Chapter 119
On the day of the funeral, after a winter filled with overcast skies, the sun unexpectedly shone over Beijing.HDfaaLhVZxNUoOfnycDSflWJWUkosA
jstfMbIGFaRLFNbSun Dingyi’s father carried his photo, while his mother held his uniform and ceremonial hat. Together, they stepped out of the dormitory.rWSNCKbOMmRCZcDdcaJGUJzwYTKBHT
axnpHPcGcmjxuZZOn both sides of the squadron’s training ground stood two neat rows of firefighters in uniform.CyZRKBddloECckzHHqvBeauYWfAdDL
yjczdsbqdWGrYgQRen Yi, suppressing the sting in his nose, called out loudly, “Salute—!”BVprfzPzaRQaxNuabrhNBUKcFtLlMA
eirrszKfZaExarPThe soldiers all snapped to attention, raising their arms in a precise salute. Their eyes were red, lips tightly pressed, as they sorrowfully watched their comrade pass through the training ground he had crossed countless times. He boarded his favorite firetruck one last time, heading to the funeral home.YwVQYSpVodHjPLuosulFjmBSYGFomo
zmaPxyIadvTqXpYExcept for a few left behind on duty, the rest followed the vehicle to the funeral home.YNClONApFBjHYeLQGloJnMUeddYAPb
uXzojkwytupiGTKIn front of the funeral home, a large crowd had gathered—people who had come of their own accord to bid him farewell, as well as leaders and soldiers from the general squadron, branch units, and other teams.mFxoUWNmVpyqUWhTTlKpUCTFmfZDyA
LmqtoDcRzLGXEHkRen Yi immediately spotted a familiar figure among them—a tall, distinguished man in a dark blue police uniform: Gong Yingxian. That uniform seemed tailored to him, fitting so perfectly that it somehow outshone the expensive suits he usually wore, making him even more striking and radiant.hsHtkBBMqPPyxfFlMsfupbFbkfSaHE
CFiceZdensAPOcqGong Yingxian approached Ren Yi and said softly, “I’m here on behalf of the precinct to see him off.”rBikzTNemMEuiiwkWFORXSoMgYnneA
ALVsgEnlNKhJQoORen Yi nodded. “First time seeing you in uniform.”
“It’s my first time seeing you in uniform too.”gmkYJEbnpLfciXORhqbPTrUPiQbRXp
“When we wear uniforms, it’s always for something big—either something good or something bad,” Ren Yi said quietly. “I should head inside.”jOpvJMqWCEnTScEGAoWrpRrTGWKJij
oooabpbKBLLDeGZ“Go ahead.”xUnwHtAabuEpCAWfsQiGXvFOtqKoej
ZKLpWqobyczGRgxThe mourning hall was packed with people who were close to or acquainted with Sun Dingyi. Yan Jue had even made a special trip from the western suburbs to attend.rrMgHFvvGzGJMcsHVuuRanZwwHBPVD
tZbOqAslZdJZcgXThroughout the entire funeral, Ren Yi remained in a daze, as if wrapped in an invisible film that isolated him from the grief, the sobbing, the tears. Everything unfolding before him felt surreal. He still couldn’t—still wouldn’t—fully accept this reality, still doubted that it was anything but a terrible dream.sxgXWmitdgRfBRhNUaOmWBqqlJEpws
XRwkMWUNxXayBimAfter the funeral ended, Ren Yi didn’t return to the squadron with the others. Instead, he found a bench in a quiet corner of the cemetery park. Sitting there, he silently watched the bare tree branches and the barren patches of grass.UXtCRHUmdDyzCdPGyQKrCseZmZhlEr
UbivrdWAvDhQXboHis wounds hadn’t healed yet, and the constant pain gnawed at him. Even breathing felt laborious, and just a morning’s work had left him nearly unable to stand. The warm sunlight on his back offered him a small measure of comfort.KmrBtTwekmYBDyuxLIkdXVVBQUUeRl
ZZGYiSkYYASHYrkFootsteps came from behind, and without turning, Ren Yi instinctively knew it was Gong Yingxian.CIbejLgYBKMIFtIxQDwDudjnhEUDPZ
NbxVUnwGsauHPVWGong Yingxian sat beside him and handed him a can of hot tea.xEAWSHkWiGvizNdNxtureJYGvOcxyN
YiTITArErzsjYSTRen Yi took it, warming his hands with the can. He said softly, “It’s not too cold today. Rare to have sunshine like this.”ugOOZIeILjDDNXhhoBgpkTBWZyXCsW
uaZiYUMyVYFfaUi“But you’re wearing too little.” Gong Yingxian touched Ren Yi’s hand. “It’s freezing.”UwSHjMezumsifmTmrwYRJciyEmjMJD
fMIWBYKBvyzrjHERen Yi clasped Gong Yingxian’s hand in return. Thinking about the fog he’d been in lately, guilt welled up. “I haven’t really talked to you much these past days. Don’t take it to heart.”WkWfJOLTjLhJpaTTVAIkPzEDnmoGFx
YnOEOHJScliLLAi“How could I?” Gong Yingxian paused. “I know how it feels.”JqaTEzryRKgZwxeLmUuYnwhWjLdgyM
WyDdcCcAPIpBffDRen Yi felt a pang in his chest and murmured, “I made you worry.”UiDjDKfJFiWuaMAMrnqgvuYSmfnhel
aTNQNqofaGmnqRG“Yeah, you really did.” Gong Yingxian took a deep breath. “Do you know what it felt like for me, watching you hang by a thread on that corridor? Just thinking about it still terrifies me.”uAsiRMfoLRAjtABVRRoDhvadRopsaU
HCPXVDRuUqpCWCj“…I’m sorry.”teiTMhVyLQxkMKraQctSNjZyHlyzKY
wgRPtnABEnpIClJ“If I…” Gong Yingxian bit his lower lip lightly. “If I said I want you to quit being a firefighter, and in exchange, I’d agree to any condition you set…”ngQKJCNCnEWaUaoCIZAUJzVMWDZlvt
UmICmIFFzjTQnLLRen Yi stared at Gong Yingxian in stunned silence.HlTQoyVqAyXJknnJSsUjyIPpKFOjyh
VSXRtmbdqoURKFVTheir eyes met, but neither could speak.wfPMKIMlNaedwDqDUnIMKIBWsoxJsc
lZhvVxBjrsKCTzFAfter a long while, Ren Yi forced a faint smile. “You’re… joking, right?”oBnWDMvxOiKyDlxUZNYQLzhvnyyZUz
RieaIJhpLldirLlBoth of them knew Gong Yingxian wasn’t joking. And Gong Yingxian knew just as well that Ren Yi had evaded the question because he couldn’t agree to it.XzrwwKSYsDlmgKBSrWXHIYIUmTSubB
lJqVBBYCAdbcCEdTo Ren Yi, this profession was a calling, a mission. Only death could sever that bond.odUFGasjMZboCfyswLkTOyQBbQtXOJ
KqAPUYaZNWfUpKrGong Yingxian lowered his head in dejection. Why, of all people, did he have to fall for someone like this? He had spent his life desperately trying to stay away from fire, only to now find himself drawn to someone who danced with it daily. What a cruel irony.GnmaadoJCJrpNgtqvpPPgVZynLStnx
KCjIOMtdeZeELSeRen Yi, feeling a twinge of guilt, nudged Gong Yingxian lightly on the shoulder, trying to shift the conversation. “You look really good in uniform.”HkijTvVEFTNkHaJLqeDkzWuQlZNhoq
DQxKLeXxCepeEvD“Do I? It’s not very practical for fieldwork, so I rarely wear it.” Gong Yingxian glanced at his uniform, then at Ren Yi’s. “You look good in yours too.”vylpkspzQocvxZhLOdzqLzYFxLpeTJ
pKyKNXBrIvdJNgi“I haven’t worn mine in a while. Training gear is more comfortable. We have so many sets of uniforms; the biochemical suits are probably the worst to wear, followed closely by the firefighting suits.” He stopped short at the mention of firefighting suits.CspvruaOPseaCztddzDDJlogQheBSq
pvOAisqllwYNpLPGong Yingxian sensed the turbulence in Ren Yi’s emotions. He held Ren Yi’s hand tightly, trying to offer him strength.XyzOHYxeHfXUOEJmWvDJqdyQnPEVXm
LhyCNXKvAqELhcERen Yi closed his eyes as a wave of sorrow washed over him, his eyes welling up again. “I will… I will recover. Don’t worry.”NfXuWLjhurpRybqBTsFJBlAibZkIjD
vFLUmiaIKatYjSQ“I need you, Ren Yi,” Gong Yingxian said. “I need your help to find the person responsible for Captain Sun’s death.”GkEWcQWABVAaMifGSlTCIWvjXYEQwP
gyuAEowIXuXPwOL“I know.” Ren Yi wiped his eyes. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”gungRrVaBemmtcoTnoCBAdBzcXjhgQ
XWUlEOeAtcobjVvGong Yingxian’s voice softened. “For now, I need you to cry if you want to, and then accept reality.”RwYJHnpretdSZkbVmLleraTHggPvYK
AINGedYkjeFTCoNRen Yi stiffened but eventually leaned his head gently on Gong Yingxian’s shoulder, letting the tears flow freely.tvMzKTJZXBexwZweAIlzQjDKaHdMTb
JhsdIEYUcVaphSbFingers intertwined, Gong Yingxian listened to Ren Yi’s silent sobs, wishing he could give everything he had to protect this man from any harm.TcIdxiyTIsysfggLBMeJuUBKILBpDn
uUmLRxXvyGZEEii—DigmPMCJayDzTAldNgPSeWFtwLdlJW
XKWorTKOxdrQLcwRen Yi took a day off and didn’t return to the squadron. He went to the hospital to change his bandages and get an IV drip before heading home with Gong Yingxian.AOyaguiYoMeiIiJfrnYdgDZpVNvfzG
SCuwRBkNDnmDfDGThey bought groceries and cooked together. After dinner, they watched a game and chatted until late at night. They then fell asleep in the same bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. Such simple, everyday companionship was enough to soothe the soul’s cracks and warm the heart.sFrUdUhjTYnGQcjRiZweeLxwOJZMWA
lpZTwCxvpjkwPmA—CbSpeRHvXeBfJwHSHapfACvcvvdvxV
ArcGmWyXtfNCIHaThe next morning, the two of them went to the Hongwu Precinct. The Fire Investigation Unit had released a preliminary report on the Wenhui Mall fire, and Ren Yi needed to provide his testimony.VxKvBqIUComMvasrERZIjOndyjZlIY
AzxUxqokpxIrZjGPreviously, whenever Ren Yi visited the precinct, he was warmly welcomed, especially by the female officers. But this time, everyone was reserved, carefully greeting him and inquiring about his recovery.lwaNhqThnkiMnvcUeGqZXHLTUGAZXR
vZKQvLdilDDiyqvRen Yi thanked them and then headed to the conference room with Gong Yingxian.oPcVxAwqFcylETuFOTREoDkAeUyLkc
qzxWbAAgrpQhWEqGong Yingxian handed Ren Yi the report from the Fire Investigation Unit. Although Ren Yi could have accessed it anytime through the internal system, he hadn’t. He hadn’t even written his own incident report yet, and no one had pressured him to.NJgSPqEvseIziYjmHJewqaoudNQNlP
qFtovDdjHnUQwEzNow, he had no choice but to face it.DHTtnRUNnCELjzWRoxEWMWmTQUncDz
NEpabopPBSCwdxZTaking a deep breath, Ren Yi opened the report and began reading it page by page.QIdzHeuerghrpEmcKWjApdsYRrgeHc
IpSphGMAFHoxiTRThe fire originated in a clothing wholesale store near the corridor in Building A, with clear traces of accelerants. At the time of the fire, all businesses in Building A had closed for the day, with only security guards patrolling and preparing for closing.rvxsvMBdwdxhBgvbduwydKQvgYtGwX
dHkkYUlyvPPUmCvThe fire spread rapidly to the corridor because the mall had illegally rented out the corridor space as stalls, filling the already narrow passageway with flammable materials. Initially, the security guard tried to use a fire hydrant to extinguish the flames, but due to the dense stalls and fast-spreading fire, he failed and fled the scene before calling the fire department. By the time firefighters arrived, Building A was ablaze. Captain Chen Xiaofei sent in two teams initially, but a flashover occurred shortly after they entered, forcing them to retreat. The fire in Building A then became uncontrollable.mHSHrGPNRFUtgneUEmnyqpHmyzVtry
mtadhmuAlfPbJYiAfter finishing the report, Ren Yi said, “The report shows it was arson, but there’s no evidence pointing to who did it?”QhBqGHGSFNsdQPeKqARQrvZWzJEqZv
VjoVGmilBTGkMRMGong Yingxian shook his head. “The surveillance footage was destroyed in the fire, and the accelerant used was just regular gasoline. We’re now looking for witnesses among the survivors from Building B. The time frame has been narrowed down, and there were still quite a few people entering and exiting Building B during that period. Someone might have noticed suspicious individuals near Building A.”warkUXZFUhDQgmHmYqEmobgRyjpStc
MZZQpZvohhPQrFL“I want to visit the site,” Ren Yi said. “This afternoon.”LukWmoJHtSCWZodgWemgOonyAeZDxm
KVChpuMfPNWhwyf“You can. The scene has been well-preserved.”uDfdiATDyxxZmzxQnWxHYyykBLiHnu
SMNlcjPDlTOSNSC“Besides this, is there any progress on the case recently?”tpsNSSgCpomUzAVamKyaGwSnWQOznI
vYLzsOminRjcDnqGong Yingxian nodded, his expression darkening. “A few things. Do you remember a few months ago, we investigated an old case involving a murdered homeless person that might be connected to Red Flame? The location and method of that killing matched Red Flame’s patterns.”yfwGIXFIVxVVMETWuxQdbhojulEiWB
vqItZzrmMFKAslx“I remember. I haven’t heard you mention it since then.”zOFOpTSZGEVMoAWpznWirVoPxxxsaf
MmKVZHzoswkwRrp“At the time, we had no leads. But I always had doubts about that homeless man’s identity. According to the autopsy, he was a young man in his early twenties, physically able, though he might have had some form of mental illness—we don’t know. Because there were no missing persons reports matching him and he was wearing a homeless man’s clothes, we assumed he was a vagrant. However, the elderly couple who found the body walked along that riverbank every morning and evening and had never seen a homeless person in that area. Generally, homeless individuals have fixed territories. If this was a young, physically capable homeless man, he would have been more noticeable.”GUnIdUIDmuppjsMHJIhjJUvNWOxRhS
pxazEzPmvAxxFat“So, you think he wasn’t a homeless man?”BBQyNWEkHiWWOIATDRoeaSJsNUWduy
FCZPGFEmeTlfCTN“I’m not sure. But there’s been a recent development in the case, though it’s unclear if it’s connected.”VopQMlZWsQPjdYyhOToozwZsvqpaHq
oqtVQkKjfLoCFPT“What kind of development?”WsVMBBsXgpiqyQnzqaWUcpvclMSNZr
MQuxgjgybwjehOC“A finance company reported a missing borrower to the police. They have an outstanding loan of 200,000 yuan that they can’t recover. This person is the only recent missing person who might match our so-called homeless man. He came from a rural area, was one of nine siblings, and had no living parents. His family doesn’t stay in contact or seem to care about him. We’re investigating further.”GtWkkAVSsjPIKckXmBNVOrrlfvbEcP
DzbFDmhrfbjJpiqRen Yi nodded. “Hopefully, there’s a breakthrough.”otRoFYEoJyCAnEVaRiPbDtsWshcsvR
ZCAlAxBPchlhteF“There’s another thing—related to the clue you gave me last time.”toUujQpSbZJEVzVwRdQUzIGIdNoiXR
keiVdKiFlTpohFK“The mask?”JOpFpMJHAxSItVsaWPoxEWacajpTUQ
yftWagacDqCmjmoGong Yingxian took a deep breath. “Your suspicion might be correct.”QonQMxzEKzKpNpxoyxZgKjShjokzyi
dLlpbEnTmXaLPif“You remembered something?”jXijjZFIySWOjYxfYLGjOdbTmmAGtf
vTRiZXisiFjoqVs“No. My memory keeps insisting it was a bird mask. But my memory might be lying to me.”uoQdvZFdhzuIAwgcGRlNocfvuMORcH
BxzYlBtFdQdIZugRen Yi frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”cXOByPuLYnGvqIuaNeXcRaMHZmZtHQ
xjIVuuzeWHdKxmA“Someone tampered with my memory.”yJwcaTRsBoqmKkdCPMhYLUoSvOrNEd
DxoeQajlOroZZexRen Yi’s eyes widened in shock, rendered speechless. Could it be…MFpjgaJmqRbECcdSdpHCweoblgUMjY
JBBxufrmEJaVkBc“I know you suspect Dr. Pompeii. It wasn’t him. It happened much earlier because the bird mask idea came from me originally.”QkOUoPQnlTrJrqCeheubMnLTCdiRST
qtQiBDTIpOPvkub“But who could alter someone’s memory like that?”aCnXvUxjrYWLmbXPDOzCoMOzEiiYfU
CFxvhVIJcpcPvKy“A trained psychologist could, especially with a severely traumatized six-year-old child,” Gong Yingxian said coldly. “After the incident with my family, my grandfather hired a doctor to perform psychological interventions on me. I don’t remember much about it because I saw so many doctors during that time—mine, my sister’s—there were all kinds. It took me a lot of effort to locate the medical records from back then.”AVObUEmEsZRGtSkFKJcJNTxcIJIuuK
dTfDdfwwMLEvIqJ“Who was the doctor?”QAKyvNRguPzzyogGZiJkKfBnGBZjym
NoXHQHHBApVykfX“A psychologist named Wang Mind.”wplqtIHXrtRESGPzmCznIclwQxOwMz
GsFHpOjogCqvJcX“And, did you—”HVigRCAmILQTFDkRlKEsFzPsAotRze
SBzKoAPJRCDSjnMGong Yingxian’s gaze turned icy. “Just a week ago, this Wang Mind was found dead in his home. He’d been drinking alone, choked on his own vomit, and suffocated.”jcDAlgWKppWFRrriGvLemONwVcpMck
rYxiezCswSFBsGyRen Yi froze, his entire body stiff.ahRyBWDsmdbsneHqdPclZDBImhWrhk
cjYcflTkvIQJAdFfjxsKdQUBEhknAXDDVZwDNvezJpASR