Setting a Trap

On his way to the hotel, he thought it over several times. It kept him awake at night and he only fell asleep just before dawn. But no matter how much he thought over every possibility, he was still unsure.

If Feng Liwei had the blueprint, then would Winter Breeze have lied?

That must be out of the question since he is an honest, straightforward person, always helpful, and never misleading. Over the past year, he proved his unquestionable loyalty to their common cause and his devotion to the plan they agreed on. So Fuyuki had no reason to doubt him.

But if Winter Breeze didn’t lie then Feng Liwei was the one who did. What he has shown him was either not the genuine thing, and he was just messing with him to see how much he knows and perhaps hinder his plan. Or it was genuine but he somehow managed to get it back.

The thought of Winter Breeze getting captured after being caught stealing such an important document made Fuyuki tear up. He knew that anyone breaking into a governmental facility, hacking the system to get any info from the data core would without a doubt be arrested on the spot. That would explain why Winter Breeze has been silent ever since telling him that he obtained the blueprint. Or did he manage to escape and is now in hiding?

Feng Liwei not telling anything about this would be no surprise of course. He isn’t really the type to go into details about anything he doesn’t deem important. Not to mention that if he suspects Fuyuki colluding with Winter Breeze then it’s in his interest not to say anything so that he can use him.

Unless...

There is also another possibility. It’s not that it didn’t cross Fuyuki’s mind before but he dismissed the idea immediately.

But what if Feng Liwei is actually Winter Breeze?

It does make sense after all. He was there at the bar where Fuyuki was supposed to meet Winter Breeze and he has the blueprint as well. When Fuyuki thought back to their conversations, there were times when Feng Liwei’s words were quite ambiguous and even misleading. Maybe he is reading too much into it but he wouldn’t know the truth if he doesn’t take a risk.

Fuyuki looked around, looking at all the ministers and delegates chatting and drinking as their farewell dinner was served, and thought that this peaceful coexistence seemed far too illusional. They didn’t even manage to agree on every point of the agenda but everyone is acting like everything is just how it should be. Only for each of them to go back to their own country and criticize the other for their different opinion while failing to discuss it properly and reach an agreement in person.

He glanced at Feng Liwei, who seemed to avoid looking at him and was too absorbed in a conversation with a minister sitting next to him.

I have to do something. I have to know for sure where we stand.

Fuyuki took a bite of the fish on his plate and chewed it slowly as if prolonging the moment before taking action. He wanted to know the truth but also dreaded it.

“I see you don’t have an appetite.”

Fuyuki looked in the direction of the voice he heard and saw that Yamada guy looking at him from across the table.

“I’m just not that hungry is all,” he replied indifferently.

“Oh... I thought there was something else,” he grinned at Fuyuki. “You seem to be the type who likes eating,”

“I do,” he said as an android put down some salad on the table. “What about you?” he asked just to say something.

“I also like eating of course but I try to pay attention to how much I eat because I don’t want to end up like certain people.”

By certain people, Yamada definitely meant those slightly or not-so-slightly overweight politicians and delegates, who looked like a well-fed duck just before roasting. As for him and Fuyuki, they were nowhere near fat and their body weight was just right for their height.

“I see.”

“So much for the parents asking for the perfect child before birth if the child modified to be perfect messes up their plan after being born,” Yamada said scornfully.

“Maybe they are happy that way,” Fuyuki told him, thinking that he could care less about other people’s eating habits.

“Ugh, I can’t even imagine that.”

“Then don’t imagine it,” Fuyuki replied and glanced in the direction of Feng Liwei.

The Major was still chatting while eating as if only the people sitting before and next to him existed and no one else. This pissed him off somehow and made him put down his fork.

He reached into his pocket, and after taking out his phone, he wrote a message under the table. But just before sending it, he looked up and looked at Feng Liwei from the corner of his eye then pressed send with his finger hovering over the device.

He had to be bold and take the risk to set a trap so that he could finally get to know the truth once and for all. He just has to know. If it’s not him, it’s also fine. Then he will explain everything to Winter Breeze later and arrange a meeting with him. Strangely enough, he felt a slight disappointment at the thought of Winter Breeze being someone else but he tried not to think about it. He waited patiently instead waiting for any sign that might be out of the ordinary.

He didn’t have to wait for long.

A few seconds later just as the Major raised his glass to drink, his wristband must have signaled an incoming message as he suddenly looked at it. Quite a coincidence no matter how Fuyuki looked at it. Feng Liwei nonchalantly looked at the message while drinking as if it was nothing important then almost spit out his drink and he started coughing vigorously.

Wintry Tree to Winter Breeze:

Will you marry me?