Blazing Armor

The day after Shen Pei left, Ren Yi’s personal ban was lifted, reportedly because Chen Xiaofei went to the city leaders to complain.YfPfQMbQCKQhBXTYZKfSDltEKxOeLJ

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Ren Yi’s phone was returned to him. He held it in his hand, fully aware that the hope was slim, yet he still called Gong Yingxian and sent a message.svIWhtaLlcJBhAtRNmxgqaZtbWSdCI

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The result, of course, was like a stone sinking into the sea.nErAOORXtLVeVDdixZWArLjBArPfjM

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He was instructed not to contact Qiu Yan, Tan Haochun, and other police officers related to the case, so he could only find a way to contact Qiu Yan through Qu Yangbo, trying to understand what the situation was now.pSMbGiFYKNSsnwkrrMxWuZCRWYsFGa

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After Qu Yangbo returned, he sat beside him with his head down, looking dejected: “You need to be mentally prepared; this time it’s really serious.”coxjLItUcbYCPnWjAmLlkNLETaXZko

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“What exactly is going on?”HaDoiFJluqgdtMVrfTyOgZnkjZdHIt

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“The Ministry of Public Security has issued an internal wanted notice.”rnJsFloRdiiLBlvvvzwjsFNKmmaOLc

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“…Wanted…Gong Yingxian?”OuJTCawhtcVUtxRQzsgsARpoRLRBQA

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Qu Yangbo nodded heavily: “They are afraid it will affect the image of the police, so they haven’t made it public, but now the whole city is looking for them.”VJwDBQKXaURJNhqcOyGrRJwEyYjckw

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Ren Yi growled, “Why! What did Captain Qiu say?”mSLVhFgcNEZjNniyUPQWlOvLwgeHqb

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“Captain Qiu is also having a hard time; she has been suspended for investigation. I went to great lengths to contact her secretly, and she didn’t dare say much on the phone, only that Dr. Gong must have been framed.”gphaZLIUQJENoIVSSDOsJRKHjrdCfg

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“What evidence do they have? There must be some solid evidence for them to suspect the police, right?”KCZWkgljNGigOVIWRdZUbVzSTeiPfm

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“It is said that very crucial evidence was found at Zhang Wen’s residence.”HROvrIJAJtYgGjlyMhmGJYutyrAEfC

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“Is there any news about Zhang Wen now?”sTjLMDSiCgXAdVbNCCactjvwsOGfPe

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Qu Yangbo shook his head: “Can you believe it? That person is not Zhang Wen at all; the real Zhang Wen has gone missing. He impersonated Zhang Wen to enter the fire investigation department.”NYteccKIdupuQxwJrbIQcUHEpevZOQ

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Ren Yi was dumbfounded.smfydrgbYVlpZJezKxadRqAFwYJpfP

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“This is what Fu Kai told me. Zhang Wen’s household registration information is at their police station, and they are cooperating with the investigation. That fake Zhang Wen looks a bit like the real Zhang Wen; both are fair-skinned and delicate, not tall, and very thin. With the hairstyle, makeup, and glasses disguise, it’s hard to tell apart. Since he didn’t go through security checks when he started working, who would carefully verify his features? In short, he managed to fool everyone and worked in the fire investigation department for over a year.”yzgakiRieLFaGxiQKQhtIgDntpeXPj

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Ren Yi felt a chill run down his spine. So “Zhang Wen” always had that kind of half-long bangs, wore big black-framed glasses, and had a somewhat hunched posture, all for the sake of disguise?BXJWnhgoPzDwEgygchNkxJXczkNSdP

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This acting is so good he should be an actor instead of getting involved in some cult.uHTFtbCCJLCwEGQeICXfSNMbfJEGwf

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“Then… is there no news about Gong Yingxian at all?” Ren Yi’s face was filled with despair, and his worry for Gong Yingxian’s safety tormented him every second. He couldn’t eat or sleep, and this fear was growing, almost overwhelming him.jFkIOSJMILsrtweJCdkHgQKwCKpGJi

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Qu Yangbo weakly comforted him: “No matter where he is, I believe he has the ability to protect his own safety.”cacpLqGHIIsXJHKGtROKhXPYeohnVx

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Ren Yi murmured, “He must have his reasons for doing anything; he must have been framed. Purple Flame couldn’t frame me, so they went to frame him.”XbpLOnVBpmRpcRLaFxQbACaFoYyxIa

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“Si Huo, worrying too much right now won’t help. You should focus on getting your health back so you can be of help. Also, if you don’t go see the old captain soon, he might start to suspect something.”xgCTrWFMoAsIWVLixZMbcGTBPNsDKY

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Ren Yi nodded: “I should go see my dad.”LpHSRTQgjLlGhawGhETZobeSHqzjWZ

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Qu Yangbo patted his shoulder.ASoWKUDMwFoQlPtaulhwVPAOMClQqP

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“How’s the team doing lately?” Ren Yi wiped his face, “Because of me, the whole team is on edge.”ixtjyLeIxOpNhYpsndoSXegNSKheBq

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“This isn’t your fault; everyone is worried about you, so they are working even harder to do their jobs well, so you won’t have to worry.”KytPQCJOHPSdWswbqhoqfeAiurKZzv

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Ren Yi forced a bitter smile: “Not my fault? I’ve heard that comforting line too many times. In fact, many things are my fault; at least I can’t absolve myself from the private hospital incident.”KjlpEsTPvCKGCQAzoYFDpstsYGQaOH

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Qu Yangbo suddenly said excitedly: “You guys just love to take all the responsibility on yourselves. No one is perfect; how can everything go smoothly? Stop being so hard on yourself, okay?”VcPCGEEMvqzIWcQRApBUfpHtrdVehA

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“This isn’t being hard on myself; it’s self-reflection. If we can’t even… ‘we’?” Ren Yi looked at Qu Yangbo in confusion.QReYXWkahqOPaDWBdHjTJFROAQQZEc

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Qu Yangbo realized he had let something slip, and his expression became a bit unnatural: “In any case, stop overthinking.”DJxPjUPQVDlPRlfJtBivjecbFijxMP

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“What does ‘we’ mean?” Ren Yi said nervously, “Is Captain Chen in trouble because of me?” The incident he had a while ago had already made Chen Xiaofei anxious, and now being involved in Gong Yingxian’s case, as the head of the team, the pressure on Chen Xiaofei, whose only special operations team leader had encountered so many issues, was unimaginable. The fact that he was only suspended and not dismissed was already the result of many efforts. He felt deep guilt towards this elder who had watched him grow up.WGfzLRbZiaZPvNoGuyoZfJFVHTxEFq

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Qu Yangbo hurriedly said: “It’s not Captain Chen. He is quite troubled, but he believes in you, just as we believe in you, so he will withstand the pressure.”YHszYuIZUpEpSpadzsIwOKpzMeLEWI

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“Then who is it?”zuMYVSqAjdtoBGYdyzWmzfmPdBDEmh

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Qu Yangbo’s expression changed slightly, as if he found it hard to speak.higcPZrUZGRCtpGAguwWAWYpQkTlxx

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“What happened?” Ren Yi sensed something was off, “Is something wrong with the team?” Ever since he was suspended, the cold storage arson case happened, he was hospitalized, and then there was the hotel incident. He hadn’t returned to the team for over a week and had no idea about the team’s current situation. Since he joined the team ten years ago, he had never been away for this long.EhfjfzFwueyhDlbiGfTonILBLWrVym

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Qu Yangbo lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before slowly raising his head, his eyes revealing fatigue and fragility, as if a dam trying to hold back a flood had developed a crack. He said in a deep voice: “Something did happen, but with your current condition, telling you would only add to your burden.”jXLwFHHHOIoMtBXIXqmSZZkPAvbOEX

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“Are you going to bear it alone?” Ren Yi shouted angrily, “What did we always say? We bear everything together. If you can help me carry the burden, can’t I help you carry it? What exactly happened?”PFDJXUgzHEnObWqzdGiSNAIghoDSUf

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Qu Yangbo took a deep breath: “Don’t get too agitated when you hear this; it’s not serious now.”HCNUyjeTqYJTGybVtLRYJsHLfREOJV

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“Just say it.”KQqizQRqLnsOfOlOLTaHTiJkLMdgYG

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“Cui Yisheng, a few days ago…” Qu Yangbo bit his lip, unable to maintain his calm facade, his eyes reddening.UFiGJBbrOSFNApHmGStsICdECzDGFw

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Ren Yi’s heart sank.wWAvsmZIDnuOwtJDgVEDMfXsAeeLuY

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“A few days ago, he attempted suicide.”RAYiJJKqjNyBsDXEHadhyKXomEolwY

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Ren Yi’s body went rigid.imRqKBkyvzHxigRVNIOjwYOGUFVoTT

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“It was my oversight; I didn’t notice his psychological changes over the years.” Qu Yangbo sniffed, “Maybe it started last year when that boy on the motorcycle died in front of him… No, maybe that was just a turning point. In the four years since he joined the team, one incident after another accumulated, putting immense pressure on him. But he is not very talkative by nature and felt embarrassed to speak up. Then, the incident with Sun Dingyi had already pushed him to the brink of collapse, and this time with the Anjia Community case, he just…”UJPkEBaecHCPfZostVpYtpWLpUNcLb

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Ren Yi trembled: “He thinks he dragged me down.”bgwKqTViARrlEBzpEsnNUIpJiwsmsu

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Qu Yangbo said with difficulty: “He feels that his poor on-site command led to not being able to save the female homeowner in time, which caused the conflict between you and the family, and stirred up such a huge uproar online, leading to a series of negative reactions.”MraaTNUaxrvEematUVkOorfUlQVopG

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Ren Yi lowered his head, and tears fell.ohcfuNvJmYCzXabCXjlxbnRKfzILTb

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Firefighters face countless accidents, casualties, and human tragedies every day, watching vibrant lives become incomplete and fade away before their eyes. That sense of helpless sorrow can have a tremendous impact on a person. Most people become strong or even numb through repeated trials; that is the psychological mechanism of self-defense at work. But some people become trapped in pain and self-doubt, sinking deeper and deeper until they are completely swallowed by the whirlpool of despair, unable to save themselves.OuThqUPhYpuNcCyKQrAAjCYlmshyJr

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They regularly undergo various psychological counseling and interventions, but these can only alleviate, not cure. Everyone is trying to manage their psychological burdens in their own way.WmLVTfPXtgLjeIbWBNpOyxStVvLJlm

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Qu Yangbo choked up: “If it had been discovered in time, he would be fine now. He plans to resign and go back to his hometown.”OJeRKzSFvQRIhLWvPxWtIHdRgFtAcp

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Ren Yi roughly wiped away his tears: “Does Captain Chen know?”ffNyNfwvYDTTAFvhbYkMZOqzGHJTgt

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“The chief of staff knows, but Captain Chen… didn’t dare to tell him. Our team has had too many incidents this year, so it was handled quietly.”LDlpZokIdlXEejWQpBzLKtWKOdrQKK

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“…I need to go see him.”XPnHMlOQBAMqjHRWeMCjCDArMLbqNE

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“Don’t. He said he can’t face you. He said when he recovers and can face you, he will come to find you.”gVCJLefKuyFCTrOIOVkKvCaKJYRVTA

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Ren Yi sniffed: “That fool, the Anjia Community incident is not his responsibility at all. I should have noticed something was off with him when Sun Dingyi left, but I was a mess back then, so…”GrOJsmDEoYFRZcpkmXwHIqrBWarYWZ

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“So was I. Everyone was very upset, and I didn’t notice that his condition was off. He shouldn’t have been leading the team at that time; he clearly wasn’t ready.”MhYVpCRLUmJgMiPUJamzuhiIofbnAo

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Ren Yi looked at Qu Yangbo: “Yangbo, you’ve done your best. You’ve been holding everything up during this time.”UeolTjwgMCuPPwKIVTyRKGCbwhWGup

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“Stop saying that. No matter what happens, we will get through this tough time together. We must not let the bad people have their way.”lFzNovpoNINJbYjmEGpoHrsRgUEjUm

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Ren Yi nodded vigorously.XyZpbcwEgQvbIuJNWCssibdcwvsPAu

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Three days later, Ren Yi was discharged from the hospital. Although the doctor still didn’t want to let him go, he simply couldn’t lie in bed doing nothing any longer.iqtAbaXBoWYSJcgGyABvvOlEuOPXos

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Gong Yingxian had been missing for four days. For a full four days, he didn’t know whether the person he loved most was alive or dead, or where he was. This kind of torment was the worst in his life, a hundred times more painful than being injured or facing death threats.cmQrlfpReUkbzFFFQjvZVQUoMSoFnp

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He planned to sneak off to find Qiu Yan to understand the situation, but before that, he had to visit the nursing home. He hadn’t seen his dad for so long, and his dad must be worried.hcqkjYwRIfKHDhligbDwKvWrkzKIvP

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He washed his hair, shaved, and tried to make himself look less haggard, but the obviously thin and listless face in the mirror could not hide the disappointment radiating from within.TnKfcChFbbKKMiOYzzLYYxTOCDwmbL

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When he arrived at the nursing home, Ren Xiangrong indeed noticed his haggard appearance. He had already found an excuse, saying he had a fever recently and lost several pounds. Whether he believed it or not, his dad didn’t press further. Between men, there is an understanding of that stubbornness in bearing burdens alone.IVRMZieXnZqGqKERXIwCeogkGsGuxq

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The two of them walked as usual, chatted, and watched TV dramas.SVFgWQEqaYeblZkXBngdXfRevgZNcX

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After having dinner with his dad, he finally set off to leave.DoWjQCCenVvGAtdsUBWlEsZVwsiiaD

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It was already past nine o’clock, and most of the elderly had gone to bed early. The courtyard was very quiet, and the dim yellow lights in the corridor seemed to be dozing off as well.lhibYDVQbjkULgPwPoyudTLDuZPZwh

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As Ren Yi passed by a room, the door suddenly opened. Before he could react, a strong hand pulled him into the room, while another hand covered his mouth to prevent him from screaming.bRNaMVzXfgdFIOoIKTtsXqeWqitPlO

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Just as Ren Yi was about to resist, a familiar scent wafted into his nostrils—dry, fresh, with a faint herbal fragrance. The solid chest tightly hugging him felt incredibly familiar.GFlyElHHOpnwUGnPTyvIDwmjsXSWGJ

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Ren Yi’s eyes turned warm, almost bringing him to tears.HpxiBFKtIrRpBnBvksnjnfpbFrflJQ

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A hand slipped into Ren Yi’s pants pocket, took his phone, and whispered close to his ear, “It’s me, don’t make a sound.”apkKMXcqSQAbDqLqFhlfjUnvyAydEO

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Ren Yi trembled and nodded.mzzpmbJsmtJnwloqmnpQjpokOTNBpg

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Gong Yingxian released his grip, and Ren Yi immediately turned around and hugged him tightly, biting his lip to stop himself from making a sound.TTUTOlRFayWbZNLkTRRsadgnvzrjoT

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But Gong Yingxian pinched his chin and forcefully pressed his lips against Ren Yi’s, kissing him with a huge desire as if he wanted to devour him.KjKhWkFoPrARCAqxeiZcRmFxMvCyZc

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The two of them kissed violently in the dark room for a long time, until they were both a bit breathless, then they gasped and separated.xhcaxRhNvRMegNYYBPXOrsyZRorgsp

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In the darkness, Ren Yi stared intently at Gong Yingxian’s bright eyes.ECeFsSISdBMRkMmVINTBaoxJlCDwqu

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Gong Yingxian gently shushed him, then raised Ren Yi’s phone and shook it, mouthing two words—”wiretap.”cmPcOBPiQeKHvGlHdPhcDTvQCcvstI

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Ren Yi’s expression changed.vRqQKrqEOMbfDyZGuwOKvuGAztCTgK

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Gong Yingxian took a towel from the medicine cabinet, wrapped the phone in it, then placed it in a medical sterilization box, and finally put it in a metal cabinet.WYgJadnXqpbBANHwWqmfzTULXjJhaE

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Gong Yingxian let out a long sigh, gazing deeply at Ren Yi, and asked, “Are you healed?”yzWWPKzWFHFLSkqnvIHKodxjEghndO

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