DCFRP Extra 32

TL: Hua

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“Tch, who are you? And what right do you have to…”

The person speaking was cut off halfway by a nudge from someone beside them, who pointed towards the entrance.

Xun Qian, in a dark green military uniform, matching military cap, and draped in a matching cape, strode purposefully and heroically towards the crowd.

The originally aggressive reporters fell silent upon seeing Xun Qian appear. Those throwing stones also stopped their actions, automatically making way for him.

Chu He also turned his head in surprise.

Qi Xiaoyu was also stunned for a moment, then looked up, peering through the layers of the crowd towards Xun Qian.

Xun Qian was also looking at him.

Their gazes met in the air, and both saw the suppressed sorrow and difficulty in each other’s eyes, also finding comfort and strength.

Then, Xun Qian moved through the crowd and stopped directly beside Qi Xiaoyu.

He gently wiped away the small trace of blood from a stone that had hit Qi Xiaoyu’s forehead, then shielded the person behind him.

Behind the scenes of the theater, the others from the Red Moon Troupe were all held back by Manager Wu.

They had originally wanted to rush out to help Qi Xiaoyu fend off this group of unreasonable reporters.

Manager Wu, fearing that things would escalate and offend the newspapers, did his best to restrain them.

Now, hearing that Xun Qian had arrived, everyone stopped moving, holding their breath and paying attention to the commotion outside.

Outside, Xun Qian tightly held Qi Xiaoyu’s hand, his gaze coldly sweeping over the crowd. “Who threw stones at him? Step forward and apologize!”

Over the years, Xun Qian had a reputation for ruthless actions in Shanghai; whether internally or externally, to superiors or subordinates, he was decisive and highly respected.

Swept by his gaze, the reporters finally reacted.

Some subconsciously took a step back, while others were pushed forward.

The person who threw the stone at Qi Xiaoyu was a young man in a gray suit and round glasses, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

Under Xun Qian’s gaze, he lowered his head somewhat timidly, then gritted his teeth and said softly, “Qi Xiaoyu colluded with the Japanese, doing such treasonous things. Could it be that Commander Xun still wants to protect him?”

These reporters respected Xun Qian, and some even feared him, but at this moment, anger seemed to override everything.

Once someone started, others immediately echoed, “Commander Xun… Commander Xun, if you protect him, where do you place the souls of those who died tragically under the guns?”

“That’s right, Commander Xun, do you really want to protect an actor?”

Under the aggressive pressure from the crowd, Qi Xiaoyu moved the hand that Xun Qian was holding.

But Xun Qian held his hand tightly, enveloping it in his palm.

“Who said I’m protecting him? Where he went last night? What he did? I know it all clearly in my heart.”

His gaze swept coldly from the reporter who threw the stone, then over everyone present, and he said, word by word, “In my capacity as the Chief of Public Security of Shanghai, I vouch for him. He never committed the unwarranted accusations you throw at him.”

The reporters were stunned for a moment, then the reporter who threw the stone said again, “Commander Xun, we all know your relationship with him. Your words…”

Before he finished speaking, someone else shouted loudly, “Commander Xun, do you know where he went last night? Since you know he went to Yamada Ichiro’s residence, then you should know whether he has anything to do with this matter.”

“That’s right. He absolutely can’t be unrelated to this matter.”

“What kind of good person goes to sing opera for Yamada Ichiro?”

“What charity performance? Wasn’t it just to boost his own reputation, a traitor!”

“Commander Xun, we know that you’ve done a good job as commander, doing many practical things for Shanghai, but you shouldn’t… favor an actor so much!”

Faced with the barrage of accusations, Qi Xiaoyu had no way to defend himself. He could say that he was helping Jiang Sicheng and covering for them to get the engineering blueprint.

But if he said that, openly revealing his prior contact and secret plans with Jiang Sicheng, Yamada Ichiro would easily suspect that the engineering blueprint was now in his hands, hidden in the Red Moon Troupe, or even further, in Xun Qian’s hands.

In this way, Jiang Sicheng’s efforts and their sacrifices would all be in vain.

But if he didn’t defend himself, he wouldn’t be able to clear his name regarding his relationship with Yamada Ichiro.

He said softly behind Xun Qian, “Don’t worry about me; don’t get involved in this mess.”

Xun Qian still held his hand tightly. “Don’t be afraid.”

Over the past three years, their love and tacit understanding had deepened. Once Xun Qian spoke, Qi Xiaoyu stopped moving.

The reporters’ gazes were like wolves’ and tigers’, fixed on Qi Xiaoyu and Xun Qian.

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, “Commander Xun, if you insist on protecting this actor… on protecting Qi Xiaoyu, then you must give us, give all of Shanghai, an explanation. How will this matter be handled?”

“That’s right, we need an explanation! We can’t let our students die in vain and die so tragically!”

“Commander Xun, can you treat us like you treat those Japanese, just glossing over this matter?”

Countless gazes, like fire, turned towards Xun Qian.

He looked at Qi Xiaoyu, then his gaze shifted from Qi Xiaoyu to their clasped hands. There was no change in his expression.

He thought, no matter what the rumors said about Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu’s relationship, he had to admit now that Xun Qian was very responsible.

The people present wanted an explanation.

But this explanation was very difficult.

The people were killed by Yamada Ichiro, who even desecrated their bodies.

Paying a blood debt with blood was not enough to vent their anger… did they want Yamada Ichiro to pay with his life?

This was too difficult.

The Japanese were strong, and they were weak.

It was weak nation diplomacy.

Even the Nationalist government didn’t dare to treat the Japanese like this.

So many innocent people had died under the swords and guns of these criminals, yet they could only swallow their anger and endure humiliation.

But then, Chu He heard Xun Qian say, “The deaths of students Zhu Jianfang, Hu Weizhong, and Jiang Sicheng… I will definitely give everyone an explanation.”

“I will thoroughly investigate the ins and outs of this matter and will never let anyone die unjustly. But—” Xun Qian pulled Qi Xiaoyu closer to his side and said to the reporter who threw the stone, “You must apologize to him.”

The reporter who threw the stone swallowed hard, his neck stiff as he said loudly, “Alright, Commander Xun, since you’ve agreed to our request, I believe you’ll keep your word. Mr. Qi… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have thrown a stone at you. I apologize to you here.”

Qi Xiaoyu pursed his lips without speaking, the red blood stark against his porcelain-white skin.

Xun Qian’s thick, raven-wing-like eyelashes drooped slightly, and the corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc. “I, Xun, always keep my word, and I ask everyone not to arbitrarily judge others based solely on your own conjectures.”

He turned to look at Qi Xiaoyu, then turned back to face everyone without expression. “I reiterate. My stance is his stance. If you trust me, then do not doubt him. Whoever opposes him opposes me, Xun Qian.”

Everyone present was silent.

Time stood still for about two minutes before the tension broke like a snapped string.

Manager Wu pushed open the backstage door and hurried to invite Qi Xiaoyu and Xun Qian backstage.

The people from the Red Moon Troupe also rushed out and surrounded Qi Xiaoyu, getting gauze to bandage the wound on his head.

Chu He glanced at Qi Xiaoyu and Xun Qian, clenched his fists, and left with the others, as if admitting defeat.

****

After the wound was bandaged, Xun Qian sent Qi Xiaoyu back to the Red Moon Troupe that evening.

Qi Xiaoyu also took the opportunity to quietly hand over the engineering blueprint to Xun Qian.

The engineering blueprint still had bloodstains on it. Xun Qian took it and said, “This is the coal mine’s engineering and mining map. That coal mine originally belonged to us. The Japanese forcibly seized it and gave it to Yamada Ichiro for mining. If they are allowed to continue mining, their military strength will greatly increase. Jiang Sicheng did well.”

The two stood talking in the shadows of the trees by the entrance.

The cold wind howled, swirling the withered leaves of the Chinese parasol trees all over the sky.

Qi Xiaoyu held Xun Qian’s hand, uncertain, and asked again, “Jiang Sicheng… is he really…”

Xun Qian pulled him into his arms, gently embracing Qi Xiaoyu without saying a word.

Not only were Jiang Sicheng and the other two dead, but their bodies had been thrown at the vegetable market, covered in all sorts of wounds.

Xun Qian’s promise to give everyone an explanation was not just to help Qi Xiaoyu out of a predicament; he genuinely didn’t want them to have died in vain.

The early winter cold wind cut at their skin like a knife, even more biting than the deep winter months.

Both of them felt exceptionally heavy-hearted.

They tried hard to fight against the storms of the era, but each individual was like a small boat, helpless in the face of the overwhelming waves.

After a long while, Xun Qian finally spoke, “All matters and all people related to Jiang Sicheng, you are not to have any further contact with. I will handle it. This blueprint is very important; I will not let their sacrifice be in vain.”

Qi Xiaoyu nodded in Xun Qian’s arms.

Xun Qian continued, “Jiang Sicheng and the other two… were only discovered tonight. And those reporters immediately knew that you had gone to Yamada Ichiro’s residence. We need to investigate the people around you.”

Qi Xiaoyu lowered his eyes. He had considered this matter as soon as the large group of reporters came to his door.

Last night when he returned from outside, he encountered Yang Baosen and Yang Haiqin. Remembering the way Yang Haiqin looked at him and thinking of the messy state of his room and the disturbed jewelry box…

Yang Haiqin also liked to wander around his room. He had called Jiang Sicheng in his room, and it was very possible that Yang Haiqin had inadvertently overheard…

Gu Zizhen was right; that child had too many thoughts.

“No need to investigate. I know who it is. You take care of your matters; I’ll handle my people here.”

“Alright. Then I’ll go first.” Xun Qian said, pointing to a spot not far behind him,

“I’ll leave a few people at the Red Moon Troupe to protect you.”

“Mm.”

Today, Xun Qian had helped him out so publicly, the rumors about their relationship would definitely spread like wildfire. And at such a critical time, he had to be careful about his own safety and not cause any trouble for Xun Qian.

The two finished speaking but were still reluctant to part.

But in the current situation, it was not advisable to linger.

The winter night was deep, desolate, and chilling.

Xun Qian again reminded Qi Xiaoyu to be careful with his wound, not to get it wet, then sighed softly, “Winter Solstice is almost here. I still wanted to make dumplings with you this year.”

Qi Xiaoyu blinked and smiled reassuringly, “Even if we can’t eat them today, there will be many, many years to come.”

***

A few days later, Qi Xiaoyu tucked a musical score under his arm and went out. Seeing this, Gu Zizhen hurriedly asked, “It’s so chaotic outside, what are you going out for? What if you run into those reporters again… Look, the wound on your head hasn’t even healed yet.”

Gu Zizhen pushed Qi Fengjian out of the room.

Qi Xiaoyu first pulled him aside. “Senior Brother, keep your voice down; don’t let Master hear.”

Gu Zizhen sighed, “It would be good if Master could hear.”

Qi Xiaoyu understood the meaning behind Gu Zizhen’s words. Qi Fengjian now only understood one or two out of ten sentences. Even with such a big event as Qi Xiaoyu being surrounded by reporters, Qi Fengjian had no reaction at all. This made Qi Xiaoyu feel sad and also relieved; otherwise, there would be one more person worrying about him.

Qi Xiaoyu remained silent for a moment, then said, “I have an appointment with Mr. Yang Baosen for dinner at the Dachong Restaurant.”

Gu Zizhen was puzzled. “These past few days you’ve been having people follow Yang Haiqin. Today you’re making an appointment with his uncle. What exactly do you want to do?”

Qi Xiaoyu reassured him, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. You’ll know soon enough.”

During Yang Haiqin’s time at the Red Moon Troupe, Qi Xiaoyu spent most of his time performing at Broadway. In fact, Yang Haiqin didn’t spend much time with him.

Yang Haiqin was much younger than him, a junior and an apprentice, so he treated Yang Haiqin with kindness and friendliness.

But if Yang Haiqin thought that he was easy to bully and could ride his head to do whatever he wanted, acting wantonly and taking liberties, then he was too naive.

He had always treated Yang Haiqin politely because he considered him a junior and out of consideration for Yang Baosen’s reputation.

But now that Yang Haiqin had done such a thing, don’t blame him for being ruthless and uprooting him completely.

A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old child who was keen on fame and fortune and unscrupulous in his methods—a casual investigation revealed all his weaknesses and loopholes.

Now, he was going to teach this child how to behave.

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