Chapter 9
Rong Xiang saw Fu Jingyuan again three days later.
Fu Jingyuan's hair was disheveled and hung over his forehead, his shirt collar was unbuttoned, and he looked like he had stayed up too late. He let Rong Xiang into the house, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes wearily: "It feels like it's been a long time since I've seen you."
"Yes, it's been three days." Even though he was facing his so-called romantic partner, Rong Xiang's answer was still unoriginal. He casually sat down on the sofa and watched with interest as Fu Jingyuan searched for a glasses cloth among a pile of clothes.
Fu Jingyuan has an interesting appearance: a round face, a round head, and round-framed glasses, giving him a gentle and harmless look. However, when he takes off his glasses, his deep-set eyes and straight nose become apparent, making him seem like a completely different person—even more handsome.
Fu Jingyuan searched through the pile of clothes for a while before finally finding a glasses cloth to wipe the lenses. He put his glasses back on, instantly looking "round" again. Turning to Rong Xiang, he sighed, "What have you been doing these past few days?"
The question was reasonable; after all, the two were getting along well, so it was normal for him to inquire about their private affairs. However, Fu Jingyuan's tired and serious expression made Rong Xiang feel uneasy—he shifted his posture uneasily: "I've been busy with something. So…"
Fu Jingyuan pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Rong Xiang: "Tell me, what are you busy with?"
Rongxiang was immediately puzzled: "Oh, the chief of staff is back from the funeral. I've been with him these past few days. Why would you suddenly ask this?"
Fu Jingyuan stared intently into Rong Xiang's eyes: "Are you busy with matters concerning the Japanese?"
Rongxiang was even more confused: "Where did this come from?"
Fu Jingyuan stood up, picked up a newspaper from the table, and handed it to Rong Xiang: "Take a look for yourself."
The newspaper was from out of town, and the front page featured a large photograph. Although blurry, Rongxiang immediately recognized the background as his own residence. The two people in the photo were shaking hands; one was himself, and the other was Nakajima Hideo. Wasn't this the scene when he saw him off last time? How could someone have taken a picture and published it in an out-of-town newspaper?
He immediately unfolded the newspaper and saw the large black headline next to the photo: "Rong's Secret Meeting with the Kwantung Army in Fengtian: His Traitorous Heart is Known to All!" Below that was densely packed smaller print, describing how he had conspired with the Japanese to betray his country for personal gain. The description was vivid, as if the author had witnessed it firsthand, yet every word was baseless! Rong Xiang, having read to the end, was stunned. He looked up at Fu Jingyuan and found the other man staring at him with a pained expression. He felt a surge of injustice and was about to explode in anger: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Fu Jingyuan seemed somewhat saddened: "Xiao Xiang, I always believed that you had your reasons, didn't you?"
When Rongxiang heard this, it seemed as if he had been confirmed to have an affair with the Japanese, which was really unsettling: "It's not a matter of hardship, but..." He paused here, thought through the cause and effect, and immediately realized what he meant.
Anyone who dares to secretly take his picture is certainly not an ordinary reporter, and anyone who dares to publish such news must have a purpose. Thinking it over, the only person who can gain something from such a blatant exaggeration of his relationship with the Japanese is Nakajima Hideo. He must have orchestrated all of this, deliberately leaking it to newspapers outside the city, making it known to the whole world. He'd be unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River, and regardless of the truth, the stigma of being a traitor would be firmly attached to him… Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth in hatred, completely unaware that Fu Jingyuan across from him was rambling on and on.
When Fu Jingyuan received the newspaper from Beiping that morning, he was greatly surprised. In his mind, traitors were all portrayed as shifty-eyed and ruthless killers. So after reading this news, he couldn't calm down for a long time.
Because the two had been lovers before, Fu Jingyuan couldn't bear to think the worst of Rong Xiang. But seeing Rong Xiang's preoccupied expression after reading the newspaper, his heart sank: "Xiao Xiang, is this all true?"
Rongxiang was still staring blankly at the newspaper.
"Why should we associate with the Japanese? They are invading our country, slaughtering our people, and plundering our resources! Look at how much land they have seized from Manchuria, both openly and covertly! Do you know what kind of miserable lives the Chinese people in those Japanese-occupied areas are living?" Fu Jingyuan paused here, realizing that he might be getting a little too emotional. This was not good, and it might anger Rong Xiang, even though he had never seen Rong Xiang angry before.
After a moment of silence, seeing that Rongxiang was still hanging his head and not speaking, he assumed that his words had moved him, so he reached out and grasped Rongxiang's fingertips: "Xiaoxiang, listen to me, don't associate with the Japanese anymore. I don't want you to become a traitor, I don't want you to become a sinner against the country and be scorned by everyone."
Rong Xiang finally raised his head and looked at Fu Jingyuan. He slowly revealed a mocking smile: "Why are you so agitated? Like a student marching in the street."
These words sounded harsh, and Fu Jingyuan couldn't help but frown: "Do you look down on the students marching in the streets? They are the real young people, they know how to speak up for this country!"
"What's the use of just shouting? It's like you righteously accusing me now, what's the use? If I said that I would not cooperate with the Japanese, the Japanese would eliminate me, just like they bombed Feng Kaishan last year, would you still stick to your previous argument?"
Fu Jingyuan stared into Rong Xiang's eyes and felt as if he suddenly didn't recognize the face in front of him.
"You mean, because the Japanese threatened you, you actually surrendered to them?"
"If I surrender, are you going to put aside your own family ties and lead the way in writing articles to vilify me?"
"You—" Fu Jingyuan tried his best to soften his tone: "Xiao Xiang, you know, I'm trying to do what's best for you..."
"For my own good? Then go and tell the Japanese not to look for me or kill me. If they listen to you, I'll believe you're doing this for my own good. Go ahead!" Rong Xiang sneered, "You're a useless scholar! You're just like those students, capable of causing trouble in the streets, but lacking the courage to go to the battlefield."
Upon hearing this, Fu Jingyuan finally couldn't help but stand up: "Oh, you're blaming me for being a traitor?"
Rongxiang also stood up: "You asked for it!"
"Get out of here!"
Rong Xiang bent down to pick up the newspaper and walked away resolutely. Xiao Meng, who was waiting at the door, had already heard something amiss inside, so when he saw Rong Xiang storm out, he wasn't surprised at all. He simply ran downstairs and opened the car door for him.
Sitting in the car, Rong Xiang was still seething with anger. He had gone to find Fu Jingyuan with great joy, only to be inexplicably called a traitor and then kicked out. If it weren't for their past relationship, he would have killed him!
Sitting in the driver's seat, Xiao Meng waited for a long time but Rong Xiang didn't speak, so he turned around anxiously and asked, "Third Master, where are you going?"
Rong Xiang glanced down at the newspaper in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "Go to Chief of Staff Yi at the military headquarters!"
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