Chapter 50
Ren Yi returned to the mall, noticing everyone was looking for Gao Ge. He asked, “Are you sure there’s no one in the equipment room?”SEjiSQxwwOWKvvmxkFDesHyGCSbVec
SVIVztQHmEDBZQA“No one, we’ve all checked.”PJceHmxxIKikfjFHewTcJvOlgMkPRv
vIhelJJLmkZJxVl“Who was the last to see him?”ILUngQvnwCdhSQCkXQpUbURIGMJaMY
VvZhlLrxuebEnXJEveryone looked at each other in confusion.EhRoQXMMSABBLNWeJkTAvXGrelJWNV
ogMNpjURSyJtXbASun Dingyi said anxiously, “Maybe… it was us.”SnWRqEDfEECuCuepjSwjtqsAkPFMjF
ncNVnOWqUTIjNrU“What about his alarm? Did it go off?”ScYtZJIBrMkEWRiLjQCzMuFGTpTvqT
xyXQEHShFLoqPCcEach firefighter carries an alarm that detects if the wearer has fallen. If they remain down for more than 20 seconds, it emits a loud alarm. Although the scene was noisy, that sound would have been impossible to miss.TeBHrplNmfvBEtUGlTPXbcwySrtdqr
OigeVZtWVJmPMaA“No one heard it.”viYUxORNyFLLWrDRhJqiomGQZBQoTw
PAGHtnakKZBxUHqRen Yi was momentarily stunned. How could a living person just vanish into thin air?! He took a deep breath and said, “Let’s go over it again. You, me, and Gao Ge were originally spraying, then the next shift took over. Who was next?”cZBTQOMewnssMzNpuhcJsBalzdUvOY
wPxsNCrdvMYjnFm“It was us,” Liu Hui said, pointing to himself and two others. “The three of us.”MmiEvFCwPGlRHikguxfeByYzZRvpVN
BpXBCBdhMihhrpd“When we came out, Gao Ge was behind us. Did anyone see where he went?”wjjvKlrbKXREQncYhcQHHMWQVuJGxt
QXPgFYKXVlXWSpvLiu Hui and his team exchanged puzzled glances. “It seems… no one saw him.”rZgOeDJBwzDLajPTiYYDPAnrjWLiMv
KLpqsSTbTJwkUGY“How could no one have seen him?” Sun Dingyi shouted. “It’s such a small space with only one door. He’s not inside, and no one saw him leave. Where could he have gone? Fallen into a rat hole?”TUYXRSBeSxWsPfdDSpBDhvLfstDkLN
OCVujndxKwcjzOH“Ah!” A middle-aged man nearby suddenly cried out.kcBbIskiNvgFAiroILcYpsOhnHinFO
gsyUPRkzaMgeSCnThe soldiers all turned to look at him.rLEUYPSXOqstyPzffDRxBwjNKwlbQj
dQSjhWmKwxZhdBr“There really is a hole in the equipment room!” the man said urgently. “It’s for checking the underground water and electrical systems, usually covered by an iron plate. The plate must’ve melted from the heat.”xbPgokirUUMgvEiqQYPFfSrtJRrFsQ
CAdCyzcNvMduefERen Yi asked quickly, “Where is it? How deep?”vPeUpmsgLlSYkjjJdwjLCDqtgiWePg
cxMBpsBJdwVzFbMThe man described the approximate location, and the group rushed in. To prevent anyone else from falling, they tied themselves with ropes and crouched as they searched. The equipment room was filled with mist, making visibility extremely low. The light from Ren Yi’s helmet cast a shadow on the ground, and when he tugged the rope and moved closer, he indeed found a hole. He shouted, “Gao Ge! Gao Ge!”AyBUTRzVpugsJyDMJWyiDVLXFEgike
EzuNGEqlnQIcDSwThere was no response, but they could see a blurry figure below.bxgWKAhUGLLWobzxApUTxqhRUxTMie
VqQvUrjVtxLNXAeRen Yi climbed down the ladder.tAglPHWjyDxVowmHtfldlXTkRwhwCH
khrLsqsQoMxyZMASince smoke is lighter than air, it tends to rise, so the smoke wasn’t as thick underground. Ren Yi saw that Gao Ge’s air bottle had gotten caught on the ladder, and he was slumped in a half-crouch, unconscious. It looked like he had hit his head on the ladder when he fell.TiSCXUxXDSoAhhsHVZqUjhgjBQfNku
RfByjzRMNVROUJFRen Yi checked Gao Ge’s pulse and breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at the air gauge on Gao Ge’s breathing apparatus; a red light was flashing, indicating that the air supply was critically low.XhnKWlkLGIsPsjtapdkHtHyqKePamG
sgjtMnnCAkWmhIURen Yi attached the rope’s carabiner to Gao Ge’s belt and tugged the rope. The people above pulled Gao Ge up.hhLXAJSaDPeMwNFSiQFGIrybSKQTLh
MScNaXvFEWjWjUkOnce outside, Gao Ge was laid down and his mask was removed. His skin was an abnormal flush of red, his body drenched as if he’d just been pulled out of water, soaked in sweat, and his breathing was short and labored.PNCroEQfkxmCPTNhMwvjbPulryzlWL
tWtvWXAdOlwWqWN“Get his clothes off first. Has the ambulance arrived?” Ren Yi asked.qBbpJQiTQTDSXuTpNWFperwnvnpAfS
iiOqfsurqYsyXLf“It should be here any minute.”LvXghLTHEbifsVGqFDVNMjusnrpOfo
nNmwPwHymDYswJtThey quickly stripped off Gao Ge’s heavy firefighting gear, propping his neck up to help him breathe more easily. His skin was burning hot to the touch, so they used water to cool him down.sfUbkryoOgbeZRbFoejzhsfGigXgNE
cskwcEBJyLdbeVQBefore the ambulance arrived, Gao Ge regained a bit of consciousness, his voice hoarse as he asked for water.ZGQTgmNBmgYlsbOGEnAwAYSNipXmYH
lxUpnCxAZvxvXDiRen Yi sat beside Gao Ge, giving him some water, his heart still pounding from the scare. “Brother, you almost gave me a heart attack,” he said, the fear still lingering in his voice. If they had found him any later, the consequences could have been disastrous. The thought of what could have happened left him shaken.RbrhumHKZRTlNGDikpxxMceoHdGzJX
zaVqvZFXOHRuLmyFire scenes are full of unexpected dangers. No matter how cautious they are, some accidents are simply unavoidable, leaving them feeling powerless.ZQXIwZcCewmoIaUzXIcBDcukkNGUmO
aHhfnvdTaOnzgSO“The ambulance is here.”ujJeNwamxjvHgrgYErojsEnlIxGhJo
EaQCkhvZOhhqQxPThey loaded Gao Ge into the ambulance, and the soldiers rushed back to continue fighting the fire.odArGdmJhIVmEwciDkIzgjsgiAvhvu
UtqjYbIBuDPHkBUFrom noon until evening, a full seven hours, they worked non-stop until the fire was finally extinguished. During that time, they took turns going in to spray water, then came out to eat boxed meals by the roadside, each person changing their air bottle at least three times.bIuRnoTNnHOKtteIFUXjcXWCvWAyoV
OkurwpYdgnCrUtfWhen the fire was finally put out, the soldiers were so exhausted they could barely stand. Even in the chilly autumn night, with temperatures under ten degrees, they lay on the ground without feeling cold. The high-temperature steam from the equipment room seemed to have seeped into every pore, lingering in their bodies.tUhrbnRXLQCtWYxpQThSkfflmQTZfP
XCLMDfxwIWfaMMaOn the way back to the station, Ren Yi had the fire truck take a detour to drop him and Sun Dingyi off at Hongwu Hospital.lGGSKHYSLAHofmQZaFMQCKiQZqiCRW
IxpTyrESqvCTQFeGao Ge had just finished his examination and was resting in the ward. He had already woken up, diagnosed with a moderate concussion and varying degrees of burns, none of them serious, but he would need to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days.ZtDCRfUgZXEZKDTNKjfRYDvhmlgJst
jewnoVjnNDBqBclWhen they entered the room, Gao Ge was video chatting with his wife and daughter. Seeing them come in, he turned the phone toward them. “Sweetie, this is Uncle Ren and Uncle Sun. Say hi.”fLphkOCNLBODbLOEiHUBZisdXQcHVr
uLDxHeMBwpkkGou“Hello, uncles,” the little girl greeted politely.fQJhnSBgFGKjvZyzxZcGtpQUrYVusp
TLgICuEOxkVWrmeRen Yi and Sun Dingyi both knew Gao Ge’s wife. Though she and their daughter didn’t live in Beijing, they had visited the station twice for New Year’s.lNkMHPOyBojHfZWzlRliAYICoaDhaH
NajGmMJSFLMLBFYAfter a few more words with his family, Gao Ge ended the call. “Is the fire out?”yBHphQIyoifyWdgJjAeipDLmvZQnYd
uBVuRMoMzQRbUJK“If it wasn’t, do you think we’d be here?” Sun Dingyi wiped his dirt-covered face. “How’s it feel, lounging around in an air-conditioned room?”GIOKPaOsMwBgmZZecNuKsuOTBXPzoj
PDjigdazRyditAq“Couldn’t be better,” Gao Ge replied with a playful smirk. “Bet you’re jealous.”FkHIfWOspeXdTvJkaChoShDDJbYxiE
BTgbPvazhCABTjBRen Yi laughed and scolded, “Cut the nonsense. How are you feeling now?”joJNXdojQphhmTBnXrlyLqPsgmHtBb
lIoHJzIzwSCYkLi“Sore and a bit dizzy, but nothing serious,” Gao Ge said, confused. “I still don’t understand what happened, though.”jMLuOjCqSLjqjzWMNxEVplalTsKzjv
MIoOvOfrpLhKrlNSun Dingyi explained, “Turns out the equipment room had a maintenance hatch with a ladder leading to the lower level. There used to be an iron plate covering it, but it got melted by the heat.”WLcniNuYHdIMtYeobZgaHIDmfoBHcw
VCNZZJFIXqEdXlT“Shit…” Gao Ge sighed, “You really couldn’t see a damn thing in there.”DItNLsxWSOwwQKWvOmykofYzrgERBh
uZlAEKicpWolMCI“Yeah, we searched for you for ages. You seemed to have just vanished into thin air. If it weren’t for that electrician who remembered…” Ren Yi said gravely, “Your air was about to run out. That was dangerously close.”oHDbJJDzpBfRksrrNkDkdWZTOqjkDg
zvZUTWmVwXgBfEbGao Ge let out a loud, exaggerated laugh to lighten the mood, trying to reassure them, “Guess I’m destined for some good luck after surviving this.”IdCEQKpFEnmyonXVEDTBbEKQeCawpi
NIGgmwnAbMmvspx“We just came to check on you. Since you’re okay, we’ll head back now. Rest up for a few days, maybe bring your wife and kid over and spend some time together.”pRRNqjqSWTSoETyjtKeoeURPOxoPoq
umVZNwMNUscANIfGao Ge nodded, “My wife already bought a ticket for tomorrow.”XexmzAMJOqVQSgrnANCPafneIqgZcJ
uhgoKxtUHHCNkXWAs the two left the hospital room, Ren Yi suddenly felt a sharp, burning pain on his neck, making him hiss in discomfort.cyuOMjHolTGWrIkrHfZgwWRFDRCYVg
pCsVoneuvdxLnuU“What’s wrong?” Sun Dingyi asked.AYWpXtBeZEITqUmCkBLmOABhVuYSuP
kLTzaVDJmEXdYAH“Take a look at my neck.”VUJKQrqgXJLxEOPABFOjrkyZPudtmy
GnhcEXUEWdKbFcqSun Dingyi lifted Ren Yi’s collar and frowned, “You’ve got some blisters. Did you not fasten your collar properly?”EKScIDArpvhrmPlYwAqBNRyxLivgdQ
TurIsiqJKIYsPuERen Yi recalled that earlier, he had opened his collar to cool off while outside, and when he heard about Gao Ge’s disappearance, he rushed back without bothering to fix it.OFgnzCztDHXTyuGgrxAErOwXOYzBsD
nxPSxxfwsrzjfPyThe collar is one of the weaker areas of their protective gear. Despite all the safeguards in place, it’s still the part that connects to exposed skin. The neck and above rely on the hood for protection, but it can never be completely airtight. As a result, it’s the area that bears the brunt of heat radiation.rMJtRmwnbaDewlfhiLVPhrAgZrQmfT
RSMelLsCPnrVWExSince Ren Yi hadn’t fastened his collar, the high-temperature steam had scalded his neck.CNolBHoHgKmCAbSVuQvWGyaDeJTqOh
KRrRzEYrsqFPNOk“Let’s get it treated,” Sun Dingyi suggested.MIpimfDMrySkgWTNAWrbgEdayerwrj
sPvdrFFRxRXZeaz“I’ll take care of it myself. You should go back to the station and get some rest,” Ren Yi replied.XAlWDBgAeiLHcBMmTmpknjCENWWcah
sqytcePqPBYBxZe“It’s only going to take a few minutes. Let’s go.”mBttWlPeIkyYFWRwTnrGqjhTlwTbZY
mmGANXNRyCSGMigThey found a nurse, and when Ren Yi took off his shirt, they saw several bright red blisters on his neck, each about the size of a quail egg, with one already rubbed raw by his collar.qebDjPolLasrRZQulfRDeTIQMreIgA
BNHYZdUXqGlbvrz“You didn’t feel that?” the nurse scolded. “It’s already rubbed open—it could easily get infected.”CfCgumQqWvklatXrLwQYWfncEhpqNo
ZIUdzpbOzzsLYdrRen Yi gave a wry smile. “I was so hot earlier, everything hurt. I didn’t notice.”katUBicTlbSHMmOrguVtpAhmQbpRmT
JxSSsJXlMwsvjEVThe nurse began treating his burns.gRubvUEITlkcRukNPjYjrgwIWlIjhV
ztuHDsAwZswsJmrSun Dingyi stood nearby, watching as the nurse pricked the blisters, allowing a large amount of fluid to drain out. Ren Yi grimaced but stayed silent. Seeing this, Sun Dingyi couldn’t take it anymore. “I’ll go get you some medicine,” he said, turning away.vAFVYoNoneynbkbQjTSdzyuctUPYpl
DodQHmOqpCumzHD“Okay,” Ren Yi replied.XyGzanOBDtlUnEwYZFuGHHPyhHeuHd
IzAzSCiJzimfnYgAfter a while, Sun Dingyi came back with the medicine. “Ren, I just saw Dr. Gong.”rgrFgXNdRhVWkmTYdDXoAXFHhnwAtY
huqjOmZuvqFyDndRen Yi’s head shot up. “Where?”FIbOIUuAyNvHRaykbgBOmpPZVDRCyE
vCHhjYQdXOIefiZThe sudden movement caused the nurse’s needle to prick his back, making him yelp in pain. The nurse pressed down on him, “Stay still, will you?”SFrshmacbXZoKKgJfbGriyXSoiTOCZ
uIBCVjsbvjlUxDhRen Yi looked at Sun Dingyi anxiously. “Where? Are you sure it’s him?”uDZkBjdjoAmpsTsqWLsGwPhtazoxuu
xyXGrdXojPjHfvW“That ethereal face of his? How could I mistake it? He’s right outside, seems like he’s escorting a prisoner.” Sun Dingyi said. “I’ll go get him.”IYClkMpAhjAYnWtLtxNisjtlYiYlnV
RLxPtqvrtwIRaua“Wait, no—” Ren Yi tried to stop him, but Sun Dingyi had already gone.bvApZUSHzetrZvsoLbIHBAdxUythXs
nhbgGtIMHPdUOjcRen Yi wanted to see Gong Yingxian, but in his current state—dirty, sweaty, and covered in soot—it was hardly the best time for a reunion.XyaRyeVfiEVgLhCqfjkrekRgnbrPEm
AqmeTtcLpJkVuqJIn no time, Gong Yingxian entered with Sun Dingyi. When he saw Ren Yi, he froze. Ren Yi was sitting there in a soaked blue shirt, the straps of his protective pants still hanging from his shoulders. His face and body were smeared with black soot, and there was a red burn on his neck. The stark contrast between his disheveled appearance and the pristine white clinic made his exhaustion and survival struggle all the more evident.jveVjfzOIaXlYNWomfAmIfEdbyoWAC
jepfsZPddmdmyHCGong Yingxian’s heart clenched as he quickly walked over. “You’re hurt? What happened to your neck?”omyvYQcyMfHwmLyNEGbkXuOtYQdfxy
YTLZJhTzSBlYOrIRen Yi waved it off nonchalantly. “Just came back from an emergency. It’s nothing, just a minor burn.”iExAGVjMHYeonwDAPrLbslYJcVgtaW
vdJjaTWXGyGCZwZGong Yingxian’s eyes lingered on the blisters on Ren Yi’s neck, his brow furrowed in concern. After a long pause, he finally asked, “It must hurt, doesn’t it?”WXNuymSIvzJhQPTnObXYmJXjrLYBsT
ZkXoEfbPKRETmCQ“I’m fine. The nurse is really gentle,” Ren Yi teased, blinking at him. “It’s just a few blisters; they’ll be gone in a couple of days.”ppNVHfhEwtIYbEveZcAytlpFZXiDiq
DxTwbiuFYiOAnnnThe nurse finished applying the medication and advised, “Captain Ren, the one that’s already burst is tricky, but try to protect the others. Keep them from rubbing or getting wet, that way the scars will fade quicker.”EgSiXcfLHQVmNQzJoPGjEcPqPDziSe
lfrCeLdaDuJDMwx“Got it, thanks.” Ren Yi stood up and asked, “What brings you to the hospital? Zhou Chuan?”hEWLfgmAztLlJwWJyxKBBSyjULutps
maJNtQnvFnfyHOIGong Yingxian nodded, still eyeing Ren Yi’s burns. “Zhou Chuan is being discharged today.”AIeEcFrVRgEMNtmjeesYFJnFfFWuCv
NEuxqMUakVdQhqq“That’s great! Finally, we can lock that bastard up,” Ren Yi said. “How’s the interrogation going with the others?”coFgVHaaNDcfWGJPPzwbelPwxhZtTD
HMhJtNsSluzWPEt“There’s been significant progress,” Gong Yingxian replied. “I’ll drive you both back to the station, and we can talk more once you’re better.”jRLZJDOVNNnWMCfBdLRXMHWhubwICq
lVyeTglosEbCHYU“It’s just a burn, it’s not like it’s stopping me from doing anything.”fmYisMufEOFraaKqXYzBHrgDsKOiSr
HvwQiumRnhFDpbU“Let’s go,” Gong Yingxian insisted.yjFYdZlzkJVBFsMNgUIyPAoFGJlrdn
VizLLBYbykEKnWpRen Yi hesitated, “We’re both filthy. How can we sit in your car like this?”HUPgvSUUwdyWDyzXAJYPQZpPODBelD
FupjrmFervClUxR“I didn’t drive. I came in a police car.”EjVSJdHhdQHwWduwKeIfAoKepfALuP
AceKdAkTfEPTeoQSun Dingyi rubbed his hands together excitedly, “Wow, I’ve never ridden in a police car before.”KKvkqDyyPAaQqldsqmaOwkUAikbSGO
EtHsRVzNQAwZubZRen Yi smirked, teasing, “Want the full experience? He’s got handcuffs.”YjfPKGbbHMlKvBWrSwULCqxKjwMcnL
rgNzamOcNqXqvNc“I’ll pass on that.”WJufVdeXYKHWeJoFkAWPiZzgKJAOEn
HufjSuMIGgWECRfThey got into the car, and Ren Yi and Gong Yingxian sat in the back seat. Ren Yi shifted to the side, trying not to dirty Gong Yingxian. Gong Yingxian gave him a sidelong glance. “Stop squirming. What, are you going to ride on the roof?”dIOGjqXEeQGmvzgsTMZFdRGnAdTfSi
PhAhTPswMtvXbxyRen Yi chuckled, “I’m just afraid you’ll have one of your episodes.”JUVDVaducjjtGYTpjKgAqpygTxGjhe
VYMHFtIHKgVRwcx“You… I can tolerate, barely,” Gong Yingxian said softly.YHcoCHMtobNQtnpXGXkomGuDRLCyul
cygqoQhzLgynTSjRen Yi smiled knowingly.ICgDSVUghQoPTxJOrAMWoqCSgjQLZJ
nOtfruksuSlXojoThe police car dropped them off at the station, and Ren Yi, a bit hopeful, asked, “Want to come in for a bit? If you’re not in a rush to get back to the bureau…”EZmUqjJVajnGZWBfbHEJwIYNZCwyGf
FJELxZULEvCXJWz“Sure,” Gong Yingxian agreed.HuzDLbJjwMKLoabujVNEcuPNTTGjPH
eowvceXbGxNGTguInside the station, the soldiers immediately asked about Gao Ge’s condition. Upon hearing that he was fine, they turned their attention to Ren Yi’s injury. After a round of explanations, Ren Yi led Gong Yingxian to his dorm.OTVVQCThfTxfWSZmrhEycmtdrWnydn
UDzMOPIbdTrCJpSAt their station, only the captain and the political instructor had single dorm rooms. Though simply decorated, Ren Yi’s room had a bedroom, a bathroom, and an office.TzgtfKzbdQYCRZOZqoPmDwrmuQfTGz
EbCPVQnNkyXTREjGong Yingxian stood inside, taking in the surroundings. Though he had visited Phoenix Squad before, it was his first time in Ren Yi’s room. Compared to Ren Yi’s house, which he hadn’t lived in for years, this place felt more lived-in, more like… Ren Yi.PDUqtUFiziJUXBhfIHPYzKvQVjMulR
UNmJIFNdfVFNlGm“Want some water?” Ren Yi suddenly felt a little nervous, like a boy inviting a girl to his dorm for the first time, worrying it wasn’t clean enough.tpuThEvIsGQRIskPpzFsgbDEEbzMsk
UmsNQMvjQQuyMVB“No, thanks.”FldNdGAsLgxSZXvKWXkHYREwHZRTzg
SyemNVCPTQRgJVV“Okay, just sit for a bit. I’m going to grab a shower.” Ren Yi then remembered the burn on his neck. The nurse had just reminded him not to get it wet, but he couldn’t even see it himself. He clicked his tongue in frustration, muttering, “How am I supposed to shower like this?”ggjWIIcnvWEetIaSpGJiyepPcbiUgx
LFZgYvgYOuljAgd“I’ll help you,” Gong Yingxian offered.mtVVpurcuSnWLCLEvTNQCihNplCczM
BRnVkJNneUZBSXXRen Yi froze, his eyes widening in surprise, not daring to turn his head.WvdkspZVhswStFeFmCdxpnTOTibAhT
MmEQgMBaeKXRSYHPnLcHskCGkfyRJtFOQDFcdGghyQSrd