The dance hall owner reported to the police. Fujita Kiyono was handcuffed and taken to the nearby police station. He remained silent throughout, allowing a young officer who had lost his patience to punch him violently in frustration.

He stayed at the police station until dawn, when an older officer came to interrogate him. His hair had dried, becoming even more curly from lack of grooming, disheveled and covering his eyebrows. His clothes were stained with mud and dust, making him appear rather wretched. He crouched by the wall with his head lowered, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night, numb and desolate.

The officer had just finished eating and came in licking his teeth, shouting at him, “Stand up.”

Fujita Kiyono was staring at an ant on the ground. It seemed uncertain of its destination, circling in front of him for a long time. Just as it would walk away, he would pinch it back to its original spot. Over and over again, he toyed with this tiny creature until finally, unable to control his strength, it died between his fingers, its body split in two.

Looking at its corpse, he felt he was just like this ant, even inferior to it—at least the ant could die so easily. But what about himself? Controlled by his family, bound by so-called mission and honor. He had become a manipulated marionette, a soulless walking corpse, already seeing that bloody and pale future. How high a place he stood upon, treading on thousands of troops and horses, topped by tens of thousands of dead souls, wielding an invisible sword, about to continue slashing toward those million soldiers. Regardless of victory or defeat, he was a misplaced chess piece under war, constantly advancing, retreating, maneuvering, but unable to escape this confined chessboard. Even in death, he would be buried as an invader.

He thanked heaven for its mercy, sending him a beloved woman, sending him the only beam of light in his dark cage. But ever since Fujita Noo had fed him an overdose of that drug years ago, his mind and body had been shadowed. He had sought treatment many times, from Western medicine to traditional Chinese medicine, but it only grew worse. He was inferior, both mentally and physically.

Now, even that beam of light was gone.

“I told you to stand up!”

Fujita Kiyono was roughly yanked to his feet and slammed hard against the wall behind him, his arm immediately going numb. He raised his eyes, looking coldly at the officer before him, his voice hoarse, “Call your chief.”

The officer was stunned for two seconds, then burst into laughter. “Chief? Where do you get the nerve, kid? Daring to demand to see the chief.”

Fujita Kiyono half-lowered his eyelids, silently watching him.

“Come with me to make a statement.”

He obediently followed.

This was a branch office of the police department with few staff members. Interrogation and recording were conducted by one person.

“Name?”

“Fujita Kiyono.”

The officer’s pen tip paused. He looked up at him, feeling somewhat intimidated, “Japanese?”

“Yes.”

“A Japanese speaks Chinese so fluently?”

Fujita Kiyono didn’t respond.

The officer took a deep breath and raised his voice to bolster his courage. So what if he’s Japanese? If he killed someone, he must still be dealt with accordingly. “What’s your occupation?”

“Counselor.”

“What kind of counselor?”

“Military counselor at Shanghai Kempeitai Command.” He slowly stood up, pressing his hands on the table. “North China Area Army Infantry Fifth Division Twenty-first Regiment Commander, Colonel, Fujita Kiyono.” He bent over, bringing his face close to the officer’s, staring into his increasingly terrified eyes, switching to Japanese, “Do you understand?”

…

Xie Chi prepared some food and went to find Fujita Kiyono, but he wasn’t at the command headquarters. Usually at such times, she would go to the Japanese consulate or the Plum Agency where she could always find him, but strangely, he was nowhere to be found. Xie Chi also went to his residence to look for him. The servant said the commander had gone to Nanjing.

Xie Chi didn’t think much of it. Perhaps he had received a temporary special mission and hadn’t had time to notify her. But with his departure date uncertain, the mission assigned by the organization would have to find another way.

According to the plan given by their superiors, they were to take action during the banquet after the meeting ended, infiltrating the room containing classified documents to open the safe and steal them.

Xie Chi often accompanied Fujita Kiyono to events, but given her rather secretive identity, she couldn’t easily show herself and didn’t participate in this operation. Six members from two other groups provided support from outside.

Not knowing the situation inside, they waited nervously when suddenly they heard gunshots from within the restaurant.

The mission had failed.

The next morning, He Feng received word that someone had been arrested for attempting to steal classified documents, and a Japanese recording officer had been killed.

Late that night, He Feng went to Xie Chi’s house. She wasn’t there, so He Feng waited for over half an hour before she returned.

“You’re back.”

Xie Chi was startled, carefully closing the door as she entered. “Why did you come? Did he talk?”

“No, I came to see if you were dead.”

Xie Chi frowned. “You’d be happy if I died.”

He Feng pinched her face. “Why do you people keep doing stupid things? Didn’t get the documents and lost a person for nothing.”

Xie Chi pushed away his hand. She was already overwhelmed with worry about her captured comrade, and his words made her heart ache even more. “You’re so capable, you’re the smartest.”

Seeing her walk glumly toward the table and sit in a chair, He Feng followed and wrapped his arms around her neck from behind. “The person was taken to the Plum Agency. Either he’ll talk, die, or sell you out. After being tortured for a day and night, I hear his bones are hard—won’t say a word. He doesn’t know your identity, does he?”

“No.” Xie Chi looked at him. “How do you know he’s one of ours?”

“Those little devils came this time specifically to discuss the Eighth Route Army problem. The Kuomintang wouldn’t get involved in your affairs.”

Xie Chi grasped his hand. “Can he be rescued?”

“I want to scold you for being stupid, but then you’ll be unhappy. If I don’t scold you, I can’t hold it in.”

Xie Chi shook off his hand and turned away, refusing to speak.

He Feng gripped her shoulders. “If you want documents, ask me for them.”

Xie Chi turned to look at him. “What do you mean? You have them?”

He Feng chuckled softly. “I don’t have them, but I was at that meeting.”

“…”

“Although it’s supposed to be confidential, given our relationship, could you ask me before your future operations? To reduce trouble and unnecessary sacrifices.”

“I know, but your undercover work is more dangerous. I can’t always have you taking risks for me.”

“Not for you, for the country.” He Feng rubbed her head. “The Kuomintang-Communist cooperation certainly won’t last long, but before party politics, our only enemy is Japan.”

“I understand. I just don’t want to trouble you.”

“Still talking about trouble with me?” He Feng bent down close to her face and firmly bumped her forehead. “What’s our relationship?”

Xie Chi finally smiled a little. “I know.”

“What do you know? I asked you a question—what’s our relationship?”

“Lovers?”

He Feng hooked the corner of his mouth. “We’re husband and wife. Although we have no official documents and haven’t formally bowed to heaven and earth, we are husband and wife. Remember that?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t just say yes, speak properly.”

Xie Chi pinched his arm helplessly. “I remember.”

He Feng straightened up with satisfaction. “Get out paper and pen to write it down.”

“You remember it all?”

“Your man has a good memory, can’t help it.” He flicked her forehead. “Hurry up, I’ll forget in a while.”

Xie Chi didn’t move. “Just tell me directly. I’ll remember.”

He Feng snorted with laughter. “Don’t come crying to me if you forget.”

Xie Chi stood up and sat on the table, meeting his gaze at eye level. “Your woman has a good memory, can’t help it.”

He Feng placed both hands on the table, enveloping her in his arms. “Copying what I say.”

Xie Chi pushed him away. “Go ahead and tell me.”

“This meeting had two parts—strategic deployment and material transport. Remember well, I’ll only recite this once.” He Feng straightened up, crossed his arms, and leaned against the table, folding his long legs, immediately becoming serious. “Outline of Operation Plan No. 2 for the Jin-Cha-Ji region, Article One…”

…

The next evening, Fujita Kiyono returned. He wore a kimono, his complexion poor, coming to Xie Chi’s home and bringing a dress with him.

He said, “There’s a banquet tomorrow. I’ve prepared a gown for you. I’ll come pick you up then, and we’ll attend together.”

“Alright.”

“Aren’t you curious what I’ve been doing these past two days?”

“Was it official business?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t ask about official business then.”

Fujita Kiyono glanced into the room. A’Ru was sitting on the sofa winding yarn into balls. “I’ll leave first then. See you tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

“Sleep early and maintain good color.”

“Okay.”

…

On the way back, Fujita Kiyono encountered He Feng. He was walking with another man, arms around each other’s shoulders, appearing drunk and supporting each other, uncertain of their destination. He had Yamashita stop the car and walked toward them.

“Ryuji.”

He Feng looked over upon hearing the voice. “Kiyono.”

The man in his arms, Miyamoto Ryo, saw the face clearly and exclaimed excitedly, “Fujita-kun!”

Fujita Kiyono nodded slightly at him. “How much has Miyamoto-kun had to drink?”

Miyamoto Ryo waved his hands repeatedly. “Not much, not much.”

Fujita Kiyono looked at He Feng. “Should I give you two a ride?”

Miyamoto Ryo rushed over and hugged him. “Fujita-kun, we’re going to the bathhouse. Come with us!”

If it were before, Fujita Kiyono would certainly have refused. He disliked exposing his body in public and didn’t like that atmosphere. But now things were different.

He agreed with a smile. “Alright.”

They went to a Japanese-run bathhouse. The hot spring pool steamed with rolling heat, like a fairyland.

Miyamoto Ryo soaked for a while, felt he couldn’t breathe, and went to lie on an outside bed, falling fast asleep.

Only He Feng and Fujita Kiyono remained in the pool.

He Feng rested with his eyes closed for a while, arms spread wide, resting on the ceramic ledge behind him. After a long time, he opened his eyes and looked toward Fujita Kiyono, only to see him staring at his groin.

He Feng glanced down and found nothing amiss, splashing a handful of water at him.

Fujita Kiyono startled and shuddered, the surrounding water rippling in waves.

He Feng looked at him with a light smile. “What are you staring at me for?”

Fujita Kiyono didn’t answer, lying down lower in the water.

He Feng looked at the bath towel around his lower body. “Still wearing that while bathing? Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“Very comfortable.”

He Feng continued lying on his back, head resting on the ledge, smiling lazily. “Then stay comfortable.”

Fujita Kiyono suddenly said, “You’ve known Michi for seven years, haven’t you?”

“About that.”

“Seven years ago she was only thirteen, already constantly talking about wanting to marry Big Brother Ryuji in the future.” Fujita Kiyono looked at his long neck. “You and Michi could get engaged.”

He Feng snorted with laughter and sighed. “Your big brother’s mourning period isn’t over, and you’re already eager to marry off your sister.”

“Our family doesn’t care about such things, and it’s just an engagement anyway.”

“We’ll see. She’s still young.”

“She’s not young anymore—already nineteen.”

He Feng fell silent.

Fujita Kiyono stared again at He Feng’s body. Even in a completely relaxed state, his abdominal muscles were firm and full. Looking further down… he couldn’t help but sigh deeply, feeling even the air become sour and unbearable.

“When did you get that done?”

He Feng understood what he was referring to. “Some time ago.”

The left side of his body, front and back, bore large tattoos extending from his left shoulder to half his arm to a small part of his waist. There were no large black areas—basically composed of flowing, dynamic lines. This was done before leaving Nanjing. After months of war, his body was already covered with scars. Not to mention bullet wounds, there were countless knife marks large and small. He had to find a way to conceal them to prevent exposure due to these traces. Fortunately, most scars were concentrated on the left side, so his entire body wasn’t dominated by these patterns. The tattoo master had given him some designs. He Feng was pressed for time and had no leisure to examine them carefully, selecting this one purely by instinct from dozens of patterns. Unexpectedly, the old master became unusually excited: “I’ve drawn so many designs, and this one is from three years ago. You’re the first to dare get it tattooed. Young man, I must warn you first—ordinary people can’t handle it.”

He Feng didn’t care about handling anything and immediately stripped off his clothes. “Be flexible and cover the scars.”

“Is it a dragon? Chinese dragons don’t have wings, do they?”

He Feng smiled with his eyes closed. “This is called Yinglong, the Dragon God.”

Fujita Kiyono felt dizzy from the heat. Looking at this dragon from afar, surrounded by flame patterns, its body stretched, whiskers and hair flowing, claws fierce, combined perfectly with his body in an supremely arrogant posture. In this steaming hot water, it seemed to summon clouds and breathe mist, as if alive.

When Xie Chi first saw it that summer, she pinched the powerful dragon tail on his waist and laughed, saying, “You look like a tyrant.”

He had replied with a smug expression, “I am a tyrant.”

Fujita Kiyono felt extremely suffocated and got up to leave. He walked to He Feng’s head and looked down at him. “Tomorrow evening there’s a banquet at the Great Shanghai Nightclub. Wanzhi and I will both be there. You should come too.”

He Feng lay motionless with his eyes closed. “Mm.”

…

The gown Fujita Kiyono selected for Xie Chi was too extravagant—a white trailing dress covered in beads, thick and heavy, with an especially tight waist. Afraid of constricting the child, Xie Chi spent over an hour loosening it before it became somewhat comfortable to wear.

Fujita Kiyono also brought her bracelets and necklaces, quite luxurious, which made Xie Chi feel somewhat panicked. Such grandeur meant either he had some scheme or there were extremely important distinguished guests present.

The heels were rather thin. In the past, when Xie Chi was alone, she never worried about running, but now it was different. She had to constantly protect herself from falling or getting bumped.

Therefore, she could only walk holding Fujita Kiyono’s arm.

Looking at this hall full of high government officials, business magnates, and Japanese military dignitaries, Xie Chi thought that if a bomb fell here, how much harm would be eliminated for the people.

She remained distracted all evening until she saw He Feng. He had brought a female companion, but that didn’t affect the peace of mind she felt from his presence.

After making a round, Fujita Kiyono led Xie Chi to sit on a corner sofa. He Feng was also sitting there. After chatting briefly, Fujita Kiyono found an excuse to leave, deliberately creating an opportunity for them to be alone.

He had been observing them from a visual blind spot nearby. The two had no intimate contact and barely exchanged a few words. Soon, He Feng’s female companion came over and pulled him away to dance.

Ha, hidden so well indeed.

Halfway through the banquet, Fujita Kiyono suddenly pulled Xie Chi onto the main stage. She had an ominous premonition. “What are you doing?”

Instead of answering her, Fujita Kiyono called loudly to the people drinking, dancing, and chatting below, “Please stop for a moment, everyone.”

All eyes immediately focused on them.

“Excuse me for interrupting for a few minutes. Today’s banquet is mainly to announce good news. I think everyone should recognize this beautiful lady beside me. Her name is Xie Wanzhi, and she’s my girlfriend. We have been in love for nearly half a year.” He suddenly turned to face Xie Chi and knelt on one knee. “Taking this good opportunity, I want to solemnly ask you—will you marry me?”

Xie Chi was slightly stunned. In fact, she had already considered this possibility.

Everyone was cheering. With all these people he’d brought, refusal was impossible.

Fujita Kiyono looked at her affectionately and asked again gently, “Wanzhi, I love you. Marry me. Let me care for and cherish you for life.”

Xie Chi looked at the pink ring he held up, remembering the huge diamond ring He Feng had once mentioned to her. From the corner of her eye, she could glimpse He Feng standing on the second floor watching her, but she dared not look directly at him, fearing some inadvertent glance might expose them both.

Eventually, they would all have to leave, whether him or herself.

She smiled and agreed. “Yes.”

This brought prolonged applause and cheers.

Fujita Kiyono placed the ring on her finger, elegantly stood up, embraced her waist, and brought his lips close to hers.

His kissing technique was very clumsy—he had probably never done it before, just clumsily moving from left to right before releasing her.

“Thank you all for witnessing this. I wish everyone an enjoyable evening.”

He Feng looked down at the two of them. Although he knew it was all fake, his anger was about to erupt uncontrollably. He applied force with his hand, inadvertently crushing the wine glass. Red wine flowed down his wrist into his sleeve, glass fragments scattered and cut his palm bloody.

He went down the stairs, leaving the hall from behind the crowd, but someone called out to him from behind, “Ryuji.”

He Feng stopped and hid his hand in his pants pocket.

Fujita Kiyono approached with Xie Chi, standing before him with his arm around her waist. “Leaving?”

“Yes, going back to handle some documents.”

“The day after tomorrow we’ll hold an engagement banquet. I’ll invite my father and mother to come, and Michi will come too. You must bring Mrs. Koike to attend.”

“Sure.” He Feng curved his lips, his gaze sweeping across Xie Chi’s face before finally settling on Fujita Kiyono’s face. “Then congratulations to you both in advance.”

…