As if connected by telepathy, He Feng immediately understood Xie Chi’s meaning and also grasped Jiang Shouyue’s intent. Pretending to understand nothing, he leaned against the wall with his hand and blew on her disheveled hair, moving the loose strands by her face behind her ear. “If I remember correctly, Miss Xie and Miss Jiang are friends, right?”

Jiang Shouyue answered calmly, “Yes, we met in Beiping three years ago when you brought friends to see an opera.”

Xie Chi caught her breath and politely pretended, “It’s rare to meet again. I’ll treat you both to dinner another day.”

“That sounds good.”

“Wanzhi.” A voice came from the distance. Xie Chi looked over – it was Fujita Kiyono.

Seeing him, Jiang Shouyue hooked her hair behind her ear. “You two chat, I’ll go to the restroom.”

“All right.”

Jiang Shouyue walked away arranging her hair, not letting Fujita Kiyono see her face. She went down to the first floor via another staircase, removed the silk ribbon tied to her wrist, and put it in her small bag, signaling to the surrounding comrades that the plan was canceled.

Fujita Kiyono walked over to them. “Who was that just now?”

He Feng said with a frivolous smile, “A beautiful girl. We were just chatting when your girlfriend discovered us.”

Fujita Kiyono raised his eyebrows helplessly. “Ryuji, Michi asked me to keep an eye on you.”

He Feng patted his shoulder. “Then you’ll have to help me keep this secret. Your sister has such a temper – if she really makes a fuss, I won’t be able to handle it.”

Fujita Kiyono was too lazy to advise him and turned to ask Xie Chi, “How did you get here?”

She was wearing a shirt and pants that were completely out of place here, and hadn’t even had time to remove the thimbles from her fingers – clearly she had come in haste. Faced with Fujita Kiyono’s inquiry, Xie Chi immediately made up an excuse. She put her hands behind her back and scratched several red marks on her wrist with her nails. “I came to deliver a cheongsam. I was nearby, and on my way back I encountered robbers. After struggling with me, I saw Yamashita’s car outside and thought I’d come in to find you.” She raised her hand to show Fujita Kiyono. “My bag was stolen, and they scratched me.”

He Feng leaned against the wall drinking, listening to her lie without blushing or her heart racing. It had to be said that showing weakness was the best cover. Seeing her injured, Fujita Kiyono became completely flustered and didn’t think to analyze the credibility of her words. Angry and distressed, he grasped her hand and looked at the vivid red marks. “If you encounter this situation again, don’t fight back. Give them money if they want it – your safety is most important.”

“All right.”

“Were they local thugs? Do you remember what they looked like? I’ll have someone arrest them.”

“I can’t remember their faces clearly. I just remember they were quite tall and wearing black clothes.”

“Then I’ll have all the tall men in black clothes in the area arrested, and you can identify them one by one.”

He Feng couldn’t help but laugh.

Xie Chi shot him a sideways glance and said to Fujita Kiyono, “Forget it. I don’t like trouble, and I didn’t have much money anyway.”

“Then I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“It’s just a small scratch. It’ll heal in a while.” Xie Chi gently pushed away his hand. “Don’t be so nervous. I’m fine.”

He Feng watched their intimate interaction, finding it both amusing and irritating. He turned his face and saw Luo Lingshu standing not far away, staring at him. He straightened up and said to the two of them, “I won’t disturb you anymore.”

Seeing him walk toward Luo Lingshu, Fujita Kiyono took Xie Chi’s hand. “Come, let me introduce you.”

Luo Lingshu looked at the young people walking over. “Instead of going downstairs to dance, you’re hiding up here like this old person.”

He Feng flattered her: “Where are you old? You look like my sister.”

Luo Lingshu’s mouth curved slightly. “Smooth talker, aren’t you afraid people will laugh?”

Fujita Kiyono bowed respectfully to her and introduced Xie Chi: “This is Mrs. Koike, Ryuji’s mother.”

Xie Chi looked at this beautiful woman. Remembering Wang Dazui’s and others’ descriptions of the bandit chief’s wife back at the stronghold, calculating from He Zhan’s age, she should be at least fifty years old, yet she was still graceful and elegantly proportioned, looking no more than thirty-something.

“Hello, I’m Kiyono’s girlfriend. My name is Xie Wanzhi.”

“I’ve long heard that Kiyono found a beautiful girlfriend. You truly live up to your reputation.”

“You’re too kind.”

He Feng tapped the railing with his finger, his gaze drifting to a chandelier in the distance. He had never imagined having them meet this way, or rather, he had never wanted Xie Chi to meet Luo Lingshu at all.

In his heart, his mother was already dead. The woman before him was merely a blood-related elder who had betrayed her ancestors.

A man in a kimono approached Luo Lingshu. “Madam, Mr. Aoki requests your presence.”

Luo Lingshu left. He Feng glanced at the two of them. “I’m leaving.”

Fujita Kiyono didn’t take Xie Chi downstairs. The two stayed upstairs talking for a while.

Xie Chi watched the men and women dancing below, her gaze occasionally sweeping over He Feng sitting on the sofa by the wall. He was surrounded by a group of gaudily dressed girls and was performing a magic trick for them.

At this moment, Xie Chi couldn’t spare energy for jealousy – her mind was full of concerns about his safety.

Meanwhile, He Feng was like a beautiful butterfly flitting among wildflowers, each one blooming for him.

After finishing her conversation with Aoki, Luo Lingshu came out for some air and saw her son laughing and playing with a group of women. She walked over with light steps. Seeing her approach, everyone immediately restrained their laughter, nodded in greeting, and hurriedly dispersed.

Luo Lingshu carried an aura that warned strangers to keep away, looking cold and forbidding like perpetual snow on a mountain’s shady side – just one glance could freeze you. With her nearby, He Feng enjoyed rare peace and quiet.

He downed a glass of wine and met her gaze. “What are you staring at me for?”

“Only after coming to Shanghai did I hear about some of your affairs here. It’s a bit too much.” Luo Lingshu took his wine glass and set it aside. “You’d better restrain yourself. It’s one thing to be irresponsible at work, but don’t disgrace our family with your behavior.”

“Oh, I understand.”

Fujita Kiyono and Xie Chi walked down the stairs. He Feng glanced over and picked up his wine glass again, when he suddenly heard Luo Lingshu say, “Kiyono’s girlfriend, that Miss Xie – what’s your relationship with her?”

He Feng looked at her airily, his expression unchanged. “What relationship could I have with her?”

“Don’t try to deceive me. You can’t hide it from me.” Luo Lingshu studied his eyes. “I told you, eyes don’t lie. The way you look at her isn’t normal. Kiyono can’t tell, but I’m your mother. The more you try to hide it, the more guilty your conscience.”

He Feng laughed and admitted, “Who wouldn’t want to look twice at a beautiful girl? I’d love to have a casual affair with her.” He put his arm around his mother’s shoulder. “What do you think of her? Could she be your daughter-in-law?”

“You’re being ridiculous.” Luo Lingshu brushed away his hand and looked toward Xie Chi in the distance. “It seems Kiyono really likes this girl. You can’t play with a friend’s wife. Control yourself and don’t cause trouble, or it won’t look good for anyone.”

There was commotion from the west side. Several people nearby looked on with both panic and curiosity, whispering to each other: “What happened?”

“The military police are all mobilized. Could there be an assassin?”

A man was found dead in the restroom, throat slit with a knife. Blood flowing from the stall was how he was discovered. The body was carried out – it was a Japanese economist named Oikawa Jun.

Strange odors mixed with the smell of blood spread through the air. Xie Chi looked at his gaping mouth and blood-covered body and suddenly felt nauseous. She grabbed a glass of wine nearby and drank it, feeling slightly better.

Fujita Kiyono was extremely busy. He was the highest-ranking official present and needed to control the overall situation. Military police and Special Action Unit personnel had completely surrounded the Paramount. Xie Chi didn’t know if Jiang Shouyue and the others had managed to get out. She sat in Fujita Kiyono’s car, quietly observing the movements around her.

Soon, Fujita Kiyono emerged from inside. He stood with his hands behind his back, his entire demeanor serious and cold as he addressed the Special Action Unit personnel – a completely different face from when he dealt with her.

Xie Chi knew that after experiencing three major battles, he was no longer the soft little rabbit he’d been initially. Regardless of his past record, during this time in Shanghai he had indirectly overseen the Special Action Unit, capturing countless anti-Japanese patriots. Though he hadn’t killed anyone personally, his hands were already stained with blood that could never be washed clean.

Fujita Kiyono glanced toward the car and his eyes met Xie Chi’s. He instantly became gentle, giving her a warm smile before giving more instructions to his subordinates and coming to sit beside her. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go.”

“You’re not staying?”

“No need. I’ll leave it to them.”

Yamashita got in the driver’s seat. Fujita Kiyono told him, “Take her home.”

“Yes.”

With escort cars in front and behind, they drove slowly. Xie Chi leaned wearily against the car window, her mind and body still in a tense state, her head full of thoughts about the assassination attempt on He Feng. Since they hadn’t succeeded, they would surely try again.

What should she do?

His identity was top secret. Not only the Communist Party, but Military Statistics Bureau and Central Statistics Bureau people all wanted to kill him. Even their own people didn’t know – could she reveal it to Jiang Shouyue and the others?

With heavy traffic, the car alternated between fast and slow speeds. Xie Chi felt a bit dizzy.

“Scared?” Fujita Kiyono grasped her hand.

“No.” Xie Chi straightened up and saw a candied hawthorn vendor by the roadside. She hurriedly called for Yamashita to stop.

“What’s wrong?”

“Buying something to eat.”

The car had already passed by more than ten meters. Fujita Kiyono followed her to the small stand. Xie Chi asked for two skewers. Just as Fujita Kiyono was about to pay, Xie Chi quickly pulled out money from her pocket and handed it to the vendor.

She didn’t want to sit in the car – it felt stuffy and uncomfortable. Since they weren’t far from home anyway, she decided to walk back. She offered one skewer to Fujita Kiyono. “Want some?”

“You eat it. I don’t like things that are too sour.”

Xie Chi withdrew her hand and ate by herself. Seeing her spit the seeds into her palm, Fujita Kiyono quickly pulled out a handkerchief. “Spit them into this.”

Xie Chi took it. “Thank you.”

After a few sour treats, the nauseous feeling that had been bothering her was finally suppressed. Before long, she had finished both skewers.

“I didn’t know you liked these.” Fujita Kiyono smiled. “I should have bought more.”

“If I ate more, my teeth would be too sour.”

They passed a small theater. The director and several actors came out, still wearing stage makeup, heading to a restaurant to the west.

Fujita Kiyono watched them and sighed. “I used to be like that – writing scripts, rehearsing with friends, performing. I really miss them.”

Light rain began to fall, scattering in fine droplets.

Fujita Kiyono looked up at the high lights. “I hope the war ends soon.”

“You mean conquering China soon?”

He looked down at her. “It’s already begun, so it can only end this way.” He smiled faintly. “You hope China wins, don’t you?”

Xie Chi looked at him frankly. “I’m just a woman with no sense of patriotism. No matter who rules, as long as I have a peaceful place to live with food and clothing, that’s enough.”

Fujita Kiyono gripped her hand tighter. “Wanzhi, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“What is it?”

He lowered his eyes, his expression dimming, sighing softly. “After the New Year, I have to go to the front lines again.”

Xie Chi’s heart tightened. If he left, it meant her undercover work would end too.

“I’m going to the Ninth War Zone.”

“Changsha.”

“Yes, the situation isn’t optimistic. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return.”

“Do you have to go?”

“My ear has almost healed, and my body has mostly recovered. Father has been urging me for a long time – I’ve been putting it off.”

“There’s still a month.” Xie Chi smiled lightly. “Then I’ll spend more time with you recently.”

“Good.”

They reached the building entrance. Fujita Kiyono gently embraced her. “You’ll wait for me, won’t you?”

“Of course.”

He cupped her face. “I want to kiss you. May I?”

Xie Chi didn’t refuse.

He seemed slightly nervous, his fingertips trembling as he slowly approached her cheek. Xie Chi deliberately burped and turned her face away. They both laughed awkwardly.

Fujita Kiyono looked up at the building, stammering. “Can I… can I…”

Xie Chi pushed him away. “What?”

He smiled and shook his head. “Nothing. Go on up and rest early.”

“You too. Be safe.”

Xie Chi walked upstairs feeling dejected. Just as she was opening her door, she heard a voice behind her.

It was Jiang Shouyue.

She had ruined their plan. Jiang Shouyue was very angry and confused. Originally today’s targets were three people: Koike Ryuji, Luo Lingshu, and Oikawa Jun. Luo Lingshu had stayed in a private room the whole time, only Koike Ryuji and Oikawa Jun were easy to target. Fortunately they successfully killed one, but they had already alerted their prey, who would certainly strengthen security. They couldn’t act again recently.

“I will report this matter to the organization exactly as it happened. What I want to know is why you saved him?” Jiang Shouyue was not polite with her at all. “The way you look at him isn’t right. Do you like him? When did you meet him? How did you meet? Did you know each other three years ago? How far have you developed?”

A string of questions made Xie Chi increasingly irritated. “Stop asking.”

“Xie Wanzhi! Know where you stand. He’s Japanese – though only half Japanese, he’s more hateful than a purebred.”

“He’s never done anything bad.” Xie Chi explained weakly. “He’s not what he appears to be on the surface.”

“What do you mean?”

“My position is very firm.”

Jiang Shouyue looked at her in confusion. “He couldn’t be—”

Xie Chi interrupted her: “You should understand what I mean. I’ve only told you these words – please keep them absolutely secret.”

Jiang Shouyue found it hard to believe. “Are you sure?”

“In any case, I don’t care about others. You can kill whoever you want, but don’t touch him.”

…