Undercover: Old Verse, New Words

At seventeen, she ranked first in both operations and communications at the Linli Special Training Class. Her classmates called her “the Blade.”

She spent three years undercover in Wang Jingwei’s puppet regime. When her cover was blown, she took a bullet in the right arm, sent off one last coded message with her left hand, and clawed her way out alive.

But she could never hold a gun with her right hand again. She became a spare part.

After Dai Li died in a plane crash and the Juntong was on the verge of chaos, her cousin Shen Zui transferred her to Tianjin. Wu Jingzhong found her a post as head of the General Affairs Office.

She met Li Ya in the first spring after peace came. He carried a medal in his pocket.

At Jinshanwei, her brother had saved Li Ya. Later, that medal took a bullet meant for Li Ya.

He wanted to look after her. She didn’t need him to.

Her brother had died for his country, not just for Li Ya. She didn’t need anyone’s pity, either.

But some things can’t be avoided just by wishing not to face them.

Like being drawn to each other despite themselves.

Like falling in love with someone they shouldn’t.