Chen Ke had almost finished reading the newspaper when Chen Zhuo finished dealing with the work that Secretary Ding had brought in. After Secretary Ding left, Chen Ke put down the newspaper and stood up. "So what is my job now?"

"I'm thirsty, could you pour me a glass of water?"

Chen Ke found the impolite tone of the ordering man amusing, but he didn't show it on his face. He poured a glass of water and placed it next to him.

"Is there anything else?"

"Get your notes ready, we're going to have a meeting later."

Chen Ke was surprised that Chen Zhuo was actually going to take him to a meeting, and frowned slightly: "What meeting?"

Without even lifting his eyelids, Chen Zhuo said, "It was a secret meeting about how to wipe out the entire Shanghai underground party network."

·······

Chen Ke glanced at Chen Zhuo without changing his expression, "...Such a secret meeting, I just went to attend—"

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Zhuo interrupted him: "Don't worry, no one will dare to say anything more."

Chen Ke: ······

The meeting was held in a private villa, which was secluded and private. The attendees were all high-ranking officials of the puppet government. There were multiple security checks at the entrance and soldiers patrolling the area. It seemed that the puppet government attached great importance to this meeting and did a very good job of keeping it secret.

However, Chen Zhuo led Chen Ke through the main gate openly and without any trouble, and the soldiers checking their movements treated them with great respect...

Chen Ke's understanding of Chen Zhuo's current status and position has been refreshed once again.

Chen Ke followed Chen Zhuo smoothly to the conference room, where many high-ranking government officials were already seated. Chen Ke immediately spotted several "important figures".

As soon as Chen Zhuo brought Chen Ke in, they attracted a lot of attention. He calmly sat down in his seat and then pointed to the seat behind him, indicating that Chen Ke should sit down.

As soon as Chen Ke sat down, someone opposite Chen Zhuo said, "Minister Chen's secretary today looks unfamiliar."

Chen Zhuo casually flipped through the documents on the table, then raised an eyelid and said, "Hmm, the newly appointed one."

Hearing his blunt words, the other party glanced at Chen Ke and then smiled, saying, "Then this secretary must be very popular with Minister Chen, to be able to attend such an important and secret meeting with him so soon after taking office."

The moment these words were spoken, the previously quiet meeting room fell silent. Anyone could sense the hostility in them.

Chen Ke couldn't help but look at the person who spoke. Dressed in a Zhongshan suit, he looked respectable, but he was actually the number one lackey of the Japanese Special Higher Police.

Chen Zhuo had already put away the documents, crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Director Ding seems to care about me a lot. It seems that the railway explosion incident has been dealt with quite well. I suppose he should be able to give the dean a satisfactory explanation later."

After Chen Zhuo finished speaking slowly and deliberately, Director Ding's face turned extremely ugly. His eyes looked as if he wanted to tear Chen Zhuo to pieces, but in the end he angrily shut his mouth and did not mention a single word about Chen Ke again.

Sitting in the back, Chen Ke looked at Chen Zhuo's tall figure and experienced for the first time the feeling of being protected.

Well, it's quite novel, and also... I feel proud and happy.

But this joy was short-lived, as it was quickly dampened by the start of the meeting.

Due to the Japanese army's repeated defeats on the battlefield, the pressure on the puppet government suddenly increased. In addition, there were recent attacks on high-ranking government officials and Japanese officials, but the perpetrators could not be caught. The Japanese side has issued an ultimatum to the puppet government. In this desperate situation, the puppet government is showing signs of desperation.

We must destroy the underground Communist Party's intelligence network in Shanghai at all costs.

When Chen Ke heard this, his outward expression was serious, but inwardly he couldn't help but applaud. It wasn't until the person at the very top called on Chen Zhuo to offer his opinion...

Then Chen Zhuozhen calmly began to explain his plan.

Chen Ke initially thought Chen Zhuo's plan was just a perfunctory statement, but as he listened, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

This is no mere perfunctory work. If we were to actually carry out the plan that Chen Zhuo is now talking about, his identity would undoubtedly be exposed!

Moreover, although the war is nearing its end and a great victory is evident, it is not truly over yet. For Chen Zhuo to expose his identity now is practically tantamount to courting death!

Unaware of the rage raging within Chen Ke behind him, Chen Zhuo calmly and methodically finished explaining his plan at the conference table.

The plan was indeed flawless. Chen Zhuo had even considered the small details that might go wrong, provided a margin of error, and proposed corresponding solutions. Even Director Ding, who had always been targeting him, had to praise him after hearing it: "Minister Chen has a great strategy."

Unsurprisingly, Chen Zhuo's plan was immediately approved and implemented by those in power.

Chen Ke followed Chen Zhuo into the car without saying a word.

Due to the confidentiality of the meeting, the two did not bring their driver, Li Gang. Chen Ke got into the driver's seat directly, and after Chen Zhuo got in the car, he stepped on the gas and sped off.

Chen Zhuo glanced at Chen Ke in surprise, but said nothing. He simply turned his head to look out of the car and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

The car sped along until it came to a sudden stop in the wasteland where Chen Zhuo had previously practiced driving.

"get off!"

After Chen Ke finished speaking, he got out of the car first.

With a "bang!", Chen Zhuo slammed the car door shut, then opened it in a good mood, watching Chen Ke's furious expression.

Just as he stood still, Chen Ke grabbed his collar and shoved him against the car.

Chen Ke's face was filled with rage, his eyes swirling with dark clouds, and he asked Chen Zhuo, word by word, "Are you crazy? Do you know that even I can't find a way to protect you with that plan?!"

Chen Zhuo, however, remained calm and composed. "Why are you so angry?"

Chen Ke almost laughed in anger after hearing this.

After holding back for a while, he finally couldn't contain his anger and punched Chen Zhuo in the stomach, yelling, "Tell me the fuck why I'm so angry!"

Chen Ke didn't hold back his punch, and Chen Zhuo bent over in pain. A layer of physiological mist suddenly appeared in his eyes, but the tears couldn't hide the smile in them.

He chuckled softly, clutching his stomach as he laughed until his shoulders shook.

Chen Ke frowned, grabbed Chen Zhuo by the back of his collar and lifted his head, "You're still laughing? Do you know you're about to die?"

Chen Zhuo was bent over, and Chen Ke's grip on his collar was just right. However, when Chen Zhuo straightened up, Chen Ke's height wasn't enough; holding him by the back of his collar felt like his arm was around Chen Zhuo's neck...

Damn it! That damn height, it completely ruined his presence!

Just as Chen Ke was about to take his hand down, Chen Zhuo pressed it down. In that position, Chen Zhuo looked down at Chen Ke and said, "Brother, do you think I'm still the Chen Zhuo you can just throw away and manipulate at will? Twenty years have passed... I no longer need to look up to you."

When Chen Zhuo said this, his eyes were direct and aggressive, like a beast that had been holding back for a long time finally showing its claws to its prey.