37-2：A Life Undercover

Gu Feng Island is not a typical island. It is surrounded by the sea on three sides and connected to Guangzhou on the fourth. As one moves inland, the terrain rises, revealing a variety of villas, each with its own unique style. Sunlight bathes the tranquil roads, and a small river flows silently under the dense canopy of towering banyan trees, adding to the serene ambiance. The fifty or so garden-style independent courtyards exude an air of aristocratic leisure that naturally slows the hurried pace of visitors.

Villa 39 on Gu Feng Island is the private residence of Lin Qing. This two-story building features a garden, garage, European-style fireplace, American sofas, and all the accoutrements that signify its owner's prestige. The interior design and furniture styles are in harmony, reflecting elegance and modernity. The state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment blends seamlessly with the natural stone TV wall, creating a dialogue between classical and contemporary styles.

Rui Xiaodan moved into Villa 39 under her new identity. This villa was a far cry from the one her mother owned in the Rose Garden Community. If the Rose Garden villa were placed here, it would be considered merely a detached house.

From the moment she moved in, Rui Xiaodan ceased to exist. She was now Xia Yu, a 28-year-old from Beijing, a graduate of Nanjing Foreign Language Institute, and a former German translator for China Import and Export Company, who resigned in August 1994. Her legal occupation was as a caretaker of Villa 39, employed by the owner, Lin Qing. She had a new identity, complete with a Beijing resident ID, Beijing driver's license, Guangzhou temporary residence permit, Guangzhou BoDa Library card, Guangzhou WanGuo Plaza discount card, and a Guangzhou People's Bank passbook.

For the first few days, Xiaodan, now Xia Yu, made it a point to be out and about, familiarizing herself with the city. Her role required her to know Guangzhou well. Her clothing, cosmetics, and even details like a lighter were meticulously chosen. She memorized her contact protocols, both regular and emergency, and the principles, rules, and the background of Xia Yu and Lin Qing's relationship. She awaited the appearance of Shen Nan.

A week later, one afternoon, while browsing a Buddhist website's chatroom, the doorbell rang. She checked the security monitor and saw a stylishly dressed, fit young woman standing at the garden gate, holding a brown suitcase. This was Shen Nan, finally making her appearance.

Xiaodan picked up the intercom. "Sorry, I don't know you. Who are you?"

Shen Nan explained, "Are you Miss Xia Yu? I'm from Nan Nan Fitness Center, my name is Shen Nan. A friend of mine returned from the U.S. and asked me to bring you something from his friend Lin Qing. He said you'd know about it. My friend was in a hurry to catch his flight and couldn't deliver it himself, so he asked me to. Sorry for the confusion."

Xiaodan replied, "Oh, I know about that. Thank you for the trouble. Please come in." She buzzed the gate open and opened the front door to greet her guest.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xiaodan took the suitcase, invited Shen Nan to change into slippers, and led her to the living room. She fetched a drink from the fridge and offered it to Shen Nan. "Please, have a drink."

Shen Nan opened the bottle and took a sip, smiling. "No need to be so formal. You can call me Xiao Nan. My friend mentioned that the lighter inside needs Zippo brand fuel, which can't be brought on planes. But no worries, you can buy it at the Zippo store."

Xiaodan moved her still-open laptop aside to make space on the coffee table, placed the suitcase on it, and began searching for the lighter. She removed a handbag and two pairs of jeans to the sofa and quickly found an exquisite lighter box.

Shen Nan admired the items with a hint of envy. "Wow, all world-renowned brands!"

The lighter was an American Zippo, a precious metal edition, beautifully crafted. The handbag was a classic, high-end model from French brand Fendi. The perfume was KL-NOS from the U.S., epitomizing noble femininity. The lingerie was from Wglmorz, a luxury brand with over fifty years of history, embodying beauty, sensuality, and unique allure. The jeans were a super low-rise women's model from American brand Levi's, designed to showcase sensuality, energy, and confidence.

Shen Nan remarked enviously, "Your husband must really love you."

Xiaodan lit a cigarette and took a drag. "Didn't your friend tell you? Even the security here knows my role. There's no need for pretense. I'm what people call a kept woman."

Shen Nan was taken aback, feeling a bit awkward. "Actually... you have a great aura. You don't look like one. I've seen such women, always shopping or playing mahjong."

Xiaodan said, "It's not about looks, just the price."

Shen Nan asked, "Aren't you afraid? This is considered bigamy."

Xiaodan replied, "I'm employed to watch the house. What crime is that?"

Shen Nan asked, "Why do this?"

Xiaodan said, "For money."

Shen Nan asked, "What did you do before?"

Xiaodan replied, "Translator."

Shen Nan said, "You're beautiful and talented. You could go abroad or marry a wealthy man."

Xiaodan flicked her cigarette ash. "Abroad isn't my kitchen, where I can go at will. Wealthy men aren't eggs in a market, to grab as I please. Shen Nan, we aren't discussing the same social class."

Shen Nan glanced at the laptop on the coffee table and smoothly changed the subject. "I see you're on a Buddhist website. Are you a believer?"

Xiaodan said, "What's there to believe? I just kill time reading chats when I'm bored."

Seeing the conversation was stalling, Shen Nan checked her watch. "Oh, it's getting late. I have business to attend to. I think you're quite refined. It was fate meeting you today. I'll visit you again."

Xiaodan asked, "How did you get here?"

Shen Nan said, "I took a taxi."

Xiaodan said, "Oh, let me drive you back."

Shen Nan didn't refuse and happily stood up. "Great, you can see my place. My fitness center isn't high-end, but it's decent. You can visit anytime."

Xiaodan shut down the laptop, put her cigarette in her bag, changed her shoes, and left with Shen Nan. She used a remote to open the garage, started a black Lexus with another remote, drove out, and locked the garage.

Shen Nan got in the passenger seat and said, "To Xikang Road."

It was rush hour, peak traffic time. Xiaodan skillfully avoided congested routes, showing her familiarity with Guangzhou's streets. In about twenty minutes, they arrived at Nan Nan Fitness Center on Xikang Road. Xiaodan parked briefly to let Shen Nan out, signaling she didn't intend to go in.

Shen Nan said, "Since we're at my door, come in for a bit. Don't make me look bad."

Xiaodan hesitated modestly but then parked and entered the fitness center. The role of Xia Yu required appropriate humility, an important feature of her inner personality conflict.

The fitness area was over 100 square meters, with two air conditioners providing good ventilation, almost eliminating the smell of materials and carpet. The equipment was neatly arranged, with about twenty people working out in various ways. The ceiling lights softly illuminated every corner, neither too bright nor too dim.

Passing a dumbbell rack, a European-looking young man stared at Xiaodan. As she walked by, he muttered in German, "Damn, she's hot!"

Whether in China or Germany, Xiaodan was used to such remarks. Normally, she ignored them, but today, she needed to use this to naturally confirm her identity. She stopped, turned, and fluently said in German, "Boy, watch your mouth!"

The young man was stunned. "You... you understood? I thought you didn't. Sorry!"

Xiaodan asked in German, "And if I didn't understand?"

He smiled awkwardly. "If you didn't understand, you'd think I said, 'Miss, you're beautiful!' You'd be happy, and so would I."

Shen Nan, not understanding, approached the young man, obviously a regular. "What's going on?"

He awkwardly said in rough Chinese, "Sorry, I said something rude."

Shen Nan asked Xiaodan, "What did he say?"

Xiaodan said, "Never mind, he apologized."

They walked a few steps to an exercise mat. Shen Nan said, "How is it? Decent, right?"

Xiaodan said, "Very nice."

Shen Nan led her to a multi-gym machine. "Try it out." She called a female trainer over. "Show Miss Xia how to use this. I'll be right back." She smiled at Xiaodan and quickly went to her office.

The trainer enthusiastically explained the multi-gym machine, demonstrating some moves. Xiaodan thought, "I must not use this. Any small detail might reveal professional training." She listened, asking questions but never using the machine.

Shen Nan soon returned. The trainer politely smiled and left. Shen Nan handed Xiaodan a newly filled membership card. "Just a little token. You can't refuse."

It was a one-year fitness membership card. Xiaodan said, "I can't accept this."

Shen Nan laughed. "I felt a connection with you at first sight. You're delightful to talk to. Don't worry, I'm not that poor. I can manage a meal or shopping trip."

Xiaodan accepted, "Thank you very much."

Shen Nan checked her watch. "It's dinner time. Since it's your first visit, I can't let you leave hungry. Let's go to Gourmet World for some steamed buns."

Xiaodan said, "Maybe another time. I want to go home."

Shen Nan, also adept at social cues, said, "Alright, there's always next time."

Xiaodan said goodbye, and Shen Nan saw her to the door, watching until her car disappeared down the road.

Back at Gu Feng Island, Xiaodan meticulously reviewed her interaction with Shen Nan, recalling every detail and word. Satisfied, she went to the kitchen, made some instant dumplings, had dinner, took a hot shower, and then logged onto her computer.

She opened a website called "Boundless Horizon," entered her username and password, and clicked the "Login" button. A series of entry codes appeared. She selected "3128," entered another password, and accessed a text chat window—an absolutely secure internal communication channel for the police.

She typed: "Boss? This is Xia Yu."

The reply: "The boss isn't here. I'm the duty manager. Please proceed."

Xia Yu: "Received the package. Made contact with Shen Nan."

Duty Manager: "How do you evaluate your performance?"

Xia Yu: "It was acceptable."

Duty Manager: "Good. Shen Nan's appearance marks a significant shift from speculation to inference, though it's not yet legal evidence. The fitness center's clientele includes foreigners, which isn't unusual."

Xia Yu: "Understood."

Duty Manager: "How do you plan to handle the package?"

Xia Yu: "Tricky. Leaving it untouched seems unreasonable."

Duty Manager: "Use the jeans, handbag, and lighter. Leave the rest untouched. Follow common sense."

Xia Yu: "They're expensive. Won't you later force me to buy them and dock my pay?"

Duty Manager: "Haha, no guarantees. Flexibility in the system, depending on the boss. Work hard, and you can use your bonus to offset it. A little expense for the job is fine."

Duty Manager: "I heard you want to quit and study abroad."

Xia Yu: "Manager, that's outside the scope of this report, isn't it?"

Duty Manager: "Just chatting, no harm."

Xia Yu: "It's not that I don't want to be a detective. Women age fast and are quickly replaced. When I can't keep up, I'll be a burden."

Duty Manager: "What a pity. You're a good detective. Your director says you're sharp."

Xia Yu: "Oh? Encouraging! Haha…"