A different kind of Lou Chun - "The Pretender" colleague

On the long forest path, Wang Manchun ran, ran.Sweating like rain, dripping with joy.

Over the years, she has been used to using various physical training to vent her emotions.

For her, the start of the new year has been fantastic.The scene last night was so well done, thirteen pseudo-agents of Wang were all killed in the coffee shop, it was really——happy!

This should be his masterpiece again, right?

As if responding to what she was thinking, she saw the car parked on the side of the road ahead, and the tall and straight figure standing in front of the car.

She ran towards him: "Senior Brother, why are you here?"

Minglou stood upright in the cold wind, and he didn't know how long he had been waiting.Seeing her coming, he smiled and handed her a bottle of soda: "I know you often run here. Are you tired? I'll take you home."

Maybe it was because his expression was too gentle, the dusty memories suddenly flooded up like a bank.She just said in a strange way:

"Home? I don't have a home anymore."

Minglou was speechless for a moment.

He understood what she meant—all the dreams of home had been shattered the day you left.

As soon as Wang Manchun said that, he immediately regretted it, and quickly added another sentence under cover: "The so-called family, I am the only one left."

Minglou's heart was stabbed again, and he couldn't help holding her hand in his own: "I can understand this feeling of having a home and not having a home..."

"I don't need anyone to take care of me." She stubbornly wanted to break away from him.

"No one needs to be taken care of." He held her hand tightly: "What's more, you are still a woman."

She smiled sadly, and stubbornly pulled out her hand to walk forward.

"I am different from other women. I have lost too much, and I have killed too many people. I know that one day, I will be killed too."

He rushed up and grabbed her fiercely, frowning angrily: "Man Chun, don't talk nonsense!"

Wang Manchun knew he had said something wrong again.How can you tell him this?Since he came back, every time she saw him, she could feel the invisible heaviness and deep tiredness on his body.Even the excitement of winning every battle can't relieve the slightest pressure on his shoulders, allowing him to relax and rest even for a moment.And myself, not only can't resolve and share for him, but will say these words that hurt each other from time to time, and then regret, blame myself, and feel distressed.What the hell is going on?In front of him, it was really getting harder and harder for her to control herself.

She had no choice but to pretend to be relaxed and smiled: "Now that things are up to now, if you don't be a little more unrestrained, what can you do?"

Minglou grabbed her shoulders with both hands, looked into her eyes and said solemnly: "Stop it before it's too late!"

"Stop?" She raised her eyebrows in complete disbelief: "You're not mistaken, are you?"

"My uncle was just killed, the murderer has not been caught yet, and such a big incident happened on the 76th. Now you tell me to stop, how can I explain it publicly and privately?"

"But the current situation is precarious. Government officials have been killed one after another. No one knows how long the new government will last."

Minglou was worried, thinking about his words while talking: "From Chongqing to Yan'an, from the central government to the local government, there are assassination lists targeting new government officials everywhere. The problem is, even if they are not on the list, there is no guarantee that the people below will not commit suicide without authorization." Action. Coupled with the spontaneous anti-rape team on the street... Manchun, I am worried about you."

What he said made Wang Manchun a little nervous: "What about you?"

"I have Ah Cheng by my side."

Minglou felt her concern that she couldn't hide, and his heart was warm, but he was even more worried: "Look at you when you go out, you've always been alone like this, without even a bodyguard!"

"Actually, it's useless to worry about this kind of thing. You can only live and die."

Wang Manchun calmed down quickly, shook his head and said, "If someone really came to assassinate, what if he brought bodyguards? Thirteen people died together last night?"

Minglou couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Duke Zhou was afraid of the day of rumors, but Wang Mang was humble before usurping him. Xiang Shi died at the beginning, who knows whether it will be true or false in his life? (Note [-])"

Wang Manchun only smiled lightly, and replied lightly, "I just want to be ashamed of my heart."

"Manchun!" A wave of heat rushed into his eyes, and he embraced her shoulders emotionally: "I have never interfered with what you decide. But this time, don't be stubborn, just listen to me, okay?"

It was windy, so he took off his coat and put it on for her, and pressed her to sit down on the bench.

"Believe me, my presence in the new government is enough."

"Whether it's enough or not is not up to you. And since I've taken this path, I never thought of turning back." Wang Manchun said firmly, she didn't want to continue this topic anymore.

"By the way, someone came to look for me the day my uncle was assassinated."

Minglou understood what she was going to say, nodded and said, "I know who it is."

"How would you know?"

"Section Chief Nantian has always paid special attention to the work of No. 76."

"I mean, Section Chief Nantian asked me to do something behind your back."

"I know. And I know what she told you to do."

"Then what should I do according to what my brother said?"

"Of course she did as she was told."

"Okay." She answered simply.

Ming Lou sighed, and sat down beside her: "If you really listen to me, stop and leave here."

Wang Manchun couldn't help frowning.What happened to Minglou today?Why are you talking about this again?He has always cherished words like gold, and never said a word that is useless.

"Manchun, why do you have to go this way?"

Minglou persuaded: "With your talent, no matter what you do, you will do it very well. Why did you choose the most difficult and dangerous path?"

Wang Manchun was silent.

Why?For faith, for responsibility, and for...

In those days of "I don't know the distance between you and the future, and the dreams don't turn into lamps and embers (Note [-])", knowing that he has gradually drifted away, and there is no fate in this life, choosing to dedicate oneself to their common ideals is also considered as giving to oneself and to others. This love leaves the last thought and sustenance.

It's just that she didn't know at that time that this task would eat her away like poisoned wine.When all her passion turned into coldness and indifference, and her once kindness turned into cruelty and viciousness, she had already degenerated into a ruthless Rakshasa in the dark night, and she didn't even dare to look back at herself back then.

"After all, you are a girl, drifting in this bloody wind of intrigues, concealed sincerity, distorted temperament, dangers are everywhere. After all, I still have Ah Cheng by my side. What about you? You act alone and do what you want! You have no scruples! Don't be afraid..."

"I'm not afraid!"

She couldn't bear it anymore, and interrupted his words: "What do I have to be afraid of? I have nothing. How can life be fun? Why should death be bothering?"

"What about me?" Ming Lou suddenly became angry: "My feelings, are they irrelevant to you now?"

Wang Manchun jumped up from his chair, feeling like he was going to drive him crazy.

Does he even know what he's talking about?Do you know what these words mean to her?

She had already been ashamed and completely changed, and all that was left was hatred and missions.

She is the sharp weapon, the unsheathed sword.A bright blade must drink blood, and it will never die.

She is not afraid of burning herself in hell, she has always been in hell.But he just came back, just to remind her that the paradise she once had but has long been broken into ashes.

How cruel!

Pacing back and forth, she still couldn't hold back, and yelled something she would never say to him in her life: "Minglou, what do you want to do? Back then you left without saying a word, and now you want to Come back and mind my business!"

"If I knew you would go this way, I..."

Ming Lou blurted out this point, but couldn't continue.Facing Man Chun's eyes, her clear eyes, which are no longer concealed, are clearly gloomy and cold like snow and ice.

Thousands of words, no way to talk.

He calmed down for a while, and said in a low voice with difficulty: "Yes, I admit that our two families have too much hatred and deep resentment. I will never be able to make up for the harm I have done to you. But you have to know anyway, I am sorry for you. You have never changed."

Wang Manchun suddenly closed his eyes.Minglou has always been such a deep and introverted person.His words were the most straightforward confession she had ever heard.

"What about the oath? Senior brother, has the oath you made for your ideals never changed?"

She looked into his eyes and said word by word clearly: "Then how can you ask me to break my oath and become a deserter?"

"Have you hit a wall?"

Ah Cheng sat in the driver's seat, but didn't drive. He just looked back in the rearview mirror.From the moment he got into the car, Minglou pressed his hands on his temples and silently bowed his head without saying a word.Ah Cheng endured and endured, and still said: "In fact, you also know in your heart that you can't persuade her."

"Yes, I know." Minglou's low voice couldn't hide too much emotion: "But how can I be at ease if I let her like this? Let's not talk about the danger of exposure, in case if it's my own..."

"Brother, don't worry too much."

Ah Cheng quickly comforted: "You are in command of both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in Shanghai. It was urgent to save people when the incident happened last night, so Mingtai had no time to report. If he really wants to attack Sister Manchun, he will definitely ask you for instructions first." Besides, the two of them were so close before, I don't believe that Mingtai really had the heart to kill her."

"It's not just Mingtai."

Minglou sighed: "I only saw the crisis from his unauthorized actions. The head of No. 76 intelligence department is famous for being cruel and ruthless. How many people want to kill them quickly. But she doesn't care at all, even the most basic There are no protective measures."

The more he talked, the more anxious and uneasy he felt, and he didn't have time to think about telling Ah Cheng: "You go to see Yoko Nantian and find a way to ask her to secretly send some people to secretly protect Manchun."

"This...isn't right?"

Ah Cheng looked at him with some surprise: "Wang Manchun is not the eldest sister, so if someone follows her, will she not notice? She will think that she has been exposed and is being watched."

"Oh, yes, yes." Minglou nodded, stroking his forehead with his hands, helpless.

Ah Cheng had never seen him so flustered, and a soreness surged in his heart, and he blurted out: "If you want to keep her under control, there is only one way, marry her and come back to be your sister-in-law."

"Huh?" Minglou was still thinking hard, and didn't react for a while.

"It doesn't matter if you don't dare to tell the eldest sister, I will help you with the work."

Ah Cheng quickly continued: "As long as the elder sister knows her identity, I believe she will not object."

Minglou finally understood, frowned and reproached: "Ah Cheng, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"You really haven't thought about it, have you?" Ah Cheng stared at him and asked, "You always wear that pair of rings."

Minglou was silent.

"Brother, why do you suffer yourself so much?"

Ah Cheng was distressed and puzzled, and his voice became excited: "I know that you gave up back then because you were afraid of dragging her down. So for so many years, the elder brother only kept his feelings in his heart, and never tried to redeem them. But now you already know that she is you People. Since you are all dancing on the tip of the knife, you should cherish the present moment and not leave regrets for yourself. Why do you keep suppressing your feelings? Why can't you be together?"

Minglou gritted his teeth, but still bowed his head and remained silent.

"Brother, don't blame me for talking too much. I've been holding these words in my heart for a long time. When she couldn't get in touch with the organization and had urgent information to send, she chose to tell you the information directly. And what you chose was Don't think twice but trust her, so you can save the radio station in time. Even though you have been separated for so many years, even if you are not sure of each other's identities, deep down, you have always believed in each other. This is no ordinary love between men and women, this It’s like-minded fellowship. As big as faith, as small as love, you are destined to be each other’s other half.”

"Acheng, you don't understand. It's not that simple."

After being silent for a while, Minglou finally spoke slowly and with difficulty: "Although it was helpless to leave her here alone, it was eight years. It will be eight years since I left. The blows and trials she suffered, she The loneliness, pain and hardship of her, I have no way to understand and no way to help. Now besides watching her silently, what qualifications do I have to ask for more?"

Reaching into his shirt pocket, he took out the pair of warm rings, and he habitually stroked the lettering inside: "I came back this time, and I knew I shouldn't provoke her again, but I just couldn't help but want to see her." Look at her, care about her. And every time this happens, she will erect the thorns all over her body to wrap herself up like a wounded little hedgehog. I have no way to repay the lost eight years and make up for the trauma of her heart .All I can do is stop touching these scars. Silently accompany her to do what she wants to do and complete our common mission."

Ah Cheng was speechless for a moment.

I have always known that my eldest brother's love is very deep, but I still didn't expect that my eldest brother's love is so deep and delicate.

"Why didn't you tell her clearly about what happened back then?"

Feeling so distressed, Ah Cheng suddenly gritted his teeth: "If you don't want to tell, I'll tell her for you!"

"How dare you!" Minglou burst out two words in a low voice, and a majesty came over his face.

"Big brother!"

"The inevitable consequence of talking about those old things is to disturb her emotions. When she encounters anything later, the first thing she thinks of is to protect me, not to complete the task. Do you understand?"

"I disagree with this!"

Ah Cheng rarely refuted him excitedly: "If something happens now, do you think she won't give up everything to protect you? Whether she knows what happened back then, in her heart, you are you. As for the relationship between you and the task The trade-off between them is related to responsibility and belief, and it is not something that can be changed by knowing more."

"Even if the result is the same, at least there will be less entanglement and pain in the middle process."

Minglou couldn't help but press his forehead that was starting to ache again, Ah Cheng's words made it difficult for him to calm down.He knew that what he said was true.But if this is the case, how many difficult situations and life-and-death choices will they face in the future?

Manchun, can you survive?

What about yourself?Would he be able to give her up one more time if necessary?Give up completely and forever?

He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, trying to calm himself down.

He knew the answer—he couldn't, not at all.

Therefore, he must be careful everywhere, step by step, strategize and control the overall situation, and must not allow any situation that requires a choice to arise.

"Ah Cheng, don't argue with me. You are not allowed to mention the past with her. This is an order."

His voice, calm and clear, regained his usual decisive composure:

"I'm telling you so much because you are my second brother, my closest comrade and comrade-in-arms. I didn't tell you to be emotional, understand?"

"Big brother..."

"Stop talking, go back." Minglou waved his hand wearily, closed his eyes and stopped making a sound.

The black car slowly drove out of the secluded tree-lined path and merged into the bustling traffic in the busy city.

Note [-]: The third part of Bai Juyi's "Five Poems of Words"

Note [-]: Ouyang Xiu's words