Blazing Armor

During the New Year holiday, Ren Yi had sleepless nights, repeatedly recalling everything that had transpired between him and Gong Yingxian. The once-beautiful memories now felt like blades piercing his heart, leaving him in agonizing pain. Often, he would find himself lost in thought, only to realize dawn had already arrived.rrEeFEWTlAIIXWQeXAEwOCSSilRoeK

Despite his turmoil, he still had to maintain a façade of normalcy during the day, working his shifts as usual and celebrating the New Year with the soldiers and their families.bhJsPJjQOyrUkAhsfGdaxSHlBLlrgL

The squadron had pooled funds to rent a bus to take out-of-town family members to popular tourist spots. Ren Yi and Qu Yangbo took turns on duty at the squadron, and fortunately, there were no major emergencies, which allowed Ren Yi to spend more time with his father and secretly scout out new nursing homes.UezUylMcYeRxKhdCESkUYJlLNKvgzj

On the fifth day of the New Year, Ren Xiangrong said, “I’ve been staying at your squadron for a while now. It’s inconvenient for everyone and disrupts your work. It’s about time you send me back to the hospital.”ENxsJDpzHKLVynaaQxvDLuywEZJIuM

Ren Yi had yet to figure out how to tell his father that they would be moving him to another place.vXNMLBqlxPsIdDmkJDYtsutYTSXKWe

He could tell his father was comfortable staying at Gong Yingxian’s hospital—receiving round-the-clock, top-notch professional care in a pleasant environment. It was worlds apart from the days when they had relied on hired caregivers at home. The hospital’s medical conditions were unmatched, even by the best nursing homes.stUgixLCCbdNeAjsteopjlymlmdgmx

But Ren Yi would rather return to the days of taking his father to the hospital for regular checkups than allow anyone to harm his father again without his knowledge.GsMqWakiTyGMpXDoTZRFOKRRvfxdKR

Ren Yi had already arranged for a high-end nursing home and had even visited it while his father slept. The facility was excellent in every aspect, even if the cost exceeded his budget by a significant margin. He didn’t care—after all, his basic needs were already covered at the squadron, and he had nowhere else to spend his salary.dAMTowZTKGgdzOnKaLqTxCSYLcbMYZ

Once everything was set, Ren Yi shared his carefully crafted excuse with his father: “Dad, I haven’t mentioned this yet, but after the New Year, the hospital made some policy changes. The charity slots are no longer available.” The troubled look on his face was genuine, though not for financial reasons.lQuePYTdqEEiIIzSLGXkXucOIEVNcz

Disappointment flashed in Ren Xiangrong’s eyes. “So, does that mean I’d have to pay out of pocket if I stay?”xQRANYNQTOqqAkaSZcMNLqaoFSBnZH

Ren Yi nodded with difficulty. “The cost is very high.”JCTZWqhcFzsoJetxPiXdXmhiUaLJZh

“…How high?” After a moment of silence, Ren Xiangrong couldn’t help but ask.BCDFCUHEIfVBIVoWtCRICmMuvFihUe

“Pretty high,” Ren Yi murmured, his guilt palpable. He regretted accepting the preferential treatment provided by Gong Yingxian in the first place. He had trusted Gong without a shred of doubt, never suspecting there were ulterior motives behind the generosity.BOtJdcORxYXGBDPoQWopAVwdHzcjYU

Ren Xiangrong let out a simple “Oh,” then said nonchalantly, “Then let’s change to another place. You should’ve told me earlier so I could say goodbye to the doctors and nurses—they’ve all treated me well.”eBmDaEEDiIcPjycuskxtwESsTHHTCI

“Sorry, Dad,” Ren Yi said with a pained expression.PPPKDbWxHswENPGsMNLzmRjYjMSCui

“What’s there to apologize for?” Ren Xiangrong patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. I can stay anywhere. Nothing could be harder than life in the army. There are still some things I left at the hospital. When you have time, go get them for me, and thank the staff on my behalf.”BLFXQUmJhkdBWfuXLwlJYSikYgPapL

“Okay.”pyyuoQqTnBnNlvlFTGmDTIWEEXaBZL

“And after that…”mbDAJyckxmiutzstlvJYqmMfFhrKzh

“I’ve already arranged a place for you.” Ren Yi handed him a brochure. “The conditions here are also excellent. Don’t worry, you won’t be staying long. Once the arsonists are caught, I’ll bring you home.”NdIZjkGhPVYxAOCCGssmwUySZEYirI

“Alright, no problem.” Ren Xiangrong looked steadily at Ren Yi. “I’ve heard about what happened to your comrade.”QgLXpghvFKLHDEErggWfSowzgHJnIq

Ren Yi froze, then lowered his head. “I didn’t want to tell you—I was afraid you’d worry.”uFXWtOBCDCSfkryNuPRYUzLGgxYIhK

“You should’ve told me. I’ve been through the same struggles as you, and I’m still your father.”TBFngjqLYQgRtilJWknwrsIhhKwUTs

Ren Yi gave a bitter smile. “That’s exactly why I couldn’t bear to tell you.”gdKjnBdHqVvIAGZmBboLIixNYZVCYe

“After so many years, my heart is at peace. One day, yours will be too. Right now, it’s the hardest time, but you must understand—your efforts to live, to protect your comrades, and to save more people is the greatest tribute to him. Not endless guilt and grief.”vITTlOVXofrtpoxfsBgcRfRuYWbHTI

“Yeah.”CYXgeumlMEEPEVmjUtaeUyqOcowGVx

“You’re doing better now. People’s fire prevention awareness has improved, alarm systems are better regulated, and your equipment is more advanced. The casualty rate for firefighters has dropped significantly compared to my time. But this is still the most dangerous battlefield in peacetime. Losses are inevitable. As a squadron leader, you need not only the courage to enter the fire but also the strength to face tragedy.”MeeKFjnmgQAMzhhWmKKheIdWlMNvXD

“Yeah, the casualty rate has gone down a lot,” Ren Yi sighed. “It must have been harder for you back then.”XDxKFQpDebWgjfkBsSUuRHUyNwceat

Ren Xiangrong stared straight ahead, his gaze hollow. “I’m old now, so I don’t have many intense emotions left. Anyway, in a few years, I’ll get to reunite with them.”ZaqjLasZMZfHvektwimCBXqkNeKeCF

Ren Yi felt a deep ache in his heart. His father had always been his hero, someone he aspired to emulate. That’s why he couldn’t come to terms with what Gong Yingxian had done.jgbAbUonLFxoYBHoiRVzfTvROECyLM

These past few days, there had been no contact between them, which was probably for the best. Ren Yi didn’t even know what he could say to Gong anymore. He had once hoped Gong would come up with a reasonable explanation, but none came. Gong admitted to everything. And while he had hidden it from Ren Yi, it wasn’t something hard to uncover. Gong still did it anyway, as if he didn’t care whether Ren Yi found out—or how angry or hurt it would make him.hNOiXvhOnYOpMStLxiDBkffThQXRgU

His heart felt like it had been hollowed out by Gong Yingxian, bleeding incessantly with every passing moment.WoyyImCbMozVpUuReMcbSwqAvpbuNb

While his father was asleep, Ren Yi drove to the hospital, planning to pack up his father’s belongings and bring them home.FIPgpTSngSwzwWVBUZwJSSMHPjvKAy

The usual attending physician, Dr. Peng, was on leave, so the head nurse on duty greeted him warmly. “Captain Ren, are you bringing the old captain back today?”lXOFkSUWBrrgTSxmPjMaVBCAndZnTt

“I’m here to handle the discharge paperwork,” Ren Yi replied.nLKIRGZhAhjRCBuDfzTNBOwStASRap

The head nurse was taken aback. “Discharge? Why? What happened?”RMicLHNExEVQhaJUaGZsHavFdjEikR

“You can discuss the details with your management. I’m just here to complete the paperwork and collect my father’s things.” After a pause, he added, “Thank you very much for taking such good care of him during this time.”tsWsINvtaSIlmCjePZomFygtiyqzny

The head nurse hesitated. “I… Can I make a quick call to my supervisor? The old captain is one of our hospital’s most important patients. I can’t make this decision on my own.”RwvBKUpWUgywwtcFdfhiGjCemjKwcQ

“I can,” Ren Yi said calmly. “This hospital is not a shelter. If we want to leave, we can.”ZjsNwPCYuKDIelFKzFSKIFSUkTbGUj

“No, no, that’s not what I meant, Captain Ren. Could you please have a seat for a moment? I’ll make the call. Even if you insist on discharging him, there are procedures that need to be completed. Don’t rush.”TkIOJWVNiPAHthbzlPbAknFlZvBRtY

Ren Yi nodded. “I’ll start packing his things. Go ahead and make your call.”zxMTmCLhQAruKofPIPInuNYCcPavIH

When he entered his father’s hospital room, he took a look around and noticed how much the place already bore the signs of his father’s life. It was as if it had become a home, a place where his father had truly found comfort.DVJBNtgfNmbxhTpnSYsQzxYbpkmepG

Taking a deep breath, he began packing. Having lived there for a few months, his father had accumulated quite a bit of stuff. Ren Yi couldn’t carry everything in one trip, so he went back and forth, loading things into his car.bIpSvgeBirfjJQKxlEGMMstXytzmfl

On his third trip, the head nurse approached him again, her face pale and strained. “Captain Ren, the old captain’s treatment has reached a very critical stage. The progress we’ve made recently has been remarkable. Giving up now would undo everything—it’s such a shame.”NBKLypRjnBIvxrmrkdKTcLfNrMoRsN

Anger flared in Ren Yi’s chest, but he held it back, unwilling to vent on an innocent nurse. With strained patience, he replied, “Did your supervisor not explain to you why I’m discharging him?”VrMMbbRbExsDBZgiLdTiswgYoHiGwW

The head nurse shook her head. “Dr. Peng said he’ll be flying back tomorrow and hopes to talk to you first. Could you wait a little longer…”ldYvLmbqCMhcFIZKfAAvYNPqwWilin

“There’s no need,” Ren Yi said firmly. “I want this done immediately. Prepare the paperwork, get whatever needs signing ready. I’ll come sign it after I finish packing.” With that, he turned and left.JZkDDiszcRcasizyfKwsmxCQSSEWyr

“Captain Ren…”fyuaYGFygrZRSuUkNukrikPVkrKFun

After several trips, he finally managed to cram everything into the car. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Ren Yi glanced up at the extravagant building that looked more like a luxury hotel than a hospital. Exhaling deeply, he strode toward the lobby, ready to complete the discharge process.zOeGUomDxHVCJQeNCsVKgHttvUSVlA

The head nurse didn’t give him any paperwork right away, but neither did she try to persuade him again. She simply said, “Captain Ren, please take a seat and wait here for a moment. We’re preparing the old captain’s medical records and other related documents from his time here. It will take a little while. Would you like something to drink?”dPJBsmuaCuIgbAWIiFMowsbAxfusBz

“No, thanks. I’ll wait in my dad’s room and check if I missed anything. Let me know when it’s ready.”dAeieUPlWrSocJYhjdUCQuGhxVilmK

“Alright.”BncbSaUrgPUEGXNGinDbeeQAodDZzf

Ren Yi returned to his father’s room and sat in his usual spot, looking out at the familiar view his father often gazed at.dqhLXZmMfjhgODTZxlvwlKRYtEXOmO

The courtyard outside was planted with rows of French plane trees and featured elegantly designed flower beds. In spring and summer, it was full of birdsong and blooming flowers, a pleasant sight. Even in winter, with only bare branches and fallen leaves, it had its own austere beauty.WFRaNqXlCEHHShByAfJNZvscPJbcCU

Yet no matter how beautiful the scenery, anyone would tire of it after seeing it day after day.GfwyPmjulIYBafVJwFXyawmYpVOWim

His father, once a man of extraordinary agility who could scale walls and leap across rooftops with ease, was now bound to crutches and a wheelchair. For someone so restless and energetic, it was a cruel fate. And all of it was because of that horrific explosion at Baosheng Chemical Factory.zMHyedBemSUBhUKxkSotpFEyyaScCj

Ren Yi wondered if, when he grew old, he too would end up burdened with injuries and illnesses. Given how often he was hospitalized due to injuries now, it seemed almost inevitable. But he didn’t regret it. As long as he believed he was doing the right thing, he would keep pushing forward, no matter the cost.ibpfCjnfbARSfagebDEyVuvSFYGmnU

Everyone who knew them said he and his father were remarkably alike—uncannily so. That was why Gong Yingxian’s suspicion of his father felt like a direct attack on him as well.woohgTGOqlhTjZmDoTchqmfmtYKHMd

Ren Yi shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He had done everything he could to keep himself busy, so why did he keep thinking about Gong Yingxian? About someone who had used him and his father?fWtIWUoctmXCVyTTXBtwglaMCFvhei

Glancing at the time, Ren Yi decided to check on the head nurse’s progress. Just as he reached for the door, it was abruptly pulled open from the other side. His hand, still gripping the handle, was yanked forward with the momentum, and he nearly collided with the person entering.wsPZNKNFqVDTNNFSsHifVGwtHUYLYa

Looking up, Ren Yi felt his heart skip a beat.lxCRQJWHgwKQRLBpsOPTxBrpqffFMB

Gong Yingxian.iAtSiDyEzegFXXadQksEATDehFzkOI

Gong Yingxian’s face was pale, even more so than usual, and he was visibly out of breath, as if he had rushed over in a panic. His gaze locked onto Ren Yi, intense and piercing, as though trying to bore through him.chucgutEiKNXcgcdnmChhEFKgBIonx

Ren Yi stepped back, opened his mouth, but couldn’t find the words. Instead, a wave of uncontrollable pain surged from his chest.pfEzjqBjJlAiCVLWxWOTSXFdtThAQZ

Gong Yingxian walked into the room and closed the door behind him. In a low voice, he asked, “Are you really discharging the old captain?”gOATtkThukYVSGhSDXcFzRVjAKVNos

Ren Yi sneered. “Why? Are you surprised?”dktANHIhsqqEbgjzctThfrrgLXbTFM

“He’s receiving the best treatment and care in the world here. And the results…”VbjjYGTFONwIaTsIalxIQEUPMknfBA

“Shut up!” Ren Yi shouted angrily. “How dare you still say such things?”CPfwyIJDYOVUswNxqKbjTkdhfnKgMu

“Ren Yi, I never intended to harm your father. The hypnosis was done to ensure his safety, and I won’t ever do it again. I’ve already apologized, I…” Gong Yingxian’s voice faltered. It was difficult for him to even say those words. He had never shown weakness to anyone in his life. Whenever the two of them had conflicts in the past, it was always Ren Yi who came to him first. But this time, five whole days had passed. He had been staring at his phone every moment, hoping Ren Yi would reach out, even just one word.PqpQcGixRMsDEFoxjPiGJPclJOgeUd

But there was nothing. Not a single message, not even a word of reproach.tnJTGuAoqSgwwRsZbzpvqVCnvnuEmD

Day after day, night after night, he waited in vain. The realization that Ren Yi was ignoring him brought him an unprecedented sense of fear.dPJkEkiOEheHwhvpsJOBnCUUejXpnV

“You apologized,” Ren Yi said, nodding slightly, his face devoid of expression as he looked at Gong Yingxian. Yet his reddened eyes betrayed the storm within. “I don’t accept it. You suspected my father was an arsonist—an insult to him. You performed deep hypnosis on him without my consent—a violation of his health. You hid everything from me, even tricking me into signing a liability waiver by exploiting my trust. Gong Yingxian, I will never accept your apology.”mbKaqGcwhBFaTUyatRPZwjKABkDowT

Gong Yingxian’s entire body trembled, a sharp pain piercing through his chest.dXNhIUEsrobChaNBPfynhEYDlFABTt

Was the person in front of him really Ren Yi? No, it couldn’t be. The Ren Yi who was always so gentle and forgiving toward him couldn’t possibly be treating him like this!feDEAbmJMqvhHTHquMkgstxTtOcaPN