Chapter 457: Warming Up

These damn Japanese spies are really persistent.

Grace had only just arrived in Rong City, and already she's being tailed again?

But it's also clear that the Japanese spy tailing them doesn't know Grace's real identity—otherwise he'd have already tried to kill her.

"Chen, what's wrong?" Grace asked.

Chen Yongren casually muttered: "Nothing, I'm just thinking…"

"You want to send me back?" Grace stepped back, feeling wary: "I knew it, you're all the same."

"Are you trying to first soothe my emotions, then go back and report my whereabouts, then have them capture me for merit?"

This foreign girl is quite familiar with the procedure; she must have done this sort of thing before.

"Miss Grace, you're overthinking it." Chen Yongren smiled and shook his head: "I'm just thinking about where to take you to relax next, and how to arrange your evening."

That's true—Chen Yongren can stay at the military academy; we can't let Grace sleep on the streets.

"Chen…" Upon hearing that, Grace was deeply moved, looking at Chen Yongren with remorse: "Sorry, I misunderstood you; I thought…"

"You're my friend; no need to say that." Chen Yongren said: "Rong City is big; you've come all this way, and even if you wanted to leave, I would never let you go."

"Mm!" Grace nodded excitedly.

Chen Yongren brought Grace along, continuing to stroll the streets, worried that the lame Japanese spy behind them couldn't keep up, so he could slow his pace, controlling the birds, keeping an eye on the Japanese spy behind them.

"What exactly is their relationship?"

"Are they boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"This is too strange—how could a National Government officer hook up with a foreign woman?"

……

The Japanese spy speculated about Chen Yongren and Grace's relationship, furtively following them to observe.

First determine her whereabouts, then report up the chain to quickly ascertain this foreign woman's identity.

The Japanese spy also worried about losing them, so he had no intention of leaving midway.

Chen Yongren's expression didn't change.

Prepare to settle this foreign girl, then properly deal with the little Japanese behind them.

With Chen Yongren's company, Grace gradually opened up, her smile appearing far more often than when she first arrived.

Chen Yongren's smile never faltered.

The lucky skill kicked in, and Chen Yongren also picked up quite a bit of money.

Just as he picked up a silver dollar, Grace pointed at a nearby stall and exclaimed excitedly: "Chen, what is this?"

He followed the direction of her finger and looked.

It was a dough figurine artisan; plain colored dough, in his hands quickly turned into lifelike figurines.

If you didn't look closely, it would look like a real person shrunk and placed on the stall.

Grace, who had lived year-round in the United States, had at most seen some human-shaped sculptures; when had she ever seen something you could pinch into a human shape on a whim?

"Chen, what is this? It looks interesting." Grace bent over, curiously eyeing the stall.

Near the stall were a few customers speaking with a strong Sichuan-Chongqing accent, talking to Grace.

She didn't understand Chinese to begin with, and the dialect left her utterly baffled.

"They say these are little dough figurines; this stall is famous in Rong City—there's nothing you can't imagine that he can't make."

Chen Yongren smiled as he explained to Grace, seeing her interest, he generously pulled out a legal-tender note and handed it to the stall owner, speaking in the same Sichuan-Chongqing accent.

"Make one for my friend, just like her."

With his language mastery, even dialects came easily to Chen Yongren.

"Yes, yes." The stall owner cheerfully took the money, sized up Grace from head to toe, memorized her appearance, and got to work.

Grace stared fixedly at the artisan, her eyes full of curiosity.

Soon, a miniature rough draft of Grace appeared in the artisan's hands.

"Chen, look quick—that looks just like me." Grace turned to Chen Yongren, grabbed his arm, and bounced up and down.

The artisan's hands never stopped, continuing to refine the figurine's details.

Hair, clothing, folds, the smile on her face…

Under the artisan's superb technique, a miniature version of Grace appeared in his hands.

After comparing and making a few improvements, he then handed the figurine to Grace.

Grace eagerly took the "herself," looked at Chen Yongren, and said: "Chen, look quick—he's really amazing."

"Hair, clothing, eyes… ah, this is practically identical to me."

"He's really amazing!"

Grace couldn't help but give the artisan a thumbs-up: "I really like your…"

"Hmm…"

"An artwork!"

"Chen, please translate quickly!" Grace looked at Chen Yongren.

"She says she really likes your work." Chen Yongren said.

Setting aside other things, this artisan is truly good—definitely not some mediocre hack.

"Chen, I guarantee this is the best gift I've ever received!" Grace couldn't take her eyes off the figurine.

Chen Yongren could tell Grace was genuinely happy.

"I've never received a gift like this before." Grace clung to it, lightly hugged Chen Yongren, and kissed his cheek.

Smack.

A red lip print appeared on Chen Yongren's face.

"Chen, I will surely cherish this gift properly." Grace said seriously.

"I originally just wanted to avoid a foolish meeting."

"I didn't expect Chen Yongren to be this interesting."

"I really did pick up a treasure."

"They're far better than those who only put on a sincere front and spend all day posing in suits."

"At least Chen looks much more pleasing to the eye than they do."

……

Grace was overjoyed.

Chen Yongren continued to take Grace for a walk on the street, meanwhile shaking off the Japanese spy behind them.

Grace was very fond of this clay figurine, to the point that she couldn't bear to put it down even while eating.

Only after evening fell and they had dinner did Chen Yongren send Grace back to the inn to rest.

"Get a good rest tonight; tomorrow I'll keep coming to see you. If you encounter danger, be sure to call the military academy right away to let me know." Chen Yongren reminded.

"Thank you, Chen. Today I'm lucky to have you accompany me; otherwise I wouldn't know..." Grace raised her head, her gaze gentle, and spoke softly.

Not to mention, looking at this knockoff Black Widow...

No.

After carefully calculating the time, Grace is the genuine article.

After all, we have to go by who arrived first; whoever looks the part first gets to claim it.

"Miss Grace..." Chen Yongren said.

Grace, however, reached out to cover Chen Yongren's mouth, eyes shining, and whispered softly: "Chen, I said this afternoon, please call me Grace."

"My friends all do that."

"Grace." Chen Yongren said.

"What do you want to say?" Grace asked, smiling happily.

"You've said thank you too many times today." Chen Yongren said solemnly: "We're friends; friends don't need to be so polite."