Fuxi Road is far away from Sichuan North Road. If you take a tram or rickshaw, it will take at least an hour to get there.
In order to meet Fang Yongyan as soon as possible, Xu Siqi called a taxi. Even if someone asked about it afterwards, at least the time would match.
Twenty minutes later, the taxi entered Sichuan North Road. The driver glanced at the rearview mirror and said, "Sir, we have arrived at Sichuan North Road. Do you want to continue going forward?"
Xu Siqi glanced out of the car window and said, "Stop."
The taxi stopped slowly on the street. Xu Siqi paid the fare and asked, "Excuse me, is there a cleaner hotel nearby?"
"Yes. Cyclamen, Shunfa, and Liuheshun are all very good. Oh, and there is also a Japanese-owned Sakura Hotel, just in the alley in front." The driver pointed.
"OK, thanks."
"Sir, walk slowly."
Xu Siqi got out of the car, followed the driver's instructions, and walked for about five minutes. He saw an eye-catching signboard at the entrance of the alley: Sakura Hotel.
He walked around the neighborhood, bought a pack of Big Hero cigarettes at a tobacco stall, bought a newspaper along the way, and secretly observed the situation around him.
After confirming that there was no danger, Xu Siqi stepped into the alley.
Sakura Hotel is a three-story European-style building with a total of more than 30 rooms. Among ordinary hotels, the scale of operation is not small.
The front room on the first floor is small. The bar is in the corner facing the door. There are sofas for guests to rest around, and there is a coffee table in the middle of the sofa.
The boss must have followed the local customs. The interior decoration is not purely Japanese style. There are many murals of ancient Chinese idioms in the corridors, which are very interesting with pictures and texts.
The guests staying here are mainly Japanese, followed by Chinese, and then people from Europe and the United States.
In front of the bar, the boss was busy checking in the guests, so Xu Siqi didn't waste any time and went straight upstairs along the stairs.
The missing object notice stated that it was Room 5, but Fang Yongyan actually lived in Room 11 across the street. This was done to have a backup plan. If the enemy noticed it, he would at least have a chance to escape through the back window.
There was silence in the corridor. Xu Siqi reached out and knocked on the door. The door mirror dimmed and the door opened immediately.
Fang Yongyan, a man with a thin face, a fashionable middle-parted hairstyle, and a pair of black-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, said with a smile: "I've been waiting for you for a long time, please come in."
After closing the door, the two big hands held each other tightly.
During their stay in Japan, the two got along well, and their interests and hobbies complemented each other well, making them a good mentor and friend.
Now, we meet again after more than a year, and even a thousand words cannot express the excitement at this moment.
Fang Yongyan said: "Comrade Siqi, I was very surprised when I saw the contact code you left. I remember that the schooling period of Etajima Military Academy is three years. Why did you come back halfway?"
Xu Siqi said: "I was expelled from school."
"Expelled? Why?" Fang Yongyan took the thermos bottle and made Xu Siqi a cup of hot tea.
"It's a long story...Old Fang, my time is very tight, so I'd better pick the important things to talk about first."
"Okay, you say."
"My current identity is that of a patrol officer at the Foch Road patrol house. I am temporarily living at No. 330 Foch Road. The person I live with is Zheng Zheng, an operative of the Secret Service buried in the concession. Oh, he and I are
Classmate, when I first came to Shanghai, I didn’t know his true identity. In addition, there is a man named Zhou Weilong who wants me to join the Secret Service. I am anxious to see you, mainly for this matter..."
"Zhou Weilong?"
"Yes. Do you know him?"
Fang Yongyan smiled slightly: "Not only do we know each other, we are old friends who have known each other for many years but have never met. Zhou Weilong has been looking for me, but unfortunately, I don't want to see him yet... How did you meet him?"
Xu Siqi briefly recounted how he first arrived in Shanghai and unexpectedly met Zhou Weilong.
After some careful consideration, Fang Yongyan quickly made a decision and said: "Comrade Siqi, I completely agree with you about joining the Secret Service. With your status as a patrol officer and the status of the Secret Service, you will have a great influence on future development."
Working underground is extremely beneficial!”
Xu Siqi said: "There is one more thing..."
"boom!"
Suddenly there was a gunshot in the corridor, followed by a woman's high-octave scream: "It's murder! Someone, come quickly!"
Fang Yongyan was taken aback and hurried to the door and peeked out through the door mirror.
A middle-aged man was lying on his back on the ground. He had been shot in the chest. The blood stains on his white shirt were shocking. It looked like he would most likely not survive.
Fang Yongyan secretly complained in his heart. He chose to meet at the Sakura Hotel mainly because of safety issues. After all, this is a hotel run by Japanese.
There are many Japanese overseas on Sichuan North Road, and even the people in charge of security are patrolled by Japanese nationals. Under normal circumstances, Sakura Hotel is indeed the best place to meet.
I never expected that something unexpected would happen in the place I thought was the safest.
As soon as the gunshots are fired, the police will rush over at any time, and since a murder has occurred at the scene, the identities of the passengers will definitely be checked one by one.
Fang Yongyan quickly put on his coat, took out a black leather suitcase from the cabinet, and said to Xu Siqi: "Let's go separately. I'll go through the front door and you go through the side door. I'll go find you after a while."
Xu Siqi had no choice. He wanted to talk about Qiao Zhendong's situation. Seeing that the situation was urgent at this moment, leaving the scene as soon as possible was the wisest choice.
The reason why Fang Yongyan went through the main entrance was because he used forged documents and did not have to worry about being discovered.
The boss was hiding in the bar. When he heard footsteps coming from the stairs, he cautiously poked his head out and asked Fang Yongyan, "Liu Sang, where are you going?"
"There was a murder in the hotel. I can't stay here anymore." Fang Yongyan said without looking back.
After coming out of the Sakura Hotel, a group of patrolmen ran towards him with rifles in hand. He quickly turned sideways and lowered the brim of his hat, pretending to read the books on the newsstand on the street.
After the patrol officers left, Fang Yongyan called a rickshaw and said, "Yong'an Department Store."
…………
Lucia Restaurant is less than 100 meters away from the Sakura Hotel. The owner is a Tsarist Guards officer, and the employees employed in the restaurant are all White Russians, including cooks, waiters, cleaners, etc.
At this moment, Gu Qingcheng was alone in a corner, holding her chin with one hand as if thinking deeply.
"Linglong, are you anxious about waiting?" Xu Siqi pulled out a chair and sat down.
Gu Qingcheng took a deep breath, with a serious expression on her face, and said, "There is something I must tell you!"
Xu Siqi smiled and said: "We have a lot of time, let's order food first, okay?"
"...Okay." Gu Qingcheng secretly made up his mind that he could no longer hide the fact that he was pretending to be Linglong from Xu Siqi.