Chapter 131
Qiu Yan and Ren Yi went to the cafeteria first, while Gong Yingxian returned to the car to fetch his lunchbox.hYrOtauGEFtYpkVockdJMGVmQoSCHs
KdWUZJvllECfvBhBefore Qiu Yan could speak, Ren Yi started, “Captain Qiu, you don’t need to apologize to me. Like you said, you’re just doing your job and fulfilling your duties as a police officer. If I were in your position, I would also investigate thoroughly.”jLNDKQsCMtGjIoAkgUUdETsnawOvdA
ryeEJlnhuGOolvh“Thank you for understanding, but morally, I still feel guilty towards you. After all, you’ve really helped us a lot.” Qiu Yan lowered his head. “Rest assured, I will do my best to uncover the truth. The case has been progressing recently. Through the Seraph system, we’ve identified several domestic arsonists and will act at the right time. Regarding the unidentified charred corpse that Yingxian mentioned to you last time, after confirming his identity, we discovered that his money was fraudulently claimed after his death. We are currently investigating that as well.”ECLxMccJDcVvSnDfVSgGLVBfKTInDd
yKWtgmgNIKnKxGARen Yi nodded. “What about Bai Yan?”gyUkWuyIYMjwbcfuIqbkHcadUgrXkQ
hBwwTpcfOlmIvQb“Bai Yan has exceptional counter-investigation skills. The clues we’ve tracked down several times have been destroyed. There must be professionals within the organization covering Bai Yan’s tracks and hiding him. At present, we’ve increased the police force assigned to his pursuit and are monitoring the communication channels of individuals connected to him. He will definitely be caught.”KBZorxHWltEAFxRLlsoFLoFysPzLHd
oYIjSMaFsiHevmSIt had only been about a month since the bodies of Bai Chicheng’s wife and daughter were discovered in the foundation well of the abandoned amusement park. Ren Yi understood that catching criminals, especially those who are highly intelligent and premeditated, isn’t easy, but he couldn’t help feeling impatient.BZpFAbRPWXofzYLBcywoWlwjnJTOeH
TJyZnXdbNymCFHPAt the cafeteria, the two grabbed trays and queued for food. The Phoenix Squad had only about forty members, so their cafeteria served food on small tables, resembling a small restaurant. However, Hongwu Sub-Bureau had several hundred people, and as Ren Yi waited in line, he felt like he was back in his university days.vFEigxcITODPHeotpNLegrAyQWzmfH
abBILsIsDrotCBDAfter picking a corner table to sit down, Qiu Yan asked, “How’s the food in our cafeteria?”sJSVhEipqWHHDAUprzNpgIcOGtyKRB
VQMFJKilCzcRyWf“I think our squad’s food is better, but that’s probably because we have fewer people, so it’s easier to cook.”ksQdzIPnROMwzYhLuwhBagXTnVPdVL
oNYpcJjCJSQmSBsQiu Yan chuckled. “Then I’ll find time to come to your squad for a meal.”kOsKGzimuLhsWEHuCmNcYWfLqPqMyW
muVbIWYrlpSpTYi“Sure.”XFArBQDfGnhrNJCkeMTJKyKgEQlQFg
fyGShJLIKaZzEWF“This is your first time eating in our cafeteria, even though you’ve been to our bureau so many times?”PwcjJjwsiaexslpUAmOHcpIXeMeffs
oUHuWqRTenxcpKy“Yeah.”gcwAhkGVNziLhcgXrmPcizdEONcyEE
NqohfYVQmoskeLf“Yingxian never brought you to eat here before?”yMPvIHXrDnSkYQDbRPgGcyfqjBlcSp
QnyvBhAbAQaSTtJ“…We ate lunchboxes in his car.”RvSkWqXbalcznTtXlZPIbjfBITDufd
VHjpkbFcWZWVyUr“Oh, right,” Qiu Yan suddenly remembered something. “Sheng Bo mentioned that he makes two meals every day and leaves them in Yingxian’s car. One of them is prepared specifically for you.”LsERDJKwplFnynlTwhgTBqrFhGTgWG
FMMvLUQzBhKxUBzRen Yi fell silent. Images flooded his mind—countless times when the two of them ate together in Gong Yingxian’s black SUV. To be able to savor a simple meal box like a candlelit dinner, there must be genuine affection involved. When you’re with someone you truly love, everything feels wonderful, no matter how mundane.YOrKEeimXquVzqAhayqhGVIXQdEXha
spYftaHdmdVdxjCHe once thought of Gong Yingxian as an angel untouched by worldly concerns—though such a metaphor might make others cringe. Of course, Gong Yingxian had many flaws, ones that most people would find intolerable. Yet, in Ren Yi’s eyes, those flaws were forgivable, even endearing. For him, everything about Gong Yingxian was good. Even the bad parts became good as long as he thought so, and he accepted them wholeheartedly.PVRXDpNcPHKKZmieJFWsgkkpyWsDWx
xMmzppvZHFTlxEzTo be blinded by love to such an extent, it’s no wonder he failed to see certain truths.HEHMSSfJBIdSZggmWRpkvenkoBVNFl
OhTdFCICbAoTQcuQiu Yan noticed Ren Yi’s silence and forced a smile. “Honestly, I always suspected there might be issues between you two. I just didn’t expect the first problem to come from Yingxian.”ApfAwNVXlZYHPNJXVcItIQxjlHVkGI
iygtZiwLKcjOfhiRen Yi let out a bitter laugh. He wanted to snap back, asking if Qiu Yan had ever worried about him using his ‘adult experience’ to hurt Gong Yingxian. Now it was obvious that Gong Yingxian was the one exploiting him. Yet he kept his thoughts to himself; there was no need for Qiu Yan to bear this guilt.qvFteXfuecTSkkoWgIIRvfHtkMorWJ
aywqkoQDJsDdiFpQiu Yan carefully studied Ren Yi’s expression and said sincerely, “I understand your anger, and Yingxian is also very upset. I really don’t want to see you two like this. Is there anything I can do?”JtxnFfVAqLxHYvSZHmIPNwmhvtIwCo
TyHyPeZDbonlZUERen Yi knew Gong Yingxian would never reveal the true nature of their relationship to Qiu Yan. That also meant Qiu Yan couldn’t fully “understand” his anger. Shaking his head, Ren Yi replied, “Let us handle it ourselves.”CMmFSpZtlEdqWtBKXHAWBOAEOCcccg
lZxznzHxcrZHDpcQiu Yan sighed and gave Ren Yi a helpless look before falling silent.ckbHPtWNMcvfqiXctVmvZBlccMzEJy
ItKmnTJPQSDCCnfAfter a while, Gong Yingxian walked into the cafeteria. With his tall figure, long legs, and striking appearance, he naturally stood out wherever he went. Yet the reaction from the people in the cafeteria was particularly pronounced—one glance and everyone’s eyes were filled with astonishment as they turned to him.OTfNqckwiBjqgpaMXDGnuVxVrRQjUM
UfTKFtQxVVyHqWJRen Yi thought to himself, This must be Gong Yingxian’s first time showing up in a public cafeteria.apikNtDRySfyzgdLNUvvbziLmWgJdc
GDhqBTxrDhEyHciSure enough, a colleague teased him immediately. “Wow, Dr. Gong, how come you’re eating in the cafeteria today? Don’t you always avoid it?”idBYJuRTabvqdehQKycovaVGzZuQYy
oyTuszpyFenZktCGong Yingxian nodded politely but didn’t engage further. Instead, he walked straight to their table, placed two insulated lunchboxes on it, and sat down. He pushed one of the containers toward Ren Yi. “There’s braised pork and stir-fried lotus tips—your favorites.”nNiavRVlUiECqmnepFQzoAvAWcJygK
TupCvhItGTMjney“I don’t need it. I already have more than enough.” Ren Yi buried his head in his meal without looking up.ZGxEkuGdxzdFqnGQIAjvGYktRAMVtZ
yjWDumteFqFFVwpGong Yingxian’s face fell as he opened his own lunchbox, absentmindedly picking at the food. While eating, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Ren Yi.pcgMvgxdnUrjalSNsSsywLFdzKoBen
ZQteZNcJgNkoeTkSitting beside them, Qiu Yan felt unbearably awkward. She coughed lightly, stood up, and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”WTlHsnGfMGphTrNsNKiiVXPUolMUta
VZAlVidQZUQUPbNRen Yi, of course, knew Qiu Yan wasn’t truly leaving to use the restroom; she was trying to create an opportunity for him and Gong Yingxian to reconcile. However, at this moment, facing Gong Yingxian, Ren Yi felt only exhaustion—the kind that comes after burning anger fades and leaves behind emptiness.WNWAVIjuFezPCwzfurjcqgZNEkFjDr
ZnzZiLJAfneaQuOAfter Qiu Yan left, Gong Yingxian stole several more glances at Ren Yi, hesitating to speak multiple times before finally lowering his head in defeat. His whole demeanor radiated a silent sorrow.KmTsTVRQZgxKpRDBboaxNwHXGTWqdP
wxiFLUwNgikKYvGRen Yi also felt suffocated, as if the meal itself had lost all flavor, turning into a chore he couldn’t wait to finish.lblxQNyexxGOzNZpcZiXgkIzWUrCRI
jvCGIinZzytFvbkSuddenly, he felt something nudge his knee. At first, he thought it was accidental, but soon, Gong Yingxian nudged him again—lightly, slowly, almost tentatively. It felt like a mix of testing the waters and a quiet call for attention.YbQjwADPhdkCjmXabDNcTxpCWlBtSu
yTAiBMZaPtQCURmRen Yi shifted his leg back slightly, but the limited space under the table made it impossible to avoid Gong Yingxian’s long legs entirely.lWPBwIDmBlyAeJXbpKRwoXQIkDeWtx
SvfmpFiKBJpbYogClearing his throat, Ren Yi turned his body to the side, creating as much distance as he could.nMkIqQdCRGdaTLeUPqTgHkGmqqloUH
DGBXEHjIGYDTmXzNoticing this, Gong Yingxian dejectedly put down his chopsticks and hesitated before speaking. “The nursing home you chose doesn’t have the necessary medical certifications. There were even lawsuits in the past over elder abuse that were quietly settled with money. Also—”LJdtQCPnqYkXxXwYdTTQayInrBmprZ
SjsibPmWFtIksrR“He’s my father,” Ren Yi interrupted without looking up. “You don’t need to worry about it.”BOwBQwqyUDtkZGRMqroUrhxCAeBejJ
QDhaGcklHLYgZrFGong Yingxian pressed his lips together. “I promise I’ll never do something like that again. Bring the old captain back. There’s no place that can provide better care than we can.” His intention had always been to help Ren Yi, but after discovering Ren Xiangrong’s identity, things had spiraled out of control.kLckTPKBtCPkZOnelmuSuyahEfTSOo
iHmxjPXFXPUZFVS“I should never have accepted it in the first place,” Ren Yi said flatly. “We’re not related, and accepting such a gift from you is, frankly, borderline bribery. This nursing home is where my father should have gone in the first place. If he doesn’t do well there, I’ll find another place or hire a caregiver, but I won’t let you near him again.”RxxsZaypTPfmrzKXanClabIrBQAdQy
AIpvPeVdapjplOaGong Yingxian’s expression darkened. “And what about us? Are you going to keep treating me like this forever?”BSQpypedIdMgGTOpWQebEzNlHDfwoM
pwlQlPzzIwiXutvRen Yi took another bite of his food, then calmly set his chopsticks down. “I’m full. I’m leaving.” Grabbing his coat, he stood and walked away without looking back.pxGcywjdqyvLQWgOJByzOZxtSluhNi
FaBTYwvjJPVTaAYGong Yingxian’s fists slowly clenched, his expression darkening visibly as if the temperature around him had dropped several degrees. He abruptly stood as well, taking a few steps after Ren Yi. But staring at Ren Yi’s resolute back, he suddenly lost the courage to continue.TOWeZgIiQDcPibadajhyqpFZlvOPWN
mHZSpIrUculXRHuHe had never experienced anything like this before. He had never bowed his head to anyone. Now, he felt panicked, confused, and utterly at a loss. He didn’t know how to handle Ren Yi’s repeated rejection and coldness. He couldn’t stand the way Ren Yi looked at him with indifference. He couldn’t bear the growing distance between them. That unrelenting turn of Ren Yi’s back took all of his joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness with it, leaving him hollow, as though he had lost everything.qAQAJTjIxgxltvgUFNZrqIEfOuQgAW
gcnoftvgsGgVrBNRen Yi wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. What was he supposed to do now?!gRmSQELpkfRKKihthOcmLgQajbsPvS
ssJVWdMhrUtUwju***AAZLJDOPJMesqVXhONVWtvQrwZseAk
sWrMPkFpzgLAIVSThe words Gong Yingxian said that day did worry Ren Yi quite a bit. As a result, he started calling his father every day to check how he was adjusting to the new place. Each time, he received reassuring answers that put his mind at ease.CQHjkRdmJjYNSHiAJKjFWwTFxXTwZt
ICDPnhmVQQJGDOMAfter a few days of calming down, Ren Yi began to reconsider his relationship with Gong Yingxian. He still couldn’t get over what Gong Yingxian had done, yet every time he saw the other man looking dejected or anxious, his heart ached involuntarily. He realized that, even at this point, he instinctively didn’t want Gong Yingxian to feel hurt.oDcFhXHoBGFkMXkAKGLmaavQZjuYxE
PXRiSQaPgFylCYvWhile he despised himself for it, he struggled to figure out how to continue working with Gong Yingxian and, beyond that, what the future of their relationship might look like.xMudDjqaQJNOiUzpNCkysoDibhlYae
bVynGALMhGKpwLgThe only contact between the two in recent days came when Gong Yingxian asked him to use the official account to post some cautionary cases urging minors to pay attention to fire safety, hoping to provoke Fang Zhixu.gdpZGxLyDnBbGIpKwzcqnbaIMgJyrI
tIfbNnvwhimULUkRen Yi complied, and it didn’t take long for the plan to work. One Friday afternoon, Fang Zhixu appeared at the Phoenix Squad headquarters.UzvOAxrtrRvfhgnKXFUUtzuAmqtVmz
uznjdGaunjyzOUBFang Zhixu was dressed casually, carrying a large backpack. Judging by how the bag sagged, it was clearly stuffed with books.SEYJiimBSjlodixAUBsHffhaGyEbwU
buUEKqnpuYyZrHZRen Yi frowned as he looked at him. “What are you doing here at the squad?”qobGrLmUijMUPKcKaVvydOxeoxAjlv
WtFGjeWMzUtaGeb“I just finished tutoring class and happened to pass by.” Fang Zhixu ran a hand through his hair, glancing around the reception room. “Doesn’t seem to have changed much since I came two years ago.”sTFmRWaFPMSMZyUenWGrgFaqOUPFIp
LkYnVNZTmaxLnsX“What kind of changes would a reception room have?” Ren Yi said, “Take a seat. Want something to drink? We’ve got Coke and milk.”OgdZNRcehZQavZnCORxoUVnmQyNGBH
jHkrBryFxsfLWVD“No.” Fang Zhixu clearly didn’t like being treated like a child. He deliberately sprawled out on the couch, trying to take up more space.wtaLYoxkCsWNyCXaAtbNCVBUpGwJus
BZohZZJEYlztZsXRen Yi asked, “You taking the college entrance exam this year? How are your grades? Which school do you want to get into?”xyYnjPStINYIJhAVtXhphBRujHoEoH
AHMpaYEQsHuafrb“Not bad. Should be able to get into a first-tier school.” Fang Zhixu pouted. “As long as I can get it over with, it’s fine.”CdJnTXCPmAYTHVWYxXcKUsbaxvbSAb
WGHipfSGIzIwTna“Get it over with for who? Your parents?”UdxVevGvLhIVIXFydkHYhDZTnXqrrw
coDApowaHQpaGbP“Who else?” Fang Zhixu’s tone was already full of disdain.AvkmbWtCBCTvdZlKdLoCrpidxrWJdH
QzHtkPDicJpleOq“This is for yourself. You should study hard. What were you doing at a place like that in the middle of the night?”XfGVVuelHMkgDPkjodpgbwLVonozzo
eQEtOHspoOejzpGFang Zhixu stared at Ren Yi unblinkingly. “Do you really want to know?”gKRATqKPIIEsBziovjwcxabUIaoGLU
xtGYhViUenFRdxSRen Yi chuckled. “Don’t try to act mysterious. If you have something to say, just say it. Adults are really busy.”SFsOYZqneziEGtRcxtVJOFgbADHiiD
RSTobpHQlmMtiUoFang Zhixu crossed his legs. “If I tell you, will you report it to the police?”OafyWcGekGPRbiwwaQrLtXfyUYgpaM
QHcKUrhWaOSeuTD“If the information is useful, of course, I’ll tell the police. I’m supposed to cooperate with them on the case.”UetEqzYdOXUDvYgzoBXevKHtwOOEYo
NVVweDwniGsYGnn“Then why should I tell you?” Fang Zhixu said coldly.ptzvVHouZYQcpZhdJPxkwEMiUtTxNh
pguVFskJuvBhFiv“Then why are you here?”ICGFEghOcCTArmSzjhoOxKrFqJuBym
jePZlCForuwuOalFang Zhixu squinted. “You’re different from what I imagined.”UAGRlobzmwzWaHKVjsdwlvbToNGMSO
lsrczWhZvcKiFTCRen Yi shook his head with a laugh. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”CfPemFQoGhJDGghrFQjgLrVgnlZSNG
bLBCYvnFViTzfFR“Why did Squad Leader Sun sacrifice himself back then?” Fang Zhixu asked, fixing his gaze on Ren Yi. “The news reports were so vague.”dgRBEWISSNqwUyiICKbXbOnnYNQcSa
vXKercNUOUJsKJCRen Yi’s face darkened slightly. “Why are you asking about this?”AjqAuQiLdrtgcxMvGhixlySmrwyCCv
QOfupyoXmRMMVlr“I just want to know. Is that not allowed?” Fang Zhixu stared at him intensely. “I want to know how a hero fell. Was it to save a little boy? How did he save him? Why did it have to be him who died? What did he say before he died? Did he—”YXPlJdKSqHqwwEYUgolMLVbNYthHnB
cqMXbIWoIuqFBML“Shut up!” Ren Yi roared, his eyes blazing. “Get out, or I’ll throw you out myself.”PqAcQiaFshVQxBpOCRoDglYLGpgcVb
tqgbMgtiYRxkcFSFang Zhixu retorted indignantly, “Why? I just want to know what happened. Why did Squad Leader Sun die and not you?”UytTTwHOFFjJASbqiAtSEZsaXcweDQ
zWyEjOuKRLsWKNfRen Yi abruptly stood up from the couch, took a few quick steps to Fang Zhixu, grabbed him by the collar, and hoisted him up.zvFPwTWmvUMqAViELecCghlwEWGihD
GGlPQuHEXqtYTvpFang Zhixu’s chest rose and fell violently. He looked up at Ren Yi with a gaze that held both fear and an odd excitement.ShRnudKmCkRImRpDmhELIHRuaERcqH
BKhfFUCbTTqbupJRen Yi said coldly, “Get out.”pkyEOivTFNGaFXQvEnXnclwWWUaLEU
jFYJRTFgNJaDowr“I’ll trade you,” Fang Zhixu said with a twisted smile. “You tell me how Squad Leader Sun died, and I’ll tell you what I saw at Wenhui Mall.”ERiRLRCunCHCTRVlyzQmLmwjWdPxYl
altjCclafHHOaPv“You little punk, do you think you’re clever enough to play games with adults?”VaMoNEsNMzUyHshaMqgaHQgRwhLBiO
uxMOFjtOdGFShyY“I’m not playing games. I really saw something important—and I even took something with me.”ccRMahArmCxmORKVlrIFmlDHwNQJcW
IAqEyOSUyPibFqm“…What did you take?” Ren Yi let go of him, glaring. “Give me a hint, or I won’t believe you.”yHBoHLlXpAWxkPcCrvomvLkMvooJLW
tFeNOYYIBAkjVLfFang Zhixu smirked. “The fire’s starting time you’ve determined was fabricated. What I took can help you confirm a critical timeline and might even lead you to the culprit.”qYfnRzTRXVVQokMkRIgEbwPCdCuago
sRVstjNKnGezBRf“How do you know these things?” Ren Yi gritted his teeth.TeaXxMRjBlAIsSGqbKMSpmpjZGHCgj
YcWrIJdGKfMROUK“I can’t tell you that. So, what’s it going to be? A trade?” Fang Zhixu grinned broadly.DRDDwPgQBkrCnEhZtywcWkKkdGtOYP
KvYYgYDDWqVptlqRen Yi stared icily at Fang Zhixu. “…Fine. I’ll tell you.”SJaikfKnelKVPhAkvDnFxpMmtqpeHS
YDWxESxVaCAYCpWXlyeDgfeXZcnMczIzqjZrwvSwtYvPt