Xia Zhile’s family wasn’t rich, but they weren’t poor either. He was fiercely independent, refusing to spend a single cent of his parents’ money after graduation. He was so broke that he survived on instant noodles in the dorm, too stingy even to splurge on some pickled vegetables.
Lin Hening once caught him in the act, and Xia Zhile was so embarrassed he avoided him for a whole week.
That mix of pride and stubborn self-reliance was one of the things that won Lin Hening over.
But thankfully, the tough days eventually passed. Xia Zhile was recognized by his mentor and jumped from a top-tier public hospital to the most prestigious private hospital in Yunzhou. His salary and work conditions changed overnight—no more being an overworked intern; he was now a proper doctor, sipping coffee in his office like a boss.
During that time, Xia Zhile got a little cocky. Whenever he had the chance, he’d brag to Lin Hening about having dinner with some official’s wife, exchanging WeChats with a famous entrepreneur, or personally operating on a retired veteran.
Lin Hening was happy for him—his boyfriend was thriving.
One evening, Xia Zhile excitedly said, “Baby, last night our hospital director came by. There were so many big-name specialists lining up to greet him, but guess what? He *noticed me*! He even nodded and smiled at me!”
At a red light, Lin Hening smoothly brought the car to a stop and suddenly asked, “Do you often have breakfast with An Nian?”
Xia Zhile blinked in confusion. “No? Why are we talking about him again? Babe, you gotta watch the jealousy—it’s not good for your stomach.”
He trailed off, realization dawning.
Lin Hening never drank sweet soy milk because it gave him acid reflux.
*Three spoons of sugar.*
Xia Zhile didn’t even drink soy milk—he never put sugar in it. So how many times had he seen it being prepared to instinctively remember the ratio?
Lin Hening didn’t want to analyze his boyfriend using crime investigation techniques.
Forget it.
As the saying goes, *if you’re catching a thief, you need evidence; if you’re catching a cheater, you need to catch them in the act.*
Right now, he had nothing concrete—there was no point overthinking it. It’d just be unnecessary stress.
And if something *was* going on, Lin Hening believed one thing—no matter how well a fox hides, it will always show its tail in the end.
—
**Two Days Later – A Coffee Shop**
Jian Xiaoxi smacked his thigh in frustration. “Damn it, Hening! You acted too rashly! Now you’ve tipped him off!”
Lin Hening had finished work and called Xia Zhile to see if he was free for lunch. Xia Zhile had agreed happily. But after Lin Hening had driven across half of Yunzhou to meet him—after ordering a burger, getting the soda with a straw, and drizzling a generous amount of strawberry sauce over the sundae—Xia Zhile got a call from the hospital and had to leave.
Being stood up by a doctor boyfriend was nothing new. Lin Hening was a little annoyed but understood. So, he called a friend instead—not that he expected much. Surprisingly, Jian Xiaoxi was free. Without wasting time, Lin Hening packed up his burger and fries and headed straight to the café across from the police station.
Jian Xiaoxi was his closest bro—they had no secrets between them. So before Lin Hening even finished his burger, he had already recounted everything in a few short sentences.
Jian Xiaoxi grew more and more shocked as he listened. At first, he tilted his head skeptically and muttered, “No way,” but soon he was slapping his thigh in frustration, blaming Lin Hening for being too impatient and alerting the enemy.
Honestly, in hindsight, Lin Hening also felt that he had been a little impulsive. But he didn’t regret it—after all, he wasn’t the type to swallow his anger.
Sure, staying patient and waiting for the right moment could be an effective strategy, but Lin Hening’s approach was always more direct—quick and decisive, cutting through the mess with a sharp blade.
How to put it? His work already required endless battles of wits, leaving him mentally drained. If he had to play mind games in his personal life too, that would be way too exhausting.
It was precisely because he disliked unnecessary complications and preferred straightforward relationships that he had taken the initiative to confess back then.
Lin Hening’s thinking was simple: since they both had feelings for each other, why waste time dancing around, testing the waters, and suffering through all the awkward uncertainties? Better to skip the detours and go straight to the happy ending.
Looking back, that day had been quite romantic. The unpredictable weather forecast had fooled the entire citizens of Yunzhou—what started as a bright, sunny day suddenly turned into a light drizzle. Without an umbrella, Lin Hening and Xia Zhile had taken shelter in front of a convenience store.
A couple walked out of the store, sharing an umbrella as they stepped into the rain. The atmosphere was just right, and emotions came naturally.
Lin Hening had turned to Xia Zhile and asked, “Do you like me?”
Caught completely off guard, Xia Zhile was stunned.
Lin Hening continued, “I like you too. Should we be together?”
At that moment, Xia Zhile was so overwhelmed he could barely form a coherent sentence—laughing and crying at the same time. He grabbed Lin Hening and dashed into the rain, spinning him around in circles as they both got drenched like fools.
Xia Zhile had said, “As long as I can afford instant noodles, I won’t let you settle for plain water-boiled noodles.”
Lin Hening had laughed and said, “Okay.”
Xia Zhile had continued, “I’ll work hard to give you a good life, become a top doctor to make you proud, so you’ll be proud of me.”
Lin Hening had been deeply moved and said, “Okay.”
Xia Zhile had added, “I’ll earn lots and lots of money for you to spend and treat you well for a lifetime.”
Then he had asked Lin Hening if he was crying.
Lin Hening had, of course, denied it.
Xia Zhile had laughed and said, “No crying allowed! From now on, if you’re with me, you can only smile—only smile.”
Lin Hening had been grateful for the rain that day—it had hidden his unshed tears.
Jian Xiaoxi said, “Based on my years of handling cases, these two aren’t simple. But given what I know about Xia Zhile’s character, I don’t think he would do something like that. What does that junior’s family do?”
Lin Hening replied, “Not sure, but if he can afford treatment at Ruitan Hospital, he must be well-off.”
Jian Xiaoxi asked again, “How does he look?”
Before Lin Hening could answer, Jian Xiaoxi cut in, “Actually, that was a pointless question. In terms of background and looks, you’re at the top. Unless Xia Zhile got kicked in the head by a donkey, why would he not cherish you? Would his aesthetics and taste suddenly take a nosedive? So, my analysis—if anyone has ulterior motives, it’s the junior.”
Is that so?
Lin Hening wanted to say that it takes two to tango. The way Xia Zhile puffed up like a peacock in front of An Nian—was that really subconscious, or was he hypnotized by An Nian?
But the words got stuck in his chest, and in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say them.
Doubting his boyfriend’s loyalty just over a breakfast? That would sound ridiculous.
Lin Hening didn’t want to be some overly jealous, paranoid lover. Unless there was solid evidence in front of him, he should trust Xia Zhile as he always had, instead of picking a fight over some little temptress’s coy act and playing right into the hands of someone with ulterior motives.
Jian Xiaoxi quickly snatched the last piece of spicy chicken wing before Lin Hening could get it. Chewing, he asked, “So what’s your plan? Investigate yourself, or should I do it?”
Lin Hening took a sip of his extra-large Coke and smirked. “Officer Jian, your curiosity for gossip far outweighs your concern for my lifelong happiness.”
Jian Xiaoxi chuckled. “You don’t need me to worry about you at all. Remember how I once described Xia Zhile?”
Lin Hening thought for a moment. “A little puppy?”
Jian Xiaoxi confidently declared, “Little puppies are the most obedient. You’ve already got him wrapped around your finger.”
Lin Hening rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.
When they first met, Xia Zhile really had been quite obedient.
Lin Hening drifted into memories as Jian Xiaoxi continued, explaining that precisely because Xia Zhile was like a puppy, he was pure-hearted and easily deceived. Someone just needed to wave a sausage in front of him, and he’d go chasing after it without a second thought.
Lin Hening couldn’t help but laugh at Jian Xiaoxi’s vivid description. But when he imagined Xia Zhile as an actual puppy, the comparison felt strangely fitting.
Jian Xiaoxi then concluded his analysis: “So in a way, your impulsive reaction wasn’t entirely wrong. At least now Xia Zhile knows you’re unhappy about it and will keep his distance from that junior.”
Lin Hening didn’t respond. He felt a little stifled—maybe because of the gloomy weather.
Once they had cleared their plates of burgers and coffee, Jian Xiaoxi asked, “Heading back to the office later?”
Lin Hening shook off his scattered thoughts, checked his watch, and said, “Going to the detention center.”
Jian Xiaoxi asked if he was free in the evening. “Want to hit up Meizu Bar?”
Lin Hening was already putting on his jacket. “Nope.”
Jian Xiaoxi immediately grinned mischievously. “Got someone waiting at home? Want me to pick up your godson so you two can enjoy your alone time?”
The “godson” was a stray cat Lin Hening had adopted. He and Xia Zhile had found the little creature on their way home, hand in hand, on the same rainy night when Lin Hening confessed his feelings.
Xia Zhile, being the romantic he was, had insisted that the cat must have been a gift from Cupid—a witness to their love. With such a poetic backstory, even Lin Hening, who had never been particularly fond of furry animals, started seeing the cat differently.
Originally, Xia Zhile had taken care of it, but his busy schedule made it hard for him to look after the cat, so he eventually left it with Lin Hening.
Jian Xiaoxi, a self-proclaimed cat lover, visited Lin Hening’s place ten times—and nine of those times were just to cuddle the cat.
On his way to the detention center, Lin Hening passed by a bakery and bought Xia Zhile’s favorite cheesecake.
He had once dismissed the advice of a mother of two, but now, as he mulled it over, he realized that relationships required effort. He couldn’t just assume that “we’re solid” and become complacent.
After all, they didn’t live together and barely saw each other. That kind of distance left room for ill-intentioned people to step in.
When Lin Hening arrived at the detention center, he typed a message to Xia Zhile: “Let’s have dinner together tonight. Come over to my place.”
Before he could hit send, the officers brought out the suspect. Lin Hening locked his phone screen and sat upright.
The prosecutor’s badge on his left lapel glimmered under the light.
Things ended much later than Lin Hening had expected. By the time he left the detention center, it was already dark.
His stomach was completely empty. He thought about grabbing a quick bite but decided to save his appetite for their candlelit dinner instead. He pressed the accelerator and sped toward the city.
To save time, he turned on the GPS and opted for a shortcut. However, the route kept twisting and turning until he found himself in an increasingly remote area.
“What kind of nonsense is this?” Lin Hening muttered. “Is the GPS trying to lead me to buried treasure?”
To make matters worse, Xia Zhile’s phone wasn’t going through. Lin Hening glanced at the cake sitting on the passenger seat, feeling a little deflated.
With a sigh, he asked the GPS, “Are you sure about this turn?”
The soft, feminine voice of the navigation system responded, “Yes, Master. Turn left onto Ping’an Road. In 300 meters, at the traffic light, you will see the ‘Happiness Knocks on Your Door’ billboard.”
Just then, WeChat chimed.
Lin Hening thought it was from Xia Zhile, but when he checked, it was a message from Jian Xiaoxi.
It was a photo.
In the dim neon glow of a booth at the bar, An Nian’s fair face was clearly visible. His eyes were dazed, his cheeks slightly flushed, and he was slumped softly against the man beside him.
The man holding him wasn’t entirely clear due to the lighting, but Lin Hening recognized him instantly—it was Xia Zhile.
His chest tightened. He slammed on the brakes.
Suddenly, a pair of blinding headlights beamed straight at him. His vision blurred, and in that split second, he barely managed to make out a stray dog dashing across the road.
A car coming from the opposite direction swerved violently to avoid the dog. The tires screeched as they skidded on the asphalt, and the vehicle lost control—hurtling straight toward Lin Hening!
There was no time to react.
With a loud crash, his entire car shook violently. The impact sent it skidding several meters before it slammed hard into a utility pole.
For a brief moment after the collision, Lin Hening’s mind went completely blank.
It took him a full thirty seconds to process what had just happened. He had been in an accident.
The vehicle that hit him was a van.
Meanwhile, the stray dog that had caused all this had scampered away unharmed.
His Ferrari was now wedged between two obstacles—the van on the left and the utility pole on the right, crushed into a sandwich. Above, part of a billboard had broken off, hanging lopsided.
The words on it read: “Happiness Knocks on Your Door.”
Lin Hening: “…”
The airbags had all deployed. He took a sharp breath. He didn’t feel any particular pain, but getting out of the car to confront the other driver might be difficult—the door was severely deformed, crushed tightly against the van’s front bumper.
Both vehicles’ headlights had gone out, leaving the road shrouded in darkness. Lin Hening’s head was still spinning, and he couldn’t see outside clearly.
But he could hear it—the sound of a car door opening and closing.
The van driver was getting out.
Lin Hening reached for his phone to turn on the flashlight.
Just then, a harsh beam of light pierced through the window. Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield his eyes. Through the gaps in his fingers, he saw the man outside.
The man had a buzz cut, broad shoulders, and a towering height—easily over 1.9 meters, judging by the angle at which he had to crouch to peer into the car. His facial features were sharp and chiseled, his brow furrowed into a severe expression. A faint, thin scar ran across his temple.
His voice was deep and commanding as he spoke: “Are you hurt anywhere?”
It was already autumn, yet he wore a short-sleeved shirt. The thin fabric barely concealed the powerful muscles of his arms, his biceps flexing slightly as he moved.
The dim glow of the flickering headlights cast shadows over his tanned skin, also illuminating a woven sack that had fallen out of the van onto the ground.
Dark red liquid was seeping from the bottom of the sack.
Lin Hening froze. A chill ran down his spine.
There were no houses nearby, no shops, not even a single functioning traffic light—the one at the intersection was covered in dust from years of neglect.
No surveillance cameras.
No witnesses.
The only one who had seen what happened—the dog—had already disappeared.
Lin Hening swallowed hard.
