The beach was deserted, footprints scattered. Cui Yun had wandered there for most of the night without finding a single piece of Lu Tuo’s clothing. Had he truly been swallowed by the sea? He kicked away countless pebbles, unsure if it was anger or sorrow. Lu Tuo, you coward! He cursed wildly in his mind, punching the car window. Dong Qin, inside the car, felt nothing. Cui Yun touched her forehead; she still seemed to have a fever, but her breathing was steady, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep. He had no choice; he could only save one of them, and he chose her. For the first time, Cui Yun felt so powerless. What kind of ace spy was he, with all his great skills, if he couldn’t save two people he didn’t want to die? This was too harsh a reality. Francis had once said he was arrogant and looked down on others, but that was just comforting words. His arrogance was always confined within limits set by the organization, never crossing boundaries. They wanted not talent, but loyalty! Cui Yun got into the car and drove off in a hurry. Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes and stared blankly at a line of people standing in front of him. Who were they? A few of them approached the car. Cui Yun’s heartbeat grew louder, the sound of blood rushing in his ears like noise. Those people reached the car, and one of them gently tapped on the window. “Cui Yun, is that you? Come out.” He took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and jumped out, looking intently at the elderly man with white hair and a kind smile. “Mr… Mr. Francis…” he found it unbelievable, why was he here? Francis smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, “It’s a long story, come with me… Oh, don’t worry, we won’t harm the girl in your car.” Led by Francis, Cui Yun walked forward where a few more people were waiting. Among them was a middle-aged man in a white suit, wearing glasses. Cui Yun stared at him in shock—it was Lawrence! How could the leader of the intelligence unit and the smuggling unit be here on this beach at such a time?! Lawrence turned around, looking at him with a calm and wise expression Cui Yun had never seen before. Heavens, was this the irritable and miserly Lawrence? Cui Yun thought he must be dreaming, his feet involuntarily stopping. “Cui Yun,” Lawrence called his name. “We’re here to talk about something important. About the organization… and about Lu Tuo.” Cui Yun felt a buzzing in his ears, but his heartbeat gradually calmed. The full moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a silvery light on the sea, creating a serene beauty with its shimmering waves. “Your performance has satisfied us. Would you be willing to leave the organization and start anew with us?” This sentence plunged him into a dream-like state. He didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or just… stare blankly.
Chapter 28: Love
Cao Kun has always been reckless, and Edward is incapable of great things. We can’t just watch the organization decline. Since they lack the ambition to revitalize it, let’s do it ourselves. The organization has become too outdated, completely ignoring talent. When a field of interest starts to overly emphasize loyalty, corruption is not far behind.
“We knew Cao Kun would turn against Lu Tuo. Cui Yun, now that you’ve saved this woman, do you think you can still work for the organization? Now is the time to leave. Of course, we won’t force you; respecting talent is the principle of our new organization. Think it over.”
Cui Yun suddenly opened his eyes, drenched in sweat. He wiped his face tiredly, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The entanglements of power seemed endless. Both he and Lu Tuo were too young to understand the schemes of those old men. Last night’s scene still felt like an unreal dream. Lawrence’s recent absurd behavior was all a facade to lower others’ guard while he secretly recruited. Francis, with his good reputation within the organization, was also secretly plotting something. For the sake of interest, it seemed anyone could be used, and anything could be sacrificed.
The sound of soft breathing came from beside him, and Cui Yun’s heart suddenly calmed. Zuo Dongqin. He couldn’t save Lu Tuo, but at least he saved her. He didn’t want her to die. Cui Yun turned over, closely examining her face. The basement was too dark; even up close, he couldn’t see her complexion clearly. He touched her gently; her fever had gone down, suggesting she would soon wake up. What would she say or do when she woke up? Cui Yun couldn’t guess. How would she cope with Lu Tuo’s death? Or had she truly fallen in love with him? His fingers brushed her lips, and Dongqin made a soft sound, murmuring a name, causing him to stiffen slightly. Lu Tuo.
“Lu Tuo is dead,” he whispered into her ear, not knowing why. She inhaled sharply, followed by a suffocating silence. Cui Yun looked into her vacant eyes, which seemed to look through him, into an unknown place.
“He’s dead, didn’t you see it with your own eyes?” he said the cruelest words in the gentlest tone. A sudden tumult of emotions swirled in Dongqin’s eyes, as if black, white, gold, and silver were all mixed together. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and said nothing.
“How heartless. He was so good to you, even betrayed the organization for you. Now that he’s dead, you have nothing to say?” Cui Yun touched her face, feeling it dry. “Not even a tear. Zuo Dongqin, is your heart made of stone?”
She trembled but made no sound. Curious, Cui Yun placed his hand on her shoulder, and she shook more violently, yet she held back any words or tears. Until her trembling started to alarm even him. He hugged her tightly, softly saying, “Alright, don’t be afraid. You’re still alive, aren’t you? As long as you’re alive, there’s hope.”
Why does everyone say there’s hope as long as you’re alive? She thought, living only to watch hopes shatter one by one, such a life was more painful than hell. Cui Yun’s voice was low and soft, but she could no longer hear what he was saying. Dongqin remembered in the sea, Lu Tuo’s hand loosening, his blood overwhelming. Why wasn’t it her who died? Was living redemption?
“As long as you’re alive, love, future, benefits… one day you’ll get them. Dongqin, hopes might shatter, but they will keep appearing. You’ve lived too repressively, always thinking the world is terrifying, afraid to get up after falling, and thus, you’ll keep failing.”
One day, which day? Love, that was just a fleeting moment of splendor; she had already exhausted all her life’s energy, perhaps unable to ignite again. Hopes appearing only to be shattered, why bother appearing? Falling down, getting up to fall again, until one is crushed? She couldn’t become a demon, couldn’t forge an iron will. Looking back, all she had was betrayal, and the person she cared about most in the world had died before her.
Zuo Dongqin, what do you possess?
