French embassy accountant turned vice-consul in Beijing who falls in love with opera singer Song Liling, mistaking him for a woman. He shares classified intelligence, suffers career ruin after returning to Paris, stands trial for espionage, and ultimately commits suicide in prison while dressed as Madame Butterfly.
An adversarial dynamic established through espionage rather than direct confrontation.
A superficial social connection within the diplomatic community.
A romantic relationship built on René's orientalist fantasy and Song's deliberate performance.
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