Chapter 130: Staying Behind

"Should we go to that building?" Chen Wenqi asked after the car had traveled a few dozen meters.

"Forget it, let's just get out of here."

"Am I a burden?"

Chen Wenqi had guessed just moments ago that Li Wensheng had held back because of her.

"No. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to leave so easily."

"Then let's go."

After saying this, Chen Wenqi turned the steering wheel to the left, and the car veered into a side street. Li Wensheng said nothing more. He knew Chen Wenqi was sensitive about the idea of women being weaker than men, and he didn't want to hurt her feelings by insisting they leave the man alone.

Less than three minutes along the side street, they arrived at the street to the left of the building where the sniper had been hiding. Once the car was parked, Li Wensheng got out and said, "Keep a close eye on Malone. He's already awake."

When he had tossed Malone into the car earlier, he had realized the man was awake and merely feigning unconsciousness. Chen Wenqi glanced at the back seat, where Malone had opened his eyes, filled with terror. She drew her pistol and pointed it at him. "Keep it up!"

Malone immediately shut his eyes, resuming his act.

The building was only a few hundred meters from the police station. When Li Wensheng had used an explosive to blow open the fourth-floor wall of the station, the surrounding civilians had fled in panic, leaving the area completely deserted. The building was four stories high, with a bakery and a wedding photography studio on the ground floor and residences above. Li Wensheng had caught a glimpse of the sniper earlier and knew he was at the leftmost window on the third floor.

However, instead of entering the building, Li Wensheng walked to the iron staircase hanging against the left wall and waited. A moment later, hurried footsteps echoed from above. Li Wensheng immediately stepped out from under the landing, raised his gun, and aimed at a man carrying a long case on the third-floor staircase.

The man spotted Li Wensheng, his face twisting in terror as he reached for his own weapon—*Bang!*

As the gunshot rang out, Li Wensheng began walking toward the car. After only a few steps, there was a thud as the man’s body tumbled down the stairs and hit the stone floor.

Once back in the car, Li Wensheng said in a low voice, "To the safe house."

Chen Wenqi immediately started the engine.

Having spent over a month in the French Concession, Chen Wenqi had mastered its layout. By three in the afternoon, the car reached a street near the safe house. From there, they had to proceed on foot, as the safe house was not accessible by car. Li Wensheng removed his mask and gloves, took off his blood-stained raincoat, and flipped it inside out to cover Malone, who was still feigning sleep.

After exiting the vehicle, he opened the back door and hoisted Malone out like a sack of cargo. The raincoat didn't cover him completely, leaving his feet exposed, but the side street was quiet, and with it being working hours, there were only a few pedestrians in the distance who paid them no mind.

The alleyway was empty. Inside the safe house, Li Wensheng opened the secret passage, threw Malone inside, and sealed it. He turned to Chen Wenqi and said, "I'm going to dispose of the car. Wait here for me."

"Let's go together. It's usually empty here, but my staying behind might actually attract attention," Chen Wenqi replied instantly.

Li Wensheng nodded. The two left the room and returned to the car. This time, Li Wensheng took the wheel. After driving a few hundred meters toward the outskirts, he asked in a low voice, "Did you not return? Or did you just arrive?"

"I didn't return. And I can't go back anymore." Chen Wenqi stared out the window, her eyes filled with a dead silence.

After a week of being unaccounted for, her superiors had taken no action against her and had even ordered her to continue the mission. That Minister Xiang had even revealed Li Wensheng's identity to Si Faren indicated that they had already written her off as a dead woman. On the surface, she was still leading the operation, but in reality, she was just bait. They assumed that because of her unusual relationship with Li Wensheng, she could lure him into a trap.

That was why she had seized the moment when Li Wensheng stormed the police station—when Si Faren’s attention was entirely on him—to leave the building, knock out the three men following her, and commandeer a car left on the street by some intelligence operative to assist Li Wensheng.

"Because of that week?" Li Wensheng asked, frowning.

Chen Wenqi was silent for a few seconds before whispering, "Yes."

After a brief pause, Li Wensheng said, "Then... stay and help me."

A flicker of light crossed Chen Wenqi’s eyes before it instantly dimmed. "What could I possibly help you with?"

"You are more observant and smarter than I am. There are many things you can advise me on."

After waiting for over a decade, and seeing that she remained silent, Li Wensheng couldn't help but ask, "Do you have family in Chongqing?"

"Yes," she replied softly.

"I have my file from the Military Statistics Bureau."

Chen Wenqi turned her head sharply, speaking with agitation, "That is your life insurance! If you take it out, what about you?"

"I won't take it out. If I did, that’s when your family would be in danger. I will only use it as a threat," Li Wensheng said, turning to her with a smile.

Chen Wenqi’s agitation vanished instantly. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes filled with sorrow. "My parents are loyal to the Party and the State, and my brother holds a position in the government. If I were to do this, it would be a disgrace to my family name."

"Heh, the family name, the Party and the State... does any of that even matter anymore?" Li Wensheng said dismissively.

Chen Wenqi fell silent again, and Li Wensheng said nothing more.

Upon reaching the outskirts, they parked the car by the road and walked back. Neither spoke the entire way. By the time they returned to the French Concession, it was past seven in the evening. After having dinner at a Western restaurant, they found a small hotel.

Standing at the door of his room on the third floor, Li Wensheng opened it, then turned to Chen Wenqi, who was opening the door to the room next door. "So? Stay and help me."

Chen Wenqi, her right hand on the doorknob, remained silent for a moment before giving a soft "Yes," and stepping inside.

*Bang!*

Hearing the door close next door, a faint, happy smile touched the corners of Li Wensheng’s mouth.

Back in his room, after a shower, Li Wensheng sat on the sofa, smoking and worrying. Kidnapping Malone had been more difficult than he anticipated; the next five targets would likely be even more trouble. Iwai Eiichi hadn't reacted yet regarding Malone, but if another one were to disappear, Iwai would surely realize he was working from that specific list.

If they moved the targets to the Iwai Residence, the Gendarmerie, or even a military barracks, it would be nearly impossible for him to act. Worse still, if they hid them away, he would be completely at a loss.

After finishing two cigarettes, Li Wensheng still couldn't find a solution. Just as he was pulling out a third, he heard a knock. *Knock, knock.*

At this hour, it couldn't be anyone but Chen Wenqi.

Li Wensheng quickly put away the cigarettes, walked to the window to open it, and then went to open the door.

Chen Wenqi stood there, her hair still damp, looking stunningly beautiful even without a trace of makeup.