Blazing Armor

At the hospital, the doctor who treated them last time joked, “Are you two aiming to join our VIP list? Just left a few days ago, and now you’re back again.”gAcgqlELFReGlWYDsKJODwsmxToGLT

HBVhwPlIWGbZIYd

Ren Yi forced a smile. “Yeah, do we get a discount, or maybe some sort of cashback?”IqazdEwnnQhciGTPgrfsuCflzFRkov

NegvWmApclCRHQJ

“Not like you’re paying for it.”qlPmhmgCPMpedktdnonbfCfvNTqkfq

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After a full body check-up, it was already past midnight.sNHrtlMUsOmuVFyuTqwyYgeWWjvznE

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Though there wasn’t any serious harm, they were supposed to rest for a few days. But right now, the two of them couldn’t afford to waste time on recovery.gKnJtGEoLDhxPqADDoCfsuUEzLTlVL

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Purple Flame had gone completely insane. His conspiracy at the gym may have failed this time, but there was no way he’d give up. Who knew what kind of deranged actions he’d take next? They had to use all their resources to catch him as soon as possible.cYgfMVZRoeAkddUCAqBdCGRJFAinFc

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Leaving the hospital, Gong Yingxian tossed a pile of bills into the trash.GDxrBUDmjFlQyhNJaBHipCvqLJHCFE

CHXZqLrPIvQCGzJ

Ren Yi stole a glance at him. “Are you hungry? Do you want to…”ddALGoqttvejSalNrtolKdjECADiCD

rMXrgdyAIxDKCqX

“I want to get back to the scene.”gmyFIKwooNwUQlsSVLAxyWxpUeZCnf

CfzjQZPxEqrXmfx

“Now?” Ren Yi checked his watch; it was nearly three in the morning.mSmKgvCCrJfywjqZHhCGHaYQrDeqTX

dzYyccGkIGAGVXW

“Yan-jie and the others are still there gathering evidence. Right now is the golden hour to catch the criminals.”LWxtixVBsbVoXINSKntROpZEVScmpM

VsUYuTawIdXeHmF

“Then take care of yourself.”PbHIUhzgesIvLWPHUuKSKPMXNHtZdG

QhfvnFXKRgCzEAI

“Your father isn’t safe at home. After Purple Flame’s setback tonight, he’s very likely to retaliate against us. I’ll send someone to pick him up after dawn.”dJQtcFLXqPIgFQVtudfHkVuobbkcSm

DcnlIjArLsqfzaY

“…Alright.” Although it was a bit sudden, Gong Yingxian made sense. Ren Yi couldn’t feel at ease leaving his father home alone. He wanted to go home and stay with him right away.qOcGnNwBxQzveNotBgbQNmSioPSttk

EsiPkucWkDZIWbR

Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi and said sternly, “Also, until we catch Purple Flame, don’t act alone. Stay with the team, and be extra cautious when on duty.”YPayaobjjXQRNcDDXgHzlNLaNcwEhx

KOuJupRKcfwsFvp

Ren Yi replied, “You too. Whether at home or at work, be doubly careful.”QESJNHcVUQCshiepXkenBGFLbQlbAJ

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Gong Yingxian gave a barely visible nod before turning and walking away.ibvFXqAlEJLJXVAiQcPWWVRGoERPZt

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Watching him leave, Ren Yi couldn’t help but sigh. Although they had agreed to “pretend nothing happened,” they both knew this was just a way to save face for each other. They still had numerous work interactions, and when it came to serious matters, they couldn’t be childish enough to play cold war or cut off ties.CNDaQItXsSEHcqTGCAGImeTCndKtgP

TLOMgeOPWLRmlGv

Yet, the rift between them remained.SveQpHeMGzBSJqxuHlirKeTWhVbAnk

iqwSkEWaCpSQkSS

***JHijxbDYLjOaaMFblUGAQFgPmCGtAE

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Arriving home.uCIIYFZbaeDrosqCqRJPzojlBSzDwo

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The night-shift caretaker was startled awake, but Ren Yi quickly shushed her and quietly made his way to Ren Xiangrong’s room. He opened the door and saw his father sleeping peacefully. The tension that had weighed on him all night finally eased.aCGAjPArIJpfIARdUueDKfcWyJeywz

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He returned to his own room, collapsed onto his bed, feeling both exhausted and drained, not wanting to move a single finger.cJyXDQCMblkQNTBVTYjEbvhvpnaFGq

mwAxkSAhYrKYwIf

The events of this night felt as though they had spanned a century. His long-awaited first date with Gong Yingxian had been completely ruined. His emotions had been a rollercoaster, swinging from joy to sadness, from fear to disappointment, leaving him with a tangle of mixed feelings.srmdORnnZfCREclCaeCXRoGMwjMhph

JbiWFOfVQNtRQIw

Closing his eyes, Gong Yingxian’s face appeared in his mind. He no longer had the energy for intense emotions; now, he just wanted a good night’s sleep. Maybe he could dream about Gong Yingxian—a sweet dream.AWRPialcTTSclVLsocDnlExQfcWDoF

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And with that, he drifted into sleep.GqyQvORGNlIutcGxrKPKcQjAMTAdnT

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***RSTmlqMAlZcvHbwZxPHhjaxPEeoxOl

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The next morning, Gong Yingxian sent a car.xDvqtOdnhyBwhrhBcENMqoINwjQHFN

fRkGWRWhgfJDkmE

Ren Yi had already spoken with his father, but he hadn’t mentioned the hospital or his connection to Gong Yingxian, not wanting his father to overthink it. However, packing his bags so early in the morning did lead to a few grumbles from his father: “Why the rush?”pdNXxfeSIENrMvKMqkeQwzGoMEccUH

gcTLDLXFBiasmtF

With recent events becoming increasingly severe, Ren Yi felt even more reluctant to tell his father. If even he couldn’t feel safe, how could he convince his father not to worry? The only way to truly ensure his father’s safety was to send him to a secure, undisclosed location with 24-hour security and proper care, and Gong Yingxian’s hospital was the best option for that.XPvcGFSFBCsxPvsDApMfLZuKbJAOYV

rDMrTAqYidiOYmS

Once they arrived at the hospital, all arrangements had been made. Dr. Han called Ren Yi aside, saying earnestly, “Captain Ren, rest assured leaving the former captain with us. Dr. Gong personally instructed us, and our entire staff is taking this very seriously.”qhzhFUkSqTTXRvlOsGjjhTFWbjLGiW

PUCRSJnqGnsVZzW

“Thank you for the trouble.” Ren Yi glanced up. “There are cameras all over here, right?”ZkCZxiKmyfVIMMvEqpotZYJZPVXPOv

RlpLckUzOMgvods

“Yes, 24-hour security and care—it’s very safe,” Dr. Han replied with a smile. “You’re welcome to visit anytime. We’ll keep you updated on his treatment and rehabilitation.”aWsJBluwQpOKOBdttkyNHjVCmclBdq

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“Alright, thank you very much.”pqewRoSSWJOIrNaGKDRqGWsMMukNnY

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Returning to the room, Ren Xiangrong was busy familiarizing himself with the bedside smart controls. Seeing his son, he said, “The facilities here are really nice.”PFuwveclLlkHUnKjjqxmltSRqjGdcI

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Ren Yi smiled.IKlTtHeoYvwULsQxqLjSbSlBBSHTie

gCwkHaySkdEBifh

“How much does it cost per month?” Ren Xiangrong asked, a bit uneasy. “This place has to be more expensive than a nursing home, right?”qRFVxMyldNMnSUSDtOBBCInYAziVsR

aVFVNNpvwSeLZbY

“Your insurance covered part of it, and the hospital has a veterans’ healthcare program, so it didn’t cost much.”DJyncgbyxKqSuyBzmrDQIzMXWqWesL

MzmbdmeBcsCRuZz

“Really?” Ren Xiangrong said happily. “That’s excellent.”UdCxuQObZjRPlnrPuvYhiCiqGuKHlM

gtOfJLDlGrPiLcs

Ren Yi sat by his bedside and gently said, “Dad, I’ll be really busy for a while, so I might not be able to visit often, but we can video call, alright?”abzenLNutEnXyamaTPpMOcnJHhlllo

oHiPNkGZAwDqhSb

“Don’t treat me like a child. You go on with your work. The lunar new year’s coming up in a month, so I’m sure you’ve got a lot on your plate.” Ren Xiangrong glanced at him. “Did you work all night on duty? You look worn out—your face is a bit pale.”ISNDBlsCWruAHuUQUfgbiRGeTvoISv

qndOQNztclbFuqa

“Yeah, it went late. Concerts come with a lot of aftermath to handle.”zLCQoQfOTSMghJEiTeOwPFRqbvRGaA

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“I watched a bit on TV before I went to bed. All that noise isn’t my thing. Everything went smoothly, though?”lgUnvYmDVjBcBBUVqpIsFHNtJGwfRC

QDeRjoFyiYcJscF

Ren Yi managed to keep his expression calm. “Smoothly. I even got an autograph from a big celebrity.” Last night’s events had been completely locked down. Even if some attendees sensed something was off, they’d have no way to confirm or uncover it.qARsQfnzVEqYtZsRdBjriVnovUrQjE

fIKSJZmNcjMgZoY

After settling his father in, Ren Yi barely had time for a meal before he had to rush back to his team.ftDStytDcOsvGrPIsQjoyOAwDtBHGC

cSEMnyaJQUnaHie

On the way, he received messages from Xu Jin and Gong Yingxian. Xu Jin wanted him to attend a meeting with Qu Yangbo in the afternoon at the task force, regarding the recent incident. Meanwhile, Gong Yingxian asked him to come to the precinct in the afternoon to record a statement.gyjbLeURwhwdmTIjLDmDbAIXpjMCTg

snbeBqNoukyTxBv

Back at the station, Ren Yi was immediately surrounded by the team, all eager to hear details of last night. Normally, he’d jump at the chance to embellish his heroic deeds, but right now, he was in no mood for boasting. This involved Gong Yingxian—and even more gravely, Purple Flame.NyYgmPDPlLesPdGEWTLOpSItLRwltf

bmWheqXYoiYskJP

He called everyone into the conference room, his tone serious. “For the past few months, I’ve been working closely with the police on a case. I haven’t shared many details with you, but after what happened at Hongwu Hospital, many of you have some idea. We’re dealing with a cult organization that uses arson as their main crime. The near-disaster at last night’s concert was also their doing.”cGOrAVhZuENZowXSjonFgnSnJqjxKk

gMCsgGfqSeiElVv

The gravity of his words spread through the room, everyone’s expressions turning solemn.OdSSBiJjZGZmHJxgMQxJzhwXELysWA

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“The concert incident must remain strictly confidential; I don’t need to say more about that. What I want to address is our work moving forward. This organization is both evil and unhinged. Based on the police’s current investigation, they’ve been responsible for numerous arson cases across the country over the years, many of which were disguised as accidents. They’ve managed to stay hidden, but their frequent atrocities and the police’s deepening investigation have finally brought them into the light. Now, the leader of this organization has started making moves—whether it’s out of revenge or provocation. If last night’s concert had gone according to his plan, the damage would have been immeasurable. Since it didn’t, he’s not likely to let it go easily. His actions will only get more erratic and unhinged, and we need to be mentally prepared for that.”MgFjBbNvNNZMShDHbBrhzRWVOBSdhi

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Qu Yangbo asked gravely, “How much information do the police have on them now?”LctmfaUVXHzSrhePSiPquXdbVMliTT

XPGDoikVJKTGHlu

“They’ve gathered a lot and recently captured one member alive. I’m confident the police will bring down this organization, but evidence gathering and arrests take time. Until they’re all caught, we have reason to believe that firefighters are one of their primary targets.” According to Gong Yingxian’s analysis, firefighters, as the ones who fight fire with fire, are the ultimate representatives of what Purple Flame considers “evil souls.”NuEyEwdBtuSHutNAZQAIEvENOaXkYt

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The team exchanged concerned looks.lAOrLDbLjGwswFnRJqVCMkSOxbXrUq

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“This afternoon, I have to head to the precinct to give a statement, and I’ll be attending a meeting with our commander at the task force. This crisis isn’t just a threat to the public or the police; it’s a threat to the fire department as well. This organization is made up of indoctrinated arsonists with specialized knowledge, and since we’ve been involved in several previous rescue operations related to their cases, they’ve set their sights on me. They’re likely to escalate to actions that could endanger the entire unit.”vWsOtefQGMfFfoyltUJjSQvlqteGff

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Gao Ge said, “We’re not afraid of those sons of bitches.”PPSCLMDDQuMkmTwryPeSPxarzUfGab

njSZSHeksLDMaMh

“Yeah, not afraid of them. If they dare to come, we’ll spray them down with water guns.”xgTmtMikzQvCtezNUOPZWRKtAbloZP

tFAsjyxyIXGahev

“I know none of us are afraid. We’re on the side of justice, and justice doesn’t need to fear evil. But from now on, I need everyone to, first, avoid acting alone as much as possible, and second, to be extra careful on every dispatch. There could be traps laid out by that organization. This afternoon, we’ll also be discussing with the division on how to better ensure everyone’s safety while still handling our daily tasks.”fRrObBmlPalgaGqpgaVJVNvVDwdGKy

FfnCEDsifHiSzSv

After the meeting, Qu Yangbo said heavily, “I never thought things would escalate this far. I thought it was just some dark web operation abroad. Who would’ve guessed it would connect to so many cases?”jvQGovKOkZUWGcIlgQIvcSwUuyjIeO

oZyhUoCuZgKZQNd

“If it didn’t connect to so many cases, then the previous victims would never have received justice, and there’d be even more victims in the future.” Ren Yi took a deep breath. “This also proves that their time is up.”OotmvnRHhPTyAFrMpyLfaNqecpsJZX

mkfsgGmsRTbJFKw

Qu Yangbo glanced at his watch. “What time are we heading to the division? The command team is taking this very seriously. This morning, the leadership from the Public Security Bureau met with our command team. Now, both fire and police departments need to fully cooperate, and Captain Chen wants to sit down and discuss things with us.”EgzCyenLIWVcBYDkRvsCsYqQPyMVJg

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“I need to stop by the substation first to record a statement. Why don’t you come with me, and afterward, we can head to the division together?”UTYiHdisRcQKZzcOvSoaTHyBqsjsua

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“Alright, let’s go.”ohRYXoyjDYcQxNMLjqzHBqLEATkjBq

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On the way, they talked about the details from last night, and Qu Yangbo said earnestly, “Ren Yi, I know you’re passionate and all, but don’t forget—your father still needs you, and the Phoenix Squad brothers need you, too. You can’t just throw your life away.”XQsYkGKfDxjwGabQgHzIZmkyVyyZJy

FPPBDHlZYRwmnIS

Ren Yi forced a relaxed tone. “Who said I’m throwing my life away? I’m plenty attached to it. Last night was a dire situation—what else could I have done?” It wasn’t that he didn’t fear death; it’s just that everyone has something worth defending with their life. If he hadn’t handled the bomb, Gong Yingxian would have been in danger, and so would the audience below. At that moment, he had no time to think; it was just instinct.biZBBFFxmkCXhuERyuCEpiesbrpMtC

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Qu Yangbo took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. “Honestly, I’m a bit scared.”gvhNJMOyJYDYMoOFwziKSYeuqnBpsm

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Ren Yi looked at Qu Yangbo, feeling a pang of discomfort.oLWmdlJppHfvbqaKgVFdkwwuqIBraq

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“At first, I thought it was just an isolated case. We’ve seen our share of nasty, perverse crimes, but I never imagined it’d be an organization. Frankly, I’m really a bit scared. I worry about your safety, and I worry about everyone’s safety.”IoLkrpUMtVyfEvTAKDYYwPUPxrkYFl

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“I understand. I’m scared too,” Ren Yi said with a bitter smile. “This morning, I sent my dad away early. The leader of that damn cult might have his sights set on both me and Dr. Gong.”QoFnbtEcAyChPFqPgzbnMZflZQFTsl

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“You did the right thing. Don’t act alone anymore from now on.”ophDEZYXSdoSgdGqWfdrDDjBzixFBA

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Ren Yi nodded. “Believe that evil cannot triumph over justice. We’ll catch them.”nuNjwSbwMsoKsmrfkARFsEJzGWGHHF

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When they arrived at the substation, Ren Yi went in to give his statement, but noticed that the atmosphere there felt different. The female officers, who usually greeted him warmly, barely acknowledged him today, instead chatting excitedly among themselves.bfmeLCtRgWQBBoTECNPoAgtkhMHezq

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Gong Yingxian and Cai Qiang were already there. Cai Qiang said, “Ren, you should have come a bit earlier. Engineer He just left. He even asked about you.”nAZtvuSoiAOZNuNxDSEKZBhRLQLVGl

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“Engineer He just left? Did Song Juhan come with him?”IrwAmotsJVxGCwfnmPSvtEUcqFTqAu

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“Yeah, a celebrity through and through—damn good-looking, too.”zMYnMIaGmEBLPYyoQoRQKqhaQGAHwZ

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Ren Yi immediately understood why the female officers were so excited.VARnEexIjNARTaRWeJsibLQKAhdrBU

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Cai Qiang, being nosy, asked, “Hey, are those two really… you know? I don’t follow this stuff, but Xiao Gao and the others just told me that He and Song are a gay couple.”IToNazMZbcBSOvEHPQPLdOuLYiauOw

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Ren Yi sneaked a glance at Gong Yingxian, whose face had darkened; just hearing the word “gay” probably made him uncomfortable.GvXvySJZrKbOURbSIwQtwZXHKZDqfH

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Gong Yingxian cleared his throat. “Let’s focus on the case.”drFQbEBsePKqNUIyEnLdSpmuVdoJDX

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Ren Yi recounted everything that happened last night in detail, though the entire process didn’t take long since Gong Yingxian already knew most of it.QWxgWhHZoSAoWNGeZfVaipUkoGmIwP

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Once his statement was recorded, Cai Qiang went off to handle other matters, leaving the two of them alone, facing each other awkwardly.AQJCUWXggImlkpxfhciOiljgpOzKde

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Ren Yi scratched his head. “So, how’s Wang Rui?”rihOuxStokAdVCJXqIAMDfipvkNxTo

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“He made it through surgery; he’ll live,” Gong Yingxian replied. “We’ve investigated him thoroughly. Purple Flame is particularly skilled at brainwashing people who have trouble fitting into society. We’ll bring in his family and work with psychologists to intervene. Once we get him out of X Cult’s influence, he’ll cooperate with us. Purple Flame just handed us a valuable witness.”jwyURcCWXmNHwNAgAyZWtCoynOVdxE

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“That’s great,” Ren Yi said. “By the way, my dad is settled in at the hospital, thanks for that.”HXxtYDTZiBFhcqIEECPflJRfCKBepF

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“No need to thank me.”yrcyBeUrFQRSiXMwdquGjkdvfnIYKa

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Silence fell over them again, filled with an uneasy tension.VGnGpoJxXdbPtyELveERyqVCAAewIY

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They had once been friends who could talk endlessly. Yet now, in the blink of an eye, it had come to this.YYBgMqJpcsZvVgbfmrLvTQFNMBwGyS

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Gong Yingxian gathered his documents. “I heard that the police and fire department higher-ups met this morning. They’re allocating more resources to this case. We’ll catch Purple Flame soon.”bAkuNCtRDGWHCTNaUCNzTTgeHcoCxS

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Ren Yi gazed fondly at Gong Yingxian’s face. “With you on the case, we definitely will.”VScJgUgsUTGyvIcqeDgBRrgDaHxUSV

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Expressionless, Gong Yingxian stood up. “I’m heading out.”ILVOSNgwsfDzswdwmuGhpKzoTSVgaN

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“About the fire investigation, when are we doing it?” Ren Yi asked. “Now that your family’s case is connected to this organization, maybe we’ll find some linked clues.”DiVxJdZiozFaiSHrmVIAMKprDwcVoO

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“I hardly have any time; it’ll have to be in the middle of the night.”UBDbpcHHrdhwddZHsmcZWOzufQtRKp

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“Then middle of the night it is,” Ren Yi said. “This matters a lot to you, so it matters to me, too.”lfPeKroamoFmCqVNwruNqhOjGhKufK

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Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi. “Why does it matter to you?”XtEjaHvSdWNZFpiZwoRSyQKQAptphv

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“Uh, because… if it matters to you, it matters to me.” After saying that, Ren Yi’s heart raced, uncertain if he had crossed a line.cOeEkrPfaxUFPLAGhKTLSkzTmeYYXu

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Gong Yingxian felt a pang in his chest. He knew, of course, that Ren Yi cared about him, that he wanted the best for him. And precisely because of that, it was becoming harder and harder to suppress his possessive feelings toward him.pbCNSHKOdaIlzgeQtfjWsKSIXTmLVH

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He was holding himself back, though he didn’t know for how much longer he could.dVEExLoHgENhHTHSDqihBdJOJpRgch

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