New Partner
Every cause has its effect. The incident originated with Zero. The slight stuffiness in the room was completely dispelled by the turning of the fan blades. Under the fan, Qingcheng recounted in detail the process of Ruijin capturing Zero.
This time, not only Zero was exposed, but almost all the lower and middle-ranking agents on his line were also identified, but the operation has not yet been completed.
"Your efficiency is terrifying, it's only been a few days!" Gao Junxiao exclaimed. He then changed the subject and asked Qingcheng if it was possible to frame Zero, creating the image of someone who failed in a mission, was captured while trying to escape, and was forced to surrender, thus shifting all the blame onto Zero.
It's probably not going to work. Kiyosumi admitted that Zero is still unconscious. He was stabbed in the heart and was in critical condition. Too many people saw him being rescued, so it was impossible to hide it from them.
Gao Junxiao nodded in understanding: "No wonder you acted so quickly. Zero is unconscious. For the undercover agents, whoever gets the contact code is the real Zero. You just need to send out a few false messages, wait for him to come to you, and you'll catch him in no time."
“We have to be quick! If Zhang Chong doesn’t receive a reply from Zero for a while, he’ll definitely become suspicious and then contact other agents to inquire about Ruijin’s situation. At that point, the agents’ contact methods will change, and they’ll go back to hiding.” Qingcheng said seriously.
"Yes, you must act quickly to eliminate this kind of enemy lurking in the shadows. Otherwise, they will become a major threat," Gao Junxiao said thoughtfully.
“It’s impossible to completely eliminate them. Just like corrupt officials, there will always be some who slip through the net. We can only eliminate them one batch at a time,” Qingcheng said helplessly.
Gao Junxiao suddenly remembered something: "Once Ruijin closes the net, the risk of you being exposed will increase dramatically. Think about it, if you were Zhang Chong, you had carefully planned this scheme for several years, and it was about to succeed, but then the conspiracy was ruined and your underlings were all wiped out. Wouldn't you be furious? Zhang Chong is cunning and you never know what dirty tricks he might come up with."
Heh, how could he have the nerve to talk about others? Qingcheng rolled her eyes at him: "Isn't that obvious? Not only is he angry, Team Leader Dai is even angrier."
"How so?" Gao Junxiao asked, intrigued.
Ah~~ Kiyosumi stretched and looked down at the sweet cake: "I don't know why I'm suddenly a little tired."
Gao Junxiao chuckled, forked a piece of cream, and brought it to Qingcheng's lips: "You're tired because you don't have enough sugar. Please."
She subconsciously opened her mouth and ate it. The sweet and moist taste spread between her teeth, but the chestnut puree was a bit melted and not as firm. It was still a little bit lacking. While thinking, Qingcheng glanced at Gao Junxiao. He was also a little bit lacking.
Seemingly sensing Qingcheng's gaze, Gao Junxiao picked up another piece with his fork, but this time Qingcheng pushed the fork back to him. Gao Junxiao looked puzzled and asked, "What's wrong now?"
"I'm getting a little tired of this, I want some water," Kiyosumi said coquettishly, resting her chin on her hand.
"Hey~ just say it directly, why are you staring at me like that? I thought I'd done something wrong again." Gao Junxiao poured himself a glass of cold water.
“Plain boiled water is rather bland; it would be better to brew a pot of tea.” Qingcheng looked up at Gao Junxiao and said, “No green tea, no black tea, no white tea, but flower tea. The tea should be of moderate strength; if it’s too strong, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep at night, but it can’t be too weak either; it should at least have a floral aroma. The water temperature also needs to be controlled; it’s best to brew it at 90 degrees Celsius and then warm it to 60 degrees Celsius before serving it.”
"Alright, alright, my little auntie." Gao Junxiao pinched her cheek, his smile tinged with a hint of helplessness.
But Qingcheng didn't laugh along. Instead, she gently pressed down on Gao Junxiao's hand, her words carrying a double meaning: "I'm not in a hurry, take your time. Think carefully about when to boil the water. The process of brewing flower tea is complicated and requires a lot of skill. If you find it troublesome, you can just give me hot water. Anyway, you're not in this line of work, so I won't force you. I'll go back to rest after I finish drinking."
Gao Junxiao was taken aback, then suddenly pulled his hand back, uttering an angry "Just you wait!"
When he walked into the kitchen, Kiyosumi acted as if nothing had happened, pulling over a plate and eating cake in big bites. Anyone can hear the story of the capture, but the operation plan can only be told to his own people. He can't do anything about it if he's unhappy, unless... he takes the initiative to come closer to me.
The clock on the wall quietly ticked past one number after another until the stars twinkled in the sky, dispelling most of the summer heat.
There was a wall between the two, not far away, but it blocked their view. In the living room, Qingcheng tapped her fingers lightly on the table, the rhythm getting faster and faster as time went by.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." A deep voice came from the side. Gao Junxiao slowly walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray and carefully placed the teapot and two delicate teacups on the table.
Kiyosumi sat up straight, her fingers gently touching the cup. The warm touch was just right. She suppressed her excitement and lifted the lid. The bright red color was like an electric current, instantly striking her heart.
"Hawthorn and roselle drink, good for digestion and relieves greasiness." Gao Junxiao said, then took a sip himself.
"How did you prepare this in advance?" Qingcheng didn't drink the tea immediately, but instead looked at Gao Junxiao.
"Didn't you say it was delicious at the store last time, and that it would be perfect if you removed the dried plum? So I didn't add it." Gao Junxiao's expression was arrogant, and his words had a hidden meaning. "What you like, I happen to like too. Of course, we should always have something we both like ready."
"Keep the red and discard the black, right?" Kiyosumi raised an eyebrow, unable to hide her smile. "Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. If I drink it, there's no going back."
“Drink! If you don’t finish it today, I’ll get mad at you,” Gao Junxiao replied confidently.
With a chuckle, Qingcheng lowered his head and took a sip. The cool, refreshing aftertaste was even better than in the store, and it even had a hint of jasmine fragrance. It seemed that he had done some research and added borneol and jasmine.
After clearing her throat, Qingcheng first explained the rules of the operation to Gao Junxiao, which boiled down to one sentence: you have to follow her instructions.
“No problem. Not only will you arrange my life, but you can also make arrangements for me. If you want me to sleep on the sofa, I won’t dare to sleep on the bed. Ugh!” Gao Junxiao was hit as soon as he finished speaking.
"They can't separate public and private matters! Even when everyone is talking about serious business, they have to be sarcastic!" Qingcheng continued, annoyed. "The breakthrough in Case Zero lies with the killer."
According to the latest investigation, the stabber who injured Zero, Scorpion, is a man of considerable influence. He was originally a pickpocket in the Jiangshan area. While roaming the underworld, he met Team Leader Dai, who was still a hoodlum at the time. The two hit it off immediately and became sworn brothers. Later, he joined Team Leader Dai to form a ten-man gang, where he ranked ninth.
As one of Team Leader Dai's favorites, Team Leader Dai pulled many strings to get him into Zhang Tianhe's spy training class, specifically to learn how to deal with our Party. After graduating, Poison Scorpion went straight to the Soviet area to infiltrate.
Gao Junxiao choked and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, that's Team Leader Dai's trusted and beloved subordinate! You've really made a big grudge against him."
So what? Running into someone else's house and causing trouble, they deserve to die. Qingcheng curled her lips: "Have you noticed that the situations of the two families are not equal? Nanjing sent their most elite agents, while Shanghai only sent an ordinary agent to infiltrate. Even Zero is just a toxic 'cell' that they have recruited, not one of their own."
Gao Junxiao couldn't help but interject, "Nanjing suffered even greater losses, and Team Leader Dai must be feeling resentful."
“That’s right, there’s also the Zero Organization’s sewer industry, opium and smuggling. Only the smuggling business got a small share of the soup for Team Leader Dai, while the opium broth, including the bone scraps, was given to Xu Qiao. This favoritism, wouldn’t Team Leader Dai be even angrier if he knew?” Qingcheng asked.
Upon hearing this, the two men grinned mischievously in unison. It's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality. If they don't expose the truth, Team Leader Dai can barely pretend to be stupid. But if they do, they'll have to stand up for their pride, otherwise who would follow him?
"If nothing unexpected happens, Team Leader Dai will make a move soon to take over the smuggling industry in the Soviet area. But right now, there's only one person who can do smuggling in the Soviet area, and that's me." Qingcheng smiled and pointed to herself.
"You want to cooperate with Team Leader Dai?" Gao Junxiao grabbed Qingcheng's shoulder, forcing him to look at him. "Don't do anything reckless. That guy surnamed Dai is a madman. Do you know why he's willing to send elites to infiltrate? Because Xu Qiao and Zhang Chong have powerful backgrounds and have a way out, but he doesn't! He's just a worthless wretch!"
"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid as to increase my risk of exposure." Qingcheng smiled. "I've already handed this over to Master Wu. He's a government official, so he's naturally good at dealing with government officials."
"That's more like it. The same goes for dealing with Zhang Chong. You should have Master Wu receive him, or have that Xiao Mi receive him. Who told him to pinch you? He should suffer a bit," Gao Junxiao said indignantly.
"How long has it been? You still remember that incident?" Qingcheng pouted. "It's a small matter if Xiaomi suffers, but it's a big deal if my plans are ruined."
The difference between spies is greater than the difference between the Himalayas and the Mariana Trench. The rogue spies led by Team Leader Dai often aimed for physical elimination, while the intellectual spies led by Xu Qiao and Zhang Chong focused more on spiritual elimination.
The fall of [the regime] cannot serve as a deterrent for long. Truly insightful people will not fear authority, but once trust is shaken, it is very difficult to restore it.
Compared to Xu Qiao, who was power-hungry, Zhang Chong was more difficult to deal with. He had firm beliefs and looked down on our Marxist-Leninist philosophy. He could study Marxism-Leninism seriously and then use its loopholes to attack dissidents and undermine the mass base without any psychological burden. Such an enemy cannot be allowed to live!
After carefully examining Qingcheng, Gao Junxiao said with certainty, "It is no coincidence that Zhang Chong came to see you in person today."
“There is indeed a connection. I want to apologize to you first for using your name to cause trouble without your permission.” Qingcheng raised an eyebrow. “There’s a rumor in the underworld that Mr. Xia is looking for trouble with Captain Han every day to avenge his brother. He’s either leaving sacks of poisonous snakes at their station or causing a ruckus at his children’s school. His house has even been burgled several times. Unfortunately, calling the police is useless when it comes to things in the underworld.”
"Really? The spies aren't coming after you, but you're going after them instead." Gao Junxiao couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, well done!"
"Captain Han is a veteran of CC, and now he's so suffering from neurasthenia that he's been hospitalized. If his superior doesn't step in to mediate, the team will be difficult to manage in the future," Qingcheng said sarcastically.
Gao Junxiao suddenly realized, "He wants to use you to do some ideological work on me, and then persuade Xia to stop and stop messing with Captain Han."
“That’s one reason. The second reason is that he wants to test your faith through me,” Qingcheng continued. “Zhang Chong has already planted seeds of doubt in us. Birds of a feather flock together, and we must have something in common in our thoughts.”
"If he suspects me, he can come to me directly. Do you think I'm afraid of a little spy?" Gao Junxiao replied dismissively. "Last time it was just a count of the weapons inventory, which every officer who went to collect weapons could see. CC insisted on pinning it on me, but I'm not one to be trifled with."
"Don't underestimate the enemy. One thing is one thing, but what if several things pile up?" Kiyosumi countered. "Our last move seemed flawless, but upon closer inspection, it's strange. How could it be such a coincidence! A familiar face just happened to appear in the telegram transmission area. And this familiar face also happened to have access to classified documents."
Gao Junxiao frowned, seemingly pondering a solution. After a long pause, he asked reluctantly, "I understand the logic, but how do you intend to deal with Zhang Chong?"
“We’ll divide the work. Next time you meet him, you need to subtly indicate that you dislike any radical groups. If there are radicals around you, you must draw a clear line and ideologically distance yourself from me. If necessary, you can bring up the idea of being obsessed with beautiful women to distance yourself from me,” Qingcheng said calmly.
"I've distanced myself from you, what about you?" Gao Junxiao asked seriously.
Qingcheng avoided Gao Junxiao's sharp gaze: "My work is a bit more complicated. I need to use Mr. Xia as bait to whet Team Leader Dai's appetite, while at the same time praising Zhang Chong and making him stand out, thus widening and deepening the inequality between the two organizations."
"You want to use Team Leader Dai to deal with Zhang Chong, to kill someone with a borrowed knife." Gao Junxiao tapped Qingcheng's head and shouted, "So what I just said was for nothing! You've pushed that mad dog too far, and he'll bite you too."
Ouch—Qingcheng rubbed her head, which had been poked, and hurriedly explained, "What's the rush? I'm not fighting alone."
"Oh, I see. You're not a courier; you have a team." Gao Junxiao squinted and nudged her with his shoulder. "Hey, are you the team leader? How many people do you have under you?"
Tsk, I let it slip. If I knock Gao Junxiao unconscious now, will I be able to make him lose his memory? Never mind, I don't think I can beat him. Qingcheng forced a smile: "What I mean is that I have the organization backing me. There are so many party members in Shanghai. It is everyone's responsibility to defend this position of the Central Committee."
A subtle atmosphere filled the air between the two. Gao Junxiao hummed a few times but didn't press the matter further. He changed the subject: "I don't care. If you drank my tea, you have to give me an important task. Otherwise, it means you don't trust me."
Qingcheng rolled her eyes: "Take care of yourself first. Zhang Chong has always suspected that there is a mole in the headquarters. He won't give up until he catches that big fish. The spies will send you beautiful women and gold bars every day to sow discord among us. Your 'good fortune' is yet to come."
"Hehe, don't forget that Mr. Xia is also a man in other people's eyes. He won't give you any less 'blessing'. The question is, what will you use to enjoy it?" Gao Junxiao's ambiguous teasing made Qingcheng blush.
"You scoundrel!" Qingcheng glared at Gao Junxiao without any politeness: "Yes, yes, I can't stand it. It's all yours, all yours. I'll give you double the blessings, okay?"
"You're giving me too much credit. I wouldn't dare accept such 'blessing.' I can't handle it. If my wife found out, she'd skin me alive." Gao Junxiao grinned.
"Hmph, everyone thinks they can resist a pig butchering scam until it hits them personally." Qingcheng took a sip of her flower tea.
Gao Junxiao put his arm around Qingcheng's shoulder and said affectionately, "Don't underestimate me. You have a plan to defend your position, and I have a way to defend mine too. Shouldn't you give me more trust?"
"Trust is something you earn yourself. If you insist on getting involved, that's fine, but at least give me a pledge of allegiance." Qingcheng glanced meaningfully at Gao Junxiao.
Gao Junxiao clutched his head and wailed, "Ah—please, just tell me already! This arguing is making things worse."
"Don't make a sound!" Qingcheng pulled Gao Junxiao's ear and whispered.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and the neon lights of the Grand Cinema shone brightly. A huge movie poster for "Chinese Detective" hung in the center, and long queues of moviegoers formed beneath it, their excited conversations filling the air.
The red carpet stretched from the cinema entrance all the way backstage. Xu Xi tugged at Qingcheng beside him and took out a gift from his pocket to indicate that it was almost time.
Qingcheng nodded, wiped away Xiangxiang's tears, reapplied her foundation, and put on her pearl necklace. She wanted to look beautiful when she went out tonight.
"Oh dear, why is Sister Qi crying?" Miss Yuling's concerned voice came from the side.
"It's my first time appearing on stage, I'm so excited," Kiyosumi explained.
"It's okay. It was my first time facing an audience, and I was so scared I couldn't speak either. You'll get used to it. Xu Xi and I will help you with the reporters' questions later," Yu Ling said with a smile, reassuring her.
"Creators, it's your turn, hurry up!" a staff member urged through a megaphone.
As the lead actors entered, the once quiet theater erupted in thunderous applause. Qingcheng put on a professional smile and clapped along with everyone. Her gaze swept across the audience, and the first person she noticed was Xu Qiao, who never missed a single premiere of her younger brother's film.
Zhang Chong, who had just received the complimentary ticket, came into view. On either side of him sat a little girl, twins, with mixed Chinese and Western features. Their faces were clearly Zhang Chong's, so much so that no blood test was needed.
The last time I saw some glitter from a child's plaything on his cuffs, Qingcheng guessed he had a daughter. I didn't expect he had two. He's very lucky.
Qingcheng imagined what the child's mother looked like. So Zhang Chong had a foreign wife, then why was his marital status blank? Did they not get a marriage certificate and the child was born from a mistress?
As she pondered, the microphone was passed to Qingcheng, who instantly switched into work mode, recounting how she transformed her words into light and shadow...
The toothpaste advertisement was precisely placed on the big screen. The reporters' flashes gradually dimmed, and the audience quieted down. With a "click," the lights in the theater went out simultaneously, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the movie to begin.
Backstage, Xu Xi ordered a lot of takeout and distributed it to the staff to thank them for their hard work. He then turned around, picked up three takeout orders, and closed the door to the VIP dressing room. Soon after, the sounds of Xu Xi chatting and laughing with Qing Cheng and the others could be heard from inside.
The staff, unfazed, chatted animatedly with those around them about tonight's premiere.
The moonlight, as white as silver, spilled onto the quiet street. Qingcheng and Qixiang, who should have been in the dressing room, were sitting in a moving car.
In the passenger seat, Xiangxiang choked up and said, "Sister Cheng, is today the last time I'll see Dad?"
"Pah, pah, pah, Uncle Qi is just being transferred back to work in the Soviet area. Once the situation stabilizes, he'll bring his whole family over. Surgeons like your mother are in high demand in our Soviet area," Qingcheng replied optimistically.
"Mmm." Xiangxiang wiped away her tears, but the tears flowed like a burst dam, and she couldn't stop them no matter what she did.
"Don't cry, Uncle Qi will be heartbroken if he sees your swollen eyes." Qingcheng glanced at her watch during a red light. The movie had officially started, and for the next 105 minutes, she needed to safely escort 26 comrades to the North Station and back to the Soviet area.
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