Blazing Armor

Not knowing how long had passed, the tremors finally ceased.VSCIDATRryhLCQpcQplShFyqrkyIqb

PisxjLjdPtWaBsP

After a brief moment of dizziness, Ren Yi heard anxious calls next to his ear, and his body was being gently shaken. He barely cracked his eyes open, and sand immediately poured into them. The pain made him shake his head violently, dislodging some of the sand covering his mouth and nose. He gasped sharply—like someone barely breaking the surface after drowning—only for the sand to choke him, and he began to cough violently.eZkNUnGUpawQlbXTrdkUFzmvTdqoMq

dtvZqQYNjgYHYAM

Gong Yingxian patted Ren Yi’s back lightly, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. “It’s good that you’re okay.”zqeBKgFkENoVaVnlMIjCghIEuUuqfj

hvXRamLCzPoNzQE

Ren Yi removed his gloves and rubbed the sand out of his eyes as he came to his senses. “Where… where are we?”VUuqijHUsUVSaCrvbLcTfgnrQgwiaF

hRjBrURblBxiGls

“We’re still in the human world.”EKPxbtQuVpzDJmEjNDnJZSyepFdfAQ

weYRihWWRfSRJUI

Ren Yi’s heart skipped a beat as something suddenly came to mind. “Were you injured just now?” He tried to check Gong Yingxian’s wounds, but as soon as he moved, he realized they were wedged between two large rocks, pressed into a crevice so tight it was difficult to even turn over.QaAfORExVfgLdXXePOGaptZbwoxMPB

vQviYYosLLNQFRZ

“It’s nothing, not serious,” Gong Yingxian deflected.ZNpyOZVvCrtZRlWKtpJPLtoeOgWHeq

aSKJywjyEfkWzOG

“Let me take a look.” Ren Yi reached toward Gong Yingxian’s back.PXKoStEKVSODJXfuoGhIIFDzbYBUSN

GmQWlhQMbHMTKPJ

Gong Yingxian tried to dodge, but there was nowhere to hide. When Ren Yi’s hand touched his back, he instinctively flinched.hzVILMcdfgyvXibMPvPHMGbykQDfWv

FFaJYBXHzEwgosP

Ren Yi felt something warm and sticky, a sensation he was all too familiar with—blood. A buzzing sound filled Ren Yi’s head, and his body felt like it had plunged into an icy abyss. Trembling, he said, “You’re… you’re bleeding…”TFNUBumnIPMWFdePgoETbFdXPRQPOx

JDItuTrXTmkMIzM

“I already checked it myself, it’s no big deal. I’ve called for help; they’re alrea—”BbKKkyaqMqpXvnynifxyYoUJCvhFhr

jzvhKsfKEFCVaeh

“Ren Yi, Ren Yi! Are you awake, Ren Yi!” Chen Xiaofei’s anxious voice crackled over the radio.taZrNaeZnXHZDTIVUwdNqsAjPLRwSG

YRfZwVpQCJGxgbS

Ren Yi grabbed the radio. “Captain Chen, I’m awake. I think I suffocated a bit earlier with the sand covering my mouth and nose, plus…” He took a cautious breath, “The air is getting thinner here.”rWfycFAYcDujJNDygnLJlFYgbFzcpc

lYKXvpAvHLSZCUH

“Stay calm, don’t panic, and don’t move. We know where you are and are working on a rescue plan. You’re not far from the exit. We’re going to use a laser cutter to open a hole in the right spot.”QdBCqIIdaAlsEVLDEJTWaMiSsijSsD

dGoRHJCxyURscjz

“We’re not panicking.” Ren Yi said, though his voice betrayed an unmistakable note of anxiety. “But Officer Gong is injured, and he’s bleeding. Captain Chen, please hurry.”QwZESXCcIFjgtokEkOHjyojejqZgiI

FvBCaGNfkSXbpAz

“We’re doing our best.”TqLoXRfqOsbAKKsUBvUzJELdUDreHJ

FvhKFYNJQRuyCOR

“What about the couple? How’s the pregnant woman?”CmHjbnERkmycacMQqlTahtmjvWxFPZ

zoLAsoCNYjzwfpL

“They’ve been rescued. The pregnant woman is currently in the hospital, undergoing emergency treatment. The air cushion plan worked, but after they were pulled out, the cushion couldn’t bear the weight and loosened, which caused the building to shake.”VYRvwgRQCBmFAMSsxiQHfhOAHfoCZb

MjoGNlsyfBMoaNe

“At least they’re safe,” Ren Yi sighed in relief—finally, some good news.eDhWyzRtJYtRADVUoMGUjhrakasxkw

oOrnfVIjZyffVaj

Gong Yingxian leaned in and added, “Let our captain know, I’m fine.”HcYEXymyoLnimABYrJiULYncyWpkBP

KhpztFmPHPAnDci

Ren Yi rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a portable first-aid kit. “Turn around, I’ll give you some emergency treatment.”mxRMPYJSKrZhrzmQyHnzaPVfeDrQxJ

IEGecNgnEvXAiyK

Gong Yingxian reluctantly turned his body.qZHIcVCByJCiqCGbXWbkByCkMoOKHB

nuLYJIetYgFnKHV

Ren Yi picked up his helmet, only to see that the light had been broken. He pulled out a small flashlight, clenched it between his teeth, and shone it on Gong Yingxian’s wounds.hhuoPANnDboActTXwbLVvExcmTtaee

LmMAqunZxxxuQFl

There was a long gash across his shoulder blade, along with several smaller cuts.lTyvsCKfpnAcrCgTyyBUAadtEVUzmL

nRsyowPgtmdqqxB

Ren Yi’s eyes began to burn, and he gently caressed Gong Yingxian’s back, his heart twisting in pain.oWoNwDNaFDAJVtXGUZQUbMSeoSWkax

LGEySeudpDLfBxw

Sensing Ren Yi’s unusual silence, Gong Yingxian softly explained, “It didn’t hit the bone.”zIUkvsvgzwJUtasJECrOaPYdNnmRlv

xAOiPGabMjmHzXY

Ren Yi sniffed, taking out a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide, mumbling through the flashlight in his mouth, “I’m going to clean the wound now… it might… sting a bit.”fkotXvuoGjTbNQkfoKuzlEUkzdlELX

CQfpXpwWKjlBwCp

“I’m not afraid of pain,” Gong Yingxian’s voice was steady.gyaPpJMSOrQhXRhLTFKtgrCNNyDXkn

krRMjhjroyrqNnq

Ren Yi bit down harder on the flashlight and poured the hydrogen peroxide over the wound. Blood mixed with dirt trickled down Gong Yingxian’s strong, broad back.tEXxZvOyknXUyuNlASMSlNExvsHpTw

OzgIAACvkgXIqoR

Gong Yingxian tensed, but he didn’t make a sound.LfLZGUYLgwHaCuNwFkBScsrCqzFKOn

QcVIAsLGBlzdntC

After finishing with the hydrogen peroxide, Ren Yi opened a bottle of iodine. He hesitated, “This one really stings.”IgKZxTaHmybMTyLEfsonGNQEqnlZlH

VMWqlVyWyRtfRnv

“Do it.”luxQaokprHloJehpclLSkCDCrFImWP

mbeQdPqulCrxaRe

Since the first-aid kit was portable, the iodine was packed in a small disposable plastic tube, with just a little inside. After opening it, Ren Yi carefully spread it evenly across the wound.HbHcGYDZRQbDSXqDziwCRsAaMeisZp

WqKgdGOsVChSWGj

Gong Yingxian’s body shuddered, and a muffled groan escaped his throat. Ren Yi’s heart ached. To him, Gong Yingxian was clean, delicate—even “fragile” at times. He couldn’t bear to see him in any sort of distress or pain. If he could, he would take it all on himself.UlFJLyusGtJjqyZIwBbQuuKpUtoKaB

dcwzUmmnSqlONWV

Once the disinfection was done, Ren Yi sprinkled some hemostatic powder on the wound and covered it with a piece of gauze. Given the current situation, this was the best he could do for now.WRFMJoihXexdpEJoMWGFXhUhYsXuwc

bWtYXbkekWFrodt

Gong Yingxian exhaled softly and rolled onto his side. His back was injured, so he couldn’t lie down, and there wasn’t enough space for him to sit up. He could only lie on his stomach, but beneath him was nothing but jagged debris. It was easy to imagine how uncomfortable that must have been.erkRwOyhCMqclKdmGHBgGoaYHayYHv

ywfNjmoJhrZRkVv

Ren Yi gently said, “Lie on me.”PKYUQohPQDFkRpBOOLpaASQNncVRGD

pemnjQIyynxblWr

Gong Yingxian hesitated, looking at Ren Yi.trOlnUEdqHrnxchQIqvsTLbnGxxGJc

wrgzUcohRBmhDDK

“I’m against the wall, it’s a bit flatter here, and I can lie down.” Ren Yi extended his hand toward him. “Come, lie on me.”NdWvEHDxXyVvtMQXBmwspVkgZTvjgz

lenAfgJnnccQXSg

Gong Yingxian moved closer and slowly lay on top of Ren Yi, though his body remained tense.nMZxLnJIlFZxgQqrmaRJoiZAgxPGMg

YMBoLPFRhgKeEei

Ren Yi gently stroked his hair. “Relax.”WoDDGZkCFeqMOZYMSelsarsMoYaLPf

pglevKaLPwBUlHl

Only then did Gong Yingxian gradually relax, letting his full weight press onto Ren Yi’s body, finally finding a bit of relief.pgNixfvEWBMpnnucYQAcfMoVgvZIJb

HoUzTWYtUTvypLE

Ren Yi felt the pressure on his chest, making it harder to breathe, but he didn’t say anything.JLPcKBQxVpvKjkBQbMNtkvdhybdQej

iPwSHnPuPBmRWDj

Gong Yingxian buried his face in the crook of Ren Yi’s neck and shoulder.WrQjApqYDfYcBFrAsFuWvTvqCsvgtO

oakjhbhkxLUNPkJ

The two of them had never embraced so intimately before. Even in the rubble, where death loomed over them, the warmth from each other’s body provided immeasurable comfort.KKXDFQgvdyjLUFujHsjgbIGORIWxIJ

dHJdNyKcFraogRy

It was strange. He had always had a cleanliness obsession—even before the tragedy at home. Normally, such a dirty environment, with the two of them filthy and covered in grime, would have made him deeply uncomfortable. But he didn’t feel any of that. He used to think he was merely tolerating Ren Yi, or had gotten used to him. Now, he finally understood—there was just this one person in the world whom he would never find dirty, no matter what.mZYEPwyFYCTwHlANfaRCZlqqgpgmsI

QQFkMKhAdborvrY

In that moment, Ren Yi’s heart was as tangled as Gong Yingxian’s. The thought of Gong Yingxian’s injury, sustained to save him, left him feeling both moved and guilty. He had underestimated his importance in Gong Yingxian’s heart. He had always believed that he was the one who loved more, gave more, and tolerated more. He never expected that Gong Yingxian would risk everything to save him. Even if Gong Yingxian would never return that unusual affection, Ren Yi knew this person would always be the most important one in his life.YNuSexsHGUrLQjsYvrOsLStYWYoYje

XZZDleaQSZJcCKu

Gong Yingxian closed his eyes, his mind finally at peace. In Ren Yi’s embrace, he felt like he was in the most dangerous place in the world, and yet, also the safest.maDdWfTLYPbjswDXlpSJFpOqSogpKK

wimujLxuEUnEjRp

“Does it still hurt?” Ren Yi asked, his voice full of discomfort.PAbhWZhzzbDSKqfeoRMDOQsabmnIMv

GtDFxJEXBtJshtU

“It doesn’t,” Gong Yingxian replied.GkGIwLMktcdOWComFIYbLEyQoRIpyi

gywZPsdhMkJhdpy

“How could it not?”RnNtHMEEYyOHqhIRpqgsxUSuWTvjJR

lxjqOIBxhqzCGJT

“Everything but fire, I’m not afraid of,” Gong Yingxian said stubbornly.WCOdWNloVfhYhHNleUSeOvNGlPqQqp

JeeMqlYiBzFXkmJ

Ren Yi bit his lower lip, his voice strained. “Why did you save me?”nvWaiwCGTmrLKdldWjXFoNQSMcvRlt

BikIkIVRHuBBTjm

“Is that even a question?” Gong Yingxian buried his face deeper into the crook of Ren Yi’s neck, his arms unconsciously wrapping around Ren Yi’s waist. The closer he pressed himself, the safer he felt. Knowing the person in his arms was safe made enduring this injury more than worth it.rfJOZOBzuSccBoHPUSuOPpgyMbrmiz

VYXxdSIeZwbYPeD

“I ordered you to listen to me. Who gave you permission to act on your own?” Ren Yi muttered softly.BsTjgXditWHLArvekgADaRcmCrnEpK

uQHgzgDSePKegeV

“I listened, but the rocks didn’t.”aWjxVPjlwMnffEcOpczajXhttHUAsI

iLssCjzeqKvDcqa

“I’m a firefighter. In moments like this, it’s supposed to be my time to shine. Why’d you steal my thunder?”ajCBpknNJamhUNFepczUBatjEFESpm

jgBHXyQNXvkjinI

“I’m a police officer. It’s my duty to protect people’s lives and property. You’re no exception.”fuPEwYteaiayhbGXFVsqeyEmXCUafq

pIVRTXnbIEWkERM

“So, you saved me just because I’m one of ‘the people,’ huh?” Ren Yi carefully raised his hand. He didn’t dare hug him, afraid it would seem too intimate, so he just placed his palm lightly on Gong Yingxian’s back, gently rubbing it.evSUxUfooLtbsHPycPNtnZzQFtKJLO

HUeIeebAJjdNEAR

Gong Yingxian stretched out like a contented cat and earnestly said, “More than that, you’re my friend.”hmksoZwUuIcSKqXonXlmWUsoJOtorC

KzpeBbfQYXkzDUd

Ren Yi didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. He wished they were more than just friends. He wished this embrace wasn’t only because Gong Yingxian was injured. He wished he could kiss him, that he could openly declare his feelings for Gong Yingxian.yssoMDIDCjWzVIbNkWZwbjwpmXioJL

LcKFCvHsYpglaZN

He had always intended to keep this secret buried forever. Love, after all, didn’t need to be about possession—it could just be about giving. As long as Gong Yingxian was happy, he didn’t care about anything else.oYtjdQiJEOkFRQmDWIuxXickQERssc

ulEyhkdGQirfKMs

But this moment felt different. They might die here. They might never see the light of day again. If this was all the time he had left, should he confess to Gong Yingxian?mGARZXLpWXnxzsOCeIespDAFeuQBeu

gvywptNQuFwaEEY

Gong Yingxian whispered, “The oxygen is running out.”bDUJuacyDAiYhqlsnozaUEozqXaoMH

FpiDItvlHvyAIOG

“Yeah,” Ren Yi could feel it too—their breathing was getting harder.DFgehMqCKAuhToMdIQFvOociNIApqn

gDQIWhzYUoeZzyk

The confined space and the fire were not only consuming oxygen but also producing carbon monoxide. Their gas masks had been shattered earlier, and now they both felt lightheaded and nauseous—early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.PxrTLZxJJLciIclmWBiPEjTwNMRPUD

eyXrsfqmUqYkAXD

How much longer could they hold on? Twenty minutes? Half an hour? An hour?LBLCcIPFjdTEAxbmhcIWGoHhfmOHtz

GHHVzWOyjUZCdHV

Not much longer, that was for sure. If they weren’t rescued soon, they faced several possible ways to die.ZnRmEQZuzNqblbtkAsQfPxEdXUbDrK

MDUpmwOMEqnzGSa

Regret gnawed at Ren Yi. “I shouldn’t have let you come in here.”HpjiTdLWTzqxHfREpvjUQfRuJsNeMH

JqXSEJRTOnHTWrm

“I chose to come in on my own. It has nothing to do with you,” Gong Yingxian’s tone remained calm. “Don’t worry, we’re not going to die. If fate wanted to take me, it wouldn’t have let me live until now. The same goes for you. There are still too many criminals out there walking free—we’re not dying here.”EAebGxFrfuqXbKpvGZpVOIrPJrBqjZ

qaKcefRQkzAbRUe

Ren Yi took a deep breath. “You’re right. We won’t die here.” But that nagging voice in his mind kept whispering: *What if? What if this is the end? Are you going to leave with secrets and regrets?* He opened his mouth and hesitated before saying, “Yingxian, can I ask you something?”PnBKVKHPVuBMYbMqXLcedItGOMqzaa

htyxFrWiCuGTpFf

“Mm?”rYoKZSHYOjVVjjQNvbmkrExtdHCpuV

yseqPKOPDkGVcnJ

“Do you… do you like Captain Qiu?”ZTQoeSjaXJpTVEovHSMEiiBEMVRKju

xdpZrhRKKCoFBGh

“I do,” Gong Yingxian answered without hesitation.PsVNZhcwpNUEPtMqjRCnIhaESrWPPD

aMGLNGIwEtypIxA

Ren Yi fell silent for a moment, unwilling to let it go. “I mean… do you like her, you know, like a man likes a woman?”ZmFusoBWwoacnKjvnDpDOzEXKZwtcz

eSRqcYsHnNlrFup

“No,” Gong Yingxian replied. “She’s my sister’s best friend. She’s like a sister to me too.”jGxPWDycPtGTXDbAbWyGBaKQmOUeWE

CgeCTmASbfDfiPz

Ren Yi’s emotions were a tangled mess—no joy like he expected. Someone like Qiu Yan, beautiful, smart, and deeply connected to Gong Yingxian, couldn’t even stir his heart. Then what chance did anyone else—especially him—have?KaIpsJAhJJuoGmNXwNlCbwDceEOMqh

PJbibyQluXaqAzp

“Why are you asking this?” Gong Yingxian asked curiously. A thought struck him, and his brow furrowed. “Don’t tell me you like her?” His tone darkened.YSXbfDOrZUWbqeBcHrUttnsJlPvnhr

GkuyJuXgxAVmaRt

“Of course not,” Ren Yi quickly said.pikauqRrZREhSZQOXVttbAqJlHESpq

coIjERzfEOhYAFr

“There are so many people chasing after Yan-jie. I thought maybe you…” Gong Yingxian’s voice softened. “You really don’t?”OORBDnQCRuxYpwkPlBxVmbuQyDMSCb

TmlrQgsIyeYfmng

“Really.”QcEqPdfKGeSMBSUJXlgANKQOPqbDKL

hFSWaXcuIkzUaGL

“…That’s good. You’re not allowed to like her.”OHEExzrdEKXkKkumYWrvWlRaITIJfJ

JHeOmlsLHWmiLbq

“Why not?”zjZyOBUWKOoKvPVVcLnqzgeSjAfXNO

pGzNPIfgZtfXMDX

“You said you didn’t like her, so why ask why not?”PeNaKtKJCSeWDNTDoaLgltgxjWjpto

hEfmdjpNWZuWfkE

“Can’t I just be curious?”yypPNDUfwZLqUtBlIZJIiBBLwKwUwr

MDndTKYumfyonZh

“No means no,” Gong Yingxian huffed, sounding slightly annoyed. “Why are you asking all these questions?”QqvziiKAqZgcDraHYATWcxAJDWUtYU

trnUfqHnGIhobUe

“We need to stay awake, so we have to keep talking.” Ren Yi pressed on, “Have you ever liked anyone? You know, like… romantically?”HagaIgusPKUjwxcPQgltGaCoSgtLjg

oOPVSCnUpxLTDAi

“No. I think if that person really exists, I would have to not reject her physically and also connect with her on a deeper level. So far, only Yan-jie fits that, but my feelings for her aren’t romantic.”vJShZBENLFyygoZabUWbPReYjnSWtI

mpPUTrnSmimohjT

Ren Yi almost blurted out, *What about me?*uqNiauwcaZTaKtiPahFeDosfiBckFN

pfbQkIEjlBjPLkQ

“And besides, love is a useless thing,” Gong Yingxian concluded firmly.lSPFnmGGuMlcImTdKrpfmSdxDiRiLp

aCfpZKDXiyxDXXJ

Ren Yi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in his throat. At the same time, his dizziness worsened, and his mind started to blur.qoyYKNPSBuxHleEbMckUEyRMxTTGGZ

ZNYENpFyodwpWtl

Gong Yingxian, lying on top of him, was also on the verge of drifting off.yESocaNksLMXtgiHUUSsKqRThMSVtI

XcvrEtCTAeDWOZw

Suddenly, Ren Yi snapped awake, shaking Gong Yingxian. “Don’t fall asleep! We absolutely cannot sleep. Let’s keep talking.”VXvShSyPkJjZXcEoxtLLdHVlPgdQvJ

CKMQmNMmRbcgtlM

Gong Yingxian pinched himself hard. “Okay, okay.”XrkEYHxJkcliSYDSEsaHVkVThGmymY

qStMrYOivEIjvEQ

Ren Yi picked up the radio, but before he could speak, he heard faint sounds from the other side of the wall. Weakly, he called out, “We’re here! We’re here!”AVLvgwSUKdkueGMfePdBxljIFjsFnU

dqIoUtqPEeSfgOD

“Hang in there, we’re getting you out soon.” It was Sun Dingyi’s voice.HiWDHdvMJUYONIOizCfzlnaNyBZdak

qhwpotBshHzMiwz

“We’re running out of oxygen. Can you get a hose in here?”CZLnuZcrYpJMYXsWhUZcTWZZEAXAXI

cEtCxnBfTOtQZNX

“We’ll try.”seQdsRnBoSWjGCWurPIQGyzQsUMPFs

vZRPlQvQrUOyCUT

Both of them were barely able to keep their eyes open due to the lack of oxygen.brNtjoyIpoAXFtCsmeUIlywDNOTJnz

jCRWRHWMxoarOJs

After a while, the commotion outside grew louder. They seemed to be discussing something intensely, and then a thin hose was pushed through a small gap in the rocks.ynuVwjCfNRaEYPedobEpLTPnvrfrCM

DwggUiNYYwpERVO

“Ren Yi, can you see it?”uxGesWiFpgHvEUzjXDUpyZinyJCLpT

YygMnSCmcSiXQvI

Ren Yi shone his flashlight. “I see it!” He stretched his arm out as far as it would go but couldn’t reach it.jtvLabrcNwJCpnOwAMZzSxiUIaOoXw

NolsFyUtFcATuWA

“I’ll do it.” Gong Yingxian, though exhausted, mustered the strength to push himself forward, his entire body sliding over Ren Yi’s.NmRMcutTpjDUlxHLneSYhWNtUByORp

VgBfjauCEQwHdSm

The two had only been pressed together from the waist up, but with Gong Yingxian’s movements, his entire body was now lying atop Ren Yi’s. Ren Yi immediately froze, not daring to move. He could feel every inch of Gong Yingxian through their clothes.AcXBMzPYATxmdOucFZYRTyxAoGDqqN

YAMJAGPzKKeAUHp

He knew this was the worst possible time, and he called upon every ounce of self-control to stay calm. But no matter how hard he tried, his instincts betrayed him.SgGhTWiWXImYghiRGeivKXRiXJecgF

hzGFpdbAzkGomTB

Gong Yingxian finally grabbed the hose and excitedly exclaimed, “Got it! We—”aHtNjysesMDhDuZeKVwsVydErxkxkm

pJtnzDiWyrBiHjs

Both of them felt Ren Yi’s involuntary reaction, and the air suddenly thickened with awkward silence.zPWMLeHnFtQeHvvktxstkEvkpDCZMm

hZEMEWdJSmCrFqU

At that moment, Ren Yi truly wished he were dead. Thank God it was pitch dark in there; otherwise, Gong Yingxian would have seen his face flush as red as a tomato. Stammering, he muttered, “It’s not… I didn’t mean… It just…”JybCliwxQZUonratxgDbtHuAxGeArA

WscKBXhOItcLohr

Gong Yingxian suddenly snapped, “What the hell is wrong with you?!”ZDWQYaxftpBcJlpUTrvMRuftiMkEDC

TuTQVDVazdhRlGh

“I—I didn’t do it on purpose!” Ren Yi frantically tried to explain.sfgoknhMkEhUdCSylHOePFmRZCywlw

GZAFvPCHVPCayav

Gong Yingxian, flustered, tried to push himself off Ren Yi, but as soon as he lifted his body, his head collided with the rocks above. He groaned in pain and fell back down. One hand was trying to prop himself up, while the other clung desperately to the life-saving hose, all while his shoulder injury flared up, causing him to fumble even more. This only made the physical contact between them even more intense.ovUeBegealCtmwmtvLUlwteBnIkExh

GDfzRzPbVtnrAWz

Ren Yi wished he could fold himself up and disappear into the cracks in the wall, but there was nowhere to escape.QExHksRAxMxKapBJXzgvtWATgGQSay

vYLXpmuhppLIEoX

Gong Yingxian’s heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it might leap out of his chest. He was furious at Ren Yi’s untimely reaction, but at the same time, he was alarmed to find his own body responding too. The sensation was both foreign and familiar—it was similar to the impulse he had felt when they were changing clothes in the car earlier, but he had squashed it then before it could form. This time, though, he couldn’t stop it.lbMFDcPgWRJbKdXfPSrgKfsPdhSqNi

nSJmKqCQkQFUIyA

Ren Yi could feel the increasingly hard object pressing against his stomach.BDEmdQdermMQYNSPCQTlhFOZLqyrSb

UOOmtgZTIghXrYF

The air grew even quieter.qAtKoUNuZyUUhNUWWbPJRdTNxBqpmh

ZtIxMzaDDXnuwTG

Gong Yingxian, feeling more embarrassed than he ever had in his life, lashed out in frustration. “This is all… all your fault!”SWYtxJeFEavReqyyVlEOoZiiqZmCVY

jLGEbJAsDXgayOC

“Uh… right, my fault.” Ren Yi covered his face with one hand, wishing he could disappear. He wanted to die on the spot.rJBPkHxsETgxGmWecHpLylOGqIMEgT

FoQUTcNeteHnWLg

“Have you got it or not?” Sun Dingyi’s anxious voice came from outside.dDGeCGQLgQGVeekRhmWanuBqvxLLLy

IpvppDwdHOwhmBF

The two snapped out of their daze.KjbUEdvusdhbxPuAojGHdbvZLDnrXs

rCVvTYDxZVQlFOw

“Got it!” Gong Yingxian called back, pulling the hose inward. It only moved a few centimeters before getting stuck, but the steady trickle of water now entering gave them both immense hope. He growled, “Hurry up and breathe some oxygen.”FAurLChOGZJtmEDsDYoCtvPHGwMIIW

uNGNFuUpZLNlrAK

“You go first,” Ren Yi offered.NmuVqhYCzTvnYQqxVZsmzNVnjDFErI

XxSmJnYclfgGCOT

Ren Yi desperately tried to curl up, but there was nowhere to go. They were both painfully aware of each other’s presence, their bodies pressed together in a way that was almost unbearable. The shame was overwhelming, but survival had to come first.fcCersfgbDMHEWKttgLdRlyGMjmOVi

JdXLSUUjarjiSIG

Gong Yingxian, forcing himself to ignore everything else, said, “You have to move closer, or you won’t reach.”UrpAEHpnZlVhQuwVoGfQnSkBhjXbRS

YZHTfCgNvVzBjPP

Ren Yi didn’t dare move.myzFMnIEeIFGutLDrLVCnkVlgePoII

cOEfCCtOMoGVjYO

“Come on!” Gong Yingxian urged.BpCskwjjNxGOgnaFDaMAeWKzYaghhy

nRFMnhZkoVtCKWk

With no other choice, Ren Yi slowly scooted backward.cKEiIvjHqUmQsbKaNtoSORbXgzMaej

AfaatqjJeGUIIOd

In the cramped space, their bodies stayed tightly pressed together as they inched toward the hose. The friction between them only heightened their physical responses, and their breathing grew heavier. Ren Yi glanced at Gong Yingxian’s lips, now just inches away, and an overwhelming urge to kiss him surged through him. But a small sliver of rationality held him back—besides, he was completely out of strength.FoNgDqFFmSyftIAoEgjDlaSXWnIzfO

ymdiDfrSbjuJVXi

They finally reached the hose, and the small amount of oxygen mixed in the water became their lifeline. They pressed their faces close, greedily breathing in as much as they could. In the brief moments between breaths, their lips brushed against each other several times.ayRYVNwQrcqEhiuyNVjHfjVumHSZHx

lACxLrwpDMXSPNI

Their hearts pounded wildly, and an unspoken tension wrapped around them. It was as if there was an invisible barrier between them—so close, yet somehow untouchable. The ambiguity of it all, the uncertainty, made them too afraid to break the fragile illusion, fearing that it might all be nothing but a one-sided dream.QIoErhQSHyQxyPdFOmECWNxtzWlEsB

pUZxhhCaqMivpka

Very quickly, their minds were too clouded to think of anything else. Even though the trickle of water provided some small relief from suffocation, the carbon monoxide was steadily poisoning their nervous systems.diKZkpNoysmSVyKpmGCVFBCvOmRNfR

qVjmwGLUKErECFN

Ren Yi could hear the hum of the laser cutter, and faintly, he could hear Gong Yingxian calling out to him.ApbxtYsVYudkrmLdeTVCjdYtRYTMHO

YgxuSfwxxyUAlyl

“Ren Yi, don’t sleep!” Gong Yingxian was barely hanging on himself. He slapped Ren Yi’s cheeks and splashed water on his face. “Don’t you dare fall asleep! We’re almost rescued—just hold on a bit longer!”FcpLtwiYaDvucFfCZigHXNwRXbWsKG

lRvpUghfWHbXwkZ

The sound of the cutter grew louder, and Ren Yi could even see sparks falling from above. He fought with everything he had to keep his eyes open, but his eyelids felt impossibly heavy. He desperately tried to focus on Gong Yingxian, but his vision blurred, and he lost the ability to keep anything in focus.lTIWayNsUfGanBkTptnnHTKcfecEbe

KFeaoexEpikPnEE

In a last-ditch effort, Gong Yingxian bit down on his lip, then pressed his mouth to Ren Yi’s, exhaling what little oxygen he had left into Ren Yi’s lungs.oqApzxpxfrgGUzyrOCtRigYwdxAXBu

OzMgGWOwZHDitug

On the edge of consciousness, Ren Yi vaguely realized that Gong Yingxian was trying to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but he could no longer process it.FaDoLCbLhDhdQtMmKqmDxpIegQVedr

YhgcNrJZZDvpqoM

In the final moments, the wall trapping them was finally broken open, creating a large hole. A rush of fresh air poured in, bringing with it the life-saving oxygen they so desperately needed.wukaRcGfEQYrBsTDmfAaijUNUgzmJo

fyowXmcWJYfFNVQ