Blazing Armor

Ren Yi wanted to ask more questions, but Qiu Yan responded with silence. He understood that this was not something easily explained with a few words, and he could also understand why Qiu Yan didn’t want to continue the conversation.TRJEGCvMIjaOJhGsuGbENRrBtjfiUc

jDzZvGUejbTSqOW

What on earth happened eighteen years ago?!XDMAufwodPRSjXYRECmyxBekQddDNv

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Back in the hospital room, Sheng Bo had already changed Gong Yingxian into clean clothes. When he saw Ren Yi return, he went off to handle the paperwork for Gong Yingxian.tfayFFsZKEKPKOvTAVnyTWiZpEVHoM

AAPDVwMeAsjyuuZ

Ren Yi stood by the bed, carefully observing Gong Yingxian’s pale, serene sleeping face.djJXMZWzWpGdqdSDKzlIWkWPbESrJF

NkghgGBChLukxLf

So beautiful, even with those deep, brilliant eyes closed, it didn’t diminish his captivating beauty. Yet, even someone so meticulously crafted by the creator couldn’t escape the cruelty of fate, which instead took everything from him in the most merciless way.LxiGuLouqmhVUygUNKtTEOQHKRwFoi

iRGlXLKkWQOxmOi

Ren Yi’s heart ached. Because he had witnessed so many tragedies caused by fire, had experienced losing the teachers, brothers, and friends he respected most to it, he could understand Gong Yingxian’s pain even more.slHfLXodiTJCGukiPqttrYNPqDjVzr

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The overwhelming pain, something that would be unbearable even for adults, was forced onto a six-year-old child.FzMRDOIhLfSufdqrawwCguxuWAlpDA

ZaowLxZECKakHjX

Ren Yi couldn’t help but reach out, his fingertips gently brushing against Gong Yingxian’s face. The slight warmth from his skin softened something deep inside Ren Yi, which slowly… slowly stirred up a strange, indescribable emotion.xZhlkjsvNPTRhLYcGOHZwybJLvqSXB

JLgLnAMVmEKNgXv

Startled, Ren Yi quickly withdrew his hand. He guiltily glanced around, wiped his face, and then went to the bathroom to take a shower.CPXlWonsgkWAqmYXcebMPDMAjaKpJK

cPRuJUjoqvpMLKf

When he came out, he sat silently on the stool, watching Gong Yingxian, and eventually, overwhelmed by fatigue, fell asleep there.ltcsxGOOMxWsljCbdXHjsmBVwxRHPa

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In the midst of a drowsy sleep, he heard someone calling him.edtwXgpMABtICzCtlkpwaCAODGfefZ

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“Ren Yi, wake up.”MXbDZOINcppdQAPYJngcJCRvqIhEKF

nCPLYIdxnCjsuUq

Ren Yi barely forced his eyes open and through his half-squinted lids, saw Gong Yingxian’s face. Instinctively, he jumped up, but because he stood too quickly, he stumbled a little.dgksDOTeoIUUifgBzDOBCsRNFuChUk

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Gong Yingxian caught him just in time.zROgZoBAiOFJxbTfulKYRRMivYphNj

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Ren Yi became more awake, “Hey, you… you’re awake?”TgBPxbutonMDVVTdwwFcgdpdmAalDd

fDISLISLlEbrIJA

Although Gong Yingxian still looked a bit pale, his demeanor was much calmer than before. He spoke grimly, “Why am I in the hospital?”SCzlymHFFuqdJTtEgQiXgvwvXkJJYP

iTgdrgEhdBeZsJq

“…You don’t remember?” Ren Yi glanced outside the window; it was already daylight.nqIavFsljVMkHmQaRpHeZdzcUBaxQu

vdZNhVrIhIIfqLe

Gong Yingxian frowned, “I only remember saying I wouldn’t go to the hospital.”DIewscxJziyYlPoWnLvspguPJPrFYu

LazHiVAaPEVHusq

“How could you not go to the hospital in that condition?” Ren Yi gave him a quick once-over and, seeing that he seemed alright now, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry. Sheng Bo came over and changed your clothes and bedding. If he could, he would’ve replaced your whole bed.”nwPzSZSioggmkdFWrJChqBqZXCXDCr

zqzGldhunweRhEq

Gong Yingxian rubbed his arms, looking uncomfortable all over. “I want to go home.”KJhWHWExnajsxeVmzkqokrMUutpLmU

sufknAAMjjUkhFa

“Let the doctor check you out first—”trqqnhjVuKRqBiEDoFeYrVklNMneJR

tpQCiqaAdiUWZhY

Gong Yingxian suddenly stared at Ren Yi. “Are you hurt?”RDzIfYAEvZrRBOrOPODvuvqXFiTdfp

IEADnUeLhqDLAGV

Ren Yi paused for a moment, “No, I’m fine.” Only his palm had been burnt, the skin peeling, but that was something they were used to.ANZrcgmUVdnUxfddTIBmtuLAKUxMCu

JjCdzviMGmFIdKK

“Then why are you wearing a hospital gown?”SeVvXrEuXFiVvWedieJOfwwgQSnhHM

epiEJhUYDzfXkUi

“Oh, my friend’s clothes were completely ruined.” Ren Yi suddenly remembered and scratched his head, sheepishly adding, “Were those clothes really expensive?”kCvrlvsFAblTgzUcsoEtkKTCZjclgL

RjrxjoSwaYXGEOY

“Why the hell would I care about some crappy clothes?” Gong Yingxian said irritably, “I’ll reimburse you.”xMJOFZygbFYorHTPjuXNUGlTlaekPh

iiOPaJsMYBaMyBS

Ren Yi chuckled, “I’ll make sure to send you the receipt. Hey, where’s Sheng Bo?”ZvxzDgogpAOTKlwNhtdSxxrvWZxUYj

nxbGgEhelyqYdZt

“He’s handling the discharge paperwork,” Gong Yingxian replied. “Did Sister Yan come by?”DSvtTxxMRJTytyRThXbJcmPOfEdYBm

OIneltBLNMYdPCV

“Yeah, she came by earlier and then went to deal with Zhou Chuan’s case.” Ren Yi’s mood sank as he recalled their conversation from a few hours ago.WIgfDKkxJrlovfqnolGCInaXDjvsto

TEvDqefirynEZrv

At the mention of “Zhou Chuan,” Gong Yingxian’s expression darkened noticeably.lTaBALPIIWkOrZCjcPkDrzoUhkcJwA

KKefXIRWbmXCNCZ

“By the way, Dr. Gong,” Ren Yi smiled, “thank you for saving me.”IkceEVqmVookJptwDJhkZkQcfBYoWJ

WNRADVWJpKGYqTm

Gong Yingxian was stunned for a moment before snapping angrily, “As a firefighter, do you not have even the most basic sense of self-preservation?”bVJlLeQfPjKgSSnXvyRfpZnzywgLHA

EyVqzbhOoSQXXpc

“Of course I do. There was still time back then.”QvMAfmNEAypuqhMvFLDNYotecoOymQ

nHxXhpcsFLUDENO

“‘There should have been time’?” Gong Yingxian gritted his teeth. “Did you forget what you told me back when I jumped from the building chasing Zhou Chuan? You’ve got the nerve to lecture others?”qENdTmUZHcdMNLVypIznFdPrTvfeVJ

AvuAigHiQXjqqeb

Ren Yi was at a loss for words and could only laugh awkwardly, “I’ll be more careful in the future. No matter what, you’re so afraid of fire, but you still came to save me…” He slapped his chest dramatically and pulled a mockingly sentimental face. “I’m so touched.”LFZOvJxLqDIcnZBRnUBSLcIoXhYvfi

TMdNqTmkGMErCcX

Gong Yingxian shot him a sidelong glance, then his gaze lingered on Ren Yi’s face, studying it closely.kokksDxfZANXRaTkXHlvLttCHObLSF

srpbrSOGQCRQZuQ

Feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny, Ren Yi touched his face. “What? Am I that handsome?”hiuyVPPdzYzxHRKKyGLLFlNALPdVwq

ILDCMxbFnRZDmqk

“…Have you always had that mole?”UmLlDtxqyREjqBRLdDyNkBXDgClaWH

zgbIewmIaIvGEJh

“Which one?” Ren Yi suddenly remembered, “Oh, the one on my nose? Well, duh, you think I just grew it yesterday?”xvLzsZHkswXaDpgYlPcyrCfSAMWolA

zZzFJHTUJwGCnTD

Gong Yingxian realized that he had actually noticed it long ago, but never paid much attention to it. Yesterday, walking into the fire source triggered his memory. Deep in his recollections, there was someone else with a similar mole, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember who it was.YCLLIRJQPTrqBKxwxChqLpGVHSdCBy

YzvcxRdlaWyefRd

Ren Yi touched the mole on his nose and mockingly said, “They say having a mole on your nose means you’ll be rich and prosperous. Sigh, it’s just like my unlucky name—superstitious nonsense.”KtKWZgBfNDJjcqmmtymPxcQqtQLFlt

hNyPETQucHqEQFM

Gong Yingxian paused for a moment before suddenly saying, “Fight fire with fire.”mpZJtDMOQrfomJXmxnAwtxGDXMpHQS

jqGOuVwmYBojOcO

“What?”GuvzRFeVoXxEFFoUnbBugssTAbMaSu

XKOUxOAtmFvIKXr

“In your firefighting tactics training, there’s a strategy called ‘fight fire with fire,’ right?”BsjCDqjMHxezWPyrDSnUDHPYmOpnRw

kNXfdOwbQygMlYG

“Yeah, so what?”mcTKhhcJQhezEeANUGWIbaRmjrqgMa

oQFNTzrtGmytzHq

“So, your fire is the kind that fights fire,” Gong Yingxian whispered. “It’s not really unlucky.”FSgQXiaXYvAcgabbeYyOZVskSZlFuu

dqzZtqNQTRiNnvd

Ren Yi grinned. “Man, you’re a PhD for a reason. Always with these insights.”YJbXgGNStVBZxFVYLnRDMihlceUwHt

mkriiHGtoxPHLhG

Gong Yingxian cleared his throat. “Where are you heading now?”PwkkpRWuVUvMCsIbzdqoDgqHLrpXBd

CxuKrAZWFCexxIA

“Back to the team. I can’t go home dressed like this. What about you?”nlyDAXKzoWckvdwdPYNyZdLHskhDLF

KmcKzmdcrroTiLs

“Home,” Gong Yingxian said, looking weary. “I need to rest for a day.”lpQWJZajWGUUvVtUOQARIEfXvvsmzC

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“Don’t push yourself too hard. Zhou Chuan’s case has already drawn enough attention. Captain Qiu will definitely investigate thoroughly. You should take some time off to rest.”zePbxfdkvhPPdzgOXNQwxeFYCDvupi

UlOtKYNzjdXIELj

Gong Yingxian shook his head. “It’s not just Zhou Chuan’s case. There’s also the Wanyuan District case. With so much going on, I can’t afford to rest for too long.”GuThFNixatxBavKcRePWjWtfzTKrIc

hHhJEXrcBiDfoux

Ren Yi knew there was no convincing him otherwise, so he patted his shoulder. “Let me know as soon as there’s any progress on the case. Especially with that scum Zhou Chuan. I want to sit in when you interrogate him.”lXAUVoslbxmTDsFNftBLSFDPHyXHbY

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Gong Yingxian nodded.mUSiOHbTbWSfCKaWopSMikmXsDViDV

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“Ah!” Ren Yi suddenly yelped.lxXKkKrgQjYiKowlnvYMquzOttQVkN

kFnqTBwxhIXjunG

Gong Yingxian frowned, confused.yxRFsGhaMzTsLuouiSqyMzZWbjgAav

UMFaqNJUBhMnENz

“When I patted your shoulder just now, you didn’t react at all,” Ren Yi blinked. “Are you spaced out, or do you just not mind my grime?”CljlBWGeuedNSjNtpkIfGUwysdNWrp

TqpTtWSCJixWcqQ

Gong Yingxian seemed momentarily stunned by the question. Then, with a mix of embarrassment and irritation, he said, “I was just thinking about something else.”EjBlsVqhcjlzSSrjBeHLRHmhyWEzDf

IORwDTkpOzAqHgy

Ren Yi was about to tease him some more when Sheng Bo returned.FqYjIYQehOsySYUIVsjtSQhkehYcJL

uGCgxUvGhRkPxzV

They left the courtyard together, Sheng Bo taking Gong Yingxian home while the driver drove Ren Yi back to the team.lBiCnPWKDrsFqDmnwWqkEvWjTOwFTR

fdEJgTINudByKtO

As soon as Ren Yi stepped into the squad, he was greeted by a hall filled with flowers, balloons, fruits, pastries, and a banner that read: “Congratulations to the human cannonball for ending his paid vacation, bidding farewell to the group of attentive beauties, and successfully recovering full functionality of his stent membrane bubble organ.”CqmjNcjZkxmJohDictyAgMfwWAZZnT

hwpFPZDNIEtExeG

Ren Yi thought to himself, *I didn’t tell anyone I was in the hospital. How are they so well-informed?*snTTSCYIVQpUizYZhxXLRcZSeWRYhY

ikkFDwWoZPyUZrn

“Hey, Captain Ren?” Cui Yisheng and a few soldiers walked in, surprised. “Why are you dressed like that?”LAXHzvxvsPicUmJMvpwDeUZotHQQVv

IZjGzsGBrqvfoFM

“I just got back from the hospital,” Ren Yi clicked his tongue. “Did you really have to go through all this trouble? Formalities. I wasn’t even in for anything serious.”opOsMTGBIeCNpUbWDCnIhybLsRFMIX

hfOPzAwTTGLRGkf

Cui Yisheng and the others exchanged awkward glances. “This isn’t…”yqCCdKMZRLUlppnLShzUEKBVzmbimd

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“Captain Ren?” A few heads popped out from the reception room. “Aren’t you still on leave? Why are you dressed like that? Cosplaying?”uoOoIKhCCjEjYvSooYWjkFiSzOZmmV

xMfQdNcPEiIjBrK

“Cosplay my ass. You guys—” Ren Yi suddenly spotted someone he hadn’t seen in a long time—Sun Dingyi. He immediately understood. “You—you got discharged?!”BnqPQgvLSIIDUWhRGbDtdtCwIukcQe

JyvGiOdoxdtAbvV

Sun Dingyi grinned. “Heh, I’m back, just like the prodigal son!”CbndquBgGaBjUmchKKUXPtHROSNxQb

STnSQyByQmgSXzG

Ren Yi was overjoyed and ran over, giving him two punches. “You little brat! Why didn’t you stay in the hospital a bit longer? Without you, the squad was practically peaceful and calm.”lOJrnFnlWpnHYcjkYllbExaySdSnUv

ixArzfWZqTWLZLt

“I would’ve loved to, but they stopped covering my expenses.” Sun Dingyi made a dramatic gesture of regret. “While I was in the hospital, my girlfriend catered to my every need. That might’ve been the peak of my life.”pCHIDJxEerAOtdaYqkKgbtMRyHlJeT

AGFkTzxfoNehsio

“Not ‘might’ve been’—definitely.”SucKkyrHPRXlMqviExZZBCujZOoSGD

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Everyone burst into laughter.OiLvtEYmyYczStDsjMfgYAZHiWGLmD

dTIqzJQaLzkvmRR

Qu Yangbo asked, “Ren Yi, what’s up with you? Why are you in a patient’s outfit?”dzmUdRUCWZuVffzRZWqLvpeboEKcMu

YHLmuZXZRZXLIjP

Ren Yi let out a long sigh. “Let me tell you about my thrilling two-day vacation.”pLukeIAppaurQXtViAUGSAZDrYlLsm

kLmiOuwnhRIoqkH

—HTVVeUgxABpwVbVwxizojKwbQHzeGh

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After Ren Yi returned to his dorm, he finally took off the patient’s outfit and changed into his familiar flame-blue training uniform. He thought of Qi Xiao’s clothes, feeling a headache coming on.eeJSnmJhmaoOUTopzzddoqmhKcFevD

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He collapsed on the bed, grabbed a bag of cookies from his snack cupboard, and called Qi Xiao to briefly explain the fate of those clothes.yBYjsfSDNOqoTfSNgMRtWvqJkkvRgx

msZLMMGBuRPpEiV

Qi Xiao shouted in shock, “You caught the arsonist on the spot? Those bastards were burning a kitten! How’s the kitten doing?”mBZqtktyeuuNdTjLawlmddKesaxnwX

MnAnnqVGqAEdfwq

Ren Yi sighed, “The vet called me this morning. The kitten’s condition has stabilized.”anqOQQHzbYPiMVsOCTdInClclDXwha

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Qi Xiao cursed several times in a row. “Why didn’t they burn themselves instead? Those damn animals, psychos!”YgOOujMadWgUzoESnVjppBaPeppJfe

ovYRvdcsnECsmVU

“There are even more psychos hiding in the dark. Who knows when they’ll show up to wreak havoc.” The more Ren Yi spoke, the heavier he felt. “Sorry about your clothes… They seemed pretty expensive. How much were they—”lnjBqhDqakDOXUDrEyIXZZiXwBpuNq

aeMfaJvGXpWCKXe

“Hey, hey, don’t worry about it. It was just a set of clothes, and they were sponsored by the brand anyway. I didn’t pay for them.” Qi Xiao said, with a hint of concern, “As long as you’re okay. The way you’re talking, you’re scaring me.”aAquKzhxpzRldeUHYKPcKpoLxPNOJh

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“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”EBRLgPDqogHgYZvzAAxaMiYSsfOvuo

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“Your job is so dangerous. Sometimes when I see news online about fires or firefighters, I can’t help but think of you,” Qi Xiao said quietly, “and I get really worried.”cWbKqLWxAoUfsVFSMqbjZcJKiHWGAW

QzRBaXkBbcrjzuG

Ren Yi chuckled. “Don’t worry. After so many years in this line of work, all the experience I’ve gained isn’t just to help others—it’s also to protect myself and my comrades. Actually, the older a firefighter is, the safer they are.”tvpKbrbZnjqlrHXvryWBeJnAwFvoDx

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“Really?”uakgdYXLYjjhMhsUJHERXNMaqliKbN

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“Of course. It’s the young, hot-blooded, and inexperienced soldiers who are in the most danger. You don’t have to worry.”hdJHPJBWhirfCdlxNbxczawrQdfrDk

WHRkeyaoOwlVGIl

“Okay,” Qi Xiao replied. “Well, take some time to rest. If you ever feel down, I’ll come drink with you.”vqyDsiqalNAJxQYJpRKTBNbVoQbLZE

dTsaNNfXhkPqGCr

After hanging up, Ren Yi noticed that cookie crumbs had fallen on his pillow. He quickly picked up the pillow and dusted it off, thinking, *If Gong Yingxian saw this, I’d definitely get a load of cold sarcasm.* He could already picture Gong Yingxian’s disdainful expression and tone, which made him chuckle to himself.PeGnLxfcRGiyDykMkNxImptltiEFBJ

kGSMndzxJZCksir

Just then, his phone buzzed with a new message. He opened it and saw a photo of a completely black kitten, wrapped in white bandages, lying on a soft cotton mat, fast asleep.yzOpZxVhsqfODMlYOrDhRijqQhRMpq

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The kitten’s innocent and oblivious expression softened Ren Yi’s heart.SdAOlHyBfvAesVGKyniQRvmSsmXhBU

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Ren Yi pressed the phone to his chest and slowly closed his eyes.HkOIREsouWxeroXfzPboYlGTwunwDR

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