following behind.

Seeing a stranger, Xiao Wangyun nodded politely at her, and Meng Yuan nodded back stiffly.

Xie Chi stood between them and introduced, “This is Meng Yuan, you met her at the opera house last time.”

Xiao Wangyun didn’t remember her, “Hello.”

Meng Yuan, usually quite bold and seeming like she might be experienced in romance, became as weak as an unsteady little chick when it mattered, hanging her head and shyly picking at her fingers, “Hello, Mr. Xiao.”

Xie Chi opened the door, “Don’t stand there, come in.”

She poured tea for both Xiao Wangyun and Meng Yuan, then went to work on braiding decorative knots.

The two of them didn’t say a word.

With an outsider present, many things were indeed awkward to discuss. Xiao Wangyun stood up, “Then I’ll head back first and visit again another day.”

Xie Chi didn’t try to keep him, “Mm.”

Meng Yuan also stood up, “No, you two talk, I’m leaving.” With that, she ran out.

Xie Chi looked up at him, “Have you eaten?”

“I have.”

“Wait for me to finish these two braids, then we’ll go see Old Zhou.”

“Alright.” Xiao Wangyun moved closer to watch for a while.

“Does it look good?”

“It looks good.”

“It doesn’t look good.” Xie Chi chuckled softly, “But the customer insists on changing it to this double happiness knot style, which completely doesn’t match the pattern she wants for her qipao.”

“Seems like business isn’t easy either.”

“Of course not, every line of work is difficult.”

“Indeed.”

…

Xiao Wangyun stayed in Nanjing for over a month and returned to Beiping in mid-May.

Meng Yuan saw him three more times but never confessed her feelings, silently harboring her affection for him.

Before he left, she brought homemade rice cakes but missed the train and didn’t get to see him one last time.

Meng Yuan sat dejectedly on the street in front of the station for a while, then brought the rice cakes to the qipao shop for Xie Chi and the others to eat.

Coincidentally, Xue Dingqing was also there, having a Western suit made, with A’Ru measuring him. Because of Xie Chi, he had met Meng Yuan a few times, and the two seemed somewhat incompatible.

Meng Yuan placed the wooden box on the table, “It’s still warm.”

Xue Dingqing glanced at her sideways, “He didn’t want it?”

“I was a step too late. I happened to run into a student demonstration, the rickshaw couldn’t get through, so I had to take a detour. I didn’t even get to see him one last time, sigh.”

Xue Dingqing laughed, “This is what they call fate.”

Meng Yuan glared at him and casually threw a ball of thread at him, “Look at your gloating face, no wonder Wanzhi doesn’t fancy you.”

“…”

A’Ru laughed out loud, “You two really start bickering the moment you meet. I think you two are quite well-matched.”

“I wouldn’t fancy him!”

“As if I could fancy you.”

Xie Chi came downstairs and hurried out.

Meng Yuan and Xue Dingqing said in unison, “Where are you going?”

Without looking back, she said, “Going out on business, I’ll be back tonight.”

A’Ru put down the measuring tape and deliberately sighed, “Ah, truly a match made in heaven.”

“You go be a match made in heaven with him, I’m leaving too.” With that, she left the shop.

Seeing Xue Dingqing’s silence, A’Ru said to him, “Don’t be angry, I was just joking around.”

“It’s fine.”

…

At the end of June, the weather turned hot.

On the afternoon of the 29th, Koike Taichi suddenly arrived in Changchun and summoned He Feng. The reason was that Koike Yoshisato was seriously ill, and Luo Lingshu had notified both brothers to return together.

Although He Feng didn’t want to stay here, he even less wanted to go back to Tokyo. Moreover, the Japanese had been holding meetings frequently recently, seemingly secretly planning something. He Feng couldn’t access all the core military intelligence, and despite drinking with Takahashi and Hanada several times, he hadn’t managed to extract any information.

At the same time, Koike Taichi gave him no chance to refuse. Without even drinking a cup of tea, when He Feng arrived, he immediately took him away: “No need to pack, come with me directly.”

…

Every day in Japan, He Feng felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. Koike Yoshisato’s health had been poor for a while. Last year, Luo Lingshu had resigned from the university, partly to care for her husband and partly to help him handle internal and external affairs.

Two days after Koike Yoshisato’s surgery, Koike Taichi hurriedly went back to China. He Feng also wanted to return with him, but Koike Taichi told him to stay in Tokyo to care for the family and forbade him from going out.

During these days, Fujita Michi came over every evening at exactly the right time. Her control over timing was extremely strict, with an error tolerance of no more than two minutes.

At 7:40 PM, Fujita Michi arrived punctually again.

He Feng was reading the newspaper and didn’t even hear her footsteps.

“Brother Ryuji… what are you reading? You’re so absorbed?” Fujita Michi bent down to glance at the newspaper content, “Great, they’re finally fighting.”

He Feng folded up the newspaper.

Three days ago, the Japanese army attacked Lugou Bridge and engaged in fierce battle with the 29th Army, beginning the full-scale invasion of China.

Along with this came full-scale resistance.

His feelings were complex – joy, anxiety, excitement, and worry all mixed together. He wished he could immediately fly back to his homeland, carry a gun, and rush to the battlefield with his compatriots.

In his heart lurked a lion ready to pounce, but years of lying dormant had taught him to be patient and restrained.

He hid all his emotions and smiled at Fujita Michi, “Looking at the war situation.”

“I hope it can end soon so Father can come back.” Fujita Michi hugged his arm, “Will you go too?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t want you to go.” Fujita Michi shook his arm, “Why don’t you wait until we win before going? We could visit Shanghai, or Nanjing.”

Nanjing… he wondered if A’Zhi was still in Nanjing.

He Feng pushed away her hand and stood up, “I’ll go upstairs to check on things.”

“Let’s go together.”

…