After finishing a whole morning of investigating the scene, everyone was both tired and hungry. They packed up their equipment and gradually headed downstairs.
After Qi Xiao woke up, he had called Yan Yi, but Yan Yi hadn’t had time to answer yet. As they went downstairs, he finally had a chance to reply to a few of Qi Xiao’s messages, telling him that he had left early that morning because he had something important to do, and that he had borrowed his clothes to wear, and so on.
When they reached the ground floor, Yan Yi put away his phone and looked at Gong Yingxian. “You’re heading back to the district station? Let me know if you get any news.”
Gong Yingxian looked Yan Yi up and down, his gaze unfriendly.
“What now?” Yan Yi followed his gaze and looked at his own clothes. For some reason, he suddenly felt a little guilty.
“Whose clothes are those?”
Yan Yi looked surprised. “Uh, how could you tell?”
“Your salary can’t afford this brand.” Gong Yingxian was completely blunt.
“Is this really expensive?” Yan Yi looked at the T-shirt again. Wasn’t it just a white shirt with a few designs on it? “All my clothes smelled like alcohol and cigarettes, so I borrowed some from a friend. Otherwise, if I met you dressed like that, you’d nag me again.”
He wore his training uniform most of the year, so he didn’t have many casual clothes. He basically got everything from Uniqlo.
“You spent the night at your friend’s house.” Gong Yingxian deliberately emphasized the word “friend.” He stared intently at Yan Yi.
“Yeah.” Yan Yi felt a little uncomfortable under Gong Yingxian’s gaze. He wasn’t going to tell Gong Yingxian about his actual relationship with Qi Xiao. It wasn’t that he was deliberately hiding it; it was simply a private matter that there was no need to bring up unless someone asked. Among his friends, only Fu Kai and Qu Yangbo knew. Gao Ge and the others might have guessed, but they had never pointed it out.
Gong Yingxian’s expression was clearly displeased, his lips lightly pressed into a thin line.
“Being late was my fault, and I already apologized.” Yan Yi had watched Gong Yingxian’s expression all morning. Although he was somewhat in the wrong, this was a bit much. He said helplessly, “What else do you want from me?”
“I don’t need your apology.” Gong Yingxian turned around and was about to get into his car.
“Fuck, you…” Yan Yi’s phone suddenly rang.
He looked down and saw that it was Qi Xiao. He had left without saying goodbye and had also borrowed his clothes without asking, so he couldn’t very well refuse to answer.
He picked up. “Hello, Qi Xiao.”
Gong Yingxian’s back suddenly stopped.
“Ah, yeah, it’s still Wanyuan Residential Complex. The lockdown is going to be lifted tomorrow, so I have to come today. Mm, sorry. Mm…” As Yan Yi spoke, he secretly glanced at Gong Yingxian.
Gong Yingxian turned sideways and pretended to look down at his own phone.
Yan Yi unconsciously lowered his voice. “I still have to go home tonight. I’ll wash your clothes and have them delivered to you. Mm, mm, okay, bye-bye.”
After hanging up, Yan Yi was just about to speak when Gong Yingxian said, “Captain Yan, there’s something I need your assistance with.”
“What?”
“Are you busy tonight?” Gong Yingxian stared directly at Yan Yi and said coolly, “Or are you going to your friend’s house to drink and spend the night again?”
“I was planning to go home tonight. I don’t have anything else going on.” Yan Yi frowned. “What is it?”
Hearing that, Gong Yingxian’s tone softened slightly. “Do you remember Zhou Chuan?”
“Of course.” Zhou Chuan was the programmer they had caught at the Fourth View scene, the one who made money by livestreaming fire ruins through the dark web. “Only getting forty-eight hours of administrative detention was really letting him off easy.”
“When the fire broke out at Wanyuan Residential Complex this time, I sent someone to keep an eye on him. I have a feeling we can find something through him.”
“You don’t think the Wanyuan Residential Complex fire has something to do with that dark web, do you?”
“Not exactly. But after his camera and computer were confiscated last time, Zhou Chuan bought new ones. In order to make money, he very likely resumed his old business. I’ve been wanting to use him to find those Chinese people who logged into ‘Chitian Angel.’ They’re all potential arsonists.”
Yan Yi was surprised. “You even know that he bought new equipment? How long have you been keeping an eye on him? Will your station give you support?”
Gong Yingxian shook his head. “Without evidence we can actually present, the station won’t allocate resources to investigate him. But a colleague from the cybercrime department is interested in this case. He helped me investigate some of Zhou Chuan’s movements afterward. After the fire broke out this time, I had my driver follow him. Ideally, we can catch him in the act before he destroys the livestream room.”
“Will Zhou Chuan make a move tonight?”
“The scene will be unsealed tomorrow. If he’s going to do anything, it can only be tonight. My driver needs to change shifts.” Gong Yingxian looked at Yan Yi. “Are you coming?”
Yan Yi shrugged. “Sure.”
He was just as curious about Zhou Chuan and that dark web.
Gong Yingxian tossed him the keys.
Once they got into the car, Yan Yi checked the time. “Let’s get something to eat first. I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.”
“The trunk…”
“I’m not eating your grass.”
Gong Yingxian shot him a sideways glance. “There’s plenty of meat.”
“It tastes too bland.” Yan Yi said helplessly, “We can find a convenience store and I’ll buy something, can’t we?”
“Can’t you stop eating that unhygienic stuff all the time?” Gong Yingxian frowned. “Especially in my car.”
“You really have the temperament of some spoiled young master. I don’t mind eating it once it’s in my stomach, but you think it’s dirty just because it’s in your car.” Yan Yi rolled his eyes so hard they nearly reached the ceiling. “Have you really never been hit by anyone in your entire life?”
Gong Yingxian sneered. “At least I’ve never lost a fight.”
Yan Yi snorted, thinking Gong Yingxian was bragging. But then he remembered the strength Gong Yingxian had used when he caught him last time, as well as how he had climbed all the way to the twenty-second floor without even getting particularly out of breath. He suddenly wasn’t so sure.
“Dr. Gong, I’m helping you out right now. When someone is helping you, you shouldn’t be so picky about everything. That’s not right, understand?”
Gong Yingxian was silent for a moment.
“I’ll have Uncle Sheng bring food over.”
Yan Yi’s eyes lit up. “That works too. Your family’s chef makes food way too good. Making them cook for you is practically a waste of their talent.”
“I pay them a lot of money. No one’s talents are being wasted.”
Zhou Chuan lived in another district, which was closer to Gong Yingxian’s home. By the time they arrived, Uncle Sheng had already gotten there.
The driver was surprised to see Gong Yingxian. “Young Master, why are you here? We can keep watch.”
“You’re tired. Go home and rest.”
“No, we’re not tired. We took turns sleeping.”
“You’re tired.” Gong Yingxian emphasized the words, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Go home now.”
The two drivers looked at each other, confused, but obediently left.
Uncle Sheng, meanwhile, took two large food baskets out of the car. When he saw Yan Yi, his face broke into a huge smile.
“Captain Yan, we’re meeting again. Why haven’t you come over to play lately?”
“Haha, I’ve been busy with work.” Yan Yi said, “Thank you for the snacks you sent to the station last time. We finished all of them.”
Uncle Sheng smiled warmly. “I’m glad you liked them. I’ll send some more next time.”
“No, no, there’s no need. Don’t trouble yourself.”
“Young Master, this is yours.” Uncle Sheng handed one of the food baskets to Gong Yingxian. “Don’t eat the food you brought. Have something fresh.”
“Mm.”
“Captain Yan, this is for you. Young Master said you like crayfish, but those take a lot of work and we didn’t have time, so we made some other things instead.”
Uncle Sheng handed the other food basket to Yan Yi.
“Thank you. You’re too kind.” Yan Yi took it. It was surprisingly heavy. He smiled at Gong Yingxian. “Really? You even remember what I like to eat?” He was secretly quite happy.
Gong Yingxian gave a soft snort. “Hot food. High-calorie food. The reason I remember is because I have a good memory. Even if I wanted to forget, I couldn’t.”
“Actually, I’m pretty casual about food. It’s just that I train a lot, so if I don’t eat high-calorie food, I can’t keep up physically.”
“I don’t criticize your eating habits, but if you want to have enough strength, you only need to consume enough protein.”
“I know. But food tasting good is important too.”
Uncle Sheng smiled. “Captain Yan, the Young Master eats differently from ordinary people. Just eat whatever you like. We know what’s good.”
Gong Yingxian stared wide-eyed at Uncle Sheng.
“Then you two work hard. I’ll head back first. Captain Yan, come over and play again when you have time.”
After Uncle Sheng left, Yan Yi opened the food basket.
“Wow, this is quite a spread.”
Gong Yingxian placed a pair of binoculars against the driver’s-side window.
“The third green metal gate ahead is the apartment building where Zhou Chuan lives.”
“Got it.”
Yan Yi spread out the tablecloth, lowered the window, picked up a piece of spare rib, and took a few bites.
“How many times have I eaten in your car now?”
“It probably won’t be the last time.” Gong Yingxian also began eating his own lunch.
“Mm-hmm.” Yan Yi nodded. “Getting you to eat at a restaurant is practically like asking you to die. It’s fine. I’ll eat in the car, then. When we’re out responding to calls, we’ve eaten under all kinds of terrible conditions. Having air-conditioning is already pretty good.”
Gong Yingxian stared ahead through the windshield. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Is eating together outside a necessary social courtesy between friends?”
“Huh?”
Yan Yi was caught off guard by the question. After thinking about it, he said, “Yeah. Isn’t it normal for friends to treat each other to meals? Even if they’re not friends, don’t Chinese people do everything over a meal? Discussing business, visiting relatives, all kinds of festivals and celebrations. I remember when Captain Song was around, he said you never ate with them. You really are…” Yan Yi remembered something and swallowed the words “don’t fit in” along with a piece of broccoli. He said, “But—but we can understand you.”
Gong Yingxian narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Then is drinking together and spending the night at the other person’s home also a necessary social courtesy between friends?”
The food in Yan Yi’s mouth nearly sprayed out.
Gong Yingxian turned his head and looked at him.
Yan Yi managed to swallow the food. “Y-you… what exactly are you hung up on?”
“I’m discussing the definition of friendship with you.” Gong Yingxian said expressionlessly. “You were the one who first suggested that we become friends.”
“Yeah… but you don’t have to…” Yan Yi couldn’t even find an adjective to describe this bizarre conversation.
“What?”
“Making friends is a very casual thing. There aren’t any mandatory rules, and there’s no requirement that you have to do certain things before you’re considered friends.”
Gong Yingxian became somewhat irritated. “There are no rules, no definition, so how exactly do you determine whether someone is a friend? I don’t like things that are vague and ambiguous, that seem to be one thing but are actually another.”
“If two people get along, then they’re friends.” Yan Yi was getting confused by Gong Yingxian too.
“We get along?” Gong Yingxian countered.
Yan Yi froze for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter.
“We’re in a state where sometimes we get along, and sometimes we can’t stand each other.”
“So getting along isn’t a prerequisite.”
Yan Yi rubbed his aching head. “Can you please let this question go? I really don’t know how to answer you.”
Gong Yingxian took a deep breath, his expression darkening.
“Then answer this question. Why was the person yesterday your ‘friend,’ while I’m only ‘someone you work with’?”
Yan Yi blinked at Gong Yingxian.
Gong Yingxian stared coldly back at him.
Yan Yi suddenly burst out laughing.
Gong Yingxian’s expression grew uglier and uglier. He snapped, “Get out of the car.”
Yan Yi struggled to hold back his laughter.
“Don’t—don’t kick me out, hahaha. Dr. Gong… you wouldn’t happen to be jealous, would you?”