Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 491 You've Been Exposed
Cao Zhiqing was prepared; he took out a neatly folded list from his pocket and handed it over.

"Young Master Hong, these are the files of those three students."

"The leader is Zhang Tao, the head of the Bright Literature Society at Yenching University. He is highly regarded by Professor Liu Wensheng. On the surface, he is a radical red standard-bearer, but in reality, he has long been bought off by spies."

"The Japanese sent him to Manchukuo mainly because he had a close relationship with the daughter of Liu Zhenwen, the deputy director of the police department, which made it easier for him to carry out his work in Harbin."

Hong Zhiyou took the list and lightly traced the name "Zhang Tao" with his fingertips.

Liu Wensheng?
He vaguely remembered this person.

Professor Liu's true identity is a red ticket.

In his previous life, he was the head of the local committee sent from Beiping to Tianjin. He had a very beautiful wife and daughter. Later, he was captured by Ma Kui and betrayed the organization without even being tortured. He was later personally shot to death by another contact person of the organization.

Sure enough, a useless person is still a waste of time and place.

What kind of training program is this? It's just bookish idealism and wishful thinking.

The Northeast right now is in hell.

The Anti-Japanese United Army and its underground organizations were neglected and unsupported. Neither the Manchurian Provincial Committee nor the underground transportation stations received specific guidance or financial support from Yancheng. They had to figure things out on their own, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were left to fend for themselves.

Especially for figures like General Zhao, facing dual rejection from both the Manchurian Provincial Committee and the Soviet Union, and with traitors emerging one after another, the external forces they could rely on were minimal.

Most of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army fighters fought against the Japanese and puppet troops by seeking a glimmer of hope in despair and a spark of struggle amidst death.

These days, it's not the god-like opponents you should fear, it's the pig-like teammates.

People like Liu Wensheng, who are being watched but are unaware of it and like to act on their own initiative, are far more terrifying than enemies.

"Young Master Hong, that's all I know." Cao Zhiqing lowered his posture and pleaded in his voice. "The rest is up to you."

Hong Zhi nodded, put the list into his pocket, and looked at him calmly.

"You go back first."

He turned and opened the door, instructing Peng Hu outside, "Dye Mr. Cao some dye."

Peng Hu understood, and soon Cao Zhiqing's screams echoed through the corridor.

A moment later, he left Yong Sheng Kui, his face covered in bruises and cursing.

……

Hong Zhi was the only one left in the secret room.

He didn't rush to leave, but instead sat back down in the chair and lit a cigarette.

Amidst the swirling smoke, his thoughts gradually became clearer.

Actually, the current situation is not that bad, and the loopholes are not irreparable.

First, the identity of the female corpse at the bottom of Wolf Head Cliff has been confirmed; she was an intelligence agent of the Military Intelligence Bureau and also had the ability to send messages.

He had to admire Lao Wu for this; he was meticulous in his work and had prepared a way out for himself in advance, so as not to fall into a dead end.

In other words, as long as it can be proven that the materials Cao Zhiqing used to investigate Gu Qiuyan were forged, then Gu Qiuyan's suspicion can be cleared, and Zhou Yi and himself can land safely.

Then, we'll try to find a way to give my uncle some "psychological therapy" so that he won't be so sensitive and extreme anymore.

Finally, and most importantly, we need to find a way to let him "accidentally" learn that the child in Gu Qiuyan's belly is his.

His uncle, who values ​​carrying on the family line more than anything, will likely throw all his doubts and suspicions to the winds once he learns that he is going to have a "grandson," and that the only grandson in the Gao family.

Ultimately, Uncle's biggest weakness is...himself.

Thinking of this, Hong Zhi smiled slightly, stubbed out his cigarette, and got up to leave the basement.

In a private room on the second floor, Xu Yunying was having a lively conversation with Lao Hei.

Upon seeing Hong Zhiyou enter, Lao Hei immediately stood up, his face beaming with smiles.

Hong Zhi walked to the accounting table to the side, tore off a piece of white paper, quickly wrote a line of words with a pen, then carefully folded it and hid it in the pen refill.

On the way back, he deliberately drove around the Jihong Bridge.

As they passed Zhou Yi's house, Hong Zhi rolled down the car window, flicked his wrist, and tossed the pen into the bushes in the yard.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xu Yunying watched all this silently until the car had driven quite a distance before she softly asked, "Is that Captain Zhou's house?"

Hong Zhi nodded without turning around.

"Yingying," he suddenly spoke, his tone serious, "we need to work harder these days and get pregnant as soon as possible."

Xu Yunying was taken aback, a blush rising to her cheeks, but her eyes were serious: "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Hong Zhi looked straight ahead and said in a calm voice, "We need to find some people to do so they don't have time to think about anything else."

Xu Yunying remained silent for a moment, then nodded vigorously.

“Okay!” Her voice was clear and firm. “I’m going to keep my promise wholeheartedly. I’m just afraid that you’ll act like you’re going to die and keep saying you can’t take it anymore, and then complain that I’m addicted.”

Hong Zhiyou looked at the increasingly beautiful woman and a hint of displeasure appeared on his lips.

The more the land is turned over, the more fertile it becomes, but who knows how tired the oxen are when they plow the land?
And girl, are you really addicted?

……

Late at night.

Gao Bin lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

His eyes were closed, but his mind was like a slow-motion movie, with countless events replaying in his head.

Sometimes he felt that with Zhiyou's personality and circumstances, his greed for money and lust, and his shrewdness, he didn't seem like the kind of person who would gamble his bright future for a vague and illusory belief.

But then he thought about it again and realized that many things in the police department seemed to have his nephew's influence to some extent.

He always felt that there was something fishy going on in the police department, and that there was a deeply lurking "red ticket" (a corrupt official).

But now, the image of that ghost gradually transformed from Zhou Yi's calm face into Hong Zhiyou's cynical appearance, floating around right under his nose, mocking his incompetence.

Thinking of this, Gao Bin felt a tightness in his chest and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"Ugh……"

"What's wrong? Why are you sighing and groaning in the middle of the night? Do you want to become a spirit?" Liao Chunxiang, who was next to him, was woken up and kicked him in annoyance.

Gao Bin was already annoyed, and waved his hand impatiently: "Go to sleep, why are you talking so much?"

"That sounds nice!" Liao Chunxiang sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and the dim light illuminated her resentful face. "You toss and turn like a pancake every night. How can I sleep soundly if you don't sleep?"
"At your age, you were clutching your chest and complaining of pain just the other day. I'm really afraid you'll suddenly die one day!"

She got angrier and angrier as she spoke: "Before, if something happened, you would at least tell me a few words. But now, when I ask you anything, you're like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, not saying a word!"

Gao Bin frowned: "Women are all talk and no action. Knowing this won't do you any good."

Liao Chunxiang seemed to have been set ablaze, her voice rising several decibels, "I think you're just ungrateful for your good fortune!"
"Now that Zhiyou is back, our family has money and power. Who in the whole of Harbin wouldn't bow and scrape to you two uncles and nephews?"

"Miss Xu also came down from the mountain specifically to continue the Gao family's lineage. You're about to become a grandfather, and I really don't know what you're thinking about all day long, just making trouble for yourself!"

Gao Bin was annoyed by her words: "You don't understand!"

"I don't understand?" Liao Chunxiang sneered. "What don't I understand? It's just those damn things like arresting corrupt officials and the Kuomintang secret service!"

"We're all Chinese. Look at Puyi, he lived a life of luxury in the palace every day. Did he ever care about these things?"

"It's like the emperor isn't worried but the eunuch is. Why are you meddling in this?"
"Even if you arrest all the anti-Japanese elements in Harbin, do you think the Japanese will treat you as one of their own? In their eyes, we will always be slaves and lackeys!"

"enough!"

Gao Bin sat up abruptly and shouted angrily.

His temples were throbbing, and Liao Chunxiang's words felt like needles, pricking him and making him feel agitated.

"It's so annoying how it keeps nagging all day long!"

He threw off the covers, got out of bed barefoot, and went straight into the study next door, slamming the door shut.

Leaning back in the cold chair, he fumbled for a pipe and lit it.

The smoke flickered in the darkness, reflecting off his bloodshot eyes, making them appear even more deep and terrifying.

In the bedroom, Liao Chunxiang stared at the tightly closed door, trembling with anger.

She remained silent for a long time before finally picking up the phone on the bedside table and dialing a number she knew by heart.

The call was quickly connected.

"Hey, Zhiyou..." Liao Chunxiang lowered her voice, her tone full of helplessness and worry.

"Hey kid, can you calm down for a second? I'm talking about serious business! Don't be so shameless."

“It’s your uncle. His old problem has flared up again. I’ve seen him barely sleep for several nights in a row. His eyes are as red as a rabbit’s. What are we going to do?”

Liao Chunxiang nodded repeatedly after hearing what was said on the other end of the phone.

"Oh, oh, I understand."

"That's it."

She gently hung up the phone, looked at the faint light shining through the crack in the door of the study next door, and sighed deeply.

Hey!
If this stubborn old man isn't properly disciplined for his overthinking, his health will collapse sooner or later.

……

The next day.

After Zhou Yi finished breakfast, he went outside and habitually glanced around the yard. Sure enough, he found something.

He looked around, walked over, bent down, and picked it up.

It was a Parker pen. He unscrewed the cap, and sure enough, there was a small note rolled up inside.

Upon unfolding the document, Zhou Yi's brows instantly furrowed into a knot.

He turned around and went back into the house.

Gu Qiuyan, who was rubbing her belly and taking a walk in the living room, couldn't help but show a hint of curiosity when she saw him turn back.

"what happened?"

Zhou Yi glanced at Liu Ma, who was wiping the table, and said calmly, "A report has been left upstairs."

After saying that, he went straight up to the second floor.

Gu Qiuyan followed and casually closed the study door.

Zhou Yi didn't sit down, but walked directly to the window, glanced across the street, and said in a low voice, "Your identity has been exposed."

The color drained from Gu Qiuyan's face instantly. She instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes filled with horror: "What happened?"

Zhou Yi's voice was completely calm, frighteningly so.

"It has to do with your experience in Moscow."

"I don't know the specifics, but the information should be correct."

He continued, "Recently, Gao Bin hasn't made any moves, and I felt something was wrong."

"It seems he had someone secretly investigating you a long time ago."

Gu Qiuyan frowned deeply, her hands and feet turning icy cold: "This person is like a persistent ghost!"

Zhou Yi's gaze remained fixed on the window, observing the nearby streets and the residences across the street.

"Gao Bin has learned his lesson; he no longer keeps lookouts outside."

He turned around and looked at Gu Qiuyan, whose face was deathly pale.

"Running away at this time is exactly what he wants."

"He will watch you like a cat hunting a mouse, observing who you meet and what you do. Once you've been manipulated to the point of mental breakdown, he'll maximize his profits and then close the net."

Gu Qiuyan's voice trembled slightly: "What should I do?"

Zhou Yi's expression remained unchanged:
"Don't worry, there are only two possibilities now."

"First, Gao Bin has already obtained evidence that can convict you, but he is not in a hurry to arrest you. He wants to use you as bait to catch a bigger fish."

"Second, Gao Bin hasn't obtained any real irrefutable evidence yet, which is why he's holding back, trying to force you to slip up."

He paused.

"No matter what the situation, we can only deal with it as it comes."

Gu Qiuyan subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her nose tingling with tears: "I...I'm pregnant."

"Once I'm arrested, I'll lose my child!"

Zhou Yi's eyes were as cold as ice: "In our line of work, life and death are in the hands of fate."

"This may be unfair to the children, but we have no other choice."

He looked at her and said, word by word, "There are countless eyes watching us now, and any slip-up could be fatal."

"Let's wait and see how things develop, and then I'll think of a way to reasonably move you away."

Gu Qiuyan could only nod helplessly.

Zhou Yi continued, "Recently, if a phone call comes in and hangs up after three rings, that's me."

"Call me back in a few minutes, and I'll bring up your pregnancy test."

He looked at Gu Qiuyan.

“Hong Zhi will accompany you to the hospital then.”

Gu Qiuyan frowned, but didn't say anything; she just nodded.

"understood."

Zhou Yi's tone became even more serious.

"When you're together, you should act intimately, like a real couple."

"But it can't be too obvious; it has to be the kind of sneaky, clandestine thing you're doing behind someone's back."

"Especially during prenatal checkups, you should look at him with more tenderness and love."

Gu Qiuyan finally couldn't hold back any longer. She raised her head, her eyes filled with displeasure and resistance.

"why?"

Zhou Yi looked at her coldly and asked in return, "Do you think I want to?"

"Not only is Hong Zhiyou going to become the 'biological father' of the child in your belly, but we also need to find a way to let this get out unintentionally."

"Because if the child's father is Hong Zhiyou, then Gao Bin would be his grandfather."

Gu Qiuyan was completely stunned; she looked at Zhou Yi in disbelief.

"Isn't this going too far?"

"Zhou Yi, is this the solution you came up with?"

Zhou Yi said expressionlessly, "Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs."

“Hong Zhi has blood ties with the Gao family, which is Gao Bin’s only weakness and only Achilles’ heel.”

"This will be the best protection for you and the baby in your belly."

"It's also a crucial bargaining chip to save you!"

Gu Qiuyan's lips trembled. She wanted to refute, but couldn't find any reason: "But... what if Pingru finds out?"
"He hasn't been with me for a long time, he'll get suspicious, and then I won't be able to explain myself even if I have a hundred mouths!"

Zhou Yi's voice suddenly rose, filled with suppressed anger: "What is our purpose in being here? It's to fight, it's to infiltrate!"
"Survival is the first priority! Compared to living, reputation is nothing!"

"I will explain to Zhang Pingru in person when the time comes. If he can't even understand this much sacrifice and flexibility, then I have nothing more to say!"

He stared intently at Gu Qiuyan, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Don't forget, he's up in the mountains, out of sight, out of mind. This accusation is firmly pinned on my head!"

Gu Qiuyan pursed her lips repeatedly, finally lowering her head in dejection:
"All right.

"I will cooperate with him."

Zhou Yi's tone softened a bit: "If you can make an old fox like Vasilyev treat you as a close friend, I believe that with your acting skills, it won't be a problem for you to have a casual relationship with Hong Zhi."

Gu Qiuyan shook her head, a bitter look on her face.

“That’s different.

"Old Wa is a simple gentleman, but Hong Zhi is... I can't see through him."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts.

"When we first met, his eyes seemed to want to strip me naked; his lust was undisguised."

"But the last few times I went shopping with him, he was outwardly gentle and polite, but I could clearly feel that he had a deep-seated indifference and coldness towards me."

"That feeling... was like contempt, like being with me was embarrassing for him."

Zhou Yi was silent for a moment before saying, "I understand."

Hong Zhi knew that Lao Song, Zhang Pingjun, and his girlfriend had been killed by Gu Qiuyan.

In his eyes, Gu Qiuyan, a woman who was blinded by her own feelings for Zhang Pingru, was an absolute fool, and it was perfectly normal for him to despise her.

Moreover, all the women around Hong Zhi were stunning beauties, and Xu Yunying was especially gorgeous. Gu Qiuyan's looks were simply not up to par with him.

"What do you understand?" Gu Qiuyan rolled her eyes and complained irritably, "That feeling is just like being in prison."

Zhou Yi offered no explanation.

"Just do it this way."

"Zhiyou is a man of great wisdom; you can't go wrong if you listen to him in everything."

"When you're with him, don't boss him around or show any resentment towards him just because he's younger than you."

He knew Gu Qiuyan too well; this woman was inherently arrogant, and he was afraid that she might inadvertently offend Hong Zhiyou, which would be a real problem.

"Okay," Gu Qiuyan replied listlessly.

……

Zhou Yi arrived at the police station and had barely sat down in his office when the door was pushed open.

Hong Zhiyou walked in, closed the door behind him, and got straight to the point:
My uncle suspects you.

"Logically, I shouldn't be here to see you at this time, but there are some things that I have to say in person."

He took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it over.

"This person is named Molekosky. He was the vice president of the Moscow Conservatory and also Gu Qiuyan's music theory teacher."

"Cao Zhiqing obtained the intelligence from him."

……

(End of this chapter)