Two high-ranking Kuomintang officials had defected to Japan. The intelligence was intercepted by the telecommunications department of the secret service headquarters, but they had no cipher key and couldn’t decode the message. He Feng was being followed. He wasn’t sure which faction’s people they were. With his current identity, everyone except the Japanese wanted him dead. He didn’t want trouble and just thought to shake them off. But what he didn’t know was that those following him were Japanese agents sent by Fujita Kiyono.

He Feng was highly alert and cunning, with first-class skills at losing tails. The agents would follow him only to lose him repeatedly. After two days of surveillance, they couldn’t catch him in any wrongdoing.

Tomorrow was the engagement. Lunch would be a family banquet, with an evening reception at the Dahui Club.

Fujita Kiyono delivered the kimono for the family banquet in advance, instructing Xie Chi to go home early to rest before leaving to attend to business.

Shortly after he left, Jiang Shouyue came to the qipao shop again. She had remained in Shanghai since the last assassination of the economic officials. Fujita Kiyono’s engagement news was causing a stir, and his father’s visit to Shanghai was no longer a secret, though no one knew the specific itinerary.

The previous body measurements for Jiang Shouyue had been a pretext, but Xie Chi had recorded the measurements and made her a qipao in her spare time. Seeing her emerge wearing it, she smiled and said, “It looks beautiful.”

Jiang Shouyue looked expressionlessly at herself in the mirror, her tone flat. “Do I still look good in qipao?”

“Others can’t achieve this effect.”

Jiang Shouyue turned and walked away, unwilling to admire her own body any longer. She sat on the small sofa, her posture ramrod straight. She was always tense, as if ready to enter combat at any moment. Her gaze was like a cold blade, terrifyingly cold, unable to soften when facing anyone. “Is it safe to talk?”

“Zhang Ya will signal if someone comes up.” Xie Chi poured her a cup of hot tea. “Warm yourself up.”

“Thank you.” Jiang Shouyue held the teacup for warmth. “There’s a new mission. You should be able to guess what it is.”

“Fujita Noo?”

Jiang Shouyue nodded.

“I haven’t received any mission orders.”

“This came directly from Yan’an. Not just us—the Kuomintang side should also have operations. You only need to tell me the time and place. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“That won’t work. It’s too dangerous. They’ll definitely assign many Japanese soldiers for protection.”

“The old devil just got promoted to general. All the devils we’ve assassinated combined don’t equal this one. It’s a rare opportunity. Killing him would be a great achievement. If successful, it would greatly intimidate both the Japanese invaders and the traitors.” Jiang Shouyue gazed at her with determined eyes. “Think of the soldiers fighting bravely at the front. Even if we fail, dying for our country would be without regret.”

“What about Fujita Kiyono?”

“He’s no longer of any use.”

Xie Chi naturally understood the implication and had always prepared herself for this day, but its sudden arrival caught her somewhat off guard.

“You’re not going soft, are you?”

“No.”

“I know he’s been good to you, but no invader is innocent. I told you long ago—if we don’t kill him, he’ll lead troops to fight our compatriots.”

“I understand. Don’t worry. I have no feelings for him.”

“Good.” Jiang Shouyue blew on the hot tea and took a small sip. “Your identity is special, so you don’t need to participate. Just provide information and coordinate with Little Fujita. Also, lend me Little Zhang. I need manpower.”

“Alright.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“What?”

“I’m pregnant.”

Jiang Shouyue was stunned, staring at her with wide eyes, angrily clenching her fist as if about to pound the table.

“Don’t get excited. It’s not his.”

Jiang Shouyue relaxed her fingers slightly, but her brow remained deeply furrowed. “Don’t tell me it’s that person’s?”

“Don’t worry about whose it is. After this mission ends, I’ll leave and never get involved in these matters again.”

“I understand. What about the child’s father? Will he go with you?”

“I can only take care of myself.”

Jiang Shouyue lowered her gaze to her abdomen. “You shouldn’t have told me. If I’m captured—”

“I trust you.”

She sighed softly, looking out the window. “If I die, don’t bury me with Wangyun. Scatter my ashes in the sea.”

Xiao Wangyun’s body had been transferred to a Shanghai cemetery last year. Xie Chi understood her thinking—she felt herself defiled, unworthy of being buried with him. Xie Chi didn’t know how else to comfort her. For such tremendous harm, no words could provide even half a measure of relief. She didn’t want to discuss this matter further. “You must live. When the child is born, you have to come hold him.”

“Definitely.” Jiang Shouyue managed to lift the corner of her mouth slightly. “We must all strive to stay alive.”

…

At this moment, He Feng was arguing with Old Ji again.

“If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it three or four years ago. Why the hell would I wait until now?”

“Watch your language! I don’t care what your past leaders were like. Now you just need to follow orders!”

He Feng fell silent, turning his face toward a wall.

Old Ji knocked on the table, his tone softening slightly. “Speak up.”

“What else is there to say?”

Old Ji nodded and sighed slightly. “I have no choice either. Orders from above—military orders are like mountains.”

He Feng glanced at him and said casually, “Chunhe Japanese Club on Sanguan Hall Road, private room 109, 12:15.”

“Where will they spend the night?”

“Don’t know.”

Old Ji kicked him hard. He Feng frowned at him. “Don’t mess with me.”

“Then answer properly.”

“I said I don’t know. Fujita Kiyono didn’t say, only told me the time and place. Tomorrow we’ll meet directly at the dinner table.”

“Won’t your little girlfriend come find you in advance?”

Mentioning her gave He Feng a headache. “No word.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t she come looking for you as soon as she arrives?”

“Her old man keeps a tight leash on her.”

“Makes sense. With you being such a mess, naturally he’d worry about his precious daughter getting bullied.”

He Feng didn’t want to bicker with him and stood up to leave. Old Ji grabbed him. “Stop, where are you running? I’m not finished talking.”

He Feng sat back down. “Fine, speak.”

“I’m personally handling this one.”

He Feng glanced at him sideways and snorted. “Looking forward to your divine shot hitting its mark.”

“Help me.”

“No.” He Feng played with a small teacup, flicking it with his fingertip to make it spin. “My life is valuable. If I’m exposed, the loss wouldn’t be worth it.”

Old Ji smiled and shook his head. “You’re just being stubborn with me.”

…

Fujita Kiyono came early in the morning to find Xie Chi, urging her to dress up and do her makeup.

It was a kimono set. To match this troublesome outfit, Xie Chi even styled her hair in a somewhat Japanese fashion.

The two looked at each other in the mirror, each lost in their own thoughts.

“Very beautiful.” Fujita Kiyono adjusted her back collar, his hand sliding from her shoulder to her neck, finally resting on her chin. He gently lifted her face. “Mother will surely be delighted when she sees you.”

“You don’t need to stay with me all the time. You should go accompany your family.”

“You’re also my family.” Fujita Kiyono lowered his hand and gently kissed the top of her head. “Now, you’re most important.”

Xie Chi smiled faintly and glanced at the time. “Should we head over first?”

“No rush, it’s still early.” Fujita Kiyono stood by the window, looking at the people passing by outside. “Let’s have the wedding ceremony in Japan.”

Looking at his back, Xie Chi thought that if their assassination succeeded, this would be his final moments. “Alright.”

“Next month, I’ll take you back to my hometown to see the snow in Tokyo.”

“Aren’t you supposed to go to the war zone?”

“As you Chinese say, first establish a family, then build a career.” He turned to look at her, still with that same gentle smile as before. “Let’s settle the wedding first, alright?”

“Alright.”

Fujita Kiyono stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Thank you.”

“Thank you too, for always being so good to me.”

Fujita Kiyono couldn’t distinguish whether her words were true or false, but that brief sentence touched his heart word by word. Just as he was about to bend down to kiss her, someone knocked at the door.

Xie Chi got up to open it and saw two Japanese men. One who appeared to be an officer whispered a few words with Fujita Kiyono. His expression grew grave, and he said to Xie Chi, “Something has come up. Stay here and don’t leave.”

“What happened?”

Fujita Kiyono didn’t answer, giving her a light embrace. “Wait for me to return. I’ll have them stay here to keep you company.”

As he reached the door, Xie Chi suddenly called out, “Kiyono.”

Fujita Kiyono looked back at her face. “What is it?”

Xie Chi smiled at him. “Nothing. Go ahead.”

Fujita Kiyono left hurriedly, leaving two Japanese soldiers guarding her door.

Xie Chi couldn’t go out and didn’t know how Jiang Shouyue and the others’ operation was progressing. She dragged the heavy clothing to the balcony and looked down.

Fujita Kiyono got into the car and gradually drove away.

Xie Chi couldn’t describe her current feelings. Amidst the tension and unease, there was also some regret. After all, he was just another casualty of war.

She told herself not to be soft-hearted, not to have compassion. No matter what, he was the enemy.

She returned to the living room and sat down, feeling constantly anxious. Her hand fell on her abdomen, and she closed her eyes, trying to keep her breathing steady.

Hoping everything would go smoothly.

…

Old Ji and He Feng were ambushed in a second-floor building northwest of the intersection of Xihuade Road and Sanguan Hall Road. Ten meters toward Sanguan Hall Road, large amounts of explosives were hidden. Using Old Ji’s gunshot as a signal, comrades below would detonate the explosives and take advantage of the chaos to kill Fujita Noo.

He Feng lay on the ground looking at the sky, feeling quite troubled. Perhaps Fujita Michi would also be in the car. Although that girl was annoying, her crimes didn’t warrant death. He had spoken with Old Ji about sparing her life, but when bombs exploded indiscriminately and bullets flew blind, who could still care about protecting a young girl?

Old Ji suddenly pushed him. “They’re coming.”

A convoy approached in grand fashion. He Feng rolled over and aimed his gun through the scope, looking at the people in the cars from his angle. One car, two cars, three cars, four cars—Fujita Noo sat in the back seat of the fifth car. As the car turned, He Feng suddenly pressed down on Old Ji’s hand. “Wait.”

Old Ji was so startled he nearly misfired. “What’s wrong?”

“That’s not Fujita Noo.”

“What?”

He Feng frowned. At first glance, it did look like him, but he was too familiar with the Fujita family. Just seeing the mouth, he could tell it wasn’t the target.

“It’s a body double. Abort the operation.”

…

Fujita Kiyono hadn’t actually notified his family to come to Shanghai. This was just bait he had cast—no matter what kind of fish he caught, it would be beneficial without harm.

He Feng hadn’t wanted to participate in this operation, but the assassination target was too significant. Fearing something might happen to Old Ji, he followed at the last minute. This following saved over a dozen brothers.

However, the three Communist groups were almost completely wiped out. The arrests were carried out by two Wang Jingwei puppet government action squads who had already laid extensive nets, deploying thirty to forty people. They captured four alive and brought them back to the secret service headquarters.

Jiang Shouyue took two bullets—one in the abdomen, one through her palm. She had tried to commit suicide, but they knocked the gun away and captured her alive, sending her to the hospital.

Among the four captured, besides her, there was also Zhang Ya.

Chief Li personally conducted the interrogation, starting gently before turning harsh—branding, electric shock, water torture… In just three hours, they had tortured the person to near death.

Zhang Ya held out stubbornly, saying nothing, but broke down upon seeing a photograph.

“Your old mother is in Zhenjiang, isn’t she?” Chief Li pulled out the photograph, blew on it, flicked its edge, and held it before his eyes. “Zhang Haosheng.”

Zhang Ya struggled with both hands, making the iron shackles clatter. “You dog traitor!”

“Oh my, your real name sounds better. I heard your eldest and second brothers died—one in Tianjin, one at Luodian. Tsk tsk tsk, a family of martyrs.” Chief Li placed two photographs on his left and right thighs respectively. “Don’t worry, your old mother is fine. Our people are treating her to good food and drink. But no matter how good that is, how can it compare to her own son? I heard she keeps asking your friends, ‘Why hasn’t Little Haozi come back yet?'”

Zhang Ya sobbed, unable to control his tears. “Beast! Traitor! You won’t die well!”

“Go ahead and curse while you still have strength.” Chief Li watched his anguished expression, frowning and sighing. “What’s more important—your Party or the mother who gave birth to you? You’re her only remaining son. She’s still waiting for you to carry on the family line and care for her in old age. If you’re gone, how will she live?”

Zhang Ya spat in his face. “Don’t you have a mother? Don’t you?!”

Chief Li calmly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the saliva from his face, smiling as he said, “You’re right—I really don’t.”

“Men have hard bones—beating them is nothing. But can old women endure much?” Chief Li covered his nail-less fingers with the handkerchief. “Confess, and I guarantee you and your old mother a comfortable life. Don’t confess, and… I shouldn’t need to spell it out, should I?”

…

Around three o’clock in the afternoon, Xie Chi waited anxiously at home. Calling the qipao shop yielded no answer.

Just as she was sitting restlessly, the phone rang.

Xie Chi quickly picked up. “Hello.”

“Remember every word I say. Go immediately to 23 Taisi De Lang Road. To the right of the door, count three horizontally from bottom to top, six vertically, remove the brick—there’s a key inside. Enter the house and wait. Someone will meet you there. He’ll ask, ‘The goose yellow you ordered is out of stock—do you need to wait three days?’ You say, ‘I want rattan yellow.’ Do you understand clearly?”

“I understand.”

It was He Feng.

From his tone, Xie Chi could guess what had happened. She didn’t take any personal belongings—at this moment, the most important thing to her was the child in her belly.

Japanese soldiers still guarded the door. She could only escape through the window.

Just as she jumped onto the tree, she suddenly remembered the photograph hidden under the floorboards with He Feng. If discovered, he would be in danger of exposure.

Xie Chi quickly returned to the room. Just as she steadied herself, she heard the sound of brakes downstairs. Looking through the window, she saw people from the secret service headquarters. She hurriedly moved the sofa, opened the floorboard, took out the small box inside, and threw the ring He Feng had given her far out the window.

Urgent footsteps sounded outside.

There was no time to find fire. She tore the photograph into pieces and swallowed them. Just as she finished swallowing, the door was kicked open.

…