The Finale
After temporarily entrusting his child to a nurse, Gao Junxiao ran to the public phone booth downstairs at the hospital, but his hands were shaking so badly he couldn't even turn the dial.
It took him quite a while to finally get through to Master Wu. He didn't bother with pleasantries and launched into a rapid-fire conversation with Master Wu.
"The Japanese did it? Damn it!" Master Wu cursed on the other end of the phone. "Xiao, don't worry, I'll have someone inquire right away. I'll have people ask around among the big drug dealers on the black market and the quack doctors who specialize in treating difficult diseases. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."
After hanging up with Master Wu, Gao Junxiao felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He leaned weakly against the glass, and all he could do was wait.
But the thought of Qingcheng lying in the hospital bed, her life hanging in the balance, made him restless, as if being cut by a dull knife. When he returned to the hospital, he happened to run into Jiang Yun and Huang Xiaoxian who had come to visit.
"Why are you here? Hurry back to the hotel, the hotel is surrounded by secret agents." Gao Junxiao pulled Huang Xiaoxian aside and whispered.
"What nonsense! What do I care about spies? I already asked the commander for leave. I'm here tonight to celebrate my brother's bachelor party," Huang Xiaoxian replied matter-of-factly. "Miss He, how are you now? Were you shot?"
"No, she's been poisoned." Gao Junxiao shook his head painfully and briefly explained the doctor's words and Qingcheng's current condition.
"How about I ask the black market if anyone can cure the Japanese poison?" Jiang Yun's expression was also anxious.
"The black market... uh, I've already spoken to Master Wu, he'll ask around for me," Gao Junxiao replied blankly.
“Poisoning.” Huang Xiaoxian repeated, then paced around twice, as if she had made up her mind. She took out a black bead from the brocade pouch hanging around her neck, which still carried a fresh sandalwood scent.
"You idiot, why didn't you say so earlier? This is a century-old rhinoceros horn bead from my father's collection. It's said to ward off evil and detoxify. It was originally meant for me to save my life, but now it's yours. Saving lives is the priority." Huang Xiaoxian slapped the bead into Gao Junxiao's palm.
Clutching the rhinoceros horn bead still warm from her body, Gao Junxiao lowered his head, unsure how to thank Huang Xiaoxian.
"Stop spacing out! Quickly grind it into powder and try to feed it to Miss He. Even if it can't completely detoxify her, it might protect her heart and help her hold on until we find the serum," Huang Xiaoxian instructed.
"Go quickly, I'll take the child back to your older sister. You can wait here without worry," Jiang Yun said at the opportune moment.
"Okay, thank you." Gao Junxiao pursed his lips, went to the nurses' station to get some clean gauze, and then used the butt of his gun to grind it into a fine powder, which he then mixed with warm water.
Qingcheng lay on the hospital bed with her eyes tightly closed. Gao Junxiao felt that if he breathed too hard, he would blow her away. He used his gentlest touch to feed her little by little between Qingcheng's slightly parted lips.
After doing all this, he held Qingcheng's cold hand tightly against his chest, hoping to warm it up.
At this moment, the attending physician brought another doctor in white coats and introduced him: "Mr. Gao, this is Dr. Sato, who is specially invited by our hospital. He is an expert in internal medicine and toxicology."
Mr. Sato nodded slightly without saying anything, then lifted her eyelids and shone the light on them. He then removed the gauze and carefully examined her wound.
"Eh—kunai." Dr. Sato seemed surprised and asked in a heavy Japanese accent, "The attackers, were they ninjas?"
"I don't know, I wasn't with her at the time." Gao Junxiao was shocked. It was said that Hongkou had sent a Japanese ninja, originally intending to deal with Huang Xiaoxian.
"Did the patient vomit before?" Dr. Sato asked.
Gao Junxiao recalled the previous seat; apart from the bloodstains, there seemed to be no other filth, and Qingcheng's clothes were also very clean. He solemnly replied, "No."
"What about hallucinations?" Dr. Sato pressed.
"I don't think so. My child said she just seemed to be asleep, and there was nothing unusual before," Gao Junxiao said truthfully.
“Okay, I understand.” Sato turned to the attending physician and said, “It’s probably a mixture of oleander and Japanese viper venom. Regular antivenom is not very effective, so we must use a specific antivenom.”
"Then...where can I get this serum?" Gao Junxiao asked urgently, his voice trembling.
“This special toxin and its serum are usually controlled by the military.” He changed the subject, “However, my research topic happens to be ninja toxins. I previously went to the Empire… uh, the Japanese Medical Association under the guise of academic exchange to apply for a compound antidote, and there should still be one dose left.”
"Thank you! Please! I'll agree to whatever the price or conditions are!" Gao Junxiao was so excited he was almost incoherent.
Dr. Sato didn't say much, just nodded solemnly, turned around and quickly left the ward.
It felt like an eternity before footsteps echoed down the corridor once more. Dr. Sato returned, carrying a cryogenic safe with Japanese markings, his brow beaded with sweat.
"Got it! Got the serum!" Dr. Sato said breathlessly, a hint of relief on his face.
Without any delay, the attending physician took the antidote serum and administered it intravenously to Qingcheng. It would take at least half an hour to know the antidote's effects.
The ensuing wait was even more agonizing than before. Gao Junxiao paced back and forth outside the ward, each footstep at the end of the corridor making his heart skip a beat. Huang Xiaoxian stood beside him, her hands clasped together, seemingly praying to some deity.
Half an hour later, the attending physician and Dr. Sato returned. Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, he removed the stethoscope: "Vital signs have improved; the serum is working."
Overwhelmed with joy, Gao Junxiao staggered and had to lean against the wall to steady himself. He struggled to sit up and shook hands with Dr. Sato and the attending physician in turn. A thousand words were stuck in his throat, but in the end, they all turned into a heavy thank you.
The attending physician said with a smile, "We still need to observe you closely to prevent delayed reactions, but the most dangerous period should be over."
"When will she wake up?" Gao Junxiao asked sincerely.
"It's hard to say, there are big individual differences. Just take good care of him. The patient is not old, so theoretically he should wake up in about three days if things go smoothly," the doctor estimated conservatively.
Gao Junxiao sat back down on Qingcheng's bedside and gently smoothed her bangs. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but Qingcheng's breathing seemed a little heavier and her cheeks were slowly turning red.
Qingcheng's injuries were stabilizing, but Huang Xiaoxian's risk of exposure was not over. Gao Junxiao beckoned to Huang Xiaoxian, signaling him to come outside to talk, as there were eavesdroppers in the hospital.
“Don’t worry about the document; Jiang Yun and I will handle it,” Gao Junxiao said bluntly. “Your most important task right now is to protect yourself. You are too closely associated with ‘Document No. 1,’ so you must go into hiding immediately until things calm down.”
After thinking for a moment, Huang Xiaoxian agreed: "Okay. Miss He's attack was premeditated, but the Japanese should not know my true identity yet, otherwise I would have been the one poisoned."
“Indeed, they’ve even sent out ninjas. Besides the documents, their purpose must also be assassination,” Gao Junxiao pondered. “Last time, Zhang Chong used a Japanese bow and arrow to kill Zhang Renjiu on the bridge, intending to frame him. The Japanese definitely remember this, but they’re just struggling to find evidence to accuse him.”
"Oh, you want them to fight like dogs?" Huang Xiaoxian raised an eyebrow. "How do you plan to do that?"
"I will use my channels to spread some information, saying that the Japanese have planted spies in CC, received intelligence that CC had an event that night, deliberately sent men in black to sabotage the operation, and framed CC's agents, causing discord between the CC faction, the military, and the Green Gang, so that the Japanese can carry out sabotage in Shanghai in the future."
Huang Xiaoxian's eyes lit up: "Brilliant! This way, Zhang Chong will have to investigate his own group. And what about the other group? We've gathered both groups of spies tonight."
Gao Junxiao analyzed, "Team Leader Dai is a little more troublesome, but his good disciple just owed Commander Xiong a favor. Without solid evidence, he probably won't dare to confront him directly, for fear of offending people."
“Besides, if Zhang Chong fights with the Japanese, he’ll only think it’s a personal grudge and won’t investigate where the documents went, let alone suspect ‘Honghu’.” He looked at Huang Xiaoxian, “Try not to stay in Shanghai. No one in Guangzhou will dare to touch you. Find a reason to go back.”
“I have a ready-made reason.” Huang Xiaoxian seemed to have been prepared. “I received a letter from my hometown saying that my mother is seriously ill and I need to return home immediately to take care of her. The time is uncertain.”
"That's a good reason, let's do it that way." Gao Junxiao patted Huang Xiaoxian's shoulder forcefully. "Be careful when you get back. Do not contact anyone unless the organization sends a signal."
“Yes, but I have to wait until after your wedding before I leave. Leaving too hastily will only arouse suspicion,” Huang Xiaoxian said solemnly.
The two reached an agreement and said no more. Huang Xiaoxian quietly left to prepare for their evacuation.
Gao Junxiao returned to Qingcheng's hospital room, tucked her in, and couldn't help but whisper, "Qingcheng, get well soon. We still have a long way to go together."
Time ticked slowly by with a regular rhythm. Gao Junxiao stayed by her side almost constantly, wiping her forehead with a damp towel one moment and moistening her lips with a cotton swab the next.
The following afternoon, warm sunlight streamed through the windows, casting grid-like patches of light on the floor.
“Ah Xiao.”
Gao Junxiao, who was resting by the hospital bed, vaguely heard a familiar voice calling his name. He struggled to open his tired eyes, which instantly welled up with tears: "Qingcheng! You're awake! How are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Kiyosumi smiled and shook her head, then tried to move, but frowned: "Where's Sweetie?"
"Don't worry, Tian Tian is fine. Jiang Yun took her back to my older sister's place," Gao Junxiao quickly reassured her.
Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief, her voice hoarse: "Don't tell anyone in the family about my injury. Just say I'm staying at a friend's house for two days and will be back before the wedding."
"Why bother with the wedding? You're in this state, let's reschedule." Gao Junxiao's mouth tasted bitter.
“I can manage.” Qingcheng interrupted him. “The wedding is the best cover. All the bigwigs in Shanghai will be back then. We can give away some New Year’s goods as gifts, because they’re more likely to get moldy if we leave them in our hands.”
Gao Junxiao understood what she meant; she wanted to use the wedding as a cover to get rid of "Document No. 1" completely. However, she had a point; it wasn't a good idea to keep such a hot potato in hand.
"Okay, whatever you say. You take good care of your injury, I'll take care of things outside." Gao Junxiao held her hand, feeling a joy of having regained what he had lost.
Qingcheng seemed relieved, closing her eyes wearily, but she didn't let go of Gao Junxiao's hand.
Gao Junxiao gazed at her with adoration, a mixture of heartache and admiration. His Hua Hua had just escaped death, and upon waking, her first thought was still about the mission and the bigger picture. How foolish!
The Gao family villa on Avenue Joffre was already brightly decorated, a scene of celebration. Servants bustled about in the living room, while the upstairs bridal chamber was piled high with dowry chests of all sizes. However, a tug-of-war was taking place in the side hall.
Gao Lianxia took a tie and tried to put it on her burly husband, thinking that as a member of the groom's family, she couldn't afford to lose face at the wedding.
However, the man who resembled a black bear spirit pouted and looked aggrieved like a child: "Wife, please spare me, this thing is like a lasso, it's so tight. I'm fat, I can't breathe."
"Nonsense! What day is it today? It's my brother's big day. All the people here are prominent figures in Shanghai. As his brother-in-law, you should act like one. Put it on right now." Gao Lianxia persisted.
“I’d rather wear a military uniform.” Ma Guozhu glanced around, trying to find outside help. “Mom—look at her! She’s always criticizing me, saying I’m fat. With this tie on, she looks like she has no neck at all.”
Madam Gao was amused by her son-in-law's appearance and said, "Alright, alright, if he doesn't want to wear it, he doesn't have to. Dazhu's neck is really a bit thick. As long as he's comfortable, it won't affect anything. The most important thing is that your brother is happy."
Gao Lianxia snorted and said casually, "That's true, it doesn't really matter whether you wear a tie or not. It's just that some people solemnly announced to the whole family during the day that they would eat vegetarian food to cleanse their intestines, but then sneaked into the kitchen in the middle of the night and drank all the chicken soup that was being simmered for the old lady."
Ma Guozhu seemed to be frozen in place, a faint blush creeping onto his face.
"If this gets out by accident... wouldn't it 'affect' Commander Ma's reputation for keeping his word?" Gao Lianxia muttered, fiddling with her tie.
"Cough cough cough," Ma Guozhu cleared his throat, snatched the tie, and awkwardly put it around his neck: "Wear it! Who said I wouldn't wear it! I think this tie is great, makes me look smart! Especially smart!"
A wise man knows when to yield. Gao Lianxia helped him adjust his bow tie and said softly, "That's more like it. Good boy, don't miss my brother's auspicious time, hurry up and get to the hotel."
A series of celebratory firecrackers went off outside the hotel.
The wedding procession formed a long line. Gao Junxiao got out of the car first, followed by Qingcheng, who was wearing a wedding dress, holding Tiantian's hand.
"The bride is here!"
Guests from all sides immediately rushed forward, and congratulations, laughter, and firecrackers mingled together. Gao Junxiao smiled broadly and returned the greetings with a cupped-hand salute, signaling his groomsmen to distribute the red envelopes that had been prepared beforehand.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the newlyweds. Jiang Yun and Huang Xiaoxian, who were mixed in with the guests, exchanged a glance and began their plan.
In the garden, the grass was a lush green. When everyone saw the newlyweds arrive, they all stood up and applauded from afar. Elders would occasionally praise the couple for being a perfect match, which Gao Junxiao found very pleasing.
On the stage, Chen Yao clapped his hands and introduced, "Now walking towards us are our newlyweds, Mr. Gao Junxiao and Ms. He Qingcheng. Congratulations to the two of you on your marriage. From today onwards, the Gao and He families are in-laws."
Enthusiastic applause came from all directions, and the young guests on both sides of the aisle threw handfuls of colorful confetti from their baskets. The colorful confetti fluttered in the wind, like a rainbow rain.
As the emcee, Chen Yao started telling jokes to liven up the atmosphere: "As the saying goes, even a strong woman can be won over by a persistent suitor. Our groom used his thick skin to win over this beautiful bride, and now the world has gained another perfect couple. I wish you eternal happiness!"
As the atmosphere changed, the musicians began to play soothing music, and everyone was immersed in the joy of the notes.
Aside from Qingcheng, happiness belonged to others. She walked up the steps like a puppet, nodding and greeting the executioners on both sides. The bright red carpet under her feet seemed to be burned red by a raging fire, scorching her with every step she took.
The two witnesses took turns giving speeches, with Ms. Xia delivering the final words: "It takes a hundred years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a thousand years to share a pillow. Mr. Gao Junxiao, do you take this lady before you as your wife? From this day forward, may you share both honor and disgrace, understand and care for each other, and wholeheartedly safeguard your happiness, living in harmony until your hair turns white."
"I do," Gao Junxiao said eagerly.
"Ms. He Qingcheng, are you willing to marry the man before you, to share both honor and disgrace, to understand and care for each other, to cherish our happiness together, and to grow old together in harmony?"
"I do." Kiyosumi's heart was instantly filled with love.
"Very well, may you two grow old together in peace and happiness. Please place your fingerprints, seals, and signatures on the marriage certificate." Ms. Xia waited for them to finish writing before announcing, "Congratulations on your marriage, you are now a perfect match. You may now exchange rings."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Qingcheng first put the wedding ring on Gao Junxiao's finger, then happily extended her hand, and Gao Junxiao smiled and took her soft hand, gently putting the wedding ring on her finger.
Looking down at the glittering wedding ring on her hand, Qingcheng squinted wearily, her vision blurring again.
"The newlyweds bow to the officiant."
At that moment, a warm pressure came from her shoulder, and then her veil was lifted. A cold wind brushed against her dry cheeks, bringing Qingcheng back to her senses. She had to finish singing at the wedding. Gao Junxiao supported her waist and bowed to the officiant and guests in turn.
"The newlyweds bow to each other."
"Huahua, lean on me for a while if you're tired. I'm here for you." Gao Junxiao's reassuring words made Qingcheng feel as if her drowning heart had been pulled out of the darkness and bathed in sunlight again. No matter how strong her heart was, it couldn't withstand the gentle touch of her beloved's fingertips.
Qingcheng and Gao Junxiao looked at each other as if they were seeing the vast world around them. She tilted her head slightly to welcome A-Xiao's kiss. When his hot lips touched hers, cold tears streamed down her face, landing on the man's broad palms, where they were quickly absorbed by his white gloves.
Perhaps seeing her daughter cry, Mrs. He couldn't help but burst into tears as well. She hugged her younger sister, and the two sisters looked at the newlyweds with relief. It's common for brides and their families to shed tears of emotion at weddings, and everyone is used to it, continuing to cheer for the newlyweds.
As always, Gao Junxiao cupped Qingcheng's face in his hands and gently wiped away her tears. He had once told himself: Only by carrying heavy burdens can one know what weight one is on one's shoulders.
Her previously muddled mind cleared. She couldn't give up; she had to hold on until Jiang Yun moved "Document No. 1." She had to outlast the spies in terms of perseverance and patience; she couldn't afford to be so fragile as to collapse.
Qingcheng shook off her previous dejection, took the initiative to pick up her wine glass, and smiled as she drank the nuptial wine with Gao Junxiao.
After the ceremony, everyone moved back to the banquet hall. Under the crystal chandelier, soothing jazz music flowed from the gramophone, and the guests chatted and laughed, clinking glasses.
Qingcheng changed into a gold and red phoenix cheongsam designed by Gao Junxiao. The two walked hand in hand among the guests at each table, receiving a flood of blessings from everyone.
"Second Young Master, Second Young Madam, something terrible has happened!" The villa's butler pushed through the crowd and whispered in their ears, "A group of menacing-looking thugs have just arrived. The leader, surnamed Dai, insists on searching the Second Young Madam's dowry chest, saying it contains some important documents from the Communist Party. The servants left behind can barely stop them!"
That guy surnamed Dai is utterly lawless. As soon as they got home, they saw several wounded and lying servants.
"Stop!" Gao Junxiao shouted coldly, striding into the second floor, followed by his comrades-in-arms.
"Counselor Gao, you've come at the perfect time. I'm under orders to search, so please do me the favor and open your new house." Team Leader Dai raised his chin, unable to hide his smugness.
"Dai Yunong, what are you barking about? What kind of occasion is this? Do you think you can just cause trouble like this? Get the hell out of here!" Chen Yao shouted, pointing his finger at his nose.
"Get out! Get out!" the brothers behind him jeered.
Faced with the crowd's angry shouts, Team Leader Dai calmly pulled out a document from his pocket and unfolded it: "President's personal handwritten order, authorizing the search. Let's see who dares to stop me?"
These words caused an uproar. The president's order carried immense weight. Qingcheng's mind raced, searching for a way to break the deadlock.
She pushed through the crowd and stepped forward: "Team Leader Dai, today is my wedding day with Junxiao. These are my private dowry items, and they represent the dignity of the He family. You are trying to force your way into our bridal chamber and search the bride's dowry based on just a tip. This is unreasonable, legal, and morally wrong."
"Miss He, oh, now you're Mrs. Gao. I'm on official business, please excuse me." Team Leader Dai waved his hand, and the agents behind him rushed forward, making a move to kick down the door.
Before Gao Junxiao could respond, his comrades sprang into action, forming a human wall with menacing expressions to block his path.
"Councilor Gao, you are a soldier of the Party and the State. Should we investigate or not? Say something." Team Leader Dai shoved the document in front of Gao Junxiao, making it clear that if Gao Junxiao disagreed, he would arrest him along with the document.
The words had barely left his mouth when, *smack!*
Team Leader Dai stumbled and almost fell. The burly man who slapped him was about two meters tall and was none other than Gao Junxiao's brother-in-law, Ma Guozhu. He squinted, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and then casually threw it on the ground: "What kind of thing are you? How dare you cause trouble at my brother-in-law's wedding."
"You—" Team Leader Dai was about to explode, but after seeing who it was, he swallowed his curse back. He held his breath and said in a hoarse voice, "General Ma, this is not North China. You have to give the president some face."
"Face? Oh~ it really is Chiang Kai-shek's handwriting, still so ugly." Ma Guozhu leaned closer to look at the handwritten order, curling his lip in disdain.
Suddenly he snatched the edict, tore it into pieces in a few quick movements, and tossed it lightly behind him. The scraps of paper scattered like snowflakes. "Fuck you."
Team Leader Dai covered his face, both shocked and furious: "General Ma, this is, after all, the president's order. How could you do this..."
"Ha, what about me?" Ma Guozhu glanced contemptuously at Team Leader Dai. "Trying to investigate my brother-in-law, huh? Let Chiang Kai-shek come to me personally, preferably with his Central Army. I think he doesn't really want to investigate my brother-in-law, he just wants to give me a hard time!"
A huge shadow loomed over Team Leader Dai, who looked down at him with gritted teeth and said, "Go back and tell him that although I, Ma Guozhu, have stepped down, my words still carry some weight in North China. If he feels he's having too much of a time and wants to cause me trouble, let him come. We can see who ends up losing face."
Ma Guozhu's words were like a thunderclap, making the living room buzz. As the former king of North China and the leader of the Northwest Army, Dai Yunong had no choice but to believe him, whether he wanted to or not.
Team Leader Dai glanced around, his expression shifting, before finally waving his hand resentfully: "Let's go!"
The spies slunk away from the villa with Team Leader Dai.
Once the enemy left, Gao Junxiao and Qingcheng told their brothers and brother-in-law to rest in the living room while they went inside to check if the dowry had been lost.
As soon as they left, Gao Junxiao immediately sounded the alarm: "Jiang Yun, open the door."
Jiang Yun emerged from the bridal chamber: "Ah Xiao, Qing Cheng, all the documents have been taken out. The boxes are sealed as they were; they won't find any flaws."
“Okay, we can’t keep them all together. Let’s break them up quickly.” Gao Junxiao said to Qingcheng, “Go find some cloth bags.”
The group quickly took action, breaking the thick stack of documents into several parts and stuffing them into different cloth bags, which were then casually covered with old newspapers, rags, and other miscellaneous items for concealment.
"Split up," Qingcheng instructed. "Jiang Yun, you change into a maid's outfit, take a large bag, and go through the back door to blend into the crowd at the market. Xiao Xian, you take three bags, ride your bicycle, and pretend to be a delivery person. We'll figure out a way to take the rest out."
Time was of the essence, and the group dared not delay, immediately splitting up to act. Jiang Yun and Huang Xiaoxian, dressed in civilian clothes, carrying cloth bags, quickly disappeared in different directions from the villa.
Gao Junxiao and Qingcheng stuffed the last two bags of documents into the trunk of the car and covered them with some wedding ribbons.
Inside the hotel banquet hall, the atmosphere remained lively. Gao Junxiao and Qingcheng returned without a trace of panic, as if they had merely left to entertain an ordinary guest.
However, their minds were always separated by a thread, and finally, as the banquet drew to a close, the guests took their leave.
"Father, Mother, Eldest Sister, Brother-in-law, Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, Uncles and Elders, Qingcheng and I will head back now. You can chat a little longer." Gao Junxiao said with a smile and a respectful tone.
"Hahaha, hurry back! A moment of bliss is worth a thousand pieces of gold!" Ma Guozhu patted him on the shoulder, his words carrying a hidden meaning, which drew a burst of laughter from the crowd.
Kiyosumi was chatting and laughing with several women when she heard her brother-in-law's teasing. She gracefully raised her wrist to check her watch.
She then gave her female companions a slightly apologetic smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm so sorry, it's getting late, and Junxiao and I need to go back and make some preparations. We'll have to leave you tonight. We'll treat you to afternoon tea another day."
Everyone understood and smiled, wishing them a happy wedding night.
A waiter helped them push a luggage cart loaded with various gift boxes out of the hotel gate, where a courier disguised as a taxi driver was already waiting. Jiang Yun, who was smoking at the entrance, winked at them, signaling them to load the gift boxes into the car.
"Sir, Madam, let me help you with your luggage." The "driver" enthusiastically stepped forward and helped the hotel doorman carry the gift boxes into the trunk. Qingcheng generously slipped him a large bill as a tip.
The car started quickly, merged into traffic, and drove out of the hotel's sight. But Qingcheng keenly noticed a tail following behind the car, realizing that Team Leader Dai was still persistent.
She nudged Gao Junxiao beside her and pointed to the rear window. Gao Junxiao smiled knowingly and said, "It's alright, we'll proceed with the second plan."
"clear."
At a busy intersection, taking advantage of the moment when the green light was about to turn yellow, the driver suddenly accelerated and sped across the intersection before the red light came on.
The agents reacted immediately and tried to run the red light. Warning horns blared, accompanied by angry curses. The cross traffic had already started moving, and their car was stuck at the intersection, unable to move an inch.
The taxi sped through the maze of narrow streets, making several turns before finally heading towards the actual meeting point after confirming it had completely shaken off its pursuers. The driver turned sharply left, venturing onto a one-way street.
Another identical car was parked by the flower bed. After the two drivers exchanged passwords, they immediately removed their own license plates and replaced them with the other car's license plates. Qingcheng and Gao Junxiao also switched cars.
As night fell, the car slowly approached the villa. The two returned to their new home. Qingcheng looked out the window at the few spies still lying in wait downstairs, and her sneer deepened.
She had just drawn the curtains when she fell into a warm and firm embrace. Gao Junxiao gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her neck: "Now it's just the two of us."
"Gao Junxiao!" Qingcheng suddenly called him by his full name.
"What?" Gao Junxiao looked at her, puzzled.
Qingcheng grabbed his ear: "The organization's mission is over, shouldn't we settle our scores?"
"Ouch, that hurts! What did I do?" Gao Junxiao cried out in pain.
"Stop trying to fool me." Qingcheng released his ear. "Tell me, what's your relationship with Huang Xiaoxian? When Zhang Renjiu was about to mention the name 'Honghu,' the murderous intent emanating from you couldn't hide from me."
"Brother, you really are brother. I just... know a little bit about his secret, just like you, I guessed it." Gao Junxiao rubbed his hands together and laughed awkwardly.
“You’re not honest. But your superior is more honest than you.” Qingcheng smiled and pulled out a photo she had prepared beforehand from the bedside table, showing it to him.
"Ah, this..." Gao Junxiao flipped through the photos and froze.
On the back was the eight-line five-character poem that Wu Hao had personally written. Qingcheng had deliberately buried his name in it, but Gao Junxiao did not know that it was dictated by her.
“You can recognize the handwriting, right? This is a wedding gift from Comrade Wu Hao. He said there’s an important message inside that we’ll find out on our wedding night. Why don’t you explain it to me?” Qingcheng raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, aren't you a courier? How do you know Wu Hao?" Gao Junxiao's eyes widened in surprise.
Oh. So that's an admission. Kiyosumi suppressed a laugh; she knew the two knew each other. "I used to be a courier, but I got promoted for doing a good job. Now I'm the deputy captain of the Red Team."
Gao Junxiao asked incredulously, "You, the Red Team? Jiang Yingqi is one of your men?"
"Yes, he even reported your words to me." Kiyosumi readily admitted. "So you're from the Secret Service, right?"
Gao Junxiao narrowed his eyes and pinched Qingcheng's cheek: "Alright! He Qingcheng! Vice Captain He! You little liar, you've kept this from me for so long! It's fun watching me rack my brains to put on an act in front of you, isn't it? Hmm?"
Qingcheng's words were muffled as he pinched her cheek: "Hmph! Same here! Mr. Gao, Secret Envoy Gao! How many times have you pretended to be stupid in front of me? Last time you knew my identity, you were still so fierce to me!"
"I'm protecting you!" Gao Junxiao argued.
"I'm testing you!" Kiyosumi retorted without backing down.
They blurted it out at the same time, stared at each other, and then couldn't help but burst out laughing a few seconds later.
Gao Junxiao pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her hair. Qingcheng nestled in his arms and chuckled softly. Gao Junxiao grumbled, "Don't you still owe me two kisses? I still have the IOU you wrote last time."
Seeing his face approaching, Qingcheng turned it towards her with a smile and kissed him, her soft lips rubbing against his. Gao Junxiao murmured indistinctly between breaths: "A lone boat on the river will be used to support you on the shore."
Kiyosumi's heart fluttered at his rare sweet words, but she refused to back down: "Tch, what a big mouth you have. What if I don't let you stop?"
“Then I’ll force my way here.” Gao Junxiao chuckled, his nose brushing against her flushed cheek. “Even if I crash through the ship’s planks, I’ll still dock here. He Qingcheng, just accept your fate.”
"Shameless." Kiyosumi spat lightly.
"I can be even more shameless." Gao Junxiao stared at her red lips, his eyes growing hotter and hotter.
Suddenly lifted into the air, Qingcheng blushed and gently punched him, saying, "Put me down."
"I won't let go. I married her through my own abilities, and I will never let her go in this lifetime." Gao Junxiao's words carried an undeniable domineering tone.
Inside the room, red candles burned brightly, illuminating the large red "double happiness" character on the wall.
(End of article)
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