My spy diary

Chapter 679 Betrayal (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Halfway through his sentence, a car suddenly drove out from around the street corner, its two bright headlights shining directly at him. Qian Xiaosan was stunned. He saw Zhang Yi get out of the car and look at him with a smile.

Before he could react, Zhang Yi had already spoken:

"Old Qian, what are you doing here?"

"Chief, I need to make a phone call."

Qian Xiaosan immediately stood up and saluted, speechless and unsure how to answer. After a moment, he forced himself to reply, but because it was a lie, his expression was still somewhat unnatural despite his best efforts to cover it up.

"Oh," Zhang Yi said as if he hadn't noticed anything, and followed up with, "Making a phone call? What are you doing here?"

"I had a fight with my wife and was in a bad mood, so I came out for a walk." Qian Xiaosan rambled on, more like talking to herself. "I didn't want it to rain, and after getting soaked, my head cleared up, so I thought I'd call her to apologize."

Zhang Yi chuckled: "It's good to have this mindset. In our line of work, no matter what happens, you can't get really angry. It's the same with marital relationships. What's that saying again? Oh, they argue at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of the bed. Couples don't hold grudges overnight. Women are like cats, you just need to coax them a little."

Qian Xiaosan smiled faintly.

Zhang Yi patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, saying:
"You've made up, haven't you? I'm a bit careless; I always put a lot of pressure on you and haven't paid enough attention to your families. I should apologize to you."

Upon hearing this, Qian Xiaosan quickly said:
"Chief, you flatter me. By the way, what are you doing here?"

Zhang Yi's smile faded: "I'm not in a good mood either—the female spy we just captured was poisoned. Have you heard?"

Qian Xiaosan understood the implied question in those words, but still met Zhang Yi's gaze with a shocked expression:
"The woman you kidnapped from the brothel?"

"Yes, she was about to confess when she was poisoned to death." Zhang Yi's expression was complicated, a mixture of regret and resentment.

Qian Xiaosan frowned and asked in a low voice:
"It was done by an insider?"

Silence is tantamount to acquiescence.

"Who is the one?"

"Who knows? Never mind, I don't want to think about it." Zhang Yi shook his head in annoyance, glanced at him, and said, "It's raining, and you don't even know to use an umbrella. How can you make me worry so much? Come on, I'll take you home. Don't catch a cold." Before Qian Xiaosan could even speak, Zhang Yi had already walked over, put his arm around his shoulder, and headed towards the car.

The rain was still falling, and it was getting heavier.

The office lamp cast a dim yellow light; it was already late at night, but Dai Chunfeng was still bent over his desk reading documents.

Suddenly, a dull knocking sounded at the door. Dai Chunfeng had a bad feeling that someone had come at this hour.

The visitor was Mao Qiwu.

As soon as he entered, Dai Chunfeng noticed that his expression was strange.

"Director."

"What, have Mao Zhongxin's funeral arrangements been completed?"

Mao Qi nodded and then shook his head.

"That is?"

Mao Qiwu felt uneasy. Meeting Dai Chunfeng's sharp gaze, he subconsciously lowered his eyelids to compose himself.
"It's Qian Xiaosan, it's him."

Mao Qiwu originally didn't want to report the phone call, but now that the female spy was dead, he was worried about being implicated for no reason, so he finally couldn't hold back and rushed to report to Dai Chunfeng.

Dai Chunfeng looked suspicious: "You mean someone impersonated you to give Qian Xiaosan instructions, and then silenced the Japanese female spy?" He tapped the table, looking Mao Qiwu up and down, and asked thoughtfully, "How did the Japanese spy know the code words between you?"

Also, how did he know about Qian Xiaosan?
"Their skills are just too amazing!"

Mao Qiwu was almost out of breath from his barrage of questions and lowered his head dejectedly.

"It must be Mao Zhongxin; he's probably the one who leaked the information to the female spy."

Dai Chunfeng sneered: "So you're saying he really deserves to die? There's a traitor in the family; it's impossible to guard against them all!"

"Yes, yes, he deserves to die, he is unforgivable! It is obvious that he leaked the information to the female spy, who then reported it to her superiors, and then that person impersonated me and killed the female spy."

“What a coincidence!” Dai Chunfeng nodded, but seemed to disagree with Mao Qiwu’s point of view; he was trapped in his own world of deduction.

"This mysterious man, at the perfect time, he knew about the female spy's arrest the moment she was arrested, he knew Qian Xiaosan was one of yours, and he just happened to use her. Such coincidences! Is this some kind of novel?"

This series of coincidences made him feel uneasy, and he vaguely felt that these coincidences might not be so simple.

But then he thought that Mao Qiwu had no need to collude with the Red Party or Japanese spies, which made him somewhat confused.

Mao Qiwu noticed the confusion on Dai Chunfeng's face, rubbed his face, and revealed a complicated smile:

"It's such a coincidence."

"Yes, Mao Zhongxin is dead, and the female spy is dead too. Say whatever you want, there's no way to verify it now that they're dead. But will Zhang Yi believe this? What will you do if he traces it back to this Qian Xiaosan?"

Mao Qiwu seemed to have been slapped in the face while he was in the middle of his excitement, and immediately lowered his head and remained silent.

Upon seeing this, Dai Chunfeng continued:
"Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Mao Qiwu lowered his head further and further:
"Director, this Qian Xiaosan is a problem now. Can we make him shut up?"

"I think it's a good idea." Dai Chunfeng's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. Mao Qiwu's hope was ignited by these four words; he raised his head and straightened his posture.
"Mr. Dai, Zhang Yi must be investigating right now, and he'll soon trace it back to Qian Xiaosan. Once he's in the interrogation room, he'll definitely confess to everything, and he might even frame me for treason. Then everything will be impossible to explain! Please help me! If I can get through this, I'll do anything you ask!"

Dai Chunfeng glanced at him, said nothing, and looked out the window.

It rained heavily.

The streetlights cast dappled shadows, and the dim light shone through the car window onto Qian Xiaosan's face, making it appear somewhat unpredictable.

Zhang Yi was driving, and the two of them remained silent, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere in the car.

Finally, Qian Xiaosan couldn't help but speak up: "Director, how is your work in the Secretariat going?"

Zhang Yi stared straight ahead without saying a word.

Qian Xiaosan continued, "You haven't been to the Judicial Office much lately. Deputy Director Ruan is giving orders and is very enthusiastic."

Zhang Yi remained silent.

“This can’t go on. When the tiger’s away, the monkey becomes king. Anyone who doesn’t know better would think he’s the boss,” Qian Xiaosan continued. “How’s everything at home lately?” Zhang Yi suddenly asked out of the blue, “What did you two argue about?”

“They’re all trivial things. Women just love to make a fuss over nothing. It’s always like this,” Qian Xiaosan said with a smile.

"Could it be that she found out about something else about you?" Zhang Yi glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

“She won’t know anything.” Qian Xiaosan’s smile faded slightly. “Discipline is discipline. I never talk about work-related matters. I’m so busy that I can’t take care of my family all day. Of course, she has complaints and suspicions. I mean, she’s afraid that I’ll have affairs outside.”

Zhang Yi looked at the road ahead again:
"That's true. In our line of work, we don't tell our parents, wives, or children. In a sense, the job itself is a betrayal—a betrayal of family ties, of humanity, and sometimes even of ourselves. We do things we don't want to do, but they are the right things, even if they are not always reasonable. But over time, it's inevitable that a person will feel doubt, unease, anxiety, and perhaps even a little guilt."

The word "betrayal" is very unpleasant. Qian Xiaosan's smile slowly faded, and he turned to look at Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi met Qian Xiaosan's gaze in the rearview mirror:

"Of course, betrayal should be based on helping more people, not on being afraid of death or for personal gain. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Qian Xiaosan didn't say anything.

"There's always a hint of guilt in the eyes of a traitor. Isn't that right?" Zhang Yi smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes.

Instantly, Qian Xiaosan's face became expressionless, and a look of despair appeared in his eyes. His right hand silently reached for the pistol at his waist.

"We're almost there. Go back, take a hot shower, and get some rest." Zhang Yi seemed oblivious and continued driving. Suddenly, Qian Xiaosan pulled out a gun and pointed it at the back of Zhang Yi's head.

"Yes, sir."

Zhang Yi reacted quickly, slightly turned his head, and slammed on the brakes. With a screeching sound, the car came to an abrupt stop.

In the passenger seat, Qian Xiaosan was thrown forward by inertia.

At the same time, Zhang Yi grabbed his wrist with his left hand like lightning, quickly pulled his right hand away from the steering wheel, and slammed his elbow into his elbow.

Qian Xiaosan groaned in pain as his wrist was twisted backward, and the gun clattered to the floor mat.

Zhang Yi turned to the side, pressed his knee against the man's lower abdomen, and grabbed his throat with his other hand, pressing him down into the passenger seat.

“Lieutenant Colonel Qian,” Zhang Yi’s voice was calm and even, but his eyes held a cold glint, “Why bother with all this? Let’s talk this out.”

Qian Xiaosan struggled to lift his head, but Zhang Yi held him down firmly, and he could only let out a muffled groan.

After a long while, Zhang Yi finally released him and said expressionlessly:
"get off."

"Director Zhang," Qian Xiaosan said stiffly, his face pale and breathing heavily, "I had no choice but to comply. Ever since that incident, I've..."

Zhang Yi interrupted him: "Get out of the car!"

"I," Qian Xiaosan choked, his eyes filled with despair. He would rather Zhang Yi scold him or even hit him a couple of times, just like before. But Zhang Yi was too unfamiliar, even indifferent. He stared straight ahead, his gaze no longer on him. Clearly, he couldn't be bothered to look at him again.

Qian Xiaosan staggered out of the car, his face filled with fear and disappointment that he could not hide.

Ahead of him, the car had already started and was slowly moving forward in the opposite direction, getting further and further away from him.

Qian Xiaosan's face was extremely ugly. Just when he was about to despair, the car suddenly reversed.

Seeing this scene, Qian Xiaosan was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. He braced himself and stood still.

Before long, the car reversed and stopped next to Qian Xia San.

The car window rolled down, a pistol was thrown out, and then the car sped away.

Qian Xiaosan stood there, feeling extremely frustrated.

Seeing that Dai Chunfeng remained silent for a long time in his office, Mao Qiwu grew anxious:

"Mr. Dai, Director Dai, I beg you, please help me this once, it will be too late if we wait any longer!"

"You're more trouble than you're worth, and you only have yourself to blame!" Dai Chunfeng sneered. "How can I help you? I'm telling you, Yunyi, stop interrogating him. Qian Xiaosan was sent by Director Mao to monitor you, and then he poisoned the Japanese spy on Director Mao's orders. All of this was for the sake of the Party and the country. Do you think that makes sense? Can anyone believe it?"

Mao Qiwu was speechless.

Before Dai Chunfeng could say anything more, the phone on his desk suddenly rang. Mao Qiwu glanced at the phone instinctively, his hand clenching involuntarily. Could it be Zhang Yi? Had Qian Xiaosan already confessed? Was he calling Boss Dai's office directly, ready to complain and interrogate him?
Mao Qiwu's heart was pounding with tension, so he didn't notice that Dai Chunfeng's expression gradually became serious after he answered the phone.

Finally, Dai Chunfeng whispered, "I understand," and hung up the phone.

Mao Qiwu involuntarily shuddered. He looked up at Dai Chunfeng and found that Dai Chunfeng was also looking at him with an unusually complicated expression.

Dai Chunfeng pondered for a moment, then sighed:

"Qian Xiaosan just got home, so send someone over. But this is the last time."

"Thank you, Director!" Mao Qiwu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, bowed respectfully, and then quickly left.

Dai Chunfeng stared at his retreating figure, his expression quite subtle. He thought for a moment, then picked up the phone again:
"Lieutenant Jia, have Zhang Yi come to my office immediately!"

Back home, Qian Xiaosan immediately called his wife. He lied and said the child had a fever and asked her to come home right away.

Then, he hurriedly rummaged through drawers and cabinets to pack his things.

The clock on the wall ticked away, making Qian Xiaosan extremely anxious. Although he had turned the house upside down, apart from gold bars and banknotes, he only took one or two pieces of clothing as a token gesture, to cover up the money and prevent it from being scattered everywhere.

After finishing his work, Qian Xiaosan pulled out his sidearm from his waistband and carefully cleaned and inspected it. Now that he had been exposed, he had to escape; this was probably his best and last chance.

After watching silently for a while, Qian Xiaosan put the pistol back into his waistband.

The ticking of the clock on the wall sounded like a death knell. Qian Xiaosan, who had made all the necessary preparations, paced anxiously around the room.

Normally, his wife should be here soon. She's usually very obedient, and besides, it concerns the children. He sounded very anxious on the phone just now.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!" A light knock came from outside the door. Qian Xiaosan instinctively jumped.

After a pause, the knocking resumed, three light knocks just like before. He drew his pistol from his back pocket and chambered a round—it certainly wasn't his wife, and whoever was outside was dangerous to him.

Qian Xiaosan leaned tightly against the wall, holding his breath as if his heart was about to jump out of his chest.

(End of this chapter)