Blazing Armor

Ren Yi, filled with doubt, spent the entire drive wondering what kind of restaurant Gong Yingxian would take him to. Surely, it would be one of those exclusive, high-end membership clubs, right?dyTryYcTAhalBsqCBEfRjZKwlKiLiV

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To his surprise, it was just a hot pot restaurant. Though the place looked upscale, its open doors and the steady flow of patrons coming and going made it seem far from a private, exclusive venue.xZoZgdeAqzlCWCVaXXbXuQWWEbigTx

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Ren Yi chuckled and asked, “You really brought me here for hot pot?”ZmWqqySRQrHOFBCLQNqTGldpvuCQes

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“Mm,” Gong Yingxian replied.pcLjYFhAFwWYYSumYPZWTMXTsWQqTQ

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“I eat, and you watch?”QGgNZYIfGtaxIMNklCiObbEVHtDTzX

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“We’ll eat together.”bktfKoymBjPYEOiZHjbyhccycccGbD

WHYknrQIgyEJhUP

Ren Yi turned his head in shock. “You? Eating hot pot? Hot pot?”QyXQLswtwaJfnbgbhvweMHIfkUvOIc

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“It uses electricity.” Gong Yingxian parked the car and, with a calm and collected demeanor, glanced back at Ren Yi. “Why? Am I not allowed to occasionally eat hot pot outside?”pUBUNTuwdPVUfrJSMyWPhZVRRBdTJN

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Ren Yi let out two dry laughs. “Don’t you usually find places like these dirty?”rWHwPRxXNxUyROtbbFDRNiYOvqbPFY

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“After becoming a police officer, I’ve had to visit far filthier places. Learning to adapt is good for me.”QSosNJiKerqHSFdetnCpjqDDMfwtRI

WEbnteamBASxqtZ

Delighted, Ren Yi clapped his hands. “That’s a great way to think! As a cop, staying grounded is good for your work and relationships. Let’s go, let’s go—hot pot awaits!”UrBTULoTNZqOiRUTYiUJaFaxVVHDUH

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Once inside, Gong Yingxian gave the reservation name to the hostess, who led them toward a private room.WltBoWXduTGrTYYbfqNTRqnOIqLlVe

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The restaurant’s interior was lavishly decorated. The main hall only had a few tables, with most of the space given over to decorative sculptures and tranquil water features. It lacked the lively, bustling atmosphere typical of hot pot places, instead exuding a cold, aloof elegance.eBNKhdtSozVvMpSqaUgjfZHmYELqnn

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Not that Ren Yi minded. The fact that Gong Yingxian had voluntarily invited him to eat a piping hot meal, in a location outside his home, with “fire” even in its name—this was a triple leap forward in Ren Yi’s eyes, and he was already ecstatic.iEmcCmnGyuNwcjvdVGaEMRXLWvhpyK

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After they sat down, a waiter brought over the menu. Gong Yingxian tilted his chin toward Ren Yi, signaling him to take it.BcgQGsOzKiYuKSQmlavRWASKLgdAZB

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Ren Yi accepted the menu. “I pretty much remember all the things you don’t eat. Is there anything in particular you’re craving?”kqXMngOWOEJqTtpudYtSGoRxrkaoaq

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“Order what you like.”MJqxODPvVHijjivbsWMNQfAWkrJbme

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Ren Yi glanced over the menu and thought to himself, Damn, this place is expensive. He ordered dishes based on Gong Yingxian’s preferences—he wasn’t picky himself and could eat anything.FJhvOdYDRyJkghocGSJPqQoiwSJSEA

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After ordering, Ren Yi looked around. “Is this your first time eating out?”jiVoWrDUNgQUJwrmtYwkuMFQjbfdqy

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“Didn’t you take me to eat crayfish last time?”ZNQOutHeJRlENtmNwzfJjAIRJyroPy

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Ren Yi chuckled. “Last time, all you had was bottled water.”uutVYdMFvyBxpReERXlqwIlMroYmvR

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Gong Yingxian pursed his lips. “I’ll eat today.”StSpZdSyczLANiKtBDGWcdSlbItHUx

fwVnZfydxEkGTZc

Ren Yi scooted his chair closer to sit beside Gong Yingxian. “Once you try, you’ll see it’s not that hard. I mean, you’ve eaten at my house and in my dorm before.”uqFItOqjgxjCpNQIfAeDqdNhwMNqEV

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“…That’s different.”hYiXUzMuuBFgHOxnoKWlfjQIMsjypI

VZohSASAENiKBCr

“True, it’s not the same,” Ren Yi said with a sigh. “But honestly, I think this place is cleaner than my dorm.”txnmKLVSUdOpqdzPbbjyvwkKmmCbCr

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Gong Yingxian let out a dry laugh. “At least you’re self-aware.”pINjlRprfEoIkANWMlrOjygcbNXByV

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“Oh, so my dorm is dirty, huh?” Ren Yi raised an eyebrow. “Funny, you didn’t seem to mind rolling around on my bed last time.”InSBpLmlsPjBGSWZpiaECErsvMauaJ

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Gong Yingxian’s face instantly turned bright red as he snapped, “Shut up!”fzTqaHTwJRsBxpxafBXLhJQIOLoWBd

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Every time he saw Gong Yingxian blush, Ren Yi couldn’t help but tease him further. “I’m just stating facts. Why’s Officer Gong telling me to shut up? You weren’t exactly complaining about my bed last time. In fact, you wouldn’t even get off it—you were all—”fwBntQauumqWeyGqHoHgqIoZAOWMzr

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Before Ren Yi could finish, Gong Yingxian leaned in and silenced him with a kiss.lReUtGtAGegdMnmpLIGMVWHNwQRaaH

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Ren Yi blinked, the faint scent of fresh grass—uniquely Gong Yingxian—filling his nose. It was like every breath he took purified his lungs.oNBHLrmlOmMxkqfYHisKzFcjEFNLNl

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He melted instantly, closing his eyes as he deepened the kiss. His hand unconsciously grabbed at Gong Yingxian’s tie, tugging on it with a restrained urgency that betrayed his impatience.htQOdmEvkSSBgNbjSzlXGQwRJyFNCj

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Gong Yingxian’s eyelids relaxed as he focused entirely on the kiss. In his hazy vision, a tiny black dot swayed in and out of focus. He knew what it was—that little mole that always teased him. He couldn’t explain why he was so captivated by a mere mole, but he liked it. A lot.BrHiLFzjgcldhefzmFuEyesWBOFEFY

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Suddenly, a knock on the door shattered the moment, and they broke apart in a flash.ZREvWUbHzNPoOhiDoAuQgGtplGrNSC

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The waiter entered, pushing a cart laden with their food.ltuvbwUBSWzlwudGPixaXTotnQaGQd

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Gong Yingxian lowered his head to adjust his tie, using the motion to mask his awkwardness, while Ren Yi stood to the side, laughing uncontrollably.pEzfzadpXclMUERBfsXGIhvtdxSXxF

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The waiter brought over two individual hot pot sets, accompanied by an array of side dishes laid out on the table.iwjEktoUtMzkVmTprAFwSXPMfJmtKq

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Ren Yi noticed that the plates and utensils they were using were clearly different from those he had seen in the main dining area earlier. These looked brand new, and the small hot pots gleamed as though they had never been used.jaBImEBmvnGPtLZXoFWQuUgGArQsxC

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After the waiter left, Ren Yi wiggled his chopsticks playfully. “These are all your personal supplies, aren’t they?”SstFzCDHeFVRyFgHjHLVkvGzadxnce

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“Sharp observation.”SQJXXpjdyUhQGPdrJsKOCHUBjLqhWO

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Ren Yi grinned. “How do you even manage to bring all this along just to eat out?”fdDySNFrJQMJCNQJZaGcjZxwWFUhBC

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Gong Yingxian replied calmly, “Money.”YdgRoACNVvMFOpeZvIxbOcpookeDbX

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Ren Yi burst into laughter.ZVLVMElIkvoiBalnvfSmafqvRZuGFC

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Gong Yingxian picked up a slice of white radish, hesitated for a moment, and then dropped it into his pot. “Eat. Didn’t you say you love hot pot?”VVwCvcPzRXIkBzoFhkLHOkVmBMFooB

baSYYLaCjDzHwUw

“To eat hot pot properly, you’ve got to start with the meat. It makes the broth tastier, and then the veggies come out better,” Ren Yi said as he grabbed a slice of beef and tossed it into Gong Yingxian’s pot. Smiling, he added, “So, is today’s dinner just for me?”yuZAHSGdxUUtWhejhBBjksORiZtvxM

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Gong Yingxian cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Although I find the social custom of celebrating everything with food somewhat ridiculous, adapting to societal norms is essential for integration. So, tonight we celebrate the end of your training.”QcWKxrDqrdwjwWOAAFpxkpptUxrZFx

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Ren Yi’s eyes crinkled with delight. “That’s nice.” Gong Yingxian had willingly invited him to dinner and even tried hot pot—a dish that was practically forbidden in his world.peCblZdwiCYKSAsPNMwLzSsPiYUnqW

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This had to mean something, didn’t it? That he wasn’t insignificant in Gong Yingxian’s heart.KjjTlKPyOviWqhUrAXabsqtZsnnHry

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Recently, a thought had been surfacing in Ren Yi’s mind, so persistently that he could no longer deceive himself into ignoring it.kVohKaMzCuiZfAXTkPQTjPfNvanUqH

gXYRahdVeocYFdH

He wondered, Could Gong Yingxian possibly have feelings for me? Even if their relationship had started purely physical, maybe Gong Yingxian had grown used to him, maybe even accepted him. Most of the time now, their interactions felt indistinguishable from those of a couple.ttZwLIlVZLVdTrwSwimcBLnOhcwdZF

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Regardless of the warnings and concerns Qiu Yan and Dr. Pompeii had shared with him, and despite his own doubts and fears, Ren Yi couldn’t suppress the growing affection in his heart.NYSqjHIGBxkLUfDTqefTXqDiiNCDbc

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If humans could use logic to suppress emotions, there would be no sorrow in the world.dTWJsingHRKkyccOysoKwBvTDGozcZ

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Seeing the genuine happiness on Ren Yi’s face, Gong Yingxian felt a warm satisfaction in his heart. He fished out the beef slice Ren Yi had dropped into his pot, carefully blowing on it to cool it down.eUhTiDGVUNxoYZOfUHlkVwkQWbBqug

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Ren Yi teased, still smiling, “You’re just like Miao Miao.”prwdorAUIbumTbveQEmLWhEvXNohUQ

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Gong Yingxian glanced at him sideways. “What do you mean?”IXFigGFJCngbMONGkSouciuLbwVfwc

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Ren Yi propped his chin up and smiled. “A cat’s tongue is afraid of heat. When you cook chicken for it, fresh out of the pot, it just sits there by the bowl, waiting for it to cool, looking so adorable. But you… you’re even cuter than Miaomiao.”YlKNEfYMiSzOGEMGhorLlmXsABNDHU

PIQMniqJBAtJyeu

Gong Yingxian feigned anger. “Don’t compare me to a cat.” To hide the smile he could no longer suppress, he quickly lowered his head to focus on eating the meat.YMAhltUENOmmMxxnlgBRRlHsiDViZn

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Ren Yi’s eyes sparkled as he watched Gong Yingxian. “Is it good? How’s the hotpot?”aXhLLTfYoZwKJXBQpKlGnUNALrAkvo

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Gong Yingxian nodded. “I see why so many people like it.”gqrZEKiLrcTnpAYKIFKEgbMsVZWzCi

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Ren Yi grinned. “Next time, we can eat at my place. You won’t feel so constrained.”kznNWGGHalTZXPezgahAUmAxfUAWrP

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Gong Yingxian paused. “I… I’m okay.”BNUDkMmTrwHhOnyUfMSdaFZtyMhfAw

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“I know you’re still not entirely comfortable eating out, even with your own utensils and ingredients. It’s good that you want to change, but take it slow. Don’t push yourself too hard.” Ren Yi smiled. “I’d much rather see you enjoy your food and eat comfortably, instead of treating it like some kind of task to accomplish.”HnXMxVkPSRvZVbXPuypVhkxnYGYdDD

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Gong Yingxian felt warmth bloom in his heart.gKQAEqxbKEnYurjbneIuzLGVwwVVjg

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He’d been eager to prove to Ren Yi that they could dine out like anyone else. But the reality was, he still couldn’t—not yet, at least. That frustrated him. Still, perhaps Ren Yi didn’t mind as much as he thought. Perhaps Ren Yi cared more about whether he ate well than about where they ate.RrNTUlVvIPtjYfEVTyPGmoXwoHhwkc

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Ren Yi was always so accommodating, never placing any demands on him.hpFqyQsBNfOVtPvCVdVniKXxfsfXqU

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The two chatted and laughed as they finished their meal. The waiter brought out some tea to aid digestion.NacFbVejkmfAlLcnXzGrwpQpFXbsZM

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Ren Yi sipped a few mouthfuls and glanced at the time. “Should we head out now?”kLTZSyoPKvpCZFPImrQstyyqYmgmwG

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“Let’s sit a while longer,” Gong Yingxian replied, taking a small sip of tea.UGdFuyHZrZbJqOdsJzWZlSZqTItOSa

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“You’re not busy today?”yjvLIfvwNDFYmNsnWbQbOwffkNQFHp

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“Just happened to have some free time.” And with this rare break, he only wanted to spend it with Ren Yi, even if it was just sitting together, eating and drinking tea.zGnqLMhycHoyMSxluXTbKmVliRAEiJ

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“Made any new discoveries lately?”gMDhBroGqKoaxZpivtdYOMJJAtgiFT

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“Plenty, but my head’s been so full of work these days. I’d rather hear about you for a change,” Gong Yingxian said. “How’s school?”QqblKwBZbJDNIrcmpkExcTTNzGTftn

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“Nothing special, same old routine every year.”rVPBofWtuBHMFtlQxywLxyqvfhalND

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“You used to attend classes with that Yan Jue guy?”nFxcEkCFkKqbprPjPJWtDkaKyEQmvf

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“No, he just got promoted to team leader recently.”kahWnfachRoRPEAyBGXtgTkZxhYQLX

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“So how did you two get so close all of a sudden?” Gong Yingxian recalled the way Yan Jue had looked at him, his tone turning a bit sour.JkeulmBDbwYLydzEnOKALVKbWHjUnJ

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“He’s fun to be around and great at games.” Ren Yi chuckled. “Are you still upset over a single cigarette? There’s no need.”ljTWgCbgMKwAQCPrEqsVjGVKaAReUi

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“Are you calling me petty again?” Gong Yingxian asked, keeping a straight face.tanPejxVtSDswcGypIicVhwNdIasFb

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“No, no.” Ren Yi reached out to tousle Gong Yingxian’s hair affectionately. “He was in the wrong. You’re the bigger person for not stooping to his level.”VpTSMKVnPEUnpUaPnfejXSshlwZVyK

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Gong Yingxian caught Ren Yi’s hand and tucked it into his embrace.WvkAUGPrastbnEZiNLvfUjNcEsoLkU

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Ren Yi leaned closer, gently pinching Gong Yingxian’s smooth cheek. “You missed me, didn’t you?”XuZEPHSGUoDUJMqxpaqileiWbwmBBC

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“…Yeah.”ZdjRPdZvAUUIbNFVqYKXMJPWXZmUru

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“But I have to head back to my team soon. I got disciplined last time, so I can’t just leave without permission for now.”TftplXsstJAIhKhLJKwpwKiteZxPuS

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“Okay.”TrHtXEkHfFLiYdeSzKysQDjmSpfnOk

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“Shall we go, then?”xYkpBzhPXXuNEljUyrDAWkzdVzUKbM

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Gong Yingxian held onto Ren Yi’s hand tightly. “Can’t you take a leave?”eAXZUbYMBeUxxKxYTNkdbHOhmQZsAv

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“Nope.” Ren Yi sighed softly. He wanted nothing more than to stick to Gong Yingxian like glue, but he couldn’t ignore his responsibilities.BWTEfxEoYjaLGdDsoXEUkljxpzwbAs

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Gong Yingxian fell silent. It was rare for them to meet amidst their hectic schedules. He’d never experienced this kind of relentless yearning from even a single day apart.gAQlIzoUyrJmMWWyXHEyCNUJGOrhQK

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Ren Yi leaned in and lightly bit Gong Yingxian’s ear, chuckling softly. “You’ve already taken a huge step by eating out. How about trying something even more exciting?”dJhBXNijjFIWWRqVfeOTBcLcYemzvL

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Gong Yingxian’s body instantly tensed. Ren Yi always managed to bring him surprises he could never imagine.ciiGaoBxlqpbHTBlesfwkJoApDkVaX

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Suddenly, Ren Yi grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up from the chair, dragging him into the restroom.DOcWYVPLwiJPdZrDTqhRfNBkMiYNBC

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