At the very moment of the explosion, two firefighters jumped out through a second-floor window. Flames mixed with flying debris snapped at their backs as they covered their heads and rolled across the ground, tumbling more than ten meters away.
Everyone rushed over and beat out the sparks clinging to their bodies. One of the men had broken his leg and was howling in pain.
“What about the others?” Xu Jin asked anxiously.
“Captain Wang… Captain Wang took some men down using the aerial ladder over there.”
Just then, Wang Meng and two other firefighters came around from behind the building, carrying an injured person. Their faces were blackened with soot, and they were covered in grime.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Gao Ge’s voice suddenly came over the radio. “The fire is spreading this way. The hot pot restaurant isn’t going to hold out much longer.”
Xu Jin issued an order. “Set up a monitor on the east side to cut off the spread of the fire. Each of the three squadrons will deploy two hose lines and attack from the west, south, and north. Make sure we surround the fire.”
“Yes, sir!”
The bar was already engulfed in flames. Whether there were still survivors inside or not, they could no longer go in.
When a building catches fire, firefighters often cannot simply spray water directly into it. The first priorities of firefighting are rescuing people and controlling the spread of the fire. Controlling the fire means containing its spread and preventing the burned area from growing larger. It is like a table catching fire: if the table is already beyond saving, you have to use water to cool the chair first. Otherwise, you will lose both the table and the chair.
When people are still inside a burning building, rescuers must first free those who are trapped. A limited amount of water can be used for cooling, clearing a path, and providing cover, but water cannot be applied over a large area. Before the water can suppress the flames, the fireground may produce steam at temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius, turning the scene into a giant steam oven. Even people wearing protective gear would have difficulty surviving in such conditions. In addition, fires in buildings commonly cause steel reinforcement to deform. Spraying water at that point intensifies the deformation through thermal contraction and expansion, while the weight of the water increases the load on the floor slabs, raising the risk of collapse.
When all the water monitors and hose lines are opened to full capacity, it effectively means the incident commander believes there are no survivors inside—or that even if there are, they can no longer be rescued.
The injured civilians and firefighters were gradually taken away by ambulances. A group of soot-covered firefighters stood in front of the bar in silence, watching streams of water shoot into the fireground, watching fire and water savagely tear into each other. The flames pushed against the water, and the water suppressed the fire’s power. They struggled, twisted around each other, and fought desperately.
They did not know how many bodies would eventually be recovered from inside. They did not know whether anyone would miraculously survive.
The people who had come to this bar that night had come to relax and celebrate. They had expected happiness and laughter. Who could have imagined that this place would become the end of the road for some, and a lifelong nightmare for others?
Two hours later, the fire was finally extinguished.
Xu Jin spent another ten-odd minutes inspecting the exterior walls. Only after determining that there was no immediate risk of collapse did he allow the firefighters to enter the building with their hose lines, extinguish the remaining flames, check for hidden fire, and search for possible survivors and the bodies of the victims.
By dawn, they had recovered twenty-seven bodies from the ruins. The bodies were arranged in rows on the ground, waiting for the medical authorities to come and handle them.
Most of them had died from smoke inhalation and poisoning, and their bodies were still relatively intact. Those who had been burned, trampled, or crushed beneath the rubble were in an even more horrifying condition.
The Fourth Perspective had been burned down to almost nothing but its framework. The hot pot restaurant beside it had also suffered fire damage over nearly half its area, but fortunately, the flames had been brought under control. The smell of burning hung in the air, blending into the cool, crisp morning atmosphere like ink staining a pool of clear water.
After fighting through the entire night, Ren Yi led his exhausted firefighters back to the squadron.
Not a single person spoke along the way.
Although the cause of the fire was not yet known, the bar would bear enormous responsibility for the accident. Locked emergency exits, decorative materials that did not meet the required fire-resistance rating, and a fire sprinkler system that had failed to function had all been major factors in the loss of control over the fire and the entrapment of the victims.
After returning to the squadron, everyone removed their equipment, took showers, and then rested together.
After his shower, Ren Yi collapsed weakly onto his bed and called the brigade to ask about the situation.
As of that point, twenty-nine people had died, twelve were critically injured, and more than a hundred had suffered minor injuries. Each of the three squadrons had also sustained injuries among its personnel. One firefighter from Luoxiangkou Squadron was seriously injured.
After hanging up, Ren Yi’s phone displayed a push notification from a news app. It was about the fire at the Fourth Perspective bar. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not open it. He closed his eyes and drifted into a deep, groggy sleep.
When he woke up, it was already afternoon. Ren Yi felt ravenously hungry, so he pulled a bag of potato chips out of the cabinet and lay flat on the bed, feeding himself one chip after another. He simply did not want to get up.
His mind was filled with images from the fireground: the fierce flames, the desperate and helpless faces, and the lifeless bodies that would never move again. They lingered before his eyes, impossible to drive away.
Even though he had grown accustomed to accidents and casualties, it was still difficult for him to accept such a tragedy.
Suddenly, Ren Yi’s phone rang. It was Xu Jin.
Ren Yi adjusted his emotions before answering. “Chief of Staff.”
“Ren Yi, have you gotten enough rest?”
“I’m fine.”
“How are your firefighters?”
“Two of them haven’t come back from the hospital yet, but there’s nothing seriously wrong with them.”
“That’s good.” Xu Jin paused. “This accident was extremely tragic. There’s been a huge public reaction online, and the higher-ups are taking it very seriously. They want the cause of the fire determined as soon as possible and the responsible parties held accountable.”
Ren Yi gave a quiet “Mm.” “Has the fire investigation made any progress?”
“The preliminary assessment is that the fire started at the sofa in one of the private rooms. But the scene was so badly damaged that we can’t yet determine whether it was an accident or arson. Several people responsible for the bar have already been detained, and the police have become involved.”
“The police got involved before the fire investigation was complete?”
“Yes. The bar owner insists that someone set the fire and that he was the target of retaliation. But a survivor from the private room said that someone accidentally started the curtains on fire while smoking.”
“The owner says it was arson?”
“The suspect he named has already been taken in for questioning, but the person has an alibi,” Xu Jin said. “Ren Yi, I want you to participate in this fire investigation.”
“…Why?”
“Our brigade’s fire investigation department has always been understaffed. One person retired this year, and two others are on leave. This accident has had an enormous social impact, so the leadership wants results quickly. Besides, you were the one who responded to this rescue operation. You understand the situation better than they do. I want you to cooperate fully with the police in determining the cause of the fire.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Be at the scene tomorrow at nine. The investigators will be there too. I’ll also assign you an assistant from the fire investigation department.”
After hanging up, Ren Yi let out a sigh.
He had once interned in the fire investigation department. Not only was he familiar with the procedures, but he had also inherited his father’s investigative abilities from his mentor. Combined with his years of firefighting experience, he was already a fully qualified fire investigator in his own right.
Actually, he had never liked returning to fire scenes. But because his work required close cooperation with the fire investigation department and the police, he had no choice. He simply had not expected that this time, he would be the one conducting the investigation.
——
The next morning, Ren Yi returned to Bar Street. The area had already been sealed off.
After showing his credentials, Ren Yi entered through the cordon and arrived in front of the ruins of the Fourth Perspective. Looking at the remains of what had once been a thriving bar, he felt a heavy knot in his chest.
Footsteps sounded behind him. Before Ren Yi could turn around, a familiar voice called out, “Captain Ren.”
Ren Yi turned and saw Song Bei walking toward him. To his surprise, Gong Yingxian was accompanying him.
When they came closer, Ren Yi and Song Bei shook hands.
“Captain Ren, you’ve worked hard,” Song Bei said with a sigh. “It hasn’t been easy for you all.”
“It’s what we’re supposed to do.” Ren Yi gave a bitter smile. “It doesn’t matter how hard we work. The hardest part is knowing we couldn’t save even one more person.”
Song Bei patted Ren Yi on the shoulder. “Disasters and accidents happen. There’s nothing you can do about it. Don’t dwell on it too much.”
Ren Yi nodded and glanced at Gong Yingxian.
Song Bei said, “Oh, Gong is in charge of the preliminary investigation for this case. I told the Hongwu Brigade that they absolutely had to send a fire expert to assist us with the fire investigation. I didn’t expect them to send you. What a coincidence.”
Ren Yi’s eyes widened as he looked at Gong Yingxian.
Gong Yingxian stared back at him without blinking, his expression calm and composed.
“What’s wrong?” Song Bei asked curiously.
“It’s just that… Officer Gong is so young…”
“Oh, are you worried that he lacks experience? Don’t worry. Gong has specifically studied criminal-investigation techniques related to fires. When it comes to this kind of specialized case, no one in our precinct is more professional than him.” Song Bei turned to Gong Yingxian. “Gong, make sure you cooperate properly with Captain Ren.”
Gong Yingxian nodded expressionlessly. “Yes.”
Song Bei pulled Ren Yi aside. “Captain Ren, this young man’s personality is a little… well, you know. He isn’t targeting anyone specifically, so don’t take it personally. If there are any problems, tell me. I’ll have to trouble you to be a little more understanding.”
Ren Yi gave Gong Yingxian a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Don’t worry.”
“Then you two get to work. I was just passing by, and I have other things to do, so I’ll be leaving first.”
“Goodbye, Captain Song.”
After Song Bei left, the two of them stood beside the ruins, staring awkwardly at each other.
Ren Yi cleared his throat. He told himself to be the bigger person and let bygones be bygones. Everything was for work. He shook his head and said, “Come on. Let’s go take a look inside.”
“You’re a fire expert?” Gong Yingxian asked skeptically.
Ren Yi let out a mocking laugh. “I didn’t question you, and you still dare question me? I could recite the specifications of firefighting equipment when I was a kid.”
“You questioned me five minutes ago.”
Ren Yi said awkwardly, “Oh. Then I guess we’re even. Come on. Do I need to roll out a red carpet for you?”
Gong Yingxian glanced at the ruins, and his expression darkened. He took a mask and shoe covers from his briefcase, put them on, and then entered the fire scene.
Qiu Wen from the fire investigation department was already inside collecting samples. He walked over. “Hello, Captain Ren.”
Ren Yi nodded. “Go ahead and do your work. I’ll call you if I need anything.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ren Yi turned to Gong Yingxian. “Let’s go upstairs and take a look.”
Gong Yingxian surveyed the surroundings, his sharply arched brows drawn tightly together. He seemed extremely resistant to this place.
After going upstairs, they found the private room where the fire had started. The room had burned particularly thoroughly. The sofa had been reduced almost entirely to a battered wooden frame, the curtains had been burned into tatters, and the suspended ceiling had completely collapsed, exposing walls blackened by soot.
Ren Yi carefully examined the scene. “The smoke V-pattern is here. The point of origin should be the sofa, but the survivor said the curtains caught fire first. Assuming the curtains ignited first…” His gaze moved upward. “When synthetic-fiber curtains burn, they produce flaming molten droplets. Sparks can scatter everywhere, landing on sofas and carpets and causing them to ignite. Mm, it’s possible, but the spread pattern doesn’t fit.”
Gong Yingxian examined the area. “A sofa filled with foamed resin sponge would initially only smolder if ignited by small molten droplets or sparks. It wouldn’t produce open flames at first, and the fire wouldn’t spread that quickly.”
“Exactly. Assuming the curtains caught fire first, the flames would rise, and smoke would spread through the central air-conditioning vents. The fire would burn inside the suspended ceiling, eventually causing it to collapse and ignite the sofa. That could explain why the sofa burned like this, but in that case, the most severe fire damage should have been on the ceiling.”
Ren Yi shook his head. He picked up a broken piece of gypsum board from the floor and turned it over, showing it to Gong Yingxian. “Sure enough, the soot marks on the side facing the floor are heavier than those on the side facing upward. Assuming the sofa was the point of origin, the fire ignited the curtains, causing the room to burn over a large area. It then ignited the suspended ceiling, and the smoke plume rose upward, forming a V-shaped soot pattern centered on the sofa. Finally, the ceiling collapsed. Only then would the scene make sense.”
Gong Yingxian said, “So the curtains definitely weren’t the first thing to catch fire?”
“No. Just as the fire investigation department initially determined, it was the sofa.” Ren Yi looked at him. “What’s the situation with the survivor?”
“A twenty-year-old student. She’s still in the hospital. She was frightened, and there’s a possibility that her memory is confused. At present, we can’t determine whether she deliberately lied.”
“We haven’t found any traces of an accelerant either.” Ren Yi walked around the room. “The sofa burned this badly, so there’s no way to tell by looking at it now. We’ll need to collect samples and send them to the laboratory for testing.”
“The electrical wiring…” Gong Yingxian examined every inch of the scene. “There are no signs that the wiring caused the fire either.”
Beneath a pile of unidentifiable debris, he discovered a small piece of material that had softened and then cooled. Carefully, he picked it up with his gloved hand and held it up to the sunlight.
“Glass?” Ren Yi asked.
“Mm. It might have come from a cup.”
Ren Yi pulled a warped, fire-damaged cup from beneath the broken coffee table. “This is one of the bar’s cups. I don’t know what kind of glass you’re holding, but clearly, the melting points of these two pieces are different. They aren’t made of the same material.”
“It could also have come from a plate, an ashtray, or some other container,” Gong Yingxian said. “But this piece was found some distance away from the coffee table, underneath the sofa. And it had already been shattered. Most tableware nowadays is designed to resist breaking, especially in places like bars and KTV lounges.”
Ren Yi said, “It is a little suspicious. Give it to Qiu later, and we’ll send it to the laboratory for testing together.”
The two of them examined the area again but found nothing new. They went downstairs. Ren Yi was explaining to Qiu Wen which items needed to be sampled when Gong Yingxian had already walked quickly outside.
Ren Yi followed him out. “Hey, what about that piece of glass?”
With his back to him, Gong Yingxian slowly removed his mask but did not respond.
Ren Yi walked around to face him. “Hey…” He froze.
Gong Yingxian’s face was deathly pale, his lips almost completely drained of color. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and he was struggling to breathe. His weak appearance was almost pitiful.
Ren Yi was startled. “Are you all right? What happened?”
Gong Yingxian shook his head and handed him the piece of glass. Then his body swayed.
Ren Yi immediately grabbed his arm. “What the hell is wrong with you? Did you get heatstroke? I mean, seriously, why are you wearing a mask and gloves in the middle of summer?”
Gong Yingxian turned his head and glared at him. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but his breathing only became more rapid.
Ren Yi frowned. “Why are you glaring at me? You’re seriously such a strange person. Still glaring? What, am I too handsome for you to get enough of looking at me?”
Suddenly, Gong Yingxian’s stomach churned violently, and he vomited.
Ren Yi’s face turned grim. He felt insulted.
Gong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi’s arm with his other hand. His grip was so strong that the skin on Ren Yi’s arm turned blue. Ren Yi bared his teeth slightly, enduring the pain without saying a word.
Gong Yingxian steadied himself and said hoarsely, “Water.”
Ren Yi shouted, “Qiu! Is there any water and tissues in the car? Go get some!” He helped Gong Yingxian toward a shaded area. “Come on, sit down first.”
Qiu Wen quickly brought over water and tissues, then looked at Ren Yi questioningly. Ren Yi pursed his lips, shook his head, and looked thoroughly unhappy.
“Here.” Ren Yi handed the items to Gong Yingxian.
Gong Yingxian used almost an entire bottle of mineral water to rinse his mouth. Then he used two more bottles to wipe the corners of his mouth and the suit pants splattered with vomit.
Ren Yi also used tissues to wipe his own shoe. Then he watched Gong Yingxian perform a magic trick of sorts, pulling wet wipes, disinfectant spray, masks, gloves, and a bottle of medicine from his briefcase. With the meticulous care of someone polishing a work of art, Gong Yingxian repeatedly cleaned himself. Finally, he took his medicine, threw away the shoe covers, and changed into a fresh mask and gloves.
Ren Yi felt exhausted just watching him. “What exactly is wrong with you?”
“I hate fire.” Gong Yingxian gazed at Ren Yi.
Ren Yi narrowed his eyes. “Do you have some kind of grudge against me? I didn’t choose this name myself.”
Gong Yingxian stood up. “Come with me to the hospital.”
“When did you get to order me around?”
Gong Yingxian ignored him and walked straight toward his car.
Ren Yi rolled his eyes toward the sky and followed helplessly.