Kawashima Sakurako and Qin Xiao sat in the back seat together—an arrangement I knew Captain Fang had made deliberately. He probably feared she might try something tricky, and with just me and Er-ge, two "lightweights," we wouldn't last a move against her.
Her head rested lightly against the window, her breathing steady and soft. Her face was still pale, but compared to the weakness she had shown back on Chongming Island, she looked far stronger now. Loose strands of her long hair swayed with the bumps of the car, framing her delicate face. Even after all she had endured, her beauty remained untouched—though a trace of fatigue and heaviness lingered between her brows.
I sat in the passenger seat, stealing glances at her through the rearview mirror, my emotions tangled in knots. Once, she had been "Wang Zifang"—the woman I met by chance in the subway, who smiled at me in a café. But now, she was Kawashima Sakurako: a member of a Japanese spy organization, the mother who had ended her child's life with her own hands, the "traitor" who carried both the virus and the vaccine in her flight.
The car cruised steadily along the highway. Outside, scenery blurred past, while sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a faint halo across her face. Her lashes trembled slightly, as if her sleep was far from peaceful.
At the wheel, Er-ge occasionally glanced at the mirror, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, but he didn't disturb the silence.
Suddenly, Sakurako's body shivered faintly. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed, as if caught halfway between dream and reality. She rubbed at them gently, her gaze sweeping the car before finally settling on me.
"You're awake," I said softly, my voice tinged with a nervousness I couldn't quite hide.
She nodded, her eyes still fixed on me, as though confirming something. Then, in a low, slightly hoarse voice, she murmured, "It's been a long time, Guo Xiudao."
I froze for a beat, then gave a wry smile. "Yeah, it's been a long time. But should I call you Wang Zifang, or Kawashima Sakurako?"
Her eyes dimmed slightly. She lowered her head, fingers idly tracing the edge of the seat. "Call me whatever you like. A name is just a code."
The car sank into silence again, filled only with the hum of the engine. Finally, Er-ge broke in, unable to hold back.
"Hey, can you two stop being so awkward? You're old acquaintances, aren't you? Say something lighter!"
Sakurako glanced at him, the corners of her lips curling faintly. "You haven't changed a bit."
Er-ge chuckled smugly. "Of course. I'm forever the sunshine boy."
I rolled my eyes, though inside I felt a hint of relief. His antics, as always, managed to ease the tension.
"Where are you taking me?" Sakurako asked suddenly. Her eyes locked on mine, sharp with caution.
I hesitated before replying, "To the National Security Bureau. Captain Fang and the others need the intelligence you have."
She nodded slightly, unsurprised by the answer. Her gaze drifted back to the passing scenery. After a pause, she said quietly, "I know you have many questions. I'll tell you what I know. But on one condition."
"What condition?" I asked, unease creeping into my chest.
Her eyes turned back to me, steady and resolute. "I want to see someone."
"Who?"
"My father. Kawashima Fuyichiro."
I stiffened. Of all the things I'd expected, that wasn't one of them. Her father—the cold, ruthless head of espionage, the man who had driven her into the abyss. And yet she wanted to see him?
"Why?" The question slipped from me, filled with disbelief.
A shadow flickered in her eyes, her voice low. "Because there are things I need to ask him myself."
I didn't press further. I only nodded. "I'll tell Captain Fang."
A soft hum was her only reply. Her gaze returned to the window, silence filling the car once more—but this time, the silence felt laced with a strange understanding.
The car rolled on toward the city. Sunlight painted her profile in pale gold. Her eyes seemed distant, lost in memories.
"Guo Xiudao," she said suddenly, her tone gentle yet firm. "Thank you."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Thank me? For what? I haven't done anything."
She shook her head, still watching the world outside. "Thank you for not giving up on me."
Her words were like a key turning in a lock, cracking open a door I hadn't realized I'd shut inside myself. Doubts, anger, confusion—all of it seemed to dissolve in that moment.
The car slipped into the city streets. Familiar buildings rose on either side. Sakurako remained quiet, staring out the window, as if waiting for something only she could see.
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