Blazing Armor

The man reading the book noticed someone entering. He looked up, took off his headphones, bounced his knee, and whispered, “You’re up.”WtMJOTKMXsodATRgPkSyKoCWnRcLuR

FQBfHnEbvxJwtMO

“I’m not done yet,” the man playing on his phone whined softly.SGIplEHijbZEKsbLxPxOXJnHVHyEKX

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In the next moment, his phone was confiscated. He grumbled and reluctantly got up.DwvdLXaRkdbkaJIqRaiIDsszdeYWJv

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Gong Yingxian frowned slightly, sensing that the atmosphere between the two was somewhat unusual.mQzLolIBKeWPfhXlHFrwEMwtMnNnxJ

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This was the first time Ren Yi had seen Song Juhan up close, and he found himself momentarily stunned.BPZkoTaKUIMrCPbZrpgTgGHleasBOh

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Song Juhan’s mother was a Chinese-German mixed-race supermodel, giving him a quarter of Aryan blood. His irises and hair were pitch black, but his skin was extremely fair. His facial features blended the depth of Western allure with the mystery of Eastern elegance, making him exceptionally handsome.EUFjMjnoUhTEludeUFDCwmHJSclSZv

SIpNDOdTrmNBEkB

Coupled with his seductive, lazy voice, outstanding creative talent, and being the heir to Song Media, he became a sensation all over Asia the moment he debuted.OSqAHnZmPyGIsYfFftRWZIVkOmxuZm

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In contrast to this overwhelming beauty, the man standing next to Song Juhan seemed somewhat ordinary.ilUNKItEgOJZAsBsTTMEQhXNkeGHLE

ErrnsjCdFTKpAoD

In fact, this man also had a perfectly proportioned face, tall and slender frame, and a calm, steady demeanor. But from his hairstyle to his attire, everything about him was extremely formal and serious. The two of them should have been worlds apart, like fiery liquor meeting ancient tea. Yet, standing together, they seemed to balance and complement each other naturally, as if it was meant to be.YPbntrIcNbvquWESwnDMqihMRUuunf

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Ren Yi could guess who this man was. Last year, when Song Juhan announced his departure from the public eye, it dominated the news for at least a month. Rumor had it he did it for a man named “He Gu.” Although Song Media issued multiple legal statements to dispel the rumors and Song Juhan never publicly admitted to it, even someone like Ren Yi, who never followed entertainment news, had heard about it. The spread of the news was that intense.eStZmRXIoIdLxofBpdGOJQOaibYZbZ

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Seeing them now, it was clear that the rumors were true, and Song Juhan didn’t seem to care about hiding it.JVejUGRPzUrzooMbmYZIYxwpqPRedh

AnbWryJUSyEmKlx

Although Ren Yi deeply admired this guy, thinking he must be a damn romantic, right now he could only feel regret. If he had known things would turn out like this, he absolutely wouldn’t have brought Gong Yingxian here. What if it triggered some bad memories for him…ZnTqmBnfsqxGstSMHbwRYTGChuoMdp

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Song Juhan gave Ren Yi a professional smile, “Hello, Captain Ren, right? Thank you for your hard work.”FdCnYUtAEqcJgKkrKgqgClpCaFzGIq

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“Oh, it’s nothing,” Ren Yi snapped back to reality. “Sorry, Mr. Song. Are we disturbing you?”gnpaDJMlxZhFATcTjbexbeHGtliowt

jPnfdNPwwliInkU

“No, it’s still early.” Song Juhan’s gaze had never left Gong Yingxian. He raised an eyebrow slightly and brazenly looked him up and down. “And this is…”BBxQplYAxCZkJbsRvyprWtzCazHzzR

SnZtSetXNwQOJxj

Gong Yingxian’s expression grew colder, clearly showing signs of impatience.LogUTuwFxTqXJcpeJSMCYyRuhIHufi

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“He’s my colleague,” Ren Yi quickly explained.EQjhfIXhPxPqPrnCFHfPNVpoheRqOh

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Song Juhan didn’t seem convinced. “Really?”jgaccaojYbhJsqOsuaLKMdIrrKcCnk

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“Really.”YJlwVauuHtlzSyxXfsbYsXbZplQoDF

GNmeqkbpehnZCRZ

“Interested in becoming a celebrity?” Song Juhan called out, “Xiao Song, come here.”lqAisVuWlwpjKAIseSwhhJrBNPEJbr

FGejcemlEbGBMcK

A chubby man hurried over. “Han-ge.”XVWzHMmNWNfkuHpnXJwnHaMcPeGUOI

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“Have you ever seen such a handsome firefighter?” Song Juhan gestured toward Gong Yingxian. “This would make such a great headline.”oJOtfxZXvBhGBTImkKaHUukYIIzWSF

wBMRlYbuAUOWsDT

“Wow,” Xiao Song’s eyes lit up as he glanced at Gong Yingxian. “Wow, too handsome! Hello, hello. I’m Han-ge’s agent. Here’s my card. Would you consider signing with our company?”gCTHUvBTyZDsrjBHACEQXNFOTxDIac

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Gong Yingxian looked at the business card Xiao Song held out but made no move to take it.FibffMzUEGsqvUwVjbaJRaiHEurVCO

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Ren Yi quickly stepped in and took the card on his behalf. “Haha, thanks. He’ll definitely think about it.”cDRWDkgtmzmdmMcyNTJOVFWVUMTIgF

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Song Juhan stretched lazily. “Captain Ren, were you asking for an autograph?”uREIfTeXznyBEPBIFYbcXthakZKkEn

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Gong Yingxian’s displeasure was becoming more and more obvious, especially as Ren Yi’s attention remained fixed on Song Juhan.mmcPPYxycoTKBraJrykhOcTgcuQVFM

jUsjMErIUYUFqRh

“Oh, right.” Ren Yi pulled a clipboard from his jacket. “My sister’s taking her high school entrance exams next year. Could you write her a message of encouragement?”coMOvmLXAlvOvqvSpmPbpzgAVEPXbk

DZtBFuLpfbxqXDV

“No problem. What’s her name?” Song Juhan asked as he took the clipboard.aJBpmmUFnkEPVSXFsQPaLifgmcIgxH

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“Feilan, ‘fei’ as in flight, and ‘lan’ as in ripples.”ipvTqrcjSOrdwXRMBlfdcGLEQKYakA

VEpbZXJsWbXFrNY

“Fei… Lan…” Song Juhan wrote the character for “fei” with elegant strokes, then paused. He frowned and turned to He Gu. “Baby, how do you write ‘lan’? My mind’s gone blank.”lUjDoNrLZvWazzVBEQhXmJNqWsFxXa

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That one word, “baby,” stunned both Ren Yi and Gong Yingxian.XgZEtUBbcjSATrEismuIJJXxOBOVEp

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Ren Yi thought, *Jesus, are all celebrities this open?*CDLkXDWKSIIRdMWVfVSjfpEXYVCgrM

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Gong Yingxian, on the other hand, had a strange look on his face. His gaze shifted to the two men, now with a more scrutinizing air. He Gu cleared his throat. “Three water radicals, on the right is a ‘door,’ and inside that…”SeZhQzMPsxZBqGFYmBwfRCRzesSxUd

ZWrPAWoDuJAFcBd

“You write it,” Song Juhan handed the pen to He Gu.AzbtNSseMOSXyLSUunNBjeVQuDIKRg

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“They want your signature.”UtvLXQdueLzkJcnRcibitiwmonCFJO

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Song Juhan smiled at Ren Yi. “There’s no distinction between us; whoever writes it, it’s the same. Just tell your sister she has a one-of-a-kind global signature.”ngHQqBKHFDVYrJckUsdRYoTfpJgTyO

ytSMHUjzCrJnivD

With no other choice, He Gu took Song Juhan’s hand and neatly wrote the character for “lan” before handing the pen back to him.GiYaWLhdsVSlVhqwcyOMNZtbYFkvVb

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Song Juhan’s smile never faltered—it was just a signature, after all.YBfwujjWzxMttcGjeXycVgLfrLpyCI

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Gong Yingxian watched the easy, intimate atmosphere between the two, feeling an indescribable bitterness rise in his chest. Even though these two people were strangers to him, it was as if he was looking through them, seeing a reflection of himself and Ren Yi.gUAdYAlWHZEblOmUqjZDafuwokXZCg

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He even felt a pang of jealousy, as though their undeniable sweetness was something he and Ren Yi could never hope to match.DYWrGyBJDhvhlSveqYwnHsLGTcOtpU

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Once the autograph was finished, Ren Yi looked at it: *Feilan, wishing you success in your studies and to get into your dream high school—Song Juhan.*aDSPPWUTqndqIklsXMrVCWOKvDjYxw

lQhJzhXPJmKzvMp

Ren Yi beamed. “Thank you, Mr. Song.”ENaHUPHVdWxeTFCrrSFWKXeoFwTnTw

FSARUIslOPQACoa

Gong Yingxian rolled his eyes.HQgwsxmFKMiTlyTedrptuMAxJxGywB

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“You’re welcome.” Song Juhan turned to He Gu and blew him a kiss. “Your handwriting is beautiful.”ylzmFtBnQnsupmutzKQlZbpmttYVsp

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He Gu, slightly embarrassed, turned his face away.omxohgvneuaRSrDVCSgnrcFphmIzSI

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“Well, we’ll leave you to it then,” Ren Yi quickly ushered Gong Yingxian out of the room.ErMtcMMWcfvqDJTGsRosNoHAKBagTb

qZwKjWOWzuhGUqf

As soon as they stepped outside, Ren Yi took a picture of the autograph and sent it to Gong Feilan. “Haha, Feilan’s going to be over the moon.”LjAweWarVAdGMirTgwxNTtwmdKQzYj

nwbLFgMPqjbhUsg

Gong Yingxian kept his head down and didn’t say a word.bnxtBanSZTkopsJevckFFxPeIRxhCP

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“Song Juhan seems like a nice guy, right? No pretentious airs or anything.”okdHMkiQCVISbbYVEIrKVdAUCJlpmx

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Gong Yingxian scoffed. “You didn’t notice his arrogance?”IMRsurZMQpqeTkEimlwEWaHZEpAhdn

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Ren Yi could barely hold back a laugh. Speaking of arrogance, at least Song Juhan had the courtesy to maintain some surface-level politeness. Gong Yingxian couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.igUXjatXvPpQxAbiOZEssiOyArnAPr

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“What are you laughing at?” Gong Yingxian asked again. “Who was that guy beside him?”APqgSCmbkqyUcTvXWhWunwIxvBWCgE

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Ren Yi instantly tensed up, trying to deflect the question. “Probably just a colleague.”xtouPDvymIERxdwUzvVRbZrINkRaFd

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Gong Yingxian frowned deeply, and after a long pause, he asked, “Are they gay?”nvQXfJnHNCczbLzIkRtkwiWfAqIsDf

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Ren Yi’s heart sank. He’d tried to brush it off, but it seemed Gong had picked up on it anyway. Well, it wasn’t exactly subtle—only a blind man could have missed it. Swallowing, Ren Yi figured there was no point in dodging the question any longer. He might as well take this opportunity to gauge Gong’s reaction. Trying to sound casual, he replied, “Yeah, they seem like a good match, don’t they?”HvLxKcIylvkaviydjOSdelrVQULlPk

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Gong Yingxian fell silent.FropmDCbpVFlYGvSjlMJfTZqergnao

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Ren Yi sneaked a glance at him. “It’s pretty common in the entertainment industry… I mean, even in the U.S., there are a lot, right? China’s got quite a few now too. Society’s opening up, after all.”bYxZfzfzvvfrZaQVLDSZQKOwBPAxtn

BDDTmZFerCIFHRC

“I find it disgusting,” Gong Yingxian suddenly said coldly. His emotions were all over the place. He usually didn’t care about other people’s business, but for some reason, those two just rubbed him the wrong way. He hated seeing Ren Yi staring at Song Juhan in a daze, hated how those two displayed a kind of closeness that he and Ren Yi didn’t share.vasHAFdbqQIFPSkGmbqlJRwnClfmUz

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Ren Yi froze, his smile instantly vanishing.ceIWrurIRcDgyUwePXRgyhMMGKRWRn

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“When I was studying in the U.S., I was harassed by those kinds of perverts,” Gong Yingxian deliberately dredged up memories that truly disgusted him, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin even now. “Not just once, not just one person. There was even one who stalked me, planning to kidnap me.”XZcnTlXjQUHSDhwNUiHVsgMEMvpXkp

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Ren Yi felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his face went pale. He stammered, “I think… Captain Qiu… mentioned it.”DFaJjppvNpJIcCgNcWHgkwANBtHcCT

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*Disgusting. Perverts.*ztmrcPkuwePjOdIbmgtqTTuhmpdopi

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Those two words echoed over and over in Ren Yi’s ears, as if someone were pointing directly at him, humiliating him, making his face burn.ZJZuKMUXkufQjzVMlrIfEjJxjZUfDu

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He had always avoided thinking about Gong Yingxian’s views on this kind of relationship because he was scared. No matter how open society might be, there would always be those who remained stuck in their prejudices. And with Gong Yingxian’s experiences, his aversion was understandable.sNaYsdpQnrJiLODBxdqeGAgtsxxzCa

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But it still hurt—hurt so much.zfApGISjnJmWXclClnDGtipDrHcyXw

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It felt like every word Gong Yingxian said right now was a sharp slap to Ren Yi’s face, waking him up with brutal clarity.oFOyYeVJRYhYprtCwaENXzyeMDyMcm

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He had been drowning in the ambiguity between him and Gong Yingxian, unable to pull himself free. He had given special meaning to every glance, every word, every little gesture between them.YKHukJdlsjWCQNgSbncqyMIdxZSjbU

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In the end, it had all been in his head.zrCXCviFcFmHUFWHtGbdPEFbXNOzHM

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It was terrifying, like he’d been drugged into a delusion, growing bolder and bolder in his fantasies about a future with Gong Yingxian.paWUSlEwleEYbwpTpETHnFnSlvvTjf

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But could he really blame only himself? The things Gong Yingxian had said to him, the way he acted—it truly felt like it went beyond friendship in Ren Yi’s eyes.mXWMZMyPcMTMDTXdRHiCeuiqzsWird

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Was it because Gong Yingxian had never had a close friend, blurring the lines of what friendship meant? Or was it Ren Yi, with his own desires, who blurred those lines?JDphSYNgtOrqYkpQWLyEwAkvzFAeHf

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Ren Yi’s thoughts were a tangled mess, his body felt like it had been plunged into ice, freezing him to the core.SpuVdacpNzkcOVJuEsFvNXUEIZKpqV

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“What’s wrong?” Gong Yingxian noticed Ren Yi’s odd behavior. “Why do you look so pale?”eLUUuiyuzCQASJpoGfvSxieXRLiUfL

pGFvkKdZjvyGVUQ

“N-Nothing.”UwiZzexJNHFHNdVgfkNWzNwmEIwXlb

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Gong Yingxian reached out, feeling Ren Yi’s forehead. “No fever. Are you too cold? You’re shaking.”oxCuKlWhHHqGxLWbNnvulqnlwlXIgc

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“I’m fine, I dressed warmly enough,” Ren Yi forced a smile. But seeing the genuine concern in Gong Yingxian’s eyes only made the bitterness in his heart worse.lrsFNHUlolGjbKgznLENramTFbIIEe

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If Gong Yingxian never returned his feelings, if he only ever saw Ren Yi as a friend for the rest of their lives, could he just stop liking him?HnlXRYugEWGXXWeOPRFqQzNtXyhOuZ

KobQpxHSSxAqeJD

Ren Yi clenched his fists slightly, his heart heavy with the realization that he couldn’t. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he knew deep down that he couldn’t just stop liking Gong Yingxian.mCKzboJMREzzRiAuNXzEsRubEiWvcF

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Even if they remained friends for the rest of their lives, even if Gong Yingxian never reciprocated his feelings, Ren Yi’s heart would still ache every time he saw him. The more care and concern Gong Yingxian showed, the more painful it would be, because it only highlighted what Ren Yi could never have.KXTJIOJUIWwqaWYjNWUanVBqnRzIcN

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He stared at Gong Yingxian, the man who had become so important to him, and felt a surge of helplessness. No amount of rationality could silence the feelings that had taken root so deeply inside him.HkAzPpToksLcflEyKDlfolDWaBkpqQ

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He couldn’t stop.czmFmaNHwrxbAlRTwyIUQlLmgpyvBY

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Gong Yingxian took off his gloves and placed his warm palm on Ren Yi’s cold face, his tone filled with concern as he said, “You must be freezing. There’s a convenience store outside the venue. I’ll go get you some heat packs and a hot drink.”FYsXvIurPilRjBgPiCuhkgMQoTkErS

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Ren Yi stared blankly at Gong Yingxian, feeling a slight sting in his nose.IEceqaWpOIykNFidQiGOzQFNPcvyIy

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Why the fuck does he have to be so good to me?vKixjoEgzEREDGrcmTfganfmfqnaXf

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“Wait here for me,” Gong Yingxian said, then hurriedly ran out of the venue.yGTBmfyIhlyKsNVymqzhnkcTaksXXX

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Leaning against the wall outside the lounge, Ren Yi watched the long, curved corridor as Gong Yingxian’s figure quickly disappeared around the corner.GNXxRriISaOczzVMVDgrXkJdBxfRwR

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All that remained was a sense of loneliness.QybllNTQtUIetJqdLBIeVHkZXduHnV

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His heart felt hollow.dzOHwFQmTuvBRFMZNanKHXncRXZlHm

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After waiting for a long while, footsteps echoed down the corridor. Thinking Gong Yingxian had returned, Ren Yi prepared to pull himself together and act as if nothing had happened.pNdWEjTmjYlIqlddGixvdSxzTRvktJ

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But when the person rounded the corner, Ren Yi’s expression shifted to surprise.SyBlDDsNIhucrlvDeSKrcEptYCVfXU

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Qi Xiao? What’s he doing here?aJCQZDeIqsjxxxCTHCPtaefGFmRHcL

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Seeing Ren Yi, Qi Xiao exclaimed happily, “Ge, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”znxsicpdKQoasRrcyMNerSkUYUyQFM

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“Why are you here?”EXYcAlvhJTAiaTFcdUwOdcCtROefVz

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“I came for the concert, but when I saw the fire trucks, I remembered this is your district. I thought you might be here, so I went over and asked. One of your squad leaders, Liu Hui, the guy I met last time, he brought me in.”oTtmcDWPUVTUTrODmQWOzKlKSXZCTx

CTXnnDcAdqvSRUE

Ren Yi’s mind was still a bit foggy. “Oh, what a coincidence. The concert’s been going on for a while. Why are you only showing up now?”lEjsJoMrTIjQcMijdilkqRAPeQiYZC

emPNykSZiaOSBHj

“I overslept.” Qi Xiao chuckled. “And besides, I only really came to hear Song Juhan. The ticket didn’t cost me anything. I’m currently negotiating a management contract with Song Media, and they sent me the ticket.”dadNfgVYBDDKdjjiZJIuZlZmMdXGme

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“Congratulations.” Ren Yi forced a smile.ybAIQRdRlrPivDDYcvBYZFcvNgMwYi

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“Ge, what’s wrong with you? You don’t look so good.” Qi Xiao walked over, cupping Ren Yi’s face with concern.ctddtXhbSiBTblrYZWyUAFLlNpQODT

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Ren Yi subtly turned his face away, but with his back against the wall, he had nowhere to retreat. He could only stand up straight. “It’s nothing, just a bit cold.”SsHHQJbYSkXTYnbmcduVebZPMPJgEI

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“Yeah, your skin does feel really cold. Let me warm it up for you.” Qi Xiao smiled as he placed his other hand on Ren Yi’s face.XmPaRVaXceJgLGwcKcTlwpLvUGZCPP

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“No need, Qi Xiao. I still have work to do.” Ren Yi pulled Qi Xiao’s hand away. “It’s almost time for Song Juhan’s part. You should go back and listen.”cEXpUZnOUrMdgIOLtXTtvvyreIjdcF

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Qi Xiao’s expression shifted slightly. “Why do you keep avoiding me?”XyKcazsdmGbaWRGTgPXDfxEoaeLRbB

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Ren Yi froze for a moment, his voice uncertain. “I’m not.”AxUMpvKZZoKTxLDxMFuaxiSLNURcml

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“Do you think I’m some kind of fucking idiot?” Qi Xiao shouted angrily. “If you hate me, just say the damn word.”VVdUuIYWzUqhhfucSGBcWlGkmGOXAd

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“Qi Xiao, I don’t hate you, I just—”nPGvdAdADRqHGzhzzuaQPtiwzTFIvk

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Before Ren Yi could finish, Qi Xiao suddenly hooked his arm around Ren Yi’s neck, throwing himself into his arms and pressing his lips forcefully against Ren Yi’s.onGSHNbFBlGtCwUUgqZVUqMhQUMOib

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Ren Yi was caught off guard by the kiss and hurriedly pushed Qi Xiao off of him. “Qi Xiao, listen to me!”whhVXfUWhTAgHNAVRxjAgIzurcQxep

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“Ge, I want you to fuck me.” Qi Xiao leaned in again, aiming for Ren Yi’s lips.hMlYlUxslMNIWUYWZqDbgBppPkPwep

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The sound of something heavy hitting the floor echoed nearby.ADlZVRsOnzWjRAAZeTznJTnDfIMptW

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Startled, Ren Yi turned his head to look.yGjrHOoUyHAdHWzaMjWRuhUKbzEKXb

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Gong Yingxian had appeared at some point, standing not far away, his face icy and filled with rage. The hot tea he had been holding had spilled all over the floor.OBIHcMxQDFWTmRAWYJWLpvtkKzhCTU

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Ren Yi’s body went stiff, his mind erupting with a loud bang, like a bomb had detonated, obliterating everything around him and leaving only emptiness in its wake.mcdcpcSfDSMxQYTBWvksJCojUcJDZO

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Qi Xiao glanced back and forth between Ren Yi and Gong Yingxian, and in an instant, he understood what was happening. Thinking back to the two times he’d met this Dr. Gong, and recalling the “blind date” Ren Yi had mentioned, he realized he should have figured it out sooner.WWKhxwALYOyqrZuwjPMRSxMaqFequQ

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A bitter smile appeared on Qi Xiao’s face. Ren Yi had tried to save face for him, but he had thrown it all away himself, and now the situation was nothing short of mortifying.hLDTXfhtflcEtOlLUzPyCxjRBFrzKr

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Everything that had just happened left Gong Yingxian feeling as if his chest was about to explode. He had never felt such fury before. The feeling of being deceived, betrayed, and robbed of something precious overwhelmed him, coupled with the agony of seeing something he considered sacred defiled.GtJAhHNehKaBlamgRfYSYqpjsjWrpY

HLzyfTMiqRLgQHV

Gong Yingxian furiously threw what was left in his hands to the ground. His face was rigid and twisted, his gaze at Qi Xiao sharp and filled with chilling malice. He gritted his teeth and spat out a single word: “Get out.”fTeROJsOWPkJayvwMFQuZtQlVlMeuC

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Qi Xiao, shocked by Gong Yingxian’s hostility, felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He felt like a jackal trying to steal from a tiger, filled with fear. Instinctively, he took two steps back.XxgTqmizVAWFdyFUDXBLjtXriXdGeG

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“I don’t even want to touch you,” Gong Yingxian growled viciously, his voice laced with rage. “Get out!”VywnzCmZowgsQXEHEJsVVVFlUFCmSt

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Terrified, Qi Xiao’s shoulders trembled as he turned and ran.PtTqhyZcdVOjFwwCoxTIAQluEODqIb

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Now, in the empty corridor, only Ren Yi and Gong Yingxian remained. Silence stretched between them, and the air felt frozen, heavy with the tension of the moment.xmtIaHTCgAIVywtNkVTCeIvvBBdWNt

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Ren Yi’s heart was in complete disarray.ufLPpnjyvycHWLbzNcGxXPHyNOrKLz

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Remaining calm in the face of danger was an essential skill for a fire chief, and Ren Yi had demonstrated his competence countless times throughout his career. But when it came to anything involving Gong Yingxian, his composure always seemed to fall apart.vROiqTLjphmiFjGWNMhwZwdlePhENB

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At that moment, he couldn’t even bring himself to look at Gong Yingxian. He was terrified of seeing hatred on the face he had grown to love so deeply.tUdvgOIiIBAANqaejpWEcBviFQoVbZ

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The only thought echoing in his mind was that Gong Yingxian knew. Gong Yingxian now knew that he was a “disgusting,” “perverted” man.oZYLIfvGXoZlOthkDLpFOnzLLUPKFQ

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Gong Yingxian stepped closer to Ren Yi, his voice cold as he demanded, “Look at me.”nUhduzsTpedBdMjqzvdeXhWnaJEBgw

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Ren Yi closed his eyes briefly, summoning the courage to raise his head. But as soon as his gaze met Gong Yingxian’s stormy eyes, a shudder ran through him, and he quickly looked away.HIfgygOGfFpFDOiLiWauBcUAPPbgAC

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“You’re…” Gong Yingxian struggled to get the words out.IbMjUNEVkyUXOAvplEGGIfoiMcYKwD

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Ren Yi took a deep breath and softly replied, “I am.”ZxiKbGsNzngFklbyxQQJCgRWnHqhTa

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He hadn’t wanted Gong Yingxian to find out, but he also wouldn’t deny it. Denying it would mean admitting that his sexual orientation was a sin, and he didn’t believe he was guilty. He had simply fallen for someone he wasn’t supposed to.xumcoKiNbyvWSJlDFxGnbYSxvEdelu

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Gong Yingxian clenched his fists tightly and asked the next question, his voice strained, “Qi Xiao is your boyfriend.”kdOfzyXIpZkwoGZBwazuXkhcEpHeri

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Now he finally understood the unusual tension between Ren Yi and Qi Xiao. It all made sense. While Gong Yingxian had been pleased to think of himself as Ren Yi’s “best friend,” the truth was that Ren Yi and Qi Xiao shared a far more intimate and significant relationship.oxSWxKOrllJYBykjLkpLAkLkVLSnIg

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They embraced, they kissed, and they spoke words only lovers would share. And in places Gong Yingxian couldn’t see, they did things far more intimate, said words far more tender. Qi Xiao possessed a part of Ren Yi that was deeper, longer-lasting, and far more complete than anything Gong Yingxian had.vYuNBdKhXrTKFjHIvMUJMbcpabEeXl

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The thought that there was another person in the world who could freely touch Ren Yi’s body, kiss Ren Yi’s lips, and share every moment of joy and laughter with him filled Gong Yingxian with a murderous rage.rMQYlttVvrFtieXRmpOFYCNDkotGMJ

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It was at this moment, seeing with his own eyes someone else doing what he had long wanted to do with Ren Yi, that he finally understood what Ren Yi truly meant to him. All those moments of joy, longing, and impulse now made sense.wnfzwnlMYNVFiVlDullxdygBxcJpyp

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It wasn’t that he had been ignorant; it was that, because of his experiences as a teenager, he had always rejected this part of himself. So, whether consciously or unconsciously, he had never allowed the possibility to surface in his mind. But now it was crystal clear: his impulses toward Ren Yi were sexual. He didn’t just see Ren Yi as a friend—he wanted to possess him, to own everything about him.hbkxfIWMBnUmpftobwtcHmuVtlsKdS

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But the fact that made him realize this was the harsh truth that Ren Yi didn’t belong to him at all!ZnVeMPIjuAZpmRkwMXAhvaxJGnOhVx

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Ren Yi opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He didn’t dare to answer that question.gXFdtgZNaJIvSeGskhpMJjdwXpRShE

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What would Gong Yingxian think if he said no? In Gong Yingxian’s eyes, homosexuality was already something detestable. And if he told him it was only physical between him and Qi Xiao, knowing Gong Yingxian’s innocence and fastidiousness, wouldn’t that make it even worse, even more disgraceful?mEVSdHHGebTCFREwpeljephGowsaMq

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Gong Yingxian’s cold, twisted, and hateful gaze already felt like a blade piercing his heart. Ren Yi couldn’t bear to endure any more. He wished all of this was just a nightmare so that he could at least continue to deceive himself, stay by Gong Yingxian’s side, even if only as a friend.PynloCrQOZBQsBdiVFVSOHYSzqzPcU

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“Is it true or not!” Gong Yingxian shouted harshly.LmhFHhqcbSWvtRgzVZggreGtjKWpXK

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He wanted Ren Yi to deny it. Even though he had seen it with his own eyes, he still hoped Ren Yi would deny it. If Ren Yi did, then maybe… maybe…uQcxwkpRNslqYIhYGWbQEtUhphrgOy

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But to him, Ren Yi’s silence was as good as confirmation.lvBxhbIUcZDANpwzkFCvAikoUGKpNk

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With fury, Gong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi by the collar, his towering frame casting a shadow over Ren Yi like a mountain. His voice was hoarse as he demanded, “And what about me? You’re gay, you have a boyfriend, so what am I? You’ve been hiding this from me for so long—what am I to you?”ffgAzjfwhPASyMwStnKWxxyvHqyoyR

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Ren Yi avoided Gong Yingxian’s eyes, feeling as though his heart was being torn apart. In a low voice, he said, “I… I hid it from you because I knew you wouldn’t accept it. But I never… never had any disrespectful thoughts about you. I only ever saw you as a friend.” His voice trembled toward the end, barely holding back the urge to break down into tears.EujuYRERrSGTQVXwZFCUBkpFPsrnHq

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It had reached a point where the truth was on the verge of being revealed, but he still had to lie, denying his feelings for the person he loved. He had never realized how painful it was to lie, how much it felt like betraying himself. He used reason to betray his own instincts, stabbing himself in the process.wbbuKeDcLdSxLZHfoexWGiZzNcCnSp

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Each stab landed deep, cutting to the bone.PbuoOKmgYMWfJRqUmjFDBosEpZSlVq

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Gong Yingxian stared blankly at Ren Yi’s pale face. After his mind processed and deciphered Ren Yi’s words, his eyes turned bloodshot. The hand gripping Ren Yi’s collar tightened so much that it creaked, as if he were squeezing Ren Yi’s throat instead. His voice was venomous as he said, “You never had any feelings for me?”KuqohMcKJwEsPFhSksPMlXNyTTmjeF

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“…”DHYxdimtPJQoGPJifTBpMPVecMdKWh

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“All those times at my place, eating together, under the rubble, in the hospital… these past months, you hid your orientation while spending time with me. You’re telling me that you never had any feelings for me? Never?!”aDTAWAojewAtfMTRYHcwRkzSNtyqfp

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Ren Yi’s lips trembled. He felt like he was being executed, each word Gong Yingxian uttered like a knife slicing into him.SlSKcuaAtsLXfgxliNUCMyTpQopnwx

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Gong Yingxian’s large hand suddenly gripped Ren Yi’s jaw, forcing his face upward. “Look me in the eyes and say it.”wtzZFrXQWabrhCeHfXPIuqQdWwcrcX

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Ren Yi was finally compelled to meet Gong Yingxian’s gaze. In those deep, beautiful eyes that had once held joy, care, trust, and warmth because of him, all of that was gone. His worst fear had come true. After learning the truth, all that was left in Gong Yingxian’s gaze was coldness, viciousness, and fury.jPKAFvhtDPaGaxjbOUBPJWMCDsMpGx

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Enduring overwhelming sorrow, Ren Yi desperately hoped to salvage something, anything. As long as Gong Yingxian wouldn’t look at him with such hatred, he would betray himself, he would compromise in every way. So, using the last of his composure, he steadied his cracking expression and firmly said, “No. Yingxian, I know what you went through as a teenager, and I understand you. But I’m not like the kind of person you think I am. I wouldn’t harass anyone, I wouldn’t commit a crime, and I certainly wouldn’t… I didn’t want you to have any bias against me or feel uncomfortable, so I hid it from you. I only see you as a friend, I just wanted to be your friend, and I absolutely never had any… improper thoughts.”yEpMXYpCEzVjoPecTvRQzYVYJzJNkA

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After saying this, Ren Yi felt utterly hollow.ufkloduaOHBemdtqhrStCgnwrNXeGe

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Love should have been something beautiful, but he had turned it into something shameful, something unworthy of words.VrDdpYreHvlDhckgDlBatCgQklEQff

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But he had no choice. He was fully awake now. He knew there would never be any future with Gong Yingxian. At the very least, he wanted to protect Gong Yingxian and preserve their memories. He wanted to prove that there was such a thing as pure friendship in the world, that everything between them wasn’t a repetition of the “disgusting” experiences from Gong Yingxian’s past.CspoihrcqtUMhEHCVPiPPUrmojfZxb

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However, Ren Yi’s words only enraged Gong Yingxian further. A mix of fury and resentment surged through him, and for a moment, he had the almost primal urge to tear Ren Yi apart, devour him whole. That way, Ren Yi would never again say the things he didn’t want to hear, do the things he didn’t want to see, or tell him that everything they had been through meant nothing and had no significance.RJPzOFLqsgAvnUjosYBceUcVOspmFm

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Gong Yingxian leaned close to Ren Yi’s ear and whispered coldly, “Do you take me for a fool?”GeGcSuXiAOnXwmyAXcxmmcPmuSCyYW

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A chill ran down Ren Yi’s spine, a deep sense of dread seizing him.wJONqFTbSHzUgGwPPrFGTSliWVfYKl

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“I may not understand the social norms of human relationships all that well, but I’m not stupid,” Gong Yingxian’s voice was filled with the pain of betrayal and deception. “You’ve had a boyfriend this whole time. So what were you thinking when you called me ‘Old Gong’? What were you thinking when you got hard because of me? What about when we were lying in the same bed? When he wasn’t around, was I just your plaything? You must have felt pretty proud, watching me act like a fool while you toyed with me, right?”wVZLinHgrqWwarHNmaJguRmjwfoWbs

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Ren Yi’s eyes widened in horror. “No! No!” He felt utterly defenseless against the accusation. How could Gong Yingxian think of him as that kind of person?rQyvDPVijctcLSKMtCgqeIamdKmUzf

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“You make me feel disgusted, too,” Gong Yingxian spat, his words harsh and cutting as they slipped past his lips, the sharpest ones he could muster. Whether it was out of rage or the need to lash out, his survival instinct demanded that he say whatever it took to stop the gut-wrenching pain inside him.nfDrDOIMRLCrwHyWoidOLwrsMcommp

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He hated Ren Yi. He hated the fact that Ren Yi belonged to someone else. He hated that Ren Yi, the person he cared for, had made him—a proud officer—harbor the dark, possessive desire to imprison him, to make him his alone.MrdibRYOPAGBCLylLVZlTZhnebVKOw

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The light in Ren Yi’s eyes went out. He looked as though the very essence of his soul had been drained. Those words had almost pushed him into the abyss.lrOzJwZRkMXXndtyhvJBXLpOFcfkWL

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Gong Yingxian thought he was disgusting. The person he loved most thought he was disgusting.PnfKMIsEwuMgiopFgjmLvsmlvmmLHU

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Gong Yingxian released his grip. If he stayed any longer, if he continued looking at Ren Yi, he feared he might do something he could never take back. Without another glance, he turned and walked away. His normally upright posture was gone, his shoulders weighed down as if carrying the burden of a thousand pounds.TFrKERcmPZGqGGBcPFoIMrXSgVwRsN

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Ren Yi raised his hand to cover his eyes, but the tears still slipped through his fingers uncontrollably.estyhjgXgRhmfoxjpXFNjTwKUSjIZh

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In truth, he should have known this day would come. He was foolish to believe otherwise. It was his own arrogance, his self-delusion. Gong Yingxian had only ever seen him as a friend, but Ren Yi had overstepped, wanting more. In the end, he reaped the consequences of his actions and hurt Gong Yingxian in the process.yOpqTDMZfJoPIhzvRLqljVQvefhHMF

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He had made Gong Yingxian lose the one person he considered a true, important friend. Worse, he had forced Gong Yingxian to relive painful memories he wished to forget. Gong Yingxian had already carried enough suffering, and Ren Yi had only added to it.zdncyZOYqJtglJLlvtcaFCUqnyeYGL

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He had hurt the very person he wanted to protect the most. He was nothing but a selfish, useless bastard.yWxDdBvocmlSZmrJJcDuBveBJXZEGR

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Suddenly, static crackled from the radio in Ren Yi’s pocket. “Captain Ren, something’s happened. Come to the surveillance room, now!”plTJTUCrzbQCxzcOmoTeVfZzBveRqI

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Ren Yi, struggling to stand, wiped his face, and pressed the radio button. In a low, steady voice, he replied, “On my way.”XyFPMuqsnCBvhWAonZqAWXIqWEzKhd

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