On the way back to Xiarong City, Ling Lie opened the wooden box. The so-called family heirloom was actually just half a gold amulet. One side had half a dragon, and the other side had the characters “Hundred Years” written on it. The other half should presumably say “Long Life.”

Although not a valuable item in itself, considering the impoverished village decades ago, this was indeed a very rare object.

But where was the other half?

Ling Lie thought of the pouch Xing Yongdan hung on his chest. Judging from its size, that pouch could hold half an amulet. The pouch wasn’t found on the body, but there were marks of a chain being pulled on the neck. If the pouch indeed contained the amulet, was the killer’s motive for killing Xing Yongdan just to get this half of the gold piece?

No. Ling Lie thought with his eyes closed. Xing Yongdan was targeted by “Floating Light” last year. If the killer’s goal was the amulet, why not go to Jinxiang Village to find the other half? He had plenty of time to do so.

It seemed more like the killer wanted to kill Xing Yongdan and took the pouch in passing.

But people are complex. Obtaining half an amulet incidentally, they might very well covet the other half.

Ling Lie intended to remind the local police to prepare early, but after some thought, he called Shen Xun instead, asking the Special Action Team to dispatch a unit there. He also submitted an application to go to Country L for investigation.

Shen Xun wasn’t surprised. “Have you discussed this with Captain Ji?”

Ling Lie instinctively wanted to retort, but swallowed his words. “We can understand each other.”

---

Ling Lie returned to the family quarters, showered, and tidied up. Ji Chenjiao wasn’t home. When he called, Ji Chenjiao said he was busy. Ling Lie didn’t go to the Municipal Bureau for the time being. He bought oxtail from the market he frequented, planning to make tomato oxtail soup.

But Ji Chenjiao didn’t return that night either. Ling Lie called again; it was noisy on Ji Chenjiao’s end, and he said he was on field duty, not at the bureau.

Ling Lie turned off the stove, changed clothes, went to the Serious Crimes Unit, strolled around, and saw Liang Wenxian just about to get off work.

“Brother Liang.” Ling Lie waved.

Liang Wenxian smiled. “Xiao Ling is back.”

Ling Lie asked about the investigation progress over the past two days and if there were other cases. Liang Wenxian said there were cases, but Xie Qing didn’t assign them to the Serious Crimes Unit; they were still mainly investigating Xing Yongdan’s case.

“Hiss—then what has Xiao Ji been busy with?”

Liang Wenxian said, “He wants to start with recent entries into the country, focusing on entries from Country L, followed by neighboring countries, to see if he can screen out suspicious individuals. This work is too draining; he hasn’t been to the unit all day today.”

Ling Lie frowned. “But checking like that misses the most crucial clue. The killer used the ‘Floating Light’ dark web to target Xing Yongdan and could also rely on ‘Floating Light’ to complete illegal entry. What can checking legal entries reveal?”

Liang Wenxian nodded. “That’s what I said too. But Captain Ji is anxious. Currently, there are no other avenues to investigate, so we can only try our luck on the entry line. What if the killer didn’t enter illegally?”

Ling Lie said, “What is he anxious about?”

Liang Wenxian said, “Anxious to solve the case, I guess. I feel his state isn’t quite right, not as calm and rational as before. But it’s understandable; this matter involves ‘Floating Light,’ and Captain Ning is still in their hands, life or death unknown. He and Captain Xie are both Captain Ning’s apprentices; having some emotions is normal.”

Ling Lie chatted with Liang Wenxian for a while longer before saying goodbye.

There was no one else in the office. Ling Lie only turned on the light above Ji Chenjiao’s desk, sitting in a daze, occasionally lighting up his phone to check.

Xiao Ji, that clingy thing, actually hadn’t paid any attention all night to his boyfriend who just returned from a business trip.

In the latter half of the night, he figured out what Ji Chenjiao was anxious about.

During the day, all work proceeded methodically amidst the rush. Ji Chenjiao deployed a team to check entry information with him, while Ling Lie’s overseas travel procedures were being expedited. The two actually had no chance to meet properly and talk about what was weighing on their minds.

Ji Chenjiao returned to the Serious Crimes Unit at noon. Ling Lie was just about to go to the cafeteria. They met at the office door. Ji Chenjiao only said, “You’re back,” before grabbing a file and leaving in a hurry.

“Captain Ji.” Ling Lie called out from the corridor.

Ji Chenjiao stopped, half-turning. “The car is waiting downstairs. We’ll talk when I get back.”

Shen Qi felt something was wrong with his two brothers. He had been pulled into the Serious Crimes Unit by Ji Chenjiao and followed his command in everything, familiar with Ji Chenjiao’s investigative style. No matter how troublesome the case, Ji Chenjiao could stay calm and sort out the threads one by one. But this time, he was obviously impetuous; even Shen Qi could see Ji Chenjiao was in a rush to solve the case.

Shen Qi rubbed his head. “No way? Are you two competing to see who solves the case first? Is that necessary? Competing so hard you’re not even dating anymore?”

Ling Lie didn’t call him back or chase after him. In the afternoon, he communicated briefly with Shen Xun, asking about the progress. He learned that the Special Action Team members had arrived in Jianling Town but hadn’t contacted the local police yet, waiting for the right moment.

Sitting at Ji Chenjiao’s desk, Ling Lie read the detailed information on Country L sent by Shen Xun, including maps, territories of various gang factions, energy supplies, and available firearms and equipment.

Actually, the likelihood of him using firearms this time wasn’t high, and he would try his best not to reveal his identity. He just needed to act like an informant, retreating immediately once he obtained clues.

This mission had a much lower danger level than those he had executed in the past, yet he read the materials more intently than ever before.

Whenever he relaxed a bit, a nerve would tighten, reminding him—You have a boyfriend now. You can’t just play with your life until it’s gone. Your boyfriend is a clingy monster; look how anxious he is.

Ling Lie closed the notebook, looked at the sunset outside the window, held his phone in his right hand, and reached his left hand behind his head, grabbing the hair tie and shaking his small ponytail twice.

Then he ordered a pair of sharp scissors via same-city express delivery.

---

Ji Chenjiao was still checking entry information, screening people, and conducting inquiries, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. A team member said, “Captain, your phone has been vibrating for a long time.”

Only then did he pick it up. Ling Lie had called three times and sent a message.

Xia Xiaodou: [Who said we’d talk when you got back? What are you hiding from?]

Ji Chenjiao frowned and typed in the chat box: What do I have to hide? I’m investigating a case!

But after typing the last exclamation mark, he deleted the whole sentence. He wrote again, deleted again, back and forth several times, yet not a single sentence remained.

The team member investigating with him came over to say they hadn’t found any suspicious individuals today either.

Ji Chenjiao pinched the bridge of his nose for a while. He was truly too tired, and the team members were all exhausted too.

“Go back and rest first,” he said. “We’ll have a meeting tomorrow.”

The team members dispersed. Ji Chenjiao leaned against the car, continuing to think about how to reply to the message. The more he thought, the more depressed and irritable he became.

Because Ling Lie wasn’t wrong. He was hiding.

Wasn’t he just hiding!

Ling Lie came back from a business trip; he should have picked him up and discussed clues and the next investigative steps. But he didn’t. He armed himself with busyness, having ample reason not to go home, not to talk properly with Ling Lie.

This way, he wouldn’t have to face Ling Lie telling him face-to-face that he was going to Country L without him.

He couldn’t convince Ling Lie over the phone. His stance, Ling Lie’s stance, the responsibilities on their shoulders—all of these didn’t allow him to make Ling Lie stay. Hearing Ling Lie say those words in person, he would only lose more miserably.

He hadn’t slept all night, thinking about how to stop Ling Lie legitimately without failing his responsibilities.

The only thing he could think of was to solve the case before Ling Lie completed the procedures.

This was almost an impossible delusion. Clues were insufficient, and catching the culprit relied solely on the entry channel. Did he not know the killer could enter illegally? Of course he knew, but he had no other choice.

With the efficiency of the Special Action Team, Ling Lie would be leaving soon.

His mind was in chaos, frequently replaying the scene of Ling Lie being taken away by Bolingxue. That was in Xiarong City, within his control. But if Ling Lie went to Country L, he could do nothing.

At this moment, his phone vibrated, the screen clearly flashing the name of the person he was thinking about.

“Where are you hiding, Xiao Ji?” Ling Lie’s tone was the same as usual, carrying a hint of frivolity and jest.

Ji Chenjiao said, “Checking entry records…”

“Stop checking. Solve our matter first.” Ling Lie interrupted directly. “I’m coming to pick you up.”

“Don’t…”

“Don’t come? Then what do you want? Break up with me?”

Ji Chenjiao’s expression turned cold. Ling Lie didn’t give him a chance to argue over the phone. “Anyway, I’m coming. If you keep hiding, I’ll keep chasing. Xia Chengshi (Honest Xia), have a heart. I just came back from the mountains and am going to Country L soon. Do you have the heart to watch me run all over Xiarong City looking for you?”

Country L stabbed fiercely at Ji Chenjiao’s nerves. He said helplessly, “I’m coming home.”

---

“I stewed tomato oxtail for you the day before yesterday. You didn’t come back, so I ate it myself.” Ling Lie directed Ji Chenjiao to serve the bland radish soup. “This is all there is today.”

Ji Chenjiao didn’t care what soup he drank. Under the light, he stared at Ling Lie. “Are your procedures done?”

Ling Lie said, “I can leave by this weekend at the latest.”

This weekend meant only two days left.

Ji Chenjiao felt a sense of powerlessness. If he weren’t Ling Lie’s colleague, he could express his worry unscrupulously and demand Ling Lie stay. But precisely because they were the same kind of people, he had to suppress even this bit of selfishness.

His eyes felt uncomfortable, aching and swollen. Those red blood vessels seemed alive, invading his vision.

He squeezed his eyes shut forcefully.

In the instant he closed and opened his eyes, warmth suddenly covered his cheek. It was Ling Lie’s palm, not soft, possessing a strength no less than his own.

“Xiao Ji, your stubble is growing out.” Ling Lie’s thumb rubbed Ji Chenjiao’s chin. “It’s prickly.”

Ji Chenjiao’s brow locked tight. Ling Lie’s tone was gentle, like cotton, so whatever he was about to say would land softly.

“You know very well that checking entry information might not yield results,” Ling Lie said. “Yet you insist on tormenting yourself like this.”

Ji Chenjiao was on the verge of an outburst. “It’s the only path I have. Solve the case quickly, and you won’t have to go to Country L.”

Ling Lie said, “You don’t need to be so resistant. It’s just a very ordinary investigation.”

“But the person investigating is you. I always feel…” Ji Chenjiao stopped.

Ling Lie waited. “Xiao Ji, don’t leave people hanging like this.”

Ji Chenjiao lowered his head slightly. “Feel like you’ll disappear, escape. Ling Lie, you have a ‘prior record’.”

Both looked at their own reflections in the other’s pupils. After a long while, Ling Lie said, “You’re too nervous about me.”

Ji Chenjiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He wanted to break free from Ling Lie’s hand. “Holding your hand up so long, isn’t it tired?”

But Ling Lie said something nonsensical. “It’s your first time having a boyfriend. Being awkward is understandable.”

Ji Chenjiao just opened his mouth when Ling Lie kissed him. The two tugged at each other by the steaming dining table, and finally, Ji Chenjiao was pressed onto the table by Ling Lie.

“Actually, there’s no need to be so nervous. Where can I disappear to?” Ling Lie grabbed Ji Chenjiao’s collar, pulled him up, and poked him in the heart. “I’ve made my home here with you. Even if you want to kick me out, I’ll stick to you.”

After speaking, Ling Lie walked to the coffee table, bent down, and picked something up. Ji Chenjiao didn’t see what it was at first, until Ling Lie raised it and reached behind his neck.

It was a pair of scissors!

Ji Chenjiao rushed over instantly, grabbing Ling Lie’s hand, but it was too late. With a snip, Ling Lie cut off the small ponytail tied with a hair tie.

Ji Chenjiao was furious. “What are you doing?”

Ling Lie’s cut was very unskilled. The hair tie was cut, hair scattered, only half was cut off while the other half remained at the original length. It looked like it had been gnawed by a dog.

“Aiya, it’s all your fault,” Ling Lie said. “Made me cut it unevenly.”

Ji Chenjiao didn’t understand what he was doing at all. He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

How could he give it back? Ji Chenjiao reversed his grip on the scissors and hid them behind his back. “Why did you cut your hair?”

Seeing he couldn’t get them back, Ling Lie wasn’t in a hurry. He squatted down and picked up the scattered hair, not caring about his current savage-like appearance.

“This isn’t just hair; it’s my little tail.” Ling Lie shook his head as he spoke, his messy hair swaying with the movement. “Now I don’t have a little tail anymore.”

He picked up a prepared thin black string, tied up the cut hair, and extended his hand forward.

Ji Chenjiao: “?”

Ling Lie went around behind him, pried open the hand not holding the scissors, and placed the hair in his palm. “You hold onto my Xiao tail. I can’t get lost no matter what.”

At this moment, emotions surged like a tide, rising and falling under gravity. Those fluctuating dark colors were reflected in Ji Chenjiao’s eyes.

He seemed to understand the purpose of Ling Lie’s bizarre action. Yet not entirely.

“My little tail is in your hand; where can I hide?” Ling Lie leaned close, his lips almost touching his. “Xia Chengshi, for the sake of me cutting my hair to show my resolve, at least trust me this once?”

Ji Chenjiao took a deep breath, his chest blocked by something dense, like a punch from Ling Lie. He couldn’t fight back; he had lost to Ling Lie.

Ling Lie extended his hand again. “Scissors, give them back now? I can’t drag this half-hair to the Serious Crimes Unit.”

Ji Chenjiao hugged Ling Lie with one arm, letting go only after a good while. “I’ll cut it for you.”

The two went to the balcony. Ji Chenjiao found a cloth and wrapped Ling Lie up properly, then held Ling Lie’s dog-gnawed hair, carefully cutting snipping away.

Snip, snip, snip—

The tension from moments ago seemed to dissolve in these soft sounds. Ling Lie held a mirror, his mouth getting cheeky again.

“Isn’t this wrong? The left side is higher.”

“Right side is crooked, crooked!”

“Left side is high again! Balance, balance!”

“It’s asymmetrical, Xia Chengshi! Can you do this or not?”

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

When he cut to the root of the ear, Ji Chenjiao realized he couldn’t continue. He wasn’t a stylist; he couldn’t cut it even, let alone style it. Low here, cut there; missing there, cut here. Cut any more, and Ling Lie would be bald.

Ling Lie commented, “Even a dog couldn’t gnaw out this effect, but our Xiao Ji can. Applause!”

Half an hour later, Ji Chenjiao dragged Ling Lie to the barbershop they frequented. The familiar stylist’s eyes lit up upon seeing him. “This officer is so handsome!”

Ling Lie loved hearing flattery the most and leaned in, unwilling to leave.

Ji Chenjiao could only push him to get his hair washed and instructed the stylist, “Trim it to something normal.”

The stylist guaranteed, “No problem! Give me half an hour, I’ll return a male celebrity to you.”

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

He wasn’t thinking about any male celebrity.

Half an hour later, the stylist regretted boasting.

Ling Lie’s head had been ravaged too severely. Even the gold-medal stylist couldn’t salvage a flowing male celebrity look. It was too short to flow. In the end, it could only be trimmed into a crew cut slightly longer than a buzz cut.

Ling Lie looked hard in the mirror, getting more satisfied the longer he looked.

Ji Chenjiao wasn’t used to it at first. When he reunited with Ling Lie, Ling Lie had a tail and bangs. Now it was shorter than his own. It took some getting used to.

But after a few more glances, he found that Ling Lie looked heroic and sharp like this, truly like a sword honed from that mobile unit—sharp edge fully revealed, yet beautiful beyond measure.