Blazing Armor

When Ren Yi woke up, it didn’t feel like he’d just slept—it felt like he’d died and come back. Almost every part of his body hurt.dwoHAAkGNuNXLaUzeANrDQBCCAnRle

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Remembering everything that had happened last night, he grabbed his pillow, buried his face in it, and let out a muffled scream. His heart pounded uncontrollably. He still couldn’t believe it was real, but this couldn’t have been a dream; a dream wouldn’t feel this awful.ADGHHwYhFvfjjNoradSUsrmnpwvpeQ

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What now? What was going to happen next? What would Gong Yingxian think of him?QuYuOXGcdzlZUdAamqjRKQFOJNwuna

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He glanced at the empty spot next to him, wondering if Gong Yingxian had already left. The thought made him feel both disappointed and relieved. If he really had left, at least it would spare them the awkwardness.MhGQHcWTPfnoshWIWemeZVeMzmEEXM

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After lying in bed for a while, Ren Yi took his temperature. It was still a mild fever, around 38 degrees, but at least he wasn’t as dizzy as yesterday. He forced himself up despite the aching all over. Worrying wouldn’t help; he had things to do and needed to get better as quickly as possible.QWZYqLGXpxgnWrPcVyvWKUAprXWeNr

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The moment his feet hit the floor, his legs gave out. He almost collapsed, barely managing to steady himself by gripping the bed. Cursing Gong Yingxian in his mind, he thought he’d still have a chance to stay in control. But… well, that’s what you get for judging a book by its cover.OhtBRsivjNGxrXkGkNGgWAmkmUJzxt

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Clutching his grumbling stomach, he opened the door. As soon as he did, he heard sounds coming from the living room, along with a frigid wind gusting in, making him shiver.jilRfOBBdknkqfmeIpqHtsJYnbBBUh

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What was going on? Why was there a draft?yRxBoLMWlzPhOSFPaKCBxljWqBZhwv

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When Ren Yi got to the living room, he was dumbstruck.TBcvTHoJhQiOWmUUwrqHIFxZLYupQr

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Gong Yingxian had taken down one of his windows and was standing there by the frame, looking around in an agitated manner.uJaMqeZeDXtLbRNUbUdghIZSmiqToZ

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Hearing footsteps, Gong Yingxian turned his head sharply. The moment their eyes met, he quickly looked away, mumbling softly, “Y-you’re awake.”RyzpUeoRVVHDRdVvLsnlhdEpCOhwHA

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Ren Yi stared, speechless. “What on earth are you doing?”gnPNRxghjvcqdJGutrJadrOWKrrScN

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“…Fixing the window.”dbXsJhrLSJRngKmcZWHCJoNOnkNXkM

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“‘Fixing’? I thought you were dismantling it.”VYolMkfvCBuwjBjsDxfmQsQOhGndSk

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Gong Yingxian muttered, “I’ll pay for it.”qNqlfFfPumVXUTNXfOzxTnSaphUuGd

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“Why don’t you just buy me a new house while you’re at it?”ZekXjfWGhmwhahGoVvXgVlZqCEKEGR

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“Sure.”HGXwbbysGZGaUbtPzDYPhJqnqTGJXB

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Ren Yi was startled, wondering if he was serious. “I’m kidding. Don’t take it literally.”VilTDQoRsiQycVapQUvfLQJtqKMJLZ

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Gong Yingxian stayed silent, his head lowered as he tried to fit the window back in place.HMduiatpOpeiIjFpgMfIdobCsrJgMi

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“Stop messing with it. I’ll call maintenance.” Ren Yi walked over, momentarily forgetting he was “injured.” He took a big step, immediately wincing in pain.DHmDBTAVgWpNyYAfcaBBmaelhJcfgX

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“Don’t come over here.” Gong Yingxian looked at him with concern. “It’s freezing; go back to your room.”xUjVHljNflWidJcQwSfrrkmpwawXqU

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“At least get it back in place first. Otherwise, all the heating is going to waste.”xiSRizgSiOhTtEdOHssfOwNJuiJQGL

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“I’ll handle it.”yGDKusKolTozJXaAAyfAKyRAKNRPsQ

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“How are you going to screw it in by yourself?”OaHUOaEOgFftyCGGSGOnhijxTdgRXD

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Ren Yi went over, picking up the screwdriver and screws from the windowsill. “Line up the hinges.”IpVggLwDHKpUfcSYpWHgADkkAkJiAT

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Gong Yingxian pursed his lips and positioned the window properly. Ren Yi quickly screwed it back in.VQtWPgxEJrpdoPIoLvqlInQSNtTPzm

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The window was a bit wobbly, slightly crooked, and even let in more drafts than before, but at least it was back in place.UodrbjdsLNuybGaAmlqCAAHETJnGeB

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With the window installed, Ren Yi sighed in relief, noticing that Gong Yingxian still had his head slightly turned, refusing to look at him directly.esAdIeCfQJRWMmsfKvDJOvhBAWLtRZ

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After last night, Ren Yi had dreaded facing Gong Yingxian. But seeing how much more nervous Gong Yingxian was than he was, Ren Yi suddenly felt more at ease. He chuckled softly, “Why are you only showing me the back of your head?”lWsxCKTbXxqUIemOsgXscuEZKjYnmA

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“…I’m not.”fQNwzpyREyJuGGYlPuIDJPhEHWePQB

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“Are you embarrassed?” Ren Yi leaned closer. “Your ears are red.”EaGGJoYzvzkrbpcWxvCOrNXxdroIjX

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Gong Yingxian instinctively reached to cover his ears but quickly realized how ridiculous that looked. Mid-motion, he changed course, running his hand through his hair instead. “It’s too cold here. You should go back to your room.”gMdomjVFxKnJxpXoGgeykufLOmrYik

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Ren Yi’s heart fluttered, thinking Gong Yingxian was just too adorable. How could he be this cute? It was like he was a different person from last night. He couldn’t resist tugging at Gong Yingxian’s ear. “What are you embarrassed about? You didn’t seem all that shy last night.”UkcGlAcNMAWiwGxgZTLjaVEMFxgqdG

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Gong Yingxian, visibly annoyed, snapped, “Are you going back to your room or not? Have you eaten? Taken your medicine?”NmTYVuxubZtqCSpHUCnKMsBTmumhnP

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Ren Yi stood on tiptoe, resting his chin on Gong Yingxian’s shoulder, watching that blush spread across his fair cheeks. Smiling, he said, “You look so good when you blush.” He hadn’t expected teasing Gong Yingxian to be this fun.BYBsUiItevgHwzmdchlDzBkmMxpFyF

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Finally, Gong Yingxian, embarrassed and furious, turned and pinned Ren Yi onto the couch. Usually, he had no problem verbally sparring with anyone, but now he was tongue-tied, just glaring intensely at Ren Yi, his eyes blazing with a fierce light.JaLqAEfTlKYdZUeBIOGFFjmCqPlFiI

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He couldn’t look at Ren Yi, not just because of embarrassment, but because he feared that if he did, something in him might… snap.hjvTJRkOYlpTPfnAYLulSOQqrzDpgZ

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Ren Yi instantly caved. A wise man knows when to retreat—there was no telling who’d end up bullying whom if he pushed Gong Yingxian too far. He laughed sheepishly, “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Really, I’m starving.”BLkTCtTnPWbJzXMqHoLyBiOtkvzWgv

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Gong Yingxian took a deep breath and straightened up, while Ren Yi managed to push himself up with effort.RreobJuDHOtdIOIBlETkJiALfGPLlW

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“Are… are you in pain?” Gong Yingxian asked hesitantly.omFlxBGerTLAYNHxaezVboZZQmPqux

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“Uh, why don’t you try it and find out?”NOvDNUTVXIZdrrbDXpDKeRjpAwduHs

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Gong Yingxian looked a bit guilty, but apologizing now felt awkward. Hesitantly, he murmured, “Maybe… maybe you should see a doctor?”byORqaJBQBzEUmVAmEdqckpDDASXsf

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“Don’t joke around,” Ren Yi said, tapping his cheek and giving him a wink. “This works better.”hwTxfFHTgkpaipaOrWddbgljdRulxW

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Gong Yingxian froze, his face turning an even deeper shade of red, practically about to combust.HchZUPrIdXuWpDSYyojDTAkjCDftAq

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Ren Yi struggled to hold back his laughter, almost losing his composure.wPiNpYYTthCcqyCHfUpDbiNKJnvdED

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Gong Yingxian stood there like a statue for a moment, then suddenly bent down, quickly pecked Ren Yi on the cheek, and left with a hurried, “Get ready to eat.” He disappeared in a flash.UlyYppBJxKXoqHFixTZhtCQykrrHpK

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Now it was Ren Yi’s turn to feel his cheeks burn, his mouth tugging into an involuntary smile. His heart felt full. Whatever might come of what happened between them, at least in that shared moment of closeness, Gong Yingxian had him in his heart.VKkoVelCxFiBeVXAwMfUaXEnZIWAeH

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Sheng Bo brought in fresh food, and all Gong Yingxian had to do was set it out.ttgaTqvjmvbTIcUivIRqGSYRoHEHde

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Ren Yi’s sense of taste hadn’t fully recovered, and everything tasted bland. But seeing Gong Yingxian, who was trying to avoid his gaze every so often, made the meal feel more than satisfying.ofKaiXkaqMdsOBmySEgeHVZgOwPOkx

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Neither of them mentioned last night. Normally, Ren Yi would think it amusing to talk about, but he was afraid Gong Yingxian might explode if he brought it up, so he held back for now.bsbAqewSvOkpanpeFmCOdvOjHMiLxw

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Gong Yingxian, on the other hand, kept nudging Ren Yi to eat this or that, deeply concerned about his health but too shy to say it directly. For him, last night had been a wild experience unlike anything he’d ever known, a side of himself he could hardly believe existed. So now, watching Ren Yi, hearing his voice, even the faint scent of him lingering in the air—it was all a torment. All he could do was try to avoid it as best as he could.hdgSnbdGAEWmiZxWSwUDGqinUEVVxr

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After eating and taking his medicine, Ren Yi’s dizziness faded, and though he still felt sore, his body didn’t feel as heavy as before. He was probably on the mend.esMXrIXUdToPIzpnObMcdaYyPrBUhy

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He called Gao Ge to check on things over the past couple of days, and Gao Ge reassured him to rest up, saying that everything at the squad was running smoothly. When he came out after his call, he saw Gong Yingxian on the phone as well, discussing autopsy details—a conversation grim enough to make anyone uneasy.vSIqslPQosWvUWxVLalHHQtXFboTvv

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Once Gong Yingxian finished, Ren Yi asked, “Did the autopsy reveal anything?”jVJZpQwoUFKEreGiaFdHipGnAxRROg

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Gong Yingxian’s expression was heavy. “It’s good news, but it doesn’t feel like it.”DoZNXgAPJbhlGjZohlWfuuZDxxfSuy

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“What’s up?”LQqUIiLKWOIqnrYTFHFHXZiFPwZrPD

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“They’ve confirmed the identities. This mother and daughter went missing two years ago—the mother was 36, and the daughter was 10. Strictly speaking, it was a family of three that disappeared, but the neighbors just assumed they’d moved away.”OWftisfcSvjKQkrIZrUEBBXyuDJLMR

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“The husband is…?”VefxLEXHZrFeaLEiutrjUQFDfcIiqq

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“The husband’s name is Bai Chicheng. He has a PhD in chemistry from University X and used to work as a researcher for a pharmaceutical company. He left his job some time ago.”qmWpKTaYZlmmThmEcdJfDiHKxChaBB

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Ren Yi took a sharp breath. “He killed his own wife and daughter?”UUEcDmLRcSMxAuKlxnmTCNTkaEHVbk

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“That seems likely at this point. Cause of death was sodium cyanide poisoning, and their bodies were burned postmortem. Cai Qiang has already gone to gather more information on him,” Gong Yingxian replied, frowning. “University X is one of the top schools in the country. While working at the pharmaceutical company, he earned a good salary, and his wife was highly educated as well. People like them typically don’t have a tendency toward crime.”eBcIzRsmqelRyBNorELcNvobvyyjWS

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“But once someone falls under a dangerous influence, all bets are off. Otherwise, how could he do something so inhuman?” Ren Yi thought of the mother and daughter buried in that deep well, feeling a surge of sympathy. To be betrayed and murdered by the one closest to you, then denied even a proper burial—it was truly heartbreaking.ZNttBOFxDltcDXGTcjoRIkcZuXFnXh

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“Now that we’ve confirmed his identity, we’re one step closer to catching him,” Gong Yingxian said in a low, determined voice. “Bai Yan is different from the others; he’s a core member of the organization and has likely met Zi Yan in person. With the amusement park now discovered, he’ll be looking for another hiding spot, and that’s when he’s most likely to slip up.”aYLDqugvmGfnLTtkavoSCXDNTerXak

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“It’s all in your hands, then,” Ren Yi replied. “If you’re busy, you should head back to work. Don’t worry about taking care of me—I’ll be fine after a couple of days’ rest.”kkPUyUAHveehFhDHKysYKIHjnawCCe

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Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi, conflicted. Although Qiu Yan had given him two days off, he knew how swamped the station was right now. Normally, he wouldn’t hesitate to jump back into work, but now he didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to be apart from Ren Yi.WnUJdClVlVOdcNoNDQIyAMGYkryvZT

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Just… this once, he thought. Just this one selfish time, he wanted to stay. He wanted to spend the remaining half day in this tiny apartment with Ren Yi. Even if they did nothing, just sharing the same space would be the most precious time in the world for him.aXoLmAIZHDbylTVCxSkczrROiAzUxr

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“Yan-jie told me to rest for two days,” Gong Yingxian said. “I’ll head back tomorrow.”zZkDfBRfQkdXWXjAxRIXCJboWYEncm

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Ren Yi subtly sighed with relief. “So, that means the rest of this half-day is all mine?”LGwiaVSRoAkARrjufWJmitahXBzUbF

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Gong Yingxian’s gaze shifted. “…Is there something you want to do?”rQDHWnSUBYrIQXxPgaIeBRxBcZBrzm

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Ren Yi had plenty of ideas—so many sweet, fun things couples would do together. But sadly, they weren’t… He hesitated, feeling a twinge of disappointment. “How about… we just watch a movie?”ZhBIrlUbGGeWLmrtRpPyGIlFykVdaR

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Gong Yingxian, feeling a bit let down himself, replied softly, “Alright.”JuoltxDNyZgTmCrGhCOAwRiiaBXttE

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