Chapter 99
Gong Yingxian struggled to open the car door and placed Ren Yi on the back seat. Ren Yi lay back comfortably, half-opening his eyes to look at Gong Yingxian, “You’re… taking me home?” His mind felt muddled, his vision blurred, but all he could remember was “home.”nXhSlOpxVPPgXNnqGSLPHNRZOkmFQH
GFAdFwUrUmndTgK“Yeah.” Gong Yingxian buckled Ren Yi’s seatbelt, took off his coat, rolled it up, and placed it under Ren Yi’s head. “We’ll be there soon; get some rest.”PkSbfJjAEeXpjxiMkVKcsGjdhsOFzY
gaTQXQfHyAAZejzRen Yi found Gong Yingxian’s voice soft and gentle. Though he couldn’t see his face clearly in the dim light, he figured it must look warm and kind. Being treated this way while sick… it was nice.GTFQqjqSmBwFLtNjrbDYgvSNdbvEiW
CBdRTMgADehQQUMHe closed his eyes peacefully.CnJvYATvAkTeczPiYuqGkiLXRQypjv
aiwdqmDoQfllptSAfter glancing at Ren Yi a few times, Gong Yingxian gently closed the car door, got into the driver’s seat, and drove off.kutPcsfFOfqmKkDTFpmWxGAPhtgJrA
evoLsLrcOQaKSyXRen Yi’s home was quite a distance away, crossing half of the capital city. By the time they arrived, dawn had broken.QBxqWAWrgYQKZdEXDZNZSdkxhVUgYY
fusPqLrOLLuhBLGRen Yi had fallen into a deep sleep. Gong Yingxian opened the car door and, with some effort, pulled Ren Yi out from the back seat, realizing then that his fever had worsened—he was practically unconscious.RaZsCjOBnduBwRfTmFGvjewHUDmKEI
YlVYPfrUgRsYcBbAnxious, Gong Yingxian scooped Ren Yi up in his arms and hurried upstairs.nqxIYkXyEqtNsLHWYWaWbNnPaahJXN
rIQvSRhxuVhsNUTWaiting at Ren Yi’s doorstep was Gong Yingxian’s family doctor, with two large boxes at his feet—a medical kit and an insulated container. The doctor was yawning heavily from exhaustion.XvZZErkFVqgSdlHFxChkqdvtUzeFvp
DplqLnvniQSXEMS“Young Master,” Dr. Wang straightened up at the sight of them, looking more alert. “How’s he doing?”IfRNduepXijnOiSRdTdyIPmRwEIZSY
vByqbkzHndhDvbTGong Yingxian replied worriedly, “He’s been out in the cold all night; his fever’s gotten worse.”ofAJCXMrdcpRGUUflCdfMZIcUDRRTB
nSWkyqWdnQNYWqvInside, Gong Yingxian carefully placed Ren Yi on the bed, then stepped aside to give Dr. Wang room to work.gvaTWzTwHuUjtPpVYZuGorHmYgtiHD
IsDQmkEtCsxEqZwDr. Wang took Ren Yi’s temperature and administered a fever-reducing injection.FprkQEhYSccejvIARCfiTWixCMbLhq
SlugwxMBFgNAZSGRen Yi mumbled incoherently in his sleep, his body drenched in sweat.KhIDPglBthSyviKkhmCHEVVKoliiQn
HUpSJXDTsqYwHtpGong Yingxian, concerned, asked, “When will his fever go down? Could it cause any lasting harm?”cCmHqomPhTKAoQeIosOnZxqfVfYyaT
TBVPRiMFDrOvshr“39.2°C—not alarmingly high. The injection should help. If you want to bring it down faster, you could rub him down with alcohol.”RXqvMQlNdDbBRrSTHJiHYQZuWqOrws
jzidmolcyEiuhSJ“Rub… rub his body?”GiDyMgnlQVNGEhwqMHNwrYKsXTbCiy
UBYQocdftKQQZhHDr. Wang nodded, looking at Gong Yingxian expectantly.qfgMbjcMlWBIhqLBPsFNKMtuCajfxV
YQPfXCvRdIXAIcKRubbing him down would mean undressing him, and undressing him would…QElmIHIbOLOgPZTTkEWSoDACtUUoiC
ikziuUQpDAWPqYrGong Yingxian immediately dismissed the idea, “No need for that.”AMtjUYgPMoLwXNTBkwWPSZJFzXrMnu
tpmnDpMBUdHNdJmDr. Wang looked relieved. Woken before dawn, he just wanted to get back to sleep. “That’s fine. His condition is stable now. Once he wakes up, have him eat something. The insulated container has food that Steward Sheng prepared; just warm it up. Have him take his medicine half an hour after eating. If he still has a fever by tonight, I’ll come back to give him another injection.”hgKMDxxOBGatXApHDooCwwMdiHOChf
elubBwaIWXtJvSaGong Yingxian nodded. “You can go now.”RNlmOkLXJUUYEKwYJOPqlKpgowHqEJ
GJgLUYnsfVUUwkQDr. Wang glanced at him and advised, “Young Master, you don’t look much better than he does. No matter how busy work gets, you need to take care of yourself. If you keep pushing like this, I’m afraid you’ll end up sick too. If you don’t rest, I’m calling Captain Qiu.”vgFYffCCpQYiPKinjBpbAZOjUdPKga
HopDBgMTyTcHNRNSince New Year’s, Gong Yingxian hadn’t slept more than four hours a night, and exhaustion had definitely caught up with him. After another sleepless night, his eyelids were heavy, and his mind felt weighed down. “Sister Yan has already pushed me to take a break. I’ll take a couple of days off.”qKKyYiUXvCEfEnEccTUrMsmoLbsMcq
bGlNKuCJGDeBDJg“Good, call me if anything comes up.”YWDRXWGQUVsunJbkswjnrctISRdEaY
gIsbauoXRJvAcoHAfter Dr. Wang left, Gong Yingxian sat by the bed, quietly watching Ren Yi. His gaze lingered on every inch of Ren Yi’s skin, and he reached out, gently stroking his hair and tracing those handsome features.xXmfSLFTxyWrPyBGAMIBmmuNboovkH
nlFIzOwzmzkbSPEEven though he didn’t want Ren Yi to be sick, he couldn’t deny that he liked having this version of Ren Yi, completely at his mercy. It allowed him to be as close as he wanted, to touch without restraint, without any need to hold back.NNLHDZTdjxWCNfpIUuZIsosbgvCXOb
MxhSyNoWkwVqzzQThe only thing missing was a response.DPQblwPfOtcJIZMAxseABgaKtihshE
yWCtWXSeOsepsbYTaking a deep breath, he pulled back Ren Yi’s blanket and removed the sweat-drenched clothes.GfdNyGlAQzJdoUGLmVCwdArFiFGrjA
xUOUswuCmsyaXEVRen Yi’s skin had a faint red flush from the fever, and his usually strong limbs now lay limp and weak. As he looked at Ren Yi’s peaceful, sleeping face, Gong Yingxian felt a twinge of guilt. He reminded himself that this was all to help lower the fever. Pouring some alcohol onto a damp cloth, he carefully wiped down Ren Yi’s body.SqgfhpGSWpiAfggFNyDEOZnsKsZpbK
LIxEvwOmquMwXSsBy the time he finished, dawn had fully broken. Gong Yingxian was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open, and he was starving, yet he had no energy to eat. All he wanted now was to get some real rest.HobMWMUSLdUqvaJadLEfRggXsawtcB
voACuVAyHVuSvrsHe carefully slumped down beside Ren Yi, pulling him gently into his arms.tCwaVCvWlVmkcELXPdwnLMgtGagEHY
nLrAcrGErGYXQbISo warm… He wished he could hold him like this forever.TrxQubHkNCBcBnJSYjljMUwixwyWrK
phtfqhMgjaxchGfHis recent bouts of insomnia weren’t just due to the overwhelming workload. The masked figure, Ziyan, had resurfaced, dredging up buried fears and pain. He felt compelled to throw himself into the investigation, to hunt down the culprit relentlessly. If he paused, even briefly, he risked being engulfed by a darkness he couldn’t escape.vHHtviDhWxUwLcEVhliQWCmfsBeejN
iRcvqDDGwCRENdkThat’s why he feared rest, even dreaded sleep.WEmIMllrStZjqtrdRusVbdoexkvlPD
VQwTGULBOWDYkArBut holding Ren Yi, his heart finally felt at ease. All those floating, uncertain, and anxious emotions slowly settled as he absorbed Ren Yi’s warmth. He even forgot about the pillow he usually needed to fall asleep. Just holding Ren Yi like this was enough to let him drift into peaceful slumber.JwSKTAmNgDuLBwZnRJJSjFpMUSCsez
cfjxRjOkQVmUgOA***wffWpNAjyNAINuhwKfmukXDfKEXxOR
ITuLaJFzqVNRiELIt was unclear how long he’d been asleep when Gong Yingxian was startled awake by the sound of his phone ringing. Groggy, he grabbed his phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?”BoAckqeyzlDmiYjsdZIIfLJFIrZmvv
zKyvEowpVRGlFsb“Yingxian, are you home?” Qiu Yan’s voice came through.ubavNayUkcmTlHNaAXXCxEBZnEdkcP
JCXEAtXoRhlJtYi“…Yeah.” Gong Yingxian glanced at the still-sleeping Ren Yi beside him. “What’s up? Do you need me at the precinct?” For the first time, he didn’t want to go to work, didn’t want to leave this warm, almost otherworldly little room.ntbUnDykXkmyeVOeAaDztciOniFPmg
XyMchLevLBbArzt“No need. It’s just a document that might’ve been filled out wrong. I wanted to confirm it with you, and also share the preliminary findings on those two bodies.”kPxauzFrpzTBKnzGVZXsRevRHHtgMi
iqzlSFRjnNsjdbeGong Yingxian breathed a discreet sigh of relief. “Alright.”FaKafYilAdknCgBFXjShAWIWENABnX
BBkFwQpPtILnOJaAfter they finished discussing work, Qiu Yan added, “Since you’re home, I’m giving you a two-day break. You can’t keep burning yourself out like this. I’m afraid you’ll wear yourself down before you catch Ziyan, and haste makes waste.”QEJLEtAqNtIEfoOHRjbEeoCvROHAIb
TuihRvbEdXbsBYp“I understand.”dTSLHHLoMWIAOoLGQQyClxacApjfgt
xFNVHWOnxcbGZVv“I heard Captain Ren was the one who retrieved the bodies from the well last night. I also heard he has a fever?”wJInichjcvptwopJaHhErxnIWgucXr
ntAZZjNralAkFza“Yes, he was out in the cold all night.”YWvXUizswlOjUAvpmisxOAcfcdhFMc
JJwVnVhPpjsndBR“He’s really gone above and beyond. I’ll visit him at the hospital later with some health supplements on behalf of the precinct.”vcrnyvNHhVTSIsCoisVnvroZNKbgKW
ZauhmQiiWmeRTtq“Uh, that’s… not necessary.”ejSBhLJdNeuzbuyscIZsjaDvNSnysi
wNEflwUHgDoVyrV“Why not?”aIgDRlwQtcoquIAkidabDffACqnonL
jxFXgJZVAGuVRuQAfter a moment’s hesitation, Gong Yingxian replied, “He didn’t go to the hospital. He’s recovering at home.”ogZufdqUePHVCAvqoBIBPQvSVywMnI
splOmuIrPZHoKSBQiu Yan, sharp as ever, picked up on Gong Yingxian’s unusual tone and seemed to guess the situation. “Are you at his place?”DKtRulwFGWqBnleolpomMxeKXCBaMA
DarbAnkvFKBoQIW“…Yes.”LXAKiyXqHQFmuKuaoBXshLEBkDwbrU
YaJFfJnTxwAKgLvQiu Yan fell silent, a silence that made Gong Yingxian inexplicably anxious.zEsxiUfpidWnhdMBoMdrVECbHtwZel
VseEOPYSjNAjBxl“Then take good care of him.”JqFyuQzyQjfbqZhhToYxdILUizrsdm
OojGVkSCHylwUrx“Got it.”HtwQsCMscJmuQpNqTYQhvJalKSckSu
IIxwMVTFFwjoeuoAfter hanging up, Gong Yingxian let out a long breath.HUCkQbWeTMyhlbjKdknyUhOBBqXFqC
oNJrWPskaztHxLiSuddenly, Ren Yi’s eyelashes fluttered, his body stirring as if he was about to wake. Startled, Gong Yingxian quickly scrambled off the bed and pulled a chair over to sit by the bedside.kurlmsuHIzukDSweFnbwAtgTHIAzHv
ZpUqEamlFZNbFbhAfter a moment, Ren Yi awoke, feeling groggy, his throat burning painfully, and his swollen eyelids barely able to stay open.RjWuIvWiDpKwdqBccABnhIzcFUerom
pUfExmrsgvteiwYWith one hand propped on the bed, Gong Yingxian leaned over to look at him. “You’re awake.”nAyBJTXTWdfhqWHjuJmnlvwCxYfIJQ
jVdlJwdAyLWKLYDRen Yi looked at Gong Yingxian, his mouth opening slightly. “Thirsty.”VrplJPoZyzojOXiXOZhfNIHeYYIpRE
vcXGHQIhgSbZWTQHis voice was hoarse beyond recognition.IgKPqigXPpIkRaoQiuUdhxmARitxtk
NXSyjTXxrASzfydGong Yingxian helped him sit up against the headboard and poured him a cup of warm water. “Drink slowly; don’t choke.”njxNuoXlMMvNakQGWlDKPUoDLmVJAy
MvsCXjXgAmtzTpiRen Yi gulped down the entire glass, feeling as though he’d been roasted over a fire all night, thoroughly dehydrated. “Another glass.”pNARrouiEJDVwlEZAXBibfDvVWyhyK
klPkAzqdxxiTTjXGong Yingxian poured him another. “After you finish, have some porridge. You’ll need to eat before you can take any medicine.”PSpSaUMOYJIBfEiHzMgjKmQkgZLykG
wxbPrUGYBLJQyZyRen Yi looked at him, bewildered. “You brought me back?”ylJivBFFekYFOWOWnyoSXQalvFaqWV
LdWCnqFgjDcdsGe“You don’t remember?” Gong Yingxian reached out to check Ren Yi’s forehead. “It doesn’t feel as hot as before.” He handed him a thermometer. “Check again, to see if your fever’s gone down.”iMBAnQylbouVolnaSEZGDJMhxcLkPS
ACYPMRZrqSLWlcTRen Yi didn’t take it;instead, he continued to stare blankly at Gong Yingxian.pyolEBtJcIvvpsCdnhMQLPbfWWsPGL
IyVdFLCSwKkPBJpRen Yi’s reactions were a bit slow, his mind stuck on the thought that he was sick, and Gong Yingxian was taking care of him. Such a nice thing—maybe he was feverish and hallucinating.aJdWygAOANcpSFazLUxFfczqYbwSBq
MwngXaqTivcOfpGWith flushed cheeks, damp eyes, and a sluggish expression, he looked completely different from his usual sharp and robust self. Gong Yingxian had never seen him like this, not even the last time he was hospitalized. Now, Ren Yi looked so weak, so pitiful. Gong Yingxian swallowed quietly, barely able to take his eyes off him. His heart softened into a pool of spring water. He cleared his throat, removed the cap from the thermometer, and said, “Open up.”NTEaMekkCZbjjDEwGTzpauvscnlQnl
xZyMXPSZPOCnmAl“Ah…” Ren Yi obediently opened his mouth.HZuwyEQXRNlpkiwtFCcDqDyUnIvZqN
FFtpnPTYYgTdRtTGong Yingxian placed the thermometer in his mouth. “Take it out in two minutes. I’ll go warm up some porridge.”oUxeNSnxzSQjfqDPfIfGihSTmPWeBN
ABzBTstnLlUpnTVRen Yi held the thermometer in his mouth.HyXKoJvPkKLFkUFdLcVwLNNakzYcMu
TDeaDnaNXswThCKUnable to resist, Gong Yingxian reached out and gently pinched Ren Yi’s chin. “Did you hear me?”llGYDLNqbjXpmLYueywxvznjmtCCBg
pxMmSyoRkEKDKhLRen Yi nodded.tTmNouVSJbhhanqAxBNoVwPZVstEMT
WXMbyhXrgoSfcGkOnly then did Gong Yingxian stand and leave.gHHRTwNeEugpnmOXUKUlKizkRsIorb
iCRgtmLKzvjtGYIThe meals Steward Sheng had prepared were in the insulated container and were at just the right temperature—no need for reheating. He took out two white porcelain bowls, filled them with porridge, and added a few light side dishes onto a small plate. Placing everything on a tray, he carried it back to Ren Yi’s room.OdVdsnZkkBPebWbvdKhPmQIyBShpMh
DQtfmUHlgmunnpG“38.3.” Ren Yi seemed a bit more alert now.FdHlmlNJlrzRaezOnNHZXAViwgzRSb
RkYlzOzSZimgOMS“Your temperature’s gone down; it was 39 this morning,” Gong Yingxian said. “Dr. Wang mentioned that if your fever doesn’t subside by tonight, he’ll come back to give you another injection.”yMUKICFEbMWrBZWVJwarCMJoZrVblQ
egFPmCCGnheMTUmRen Yi glanced at the tray. “You haven’t eaten either, huh?”aLIGCwwQmSxnmkbGGJSCqSucIIghfO
BTJobPZNpFpxRrP“No, I was too tired, so I slept a bit.”aSQNxsBoQzBqXapjvmAhSaxwSkJQfl
kvocKVJicKbfEwQGong Yingxian placed the tray on the bed, picked up a bowl, and handed it to Ren Yi. “Eat something, then you can take your medicine.”tOSfRcCMaWweHcWRlMOUloDFEvXBgI
lzKNUqtOcNGICxHRen Yi took the bowl; he was already starving.IxIwamJYQDiIFMOUaWiwhxEIhlaePR
YvTpAbOzHZtKcPVAs the soft, mushy porridge slid down his throat, he felt a bit of relief from the scratchy pain in his throat. While eating, he struggled to piece together his muddled thoughts. “What time did we get back? Who’s handling the follow-up over there?”AmTAubEvEIfYBQBYKmTindPRrAnXqr
BaVnnOEUkyxbknU“Around six or seven. There are plenty of people there; you don’t need to worry.”SZBoqUliUftNkKAtkfNoVhjMcJxgaq
xxSgzjzxThfmNofRen Yi nodded. “Yang Bo and Captain Yan are there; it should be fine.”JwsgpWazVXurmdwdPiCRtYNgvWLkrp
ikXzMJloRJmOrCfGong Yingxian didn’t respond; both names Ren Yi mentioned bothered him.AsFQjjkoDcKSqKyTuuRwgDVBJbgvWR
MiSBeIJxtyCeZPs“And the two bodies? Were they sent to the forensic lab?”IgWCARhKZUtiwhyknHQPbnonpWvxge
QVPUllcBRoefqrN“Yes, they’re looking into their identities now. Yan-jie just told me it’s two females—one adult and one child—possibly mother and daughter. If they are indeed missing together, that’ll be easier to trace.”EqEPPxneLHuIuBVPFvHDidAOpqmcjW
RQcIqqxLbCAeEVyRen Yi didn’t have the energy to get angry, but just thinking about a child among the victims filled him with sorrow. Being sick amplified that sadness, making his chest feel unbearably heavy.QlThGPgxLZAvcPMluGiQkQfjIGnVEG
cckVFcxkSxwwtUT“This mother and daughter should lead us to the killer soon enough. It’s likely that the perpetrator held a strong emotional connection to them, whether love or hate.”NzrBCBdYMqClWMqZUzFmgRFfmqtgIp
oTCScpvfbCbnLAU“How do you know?”ItjnfvTcqaIwkInwVntIVhvrgeRIvk
GSCxObLzQmnLbmw“We’re not sure yet if they were burned alive or if they were killed first and then burned. But then they were dumped into a foundation well, a place where light never reaches. Most arsonists aren’t particularly interested in murder; any deaths are usually incidental. But the way this mother and daughter were treated—burned, then deeply buried—carries a clear message of hatred. It’s almost symbolic, like some twisted punishment. This wasn’t a random killing. The perpetrator knew them.”BfOWUUxxINXvGduuroQiihXuwYxtwA
BFEpNKmPDSnHyAfRen Yi struggled to process the words, a chill running through him. His hands trembled, and the bowl nearly slipped from his grip.SQfDZkJkSBFMTvKYlAEgVGOnAfhfjh
QTWVkOFXYAdLpRnGong Yingxian quickly reached out, catching both the bowl and Ren Yi’s hand, holding it securely.LZuQlBzNVvOfPCWmFjNPPJhsTmhlXo
knJWfCciPchpyglBoth froze, a powerful warmth passing between them, a heat that quietly spread through their bodies.PxXcSXgStyQUJVEJvOaqaYqRmQJRkR
MXGddNDcreyBXoXGong Yingxian murmured, “Can’t even hold a bowl properly?”bqvRqOmwsnXDsptpBqdqpbDlrBIZfc
FiwFSUDHeGKVpOP“…”FLQWWVMUqbRxqabeYbMvKxqJjLNvWn
aoGrnnLXVUeojHk“I’ll feed you.” Gong Yingxian took the bowl from him.PhjJBzKxdXnLauxmqPxouixTTiDbpm
dOiSSqoexsTxWfeRen Yi was so stunned he thought he’d misheard, too shocked to think clearly. He stammered, “N-no need.”ZvyKQQfNQWuXPdREzrCtmVPKgVJave
tgKgMrNlIFZADyo“Stop talking.” Gong Yingxian awkwardly scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to Ren Yi’s lips. “Eat.”wbdvcwBLpQPMuKxosxuWmuJMpkwMIq
ZsjcIFdKkRHNAyeRen Yi stared blankly at Gong Yingxian, opening his mouth stiffly to take a bite.RnOyUBDRdFLcjZzStHgbMAVwaqQyxP
FCYtKAPMfnPqvlfAs he watched Ren Yi gaze at him, licking the corner of his lips after each bite, Gong Yingxian felt his cheeks grow hot, wondering if he was getting infected with Ren Yi’s fever.qscDHFHpEEhyaLfbkCNKwOouHeIkUq
NjqqgsBctBLlxBvFinally, after finishing the bowl of porridge, both were drenched in sweat.BfcDFGxHVOVJPASRirFBzcTWsFmGKQ
hzFAGicvTpCyPFGAfter tidying up the dishes, Gong Yingxian returned, now holding a book. “Do you want to sleep, or would you rather stay awake? If you’re not sleepy, I can read to you.”TDodMuxSWBLgPepTOqQfkIwCNHFZHp
JofCfppSXPSEubRThis unexpected attention left Ren Yi feeling overwhelmed. “Aren’t you supposed to go back to the precinct?”nEdqetolwUfYmKnazsxNWGSIctcewU
fDjJnnExTvelrlg“I’m on break.”qrgCNkoSVcqbzKLUgCWqGjZCanwfmy
qbRLJshOXxRfLWRRen Yi blurted, “Is it to take care of me?”XAtTqqcuOvPgGIPakeVpPhmrzeWikX
PennxVvZnFvheJoGong Yingxian froze for a moment before replying, awkwardly, “I haven’t been sleeping well lately. Yan-jie insisted I take a few days off.” He paused, adding, “And… to take care of you, too.”YLnFHXtMkQebcXpRTGsBGLojzhdGmW
UxxmWxGrpoueCaJRen Yi smiled knowingly, happiness lighting his expression. “What book is that?”sCoKSRxkUWwkBmCFrSTCyimXWtHfNX
sBfxvUMyssEaYPc“A detective novel by Ellery Queen, The Tragedy of X.”tddCRnfwtRtIGXsawyCfzsGocUBBRF
uDxqaBeRjLyAAPa“Alright.”cnImyYkJumAauqRJDFDxNQJalmYLOQ
GKEuRnhFmvJttmjGong Yingxian opened the book and started reading, barely a line in when—BfFoSncWFWKEnuXAwXeTzRkHOeaQPz
WfVxSiOKDTKvGoF“Could you…move a bit closer?” Ren Yi asked, “I have a bit of a ringing in my ears.”mfroERDcIXEgkfWmlcqpzazVODozpU
jtJMpmNqdkmXIEeGong Yingxian looked at him for a moment, then shifted to sit on the bed, leaning against the same pillow as Ren Yi.NiPzhFXSyIJVFgIgDVCIqzLtLacvTZ
NvpGcPFqwgpKJVLRen Yi let a contented smile cross his face.lohADAvfbxVaxbVqpFRYrhUFuvwBFx
MUeRKyMvLmlPNLwDVgNslKjlEsvyrwoudiuIhBnymnNrD