Chapter 404: Chen Yongren, act like a person

One long, two short, three long, one short.

Chen Dian's emergency contact signal?

How did he find this place?

Lin Ke Xin instantly perked up, hurried to the window and lightly tapped twice in reply.

Again, a series of knocks sounded from outside the window.

"Old Chen?" Lin Ke Xin whispered.

"It's me." Chen Dian said in a muffled voice.

Hearing that, Lin Ke Xin's heart leapt; she flung open the window, glanced left and right down the alley, and said, "Hurry in!"

A black shadow flipped in—none other than the disguised Chen Dian.

"Old Chen, how did you know I'm here?" Lin Ke Xin exclaimed, "Come in quick, and don't let him spot you!"

Chen Dian straightened his clothes and smiled, "Don't worry, I only came up after he went far enough; I've posted lookouts on the street, so no matter which way Chen Yongren returns, I'll be notified right away."

Hearing that, Lin Ke Xin finally relaxed.

After confirming Lin Ke Xin was safe and sound, Chen Dian was once again shocked by the godfather's far-reaching abilities.

"Old Chen, you still haven't told me how you knew I was here." Lin Ke Xin wore a strange expression.

Thinking of the godfather's instructions, Chen Dian casually made up: "I got a tip that you and Chen Yongren are on a secret mission, so I sent someone to follow and check the situation."

"As it turned out, I discovered Chen Yongren had brought you here."

"Comrade Lin Ke Xin, what secret mission are you actually carrying out?" Chen Dian asked doubtfully, "Why is everyone outside saying that Chen Yongren and his personal secretary died in the apartment?"

Lin Ke Xin briefly explained the fake death plot devised by Huang Shulang.

Hearing that, Chen Dian feigned surprise: "You're saying Chen Yongren is a Military Statistics Bureau agent?"

Seeing Chen Dian's surprised expression, Lin Ke Xin only wanted to say one thing.

You keep pretending—don't you know this even earlier than I do?

Since Chen Dian wants to play a role, we might as well go along and give him another performance.

Anyway, we've already put on a few shows today; one more won't matter. Lin Ke Xin nodded: "Only after Chen Yongren confessed to me did I learn his identity."

"He's not just a Military Statistics Bureau agent—he's also a member of Huang Shulang's group!"

Chen Dian immediately pressed: "What else did he say?"

Looking at it now, it seems the godfather's organization and the Military Statistics Bureau have come into conflict.

But judging from the outcome,

Lin Ke Xin, Huang Qifa, and Chen Yongren still managed to escape the enemy's grasp.

For now, the outside world thinks they're dead.

Could it be that these two groups have somehow reached a temporary agreement?

Being able to get the Military Statistics Bureau to cooperate, Chen Dian increasingly felt that the godfather's organization might be far more than just a simple patriotic private group.

Lin Ke Xin pondered, then said: "They said they'd temporarily leave Songhu, return to Chongqing to receive commendations, and await the next work assignment."

"Do you want to go back with them?" Chen Dian sensed the meaning in Lin Ke Xin's words.

"Of course." Lin Ke Xin said solemnly, "It's not easy to plant someone inside the Military Statistics Bureau; we can't give up halfway, and besides, having a Bureau affiliation will make future work much easier."

As she spoke, Lin Ke Xin also briefly recounted the process of transporting medicine from Hangzhou Prefecture.

Chen Dian, however, felt a chill listening to that.

Lin Ke Xin is clearly playing both sides—sooner or later the truth will come out.

They don't realize that.

The so-called Du Xie and Huang Shulang are actually the same person.

Lin Ke Xin only contacts Chen Yongren—how could there be any leak?

"You're playing with fire!" Chen Dian shook his head. "You got lucky this time, but if they sense something's off, you'll be in danger!"

"I came here to figure out how to get you safely out of Songhu."

Huang Qifa has already been safely received and transferred; now only Lin Ke Xin remains.

"Working behind enemy lines is inherently perilous; I've long been ready to sacrifice myself at any moment." Lin Ke Xin said without changing her expression.

Seeing Chen Dian open his mouth to speak, Lin Xin cut him off: "Old Chen, rest assured—I know what I'm doing; if danger arises, I'll withdraw on my own without you telling me."

"Since you're here, perfect—first report Songhu's situation to the organization, arrange a meeting with my comrade in Chongqing, and I'll notify you immediately of any new developments."

Seeing Lin Ke Xin insist, Chen Dian didn't press further.

"I'll pass your request to the organization as soon as I can, but I can't guarantee they'll agree." Chen Dian said in a low voice.

Lin Ke Xin nodded; the conversation was over, no need to say more.

Chen Dian turned and left through the window again.

Only then did Lin Ke Xin sit back down on the bed.

Not long after Chen Dian left, Lin Ke Xin heard movement in the courtyard.

Soon after, the door was pushed open and Chen Yongren hurried inside.

"You're back?" Lin Ke Xin said calmly.

"Hurry, eat while it's hot—once it cools it won't taste good." Chen Yongren called out, opened the oil paper, and handed Lin Ke Xin a meat bun.

Seeing that, Lin Ke Xin felt a twinge of emotion; she'd been starving, so she didn't hold back, hugging the bun and digging in.

"Why A Ren't you eating?"

Halfway through eating, seeing Chen Yongren still sitting, Lin Ke Xin asked curiously.

"Because…" Chen Yongren's tone suddenly turned grim: "The buns are poisoned!"

"Huh?" Lin Ke Xin blinked, about to toss the bun in her hand.

She then noticed Chen Yongren, desperately trying to hide the smile on his face; how could she not realize she had been tricked?

"Can't you tell when to joke?" Lin Ke Xin said, somewhat angry.

"It's not that I see you're too nervous, I'm just adjusting the atmosphere." Chen Yongren said deliberately.

"Who adjusts the atmosphere like you? This kind of thing can't be used for joking." Lin Ke Xin wished she could throw the bun at Chen Yongren.

Chen Yongren smiled and gave no answer.

Lin Ke Xin certainly couldn't bite Chen Yongren; she could only treat the bun as him, turning her grief and anger into strength while eating the bun.

At that moment she also asked Chen Yongren if he was hungry, etc.

People like him deserve to starve.

Seeing Lin Ke Xin almost finished eating, Chen Yongren then asked: "Full?"

Lin Ke Xin nodded.

"Since you're full, I can relax now."

Relax?

In Lin Ke Xin's bewildered gaze, Chen Yongren, as if performing magic, pulled out a large oil-wrapped paper from his chest.

Smelling the meat aroma coming from his breath, Lin Ke Xin's expression gradually turned odd.

Only then did Chen Yongren open the oil-wrapped paper, revealing the roast chicken inside.

The rich meat aroma instantly filled the room.

"?"

A question mark slowly appeared above Lin Ke Xin's head.

Chen Yongren smiled slightly, tore off a large chicken leg, deliberately swinging it in front of Lin Ke Xin to show off: "What a graceful, beautiful chicken leg!"

"……"

Lin Ke Xin felt for the first time an urge to scold someone.

Seeing Chen Yongren return with the bun, she still felt a little moved, thinking back to before she joined the covert work, when she and her comrades helped each other.

Facing Lin Ke Xin's murderous gaze, Chen Yongren put the chicken leg in his mouth and took a bite, unable to resist sighing.

"Tsk, this big chicken leg is just better than the bun; eating it fills your mouth with oil, and after one bite you want another."

"Chen Yongren, can't you just be a decent person?" Lin Ke Xin couldn't help but say.