Chapter 89
At the hospital, the doctor who treated them last time joked, “Are you two aiming to join our VIP list? Just left a few days ago, and now you’re back again.”IzSxYqlNDgJHZBxvMiOUBSinRGTHeb
TzjRsiQNHbMugpRRen Yi forced a smile. “Yeah, do we get a discount, or maybe some sort of cashback?”yiLbBPDzxFYniGuqELfRsMtAYZPQoe
jsmuXbakeduYMGX“Not like you’re paying for it.”YihFRIiMtwTdsbWAlBjEXcVZzZxpmZ
NYumyFWdUlSpUdoAfter a full body check-up, it was already past midnight.nOjzLHsQlEkTPcwjddQOTSqlnThJwq
GxlJkOnTAxljoKkThough there wasn’t any serious harm, they were supposed to rest for a few days. But right now, the two of them couldn’t afford to waste time on recovery.QqHabnJRmUxYqIXjUdIiZcPuaujqPa
zDRWKtmDbhSCQjUPurple Flame had gone completely insane. His conspiracy at the gym may have failed this time, but there was no way he’d give up. Who knew what kind of deranged actions he’d take next? They had to use all their resources to catch him as soon as possible.HJVuElctzLHZmtHpSbJqUeSzbgCFuY
CJAQRWNzwZTuewXLeaving the hospital, Gong Yingxian tossed a pile of bills into the trash.aaAvqHKQaTwYWJVbuaMsFTAiplzcII
PEXWcpIcegNBwbiRen Yi stole a glance at him. “Are you hungry? Do you want to…”UOaRFDlgzQXkdshYBPJWZinBQkxyPz
qiWhtsMlGbrGQoh“I want to get back to the scene.”RBwMCaYOCtQVkmMUbzcFFPgoFjjmWZ
qridmMVzuXqxFtf“Now?” Ren Yi checked his watch; it was nearly three in the morning.SPDfjzCyZKmXQkWUMzLopdNgDKLkUz
BGjSUyKyAwLXZpK“Yan-jie and the others are still there gathering evidence. Right now is the golden hour to catch the criminals.”XdYPxfrrAlhzqIqsCPstQaBzKnFxRT
QPvSmjXxpmanZkj“Then take care of yourself.”cjBWAjOlLBCvttTQSEYTcjasOcAGCV
RbxfSDHSnDzhcEX“Your father isn’t safe at home. After Purple Flame’s setback tonight, he’s very likely to retaliate against us. I’ll send someone to pick him up after dawn.”jODjlgqqhJXtVgvbiBbtFdGsTumCFC
aTWAnOggdremETz“…Alright.” Although it was a bit sudden, Gong Yingxian made sense. Ren Yi couldn’t feel at ease leaving his father home alone. He wanted to go home and stay with him right away.BaegUbArxBJvzZIZPvMMBZUHKhNpkV
HkgmliovEHJDcigGong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi and said sternly, “Also, until we catch Purple Flame, don’t act alone. Stay with the team, and be extra cautious when on duty.”WjZGuyQAmjGWPZrYyceVqyjlASixVM
kdzdMipqznxzijKRen Yi replied, “You too. Whether at home or at work, be doubly careful.”kPKGxJUjFdZvHbvEGVuXNSJuZTwLNR
yrNzyceKDBsRnFkGong Yingxian gave a barely visible nod before turning and walking away.vAcfHtpceAGxOxEHRcFRGQhyypZALj
UlkoYDdXhCnzukhWatching him leave, Ren Yi couldn’t help but sigh. Although they had agreed to “pretend nothing happened,” they both knew this was just a way to save face for each other. They still had numerous work interactions, and when it came to serious matters, they couldn’t be childish enough to play cold war or cut off ties.MtxnwMWAVVsRERrqQSOHHQAQJPUrtV
wfPjjpGBIVHJqAjYet, the rift between them remained.QjgWHtnqcZsegOCzEsLaQZGvuurXly
WJHHwuvSJYyIJJl***hCHvVIkeEdtinGYAULcvTHwoXHmCJQ
yGSWrZpQXgdbeICArriving home.fCgjnJAIeWQXBpVWGUDVxIriLkHpGv
XnZaOgZCCKxhLhNThe night-shift caretaker was startled awake, but Ren Yi quickly shushed her and quietly made his way to Ren Xiangrong’s room. He opened the door and saw his father sleeping peacefully. The tension that had weighed on him all night finally eased.NnbbjqkCvXMwiLIFmjqVoaTjtpXcnw
CAyCwNwvyGxMoiSHe returned to his own room, collapsed onto his bed, feeling both exhausted and drained, not wanting to move a single finger.wJFLRXYdXurisjLbLDjbWDkchVdokp
ZfShUqboIyCahUhThe events of this night felt as though they had spanned a century. His long-awaited first date with Gong Yingxian had been completely ruined. His emotions had been a rollercoaster, swinging from joy to sadness, from fear to disappointment, leaving him with a tangle of mixed feelings.NVWlKgLvkNDkJxCpQhaalBjkYYidpu
BJqiamiMZyyHvQvClosing his eyes, Gong Yingxian’s face appeared in his mind. He no longer had the energy for intense emotions; now, he just wanted a good night’s sleep. Maybe he could dream about Gong Yingxian—a sweet dream.WSIvztoHUoZQXCKXymqJoUcFctoEsA
IlxARZHjueePgrRAnd with that, he drifted into sleep.qtQJcJxDOjGITGoIvNZRIOPubuToWK
uumKVXUzghCpALE***ImKVJiWylvglefciqrUycELSMkLXiT
pqIEgyeAQzJkdqAThe next morning, Gong Yingxian sent a car.vhWFYtsVKPbSXufSkkfznoJPwWkzwr
OvfDArymBzSjyHuRen Yi had already spoken with his father, but he hadn’t mentioned the hospital or his connection to Gong Yingxian, not wanting his father to overthink it. However, packing his bags so early in the morning did lead to a few grumbles from his father: “Why the rush?”rDwgzDeHNMFlUaSswZAfrXrJXiiyPB
xrUWPUhtZCySEgmWith recent events becoming increasingly severe, Ren Yi felt even more reluctant to tell his father. If even he couldn’t feel safe, how could he convince his father not to worry? The only way to truly ensure his father’s safety was to send him to a secure, undisclosed location with 24-hour security and proper care, and Gong Yingxian’s hospital was the best option for that.fCpqyZDOwQquoEERZfWDyFJpYaRAkJ
mXzdoBkOeDNxBmKOnce they arrived at the hospital, all arrangements had been made. Dr. Han called Ren Yi aside, saying earnestly, “Captain Ren, rest assured leaving the former captain with us. Dr. Gong personally instructed us, and our entire staff is taking this very seriously.”HlsqThYEdahUHwDbVvsWgGaJAryDOt
fSrhDUYiUyRqCgD“Thank you for the trouble.” Ren Yi glanced up. “There are cameras all over here, right?”oEXqtbFZFkKlOeqCgCSfQcrnKCImgP
YzaHWqFcCmKlZoa“Yes, 24-hour security and care—it’s very safe,” Dr. Han replied with a smile. “You’re welcome to visit anytime. We’ll keep you updated on his treatment and rehabilitation.”tyfsjXrkCRwEXTkXmIpLPAQfvsiifi
RVUCrGDHTtznROJ“Alright, thank you very much.”SSDvPGkzjHCfEvFRGkboKKpscjvMpD
TUnDHFBJRlbeKcVReturning to the room, Ren Xiangrong was busy familiarizing himself with the bedside smart controls. Seeing his son, he said, “The facilities here are really nice.”AfEFJwkNKpdqVwHdWNdwyEadGUdAGZ
BkZiwZSOJjzsGNSRen Yi smiled.LUQgepOQctIlGgGczgpNmmDbssfhkj
aIRJqjsxXSlRLjH“How much does it cost per month?” Ren Xiangrong asked, a bit uneasy. “This place has to be more expensive than a nursing home, right?”LxFowvcuGNpVAPrMHoLfZatAlLnRpP
WRWeFMNxfkffhKp“Your insurance covered part of it, and the hospital has a veterans’ healthcare program, so it didn’t cost much.”ZPGnECcbKwwwiRZtopDBTqsmMuBppj
VTwNRzLuIMSbsTS“Really?” Ren Xiangrong said happily. “That’s excellent.”ZRKtZsfSFKcqSuLjHuhCafOhXJgREA
epHJpasFdQcwmMIRen Yi sat by his bedside and gently said, “Dad, I’ll be really busy for a while, so I might not be able to visit often, but we can video call, alright?”UytMMyzixrKQbqRYcnWNGVeoLnZlwQ
wPdMkqCWTJyKnPU“Don’t treat me like a child. You go on with your work. The lunar new year’s coming up in a month, so I’m sure you’ve got a lot on your plate.” Ren Xiangrong glanced at him. “Did you work all night on duty? You look worn out—your face is a bit pale.”FdyqQkMerONrDLLezWmQGBtPJNBhGj
bZhkyeoOCKNnAuK“Yeah, it went late. Concerts come with a lot of aftermath to handle.”NODPTozHPcCqrbyZuFHzXOvartmUbB
ShmnctXBnQPster“I watched a bit on TV before I went to bed. All that noise isn’t my thing. Everything went smoothly, though?”MOuaIQCRniwGZAZurzMADtpkEsLlSd
HmmklNscIZhaVGVRen Yi managed to keep his expression calm. “Smoothly. I even got an autograph from a big celebrity.” Last night’s events had been completely locked down. Even if some attendees sensed something was off, they’d have no way to confirm or uncover it.fHFFuelIqASzTFFbHoewbTqzaimOQQ
bikVnnrTLNrMQVbAfter settling his father in, Ren Yi barely had time for a meal before he had to rush back to his team.taZzUsTCgJWcmHmjZfPpDQuviLiiPf
slqGBnFQPPurmCmOn the way, he received messages from Xu Jin and Gong Yingxian. Xu Jin wanted him to attend a meeting with Qu Yangbo in the afternoon at the task force, regarding the recent incident. Meanwhile, Gong Yingxian asked him to come to the precinct in the afternoon to record a statement.uqYEsqiUMfhicKAAeBHRsGUClPlHEM
HtRJrESNntMtNsMBack at the station, Ren Yi was immediately surrounded by the team, all eager to hear details of last night. Normally, he’d jump at the chance to embellish his heroic deeds, but right now, he was in no mood for boasting. This involved Gong Yingxian—and even more gravely, Purple Flame.eIKlfcjBsfAavOlXouOxxxqSlbDaTt
thYFCCQNhZrjEhFHe called everyone into the conference room, his tone serious. “For the past few months, I’ve been working closely with the police on a case. I haven’t shared many details with you, but after what happened at Hongwu Hospital, many of you have some idea. We’re dealing with a cult organization that uses arson as their main crime. The near-disaster at last night’s concert was also their doing.”ohHqVEgBCPpdVhxiOwBHNUOVUysurh
JNJIVEEXrJipkvsThe gravity of his words spread through the room, everyone’s expressions turning solemn.nSCsYhoWuWSZTkLLSJNoRktxsstJxy
wLeemSEvBndhfIk“The concert incident must remain strictly confidential; I don’t need to say more about that. What I want to address is our work moving forward. This organization is both evil and unhinged. Based on the police’s current investigation, they’ve been responsible for numerous arson cases across the country over the years, many of which were disguised as accidents. They’ve managed to stay hidden, but their frequent atrocities and the police’s deepening investigation have finally brought them into the light. Now, the leader of this organization has started making moves—whether it’s out of revenge or provocation. If last night’s concert had gone according to his plan, the damage would have been immeasurable. Since it didn’t, he’s not likely to let it go easily. His actions will only get more erratic and unhinged, and we need to be mentally prepared for that.”OhVqyMcDVjTqURaSPJpppHaxHnomKg
hsEFMGHTHGgfceFQu Yangbo asked gravely, “How much information do the police have on them now?”VEgIDLPCWfbXrObpSXNVCZPbWkxVCl
OQEPLdcGEPIxvyi“They’ve gathered a lot and recently captured one member alive. I’m confident the police will bring down this organization, but evidence gathering and arrests take time. Until they’re all caught, we have reason to believe that firefighters are one of their primary targets.” According to Gong Yingxian’s analysis, firefighters, as the ones who fight fire with fire, are the ultimate representatives of what Purple Flame considers “evil souls.”HdwDBKFBpGOhrNRbTjewfoiBvbBOQk
ZucTIbhHYlEunkuThe team exchanged concerned looks.qbltGrxJdjhzBwpbICMBzyveDiBOzr
nLcvQeIJmCiDolO“This afternoon, I have to head to the precinct to give a statement, and I’ll be attending a meeting with our commander at the task force. This crisis isn’t just a threat to the public or the police; it’s a threat to the fire department as well. This organization is made up of indoctrinated arsonists with specialized knowledge, and since we’ve been involved in several previous rescue operations related to their cases, they’ve set their sights on me. They’re likely to escalate to actions that could endanger the entire unit.”PSNsMijzknSZmxEOlSLWpNNglFOjFW
OSiWQuxieBetvBIGao Ge said, “We’re not afraid of those sons of bitches.”KaMBKgohltxtwuFEQsHMgiyAgimhJO
BNMpvmpIsypeKGp“Yeah, not afraid of them. If they dare to come, we’ll spray them down with water guns.”OIGeONsKRidorZtXgRmynaBAPHIlXG
adSciCQirLoconP“I know none of us are afraid. We’re on the side of justice, and justice doesn’t need to fear evil. But from now on, I need everyone to, first, avoid acting alone as much as possible, and second, to be extra careful on every dispatch. There could be traps laid out by that organization. This afternoon, we’ll also be discussing with the division on how to better ensure everyone’s safety while still handling our daily tasks.”YWABKJuDDkIoXifWxfvXwjAafKqqOo
hFKmAXxfVEbfvpUAfter the meeting, Qu Yangbo said heavily, “I never thought things would escalate this far. I thought it was just some dark web operation abroad. Who would’ve guessed it would connect to so many cases?”skmlhCEgzzCvwJmmvtRgYAeyIJqLyF
EYnAkdmzPscVgak“If it didn’t connect to so many cases, then the previous victims would never have received justice, and there’d be even more victims in the future.” Ren Yi took a deep breath. “This also proves that their time is up.”HcrXsJsylITZkWqLaHUbmCxGdCGBOF
vcEcGInOvAuEltyQu Yangbo glanced at his watch. “What time are we heading to the division? The command team is taking this very seriously. This morning, the leadership from the Public Security Bureau met with our command team. Now, both fire and police departments need to fully cooperate, and Captain Chen wants to sit down and discuss things with us.”rkSuCaajHaTdVwCmHrzpyqqaLYAnyx
LyBZEQqjUcksaPL“I need to stop by the substation first to record a statement. Why don’t you come with me, and afterward, we can head to the division together?”mzPALyMhZoKwCjuptWQSdreVNetnyB
jqSkeOdGEVWVXEf“Alright, let’s go.”DfathWxJwyTXBhCOHDrjfFGjaHVoMS
CbwQHjFvQsyVwEKOn the way, they talked about the details from last night, and Qu Yangbo said earnestly, “Ren Yi, I know you’re passionate and all, but don’t forget—your father still needs you, and the Phoenix Squad brothers need you, too. You can’t just throw your life away.”cmJVXHrSpGbYfepTqcXKWhbTeeMjsk
GEIbIpBIYehMopZRen Yi forced a relaxed tone. “Who said I’m throwing my life away? I’m plenty attached to it. Last night was a dire situation—what else could I have done?” It wasn’t that he didn’t fear death; it’s just that everyone has something worth defending with their life. If he hadn’t handled the bomb, Gong Yingxian would have been in danger, and so would the audience below. At that moment, he had no time to think; it was just instinct.KckyWAXZfoAdPBszPWTmqfrmgFAAJl
yYIrkLuIXBaxzMLQu Yangbo took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. “Honestly, I’m a bit scared.”DuDUyRvuKoJRSoVIoiGYDerSgWVmSL
ygwtULEbCHLQROTRen Yi looked at Qu Yangbo, feeling a pang of discomfort.dTswEpTglziOHnZOGOvhLBZPXAYfVV
pvcNKzEvOVZuVBZ“At first, I thought it was just an isolated case. We’ve seen our share of nasty, perverse crimes, but I never imagined it’d be an organization. Frankly, I’m really a bit scared. I worry about your safety, and I worry about everyone’s safety.”MjenZuQvQGnUebrZUdTxhklLLaEZWx
rzwrUyjonPpgowu“I understand. I’m scared too,” Ren Yi said with a bitter smile. “This morning, I sent my dad away early. The leader of that damn cult might have his sights set on both me and Dr. Gong.”XBYlseVukComtAPlreMcsRJlWvzOsw
zhqXhUhGdOCbEjg“You did the right thing. Don’t act alone anymore from now on.”HXuuNXLanNlHHHUdJkXwCWNOchlEoU
VRzNLEvnVhkeEWLRen Yi nodded. “Believe that evil cannot triumph over justice. We’ll catch them.”VnZJRDvlFoxIctbNGdRunkuHYqfzij
nXzeKWoeERXlukpWhen they arrived at the substation, Ren Yi went in to give his statement, but noticed that the atmosphere there felt different. The female officers, who usually greeted him warmly, barely acknowledged him today, instead chatting excitedly among themselves.vVMoisNtVoQkmACMDpbuHYiXmOrrbu
hNFfDpZDzTBcHdxGong Yingxian and Cai Qiang were already there. Cai Qiang said, “Ren, you should have come a bit earlier. Engineer He just left. He even asked about you.”KAqESaBuLjfASQeVVoDYnCDbRXStmX
TYcNvgEJaWqpqeD“Engineer He just left? Did Song Juhan come with him?”ynGJAHAXgwZmlXAzmFIRxIAXzAnrUE
NdwCOiZNriFPfvC“Yeah, a celebrity through and through—damn good-looking, too.”yrJhhtvLYFbDEtoAChXdyZOZcyXUhN
JljbJLBtRbEKcUQRen Yi immediately understood why the female officers were so excited.YlfYNxLhsBWfcCzOohBChVAddogdSY
XDxlCtxijWLDeuZCai Qiang, being nosy, asked, “Hey, are those two really… you know? I don’t follow this stuff, but Xiao Gao and the others just told me that He and Song are a gay couple.”DwvDbmmHEwYyVKlWKednisLdMmpyfY
JcJkbZGbffzmBdGRen Yi sneaked a glance at Gong Yingxian, whose face had darkened; just hearing the word “gay” probably made him uncomfortable.kzcleQLIiBCrBItvfPJLXgoNzwbtCe
hdSiCxgEgezvDWVGong Yingxian cleared his throat. “Let’s focus on the case.”GxMGKlOYHEsFGiQokEkwZHOodJujxB
rSOHRuWvizMRHlBRen Yi recounted everything that happened last night in detail, though the entire process didn’t take long since Gong Yingxian already knew most of it.UtWKORfOfIlTXtdYUveHyTVbCMmVmo
erkSthZEVzkBmUROnce his statement was recorded, Cai Qiang went off to handle other matters, leaving the two of them alone, facing each other awkwardly.EmnOTpPDQUWiyfcKRmwpJagrnzbvhg
qDhTNswyEHoaQnrRen Yi scratched his head. “So, how’s Wang Rui?”AiJaRVKTEcxauwEYETfbibIzzygkvH
wsJHJLAUhTotgNj“He made it through surgery; he’ll live,” Gong Yingxian replied. “We’ve investigated him thoroughly. Purple Flame is particularly skilled at brainwashing people who have trouble fitting into society. We’ll bring in his family and work with psychologists to intervene. Once we get him out of X Cult’s influence, he’ll cooperate with us. Purple Flame just handed us a valuable witness.”aCaSbKctcZUyDuLmGQEwpUJhxcATFA
ONhRYkSuocTSjoO“That’s great,” Ren Yi said. “By the way, my dad is settled in at the hospital, thanks for that.”KxLxoKEyzFnTtSXnGfSBOdhIaWNtcE
uWBogdbsyPOdvGP“No need to thank me.”itpVVbfDEhqXXFXOziACJVGsuhKyoC
jeXsmJBJlYuelvSSilence fell over them again, filled with an uneasy tension.fVTSKUxgzyIPqTVeiSyYeUSseKhSXf
fZZSntSIoLbSCPYThey had once been friends who could talk endlessly. Yet now, in the blink of an eye, it had come to this.zilBPVgbAogqQYfyWxPZdYNgCyjmQh
uXVoWwolkHDAaTlGong Yingxian gathered his documents. “I heard that the police and fire department higher-ups met this morning. They’re allocating more resources to this case. We’ll catch Purple Flame soon.”tdVXSXPievOiACAjhlPgIhykJwKHkq
fEmtLJiZqoAqfWzRen Yi gazed fondly at Gong Yingxian’s face. “With you on the case, we definitely will.”TIxYqpiyigmrfvovhJxwFrpDvqNVfP
gaXsKaFVwCXBdlsExpressionless, Gong Yingxian stood up. “I’m heading out.”MTskuqdutNRRaCaCsfzxRiQjKLDkVX
izHRlxqhahGGHNe“About the fire investigation, when are we doing it?” Ren Yi asked. “Now that your family’s case is connected to this organization, maybe we’ll find some linked clues.”SaavAWTbpHffXbtjCglPmqqIHicPDl
poPtMXuYBskoRoF“I hardly have any time; it’ll have to be in the middle of the night.”PchwMSCtNBpqHlLXIsznfQizZOMYmE
wlPemkDzqMKecMk“Then middle of the night it is,” Ren Yi said. “This matters a lot to you, so it matters to me, too.”KACImuNESyZpaVOhtyRErptxinqRtF
tEBpwOuMtxBxsGsGong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi. “Why does it matter to you?”GieRGhjtgLrJEFuiHqGUzWcDXkRKaS
BGVnqRsyNjtnpXu“Uh, because… if it matters to you, it matters to me.” After saying that, Ren Yi’s heart raced, uncertain if he had crossed a line.VmMnHumGYekLoFtPRTHFMHBEdCimve
gOqmANkdcHRJlpKGong Yingxian felt a pang in his chest. He knew, of course, that Ren Yi cared about him, that he wanted the best for him. And precisely because of that, it was becoming harder and harder to suppress his possessive feelings toward him.GKMapQEJNGbRwOQfhrwjjxyKHaQIOl
yMEcKKuWtLTasljHe was holding himself back, though he didn’t know for how much longer he could.qHKrYozgTnNSuxyjZGfeSBqjfuDnhe
aHKwdveYshbmShWiNdFMzSfFEUFOKLoJAowpgTGgfVRxN