Blazing Armor

Ren Yi parked the car in the basement and sat there for a long time without getting out. Instead, he rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and slowly began to smoke.veCQNjaJFGSmMWQpHSWHVyWAVPgYfV

On the way back, he kept replaying Zheng Pei’s words in his mind, feeling increasingly uneasy.iczspdTpnSxxbplawWgBuepGhHfHuX

It would actually be quite simple to verify the truth; he could just go upstairs and ask Gong Yingxian. The key question was, what kind of answer did he want to get?EabEKTLQFfrICHBGkPLxjTkyPbTTiY

Even if Zheng Pei didn’t tell him these things, he still vaguely sensed that Gong Yingxian was hiding something from him. He knew that everyone had their own concerns and difficulties; no one could share everything. However, if the matter regarding Zhang Wen was true, he found it hard to let go.VfKgtgYQyzZMOzUgBUUxWjuXZZkkXV

If Gong Yingxian had known about Zhang Wen’s issues all along, why didn’t he tell him? If he had exposed this person earlier, the Anjia Community case might not have been ruled an accident from the start. He might not have had to endure such a massive public backlash, dragging the entire squad, even the brigade, into the negative impact. Of course, he didn’t know the exact timeline; perhaps by the time Gong Yingxian discovered this matter, public opinion had already spiraled out of control.fOxgPSyUUQYzzIosmnsypDmMMlyHUL

However, if Gong Yingxian knew about it, and could have provided this information to the investigation team at the headquarters, the outcome of his handling would likely have been different. And, as Zheng Pei said, Cai Qiang might not have been injured.SCOqoLApndchzGwdzkADZOUxAmzTfr

Did Gong Yingxian really know all along but chose not to say a word? Why? To avoid alarming the snake? To set a trap for a bigger fish?pJMrIPnDaWqwfEjMZTBzSwxiiOsVdG

Thinking rationally, Gong Yingxian should have his own reasons. Yet, after experiencing his father’s incident, he couldn’t help but feel sensitive, anxious, and suspicious.aDbOhrKQquZJJuZNfDjHCEJmcrzQca

Ren Yi glanced at the several large bags on the back seat, his gaze gradually darkening.zSaBXfIRwWmjBWGjvuHMHgcLzhPlQR

These items were all bought at Gong Yingxian’s request, and he suddenly felt hesitant. He didn’t know if what he was doing was truly helping Gong Yingxian, after all, what Gong Yingxian was doing now could very well be illegal.CkJJEYdXVUlRtenVatdlTVOobXGiXB

That was the person he loved. Should he choose to doubt or to believe?CpFiYytrpUyijyDgJCFGXUhgRCQACF

After struggling with this for a long time, Ren Yi chose to temporarily escape.UJACBXRQSIojUNipKhkyOVxLEvjVdj

No matter how difficult their situation was, the mutual affection between them was like a stabilizing anchor, firmly holding his heart in place. He feared that if he asked and the answer wasn’t what he wanted, this calm sea of his heart would once again be stirred by turbulent waves.ywRHSSjLmpbEaUCTNyfxrRfwshPwNP

He convinced himself that the most important thing right now was to help Gong Yingxian catch the bad person. At this critical moment, he didn’t want to add more psychological burden to Gong Yingxian. Everything could wait until this life-and-death crisis was over.nOwrJQazwWWNlZKDtwYEAaGTYkaSFH

Having made up his mind, Ren Yi grabbed the bags and went upstairs.jVcSiDgzVeVqeReyeyDpRNDuEefnJK

When he returned home, Ren Yi found that the bathroom had been transformed into a temporary laboratory by Gong Yingxian. Gong Yingxian emerged from another bathroom, just out of the shower, with water dripping from his hair, which clung to his cheek. Even the fine droplets on his eyelashes were visible, and his skin was so fair and translucent that it seemed one could glimpse his veins beneath it, indescribably alluring.TrnvlFcCrpXwmABRTMDarunbDBQzVu

“Welcome back.” Gong Yingxian asked while drying his hair, “Did anyone contact you today?”VEtEqzrcoKTqsDjtouFOLQknbtXIGS

Ren Yi’s heart tightened. He didn’t know why, but he felt guilty. Why should he feel guilty?nGoyFsCDhHbYCJtVgtfopSaQgtHxxU

But then he thought, Gong Yingxian couldn’t possibly have guessed that Zheng Pei had called him; he was probably just asking casually. After all, it was normal for someone to receive at least one call in a day.mjuGTXSrBCdxdokhURRNzDvQnakXoJ

Yet, this hesitation allowed Gong Yingxian to catch a hint from Ren Yi’s face—Ren Yi’s expression couldn’t hide his emotions.XtywQLJAvgCuBLoblyAGZrGpkkNZok

“Did the police contact you?” Gong Yingxian stared into Ren Yi’s eyes, “Do they suspect you?”AffgiFHhaKWqerCItRqzXFUlvNbmsl

Ren Yi nodded, “They asked what I had been doing these past few days, whether I had seen you, and that my phone could be tracked by satellite, so I threw my phone away.”qsCpiXQPHdKtikinutssoUXLQaitPS

“Yeah, you did the right thing. Since they suspect you, it’s only a matter of time before they find this place.” Gong Yingxian took a deep breath, “We can’t stay here. You can’t drive your car either. I have to leave.” He said this while packing things into the trunk.izFtDxdcrwyzaOvEFQkyqeBSJJOJHD

“Okay, where to?”hGrnlIARYliWcqMFJmvNESrdsFYyIy

After packing up, Gong Yingxian stood up and said, “In a bit, you help me hail a taxi outside, and then you go back.”tCGeyONdWbpVrdQuAiKpqtpusCBfOX

Ren Yi was taken aback, “Go back? You want me to go back? You’re leaving by yourself?”lClVsWnGMavJMyQzlMjrplMmjjUMSl

“Of course. If they really confirm that you were with me, you’ll be implicated too.”tNzlblIGigXTJMxRGwxTHjTtrVqGyA

Ren Yi suddenly got angry, “Didn’t you think of this when you came to find me? Now you’re worried I’ll be implicated?”AAOlFhLcnPOHHjeFbOrZStvHptGzQd

Gong Yingxian touched Ren Yi’s face, “That’s different. If the police find solid evidence, you’ll be in big trouble.”IHbWjHjVWLUxMFocGjogEigaPwGMEV

“What more trouble could I be in?” Ren Yi became inexplicably agitated, “There’s a psychopathic freak trying to kill me, and he burned my brother to death right in front of me. I’ve been suspended and might even be demoted or reassigned. Now you’re wanted. I’m already in this deep, what more ‘trouble’ could I fear? I’m only afraid something happens to you!” By the end, Ren Yi was shouting.FuKHEUizJpZWpIlDKrbzQOKNcXeIfC

Gong Yingxian’s brows furrowed, and the emotions in his eyes felt overwhelmingly heavy. He said softly, “Ren Yi, everything you’ve gone through is almost all because of me. I feel…” He pressed his lips together, “I want to do good for you, I try every means to do good for you, but it always backfires, making things worse for you.”eHuGPEAvhPAspnwEnrsfhwURmOdkGq

Ren Yi realized he couldn’t stand Gong Yingxian showing weakness. The moment Gong Yingxian made that sad, wronged expression, he couldn’t bear to raise his voice, no matter how loud he had been before. He felt so pathetic.XPpNmUPjxzHbgYNEwqrlwUVFuwGwqG

Ren Yi sighed, “Don’t think like that. Even without you, Purple Flame would still target me. I’ve ruined so many of his plans. Regardless, I’ve never felt that you’ve dragged me down.”NkzAedZOsCsgkxmpJCTlIswVOUpoOd

Gong Yingxian looked at every inch of Ren Yi’s features with his eyes: “You are the person I want to protect the most, but because of me, you are always in danger. This is my final showdown with Purple Flame. I can’t let you get involved any further. You’ve already helped me a lot; you should go back.”JwrTeGuRSRYzhAEgUMUMmYhphTGqtj

“I must know that you are safe at all times; otherwise, I won’t go anywhere.” Ren Yi said, “Aren’t you going to find Huang Yan? I’ll go with you; at least you’ll have a helper.”ccFiRUNjssSwXGlJPUEWinZoWCXljN

“No.” Gong Yingxian firmly refused, “You absolutely cannot go. No matter what you say or do, you cannot go.”vxMZkbBjhArAZfCmQFnbEXdZCBdkWE

“I’ve already helped you this much.” Ren Yi pointed at the gear they had prepared, “I don’t want you to be alone…”KGgIbewpjKaUYEogLWvuzhxqcAxfGa

Suddenly, Gong Yingxian pressed Ren Yi’s head back and kissed him forcefully.nktsMjJpAwUHsnmZpXgxrUzCAfxmsE

Ren Yi’s eyes widened. On one hand, he felt it wasn’t the right time for intimacy; on the other hand, he craved it desperately—he didn’t long for the act of intimacy itself, but for every moment spent with Gong Yingxian—no matter what they were doing.zLuyPQgsxXFcpaHJMueBLQIBNCcwiL

Gong Yingxian pinned Ren Yi against the wall, kissing him until he felt lightheaded, his cheeks flushed.PZaBFvYNxmsufKEUJkpEZlhgcvSPsC

Ren Yi wrapped his arms around Gong Yingxian’s neck, mumbling, “Let me go with you.”AtPUsLUIgPSpXhmdeKVDoDhqwrLXBj

Gong Yingxian didn’t respond, only lifted Ren Yi and turned to press him onto the sofa…qdvSUkvTGguBLgJhCWzgsbxmqmwwRi

—-wheWdSCRSxsotDLSYrhuYxfrxRpLlR

Ren Yi woke up feeling sore all over.MLVAhrQBKxZmSmeoRbhFSQawttDJmm

He squinted at the window, realizing it wasn’t completely dark yet; it was probably only around five or six in the afternoon, so he hadn’t slept too long.yASwTlRTwBWoCxuruZeRrHdvBzzJwD

No, he hadn’t just fallen asleep; he had… passed out. This experience of passing out would definitely top his list of life’s humiliations. Gong Yingxian, that beast…PfglzXwwjUiyizmKGCAsFOkObakkXS

Gong Yingxian!czBxCPxWFAJjftuBSYnNxTvoQjzbxF

Ren Yi excitedly did a flip and tried to get out of bed, almost tumbling down. He steadied himself on the edge of the bed, got up, and walked to the living room.TRnRcmuNQQPyObCLyOmgvcglDLkeoV

Despite having mentally prepared himself, seeing the empty house still made Ren Yi feel uneasy.EqoTyzHkmvibFUAoBbSfluacxChQYs

Perhaps Gong Yingxian did this for his safety, or for some other reason, but he could no longer remain uninvolved.PfeMrVvMGeAAGRkbZHckbwhNQDpwmm

He walked to the sofa, picked up his jacket, and pulled out a small phone that looked like an old Nokia.KrhqhfeylhKUFaxnbgagKsyhyZSuKY

This was part of the tracker he bought at the hardware store; the other part was among the things he had purchased.oQgADIjddQFyXPPxJfUvvkCyounzug

He turned it on and could clearly see the red and blue lines of the city map, with a yellow cursor moving on it.JRLtHBknwVlLcgqCzIFxnlmzTiKZRk

He held back his questions, but that didn’t mean he was willing to be kept in the dark. He had already anticipated that Gong Yingxian wouldn’t take him along, especially after he had asked twice where Bai Yan was, and Gong Yingxian hadn’t answered.rgMyOKUFfDFnUWZotiqyFOqOhJCoSB

This was a battle, and he wouldn’t let Gong Yingxian fight alone.stfcBhsRYvpftnknwrDFfencNtZUdt

Ren Yi dialed Qu Yangbo’s number, asking him to help lure Qiu Yan out. Then he changed his clothes, grabbed a fruit knife from the kitchen, hid it on him, and left without hesitation.PuMWIOdyxknKQhapnRVhpVgLLhRlta