When Song Qiao said this, Kanonina returned.
A flicker of surprise crossed Song Qiao's face.
"Why did you come back?"
Kanonina's face was creased with a smile.
"Song, my dear. Your valiant posture is deeply etched in my mind… Yes, with you, so heroic, I simply can't muster any resistance."
"You've captured my heart, Song. I wish I could stay, always by your side."
Kanonina looked at Song Qiao with burning eyes, filled with ardent love.
Unlike the subtlety of the Chinese, people of Snow Country expressed love more directly.
In their understanding, love should be pursued actively and assertively.
Not kept hidden in the heart.
After hearing Kanonina's bold and passionate confession, Song Qiao, though surprised, didn't say much.
He gave Kanonina a smile and nodded gently.
"Of course, you can stay, my dear Miss Kanonina."
"However, in our China, there is a saying, 'If two people's love is deep and long-lasting, what need is there for day and night togetherness?'"
"'A beautiful phrase, but… what exactly does it mean?'"
Kanonina, whose understanding of Chinese was not deep enough, could only manage simple daily conversation and naturally had not delved into classical poetry, thus failing to grasp its artistic conception.
"It means that if two people truly love each other, they won't be concerned with the gains and losses of a single day or night, because they are destined to be together forever."
"I understand your meaning, Song."
After Song Qiao's explanation, Kanonina nodded, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Then, I will leave for real this time. Song, my dear, I hope you won't keep me waiting too long."
"I promise."
With Song Qiao's assurance, Kanonina happily walked away.
"Are all you people from Snow Country this passionate and proactive?"
Song Qiao asked Alice with a smile.
"What?"
Alice, still somewhat overwhelmed by the sweet display, didn't react immediately.
"Nothing," Song Qiao shook his head, then turned and led Alice away.
They arrived at a cafe on the street corner.
In a warm corner, listening to melodious old records, Song Qiao leaned back on the sofa and smiled.
"Now, you can tell me."
Alice saw the seriousness in Song Qiao's eyes and sighed inwardly.
"This is a very long story. Where should I begin…"
Alice's tone became distant, and a glint of memory appeared in her eyes.
"Actually, Xue Rong Camp is a place that only takes in homeless women. From cultivating their looks and temperament to mastering qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Xue Rong Camp has professional teachers to guide them in all knowledge that enhances a woman's charm."
"After five to eight years of training, those with outstanding performance are sent to important political and military figures, while those slightly less capable are sent to wealthy merchants and tycoons, thereby obtaining various intelligence and information."
At this point, a bitter smile appeared on Alice's face, and she continued self-mockingly.
"I entered Xue Rong Camp when I was twelve years old, systematically learning music, dance, art appreciation, opera… anything related to intelligence and skills that could enhance charm had corresponding teachers providing guidance at Xue Rong Camp."
"Even for high-priority individuals on the list, they would receive more targeted special training. For example, if their hometown was known, they would try to learn their hometown dialect and cuisine."
"If they had any special hobbies, they would try to align themselves with those hobbies, making every effort to shape themselves into a 'soulmate' with a high degree of compatibility—at least, to make the target believe so."
Song Qiao nodded, picked up his coffee cup, and took a sip. He didn't interrupt Alice's words, merely saying simply.
"Tell me about yourself."
"Me? As you can see, I was assigned to the China group and began learning Chinese culture and language. Because Chinese characters are pictographic, they require much longer to learn than other groups. My advantage of being young came into play."
"In Xue Rong Camp, I studied Chinese culture, language, and art for nine years… even many things that you would find incredible."
Alice said with a wry smile.
"For example?"
"For example… For example, the sweet and savory tofu pudding debate between the north and south was one of our classic teaching subjects. By the time we had learned sufficiently, we discovered that in the southwestern region of China, people preferred spicy tofu pudding. Due to insufficient data collection in the early stages, our teaching resulted in serious deviations and errors."
Song Qiao suddenly understood.
So, Alice's ability to charm men was not innate, and her superficial understanding of China finally had a perfect explanation.
Song Qiao was curious.
"Then, the question arises, I don't understand why you are afraid of Hanado. Most importantly, what mission are you here in China to carry out?"
Alice finally looked up, meeting Song Qiao's gaze seriously.
"If I told you that I actually have no mission, would you believe me?"
Song Qiao shook his head.
"Since Xue Rong Camp invested so much time, energy, and even money to train you at all costs, and you tell me you have no mission, how could I possibly believe that?"
"Snow Country can't possibly be so wealthy that they would discard a beautiful spy they painstakingly cultivated at a moment's notice."
Indeed.
Whether it was Song Qiao or an ordinary person, upon hearing Alice's answer, they would instinctively deny it.
After all, it sounded too much like a waste of effort with no reward.
Cultivating such an elite at such a labor and expense, only to discard them so readily.
What kind of family was this?
Did they really have a mine at home?
Alice's smile became even more bitter.
"Yes, Song. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't believe it either."
"Something big happened at Xue Rong Camp once. A spy from Xue Rong Camp caused a tremendous scandal… Regarding this matter, Song, if you usually pay attention to the news, you should have heard about it."
Upon hearing this, Song Qiao's interest was immediately piqued.
He looked at Alice and casually asked, feigning composure.
"Oh? Then tell me, what news are you referring to?"
Alice said, word by word: "The Jiangmen Incident!"