Chapter 112
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?XcAwpbCOKVFywrHHfvuWKZdhGhVUDM
KZanBOqYFKjghEYTo 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.fmroLzniBBdTOfEdtqxJjagDjsieXD
ZrEeSOBIaVCXpEURen Yi chuckled and asked, “You really brought me here for hot pot?”nRMQEIsVsHClqFjeUWcPhaizynGKXH
SwYQPhbhiqcEOuO“Mm,” Gong Yingxian replied.CSEcAUwtWBxPOiLzJqMCeDXTHwdiDe
rrIYqRDeippUlQg“I eat, and you watch?”DbBFKgFBeGLZzzubvMIYDWgFEXYtDT
jZwKsOTgSuwBBCr“We’ll eat together.”HHorsukzZijmqdTrzFTglBiBKCwrmI
nCtZlWrWBHXthzaRen Yi turned his head in shock. “You? Eating hot pot? Hot pot?”XXFcfvjcRlPdLsdQLLbAMlHaSsPohM
dHsQQlhcArlRmPZ“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?”DpztYoRMFTYhvXhwlOjuePmKJKfzHz
qRnDSvKuFJRXCDbRen Yi let out two dry laughs. “Don’t you usually find places like these dirty?”JeaOpuYlohejjAjQWrtUgnsfKFqVzj
xzwBbZPNDyPyKCW“After becoming a police officer, I’ve had to visit far filthier places. Learning to adapt is good for me.”ocFTxMCJUWackiBsxvpjdIzjBivzzG
wZCzCWCxQfzmWYRDelighted, 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!”uyrPiJUzevEHkgwQxLdnJZPQgNILHP
SVJCnVBEEnJvHkZOnce inside, Gong Yingxian gave the reservation name to the hostess, who led them toward a private room.vaYcjHWopIKIFyviBheBwetPvSbWaz
TKqMhYWkpaoxrlEThe 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.QbRYGkYnZEYycbZurlkvpucvHTkSCh
IxnhrTdLQABWSOaNot 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.qQkeSzscAWsxRpizXRICUmMyoWeLRP
bniBntkHYGaucifAfter they sat down, a waiter brought over the menu. Gong Yingxian tilted his chin toward Ren Yi, signaling him to take it.NSafluFraPVhrkUBnWVbCsaTeRAwCY
IiPlXpQcYvBPXkfRen Yi accepted the menu. “I pretty much remember all the things you don’t eat. Is there anything in particular you’re craving?”FNWQDyrRrMWkUsbJBzhLlctgifyfeK
nquKYPqfYYBgqhh“Order what you like.”vKFgDeEIMMJHwtCodFPFrsSxvQJKEA
sDVcmBfNFiAedKGRen 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.qjtQhBrQZNfOciskJeZZKijQVDCxOQ
gPKgkzYtPEAppyoAfter ordering, Ren Yi looked around. “Is this your first time eating out?”rCdJXtRekeDIbAnycdvMGbCETgOKzr
PmtIDlzmKDLKnzp“Didn’t you take me to eat crayfish last time?”PZVWmQnmsKIJCUEEWOmVaFzPSLnLww
eTEckkfdnmIyLeDRen Yi chuckled. “Last time, all you had was bottled water.”vYSdtOoSxwkrJcVKJyucRkDTapCdEK
TIHJmkLwxporAlpGong Yingxian pursed his lips. “I’ll eat today.”TwWuCHbeOTXyFMruKEQtCgTTfwpnvT
yKSqxozTQVVxVWfRen 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.”aprNzjcWFzFXuQVCVoWMiOgoJecAoB
imLaJCpgBcorrDp“…That’s different.”tFjuqUEwlCKNHvrDnDgbbKDZSicNvF
XxMVmVbHvqvVUHv“True, it’s not the same,” Ren Yi said with a sigh. “But honestly, I think this place is cleaner than my dorm.”gmFPcQMTOoKnaMzvRcbIOEEDljyRim
lzlnNjrdgokLaNjGong Yingxian let out a dry laugh. “At least you’re self-aware.”bVxnykRjpeTpYRBOBTRnGPMHxBJQMQ
FjUScpOdIouAxyC“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.”xeepzxDotMpIsTBBCLJmDCBMWMKmpb
ZDJHNOIDDAPbrtgGong Yingxian’s face instantly turned bright red as he snapped, “Shut up!”PavpDAjGierIYfUCGQeBKauARwpaLI
hiWxpavXSVlWfiAEvery 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—”wEGcHxWApOEzeTtjZnaXTCGOvkUQLU
aCNgRWAjSDIsjPkBefore Ren Yi could finish, Gong Yingxian leaned in and silenced him with a kiss.nAPumAUrOMLVnaOzeCjmjuAxfGHqeB
myzzpDanyxZULNbRen Yi blinked, the faint scent of fresh grass—uniquely Gong Yingxian—filling his nose. It was like every breath he took purified his lungs.YZVhZBoXQUDscxhNKBpIekOmiDqKYK
loWLYxCcfWzMcULHe 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.akLPJqKDSdOvnDeJtTxyYNgHLnoDIy
SYVoXapFaxTDJmsGong 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.GbyfWFaOktIvyTqQJbTLtMafcZTDIC
DbAFVOVVShaOTYhSuddenly, a knock on the door shattered the moment, and they broke apart in a flash.AwwVQrbouTHxSxQpnFChilvmHpYREp
rYkafCPBFmEaoljThe waiter entered, pushing a cart laden with their food.ziZAZJePnttkEsBsXdHZdJcmWDOBpd
vdOVuBnkGoatObYGong Yingxian lowered his head to adjust his tie, using the motion to mask his awkwardness, while Ren Yi stood to the side, laughing uncontrollably.ePeYpwDRNzQkWgGtLFpUsUpITTReOf
glHiwYiMtSVGLkVThe waiter brought over two individual hot pot sets, accompanied by an array of side dishes laid out on the table.rymeMUJhwOPfXHMNEgLTmzsKKIVwaB
iJlEbQpXcLQQXyXRen 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.KBeeOEKCGLnSxBiasgXZhSNYLvRTaA
qBOvtYQjxFFmxqNAfter the waiter left, Ren Yi wiggled his chopsticks playfully. “These are all your personal supplies, aren’t they?”dgfqBXRhuDLGdrylpVGENgzHEyMFMq
oWKGdXfxQySJzFP“Sharp observation.”ZeWvYGkbJwtSyauWNfEAlhnfNDiJMW
SylPWyzeBaHiJPVRen Yi grinned. “How do you even manage to bring all this along just to eat out?”DADdLJkqSvAdJCZJnBXgNsAhEPjPgb
KBRLJKKgmJoecRKGong Yingxian replied calmly, “Money.”NFLWqCHfgQYOTwzZCmXhdsQQqKFWNl
HuFSfisQeIpQkhuRen Yi burst into laughter.eAWvXfgWnqtpwgMgIQBEYTBBrtuJpN
ejmQOXKDteorCKgGong 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?”siheXtVSHFTbUctToIHrRSCztYmKMA
cXeVAccGbaBTasC“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?”OxZtwNQCXzkxydartCkWxZIEHVgTYM
yBoJHsWdKENmXGDGong 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.”dDoiFwKNtZCHqtDfLVCtxRYwLZqwui
uXqIfdiXJgKunpbRen 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.rXuiTJBqMIIDxzCZaJpLAPRSOXhCqw
IRbZgUGGJizHfovThis had to mean something, didn’t it? That he wasn’t insignificant in Gong Yingxian’s heart.xbnVWXAugRMEndixIBHMVKhPVnNbqI
SEXaiHFDVzDjxvaRecently, a thought had been surfacing in Ren Yi’s mind, so persistently that he could no longer deceive himself into ignoring it.ivGQAitsWqmuOLMHoNgRGlwfGUfIwY
jpceKsAojbbCNTTHe 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.mZEhIDGULJORQbwqRAPYYAUXETyBSf
qVwmPrpRNvIdUiKRegardless 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.wdxyihYUXMCMUMctTMLcdclxHdtJuX
GPgbavSTGSMzqUsIf humans could use logic to suppress emotions, there would be no sorrow in the world.TeroKeDQPSqKVbMLdSHKihIcYYbsHr
zazzSlesuOrwVPqSeeing 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.kQrhugwufIDSbadaiecJTniiLlXLHZ
drKlPTBrPIKCsaxRen Yi teased, still smiling, “You’re just like Miao Miao.”LSPJvGlnnrFUbjHgCbqYAQSadlPavn
lLwhZMGBQZcoPRFGong Yingxian glanced at him sideways. “What do you mean?”behiZXifsbpSYKIfvXGMEovwcPjaZV
iYXOVknqmPkVUEeRen 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.”MvlHLduZIoEtGqhXrpSOrQgHeUXtbK
EcoXSQrIfWvIcrlGong 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.uBfzTarxYIEbDUXXTrGiFtctbHtxMb
CmuNwHusIgHBOnDRen Yi’s eyes sparkled as he watched Gong Yingxian. “Is it good? How’s the hotpot?”eYHReMKAaDmyfsRXtNrwEBcCdHhIXx
rhiqlBVohiAwlPhGong Yingxian nodded. “I see why so many people like it.”smUGmaZLvBJcAxeOLwSEuAimEryruu
ZNImhEiabGtWHlBRen Yi grinned. “Next time, we can eat at my place. You won’t feel so constrained.”wdNhCZQBMjTDSINYuVpYhTDaJPvNGv
WAvYzzCoIBNPdVlGong Yingxian paused. “I… I’m okay.”SGuaktANyAYmiHOfqZrDDZzkxlrWad
XlrVDvYjdlzDlFc“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.”znABRTEsBmbBkZWNKSLXEOOmangKbb
hROpvmYqPFMfTCkGong Yingxian felt warmth bloom in his heart.vLwCfgCTzEHHDsknUKeXMFrunEpwWd
OibWvROGmwDydmaHe’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.kLgFDNPFLSzUhaTBuHxtpfSpQvNRiN
KVdCaVGpiLFxeVuRen Yi was always so accommodating, never placing any demands on him.mxLvlJnalGrnvECtIroPdCdkcBVGSA
JBBftGXlAUlaPfkThe two chatted and laughed as they finished their meal. The waiter brought out some tea to aid digestion.IEOvyOYAymCMaRARwbPdLdGWMCxEQe
tylLsbWomUDDfToRen Yi sipped a few mouthfuls and glanced at the time. “Should we head out now?”VWfgvPmhxEienAeaUaJUtuQqPlxZIR
bBptFFrCdeDbwze“Let’s sit a while longer,” Gong Yingxian replied, taking a small sip of tea.cforsgXBIGSkyMVPmfqkBRWaQILfhS
OupFWLzyAunzSCm“You’re not busy today?”dBJzavSVZEcekUaQVLZOmoidptkqlb
IbSmCdIlXWTIDyg“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.dWcayjRHXArgfMgEoFojPCxonhkugd
UuRPLzAsfqoRFul“Made any new discoveries lately?”rTvTWKcJyallrCKxnnGFBwEyxUjCPb
cklGRaxTKLcbrAP“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?”wsGOyrJAENPQlEFOiKsHrAAhaxircD
SeqpPlxClTtCyiv“Nothing special, same old routine every year.”RCgWtTdKFrnIBzidDmvXISLLVaPNvN
ierbKFlElPGNsUg“You used to attend classes with that Yan Jue guy?”xpxFmUcMjRqmJnOvSpGQFSqzeLwgMP
aNaoWewOMwTjLMW“No, he just got promoted to team leader recently.”aByhuVyFzMbHneQlwLeDBpnmdsHzIZ
toeEfBQoVHfDqJU“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.QCikypScPNZPMwraVTkSNGhjmREJvd
laCopBvcVYBCAje“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.”PsPSPRjcqdYhXqUPqavEUOhlaRNkKw
upzaGfeCWjvlZZZ“Are you calling me petty again?” Gong Yingxian asked, keeping a straight face.mxQgtEoIUaPoPUZEbgCpXWMYXQaJJB
SzPJeJmVHXhgFaf“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.”qEDJSxPFNLYAbfCSZqUnNlFqTwaZjq
qLdIqJBBsOwopmiGong Yingxian caught Ren Yi’s hand and tucked it into his embrace.ccNApMuVnMPnkkUVAweMQRmYkaoZtA
VWKZuHMvjLZhkSJRen Yi leaned closer, gently pinching Gong Yingxian’s smooth cheek. “You missed me, didn’t you?”gwdQUJksCWHuWELOCDBBBwBCldAdZV
SjJbTQmNuLgWfnc“…Yeah.”pfhxyUmgYCECXYnXbqYIMDZnWkAxfx
mnzqpaWYzfUopYi“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.”idnCRnfmrgoiXDGdUHJbVfPIJRwFpz
HHJGbiZeVmuZzdz“Okay.”gkTTPhcqhcITpCMwXxsVUUnNaZFZMx
lCCciblyeRdVRBU“Shall we go, then?”WJwaZKPqBlPaSEwVGcvBuUjeIDmFNB
cKAfOVUoHOrCdvcGong Yingxian held onto Ren Yi’s hand tightly. “Can’t you take a leave?”BRWPtuKdCfQvjIhptprnjNdTmcKZKW
AdSJKPIrrYTERVW“Nope.” Ren Yi sighed softly. He wanted nothing more than to stick to Gong Yingxian like glue, but he couldn’t ignore his responsibilities.wvTGslcYATiauccwjvWwJWxTbxjrvQ
EZlYXMgNoDkweudGong 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.KjeALFZENHcDQlLIlLPcmrrQVfhAqR
kFbcaxOWnwUpaAuRen 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?”skQVfIHPnOUniwmcrWDBoTcIOTSGNW
XKHGWmRHKnOtWmLGong Yingxian’s body instantly tensed. Ren Yi always managed to bring him surprises he could never imagine.VDoiviCLEgNLhZukaJIGFqGZoPtJrb
bwwyAvnuiqDVBgGSuddenly, Ren Yi grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up from the chair, dragging him into the restroom.uygzSTcFaIUtYkDHMdrlZTKEJzeydY
zVmdZQIplMnmxLHopJZGwNOLOBbWEXawyTilShvpYUAei