Ning Zhiheng's appearance was also within Kitaoka Ryoko's expectations. Kitaoka Ryoko had been looking for an opportunity to get close to this Chairman Fujiwara, and she had already found out Ning Zhiheng's habits and routines.
Aside from handling company affairs, Chairman Fujiwara usually spends most of his time at the Muran Academy. He is extremely fond of literature and calligraphy and is himself a very outstanding calligrapher with considerable fame in the art world.
So, through a connection with an artist at the Muran Academy, Kitaoka Ryoko was introduced to the academy and displayed her excellent flower arrangement skills. The results were surprisingly good, and she immediately gained everyone's recognition.
Ryoko Kitaoka underwent extremely rigorous training, which included not only espionage techniques such as shooting and combat, but also other skills that women need to learn. She excelled in all of them, including flower arrangement.
Faced with everyone's praise, Kitaoka Ryoko smiled and bowed slightly, saying, "Ryoko's skills are just a little bit, I'm really embarrassed to show them off."
Calligrapher Terauchi Hiko said with a smile, "When we first met Ms. Ryoko, who could have imagined that she would be so talented and skillful? We were truly apologies for our previous disrespect!"
"Yes, Miss Ryoko looked quite dashing in her military uniform back then, haha!"
Everyone was chatting and joking. They had met Kitaoka Ryoko once when they welcomed Master Kanda Tamayama at the customs dock. It was on that occasion that Kitaoka Ryoko first met Ning Zhiheng, and she still remembers it vividly.
"Fujiwara-kun is here too!" Kitaoka Ryoko said, feigning surprise.
Ning Zhiheng also said with a smile, "Miss Liangzi has truly broadened our horizons. We never expected you to have such skills!"
"You flatter me!" Kitaoka Ryoko bowed again.
Ning Zhiheng nodded, said nothing more to her, and turned to Ito Hiroki, saying, "Ito-kun, I came here today specifically to appreciate your paintings. How about we show them to everyone?"
When Ning Zhiheng spoke, everyone echoed him. Since everyone had come to appreciate the paintings at the invitation, Hiroki Ito took out his own paintings and invited everyone to critique them.
The art atmosphere inside the academy is excellent, which is the result of Ning Zhiheng's deliberate efforts. He has invested a great deal in the academy, which has brought many benefits to the artists and scholars. Everyone is willing to gather and exchange ideas here, and it has gradually become the most famous cultural venue among the Japanese expatriates.
Everyone chatted and laughed together, enjoying themselves immensely. After admiring Hiroki Ito's paintings, they each displayed their own works. Kazushi Okazaki played a newly composed piece, which drew cheers and praise from everyone.
Time always flies when like-minded people get together. Ning Zhiheng only got up to say goodbye when everyone had finished having fun and left.
Normally at this time, he would always walk with Kuroki Gakuichi, first sending Kuroki Gakuichi back to the South Room Library before returning himself. This was also a sign of respect, since Kuroki Gakuichi was one of his most respected teachers.
But today, Kuroki Takeichi shook his head and smiled, "You should take Miss Ryoko home first. Ito-kun and I want to go have a drink. Please take good care of Miss Ryoko."
During their conversation today, Kitaoka Ryoko clearly showed her affection for Ning Zhiheng, frequently taking over his conversations and deliberately engaging in dialogue with him. Kitaoka Ryoko did not try to hide this.
This was obvious to everyone. These people weren't fools, and they could see Kitaoka Ryoko's intentions. She had probably come specifically for Fujiwara Tomohito.
Ning Zhiheng was also very perceptive and quickly realized that Kitaoka Ryoko's target was him, but he was unaware of Kitaoka Ryoko's true intentions.
Although Ning Zhiheng was introverted, he was not lacking in emotional intelligence. He was not so naive as to think that Kitaoka Ryoko's enthusiasm meant that she was actually interested in him. Their relationship was definitely not the kind of romantic love between a man and a woman.
Women like Kitaoka Ryoko cannot be judged by the standards of ordinary women. For such strong and calm women, self-interest is their primary consideration, and so-called emotions have no influence on their judgment.
So why was she deliberately trying to get close to him? Ning Zhiheng instinctively became wary.
Was it because they suspected my identity that they approached and investigated me? Probably not. My current Japanese identity is very stable and secure thanks to my efforts. To put it bluntly, even Kitaoka Ryoko's teacher, Tsuchihara Keiji, wouldn't risk offending me by investigating me based on a single suspicion, because the risk would be too great and the consequences would outweigh the gains.
The rest is simple: it's all about profit. It seems that Keiji Tsuchihara is still up to his old tricks and is trying to use his charm to drag her into his schemes and use her resources to help the Tsuchihara Organization expand its power rapidly.
Ning Zhiheng sneered inwardly. Even if he wanted to find a woman, he would never choose a shrewd Japanese female spy like Kitaoka Ryoko. With a woman like that by his side, he would probably have to sleep with one eye open, constantly on guard. How many secrets did he have? Unless he was insane!
Hearing Kuroki Yueyi say this, Ning Zhiheng could only nod in agreement and turned to Kitaoka Ryoko behind him, saying, "Miss Ryoko, if you don't mind, I can give you a ride."
Kitaoka Ryoko was naturally overjoyed and nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying, "Thank you so much, Fujiwara-kun!"
The two got into Ning Zhiheng's car, escorted by two bodyguard vehicles in front and behind.
"Fujiwara-kun, I heard you were seriously injured at the consulate last time. I wonder how you are now?" Kitaoka Ryoko asked softly.
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