Chapter 8
At the moment of the explosion, two battle-hardened soldiers leapt out of a second-story window, with tongues of fire and fragments of the explosion chasing their backs. They tumbled to the ground, rolling for over ten meters with their heads covered.jAJfSOcWCtwkWthopvjbWwoGBcOQfn
QjKmOlnBiYxqyFsThe crowd rushed over, slapping out the sparks on their bodies. One of them had broken a leg and was howling in agony.PCoMjcgmkwbWWbfbhgNoBHFQiRSVtx
gaojkBXoRScoOUb“Where are the others?” Xu Jin asked anxiously.CwItMpKxTeJVgnnvjhUzAKLvasklIq
SrEEMAzisnbQjyw“Captain Wang… Captain Wang took the others down the ladder on the other side.”GlTpQfbutyLGIBZeRhtHRyetAsxwSC
RZidNeAxnTkvtOPJust then, Wang Meng and two other soldiers emerged from behind the building, carrying an injured person. Their faces were blackened, and they were in a terrible state.SNyFfKeZBKPCVAWxGievJSorGgfziu
CDuvSmCtqmIFimYThe crowd felt a wave of relief.rDvlVjUDVkJCwpObxSLPjfhEhtVOvz
GaxLQjbgxAqFQjzSuddenly, Gao Ge’s voice rang out: “The fire’s spreading, the hotpot restaurant won’t hold for much longer.”lGmEFlUmbEMAKodRfdJbxUCGqtKnkv
crNFnBolDJiZrBMXu Jin gave the order: “Deploy the water cannons on the east side to stop the fire from spreading. Each of the three teams will deploy two water hoses and attack from the west, south, and north. We need to surround the fire.”IntrNOFcLpNCWRtqWIsCSSpIlqATYs
IwDPuzZztJSwtSC“Yes, sir!”WnrIZGDcXVQZnRUxlgbujUOoVlWeKA
ELjJeIhNJJjmQVIThe bar had already exploded. Whether or not there were still survivors inside, they could no longer enter.dfYInASpuRyAYTcZQxRHcxynJEPGCL
sxLGIxGvDSnzaLpWhen a building catches fire, you can’t always spray water directly onto it. The first priority in firefighting is to rescue people and control the blaze. Controlling the fire means stopping its spread and preventing the burned area from expanding. It’s like a table catching fire—if the table is beyond saving, you need to cool the nearby chair with water first, or else you’ll lose both the table and the chair.RaehyxpCBcidNCiCqRibNBTESxBEYo
AQxQIXLMFSfvTBRIf people are trapped inside, rescuing them comes first. A small amount of water can be used to cool things down, clear a path, or provide cover, but large amounts of water can’t be sprayed because, unless the water can extinguish the fire quickly, the heat will turn the area into a steamy furnace, reaching hundreds of degrees. Even with protective gear, it’s hard to survive in such an environment. Moreover, fires usually cause the steel structure to deform, and spraying water can exacerbate that by causing thermal expansion and contraction. The weight of the water can also increase the load on the floors, raising the risk of collapse.SRZWnjIFunhMKWRddmLgBREfGpfngm
yefTlAZkqCkrtoaWhen the water cannons and hoses are fully deployed, it usually means the commander has determined that there are no survivors left inside, or even if there are, they can’t be rescued.gVHwhsbjUvTqzYbDfBZdhLkhxvPIOa
YkIEHyzDRlEWHAcInjured civilians and firefighters were gradually taken away by ambulances. A group of battle-hardened soldiers, covered in ash, stood silently in front of the bar, watching the streams of water shoot into the inferno. They watched as the fire and water fought furiously, battling each other, the fire overpowering the water at times, the water extinguishing the flames at others, struggling, entangled, locked in combat.hsveCINrVbNbYDILWRoOCbWlfbujzA
ULkXPPnwahKQOHFThey didn’t know how many bodies they’d find inside, or whether anyone would miraculously survive.UgdgOpAthvuLJSdzWJodABUmRSYVPL
RmacIEHKiwUmLnfThose who had come to the bar tonight were here to relax and celebrate. They expected to leave with joy and laughter. Who could have imagined that this place would become the final resting spot for some and a lifelong nightmare for others?vMPmILcagaDacFfINXWDrmuTFEpBdD
fyQtNYtczKTCDSbTwo hours later, the fire was finally extinguished.HSiukzoQXtsuSLSfvTQsViTjnoetOn
eWBRIOreYdeACeLXu Jin spent another ten minutes inspecting the outer walls, assessing that there was no immediate risk of collapse before allowing the team to re-enter the building with hoses to extinguish any remaining flames, check for hidden fires, and search for possible survivors or recover the bodies of the deceased.cnfJWNxupQqAgdXSaRjVtMIqzfeEHG
lweSppzdmnnMpkABy dawn, they had retrieved 27 bodies from the rubble, laying them in rows on the ground, awaiting the medical department to handle them.dCsaKZtklaaZcvaBoRTiXcHZHiVbZO
HLCzddwJYWTfnjvMost had died from smoke inhalation, their bodies relatively intact. The others—burned, trampled, or crushed—were far more gruesome to look at.OavgfOHLKhwIbrkdLnOmpoRzPqprLq
uKfFtavaxHTeTdzThe fourth floor was nearly reduced to just its skeletal frame, and the hotpot restaurant next door had suffered partial fire damage, though the situation was contained. The smell of charred debris lingered in the crisp morning air, like ink contaminating a clear pool of water.qtFiUuDIHZjxrfcWehJmfNTdtJyCKH
ahVRZReyYQBPfBJAfter a night of hard work, Ren Yi led his exhausted crew of battle-hardened soldiers back to their unit.vkBpjAbOfqyaRKseuhgXnxcTiPYBpF
MVEVXuHvKzOTcOvNo one spoke a word on the way back.ZIBoIRnOaMoTAWMCxsSSfZUxYpelWn
ugfxytDnmxyMOAfAlthough the cause of the fire was still unclear, the bar was certainly to blame for much of the tragedy. The locked emergency exits, substandard fireproof materials, and dysfunctional sprinklers were all critical factors in why the fire spread so quickly and trapped so many inside.eKORJXQaQRNUGHiecisRSfubsJnXWx
jQZPHedSZNPFlSrOnce they returned to the unit, everyone removed their gear, took showers, and went to rest together.OSmISXVEEMuKFbabkGnTZYVLCXhPbG
wTfKMOSPjyBvwiyRen Yi, drained from the night’s events, collapsed onto his bed after his shower and made a quick call to the brigade to check on the situation.GvFuAEGbcbgNvQrxgdqpTSSbsRCaFE
TPrmQoTUXKiVUzBAs of now, 29 people were dead, 12 critically injured, and over 100 with minor injuries. Among their three units, several firefighters had also been injured, with one from the Luoxiangkou unit in serious condition.yeJjvskvHfAmFjsXzfUqGLBiKyuaGL
VJxJNWNypKLRJMDAfter hanging up the phone, Ren Yi’s screen lit up with a news app notification—it was about the fire at Fourth Perspective Bar. He hesitated, then decided not to open it. Instead, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.guVnCWEONHhLJwPqAYGbcIWgpBcfGN
GkQgjoYzlyAWREcWhen he awoke, it was already afternoon. Hungry, Ren Yi pulled out a bag of chips from his locker and ate them while lying flat on his back, not wanting to get up. His mind was filled with images of the fire—the raging flames, the faces of helpless despair, the lifeless bodies that would never breathe again. These scenes clung to him, refusing to fade.eBOunqbnoRodXjtGGjQOiwCCOmdAle
kbbaAEcPxLDjHiOEven though he was accustomed to dealing with accidents and casualties, it was hard to come to terms with a tragedy of this magnitude.glTImlEEobGTQVceQFKSlmuWnBEAHV
fzdFBznyTdXgBceSuddenly, his phone rang—it was Xu Jin.ooZXMyVLdEXWJYGtaKKRRNMkIUExnJ
oJolMmRHLkhBphJRen Yi composed himself before answering: “Commander.”SFXTJdQSeLVBQucZIHYMUiImsaICMH
uoYeohlnisMpTbv“Ren Yi, have you gotten enough rest?”PYVECPDfIaPUEKOeDpSqWDRqRfYAZM
wmhUXbOBrEnnGYC“I’m fine.”IYJHlcFnrnjSqgpQJGplQSrxZqOgVw
TKvEsmjMYXKIGkR“How are your soldiers holding up?”BcJMWccJlWAOLExQOvvbqlVvnGnadM
SStwdXtqTgNVERl“Two are still in the hospital, but they’re not seriously hurt.”tZiyrrzOrcGqvYOxEGYxTINzvKfAwq
DBGIRWVxtVRlZmo“That’s good.” Xu Jin paused. “This incident was catastrophic. There’s a lot of public outcry online, and higher-ups are taking it very seriously. They want the cause of the fire identified as soon as possible, and for those responsible to be held accountable.”YWgFDoqrWRmfcAuTivuetPMpbPFsdE
eeyFCjhwvzjpGgTRen Yi gave a soft “mm.” “Any updates from the fire investigation team?”BLsNWmMRMaweoQpsrPQustxPxmSaQX
CIXiDNdHpazeyLn“Preliminary findings suggest the fire started on a sofa in a private room, but the damage is so severe that it’s unclear whether it was accidental or arson. Several of the bar’s managers have already been detained, and the police are involved.”LCrhuICgSKSGxIHEcRWQBlClZEeZkl
RznpgVBRJHPzhuC“The police are already involved even though the fire investigation team hasn’t concluded anything?”BwxGRbEZlPZbBuhZssLjvtNOlbVRrM
sWRJKWFmqEHPKrN“Yes, because the bar owner insists someone set the fire as an act of revenge. However, a survivor from the private room claims that a cigarette accidentally ignited the curtains.”bXHYjrmdXkGulzTMWJbXNtsfwIRQon
TFWmuEuouAkSLCv“The boss said it was arson?”gsjFFVswbLmpbnTqHTimLXpiKtckYs
HkPuJvBwNtlpCpb“He said the suspect has already been taken in for questioning, but the person has an alibi,” Xu Jin replied. “Ren Yi, I want you to be involved in the fire investigation this time.”qsbeJlCVEwWmhMasJUzVgELGrFhcXz
tdNutOFrERwpQzd“…Why?”zeNMGRMCMGwqCHGNeHbMmmPmyXlJkM
zdaAPMftoJPtdkM“Our department’s fire investigation team has been understaffed for a while. One retired this year, and two are on leave. The social impact of this incident is huge, and the higher-ups are demanding efficiency. Besides, you were the one who responded to the initial call, so you’re more familiar with the situation than anyone else. I need you to fully cooperate with the police and help determine the cause of the fire.”MHckkgWwtmbieyfEMMVcfRjNHBBDMK
SvTWpVaPaqsPAfC“Understood.”OonnZHllOkxxOqtcRTkefXmGtEdTmD
oEDFoXjglBesltc“Be at the scene by 9 a.m. tomorrow. The investigators will be there too, and I’ll assign you an assistant from the fire investigation team.”BkXyxjlcJhgaUuvwTcjxqvXuqionnH
loJxHHcdrWowTDUAfter hanging up, Ren Yi sighed.wsSXagRmpsDHVDWbSylZZnCCyuzRGs
lwzzDSNztxuCiUyHe had interned with the fire investigation team before. Not only was he familiar with the procedures, but with investigative skills passed down from his father and years of firefighting experience, he was essentially a seasoned fire investigator himself.bsfraYdRbtjDPGrtYzTjhbtLVGDqvA
oIATbBqcAkaSXhBTruthfully, he never liked returning to the scene of a fire. But due to his job, which required close cooperation with both the fire investigation team and the police, he had no choice. He just hadn’t expected to be the one investigating this time.wxBzaznQyZlKEaRwSYlNNTYpzXJSOb
yFZffuWXiLnDpGL—GjMHxFxzoHZHvggAAFHOrGypbWFzOy
fTcmWjJQMMvuixmThe next morning, Ren Yi returned to the bar district, which had already been cordoned off.CwulsDCPQnSzcJfPSBIswVXYrcSLWa
KyrHjaFfyPkPrgQAfter showing his credentials, he crossed the police line and stood in front of the fourth bar’s ruins. The sight of the once-bustling bar now reduced to rubble made his chest tighten.dnOBzuqptxqbGuVSbxZqFYwEeIUzhD
UqZiqCHJDDLwytVFootsteps sounded behind him. Before Ren Yi could turn around, he heard a familiar voice call out, “Captain Ren.”dkOifrcVGTLLTikWbVKvdCfVnCTycz
YrTNWMIoHPFmMzXRen turned to see Song Bei walking towards him. To his surprise, Song Bei wasn’t alone—Gong Yingxian was with him.wSXmyWRrlbmSCWTBfePcQbARefwohs
bCAcsDfcOQfASiwWhen they approached, Ren Yi shook hands with Song Bei.HCEEqoNofyOERfJemCJOoikQidcpfn
RwiXavkuVSGntEj“Captain Ren, you’ve had it rough,” Song Bei sighed. “You guys really don’t have it easy.”nbjByiulcASCpvWiwlTNwNDMWGYXHr
mzvFBhmkRFzscBg“It’s what we signed up for,” Ren Yi replied with a bitter smile. “It doesn’t matter how hard we work, the worst part is not being able to save just one more person.”oUBHolDxVvVDPxmtPTYdztcMHlaMRf
fanKEafGAoKwusISong Bei patted Ren Yi’s shoulder. “It’s a disaster, nothing you could do about it. Don’t dwell on it too much.”kGkVDlEehmhBHsWvDASceHRCPdatwZ
jcXEHGZObUoIrRcRen Yi nodded, then glanced at Gong Yingxian.ICsaHyIDzvZEteAbldBXitdMBVjAdy
gHSdFqAvXSkLjOUSong Bei said, “Oh, Xiao Gong here is handling the preliminary investigation of the case. I asked Hongwu’s department to send a fire expert to assist us, and it turns out they sent you. What a coincidence.”dlRupsBiHthsTnbARKKuQbMoWKfcBM
PaTZLroUVwnqzFzRen Yi’s eyes widened as he stared at Gong Yingxian.aimReqorvJFgveznOxAZTbjTNMVSAT
BnnzsrwYPgHVWQeGong stared back, his expression calm.nLZXLiAwkUUnKzQyJmRAVeOxjeSkar
SOLZDNXXXOAZFTq“What’s the matter?” Song Bei asked curiously, noticing Ren Yi’s reaction.LrvoWdchQXmaNXykriFSVSIxqyMCBM
WmBOwbqYvKaDfMZ“Well, it’s just… Officer Gong is so young…”BbeJFdftcyDfKJbwsFzXkLevDpoXsl
jTWprMUrqrlPpTu“Oh, you’re worried about his lack of experience? Don’t be. Xiao Gong specializes in criminal investigations related to fires. There’s no one more qualified than him for this kind of case in our division,” Song Bei assured. “Xiao Gong, make sure to cooperate fully with Captain Ren.”JDHFvBciBGmCMokFizxJfEbNQqnDFw
MNAoDeQDEdyOIYXGong Yingxian nodded, his face expressionless. “Understood.”VFecjpnkkSKmpyoupAtoAfDGoQcJNU
BIzowHzXOkTvmqqSong Bei pulled Ren Yi aside. “Captain Ren, this kid’s personality is, well… just know he’s not targeting anyone. If you have any problems, just let me know. I’d appreciate it if you could be patient with him.”UCmtuGoJfWCzWNhsCEVnlYTSmlQxXb
GraLdYWuhyjjYwSRen Yi forced a smile, glancing at Gong Yingxian. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”msOdqnLzQXMAiLMzQnXQhaLpasOTet
WcnzoLnAqGmKylQ“Alright, I’ll let you guys get to it. I was just passing by, got other things to handle, so I’ll head out first.”OhjeKIUovnFJWygqTlAwAgYBfRpFcp
VXQGuVfgXMeOOGV“Goodbye, Captain Song.”yieUyWbQMVVuGilZUGNbaTpmVUZpvO
VbtYdUxsNiiaGvmAfter Song Bei left, the two of them stood beside the ruins, staring at each other, the atmosphere awkward.GvAIfoDZvTiyRmuRxCBijvfoLIUbQr
QTQiDbWyJaKqOGxRen Yi cleared his throat, deciding to let it go for the sake of work. He shook his head, muttering to himself: *Be the bigger person.* “Let’s go inside and take a look.”rMceKGZeDHiiIogXcJvbBKJlQwqbMc
LLKGiCjJJvHyJDW“You’re the fire expert?” Gong Yingxian asked, his tone laced with doubt.evOadbvwooUfNlYyvrhPmpDinCParB
FqLMDabmucrtJcXRen Yi let out a short laugh. “I didn’t question your expertise, and yet you dare to question mine? I’ve been able to recite the specs of firefighting equipment since I was a kid.”ecxLLjUutAGfnuVfSkFSxIQlkYIrLA
gUUkLHROqSniiQJ“You literally questioned me five minutes ago.”MgwZAcMkqzrdIvQcpQdabtTWBxRdgY
IabsHuOZYgchmKCRen Yi grinned awkwardly. “Ah, well then, I guess we’re even. Let’s go, or should I roll out a red carpet for you?”xSudwlqvuiiGakdXLaaPLVFlEqdNCT
yvcHnyGsAudbGFyGong Yingxian cast a glance at the ruins, his gaze darkening. From his bag, he pulled out a mask and shoe covers, geared up, and then stepped into the fire scene.qBpldrVogTJmFnWNrTkdgGrDTVrTXj
tjpZkjHVwIoRawWQiu Wen from the fire investigation unit was already inside collecting samples. He walked over and greeted Ren Yi, “Good morning, Captain Ren.”XHHNtZbnxXNWHuCGFdJbeNpLNQWNmA
qOrlhZaCwGIBYmERen Yi nodded. “Keep doing your thing. If I need you, I’ll call.”mvVslxemoozAMJfLlYqkUfiltaxTVp
GVxyRKakriWAtBE“Understood.”FpIaQoyzrXtobtiTnTASLNfGIZcZrt
cCUIUeCegbDOzcBRen Yi turned to Gong Yingxian, “Let’s head upstairs and take a look.”JGksWhCAjcKSjORLmWOGOXwlSmLKbh
ujOPusmONrYjaDeGong Yingxian scanned the surroundings, his brows furrowed deeply, as if he was strongly resistant to being there.fCxEXDNaFLFbzHQmtXYvgGSiWeVIHA
stUHdvSrtzGjYitThey made their way to the room where the fire had started. The area had burned particularly intensely—the sofa was reduced to a broken wooden frame, the curtains were mostly gone, and the ceiling had completely collapsed, exposing the soot-blackened walls.pXhKVyQbSkZJCIEjdkUjRjEUWYrReq
dGZsFxWjxosSWvoRen Yi carefully examined the scene. “There’s a V-pattern from the smoke here. The ignition point seems to be the sofa, but the survivors said the curtains caught fire first. If we assume the curtains were the first to catch fire…” He looked upward. “These synthetic fiber curtains would drip flaming droplets when they burn, sending sparks everywhere. If those sparks landed on the sofa or carpet, it could cause the fire to spread. It’s possible, but the burn pattern doesn’t match.”doIHiaKUedPZTcmDgLgruIGMveTXFI
RuqPTRGrDCRQCJUGong Yingxian observed for a moment and added, “If it were the sofa, filled with foam resin, that caught fire from small sparks dripping down, it would smolder initially—there wouldn’t be visible flames right away, and the fire wouldn’t spread that quickly.”rraYmJnaJrlIaAeetGGspLjSPNBsuf
AxwhmdcIfFIJnNg“Exactly. If the curtains were the first to burn, the fire would move upward, and smoke would spread through the central air vents. The fire would spread into the ceiling, which would eventually collapse and set the sofa on fire. Only then could the sofa have burned to this extent. But if that were the case, the heaviest burn marks should be on the ceiling.” Ren Yi shook his head, picking up a broken piece of gypsum board from the ground and flipping it over to show Gong Yingxian. “See? The side facing the ground has heavier smoke marks than the side facing up. If the fire started with the sofa, igniting the curtains, causing the room to burn extensively, and then the ceiling fell, it would form a V-pattern centered on the sofa. This scenario fits the logic of the scene better.”hEHziFLthOBfUgZXeRlMYKXhVPOdOb
YoXcRaoedoONbTiGong Yingxian said, “So, the fire definitely didn’t start with the curtains?”fjVnXxoPJOktDxIlatVmKdXbtcynRd
MUleORrGvYIhHYm“No, just like the Fire Investigation Division’s initial judgment, it was the sofa,” Ren Yi replied. “What’s the situation with the survivor?”fVEKnXtnQthrjmAHbYnzwDAQkpuNWt
MJLCtxEgZOydVwN“A twenty-year-old student, still in the hospital. She was traumatized, and her memory might be jumbled. We can’t determine if she’s lying on purpose.”dJobvCbMuZFrlAxubzGfjzGukTzcpu
ZcpqnBcPXEnCJZy“There’s no sign of any accelerants,” Ren Yi said, after looking around. “The sofa burned like this, and we can’t tell anything from it now. We’ll need to take some samples back to the lab for testing.”acqBTwVKioQafdjYIBSCYgyXIrzSWB
PxHFyJacimABYHS“The electrical system… no signs of electrical fire either.” Gong Yingxian carefully examined every inch of the scene. Beneath a pile of unrecognizable debris, he found a small piece of material that had softened and then cooled down. He carefully picked it up with his gloved hand and held it up to the sunlight.UUoyywEQtmXoNhzPKmlodLeTWVabbg
EdPtgHpCGHJDOBC“Glass?” Ren Yi asked.bPUFLlTzwwEyzDymyLVPNxbEeNntSR
yQJzOgHeLDHXXfa“Yeah, could be from a cup.”qOnyyqWKDbQxxWZCmfthvtVnMWkPlg
rjKcgWeqIJeQWgyRen Yi retrieved a deformed cup from under the damaged coffee table. “This is a bar glass. I don’t know what kind of glass you’re holding, but clearly, these two things have different melting points—they’re not made of the same material.”VNlXkDCoduDiqigGILJZEwQGZyZfBh
nuOiztTaVpRXmst“It could also be a plate, ashtray, or some other utensil,” Gong Yingxian replied. “But this piece was found some distance away from the coffee table, under the sofa, and it’s already shattered. Most dishware these days is shatterproof, especially in places like bars and KTV lounges.”zxWpQddYrxKhNXMfoBIdHGOZmMmLGd
nmZewzHtlkIVXxZRen Yi said, “Yeah, it’s suspicious. We’ll hand it to Xiao Qiu later and send it to the lab for testing.”ZlMdYQUHZWRzqWEEsKryALKrKadMeV
mVzzhQsKzmIRGzkThe two continued to inspect the scene but found nothing new, so they headed downstairs. Ren Yi was instructing Qiu Wen on what items to collect for sampling, while Gong Yingxian quickly walked outside.obgbjdCLssDhMZlvqNWzAicvqsncCQ
OTJYJxeELEKTfSxRen Yi followed him. “Hey, what about that glass?”SIskHSPTWhDXkrgdrkfKsaNtshjWtj
qnHvDaevRpRXDvZGong Yingxian, with his back to him, slowly removed his mask but didn’t respond.UzkFAcsMYkUCOerScLKRlCydSAxzKW
bKKDKMGlvPpntwnRen Yi circled around to face him. “Hey, that…” He froze. Gong Yingxian’s face was deathly pale, his lips almost colorless, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He was gasping for breath, looking so weak it was almost pitiful. Ren Yi was startled. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”ljWVpKerHzLYtcbOKGvDMzLWlqExMU
rNrlFqVNWEWqJJxGong Yingxian shook his head, handed the glass to Ren Yi, then suddenly swayed on his feet. Ren Yi quickly grabbed his arm. “What’s going on with you? Don’t tell me you’ve got heatstroke. Why the hell are you wearing a mask and gloves in the middle of summer?”woAtSfZxshmBRIylRkMDPOlKOxYznh
RMsJCEZNHuKaJaiGong Yingxian turned to glare at him, opening his mouth as if to say something, but only ended up breathing even more heavily.HSvmVMRoVqkNAIOkGjRIuuQvruRqes
PVhDgNJCSmOqXjRRen Yi frowned. “Why are you glaring at me? You’re really something else. Glaring? What, am I too handsome for you to stop looking?”GYuuWPLnKdmuXIxnzhHjEYukoDEvgq
oHERJelVPdbQIVSSuddenly, Gong Yingxian’s stomach churned, and he vomited.mrRDiIoeVBExKNnROBUFpSOCObCBft
girrDyVYCxLuhcgRen Yi’s face darkened, feeling completely insulted.nDdTNQPxYkplaGfBGnlPNPADeNyLID
DJAsWlhkpBSTEFXGong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi’s arm in return, his grip so tight it left bruises. Ren Yi winced, gritting his teeth through the pain but stayed silent.kxsQtHjZbaREOrmbaaNPAwKGnhqXAB
sxOndzOALLpqViqGong steadied himself and rasped, “Water.”TbxLoupdARClAmSwESufYbPzVERNcW
olFoQheMrYtMJapRen Yi shouted, “Xiao Qiu! Is there water and tissues in the car? Bring them over!” He supported Gong Yingxian, helping him over to a shady spot. “Here, sit down for a minute.”uhxdZJhqLboqjCLOFRdWIZsGXfolkX
OsgZDPhSaDLXUBnSoon, Qiu Wen arrived with water and tissues, looking at Ren Yi with a questioning glance. Ren Yi just pouted, shook his head, clearly annoyed.FcrepqIDRtbatEzIYiJNqbngsaBpJy
LadvrzVlYchIkRy“Here,” Ren Yi handed the items to Gong Yingxian.ylcqbItYqxPZPfOriOdynkyjwJaRjP
inhWexlaElSxKDKGong took almost an entire bottle of water to rinse his mouth, then used two more bottles to wipe the corners of his mouth and clean the vomit off his trousers.OsNPSVarIQQITfkgakVZTinBlXLoRF
AfxuhrbtKxbcuZDRen Yi, meanwhile, wiped off his shoes with some tissues, watching in disbelief as Gong Yingxian pulled out disinfectant wipes, a spray bottle, a fresh mask, gloves, and a pill bottle from his briefcase, like some kind of magician. He meticulously cleaned himself, took his medication, tossed his shoe covers, and put on new gloves and a mask.sVNXOStzfjlLVnBIVeeexlbhrrozoJ
DHFgVwDoMguoEylJust watching him made Ren Yi feel exhausted. “What the hell is wrong with you?”jXUGFzbtwEyrWjXvnLpSXTnVHNaEOp
wfVzCVCqpZTZedd“I hate fire,” Gong Yingxian said, staring at Ren Yi.tAzqaVunXlfLDNtZVWieFJmuffolUA
vRXxmZkGBtetUzRRen Yi squinted. “Do you have some kind of issue with me? It’s not like I picked my own name.”FFChooLIKUJIEbYhOknswZyfLemMXh
nkBLSUDAkgVWjpyGong Yingxian stood up. “Come with me to the hospital.”sgIPraexwVSutzAOzxaXZJzRWoYysF
PwAcatHwRtEsoiW“And since when do you get to give me orders?”GlzUhKmoYeniNVFyEkWdyMIbhalHcw
YkgHloBFORrlgVgGong Yingxian ignored him, walking straight toward his car. Ren Yi rolled his eyes to the sky in exasperation but followed anyway, resigned.TnrenfuVNotimuYkMEyCrebIJegFeE
ecaXsQbcxvhVUAtVaDyxDIQDvwFHolieLxfShARWVgDKZ