Chapter 23: A Thousand Miles in One Go

Chen Yongren.

Zhang Haifeng.

We're so close, let's first put down our luggage, then go sit together in the dining car—it's also convenient to talk there!" Liu Shuyun proposed.

Zhang Haifeng looked at Chen Yongren, waiting for him to express his stance.

It really isn't convenient to talk with Zhang Haifeng in broad daylight either, and Chen Yongren nodded in agreement.

After putting down their luggage, the three headed to the dining car together.

Since it wasn't mealtime, not many people were willing to eat on the train, so there weren't many passengers in the dining car either.

After finding a seat, Liu Shuyun took out a unit of legal tender from her bag and told the attendant, "Give us three coffees first; keep the change as a tip."

One coffee costs three mao; a one-mao tip is enough to buy half a catty of cooking oil.

This little lady's family background isn't bad.

Perhaps because of the tip, the three coffees were brought up quickly.

Liu Shuyun took a slight sip and asked, "Where are you guys heading?"

"Shanghai." Zhang Haifeng said.

What a coincidence?

Liu Shuyun exclaimed in surprise, "I happen to be heading to Shanghai to look for my aunt too—what are you going to Shanghai for?"

Zhang Haifeng froze, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

To be honest, he really didn't know what role he would have this time going to Shanghai.

Chen Yongren reacted extremely quickly, immediately saying, "We're preparing to go to Shanghai to scout, see if there's any business we can do, earn a little money to make a living."

Looking at Liu Shuyun before him, Chen Yongren gradually felt something was off.

Everything was too coincidental.

Just after boarding the train we met and rescued her, then the three of us had adjacent sleeper berths, and now our destination is all Shanghai?

Chen Yongren didn't believe in coincidences.

All these coincidences combined amount to inevitability; she must have done this on purpose.

Suddenly.

Chen Yongren thought of Zhang Haifeng's offhand complaint.

Earlier he had been preoccupied with what to do after reaching Shanghai and hadn't paid much attention to that remark.

Now thinking about it, the speed of the train police's arrival really is problematic.

Not long ago, when other passengers got into a conflict, the train police arrived very quickly.

But earlier, when Liu Shuyun and that man had a dispute, the train police seemed to have vanished.

Only when I intervened did the train police show up late, and without saying much, they directly took away that middle-aged man, without even a simple inquiry.

Then Liu Shuyun started to get close.

Chen Yongren's brain raced.

The Military Intelligence Bureau had just wiped out the Japanese spy network in Jinling; the remaining Japanese spies would surely not swallow this insult and would seek revenge.

I had just sat down on the train when I kept encountering a bunch of coincidences.

Could this lady be a Japanese spy sent to approach me, hoping to ferret out the Military Intelligence Bureau's agents in Shanghai?

Chen Yongren looked at Liu Shuyun.

At this moment she propped her chin, eyes fixed on Chen Yongren, her pupils glinting: "Making a living, what business do you want to do?"

"Not clear yet; Shanghai is so big, we of course need to first conduct a thorough survey," Chen Yongren casually replied.

Zhang Haifeng nodded, what he wants to do still depends on what the boss ultimately arranges.

Next he opened his insight on Liu Shuyun, wanting first to confirm her identity, then plan the next steps.

If she really is a Japanese spy, we'll find a chance to "take care of" her!

If her identity is fine, then it's all good; we'll treat it as a beautiful encounter, having such a pretty girl along on the journey isn't too boring either.

As soon as the insight was opened, Liu Shuyun's dense, rain-like thoughts poured into Chen Yongren's ears.

"It seems the deployment plan is going even more smoothly than imagined."

"I actually got close to them this easily; the Military Intelligence Bureau's agents are nothing special."

"Zhang Haifeng is simple-minded; looks fine."

"Except Chen Yongren."

"His expression hasn't changed at all; his psychological quality is evident."

"If the Military Intelligence Bureau's people were all like Chen Yongren, perhaps they wouldn't be so disliked, and working there would be fine too."

"Pah pah pah, what am I thinking? If Young Master Zhao finds out, he'll definitely punish me."

"If I could be with him once, the punishment wouldn't seem like much."

"Come to think of it, the Military Intelligence Bureau actually erupted with such astonishing strength this time, wiping out all the Japanese spies hidden in Jinling in a single operation."

"It's said that this operation succeeded so smoothly precisely because of Chen Yongren."

"When did the Military Intelligence Bureau get such a handsome, capable man?"

"Since I have the advantage of proximity, should I first get a month?"

"I'd never heard of Chen Yongren's abilities being so outstanding before, but now he's shining brightly; I'm afraid he's a Red Party plant!"

"If that's the case, even better—I could use this to threaten…"

"Pah!"

"What am I thinking? A Red Party member appearing in the Military Intelligence Bureau is far more serious than a traitor showing up in the Party Affairs Bureau!"

Liu Shuyun's thoughts came like a rapid-fire cannon.

This woman looks quite proper—how come, like Hongdie, she also wants to interrogate me?

But at least we determined she isn't a Riben spy; she's a spy sent by the Party Affairs Office.

Zhao Gongzi?

Chen Yongren instantly pictured the young man in a military officer's uniform.

Damn it.

Chen Yongren never imagined he'd avoid a Riben spy, only to have a female spy sent by Zhao Gongzi get close to him first.

If they were from the Party Affairs Office, everything makes sense; with their ability, arranging a bunk near him is a piece of cake.

However...

Since you've come, I'll gladly keep you company and have some fun.

During the conversation, Liu Shuyun probed, intentionally or not, into Chen Yongren and Zhang Haifeng's Shanghai residences, but Chen Yongren defused each attempt with narrow escapes.

After sharing a meal and chatting awhile, Liu Shuyun excused herself, citing fatigue, and wanted to return to her room to rest.

Zhang Haifeng hadn't slept well the night before either, and with the train still hours from arrival, he too returned to his bunk to regain his strength.

Through Liu Shuyun's half-closed cabin door, Chen Yongren saw her lying on the bed, playing with her hair.

Chen Yongren pushed open her door and walked straight in.

「Mr. Chen, don't you think barging into a young lady's room so abruptly is rather rash? 」 Though she said that, her tone held no anger.

「I only know that missing out on a beautiful girl like you would be even more rash. 」 Chen Yongren locked the door behind him and sat beside Liu Shuyun.

Liu Shuyun rose, placed her hand on Chen Yongren's shoulder, and, suppressing a smile, said: 「I didn't expect you to be quite good at cheering up girls. 」

「I can make you even happier. 」 Chen Yongren laughed.

「Then it depends on your abilities. 」 Liu Shuyun flung herself into Chen Yongren's embrace.

【hehehe】 Chen Yongren was in high spirits.

【waa…】

「bitter tea, bitter tea, bitter tea~」

The train emitted a piercing whistle, speeding along the tracks.

It perfectly covered the amorous sounds inside the carriage.