“Son, you’re all grown up now. You should know that if we don’t kill Liu Han, our family will be completely destroyed.”

"Dad, even if Qiuyue and I are affected at work, even if Mom is affected at work, even if we lose our jobs, our family can still get through this difficult time. But now---".

“Son, I’ve thought it all through. Although Liu Han is an enemy agent, since I killed someone, I should bear the legal consequences. I may not be able to stay with you brothers and sisters forever, and I may not be able to stay with your mother either. You are the eldest son of this family. I’ve told you before, the eldest son is like a father. If one day I am suddenly taken away by the police, or if I am no longer here, you must take on the responsibility of this family---”

"No, Dad! No, I don't want you to do anything stupid. Even if the police take you away, you killed enemy agents, not an innocent person. Maybe the law will be lenient."

As Qiu Yang spoke, he could no longer control his emotions.

He stepped forward and hugged his father tightly.

“Son, the law is the law. Even if Liu Han is an enemy agent, he should be punished by law. I killed him, but I will not escape the punishment of the law. You should understand this.”

As Qiu Jingwen spoke, he reached out and patted Qiu Yang on the shoulder, then continued:

"Son, maybe things aren't so bad. Let's see how things develop."

Qiu Yang sobbed and hugged Qiu Jingwen.

"Dad, I have a favor to ask of you."

"You're my son, why are you begging?"

"Dad, promise me, no matter what, you won't take your own life. Even if the police solve the case and you're sentenced to prison, our family will still have a day to reunite. We can't live without you. How can our family survive without you? You are the pillar of this family. You must promise me, I beg you!"

As Qiu Yang spoke, he knelt down before Qiu Jingwen with a thud.

From his father's words, Qiu Yang sensed that his father had suicidal thoughts, and he finally understood those words that sounded like his last will and testament.

Seeing his son kneeling before him, Qiu Jingwen immediately pulled Qiu Yang up.

"Qiuyang, don't be like this, get up, get up. A man's knees are worth gold. I've thought about this for a long time. You are the eldest son, so I have to explain these things to you beforehand. I'm afraid that if things happen suddenly, I won't have time to tell you these things. I assure you, I won't take my own life. I'm just considering whether to turn myself in. You know, turning yourself in might get you leniency."

Qiu Yang did not respond immediately to his father's words.

This sudden, atomic-bomb-like information had almost robbed him of his ability to think.

How could Qiu Yang possibly imagine that his father, whom he considered a god-like figure and the well-regarded director of the Red Flag Factory, was actually a secret agent, an enemy agent who had infiltrated the Kuomintang?

Qiu Yang never expected that the murderer who killed the old man in the woods of Orange Gully was his own father!

"Dad, didn't you think about the consequences when you killed Liu Hanhan?"

“I didn’t think that much at the time. I was forced into this situation. He threatened me, saying that if I didn’t obey his orders, he would expose my identity as a member of the Kuomintang secret service. He also threatened me with the lives of my younger brother and sister. I couldn’t let him destroy our family and our happy life.”

"Does my mom know about this?"

“I know, I told your mother. So, no matter what happens in the future, you have to persuade your mother that I am an enemy agent, and that I killed Liu Han. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Qiu Yang was startled.

He didn't even understand what his father meant by those words, but he didn't think about it that much.

At this very moment,

Several night birds flew out from the distant rice paddies, uttering a few clear calls.

Qiu Jingwen looked towards where the night birds had taken off, a strange feeling creeping over him.

He seemed to sense that he and his son were being followed, but from a distance, he couldn't see anything.

With Qiu Jingwen's intelligence, he felt that if he was being followed, it was most likely by a police officer, which meant that he was being suspected.

"Autumn Sun, it's getting late, let's go back."

"Dad, I don't want to go back to the dormitory in the factory area."

"Then you can spend the night with your brother during the autumn harvest. It's fine in the middle of summer."

"Yes, I'll listen to Dad."

As Qiu Yang spoke, he came up and gently embraced his father.

He hugged her, tears streaming down his face, and pleaded:

"Dad, promise me, no matter what, you won't choose to leave us. I'm begging you, okay?"