Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Lu Yang walked out of the box, but his mind was full of doubts.

Mr. Huang's attitude was strange, a warning, yet also a test. What role did he play? What was his relationship to Zero and the Japanese?

He returned to the lobby downstairs and cast his gaze once again on White Rose, who was sitting by the bar. She was holding a glass of red wine, elegantly chatting with a man beside her, with a charming smile on her face, as if the undercurrent upstairs had nothing to do with her.

Lu Yang took a deep breath and walked towards the bar. No matter what, he had to get in touch with this White Rose to see if he could find a breakthrough from her.

He walked to the bar and deliberately bumped into the person next to him. The wine glass in his hand fell to the ground with a clang and broke.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Lu Yang quickly apologized and bent down to pick up the fragments.

"It's okay." A cold and pleasant voice sounded.

Lu Yang raised his head and met Bai Meigui's bright eyes. Her eyes were beautiful, like a deep lake, yet with a hint of elusive alienation.

"Sir, are you okay?" Bai Meigui frowned slightly and asked with concern.

"It's okay, it's okay. I was careless." Lu Yang waved his hands quickly, an apologetic smile on his face, "I'm so sorry for dirtying the lady's shoes."

"No problem." White Rose said lightly, then turned around and said to the bartender: "Make me another 'Midnight Sunshine'."

Lu Yang watched her from behind, his mind growing ever more certain that this woman was anything but ordinary. Her composure in the face of unexpected situations, and her seemingly clear yet bottomless eyes, all revealed an extraordinary aura.

He did not continue to pester her, but returned to his own booth and silently observed White Rose.

After receiving the wine, Bai Meigui didn't leave immediately. Instead, she sat alone at the bar, slowly sipping her wine and gazing at the center of the dance floor with a somewhat hazy look in her eyes. Her silhouette looked particularly beautiful under the light, yet it also revealed a hint of sadness and loneliness.

A strange feeling suddenly surged in Lu Yang's heart. This woman seemed to have many stories.

Just then, a waiter came over with a tray with a glass of whiskey on it.

"Sir, this is a drink from Miss White Rose," the waiter said respectfully.

Lu Yang was stunned, a little surprised. He looked up at the bar. Bai Meigui was raising her glass, gesturing towards him from a distance, a mysterious smile on her lips.

Lu Yang picked up the wine glass, gestured to her, and then drank the whiskey in the glass.

The wine was strong and burned his throat like fire.

He looked at the enigmatic woman at the bar, his mind full of questions. Why was she buying him a drink? Was it a test? A warning? Or...something else?

The Paramount Ballroom, a place brimming with alcohol, perfume, and intrigue, grew ever more murky. Lu Yang knew he had entered a dangerous vortex, and White Rose was likely at its center. He must navigate this shadowy battle with caution to find the answers he sought. He also had a vague feeling that White Rose might be the key to unlocking the mystery of "Zero."

Lu Yang put down his glass and looked back at the bar. White Rose had left, as quietly as she had appeared, leaving only a faint fragrance and endless mysteries in the air.

He paid for the drinks and left the Paramount Ballroom without stopping. He got into the car, the noise and ecstatic music from the ballroom still lingered in his ears, but his mind was unusually clear.

Mr. Huang's warning and White Rose's mysterious actions all made him more certain that the Paramount was more than just an ordinary entertainment venue. It was likely a base used by "Zero" or the Japanese to conceal their activities and conduct secret operations. And White Rose, this mysterious woman, was likely a key figure in this, perhaps even a core member of the "Zero" organization.

He had to find a way to get close to Bai Meigui and make a breakthrough from her. But Mr. Huang's warning was still ringing in his ears. Any rash action would only alert the enemy and might even lead to his own death.

Lu Yang started the car and slowly drove away from the Paramount. He didn't go straight back to the photo studio, but instead drove aimlessly through the streets of the mountain city. It was late at night, and the streets were sparsely populated. Only the dim streetlights illuminated the wet cobblestones, making the place seem particularly deserted.

He needed a plan, a plan that would allow him to get close to White Rose without arousing the suspicion of Mr. Huang Sanye and "Zero".

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. He remembered Liu Ruyan's previous comment: Although Bai Meigui rarely interacted with guests, she seemed to have a special affinity for music and art. Perhaps he could start from this aspect.

He forged an identity as a wealthy businessman from Southeast Asia, and had some knowledge of Western culture and art, which was just the opportunity for him to get close to White Rose.

After making up his mind, Lu Yang turned the car around and drove towards the photo studio.

Over the next few days, Lu Yang began to cultivate an image of himself as a wealthy, "romantic" Nanyang businessman with a love for art. He frequented the city's upscale establishments, attending cocktail parties and art salons, socializing with celebrities and spending lavishly. Meanwhile, he began to quietly inquire about White Rose.

He learned that Bai Meigui wasn't a native of the mountain city, but rather had drifted here from Shanghai several years ago. She was not only a talented singer but also a pianist, possessing a profound understanding of Western classical music. She lived a secluded life, rarely appearing in public except for her performances at the Paramount. Her past remained unknown, a mystery.

This information made Lu Yang even more curious about Bai Meigui, but also more wary. The presence of a woman of unknown origin, brilliant talent, and mysterious behavior in a mountain town like this, where good and bad people mixed together, was inherently fraught with suspicion.

That night, Lu Yang came to the Paramount again. He did not go directly to Bai Meigui like last time, but sat in a booth like an ordinary guest, drinking and enjoying the performance on the stage.

When Bai Meigui took the stage again to sing, Lu Yang's eyes followed her all the time. Her voice was still moving, but Lu Yang caught a glimpse of hard-to-conceal melancholy and fatigue in the depths of her eyes.

After the song, Bai Meigui walked off the stage and headed towards the bar as usual. Lu Yang saw the right moment and stood up to follow her.

"Miss Bai, your singing is truly intoxicating." Lu Yang walked up to her with a sincere smile of praise on his face.

Bai Meigui turned around and saw Lu Yang. A subtle flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Mr. Lu, you're too kind." Her voice remained cold and distant.

"May I have the honor to treat Miss Bai to a drink?" Lu Yang asked politely.

White Rose hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to refuse, but finally nodded. "Okay, but I can only drink one glass."

The two sat down at the bar, and Lu Yang ordered her a glass of "Midnight Sunshine", which she usually drank.

"Mr. Lu seems to be very knowledgeable about music?" Bai Meigui asked casually, picking up the wine glass and shaking it gently.

"I have a basic understanding of it." Lu Yang smiled. "When I was in Nanyang, I came into contact with some Western music and art, and I liked them quite a lot." He began to guide the topic calmly, talking about Chopin's nocturnes, Beethoven's sonatas, and even Impressionist paintings.

Bai Meigui's eyes gradually brightened, and the coldness on her face melted a little. She was clearly very interested in these topics, and her conversation with Lu Yang became increasingly speculative. The two of them talked about music, literature, painting, and philosophy, as if they had found a soulmate.

Lu Yang was secretly delighted. It seemed his strategy had worked. This White Rose indeed had an extraordinary love for art.

However, just when the two were chatting enthusiastically, an uninvited guest interrupted their conversation.

Mr. Huang San appeared behind them at some point, a half-smile on his face. "Boss Lu, Miss Bai, are you enjoying your chat?"

Lu Yang and Bai Meigui turned their heads at the same time and saw Mr. Huang Sanye. A trace of panic flashed in Bai Meigui's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

"Third Master." Bai Meigui stood up and called out respectfully.

"Hello, Mr. Huang San." Lu Yang also stood up and bowed.

"Boss Lu is really a man of elegance. Not only does he have a big business, he also has such profound insights into art. It really makes us, the crude people, ashamed." Mr. Huang San said with a forced smile, but his eyes glanced back and forth between Lu Yang and Bai Meigui with a hint of inquiry and warning.

Lu Yang knew that Third Master Huang was trying to criticize him again. He smiled and said, "Third Master, you're joking. I'm just showing off my skills in front of an expert, which makes me laugh. Miss Bai, on the other hand, is very talented and worthy of admiration."

"Oh? Really?" Mr. Huang turned his gaze to Bai Meigui, his tone becoming somewhat playful. "Rose, it seems you and Boss Lu get along very well."

Bai Meigui's face turned pale, and she quickly lowered her head and said, "Third Master, you're joking. Mr. Lu and I were just chatting casually."

"Just chatting?" Mr. Huang sneered, "I heard that you rarely chat with guests for this long."

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Lu Yang knew that he couldn't stay any longer, otherwise it might cause trouble for Bai Meigui.

"Third Master, Miss Bai, it's getting late. I still have some things to take care of, so I'll take my leave first." Lu Yang stood up and said goodbye.

"Goodbye, Mr. Lu." Mr. Huang nodded and said nothing more.

Lu Yang left the Paramount, but his heart remained restless for a long time. The appearance of Mr. Huang San interrupted his conversation with Bai Meigui, and made him more certain that Bai Meigui's situation was not as good as it seemed, and that she was likely under Mr. Huang Sangui's control.

Bai Meigui's love for art and the melancholy in her eyes made Lu Yang feel that she might not be a completely willing pawn. Deep in her heart, she seemed to be hiding unknown secrets and struggles.

Who is this woman, and what is the complex relationship between her and Zero?

Lu Yang felt he was getting closer to the truth, but the road ahead was becoming increasingly dangerous. He needed to be even more cautious to uncover the mystery surrounding White Rose and find the "Zero" hiding behind it. He had a vague feeling that the story between him and White Rose had only just begun. This trial might have sown a subtle seed between him and White Rose.

After leaving the Paramount, Lu Yang didn't immediately return to the photo studio. Mr. Huang's presence was like a thorn in his heart. His obvious desire to control Bai Meigui made Lu Yang even more worried about her situation and even more suspicious of the relationship between Mr. Huang and "Zero."

He parked his car on a quiet street corner, lit a cigarette, and let the nicotine's pungent taste stimulate his nerves. He needed to calm down and sort out the clues again.

Just then, a slight knocking sound came from outside the car window.

Lu Yang turned his head warily and saw a thin, half-grown child in tattered clothes standing timidly outside the car window, holding a folded note in his hand.

"Sir, someone asked me to give this to you." The child's voice was as thin as a mosquito, and his eyes were full of timidity.

Lu Yang lowered the car window and took the note, observing the child calmly. He looked malnourished and ragged, clearly a common street kid in the mountain town.

"Who asked you to deliver it?" Lu Yang asked.

The child shook his head. "I don't know. It was an uncle wearing a hat who gave me a dollar and told me to wait here for a black car."

An uncle wearing a hat? Lu Yang frowned. He didn't know such a person. Could it be a trap?

He opened the note, which contained only a short line of words in beautiful handwriting, with a faint scent of ink: "Tomorrow evening at midnight, in the abandoned warehouse at the riverside dock, you will find the answer you seek. - White Rose"

White roses?!

Lu Yang's heart skipped a beat. It was Bai Meigui who contacted him? What did she want to tell him? Was this a trap?

He looked at the beautiful handwriting on the note and thought of White Rose's deep, melancholy eyes. His intuition told him that this might not be a trap. White Rose seemed to have something important to tell him, perhaps even asking for his help.

However, the risks were equally enormous. The abandoned warehouse at the riverside docks, with its remote location, was the perfect place to silence someone. If this was a trap set by Mr. Huang or "Zero," he would likely walk right into it if he went.

To go or not to go?

Lu Yang fell into deep thought. His fingers tapped the steering wheel lightly, his mind racing.

Finally, he decided to take a chance. White Rose was his only chance to break through, and he couldn't let it go. Furthermore, he had developed an indescribable curiosity and desire to explore that mysterious woman.

"Take this dollar and go home quickly." Lu Yang took out a few dollars from his pocket and handed them to the child.

When the child saw the money, his eyes lit up. He took the money, thanked the owner repeatedly, and then ran away quickly.

Lu Yang watched the child disappear into the night, his eyes growing determined. Tomorrow night at midnight, at the riverside dock, he wanted to see what awaited him.

The next day, Lu Yang made preparations without making any announcements. He carefully checked his weapons and equipment, and notified Lao Wei, asking him to lead his men to set up an ambush near the riverside dock, ready to respond at any time.

"Boss, this is too dangerous! What if it's a trap?" Old Wei advised worriedly.

"I know there are risks." Lu Yang patted Lao Wei's shoulder, "But we can't miss any chance to find 'Zero'. Don't worry, I'll be fine."