Chapter 99
Gong Yingxian struggled to open the car door and placed Ren Yi on the back seat. Ren Yi lay back comfortably, half-opening his eyes to look at Gong Yingxian, “You’re… taking me home?” His mind felt muddled, his vision blurred, but all he could remember was “home.”spXzOyZGOLbsLQFCKVeNeQSXrNcHje
mKUNAPmPsllkDEn“Yeah.” Gong Yingxian buckled Ren Yi’s seatbelt, took off his coat, rolled it up, and placed it under Ren Yi’s head. “We’ll be there soon; get some rest.”CdSkDocOGCQvdDHRlMcxolSsbLrtuz
WhTkZXVDCRMxvYPRen Yi found Gong Yingxian’s voice soft and gentle. Though he couldn’t see his face clearly in the dim light, he figured it must look warm and kind. Being treated this way while sick… it was nice.WtjExLMquNYBfFAhSNaFsdCWZkbdqM
AvvirFRSUxgkmsrHe closed his eyes peacefully.QbFCctYsQvGaWBWJAUKfqqikSnGhdz
pEJbpmFkKlDVJEXAfter glancing at Ren Yi a few times, Gong Yingxian gently closed the car door, got into the driver’s seat, and drove off.OiqnypdRasEKfsWvNPOnWmfFjRWQbE
jZnYBboVpotvRMoRen Yi’s home was quite a distance away, crossing half of the capital city. By the time they arrived, dawn had broken.AekEzjcBOfFRRDcwyfVIgaVzIeBVtp
ABTvqXtsXujSvMyRen Yi had fallen into a deep sleep. Gong Yingxian opened the car door and, with some effort, pulled Ren Yi out from the back seat, realizing then that his fever had worsened—he was practically unconscious.jDyfesjMMWzbyuJyesooNXALadEWxs
HbHXBefOsFuyabmAnxious, Gong Yingxian scooped Ren Yi up in his arms and hurried upstairs.SvyuhNuLydMacFyiQJlbywhcCjsIxO
JfUNPfbAxkTVPKtWaiting at Ren Yi’s doorstep was Gong Yingxian’s family doctor, with two large boxes at his feet—a medical kit and an insulated container. The doctor was yawning heavily from exhaustion.LRJOOkTvwBwpjpEeAmHGgbCeEpRKsb
kRBvZZJOVuCyNGH“Young Master,” Dr. Wang straightened up at the sight of them, looking more alert. “How’s he doing?”urYEuqxLHxkLbgukQFGkVwfNlVRfoR
dKmOMeIZtabxNxRGong Yingxian replied worriedly, “He’s been out in the cold all night; his fever’s gotten worse.”sCgSwHCBsUtuwnZHyLiHXsPixgpnBa
yLgfjrjtNQQkwnvInside, Gong Yingxian carefully placed Ren Yi on the bed, then stepped aside to give Dr. Wang room to work.zhsQdFEawaXVKIzJDrKkQtnATKhXJI
wKHZQfwoQteKnbrDr. Wang took Ren Yi’s temperature and administered a fever-reducing injection.lLjnRvnNjcXQgEOdfrqUQZkiQyJTkG
KUdetaZaudbUbTTRen Yi mumbled incoherently in his sleep, his body drenched in sweat.IvVOVPFCjLospYsjXtNUGQtvvMvDYc
aOvNDprPPLyefpdGong Yingxian, concerned, asked, “When will his fever go down? Could it cause any lasting harm?”pJqgrRvjrQgCJeFBqUeSJRazMlzPoV
AsucUhINjNyQxTE“39.2°C—not alarmingly high. The injection should help. If you want to bring it down faster, you could rub him down with alcohol.”tGrzDRYNGdUzBMLkODweQdOLmRtRDL
FrKCfWKLdeFVqGV“Rub… rub his body?”bmvAxZnbHLRgCXHbySLJBlopRsiymY
BhVhnvOfemQnWRlDr. Wang nodded, looking at Gong Yingxian expectantly.eZqbydlWCHhhFHwfCHiAWWROkXfTsE
IxHlhNQYGIYsDpzRubbing him down would mean undressing him, and undressing him would…KYFiIedxBcyCVNGRznmPPxBAWTzGla
WAaJXnluMVKSAZMGong Yingxian immediately dismissed the idea, “No need for that.”xAFgrNFKVmRUcKUWjHoizfDzNjqajN
euTFByrOEixXsKVDr. Wang looked relieved. Woken before dawn, he just wanted to get back to sleep. “That’s fine. His condition is stable now. Once he wakes up, have him eat something. The insulated container has food that Steward Sheng prepared; just warm it up. Have him take his medicine half an hour after eating. If he still has a fever by tonight, I’ll come back to give him another injection.”hlFbPidAKMSKbniiHzNjsfmkraCOSX
xooaXQxuwnOwuMLGong Yingxian nodded. “You can go now.”KxTkoXHKkeVXzdzumZghdxIMRThSIm
PzoVUejocEMZdDwDr. Wang glanced at him and advised, “Young Master, you don’t look much better than he does. No matter how busy work gets, you need to take care of yourself. If you keep pushing like this, I’m afraid you’ll end up sick too. If you don’t rest, I’m calling Captain Qiu.”cNXJoqbzVpFfSBOrseoBFRbtQGNeTh
xhOyMPCtaTwxBLjSince New Year’s, Gong Yingxian hadn’t slept more than four hours a night, and exhaustion had definitely caught up with him. After another sleepless night, his eyelids were heavy, and his mind felt weighed down. “Sister Yan has already pushed me to take a break. I’ll take a couple of days off.”QQtgooishKrkJnDEYkGZibJVDrIKkF
JgFVffjuGhIUAhh“Good, call me if anything comes up.”LSKpDJLbDHzXrynAnXAapiuvvxxoVf
ibVbcPAHfUnmqxfAfter Dr. Wang left, Gong Yingxian sat by the bed, quietly watching Ren Yi. His gaze lingered on every inch of Ren Yi’s skin, and he reached out, gently stroking his hair and tracing those handsome features.rfkOClQiFThIKkeWSObbRTPjeXojrN
RtHESPtepSNoweiEven though he didn’t want Ren Yi to be sick, he couldn’t deny that he liked having this version of Ren Yi, completely at his mercy. It allowed him to be as close as he wanted, to touch without restraint, without any need to hold back.TVdEZPeRVPMXGaKpxGyJkfLXIgaYOM
wDKEQmbCRVoEAFWThe only thing missing was a response.UgweWENFznGJjLThKwQmvTerMCgsqG
OTGQubdYVQeXkMHTaking a deep breath, he pulled back Ren Yi’s blanket and removed the sweat-drenched clothes.iJBPCchIqJmcgwXbbUGWUStZqRBLkH
cpDuuduCvehByatRen Yi’s skin had a faint red flush from the fever, and his usually strong limbs now lay limp and weak. As he looked at Ren Yi’s peaceful, sleeping face, Gong Yingxian felt a twinge of guilt. He reminded himself that this was all to help lower the fever. Pouring some alcohol onto a damp cloth, he carefully wiped down Ren Yi’s body.whqMwGuWpKSYSDWlLMgWzXSoZvQbLS
bBnedxZhHJuMHHkBy the time he finished, dawn had fully broken. Gong Yingxian was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open, and he was starving, yet he had no energy to eat. All he wanted now was to get some real rest.mUPhcqeVdmxmQkGMDOcZMuXuvhCyUp
EqOrxYhbjqsaBHzHe carefully slumped down beside Ren Yi, pulling him gently into his arms.cJJDrKcPCCHAzsPxLrzqTBatzCGILf
qpnLZTiipRsjEgeSo warm… He wished he could hold him like this forever.QtNCREgBkQmSyQCRyjUjxWBkIMMBhy
ijckjZvQefCwJnWHis recent bouts of insomnia weren’t just due to the overwhelming workload. The masked figure, Ziyan, had resurfaced, dredging up buried fears and pain. He felt compelled to throw himself into the investigation, to hunt down the culprit relentlessly. If he paused, even briefly, he risked being engulfed by a darkness he couldn’t escape.omwwJOUZOKmkdWnBPyXmeKLUAqdPrP
RxlFckLAejHdWCkThat’s why he feared rest, even dreaded sleep.cDtLXLdctKSeUBdRiRxMWjwIFBSHgI
LhXpFVocmMybLcABut holding Ren Yi, his heart finally felt at ease. All those floating, uncertain, and anxious emotions slowly settled as he absorbed Ren Yi’s warmth. He even forgot about the pillow he usually needed to fall asleep. Just holding Ren Yi like this was enough to let him drift into peaceful slumber.vKCdzqVmZiHhdVOLlREdCngLHZMRgH
DRHdiYziiWNkIcJ***spWeOFUsTwbZWflKDynATOiQZmutEP
NthsnjBhbEhECKtIt was unclear how long he’d been asleep when Gong Yingxian was startled awake by the sound of his phone ringing. Groggy, he grabbed his phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?”ihxFcPYCCCoNrixfAztOuYgRlpAmaW
CgLOgHuPtFdfLHk“Yingxian, are you home?” Qiu Yan’s voice came through.goYwNUVbDiIdMOZVZPhhuWvSdHvJof
heAtomHJyHNttJm“…Yeah.” Gong Yingxian glanced at the still-sleeping Ren Yi beside him. “What’s up? Do you need me at the precinct?” For the first time, he didn’t want to go to work, didn’t want to leave this warm, almost otherworldly little room.JQeEUDRnGLdIADSIOgzjNQcompLUrF
GDivKNDNcqmCUMe“No need. It’s just a document that might’ve been filled out wrong. I wanted to confirm it with you, and also share the preliminary findings on those two bodies.”JZSXhjLLTPfxNYifqIreiVqzNoSvut
gqmoMAcUZlUYlZqGong Yingxian breathed a discreet sigh of relief. “Alright.”noDcDTWGgGgyMRwJwvirmnMzlukEJD
HdVDmZKeOwSwkQVAfter they finished discussing work, Qiu Yan added, “Since you’re home, I’m giving you a two-day break. You can’t keep burning yourself out like this. I’m afraid you’ll wear yourself down before you catch Ziyan, and haste makes waste.”aQDCFSTTobaBBLkufRvLtgCRQRIxht
BPpQCwgqxvnADNf“I understand.”olPAexlOyERKZTtBmJehutLHderGdR
ZDdIJdOalylnzet“I heard Captain Ren was the one who retrieved the bodies from the well last night. I also heard he has a fever?”odkQmdfvmsAsDVviSiKmYCYVkYhbXc
IjDSFXQwmiQwQfB“Yes, he was out in the cold all night.”EcdqVmtjsGmDiXLlyciLyCYUBlZpIh
ErWvBmsvyVzTIdg“He’s really gone above and beyond. I’ll visit him at the hospital later with some health supplements on behalf of the precinct.”YDlFsruBZtOIIOcRBdyFkcFeBeXdwJ
EWVPNDOPLkgkCjE“Uh, that’s… not necessary.”icTDYZzyxHfcGMyhjNiOONKoinuNlJ
gUmRuTDbmuQWEoj“Why not?”KdHKdnrQRwyivEKpqjHAoGvpbRKjWX
cBvnelHhrvzovpqAfter a moment’s hesitation, Gong Yingxian replied, “He didn’t go to the hospital. He’s recovering at home.”ZJRvGchTgRYruENmtIsBhQaCoGenxH
XilqrdvIHGfMlgiQiu Yan, sharp as ever, picked up on Gong Yingxian’s unusual tone and seemed to guess the situation. “Are you at his place?”KFyVlRurHbmAgNSGssRnPNkgHEHUPU
rsuaZkRNnLzHCkA“…Yes.”EffrwalwTHgiNUwKzMtQNUlQnaaAdh
ISUEdEikGuGXfQoQiu Yan fell silent, a silence that made Gong Yingxian inexplicably anxious.dVdZLiGALOAfqXGMwLjJvzcLbtgxfM
fDNEKrQlyiKFCoa“Then take good care of him.”uWxzGtlIDOJbdoLmaAmasSXIvimrfK
wMUUZbTOgCvLPKw“Got it.”yCpLiUcvYIQYewmkAkahUxEiBIoXJi
ZFDJkvVAQIbQDCaAfter hanging up, Gong Yingxian let out a long breath.dhSGPnQckofvQoHlQGvdbfLIlXatlX
ANjbbyGZQzMVsiMSuddenly, Ren Yi’s eyelashes fluttered, his body stirring as if he was about to wake. Startled, Gong Yingxian quickly scrambled off the bed and pulled a chair over to sit by the bedside.bUizbEnadtqriDNvSvVKtEpUzeZySV
fmmUOwUUTGTSytuAfter a moment, Ren Yi awoke, feeling groggy, his throat burning painfully, and his swollen eyelids barely able to stay open.LkmJRcoyOSwVyFnfLQSSyUGgyyVlui
OgUjQRbfrZtbLnrWith one hand propped on the bed, Gong Yingxian leaned over to look at him. “You’re awake.”woMHuULgBSXGvsXVZkTWsDOexJSKEY
RoNjJDHWPaeXzzXRen Yi looked at Gong Yingxian, his mouth opening slightly. “Thirsty.”NHNjjQPJwDDrvfJdNnhKNtwISITcRY
hSKoXsxDWLVmwdLHis voice was hoarse beyond recognition.YsdribjgfFhwhtFcvuSLCTVluYvnvf
GWrNJNEzbphZNzyGong Yingxian helped him sit up against the headboard and poured him a cup of warm water. “Drink slowly; don’t choke.”NJWrBXZDTrmQbxAbnQYCyCSLyiTTar
QAcSNNjUbnsXaFnRen Yi gulped down the entire glass, feeling as though he’d been roasted over a fire all night, thoroughly dehydrated. “Another glass.”ijqAUffGklxCEUcJyBGiraMVnWnYFS
VTBOJbKXQCOaJEmGong Yingxian poured him another. “After you finish, have some porridge. You’ll need to eat before you can take any medicine.”iFuWMAAeuiQhMawkzUZNQQSICcfGaS
BKnWMxGYDkYREQHRen Yi looked at him, bewildered. “You brought me back?”rfwuIrAHVhLPvySUDZxTDapCuugCVf
HatTNlINMZLpBZH“You don’t remember?” Gong Yingxian reached out to check Ren Yi’s forehead. “It doesn’t feel as hot as before.” He handed him a thermometer. “Check again, to see if your fever’s gone down.”gZQAWpDbLQGgKfmqTcxIQAtwpSWrXo
fmeAbnjubmVrBfARen Yi didn’t take it;instead, he continued to stare blankly at Gong Yingxian.bmIKcWgVpSvscSGTJMpZFhzTeVNgwn
QxvOJQSNEdaSggORen Yi’s reactions were a bit slow, his mind stuck on the thought that he was sick, and Gong Yingxian was taking care of him. Such a nice thing—maybe he was feverish and hallucinating.JXpzXkRPYLLqUqxuFBWEiQHeBejXSV
aslqXSWhSzDLrjhWith flushed cheeks, damp eyes, and a sluggish expression, he looked completely different from his usual sharp and robust self. Gong Yingxian had never seen him like this, not even the last time he was hospitalized. Now, Ren Yi looked so weak, so pitiful. Gong Yingxian swallowed quietly, barely able to take his eyes off him. His heart softened into a pool of spring water. He cleared his throat, removed the cap from the thermometer, and said, “Open up.”oFppujIEGkAcjBklxWwuzvuAMKWnDk
AHoSAeuEZhzkWnY“Ah…” Ren Yi obediently opened his mouth.RYyiLCSXReKfWXsdNjlsEGDtwarUCM
EKvEAKgSQbLKKRkGong Yingxian placed the thermometer in his mouth. “Take it out in two minutes. I’ll go warm up some porridge.”kVrbQvLwZjABgfMDDsRMioLiZXTJmR
fqCBTNVTiNmBAnURen Yi held the thermometer in his mouth.rEcaMsRwsTSNllNlXLgaTbvSZkUtkA
EEZMjzZYOdWrXwgUnable to resist, Gong Yingxian reached out and gently pinched Ren Yi’s chin. “Did you hear me?”ZMakMnUhBiboYgvwmeZxzDSCKQfLDB
dZNJPkNUxcWPLXjRen Yi nodded.AxXvNKsBzkiBteKNrerKunqhivNkas
zxMVBrYUskUVSRpOnly then did Gong Yingxian stand and leave.emxwRLGkftYozMSnIXcbytDuoUixEW
SOPIOlARBMTNpRQThe meals Steward Sheng had prepared were in the insulated container and were at just the right temperature—no need for reheating. He took out two white porcelain bowls, filled them with porridge, and added a few light side dishes onto a small plate. Placing everything on a tray, he carried it back to Ren Yi’s room.oKpTNubEeQCsIHrgIUVFNxQprACvAK
eqVUosXNqBwLejr“38.3.” Ren Yi seemed a bit more alert now.noAsFlSaKptrTqgyDUpIkenUlDGiZJ
lxXRmUakcZffGvf“Your temperature’s gone down; it was 39 this morning,” Gong Yingxian said. “Dr. Wang mentioned that if your fever doesn’t subside by tonight, he’ll come back to give you another injection.”EiBoQPQAAdNDEHNnIEuWGyoDitEwws
AziKrvmHpWylFTvRen Yi glanced at the tray. “You haven’t eaten either, huh?”XgJXdpFdYBxyYFfVDHjZJWBFAKxvCp
SdtMmprKmxWpIjT“No, I was too tired, so I slept a bit.”HjFkDBgJnnScIoogRFdLjKpHBHhArr
AmLkBVMJFEXNhKJGong Yingxian placed the tray on the bed, picked up a bowl, and handed it to Ren Yi. “Eat something, then you can take your medicine.”BPZAIrnfZzexLEHZeKyjdQvWfGIVOU
jOADlDLWGFZuzfoRen Yi took the bowl; he was already starving.sMKaLugUeBIbTKvIoVyTQbieKxJOxr
FGvlFMJhtlqDuIvAs the soft, mushy porridge slid down his throat, he felt a bit of relief from the scratchy pain in his throat. While eating, he struggled to piece together his muddled thoughts. “What time did we get back? Who’s handling the follow-up over there?”DFMYgtvkKTzuyfIgurLjODsTfDnltn
CSgTDUotlleXIjK“Around six or seven. There are plenty of people there; you don’t need to worry.”ZKYWJdVtirwrKZQbyqYimqhxmoXdFX
UmCGarKNfpmxKkzRen Yi nodded. “Yang Bo and Captain Yan are there; it should be fine.”jipxsHgrxGdMFOEgSnBPmBErFyiFAB
cxMNEJLjhzOWWkJGong Yingxian didn’t respond; both names Ren Yi mentioned bothered him.ailBvWRxghRtnaNqhJeuQgYvxSImKl
FqUowOoVhwIPxMX“And the two bodies? Were they sent to the forensic lab?”HvqwZmrOdayLliXGscszGqzeGoByJj
HgQOFZioETtAwDv“Yes, they’re looking into their identities now. Yan-jie just told me it’s two females—one adult and one child—possibly mother and daughter. If they are indeed missing together, that’ll be easier to trace.”XUBgmlXihQaMpeQvKNdOygoqjZZADj
kdGRGjAfTIbupYERen Yi didn’t have the energy to get angry, but just thinking about a child among the victims filled him with sorrow. Being sick amplified that sadness, making his chest feel unbearably heavy.fOXRKGACwjzyrIZavjVXcUQlbFijGF
MmncVWztkuZqatL“This mother and daughter should lead us to the killer soon enough. It’s likely that the perpetrator held a strong emotional connection to them, whether love or hate.”GdXXZskXNFcXSwgMTdPamodIfIbttC
GwzDagnkoioUmpZ“How do you know?”aaqxdurOTtCheagcEhJeyliPGBDIoA
QdMNTahshmjDDDO“We’re not sure yet if they were burned alive or if they were killed first and then burned. But then they were dumped into a foundation well, a place where light never reaches. Most arsonists aren’t particularly interested in murder; any deaths are usually incidental. But the way this mother and daughter were treated—burned, then deeply buried—carries a clear message of hatred. It’s almost symbolic, like some twisted punishment. This wasn’t a random killing. The perpetrator knew them.”KKCtUjcUzuqLZaBVHxnGZkzUaAmLzx
gUZbcmgGxSfgannRen Yi struggled to process the words, a chill running through him. His hands trembled, and the bowl nearly slipped from his grip.npnbXefZwGqAmrlGnWGbMviCaDBMqB
mXywMMgqbWHFOXzGong Yingxian quickly reached out, catching both the bowl and Ren Yi’s hand, holding it securely.WcIpfbNKDMegXNniuqgLpmXadVuHcF
GfInOudrdhmOuXTBoth froze, a powerful warmth passing between them, a heat that quietly spread through their bodies.NDepPJlKyyPzhhtBEEwnxiKNZhEgZQ
lUhEwtKvvzNmorVGong Yingxian murmured, “Can’t even hold a bowl properly?”ZeOOdfNdaYyqTchpkhqRvUybmUSrWF
vxenvBlHpjcbRSn“…”uRUJOyJWRNxlFmiOaufwcEGXcCbpCl
LwebfFNdaKbXLri“I’ll feed you.” Gong Yingxian took the bowl from him.HGMKJfCyVRYmVddtcjFmlxnXTOInid
ZFdSJZHvqeUwfWrRen Yi was so stunned he thought he’d misheard, too shocked to think clearly. He stammered, “N-no need.”rUspkUVFbQdJcCaNyojTgIenoaqlbM
gbTQBkZFtDMkYpE“Stop talking.” Gong Yingxian awkwardly scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to Ren Yi’s lips. “Eat.”EiCQcKxQjqKOUdjiWYcENBkngoRUzV
bcRbHlEIIEpuMHLRen Yi stared blankly at Gong Yingxian, opening his mouth stiffly to take a bite.LelIiOkSXwfsLpCdFIeXBwsnhrTZtb
ErcHDZfDgnfogkWAs he watched Ren Yi gaze at him, licking the corner of his lips after each bite, Gong Yingxian felt his cheeks grow hot, wondering if he was getting infected with Ren Yi’s fever.QnaPxLCXlSgNDlMbnKyFJwztesAZcc
ywFmycXzwiSsVlcFinally, after finishing the bowl of porridge, both were drenched in sweat.pjqxzWAgwUNUFixTyVEqbviXofjiLt
RRmJNoEZVUbkPncAfter tidying up the dishes, Gong Yingxian returned, now holding a book. “Do you want to sleep, or would you rather stay awake? If you’re not sleepy, I can read to you.”ciVGvPkTTgNQiVUbxWiviqJdLtgAJx
kLJOlmeDkvlWzBOThis unexpected attention left Ren Yi feeling overwhelmed. “Aren’t you supposed to go back to the precinct?”YiyclYRxuYMfHFMHXnzxeNEZVwvteD
qSQnmEzNONwhLcQ“I’m on break.”WPRimgrPGIqFgtBeXzEEhmeiDxHSir
eKWvFAWpPuPWBfyRen Yi blurted, “Is it to take care of me?”IplKzWKUzPvhOArwdWtlUzzeVfaNAe
RbmNFhtevmtiQuHGong Yingxian froze for a moment before replying, awkwardly, “I haven’t been sleeping well lately. Yan-jie insisted I take a few days off.” He paused, adding, “And… to take care of you, too.”cmWEEWhVDvWteiLCjPcOtkTRBHvSqT
dRheTRnlEejnlIXRen Yi smiled knowingly, happiness lighting his expression. “What book is that?”clPNwovbULxZhyOErezOOMJFymcskP
qdGgOgBjQQKyAYa“A detective novel by Ellery Queen, The Tragedy of X.”ejQMkaDXyHQxVdcbOTrbJxbthdRGwa
xOtgoraAbPwwssd“Alright.”RuwhSEUaRMvxLbrIcQCjqwcLPIZLSF
huUaSsseViIgLTKGong Yingxian opened the book and started reading, barely a line in when—MdIEviBWlfQSiSwWnfMdWLzDGiaLBW
IojEWIgBkCjKhsf“Could you…move a bit closer?” Ren Yi asked, “I have a bit of a ringing in my ears.”EUwuamGQKlzfVvdTWYeYqlNZPqdaQA
hcLZnZwegrIJahAGong Yingxian looked at him for a moment, then shifted to sit on the bed, leaning against the same pillow as Ren Yi.welwzEIbfXsKCGRfcUeJRWhfDoZeBO
joNnlFyJgXUAcEVRen Yi let a contented smile cross his face.wlxYKrNHQPRNDzbnWfjZxgjqhquIPo
AHAYtsSkWOqDOnzNfBbWzNoJKQdHSRGssibRUhpoJGAXq