"She is! But she’s not only my mother—she’s also the eldest daughter of the Ikeda family..."
With the biggest secret in his heart laid bare, Chi Heng didn’t feel any relief.
Instead, a faint worry crept in.
Facing Jiang Si’s stunned gaze, Chi Heng spoke slowly, “My mother’s full name is Ikeda Mitsuko. She was among the earliest group who came to Huaguo with the 'Pioneer Corps.' Later, when the situation changed, she went into hiding and stayed in Huaguo under an assumed name.”
“Afterward, under secret orders from the Ikeda family, she deliberately got close to my father and married him.”
“Then, to gain control over the Qin family’s assets, she successfully persuaded my father to immigrate to Gallia.”
“So your father was also one of her...”
Chi Heng didn’t even know how to explain. She hadn’t personally taken action, but she had revealed this cruel truth to Father Qin.
Including her true identity, her mission.
And the ambitions of the Ikeda family...
She even demanded Father Qin’s unconditional support and cooperation.
Father Qin refused to yield, even more unwilling to let the century-old legacy of the Qin family be turned into a weapon aimed at his own people.
So, he chose to take his own life rather than hand over the core seal of the Qin family’s assets.
So that’s how it was.
Jiang Si couldn’t help but sigh when she heard this.
All those confusing pieces finally connected.
“What do you plan to do? Or, what do you need me to do?”
Before Chi Heng could answer, Jiang Si added, “If you want to save Grandfather Qin and Grandmother Qin, I can help contact the embassy. They’ll find a way...”
But before she finished, Chi Heng’s voice cut in.
“It’s too late.”
Jiang Si’s heart sank. “Too late for what?”
Chi Heng was silent for a long moment.
When he looked up again, his eyes were already glistening with tears.
Since Father Qin’s suicide, Grandfather Qin and Grandmother Qin had been placed under house arrest.
Before leaving, at Chi Heng’s strong insistence, Chi’s mother had agreed to let the three generations meet once.
With someone watching closely at all times, they barely spoke that day.
But Chi Heng understood the look in his grandparents’ eyes.
He had thought about risking everything to take them away.
But Grandfather and Grandmother held his hands tightly.
If it weren’t for some important matters left unfinished, they would have gone with their son years ago.
The things to be conveyed, Grandfather Qin had painstakingly written word by word on the palm of his hand.
Before leaving, Grandfather Qin mouthed silently, “Go. Find every possible way to escape. Don’t be threatened by them anymore! Live on with all your strength!”
At that moment, Chi Heng already knew.
Grandfather and Grandmother were afraid...
But he couldn’t die.
This path to freedom was paved with their very lives.
To die now—that was something Chi Heng couldn’t accept.
Returning to the country was his own choice.
He was willing to be a pawn, but how the game would be played from here on out—that was up to him.
So he played his cards carefully.
Using himself as bait.
Even today’s whipping was part of his plan.
He couldn’t let his grandparents’ sacrifice be in vain, nor could he let them sense the slightest hint of what was really going on.
“I don’t want to, and I can’t let her scheme succeed. But now’s not the time to confront her directly—I have no choice but to let her manipulate the situation,” Chi Heng said.
He only found out after returning to the country.
Over the years, his mother had quietly built a highly secretive intelligence network within the country, leveraging the influence and resources of the Chi family.
There were many people involved.
Among them were some high-ranking officials in the Capital City.
Without obtaining a confirmed list, he couldn’t act recklessly.
“When the time is right, I’ll find a way to pass the information to you,” Chi Heng instructed. “For now, you just need to know about this... If you want to investigate, check my files. As for her side...”
Before he could finish, Chi Heng suddenly coughed violently a few times.
Jiang Si understood his meaning and nodded. At the same time, she poured him a cup of warm water.
Perhaps it was because of their childhood bond, or maybe because of what he had just said, Jiang Si quietly dropped a few drops of Spirit Spring Water into the cup when Chi Heng wasn’t paying attention.
“Thank you.”
Chi Heng took the cup but didn’t drink it; instead, he clenched it tightly in his palm.
He knew this place wasn’t safe—those few people could come back at any moment.
Using the little time he had left, he carefully relayed all the details and secret codes Jiang Si needed to be aware of.
“It’s getting late. You should head home early.”
Jiang Si nodded. “Okay. You take care of yourself... be careful.”
But just as she turned and reached for the door handle,
Chi Heng hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.
“Si—”
Jiang Si froze mid-motion, turning to look at him.
“Can we... still be friends?”
He asked the question cautiously.
Jiang Si didn’t answer immediately.
Nor did she turn back.
Within those few minutes, countless thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind.
Chi Heng’s revelations were too shocking.
At this moment, Jiang Si couldn’t tell how much of what he said was true and how much was false.
Could there be an even deeper trap hidden within?
All of this required time to process.
“I need some time to think it over,” Jiang Si said honestly.
“Mm, I understand,” Chi Heng nodded in understanding.
Her coming over tonight had already been a huge risk.
He couldn’t, and wouldn’t, force her to decide right away.
“I’ll head back now. Take good care of yourself.”
After saying this, Jiang Si didn’t linger. She opened the door and walked straight out.
Chi Heng’s eyes remained fixed on the direction she left until her footsteps gradually faded away, then he slowly withdrew his gaze.
He glanced down at the cup in his hand.
Then, tilting his head back, he drank it all in one go.
The water was sweet, and even the pain in his wound seemed to dull.
He lay on the pillow, slowly closing his eyes.
By the time Uncle Da quietly entered the room, Chi Heng was already breathing softly, fast asleep.
…
Meanwhile,
After returning from the hospital, Jiang Si went home, her mind heavy with thoughts.
By the time she arrived, it was already past two in the morning.
Seeing her father-in-law and mother-in-law waiting in the living room, Jiang Si was a little surprised.
“Dad, Mom, why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Mother Huo replied sincerely, “You went out alone, and your father and I just couldn’t rest easy.”
After speaking, he quickly pulled Jiang Si down to sit and gave her a thorough once-over. “So, how was it? Didn’t run into any trouble, did you?”
Lately, the cultural troupe had been quite busy. Mother Huo wouldn’t get home until after nine every night.
By the time she returned, Jiang Si had already left.
It was Uncle Zhong who came by to deliver the news.
The situation was urgent, and Jiang Si didn’t have time to explain. She just exchanged a few words with the old master and the others before leaving.
Although Father Huo remained silent, the questioning look in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Dad, Mom, I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Jiang Si first reassured them, then carefully recounted what had just happened.
The matter involved enemy spies and even touched on the higher-ups.
She chose her words with extreme caution.
After listening, Father Huo’s brows instantly knitted together.
Being in a high position, he was far more sensitive to these matters than ordinary people.
If what the other side claimed was true—that they already had people embedded within the upper ranks—then this was a very serious issue.
After a moment of contemplation, Father Huo said, “I understand the situation. I’ll assign someone to handle this. For now, don’t have any contact with Chi Heng.”
Jiang Si knew how grave the situation was. “Understood, Dad.”
Father Huo acted swiftly and sent someone to investigate the matter the very next day.
Since the embassy was involved, the investigation proceeded quickly.
A few days later, Gauluo’s side sent back the findings.
Just as Chi Heng had said, his file was flawless—there wasn’t a single flaw to be found.
Two years ago, he had graduated from the National Administrative Academy with straight A+ grades and immediately joined Gauluo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He then served as a third-class secretary.
Half a month ago, he was assigned to China as the chief assistant at the Gauluo consulate.
As for the old master Qin and the others—
Father Huo also shared the information he had uncovered with Jiang Si. Although the opposing side had concealed much of the relevant details, about ten days ago, the local funeral home in Gauluo had indeed cremated two elderly Chinese individuals.
Because they were brought in during the middle of the night, the staff there remembered it well.
However, where exactly the ashes of old master Qin and the others had been buried remained unknown.
Though she had braced herself, Jiang Si couldn’t help but feel a wave of sorrow upon hearing the news.
She didn’t know how to bring this up with Chi Heng.
But it seemed he hadn’t given her the chance.
Since being discharged from the hospital, he had been resting at home, hardly ever stepping outside.
He hadn’t reached out to her, nor had he visited her third uncle.
It was as if he had vanished from the world.
Huo Tingzhou’s side was the same. Since their last phone call, he hadn’t called back, and no one knew what he was busy with.
However, Jiang Si soon had no time to dwell on these thoughts.
Besides going to the construction site, she had to spend several hours each day coordinating work at her office.
There was no choice. The Translation Department, wanting to be thorough, had sent six or seven translators all at once.
They had prepared over a hundred questions simulating what the other side might ask.
The questions were so tricky, it was downright outrageous.
Fortunately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quite protective this time, plainly stating that if the other side was reasonable, they would handle things amicably.
If someone dares to provoke you, looking for trouble out of nowhere, then when it’s time to stand your ground, you just have to stand firm.
After all, we didn’t plagiarize—what’s there to fear?
With this thought, Jiang Si felt more confident.
Time flew by, and before she knew it, the end of the month had arrived.
After more than half a month of preparation, a delegation led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with over ten embassies stationed in China, major design institutes in Capital City, and newspaper reporters, was ready for their visit.
At precisely nine in the morning, they arrived at the construction site of the Foreign Affairs Building.
“Engineer Jiang, the delegation’s convoy has arrived,” came the notification.
Jiang Si was currently reviewing the final details of the schedule with Professor Li and Director Li.
Upon hearing the announcement, she calmly adjusted her sleeves and smoothed her clothes.
By the time she stepped outside, the convoy had just come to a stop.
People from all sides were greeting and chatting outside.
Jiang Si was about to step forward when her gaze landed on a familiar figure—
