After Zhang Ke’s identity was exposed, the organization stopped assigning tasks to her. All she was in charge of was keeping an eye on Ling Tianya.
However, it was a grueling and torturous mission for her.
She had spent nearly five years with Ling Tianya, spending most days and nights with her. She could feel the sincerity that Ling Tianya had poured out on her over the years, her care and her teachings.
Hence, every time she caught Ling Tianya staring at her warily with her guard up, her heart ached and she was in agony.
She wished that Ling Tianya would hate her, curse her and despise her completely with all her heart. She wouldn’t even mind if Ling Tianya hit her. She would not retaliate or defend herself.
She knew that she deserved that. She had lied to Ling Tianya and had cheated her mentor out of her feelings and sincerity.
Once trust was broken, it was impossible to get it back.
This was Zhang Ke’s disaster. She tried her best to be good to Ling Tianya. She prepared all the dishes that she enjoyed and prepared clothes in the style that Ling Tianya would enjoy as well, hoping that she would at least live comfortably here.
Besides this, there was nothing else she could do.
Emerging from the kitchen, Zhang Ke was carrying a fruit platter filled with imported fruits. She carefully peeled and cut the fruits into bite-sized pieces. She wanted to do all she could for Ling Tianya.
Mark walked towards her, and Zhang Ke frowned at the sight of him. She despised this man and she was about to walk around him.
But Mark blocked her path and looked at the plate of fruit. “This is for that woman?”
Zhang Ke ignored him and continued walking in the opposite direction, but Mark followed behind her quickly.
Zhang Ke was getting annoyed and she frowned. “What do you want?”
Mark shrugged and said, “Nothing, I was just wondering if you’re providing too cushy a life for that woman.”
“I’m just obeying Boss’s orders by taking care of Ling Tianya. I don’t think I’m doing anything out of line.” Zhang Ke’s tone was cold. “Please get out of my way if you don’t have anything important to say.”
Zhang Ke’s attitude made Mark’s blood boil, but he quickly remembered what the woman had said to him before he came to look for Zhang Ke. He controlled his temper and gave way to her. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us. Shall we sit down and have a proper chat?”
Mark initiated peace and walked with Zhang Ke to Ling Tianya’s room.
“I don’t think it’s necessary for us to talk about anything. I thought you always thought of me as an enemy? You and your brothers are the ones doing the dirty work. You are wanted by international police and you have to live in the dark, while I’m a spy and I do undercover work. I get to live in the sun. I get to live a much more glamorous life compared to you.”
Zhang Ke was right. Mark did have a thing against spies. They didn’t need a tattoo on their body to mark them as terrorists. Spies could live an almost normal life like an ordinary person. They could go anywhere that they wanted to and most importantly, they didn’t have to live like a wanted fugitive, worrying about whether tomorrow would come.
They were all from the same organization, but they were treated so differently.
Zhang Ke glanced at Mark coldly. “You only see the glamorous parts of our lives, but you never considered the fact that we would be wanted by everyone and by the organization if we failed our missions. Our fates are even worse than yours. You never considered how we had to abandon our personalities in order to accomplish a mission. Sometimes, we are required to stay undercover for a long time. Just like this time, I stayed by Ling Tianya’s side as Zhang Ke for five years!”
