Thursday, January 3, 1636.

The first heavy snow of the new year, as if summoned to come, came on the night of Tao Xinmei's album release solo concert.

The Manchester Opera House, located in the south of Manchester City, was packed, and the concert site, which can only accommodate 1,500 people, was packed, and the presence of President Li Ping in person made people have high expectations for this concert. The price of private transfer tickets has risen from $2 to $5, and those who can pay to watch it are basically high-income people.

"Snowflakes are falling, and how much love is floating. Snowflakes fly, how many love stories have flew. The lotus flower blooms in the middle of the snow, how much hope, how much wish. Silently waiting for a lover, I hope the affection will never change. Snowflakes, flying, flying all over the sky......"

In the 17th century, when entertainment was still scarce, even with the beauty of all kinds of avant-garde elements, music, like food, there were still few kinds of life enjoyment that could resonate with people from different cultures. If Jenny mostly touches her audience with more modern or Western emotions, Tao Xinmei is a typical oriental emotional outpouring, and her audience will be more extensive.

Jenny has gradually retired from her singing career to focus on music teaching and management of Manchester City Radio, and Tao Xinmei has become a new generation of leaders who support the fashion of beautiful music. The first public performance of the album "Snow Love" aroused great interest among the citizens of the capital.

Whether old or new, the lyrics of each song will inevitably have the word "snow" in it, and what echoes it is that all songs are full of snow-like oriental emotions, which makes people fascinated by half-understanding.

When the last note of "Snow Lotus" landed, almost all the audience stood up and applauded, and many female viewers even brought out a little tears in their feelings.

Tao Xinmei, who was dressed in a snow-white oriental dress like a wedding dress, kept bowing and thanking her, and she was also excited to tears because she successfully held her first solo concert.

All kinds of praise and applause rang out in the backstage studio, and the old employees of Manchester Radio and Manchester City Entertainment, including Jenny, congratulated the young girl who had completely established the image of a beautiful new generation of idols.

"It's so perfect that everyone is intoxicated!"

"yes, yes. I heard that even the president's wife is asking about the time of Xinmei's next concert! ”

"Thank you! Thank you! Tao Xinmei kept nodding her head and sent a sincere response to the colleagues who surrounded her.

"Miss Xinmei, the snow this night belongs to you alone." Jenny walked over with a big belly, and her gentle smile made people's hearts warm.

"Thank you, Sister Jenny......" Thinking of her previous impulsive provocation to Jenny, Tao Xinmei felt extremely ashamed, and she was also deeply grateful for Jenny's generosity.

"The first concert of the new year is so perfect, Xinmei, do you have any wishes? Why don't you invite us to a late-night snack? Just now, the people from the Phantom Club sent us a New Year's Day coupon, which is 7% off! A female colleague clapped her hands and coaxed, and there was laughter in the preparation room.

"Good! I'm in for a treat! Tao Xinmei said. On the other hand, he secretly looked back at Cheng Daxiong, who had been standing behind Jenny from the beginning and was smiling silently.

"Hehe, there are coupons, and the consumption there is not cheap, so I'll have a treat, and when the "Snow Love" album is officially released, Xiao Tao can create a new release record, and then let her have a treat." Cheng Daxiong smiled and split the crowd and announced the supper party program for the New Year's Day holiday.

"Sister Jenny, why don't you go together?" I saw Jenny struggling to touch her big belly and sit aside. Tao Xinmei hurriedly went over to help.

"There are still children waiting at home, so go ahead. Don't let him drink too much. Jenny smiled, not minding that her husband accompanied others to the party at this time.

Knowing that some female colleagues of Cheng Daxiong and Tao Xinmei had some "little scandals" and finally resolved the conflict, they all laughed good-natured at this time.

……

"Your Excellency, Minister. Tao Xinmei and Mr. Cheng are ready to go to the Phantom Club. It should be very late to get home, and everything is planned. ”

Outside the Manchester Opera House, next to a green belt where street lamps can't reach, a dark horse-drawn carriage stands. A military policeman in civilian clothes was muttering softly into the car window.

"Well, go according to plan, the later the better. Don't alarm anyone else, and don't have an accident. Mr. Cheng is a member of Parliament and you should know the sensitivity of such actions. ”

Liu Yun was smoking a cigarette in the airtight carriage, still holding a certain account book in his hand that had not been "returned to the original owner", and he didn't want his subordinates to see his nervous expression.

"Yes, everything is arranged, and it will definitely not cause other people's speculation." The subordinates saluted and quietly retreated.

"Am I making a big deal out of this......" Liu Yun snuffed out the cigarette butt, leaned his head on the back of the chair, closed his eyes, and gradually let out a heavy snort.

In the snowflakes, a team of military police from the Department of Homeland Security has quietly surrounded Tao Quanfu's home in a remote neighborhood on Long Island's western side, and several military and police agents have infiltrated the green belt of the surrounding neighborhood and occupied key positions.

……

Today's Cheng Daxiong seems to be happier than others, on the one hand, his wife has absolute trust in him, and on the other hand, Tao Xinmei has finally put her mind right and truly chose her future.

The $10 bottle of fine wine is empty, the pastries are being eaten up like a stream, the senior account manager at the Phantom Club is smiling from ear to ear because of the high spending of the radio station, and the precious fruit platter purchased from Bermuda overseas during the winter season is also not hesitant to give away several copies.

As the clock approached, many people got drunk and began to leave the venue or go out to the bathroom. The laughter in the private room gradually subsided. Slowly, there were fewer and fewer people in the private room.

Cheng Daxiong's alcohol consumption is still very good in the crossing, and he is restrained, so he is still sober, and Tao Xinmei, who has been with her, supports her chin and looks quietly, as if this posture has never changed.

"Xiao Tao, I have already communicated with your grandfather, I will not interfere with your normal life because of work, any choice you make, Taili will support you!" Looking at Tao Xinmei's pretty face, Cheng Daxiong seemed to think of the shy and timid little girl he saw for the first time a few years ago.

"Thank you, sir, I will definitely work hard and be filial to my grandfather. I will respect Sister Jenny even more. When I get married in the future, I will definitely ask two of you to be my witnesses! As she spoke, Tao Xinmei suddenly shed two lines of tears, but she was still smiling.

"I'm sorry, this is a cocktail from our lobby manager, please use it slowly." I don't know when, there were only two people left in the private room, Tao Xinmei and Cheng Daxiong, and another private room waiter knocked on the door and handed two goblets, which were placed in front of the two of them. Then he walked out of the private room in a playful manner.

"Do you want us to drink? Now we don't have anyone to order anymore. Cheng Daxiong glanced at the empty private room, and felt helpless about those young people saying goodbye like this.

"What a beautiful wine!" The colorful liquid shimmered in the light, and such a beautiful cocktail made Tao Xinmei, who had already drunk a lot, itch again, "Sir, Xinmei will give you another glass at the end!" ”

After saying that, he actually poured two cocktails into one glass, and then shook his hands, revealing an innocent evil smile.

"Hehe, it's still a child's temper. Well, one last cup! After drinking, we will send you to the ferry, otherwise there will be no ferry in another hour. Cheng Daxiong laughed and took the wine glass handed by the other party. Just took a sip.

The spicy of the alcohol, the sweetness and sourness of the juice, and a little bitterness.

There were no other words, and the cocktail of dreamy colors was slowly sipped by Cheng Daxiong. After a few minutes, the glass was empty.

It's almost midnight, by the pier of the East River Ferry. Tao Xinmei, wrapped in a fur fur, stepped on the ferry alone. On the boat, the snowflakes were scattered on her shoulders, and Tao Xinmei was still reluctant. On the shore, Cheng Daxiong was waving his hand with a smile.

……

On a winter night, the shopping streets of Long Island's West End were deserted, and the snowflakes had even drowned out all the carriage prints.

In the distance, it was already his own house, but unlike usual, there was no light at home at this time, as if the grandfather who would wait for him to come home even if it was late had fallen asleep.

"Grandpa?"

Opening the door, Tao Xinmei felt an indescribable gloom, so she cautiously snuggled up to the door and shouted.

"Heart plum...... Run......"

Tao Quanfu's weak groan came from the darkness, as if he had drained all his strength, and he was dying.

A trace of blood penetrated into her nose, Tao Xinmei's whole body trembled, and slowly moved her steps outward, and at this time, around Tao's house, more black shadows gradually appeared.

……

The carriage drove to the river crossing pier in the southern part of Manchester City, and Liu Yun lifted the window of the car and quietly looked at the lights on the other side of the river.

Touching the account book that had been kept in his hand for nearly a month, Liu Yun's mind appeared the scene he had seen in Cheng Daxiong's office at that time, but a few seconds later, the singing in the opera house a few hours ago echoed.

"The operation is terminated immediately!" After staying for a minute, Liu Yun's deep voice finally came out of the carriage, making the subordinates waiting outside the carriage look surprised.

"It should ...... It should be too late, Your Excellency the Minister ......" The subordinate was stunned, and finally squeezed out a sentence.

"Send a flare, immediately transfer a ship, and go over together!" Liu Yun kicked the car door irritably, and his voice raised a lot.

……

Under the silent light of the streetlights, girls in thin winter dresses ran through the snow-covered streets, passing through one intersection after another, heading in the direction of the ferry. The festive atmosphere was dispelled early by the freezing snow, and the West Side of Long Island became extremely eerie at this time, and every closed shop pù exuded an air of indifference, making people afraid to approach.

After running for several minutes in a row, her thin body was exhausted, but the girl did not dare to stop, because she knew that at this moment, many unknown people were already chasing after her.

"Boatman! Let's go! ”

Tao Xinmei ran to the side of the ferry boat with her blackened skirt, and her crisp cry woke up the ferry sailors who were napping on the small stove in the cabin.

"There's still 20 minutes to go, so wait, what if someone else wants to cross the river?" Welcoming the girl onto the boat, the European crew on duty yawned and took out their pocket watches, feeling quite puzzled by the girl who came to take the boat on a snowy day. Take a closer look, ha, isn't this Miss Tao Xinmei, a very famous singer during this time?

"God, honorable Miss Xinmei, are you going to cross the river at this time?!" The European sailors were so excited that they didn't know where to put their hands.

"Sir, please cross the river immediately, someone is chasing me!" Tao Xinmei's body trembled, and her face was pale. He kept looking back at a certain street.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, a group of heavily loaded figures appeared in the snow shadows, all of them looking tired enough.

The steamship was activated, and there was a dull sound of mechanical vibration in the stillness of the winter night. A group of internal military policemen who were still 100 meters away from the ferry terminal were in a hurry at this time, and while running, they also opened the safety and pulled the bolt one after another.

"Squad leader, what to do, they've already driven out!" More than a dozen military policemen ran to the shore out of breath, but the ferry boat had already sailed at least twenty meters. A young girl huddled in a plank cabin could be seen faintly.

"Shoot! She must be stopped! "The young military police lieutenant did not know what was going on, and could only give the order to open fire in accordance with the established regulations for internal operations.

The silence of the snowy night was broken by the firing of more than a dozen 30A rifles, and the high-speed flying bullets instantly pierced the wooden bulkhead of the ferry, splashing sparks of high temperature friction, and the ferry sailor, who was completely unaware of the situation, was killed on the spot.

The piercing sound of bullets shuttling through my ears seemed to be surrounded by startled fireflies. Tao Xinmei shrank her body in the corner and hugged her arms tightly.

Suddenly, I felt that my body was hit by something, and then my whole body was pressed against the bulkhead by a sudden brute force, and then the part that was hit slowly lost consciousness. One bows his head. A bright red color began to appear on the white skirt, and then soaked in.

"Grandpa...... Mr. ...... "The pain made Tao Xinmei lose her strength, and she gradually felt that her body was getting colder and colder, and she couldn't even hear the wind, snow and river whistling in her ears." The outlines of the things in front of me are diluting and expanding, and then darkening......

"Bastard, didn't you see the flare just now, stop moving!"

A carriage came galloping in. Liu Yun almost jumped out of the car and ran towards the ferry terminal, his black trench coat being torn out of shape in the wind and snow......

"Your Excellency, Minister. The ship stopped......" Seeing the terrifying white expression of his superior, the second lieutenant of the military police was so frightened that he could not speak.

……

The sky is slightly bright, the door of the emergency operating room of the capital national hospital is still closed, and in the emergency ward on one side, doctors and nurses are tidying up the previous beds, and the most visible things are red-stained disinfectant veils and torn dresses.

Cheng Daxiong, with bloodshot eyes, stood quietly in the middle of the corridor, staring at the door of the operating room at the end, without any expression on his face. Behind him, Liu Yun also looked at the ground absentmindedly, as if he also had something on his mind.

Finally, the door of the operating room opened, and Zhao Fang, who was the speaker of the House of Representatives, walked over with a hint of sadness and slowly took off his mask.

"Xiao Cheng, we did our best......" Zhao Fang shook his head, turned around and walked away. An operating table covered with snow-white sheets was quietly pushed out, and a few strands of black hair loomed on the edge of the sheets, and several little nurses who had been busy for several hours were whimpering and crying.

Cheng Daxiong walked to the operating table and slowly stretched out his hand, but stopped when he was a few centimeters away.

"Xiao Tao ......" The hoarse voice cracked out of Cheng Daxiong's throat, but there was no response.

A few minutes later, Cheng Daxiong stood alone in another corridor of the hospital, as if waiting for someone.

"Someone robbed Miss Tao's family at night, the gangsters had guns in their hands, and we couldn't rescue in time, so ......" Liu Yun walked over and whispered with a strange expression.

"Hehe, robbery...... Rob...... Looks like she shouldn't be damned, right?! Cheng Daxiong actually laughed, and when he turned around, his face was already full of tears, "Liu Yun, Liu Yun, you are always so suspicious and suspicious, so thoughtful, I should have thought that you would not be so light and erase this matter." I'm afraid that the crew of the ferry ship was also disposed of by you, right? ”

"Brother Cheng, I don't want to do this either." As soon as Liu Yun stretched out his hand, a book wrapped in oiled paper was handed over, "I'm sorry, I did something wrong, I shouldn't care about this kind of thing." Maybe this should be the predestined result, if you can hide it today, sooner or later the truth will be revealed and the truth will be settled, but it's a pity that no one else has figured it out......"

Slowly taking the account book, Cheng Daxiong walked out without saying a word.

In the early morning, when the snow was still falling, Cheng Daxiong came to the recording studio of the empty Manchester City radio station, stared blankly at a certain location, tears blurred his vision. In tears, a pretty girl figure is dancing slowly. (To be continued......)