Blazing Armor

Ren Yi turned to head inside, but Gong Yingxian pressed down on his shoulder. “Don’t rush. Let’s organize your thoughts first. Think back—what did you feel during your conversation with him?”VYKcMvnubSHetJeNZGKWjjBaCBOHPv

“What did I feel?” Ren Yi rolled his eyes. “Anger. What else could I feel?”kdIeVQKLyiHnoPKauxYEMwbUHmvCsa

“Anything else?”qmZKXvmmFNJooTzfuXgSqHUjpiIuhD

Ren Yi paused and thought carefully. “Sometimes, I feel like he’s deliberately saying things to piss me off.”nHxfGPrfkiSCzUFxwuwmEvghESiuUd

“Exactly. He’s trying to get your attention. The way he behaves around us is completely different from how he acts around you. While he’s infuriating in both cases, with us, he’s dismissive, flippant, and evasive. He downplays his actions and relies on his age and family background, completely unconcerned about facing consequences. But with you, it’s different. He wants to stand out.”lLdllLCaMerIlzuvtRdVAeeYZUCbqR

Ren Yi recalled his conversations with Fang Zhixu and had to admit that it did seem that way.mfevxwHStRqisbQIjhYbogsbrsUVBz

Qiu Yan said, “He admires you. He’s paying attention to you, seeking your recognition. That’s why he keeps expressing his views and testing your reactions. For example, when he mentioned Captain Sun, it was intentional. He wanted to probe your boundaries.”yvhnstzYMDcDfklLyctFjknJTiCWvg

“What do you mean? What is he trying to do?” Ren Yi ruffled his hair in frustration. “I don’t think he truly admires me. Didn’t you hear what he said? He thinks everything firefighters do is futile, just a matter of losing less or losing more. How does that count as admiration?”znTbeMqOkqnuKavpuyLqUuTZmttnSr

“It’s not contradictory. If you analyze every word he says, you can piece together the picture of a fanatical admirer. He does admire you, but…” Gong Yingxian frowned. “We suspect that he hopes you’ll die.”pVoBGfhxmelRybyfpTihKTytonktfd

Ren Yi froze.JQMYrRiEGsolOhOmHYeOCVcfNgElyE

“For him, it’s not you as a person that he admires. He admires the image of you—the righteous, courageous, heroic firefighter. He idolizes fire, and he idolizes those who dare to fight against it. Even if that fight is futile, it fits the tragic hero image he’s constructed in his mind. In his eyes, you must fulfill his vision of a hero, which includes a heroic sacrifice—just like Sun Dingyi.”FtWGLjtEDkiWiPiRfksxBfQcQBWxoo

“Fuck.” Ren Yi felt his brain swell. “What kind of crazy bastard is this? Are there really people like this in the world?”YJHAIOLYoZzWCbtPNgINAzkobDyOqN

Qiu Yan let out a mocking laugh. “Of course there are people like that. Plenty of them. Most aren’t lunatics, just temporarily blinded by fanaticism. For example, when a celebrity’s flawless image crumbles, the harshest critics are often their former fans. Sometimes, it doesn’t even require a scandal—just a single act that doesn’t align with their imagined version of the celebrity is enough to breed resentment. To fans, the celebrity isn’t a person anymore but an embodiment of their collective fantasies. Any deviation feels like betrayal. Most people calm down eventually, but in his case… from his expressions, his words, and his behavior, it’s clear this isn’t just a passing obsession. Actually, when the news about Captain Sun’s sacrifice broke, he was extremely vocal online. We didn’t show it to you because we thought it might upset you. But if you’re sure you can handle it, I can share those posts with you. They’d give you a better understanding of this kid’s mental state.”pyLnqAhjdQXkBfhYIiRDUlkyTIhQvg

Ren Yi took a deep breath. “So… the arsonist at Wen Hui Mall…”TXZuXnMuwoXkSCKIkQsVFfUhtETuer

“It wasn’t him. At the time, he was attending a cram school for his college entrance exams and has a perfect alibi,” Gong Yingxian said, his tone heavy with concern. “However, even if he hasn’t committed a crime yet, he has significant potential to do so.”qlHkQTxcQQQMfSdKBPPEkoHMmHVhrM

“What should we do, then?”MqUqqEduFHHKXygcxpycPjdlTIvPmk

Gong Yingxian shook his head. “We can only try to stop him as best as we can. We’ll also speak with his parents about arranging psychological treatment for him.”TLdydyllrGWVPvPyJAZpsYOpaSTZTG

“What about me? What should I do? How do I handle him?”eGjXoPNZUetkzrYtJronFqusnUigFL

“First, you need to maintain the image he has of you. If he perceives that image breaking, he might react in extreme ways, which we want to avoid at all costs. Second, you need to make him feel like he’s the one letting you down. You’ve been a perfect idol, but he hasn’t been a worthy admirer.”MgFhLqxBEXiOlGroAmEFUQbEigVZSv

Ren Yi blinked, caught off guard. “What do I even say to him?”WeipiDKcOpDeSpwBWllucMpjBXbXKQ

“Tell him his decision to enter the Wen Hui Mall ruins and leave footprints was incredibly foolish. He may think he’s following in your footsteps, but in reality, he’s cowardly and stupid. If people find out he’s your admirer, it could damage your career and tarnish your reputation. Advise him to focus on his studies and stop doing such idiotic things,” Gong Yingxian instructed. “The key here is to avoid suggesting he has criminal intentions. Treat his actions as nothing more than the meaningless antics of a foolish teenager, as he himself would likely claim.”FGZHZGkKMuPFJeCuOliXfdmazFHdEn

“I get it.” Ren Yi realized this was a roundabout provocation. If Fang Zhixu wanted to prove himself, he’d first need to prove the worth of his actions.FhleSQFVfBFKuodzWKDUKirbrQxhsF

“Alright, go in,” Gong Yingxian said, suddenly grabbing Ren Yi’s wrist. He gazed into his eyes and spoke softly, “Remember, don’t let him provoke you. You’re the one in control. When you sit down, check your watch occasionally. Only sit halfway on the chair—don’t lean back. Sit angled toward the door, cross one leg over the other, and keep both feet pointing toward the exit. These body language cues signal you’re not planning to stay long and are eager to leave.”hVHNshasFyRtFHlAhDwlCMEqRoLiDr

From the corner of his eye, Ren Yi noticed Qiu Yan giving him a probing look. He quickly pulled his wrist away from Gong Yingxian’s grasp, muttered a low “got it,” pushed open the door, and stepped inside.cBvAfpuRxyxRvqrIBjBRFozzAxEzuY

Fang Zhixu looked at Ren Yi with a faint smile.DXifzUSmVbIbsOLWDmEFJSVUmDemjO

Ren Yi sat back down across from him, a trace of impatience flickering across his face. “They just told me that on the day of the Wen Hui Mall fire, you were at a cram school, right?”MyxSVTuXmvikPpXMVxLjQSCPUxKoEx

Fang Zhixu nodded. “I have an alibi.”rzoHLJvivbxdWKwLmkyWJXndJzHqcZ

“Yeah, I didn’t think a kid like you could do anything anyway. I said these cops are… blowing things out of proportion.” Ren Yi muttered, “Wasting my time.”NSHYtLLyOaaLsDbstUJOaBNJLOeZMi

Fang Zhixu’s brow furrowed slightly.lHTkpWYwHxNeDHFSaToDkkIJUPsACk

“Kids like you, I’ve seen plenty. Fire ruins are thrilling, huh? More real than a haunted house, and free too, right? Did you bring a girl along? Trying to show off a little?”IYflTiHkFsRDfXgfOOIAoKnznntsMR

“I’m not that boring,” Fang Zhixu said, frowning.kwiuCyCROHJUSbPYFTqQmwWTQREmmS

“Not boring?” Ren Yi laughed. “Who the hell sneaks into fire ruins in the middle of the night for fun? Isn’t it cold? That’s a police-sealed site. If you were an adult, they’d have locked you up for a few days. Embarrassing, isn’t it? Not only did you go, but you got caught. You probably thought you were being so sneaky. Ah, kids. Always thinking they’re smarter than they are.”JcATUrOHNnjStFFqRQpSzvFiUHeqJG

“My shoe cover ripped!” Fang Zhixu protested indignantly. “That was an accident!”SoNSvusJbyQXVlmAxNAmoPeoEagbpb

“Oh, an accident,” Ren Yi said, shaking his head. “I really don’t know what kids these days are thinking. Always doing these pointless, stupid things.”SDfLHgmbTKPJmosHnPfhkEmlpqbwlP

Fang Zhixu clenched his fists tightly under the table.SRqAluwpfMZgQaQwfRrcaOCPXDLRFD

“Oh, I get it now,” Ren Yi said, as if enlightened. “Last year, we caught someone just like you. Snuck into a fire scene in the middle of the night, taking pictures, filming videos, even livestreaming. Total idiot. Just some jobless bum trying to scrape together meal money. Are you short on pocket money too?”IaVSWFXkiTtdBldumfvzKvCfFrDypX

Fang Zhixu, now angry, immediately retorted, “No! I’m not short on money, and I wasn’t doing it for money!”XLPHuyRkebywMdtHPDFXGHGimUHdIC

“Alright, alright. Those cops are desperate to meet their quotas. Running around like lunatics looking for arsonists, even dragging in kids like you.” Ren Yi glanced at his watch. “Go home and study. Stop running around doing dumb things. Do you know how much trouble you’re causing me?”zxeJQKsNrJBgxsvfWPtmWFhdfBbuZe

Fang Zhixu pressed his lips together, remaining silent.eocUwVDtlQsEMZuZdjvmoCrBvqNRsz

“You’re always online, keeping tabs on me and my squad. If people find out you’re supposedly ‘learning’ from us and that this ‘learning’ led you to sneak into fire ruins and make things harder for the police, what do you think they’ll say about me?” Ren Yi clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Stop messing around, okay?” With that, he stood up to leave.TzFUTUAGrYjzwMokRYfijFukSMYZKx

“I’m not messing around,” Fang Zhixu said, taking a deep breath and suppressing his anger. “I’ve made an important discovery.”AfWcASiXrJQbLIsHCxUQvHrRpIssdX

Ren Yi paused mid-step.JAvNKWgEYeSaMUwQaUVyyqHvrhjmWs

Gong Yingxian’s voice came through the earpiece immediately: “Just leave. Don’t engage with him.”wTcsVXepjyyrNOgeGprkJCTMYLbWtH

Ren Yi smirked disdainfully and headed straight for the door without looking back.sffYFhuGhTfEaWHAISFBtCrsBUwgxg

Fang Zhixu shot up from his seat in frustration. “I’m not doing meaningless, stupid things! I’m not that bored! You—stand right there!”SUfBHdzgMcKayGfoTpODeaOvPwYkBJ

Ren Yi glanced back at him, sneering. “Oh? Then what are you doing? What did you discover?”MaAqnlCrCAjcaQhlSlCvPXkIRYmYET

Fang Zhixu clenched his teeth, hesitating.jFCbPiRJLYtLPxMpgVznhYIsHmetGK

“Tell the cops,” Ren Yi said dismissively. “My squad’s swamped with work. I don’t have time to play with kids.” He opened the door and walked out without another word.lgHSPDhUqmHvYFSOyLfytXLPBwHQPU

“You’ll regret this!” Fang Zhixu’s furious shout echoed behind the closing door.uoVmLiaKkStzTlJhMeLlYafGDeyNWx

Outside the interrogation room, Ren Yi exhaled several deep breaths. He wasn’t good at acting, and his palms were damp with nervous sweat.BLAlCDuvmGdXqRdaCVXjgXnpJdWmTN

Gong Yingxian and Qiu Yan emerged from the surveillance room shortly after. Qiu Yan clapped softly. “Captain Ren, you did great.”eurmNsLxGpUPagoaFkbnuCVYurwIKT

Ren Yi forced a wry smile. “Will he talk?”MziXZtvEusuPGNkooTrOBUEUgbweFI

“Not now,” Qiu Yan replied. “And especially not to the police. He’s very guarded, which is why we had you leave quickly. If you stayed, he might have figured out we were provoking him.”gcCgNbFriOXuRqTKSDtZGYgBvMFCUq

“What’s next, then?”PaBGPIKPRAreyiZDTbkqHAWWIjwWyn

“Let him go,” Gong Yingxian said. “The best-case scenario is he’ll come to you privately. The worst-case scenario? Nothing happens. If he doesn’t speak up, there’s nothing we can do. Either way, we’d have to release him.”kRzzzkkjSqTwadIwzdJSgMoJfyhwjb

Ren Yi took a moment to calm his racing heart. “Fei Lan’s at the same school as him. I don’t think that’s safe.”yGOnsASpGwdzAdtUcDEqGYFsskjpMh

“They’re not in the same grade or even the same building, and they’ve never had any interaction before. Besides, since the day our personal information was exposed by Angelus, I arranged dual-layer security for her. She hasn’t been alone outside school since. You don’t need to worry.”lGpMDccuntfgQPAQHrLIgdnBDpZbwW

Ren Yi nodded. “Good. Make sure to remind Fei Lan as well.”WpHmMiLjkEpezvadSKzqALjPjqKqdJ

“Of course.” Gong Yingxian handed his thermos to Ren Yi. “Have some water.”zRNUpBCmWyMefKwyFXxOVfstzjZwWp

Ren Yi glanced at it. “No, thanks. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”VhDFUIfjZRBBKuRvFnXFyIwCgRcKaG

Gong Yingxian opened his mouth, as if to convince him to stay, but couldn’t find a good excuse.QpxtLviHKtZpelEMxwJQpndmTVhuFF

Qiu Yan interjected, “Captain Ren, how about having a meal with us?”BtxSajNTREMvbbBYHzhiREKjYvtqsP

“No need. I really have to get back to the squad.”ElVvhmyGFpwYInXiStkPRCiSoSVhwb

“It’s been such a hassle for you, and I’ve never had the chance to treat you to a meal. Let’s just eat at our cafeteria. It won’t take long.” Qiu Yan paused, then added guiltily, “Please, let me have the chance to apologize to you properly.”WnZPrcVQpwQtdNTqKqhXFhZRrakvvR

Ren Yi sighed. He had always found it hard to refuse a woman’s request.fpWUWmXGNFOSyxeSWfIvDoKdYUVtwM