Ren Yi began walking around the temperature-controlled greenhouse. Although the reptiles made him somewhat uncomfortable, since they were Gong Yingxian’s pets, he wanted to understand them a little better.
Gong Yingxian introduced his collection to Ren Yi. Ren Yi rarely saw him look so obviously happy. Even just the light in his eyes was enough for Ren Yi to savor for a long time.
“This workbench is where I make specimens.” Gong Yingxian pointed at the display shelves. “Look at this armadillo girdled lizard. Aren’t its scales beautiful? This piece is the skin shed by an emperor cobra. It’s been preserved almost perfectly. Over here are various little things like salamanders and geckos.”
Ren Yi looked around. His gaze eventually fell on the enormous crocodile specimen. Judging by its size, it was at least five or six meters long, practically the size of a boat. He was so astonished that he could not speak.
“This saltwater crocodile is the largest specimen in my collection.” Gong Yingxian said proudly. “Pretty impressive, right?”
Ren Yi smiled as he looked at Gong Yingxian. He felt as though he were a little boy showing off a new toy to his friends. “Did you make all these specimens yourself?”
“Some of them. Most were purchased. Keeping them isn’t permitted in the country.”
Ren Yi clicked his tongue twice. “You rich people really know how to have fun.”
“Mm. Having money is indeed convenient.” Gong Yingxian’s tone was very calm, as though being wealthy was neither something worth showing off nor something he needed to be modest about. It was as ordinary to him as the weather changing from cloudy to sunny.
“But you should save a little too. Police officers don’t make much money. It’s not good to just live off your savings.”
“Live off my savings?”
“Uh… these should all be your parents’…”
“Inheritance?” Gong Yingxian said expressionlessly. “That’s right. But my parents’ inheritance also includes shares in the group. I don’t participate in its management, but I receive dividends.”
“Baosheng Group still exists?” Ren Yi asked in surprise. “Wasn’t it…”
“Asset restructuring. It changed its name. Feilan’s mother is the current president.” Gong Yingxian did not want to continue discussing it. “Let’s go back and eat.”
When the two returned to the main house, the kitchen had already prepared a sumptuous late-night meal. Uncle Sheng was waiting for them with a smile.
“Captain Ren, do you like the young master’s pets?”
Ren Yi gave two dry laughs. “They’re all right, all right.”
“The young master also has a chemistry laboratory. It’s very interesting too. One day, have the young master take you over to play.”
“Oh, sure. Is it in the yard too?”
“How could a laboratory with risks of explosions and leaks be kept at home? I bought a piece of land nearby.”
Ren Yi raised one eyebrow. “That counts as a hazardous site. Did you get fire department approval?”
Gong Yingxian shot him a sideways glance. “Of course I did.”
Ren Yi smiled. “Good. Hey, when you have time, come to our station and give a lecture on hazardous chemicals. Although our station isn’t a specialized hazardous-chemical response unit, there’s no harm in learning more.”
“Sure.” Gong Yingxian agreed without hesitation.
“That was quick.” Ren Yi was both surprised and delighted. “Then it’s settled. I’ll ask Bobo to get a lecture fee approved for you. It won’t be much, but it’s a token of our appreciation.”
Gong Yingxian frowned. “Bobo?”
“Oh, my station’s instructor. We’ve been friends for years. You’ve met him before. Remember when I was hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas underground?”
“I told you my memory is excellent. I don’t forget anything.” Gong Yingxian gave a soft snort. “You certainly have quite a lot of friends.”
Ren Yi grinned. “Can’t help it. I’m naturally likable. Our instructor handles the expenses, so don’t be shy. You might as well take the money.”
Gong Yingxian glared at him. “Use it to reimburse the clothes of your other ‘friend.’”
That word—“friend”—sounded as though he had chewed on it viciously in his mouth, making even the pronunciation slightly different.
“Oh, that.” Ren Yi laughed twice. “I was just joking last time. How could I make you reimburse me? Besides, he didn’t ask me to pay him back. He said they were from a sponsor and that he hadn’t spent any money.”
“A sponsor?”
“He’s an actor. He isn’t very popular right now, so you probably don’t know him.”
“Never even heard of him.” Gong Yingxian said coldly.
Ren Yi sensed that Gong Yingxian seemed somewhat unhappy, yet he did not know why. He rubbed his hands together. “Come, come, let’s eat. Wow, it looks delicious.”
As usual, Gong Yingxian ate his cold meal on the side while watching Ren Yi wolf down the steaming hot dishes. They really did look delicious.
Are they really that good? Gong Yingxian wondered.
After eating, Ren Yi contentedly rubbed his belly and checked the time. “Oh, it’s almost midnight. You’ve been busy all day. Get some rest early. I should head back too.”
“You’re going back?” Gong Yingxian stared at Ren Yi.
Ren Yi was confused. “It’s so late. Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be staying overnight at a friend’s house?” Gong Yingxian frowned. “Does my house look like it’s short on bedrooms?”
Ren Yi was momentarily speechless. “No, it’s just…”
“What? Is that not okay?”
Ren Yi gave an awkward laugh. He did not even know how to explain himself anymore. “It’s not that it’s not okay. I just don’t want to trouble you…”
“Uncle Sheng.” Gong Yingxian called out.
A moment later, Uncle Sheng walked over and said kindly, “Are you two full? Was the food good?”
“Uncle Sheng, Captain Ren is staying here tonight.”
“I…”
“Of course.” Uncle Sheng was delighted. “The room and toiletries are already prepared.”
Ren Yi gave an helpless smile. “All right. Thank you.”
Gong Yingxian propped his chin on his hand, crossed his long legs, and leisurely looked at Ren Yi. “When are you going to invite me to your house for dinner and to stay overnight?”
The moment he said this, both Ren Yi and Uncle Sheng nearly had their eyeballs pop out.
“Since this is the customary process you use when making friends, I’ll cooperate with you. I’ve already done my part. Now it’s your turn.” Gong Yingxian stared fixedly at Ren Yi, an inexplicable light flickering in his eyes.
Ren Yi was stunned for a long moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. Gong Yingxian was practically using the way elementary school students made friends to become friends with him. It was rather silly, yet there was an innocence and cuteness to it that left him somewhat flattered.
He smiled. “You’re welcome at my place anytime, but my home is small and… not exactly very clean. Are you okay with that?”
“No problem, no problem.” Before Gong Yingxian could answer, Uncle Sheng had already cut in. “I can go over beforehand and prepare everything, do some cleaning, and bring some of the young master’s usual things. It’ll be fine.”
Gong Yingxian said, “Then it’s settled. When?”
“…Next weekend?”
“Okay.” Gong Yingxian stood up. “Go to sleep.”
He walked a few steps before stopping and turning around to ask, “Do you want to wear my clothes?”
“Huh? No need. My training uniform is clean.”
Gong Yingxian glanced at him with a hint of disdain. “Suit yourself.”
After Gong Yingxian left, Uncle Sheng said happily, “Wonderful! The young master is actually going to stay overnight at a friend’s house. Captain Ren, what is your home like? What preparations do I need to make?”
Ren Yi smiled helplessly. “There’s no one else at my place. Just come over and clean according to your young master’s standards, then replace things with the ones he’s accustomed to using.”
He did not plan to bring Gong Yingxian back to the old house where he and his father currently lived. It was really inconvenient. His family still had another apartment that they rarely used. Although it was not new either, it was very clean.
Uncle Sheng nodded repeatedly, so excited that his eyebrows seemed ready to fly off his face.
After returning to the guest room, Ren Yi flopped onto the bed and tossed and turned with his eyes open. He knew roughly where Gong Yingxian’s room was. It was on the same floor as his. He wondered whether Gong Yingxian was asleep now, or tossing and turning just like him.
A lot had happened today, and every single thing had affected him in some way. Yet, by the end, what occupied his thoughts most was the fact that Gong Yingxian was going to stay overnight at his home.
It could not be blamed on him for overthinking. Gong Yingxian’s actions really were easy to misunderstand. But Ren Yi also knew that Gong Yingxian was simply using a simple, sincere, and even somewhat clumsy way to make friends with him.
He was Gong Yingxian’s first friend.
Thinking about everything Gong Yingxian had experienced during his childhood, Ren Yi knew how difficult—and how precious—it was for him to open his heart. Gong Yingxian’s family all knew this as well and placed great hopes on him. Ren Yi could not, and did not dare, let his imagination run wild. He was afraid of tainting Gong Yingxian’s pure trust and friendship.
Ren Yi gently patted his own face and murmured, “Ren the Four-Fire, control yourself.”
The next morning, after waking up, the two had breakfast before driving to the hospital. The doctor had already agreed that they could interrogate Zhou Chuan, so naturally they did not want to waste even half a day.
Miao Miao, confined in its carrier, meowed softly from the back seat. Gong Yingxian looked back from time to time. After a long while, he finally asked, “When will its wounds heal?”
“They’ve already scabbed over. As long as we change its medication every other day, it should be almost healed in another week or two.” Ren Yi smiled. “Look at how tiny it is. Its vitality is incredibly strong.”
“Yeah.” Gong Yingxian said quietly, “It survived being burned by fire. It really is very resilient.”
Ren Yi secretly glanced at Gong Yingxian, feeling a slight ache in his heart.
After parking the car, Gong Yingxian put on a mask, his brows already unconsciously furrowing.
Remembering why Gong Yingxian disliked hospitals, Ren Yi sighed inwardly. “How about we try to make this quick?”
Gong Yingxian shook his head. “This man is very cunning. We can’t rush it.”
“If you’re feeling uncomfortable, tell me. I’ll come outside with you for some fresh air. Don’t force yourself.”
Gong Yingxian took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
The two arrived outside Zhou Chuan’s hospital room. Gong Yingxian showed his identification to the police officer guarding the door and signed his name before opening the door and entering.
Zhou Chuan was sitting in a wheelchair, his head turned toward the window. His hands were cuffed to the headboard with chain-linked handcuffs, leaving him with a range of movement only slightly larger than the bed itself.
Hearing them, Zhou Chuan turned his face around. His expression was seventy percent fear and thirty percent resentment. He instinctively wheeled himself backward, shrinking toward the bed.
Ren Yi crossed his arms and looked at him. “How are your legs? I heard you’ll still be able to walk in the future. You really should be burning incense and thanking the gods.”
Zhou Chuan’s lips trembled.
Gong Yingxian got straight to the point. “Zhou Chuan, you’ve been criminally detained this time. Do you know you’re in serious trouble?”
Zhou Chuan still said nothing.
“You’re suspected of deliberately setting fire to and destroying private property worth 160,000 yuan.”
“I didn’t burn it.” Zhou Chuan finally spoke. “I wasn’t the one who burned it. I was only recording it at the scene.”
“You didn’t personally set the fire, but you and your accomplice conspired to commit the crime. The circumstances are equally serious. Your only way out now is to give up your accomplice and seek a reduced sentence.”
“…How much can it be reduced?”
“I can write you an application for a sentence reduction based on meritorious service. The specific sentence will be decided by the court, provided that you actually render meritorious service.”
Zhou Chuan fell silent again.
Gong Yingxian opened his notebook. “I ask, you answer.”
“How do I know you aren’t lying to me? What if you don’t give me the application?”
“Do you still have any bargaining power?” Gong Yingxian said coldly. “You can only trust me.”
Zhou Chuan lowered his head.
“Who is your accomplice? How did you meet? How did you plan the arson? Where is he now? What is your relationship with the owner of the vehicle that was set on fire?” Gong Yingxian fired off a string of questions.
This time, Zhou Chuan remained silent for a long while before shaking his head. “I don’t know.”
Gong Yingxian narrowed his eyes.
Ren Yi raised his voice. “You don’t know? Bullshit! How can you not know? You committed the crime together with him!”
Zhou Chuan spoke rapidly without pausing for breath. “I really don’t know! I just saw someone on Chitian Angel saying that he was going to burn a car, so I went along to film it. I don’t know that person. I don’t know the car owner either. I didn’t plan to burn the car. I didn’t do anything. Other than filming it, I didn’t do anything!”
“Bullshit!” Ren Yi cursed.
“Believe me or not, I was only filming. I didn’t do anything else. I want a lawyer.” Zhou Chuan suddenly became agitated. “I didn’t burn the car!”
Gong Yingxian put down the notebook in his hand. He stood up and walked in front of Zhou Chuan, slowly straightening his tie.
Zhou Chuan raised his head and looked at Gong Yingxian in confusion.
In the next instant, even Ren Yi failed to react in time. Gong Yingxian grabbed Zhou Chuan by the throat with one hand, lifted his body out of the wheelchair, and slammed him hard against the wall.
Zhou Chuan’s face turned deathly pale with terror. He grabbed Gong Yingxian’s arm and struggled futilely.
Ren Yi was also stunned. He had never seen Gong Yingxian like this before—fierce and ruthless, like a sharp sword!
Gong Yingxian leaned closer to Zhou Chuan. His pair of dark, vicious eyes seemed almost to bore into Zhou Chuan’s flesh. From behind his mask came cold words:
“Because of a piece of trash like you, our personal information was exposed on Chitian Angel. If you dare play any more tricks with me, I’ll make you suffer more than being burned alive.”
Zhou Chuan’s eyes widened. His face turned from white to red. Gong Yingxian deliberately pressed the side of his thumb against Zhou Chuan’s carotid artery. Zhou Chuan could no longer breathe, and his dangling legs kicked helplessly.
Ren Yi came to his senses and shouted, “Dr. Gong, enough. Put him down.”
Gong Yingxian glared coldly at Zhou Chuan for a moment before suddenly releasing his hand.
Zhou Chuan dropped to the floor and clutched his neck, coughing violently. Ren Yi helped him up from the ground and placed him back in the wheelchair.
Gong Yingxian, meanwhile, sat back down in his chair as though nothing had happened. Not even a wrinkle had appeared in his suit. He said calmly, “Continue.”
Zhou Chuan looked at Gong Yingxian with bloodshot eyes, his pupils filled with fear.