If you had to choose an identity to go undercover, you'd choose a gynecologist.

Wang Manchun, dressed in a crisp secret service uniform, pushed open the door and bowed, saying, "Section Chief Nantian, you wanted to see me?"

Yoko Nanada looked up, staring intently at her, without mentioning that she had been drugged.

Such a shameful affair, where someone secretly plots against you, would only become a laughing stock if it got out; you must never utter a single word about it.

She pointed to Chen Qing's file on the table: "I suspect that Chen Qing, the director of the No. 76 Medical Clinic, is a hidden spy and is in cahoots with the Ming family, belonging to the same spy network."

Upon hearing this, Wang Manchun's eyes instantly blazed with jealousy and ruthlessness. She already harbored deep hatred for the Ming family, and she wished she could grind Chen Qing to dust. Hearing Nan Tian's words, she immediately declared, "And that Ming Jing, he must be a spy too. Don't worry, Section Chief, I will investigate thoroughly and dig out these traitors within the Ming family!"

With a chilling warning, Nantian Yangzi said, "This matter must be kept absolutely secret. Not a single word is allowed to leak out, and no one is to be alerted. There must be a huge spy network behind them. What I need is irrefutable evidence to uproot Chen Qing, the Ming family, and this spy network. If we alert them and they escape, you will be held responsible."

"Yes!" Wang Manchun straightened her back, a ruthless glint in her eyes, a determination to annihilate her opponent. "I will act discreetly and will not fail the section chief's trust!"

Nantian Yangzi waved her hand, watching Wang Manchun leave with Chen Qing's information, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.

Chen Qing, the Ming family, your days are numbered.

As soon as Wang Manchun left, she immediately summoned the action team leader, Saburo Kawashima.

"Prepare the car, we're going to the embassy to see Ms. Momoko, Consul Iwai's secretary."

Because Miss Peach really had no connection to the Shiri Ryufu case, but her dancing with Chen Qing made her suspicious. She needed to find out if this Miss Peach was being controlled by that fake Kato Ei.

Yoko Minami got up to go out, but suddenly felt a chill all over her body. Could she have caught a cold?

She turned around, took a military overcoat from the hanger, put it on, and then went out to the embassy.

...............

In the Japanese-style reception room of the Japanese Embassy in Shanghai.

Yoko Minami met Momoko Natsume as promised. Momoko was Eiichi Iwai's secretary, a person of special status. Given that the questioning was top secret, she toned down the sharp edge of the Special Higher Police chief and adopted a polite demeanor.

After the waiter left, only the two of them remained in the reception room. Yoko Minamida cut straight to the point: "Momoko, the reason I've come to see you today is to ask you about who your dance partner was at the party that day."

Natsume Momoko lowered her eyes, looking innocent and naive, with a faint blush on her cheeks. Her voice was soft and shy: "He said he was the young master of the Kato family. We met by chance at the Navy Club. He is gentle and polite. I happened to be short of a dance partner at the party that day, so I invited him to come along."

Yoko Minami stared directly at her: "Have you two slept together?"

Momoko Natsume suddenly looked up, her cheeks instantly turning bright red. Her eyes darted around in a panic, and she stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence. Her embarrassed appearance said it all.

"Judging from your expression, I can tell you're pregnant." Yoko Nanada sighed softly, her tone tinged with disappointment. "Let me tell you, that man is fake. He's not some young master from the Kato family at all."

"Really?" Miss Momoko's face was filled with shock and disbelief, her voice trembling. "You're saying... he's not from the Kato family? How is that possible..."

"It's absolutely true. I suspect he's a hidden spy, using an alias to get close to you, and his motives are definitely not pure. The reason I'm contacting you today is so that when you see him next time, you can find out his true identity, background, and accomplices."

Momoko Natsume's eyes instantly reddened, tears streaming down her face. She covered her mouth and sobbed, her face streaked with tears, filled with grievance and indignation: "He clearly said... he clearly said he would marry me, that he would let me marry into the Kato family openly and honestly, how could it be a lie... how could he deceive me..."

Seeing her sobbing uncontrollably, Nantian Yangzi finally softened: "Naive Momo, you've been deceived and exploited. His approach to you was a conspiracy from the very beginning."

Natsume Momoko lifted her tear-streaked face, the shyness fading from her eyes, replaced by a deep-seated hatred. She gritted her teeth and said, "I understand! But I've never spoken to him about the embassy. Next time I see him, I'll kill that liar with my own hands!"

Seeing this, Yoko Nanada didn't reprimand her further, but simply instructed in a deep voice, "I believe in you, but don't act impulsively. Next time you see him, just stay calm and extract information from him. I will avenge you and tear him to pieces. But until then, this matter must be kept absolutely secret. Not a single word can be leaked, and he must not find out that you already know the details, understand?"

Miss Peach nodded firmly: "I understand! I will definitely keep my mouth shut and do as the section chief instructs!"

Seeing this, Yoko Minami got up with satisfaction, nodded slightly, and left.

In the meeting room, the tears, grievances, and anger on Natsume Momoko's face vanished in an instant, like a mask on a stage.

She slowly raised her hand and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. Her brows furrowed tightly, and her innocent and gentle expression vanished, replaced by a coldness that was completely different from before.

She sat there hesitating for a long time. This man of unknown origin had captivated her. Should she go back to those lonely and desolate days? But danger was approaching, and she had to make up her mind to break up with Chen Qing to avoid getting burned.

But he was too perfect, as good as the bright moon in the sky and the warm sun on earth. He was the perfect lover that could never be found again in this world.

He was gentle, he was considerate, his eyes held the utmost affection for her, and his embrace was warm enough to melt away all ice and snow.

But this perfection is shrouded in immense risk; it's a calamity that could set you on fire! She was afraid—afraid that this infatuation would burn him, and even more afraid that it would burn her too; afraid that this unforgettable love would ultimately lead to utter ruin!

I can't bear to part with it, I really can't bear to part with it!

Do you want to go back to those lonely and isolated days?

Her heart felt like it was being pierced by thousands of tiny needles, the pain making it hard to breathe. The thought of leaving him, never seeing his smile again, never feeling his warmth again, made her feel like she was suffocating.

Chen Qing understood her desires and knew her fears. He grasped the nuances of a lover perfectly. Even his flirting was like a perfectly pressed cheongsam, so smooth and comfortable that it made one's bones go weak. How could one bear to part with it? How could one possibly bear to part with it!

The Navy Club at night.

The two sat facing each other, the amber-colored liquor swirling gently in their glasses.

She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with intense desire. The usually gentle and shy Miss Peach seemed to have burned away all her reserve tonight, laying bare the most ardent and unrestrained love hidden deep in her heart before him.

The dance floor was softly lit. He held her waist, and she pressed herself tightly against his chest, burying her face in his shoulder and inhaling his light scent. Their dance steps swayed gently to the music.

She had never been so passionate, so clingy, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as if she wanted to embed herself into his very bones.

When I left the club, it was already late at night, and the rickshaw lights cast dim yellow circles in the alley.

Back in her apartment, she locked the door behind her, drew the velvet curtains to shut out the neon lights and noise outside, leaving only a warm yellow floor lamp in the room, soft as melted cream.

She didn't speak, but simply clung to him, her fingertips unbuttoning his uniform, her lips pressing against his, kissing every inch of his skin with a desperate madness.

Chen Qing was entangled with her tightly; she was fiercely possessive, as if she wanted to knead his entire being into his very bones, again and again, squeezing out every bit of tenderness and warmth, as if she had exhausted all the joy of the rest of her life.

"Kato, I love you so much, I really love you so much... but I'm so scared, I'm so scared..."

She held him, kissed him, and murmured his name over and over again, until neither of them had any strength left.

………………

She woke up first as dawn was breaking.

He slept soundly, his brows relaxed, still looking perfectly fine.

She got up, straightened her rumpled clothes, and fastened each button carefully.

Chen Qing was awakened by the noise. She opened her eyes and asked in a groggy voice, "So early?"

She had her back to him, and the warm light from the floor lamp shone on her profile, half bright and half dark, like all the cold-hearted women in old Shanghai who harbored secrets.

"Chen Qing, let's break up."

Chen Qing sat half-upright on the edge of the bed, took out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled a puff of smoke, and after a long while, slowly spoke: "You know."

"Yes, Yoko Minami came to see me yesterday. She's investigating you."

"I understand, I won't drag you into this."

After saying that, Chen Qing didn't say anything more. She just sat up, slowly put on her clothes, straightened the collar of her uniform, left a thick wad of money on the table—enough for her to live on for several years—and silently turned and left.

The door was gently closed, shutting out the intimacy inside and also the most unforgettable love of her life.

Miss Peach leaned against the door, slid down the wall, and burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably...