Ning Xi and I were once the closest of partners, a special-ops duo who had faced life and death together.
That changed when, during one mission, I drew the role of pretending to be her husband. Someone sabotaged us, and our act became a real marriage.
She blamed me for taking the title of husband that should have belonged to the man she loved.
I blamed her for marrying me out of spite when she didn't love me.
We were at each other's throats for five years, each wishing the other dead.
Then our old enemy came after us, tying me up on a cruise ship to threaten Ning Xi. "One of you dies, the other lives. You choose."
When the gun went off, she lunged in front of me, grabbed our enemy, and jumped into the sea, taking them both to their deaths.
As she jumped, she said, "If there's another life, let's just be partners. Let's not be husband and wife again."
I watched helplessly as the sea churned red, then the ripples faded away.
The next second, the bomb beneath my seat reached zero.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we drew lots.
I stepped forward first and snatched up the two long sticks. "There's no need to draw. I'll go undercover alone."
This time, I'll give her what she wants and stop being an obstacle to their love.
