Chapter 29: Bath

  The other person hastily headed towards the east wing, their footsteps different from those who came here to have fun. Huai Jin slowed down her pace and then quickly hid in the darkness, watching as the person entered the east wing. Huai Jin quietly followed behind, the person still coughing incessantly, short and nervous, not seeming like they were coughing due to illness, but rather out of habit. Huai Jin felt that every cell in her body was trembling lightly with each cough.

  The coughing sound moved to the second floor, Huai Jin stood in front of the sky well and listened carefully. The small tune that was originally coming from Ying Suo's room suddenly came out again, and then disappeared immediately. It was clear that the door had been pushed open and closed again, which meant that this person must have entered Ying Suo's room.

  Right thought, a man and a woman walked out of the house next door, saw Huai Jin standing there, and looked at her. Huai Jin knew that it was not suitable to stay here for a long time, so she went out and left.

  A thousand threads and ten thousand strands, she needs to clarify and seek proof.

  The car had just stopped when Mrs. Liu opened the door, apparently she hadn't slept and was waiting for him. Huaijin got out of the car and took off his gloves, "Is Miss Dong awake?"

  "She woke up, I gave her some chicken soup and wiped her body clean, then she fell asleep again. Dr. Ren stayed until she woke up, checked on her and said it was nothing serious before leaving," Liu Ma said as she took over Hua Jin's coat and gloves. "She kept saying she wanted to wait for you to come back, but later on she must have been too weak, by the time I went to see her again, she had already fallen asleep."

  Huai Jin nodded and walked quietly to the second floor, pushed open the door, and saw that the bed was piled high with layers of bedding, almost burying the thin figure underneath. "As long as nothing's wrong," Huai Jin thought, just about to turn around and leave, when the layers of bedding moved slightly, and then a pale face emerged from beneath them, propping itself up on its elbows and struggling to sit up halfway.

  Huai Jin still had his hand on the door, looking at her like that.

  "Yīng Zuǒ Zhēnzhāo is looking for you?" The weak voice sounded clear and ethereal in this quiet room.

  Waistcoat stepped forward and closed the door, "Yes."

  "Is there something wrong?"

  The bed was too far from the door, and Huai Jin could hear the strain in his voice. He walked closer to the bedside, "Not for the time being."

  Her gaze fell on the white silk pajamas that Dong Zhiyu was wearing, which were her own clothes, and must have been lent to her by Liu Ma.

  Dong Zhiyu saw where the other person's gaze fell, and a faint blush appeared on her face. She was already very embarrassed to be sleeping in Huaijin's bed, and when Liu Ma gave her this nightgown, she originally didn't want to wear it. Unable to bear Liu Ma's persistence, and also unable to sleep in the clothes she wore during the day, she reluctantly changed into it.

  "I... thank you." She had originally wanted to explain the pajamas, but felt it was unnecessary, so she simply said three words. This was already the third time Huai Jin had saved her.

  Huai Jin did not respond to her words, and today's actions were not only a serious breach of military discipline by Dong Zhiyu, but also by herself. This was not something that could be resolved with a simple "thank you, no need to thank" or "sorry, it's okay". She had to report the matter to the Xuan Tong Si and request punishment for herself. As for Dong Zhiyu, given Huai Jin's usual way of handling things, she would have to be transferred away.

  She didn't speak, Dong Zhiyu thought of her going through the ordeal of saving people and crossing the river during the day, as well as meeting with Ying Suo at night, she must be extremely tired. So he said again: "I took your room, I don't know if you have any other empty rooms... You also need to rest."

  "There's still a guest room downstairs." Huai Jin's words seemed to lack warmth.

  "That......" Dong Zhiyu struggled a bit, thinking of seeing if he could move himself, but it was too difficult, so he gave up. "Sorry, I've troubled you...I'll leave tomorrow."

  "Huaiyin paused for a moment, 'do as you wish.' After saying that, he turned around and left."

  Dong Zhiyu stood there in a daze, if it were in the past, she wouldn't be surprised by Huai Jin's behavior, but today she clearly saw that he wasn't as cold and unfeeling as he seemed, he was also a person with blood and flesh, who could disregard everything to save someone, and she remembered what Liu Ma said to her, that at the time she was carried in by Huai Jin, saying she was very anxious and worried...

  All night, she thought of Huai Jin, and had a warm feeling, even lying in her bed gave her an inexplicable sense of security, always looking forward to her return, but how could she be so different from before? Was it all just an illusion?

  Huai Jin walked straight into the bathroom, where a thin mist was swirling around her. Liu Ma had already filled the bathtub with water, and she knew without testing it that it was just the right temperature for her.

  She took off her shirt and trousers, shed all her restraints, let down her hair, and the person standing in the bathroom was no longer a staff officer who wore military uniform every day to plot battles, but a complete woman. The woman had an absolutely beautiful figure that was tall and slender, as well as a thick and beautiful long hair.

  She walked into the water, lying down along the curve of the bathtub, letting her long hair drift around her like seaweed. It had been a long and thrilling day, and the feeling of being startled reached its peak when she met that short man in the evening. How to break free? She closed her eyes, and past events swirled with the changing light of the water, sometimes bright, sometimes dark.

  "A comfort station in Xiaoguan was raided! Five Japanese soldiers were killed!" The next day, Huaijin's ears were filled with excited and frightened rumors. In the newspapers, on the streets, and at work, everyone was discussing it. People weren't interested in the deaths of a few Japanese soldiers - these days, death, whether of Japanese or Chinese people, was as common as eating rice. What people couldn't stop talking about was that an entire comfort station had been rescued. The term "comfort women" was one that made everyone grit their teeth with hatred, yet it was also something that couldn't be spoken aloud. Yet, despite the hatred, from soldiers to civilians, no one would have dared to risk their lives to rescue these unfortunate women. So now, who exactly had done this? This was the question on everyone's mind.

  It's impossible for Huai Jin to not feel anxious and worried. Firstly, he was worried that he and Dong Zhiyu would be exposed, and secondly, every time there were casualties on the side of the dark nation, the military department would retaliate doubly.

  It was easy to get through the day and night fell, and Huaichen drove his carriage to Yejingling.

  "How is it?" Fu Qiusheng asked softly, holding a cup of wine beside her.

  "The government is very annoyed about the antique dealer's case, and has already started investigating. They are checking everyone who had contact with the antiques and received the Americans, including Chen Xianbo himself and his people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security personnel, drivers, waiters..."

  "How is she?"

  "I'm sick, at my home."

  "What?"

  She glanced at her watch, "He may have left by now."

  "What's wrong, how can it be with you?"

  "This is exactly what I want to talk to you about," Huai Jin paused, his eyes like a block of solid ice, "Have you heard about the consolation camp at Xiaoguan?"

  "I heard it, what's up?"

  "That's what she and I did."

  "What did you say?!" If it weren't for being in a public place, Fu Qiu Sheng would have almost jumped up.

  "That's right, she and I together rescued over thirty women, I sent them to our camp in Jiangbei, the five Hu soldiers were killed by us."

  "You... but... why?!" Fu Qiusheng was at a loss for words, this was beyond his expectations. Who was Huai Zhen? To risk exposing the entire line to save someone so insignificant, this line's significance far outweighed that of the comfort station, not to mention there were many comfort stations in Guangwu City alone, would she have done this without special reason?!

  Huai Jin didn't make a sound, and simply drained the cup in one gulp.

  "What was the reason?" Fu Qiu Sheng firmly believed that she must have had an unavoidable reason.

  "The reason is simple, these women shouldn't be treated this way, and the Koreans should occasionally take responsibility for their actions. Korea isn't a place where they can do whatever they want."

  Fu Qiusheng took a deep breath of cool air, he simply couldn't believe his ears, Huai Jin's recent words and actions had made him feel quite abnormal.

  "Please report this matter to Duan Yunong, I request military discipline punishment, any punishment I accept. As for Dong Zhiyu," Hua Jin hesitated for a moment, then his eyes were firm and determined, "she must go."

  The author has something to say: Are there any fellow Chinese who work in foreign-related fields? I want to say that some of my compatriots, when they see foreigners, always smile and nod their heads, which really makes me sick. What century are we living in? Foreigners aren't superior to us at all! A nation that looks down on itself has no future. Please stand up straight and speak with confidence! If you're born with a servile attitude and can't change it, then don't work in foreign-related fields; instead, try begging on the streets, which is more suitable for you.

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