"What!!!"
Lin Qingge's eyes widened, and she exclaimed in shock.
Leng Ningyue explained with a hint of helplessness:
"Although the Xia family is a famous warlord in the Northeast, maintaining an army is extremely costly.
Therefore, they set their sights on the Shangguan family as their financial backer.
And my father, Shangguan Hong, was drawn to the Xia family's power and military strength.
Each side got what they needed, and they eagerly agreed to this marriage."
"It's already the new era, how can there still be arranged marriages?
And that young marshal of the Xia family, a man of substance who studied abroad, couldn't even utter a word of refusal?"
As Lin Qingge muttered her dissatisfaction, Lu Huaiying clapped his hands with great delight.
"That's truly wonderful.
With the status of fiancée, comrade Leng Ningyue can legitimately stay by the young marshal Xia's side and personally protect his safety!"
Lu Huaiying felt a degree of awe towards this colleague who could discover and injure him, and he had also made some guesses about the other's identity.
Since the other party was a double agent like himself, they must be serving one side.
Furthermore, he had served the Japanese for so many years without ever encountering or hearing rumors about this person.
Therefore, the possibility of them being a Japanese agent was basically ruled out.
Given that their other identity was that of a underground party member, by elimination, only the Kuomintang's Military Statistics Bureau remained.
So, was this eldest daughter of the Shangguan family actually a Kuomintang spy?
And Lin Jinghang had actually managed to turn a Kuomintang agent, known for their strict discipline, to their side?
Feeling as if he had stumbled upon the truth, Lu Huaiying's gaze towards Lin Qingge couldn't help but become more scrutinizing.
After the three discussed a few more matters, Lin Qingge led Leng Ningyue to her room.
Staring at the closed door, Lu Huaiying suddenly felt like an outsider...
In the room.
Lin Qingge playfully circled Leng Ningyue, asking her about everything:
"Senior Leng, did you stay in Nanjing after we parted ways?"
"I went out twice, but I spent most of my time in Nanjing.
What about you?
Why did you impersonate your brother, Lin Jinghang?"
"Senior Leng, that's a long story."
Mentioning this, the smile on Lin Qingge's face faded, and her entire demeanor grew somber.
"Senior Leng, as you probably guessed from our earlier conversation, my brother Lin Jinghang was the head of the underground station in Harbin.
He was engaged in underground work there all along.
Three years ago, his identity was discovered by the Kuomintang's Military Statistics Bureau.
But, Senior Leng, you would never guess who discovered my brother's identity?"
Leng Ningyue remained silent, simply listening as Lin Qingge continued:
"It was our father!
The renowned lawyer of Harbin was actually a high-ranking agent serving the Kuomintang's Military Statistics Bureau?!
After discovering his son was an underground party member, he completely disregarded decades of familial affection and intended to personally eliminate his son?
Isn't that incredibly ironic?
Fortunately, at the critical moment, our mother rushed in and saved my brother.
But my father's accomplices arrived shortly after, surrounding the Lin family.
My mother fought her way through, but just as she was about to get my brother out, my father suddenly appeared with his men, blocking the path of my mother and brother.
My mother desperately pleaded with my father to spare her son.
But my father was resolute in sacrificing his own son for his beliefs.
The stalemate yielded no results.
My brother, unwilling to burden his mother, decided to step forward voluntarily.
At that moment, comrades from my brother's underground station, alerted by the situation, arrived.
A fierce firefight ensued between the two sides.
Both my father and mother were shot and died, while my brother was rescued by his underground station comrades amidst the chaos.
However, when they returned to the underground station, they discovered that my brother had been shot in the abdomen and was on the verge of death.
My brother asked Mr. Zhang Ziliang to send a telegram to me in Shenyang.
I was assigned to the Shenyang underground station by the organization at the time, and my cover identity was a telegraph operator at the post office.
It so happened that I was on duty that night.
When I received the telegram, I was completely stunned.
As Shenyang is relatively close to Harbin, I rushed back to Harbin overnight in a daze and saw my brother for the last time.
From my brother, I learned that our mother was actually a Soviet agent.
Isn't that hilarious?
Our family of four: father a Kuomintang agent, mother a Soviet agent, and both children red underground party members.
Even the most skilled author couldn't concoct such an absurd plot!
But it actually happened!"
Upon hearing this, Leng Ningyue reached out with pity, but after extending her hand halfway, she slowly lowered it, changing her approach to gentle comfort:
"You don't need to blame yourself; none of this is your fault.
If you feel distressed, just cry it out."
After speaking, Leng Ningyue patted her own shoulder.
Lin Qingge, however, playfully leaned closer and rested her head on Leng Ningyue's shoulder:
"Don't worry, Senior Leng, I'm not that fragile.
After all these years, I've already moved past it.
Now, when I think about it, it's more a matter of sorrow and confusion.
My brother, such a brilliant and ambitious young man, who foiled Japanese schemes and saved countless revolutionary comrades, ultimately died at the hands of his own father?
Are beliefs truly more important than familial bonds?"
"Everyone chooses their own path, and their values differ.
And so, after your brother's death, you chose to use his identity to continue his unfinished revolutionary cause?"
In response to Leng Ningyue's question, Lin Qingge merely shrugged helplessly:
"There was nothing I could do; my brother's dying wish was something I couldn't refuse.
After all, the Harbin underground station couldn't afford to lose Lin Jinghang, even if the Shenyang underground station could lose Lin Qingge.
However, only Mr. Zhang Ziliang knew my identity at the station.
But to avoid suspicion, I couldn't meet with Mr. Zhang Ziliang frequently, so it was quite challenging at first.
Fortunately, I persevered through it all."
Leng Ningyue patted her shoulder in comfort, then spoke with some hesitation:
"Qingge, the Mr. Zhang Ziliang you mentioned, isn't he the owner of the Central Bookstore, Zhang Ziliang?
If it's him, then according to information received by the Kuomintang's Military Statistics Bureau, he was... murdered yesterday."
"I know; Lu Huaiying already told me.
Lu Huaiying was suspected by the new head of Japanese intelligence, Fu Xun, and his identity was almost exposed. Mr. Zhang Ziliang sacrificed his life to clear him of suspicion.
I went out this afternoon to gather information and confirmed that Lu Huaiying's account was true; Mr. Zhang Ziliang had indeed been tragically killed.
The Japanese moved too quickly this time, and before Mr. Zhang Ziliang could transmit any message to me, he was apprehended by Fu Xun and his men.
Lu Huaiying suspects there is a mole either by Mr. Zhang Ziliang's side or within the Harbin station, so we need to be even more cautious and careful in our actions."
"Fu Xun?"
Seeing Leng Ningyue's brow furrowed tightly, Lin Qingge couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Senior Leng, do you know this Fu Xun?"
"Know him? I know him very well. He was active in Nanjing for a period and persecuted several comrades.
This person is insidious and cunning, exceptionally skilled at manipulating people.
I've crossed paths with him twice, but he managed to escape both times."