明来暗往 open and covert interactions
Explanation
公开或暗地里来往。形容关系密切，往来频繁。
Openly or secretly interacting. Describes close relationships and frequent contact.
Origin Story
在古代的江南小镇，住着两位世家公子，一位名为明轩，一位名为暗影。明轩性格开朗，行事光明磊落，在镇上广交朋友，名声远播；暗影则行事诡秘，喜欢暗中行动，却也暗中帮助了不少人，深得百姓爱戴。明轩和暗影虽然性格迥异，却因为一次偶然的机会结识，并成为了莫逆之交。他们明面上互相尊重，暗地里却互相帮助，常常在镇上一起商议大事，为镇上居民谋福祉。明轩负责与各方势力公开沟通，暗影则暗中协调各方利益，使得小镇繁荣昌盛，安居乐业。他们的友谊，成为了小镇上的一段佳话，人称‘明来暗往’，以此形容他们默契的合作和密切的关系。
In an ancient town in southern China, there lived two young masters from wealthy families, one named Mingxuan and the other Anying. Mingxuan was cheerful and acted openly and honestly, making many friends in town and gaining a reputation; Anying was secretive and preferred to act in secret, yet he secretly helped many people and gained the affection of the people. Though Mingxuan and Anying had very different personalities, they met by chance and became close friends. They openly respected each other, but secretly helped each other, often meeting in town to discuss important matters and promote the well-being of the townspeople. Mingxuan was responsible for communicating openly with various forces, while Anying secretly coordinated the interests of various parties, so that the town flourished and the people lived in peace and happiness. Their friendship became a beautiful story in the town, known as 'Minglai Anwang', to describe their tacit cooperation and close relationship.
Usage
形容关系密切，往来频繁。多用于书面语。
Describes close relationships and frequent contact. Mostly used in written language.
Examples
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他们明来暗往地进行非法交易，胆大妄为。
tāmen míng lái àn wǎng de jìnxíng fēifǎ jiāoyì, dǎndà wàngwèi.
They openly and secretly conducted illegal transactions, daring and reckless.
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两国之间明来暗往，关系微妙。
liǎng guó zhī jiān míng lái àn wǎng, guānxi wēimiào.
The relationship between the two countries is subtle, with overt and covert exchanges.