“Honest Xia, you’re hiding here again. Why don’t you play with everyone?” The director found the little boy hiding behind the kitchen and patiently led him out. “A couple came to our orphanage today, saying they want to adopt a kind boy. Your Sister Xiao Chen is looking for you everywhere.”

Honest Xia shook his head. “I’m not kind.”

The director smiled and rubbed his head. “How is our Little Honest not kind? I saw him help Xiao Mei get her apple back just the day before yesterday.”

Honest Xia lowered his head in silence, letting the director pull him to the front yard. There was a young couple there, dressed decently, greeting all the children warmly. The children played games in front of them, a few clever ones desperately trying to show off their intelligence and liveliness.

Honest Xia had no concept of whether he would be adopted. The other children all longed to be adopted, but he didn’t care; being adopted was just changing a place to live. The director patted him on the back, signaling him to join the games. He didn’t resist, but he wasn’t very active either.

Soon, he noticed the young woman staring at him, her eyes filled with maternal gentleness.

For some reason, the young couple picked him out of so many children and wanted to adopt him as their own.

He introduced himself politely but was colder than the other children. He guessed they were willing to accept an unkind and unenthusiastic child like him because Sister Xiao Chen had put in a good word for him.

The couple didn’t take him away immediately but took him around the city he had lived in for a long time but never truly understood. Only then did he realize Xiarong City was so big, and those mottled streets had a liveliness the orphanage lacked.

On the last day, the couple took him to eat McDonald’s. Inside the glass house sat many noisy children. Their noise gave him a headache. The woman who was about to become his adoptive mother ordered a table full of chicken wings for him, but he didn’t think they were delicious.

When he looked out the window, he saw a dirty but very beautiful child. The child’s eyes stared at the chicken wing in his hand, lips moving again and again. He couldn’t hear the child, and the child couldn’t hear him. The glass wall stood between them, blocking everything beyond sight.

He suddenly had a particularly strong urge to give the chicken wing to the child.

Growing up, he had never had strong urges. This was the first time.

The couple helped him pack the chicken wings, and he rushed out quickly. The child probably thought he was going to catch him and fled hurriedly.

He caught up with the child and shoved the chicken wings into the child’s hands.

The child’s eyes changed from fear to bewilderment, then from bewilderment to surprise, eating until covered in grease crumbs, looking even dirtier.

But he didn’t think the child was dirty at all. He felt the child was like an elf who had crawled out of the cold winter and transformed in this spring rain.

The child was a stray. He told the child to keep walking north, where there was the Lily of the Valley Orphanage. As long as he reached the orphanage, he wouldn’t have to worry about food or clothing.

The child looked at him eagerly. “Really?”

He nodded solemnly.

The couple came out of McDonald’s, and he had to say goodbye to the child. They were going to other places today, and tomorrow he would go to Liyun City.

Back at the orphanage that night, he was unusually troubled.

Did he really have to leave here? He had just gotten to know this city. He had even invited a child to become a new member of Lily of the Valley.

Could they not meet again here?

He used to think being adopted was fine, and staying in the orphanage until eighteen was fine too. But now his scale tipped; he wanted to wait for that child to appear.

The child’s eyes were so sincere; the child wouldn’t lie to him.

For the first time in his life, he understood what hope felt like.

The director pressed his head and apologized to the couple, saying this child was too naughty and suddenly couldn’t bear to leave.

The couple seemed a bit sad, especially the lady. He didn’t dare look into her eyes; he seemed to have done something that made them sad.

Soon, the couple adopted another boy. The day they left, the boy was overjoyed and even made faces at him.

He started sitting at the orphanage gate with a small stool every day, waiting.

After asking the reason, the director sighed. “Do you know how far that McDonald’s is from here? If you hadn’t taken Xiao Ji’s parents’ car, you would have gotten lost halfway.”

He frowned and asked the director, “Are you saying he won’t come?”

“He’s just a little child.”

He bit his lip and shook his head, confidence coming from nowhere. “He will definitely come! He promised me!”

One day later, he really saw the child. The child was even thinner and smaller than outside McDonald’s, panting heavily. The moment he saw him, those beautiful eyes shone like gems.

“You were waiting for me!” The child pounced on him joyfully.

He said in his heart: Yes, I was waiting for you. I waited for you for a long time.

The director was also surprised by the child’s arrival and quickly took him in. The child couldn’t say clearly where he came from, only knowing his name was A’Dou. According to the rules here, the child got a formal name—Xia Xiaodou.

Since Xia Xiaodou appeared, Honest Xia also started playing games with the children. The children at the orphanage liked playing hide-and-seek the most. Honest Xia used to think it was boring, but now when it was his turn to seek, he would find Xia Xiaodou even if he didn’t eat or drink.

Xia Xiaodou looked well-behaved but was wilder than all the children, restless staying in the orphanage, often wanting to run outside.

Xia Xiaodou said he had found out that continuing north from the orphanage, there was a “maze” where playing hide-and-seek was most interesting.

Honest Xia refused to go. He knew that place; it wasn’t a “maze” at all, just an area of half-demolished houses.

But Xia Xiaodou insisted on going. Worried Xia Xiaodou would get lost, he also climbed out of the orphanage and chased after him.

Xia Xiaodou never got tired of playing. Whenever there was a chance to sneak out, he wanted to go to the “maze,” and Honest Xia followed him in “prison breaks” time and again.

Just half a year after Xia Xiaodou came to the orphanage, a child went missing. No one knew how he disappeared. The director dared not take it lightly and kept a particularly strict eye on Xia Xiaodou, who had a “prior record.”

“Ah, really want to go out and play.” Xia Xiaodou lay on Honest Xia. “Brother, let’s go to the ‘maze.'”

Honest Xia said grumpily, “Not going.”

“Coward!”

“Who’s a coward?”

“You! You’re afraid of being caught by the director!”

“I’m not afraid!” Honest Xia hmphed twice. “Played so many times, aren’t you bored?”

“But playing with you.” Xia Xiaodou suddenly grabbed Honest Xia’s hand. “Every time you find me, I’m very happy.”

Honest Xia: “…”

Xia Xiaodou shook his hand back and forth. “I can catch you every time. I’m so smart!”

A non-existent childhood played out like a lantern slide in Ji Chenjiao’s dream. He didn’t become the adopted son of Ji Nuocheng and Zhou Yun; he waited for Xia Xiaodou at Lily of the Valley. Yu Qianming took away a child neither of them knew from the orphanage. They grew up in the orphanage, holding each other’s hands in every maze game.

Hand…

Ji Chenjiao’s consciousness gradually returned to his body, like after a long trek. Before he could see anything clearly, his right hand woke up first.

His right hand was enveloped by a familiar touch, with warm breath, just like the warmth he felt at the last moment.

He moved his fingers subconsciously and immediately heard a noisy sound, then… his hand was held tighter.

Just as hard as when Xia Xiaodou caught him every time, afraid that if he relaxed, he wouldn’t admit being caught.

In that trembling confinement, he finally opened his eyes.

Ji Chenjiao woke up after a week-long coma.

Every time he dreamed of Xia Xiaodou, Ling Lie was by his bedside, holding his hand, gently blowing on it.

“You are also injured!” Zhao Fan wanted to chase Ling Lie back, but Ling Lie remained motionless, as if he couldn’t hear.

The wound on Ling Lie’s arm was restitched, and the scrapes and bruises from climbing while crippled were all properly treated. The troublesome part was the leg. It was originally just a sprain, but Ling Lie completely disregarded the injured leg at the last moment, damaging the tendons and bones, and had just undergone surgery.

Deafness and tinnitus alleviated after returning to the country but hadn’t fully recovered. When Zhao Fan told him that if he didn’t rest his leg properly, he would be a cripple for life, he could hear and was very obedient. When Zhao Fan told him not to stay by Ji Chenjiao’s bed blowing on him, he became deaf again. If Shen Xun and Fu Zhong nagged too much, he would argue, saying Xiao Ji almost froze to death inside, so he was warming Xiao Ji up.

Everyone was speechless. This was a hospital in the capital; the air conditioning could be set to whatever temperature desired. Did he still need to blow on him there?

But no one could drive away the blowing deaf man.

After finishing his own treatment every day, Ling Lie came to guard Ji Chenjiao, watching him go from critical to stable. The calluses on his hand were almost worn off by him.

Last night, he dreamed of playing games with Ji Chenjiao. They were still children, in the “maze” near Lily of the Valley. It was Ji Chenjiao’s turn to hide. He couldn’t find Ji Chenjiao no matter what and sat crying in the “maze.” When he was tired of crying, Ji Chenjiao came out himself, wiping his tears and saying, “If you can’t find me, I’ll come find you.”

When Ji Chenjiao’s fingers moved, Ling Lie thought it was an illusion. After all, he felt Ji Chenjiao’s fingers moving every day these past few days, but after getting excited, he realized he was the one shaking Ji Chenjiao’s fingers.

So when Ji Chenjiao really woke up this time, Ling Lie wasn’t that excited.

Ji Chenjiao turned his face, looking at him unblinkingly, his gaze deep enough to pull him in. He also looked at Ji Chenjiao. Only when Ji Chenjiao raised his head, wanting to stroke his cheek, did he “thaw,” leaning down, cheek pressing against Ji Chenjiao’s palm.

“Xia Xiaodou,” Ji Chenjiao said hoarsely. “You really came to find me.”

Ling Lie’s nose soured.

Ji Chenjiao’s thumb rubbed the corner of his wet eye. “Xia Xiaodou, you’ve lost weight.”

Ling Lie lay on the edge of the bed. “Even if I’m thin, I was the one who saved you that day.”

Ji Chenjiao stroked his hair, his gaze falling on his arm. “You’re hurt.”

“Yeah, if you didn’t wake up, this wound would have healed,” Ling Lie said. “Then I’d lose out so much. If you can’t see it, you won’t feel heartache.”

Ji Chenjiao touched Ling Lie’s hand through the gauze. “It hurts.”

Ling Lie straightened up, putting his leg on the edge of the bed. “There’s something that hurts you even more!”

Ji Chenjiao’s expression darkened further.

At this time, doctors and nurses rushed in to check Ji Chenjiao’s condition immediately. Ling Lie was temporarily asked to leave, saying reluctantly, “Hey, hey, what are you saying? I can’t hear! I’m deaf!”

“He can’t hear?” While undergoing a comprehensive checkup, Ji Chenjiao asked the doctor.

As an old cadre, Fu Zhong didn’t stay with the Special Action Team these days, running between home and the hospital every day, taking care of these wounded under his charge, determined to make them all gain a size when discharged.

When Ji Chenjiao was examined, he was naturally present.

“Ling Lie developed tinnitus while executing the mission in the Weimannu region. Later, on the way back to Salingauke, learning about the carnival explosion and that you were there, he went completely deaf.” Fu Zhong didn’t hide anything, informing him of all the urgency at that time.

Ji Chenjiao listened in silence. Hearing that Ling Lie firmly ran toward his direction and crawled through that narrow hole, he took a long, deep breath.

Fu Zhong patted his shoulder. “Xiao Ji, you also completed the mission. Because of your wise decision after the explosion, we had the chance to capture ‘Black Peacock’ alive.”

In this hospital, there was another special wounded person—Yan Xi. Special police were on duty outside his ward twenty-four hours a day. Two days before Ji Chenjiao woke up, he also woke up.

The ruins of the Alice Carnival could be called tragic. The mountains returned to silence after the angry roar. Su Yi, Xu Jiajia, and other “Jasmine Tea” and “Floating Light” members who entered the underground shelter all died. Only Yan Xi, whom Ji Chenjiao kept by his side, survived.

He was seriously injured. After the all-out rescue by our doctors, he was finally out of danger.

Before any of them woke up, the Special Action Team interrogated Bai Lingxue again. Learning that Yan Xi was captured alive, a crack appeared on Bai Lingxue’s face.

This was very unusual. He had been controlled by the police for more than half a year, his emotions becoming calmer and calmer. Only this time, he seemed panicked.

Ji Chenjiao said, “‘Floating Light’ might have things we don’t know. ‘Black Peacock’… Yan Xi said if he could get out alive, he would tell me the ‘real truth.'”

Fu Zhong pondered for a moment. “‘Real truth’…”

Ji Chenjiao asked about “Floating Light’s” activity after Yan Xi’s capture. Fu Zhong said excitedly that perhaps deterred by the leader’s capture, “Floating Light” had closed some channels within the borders.

As a dark web, “Floating Light” might continue to ravage the world, but that evil black tide was quietly retreating from our country. The cooperation with the L Country police this time wasn’t smooth, but the goal was basically achieved.

Ji Chenjiao said, “I want to see Yan Xi.”

Fu Zhong asked, “In what capacity?”

Ji Chenjiao thought for a moment. “I want to see him in the interrogation room.”

Fu Zhong smiled. “Then I’m afraid you have to rest for a while longer.”

---

Half a month later, Ling Lie and Ji Chenjiao were discharged one after another, and Yan Xi recovered to a state where he could accept interrogation.

In the interrogation room, the three with deep connections looked at each other. Yan Xi’s expression wasn’t like a heinous crime syndicate boss; Ling Lie even saw the clarity of A’Xue back then in his eyes.

“You…” Ling Lie got stuck as soon as he opened his mouth. He wanted to interrogate Yan Xi like interrogating Bai Lingxue, but facing those calm eyes, he couldn’t quite muster the imposing manner.

“You told our Officer Xiao Ji you have a story to tell him?” Ling Lie finally cleared his throat. “What story? Tell me too!”

Yan Xi’s gaze also lingered on Ling Lie’s face for a long time, as if trying to find the shadow of A’Dou in his memory. He nodded. “The story concerns you; you should listen.”

A moment later, in the interrogation room, Yan Xi’s voice rippled out like waves of the past.

Half of Bai Lingxue’s testimony was true, and the other half was also true, but that was truth grafted from Yan Xi. And what was true and what was false, Bai Lingxue himself probably couldn’t distinguish anymore.

Since childhood, Bai Lingxue had a morbid attention to A’Dou. He never understood why he also had dark green eyes, but A’Dou was only willing to be friends with A’Xue, protecting A’Xue with his life. He followed A’Dou and A’Xue, substituting himself into A’Xue, imitating A’Xue’s every move.

He felt he was the person who understood A’Xue best in the world. He could completely pretend to be A’Xue, but once when he appeared in front of A’Dou, A’Dou still ran past him to A’Xue behind him as if not seeing him.

After A’Dou fell from the mountain, A’Xue became helpless. A contradictory emotion grew in his heart. He was jealous of A’Xue, yet pitied A’Xue due to long-term imitation. He came to A’Xue’s side, half taking up A’Dou’s responsibility.

Years passed, and A’Dou’s shadow became blurrier. They became inseparable partners. At the age when they should be named, he named himself Bai Lingxue. Even the name contained the “Xue” of A’Xue.

A’Xue gave up the character “Xue” and named himself Yan Xi—keeping one’s word, bright and happy.

At that time, they both understood what kind of organization “Chen Jin” was and knew the fate awaiting them was to become killers. Many countries were cracking down on “Chen Jin.” The more “Chen Jin’s” scale shrank, the more newcomers were needed.

Bai Lingxue, outstanding in all aspects, was taken away. Yan Xi was left in a small city near the border—not the village where they lived as children.

“Chen Jin” was retreating steadily but still breathing. Yan Xi took advantage of the chaos to leave the small city and fled south.

He never thought of killing for “Chen Jin.” He always adhered to what he said to A’Dou back then, “‘Chen Jin’ is evil.”

He didn’t want to be an accomplice to evil.

In that village, he met Yin Hanshan.

The experience of meeting Yin Hanshan that Bai Lingxue told Ling Lie was actually Yan Xi’s experience. Bai Lingxue told it so sincerely, perhaps he had long believed he was truly Yan Xi.

Hearing this, Ji Chenjiao was puzzled. “You met Yin Hanshan, you went undercover for Yin Hanshan, and you came to Xiarong City upon learning of Yin Hanshan’s disappearance! How does Bai Lingxue know so clearly?”

Yan Xi inhaled gently. “Because I didn’t have the ability to infiltrate ‘Chen Jin,’ and I certainly didn’t have the ability to turn ‘Chen Jin’ into ‘Floating Light.'”

Saying this, he looked at Ling Lie and smiled. “A’Dou knew, I was a useless person who couldn’t do anything.”

Ling Lie frowned. The contradiction he felt facing Bai Lingxue earlier finally found an explanation. The A’Dou in his memory, even after inhuman torture, was unlikely to grow into an organization leader. A’Xue had once told him so excitedly that snow stained with blood was evil. It was A’Xue who first planted “don’t become a blade of evil” in his barren and tender soul.

Such an A’Xue shouldn’t become Bai Lingxue!

“Hanshan was the light in my life. I saved him in the mountains, but I was the one truly saved. He wanted me to be his informant, get key clues about ‘Chen Jin,’ so I could wash away all sins as a ‘Chen Jin’ member and live upright in the country he guarded.”

“I returned to ‘Chen Jin,’ but with my skills, I couldn’t infiltrate the management. At that time, I reunited with Bai Lingxue.”

Bai Lingxue was already a middle-level member of “Chen Jin,” battered by police pursuit, and had thoughts of leaving “Chen Jin.” Yan Xi always remembered Bai Lingxue’s care for him, persuaded Bai Lingxue to become Yin Hanshan’s informant with him, and told him all the details of meeting Yin Hanshan.

Bai Lingxue was exhilarated. The two began to fantasize about a life no longer in hiding after making contributions. With Bai Lingxue’s help, Yan Xi soon gained a firm foothold in the crumbling “Chen Jin,” but just as they grasped core clues, Yin Hanshan disappeared.

The longing for a bright life shattered in a day. Yan Xi was grief-stricken. Bai Lingxue gritted his teeth, saying he wanted to enter the country to investigate what happened.

This part was the same as Bai Lingxue’s confession, only that Bai and Yan did this together. “Floating Light” didn’t exist then. Even if they entered the country, they couldn’t find any clues.

After returning to E Country, Yan Xi became increasingly depressed. Bai Lingxue disappeared for a while and said to Yan Xi upon reappearing, “I want to bring ‘Chen Jin’ back to life. I want to use the power of crime to find the murderer who killed Hanshan!”

Yan Xi was in a trance and underwent psychotherapy for a while, while Bai Lingxue had already started transforming the dying “Chen Jin” into “Floating Light.”

“You don’t need to do anything; you just need to listen to me. You know, I’m very good at imitating you. A’Dou lost you, Hanshan has left too. In this world, only I still care about you. I will never leave you.”

When “Floating Light” first appeared, police worldwide didn’t take it seriously; it was too weak. But relying on “Floating Light’s” dark web tentacles, Bai Lingxue obtained a piece of intelligence—Yin Hanshan last appeared in Xiarong City, seemingly investigating a homicide in Feng City, and had contacted Ning Xiechen, the captain of the Major Crimes Unit of Xiarong City.

This was the first time they had a clue about Yin Hanshan. Yan Xi was exhilarated and wanted to enter the country personally to contact Ning Xiechen.

Bai Lingxue was worried and brought his men to Xiarong City in secret.

The truth of Ning Xiechen’s disappearance and serious injury was close at hand. Ji Chenjiao’s throat choked.

Yan Xi lowered his head toward Ji Chenjiao. “I approached your master with dark thoughts, and had to approach you too, but getting along with him, I understood he was an upright police officer, just like… Hanshan.”

Ji Chenjiao asked, “Why did you…”

Yan Xi shook his head. “I was careless. Captain Ning discovered I had other purposes for approaching him. I already knew he cared about Hanshan’s disappearance too; I thought we could cooperate. But… Bai Lingxue didn’t think so.”

A suspicious Major Crimes Unit captain was a huge threat to Bai Lingxue. He prepared to act against Ning Xiechen. Yan Xi couldn’t stop him in time; Ning Xiechen was shot and fell unconscious.

Yan Xi and Bai Lingxue had a dispute for the first time. Yan Xi insisted on leaving Ning Xiechen alive. Bai Lingxue said to him, “What about Hanshan’s revenge? Do you still want it or not? Without me, how can you get revenge!”

At the end of the dispute, both sides compromised. Bai Lingxue didn’t kill Ning Xiechen—but that was likely not a compromise, but because Ning Xiechen seemed unable to wake up. Yan Xi promised to listen to Bai Lingxue’s arrangements for everything in the future and never interfere with “Floating Light” again.

Ning Xiechen was secretly placed within the borders. Yan Xi returned to E Country, playing the role given to him by Bai Lingxue—”Black Peacock.” “Gray Peacock” was nominally “Black Peacock’s” subordinate, but in reality, “Black Peacock” controlled “Floating Light,” and “Gray Peacock” controlled “Black Peacock.”

Years later, Bai Lingxue thoroughly investigated the truth of Yin Hanshan’s disappearance and started revenge against Sha Man. During those years, Bai Lingxue hired the psychologist Zhuo Suying for Yan Xi to treat his increasingly severe mental problems.

Yan Xi sometimes didn’t know who he was. It seemed Bai Lingxue was him. It was Bai Lingxue who met Yin Hanshan at the border, and Bai Lingxue who avenged Yin Hanshan.

Then what was he? He was just a shell named “Black Peacock,” and even this shell, Bai Lingxue could take away at any time.

His life seemed grafted onto Bai Lingxue. They shared a memory and a hatred. He was imitated by Bai Lingxue to the marrow; he was nothing.

When lucid, he occasionally thought, if he hadn’t let Bai Lingxue be an informant with him after saying goodbye to Yin Hanshan, it would have been fine. But if he didn’t do that, how could he complete Yin Hanshan’s task?

These years in E Country were like being locked in a cage. He felt Bai Lingxue had crazy love and crazy hate for him. This madness was like a vortex, twisting their fates tightly together.

Finishing this long narration, Yan Xi’s shoulders collapsed.

Ling Lie stared at Yan Xi. “I have one more question.”

Yan Xi said, “Why did I go to L Country?”

Ling Lie nodded.

Yan Xi smiled bitterly. “This was a rare chance for me to leave E Country. You thought it was the time to catch ‘Black Peacock,’ but in Bai Lingxue’s eyes, it was also a plan to assassinate you in a foreign country and deter the police.”

Before this interrogation, the police had actually worked out this logic. Su Yi needed to use some members of the Special Action Team as bargaining chips to exchange for Duan Wande. “Floating Light” also needed to kill police to deter the police force. But these couldn’t be done within the borders. L Country had excellent conditions. Once the Special Action Team got intelligence of “Black Peacock” appearing in L Country, they would definitely start an operation.

Ling Lie frowned and asked, “Why were you willing to be this bait?”

Yan Xi shook his head. “I had no choice. I am only ‘Black Peacock’ in name.”

Bai Lingxue was in prison, but he had planned with his trusted aides long ago to make “Black Peacock” bait. The only thing Yan Xi found puzzling was that Zhuo Suying didn’t appear before him again. That deeply calculating psychologist might have seen the dead end of “Floating Light” early on.

Yan Xi smiled. “In that mountain, I didn’t expect to live to finish this story. Now I can be considered released, right?”

His gaze passed Ling Lie and Ji Chenjiao, taking a long breath. “I can finally leave the cage of ‘Floating Light’…”

Ling Lie interrupted, “What awaits you is trial and prison. You won’t get freedom.”

Yan Xi nodded. “But does this count as standing upright on this land? Or did you ‘invite’ me here?”

Ling Lie remained silent.

After a while, Yan Xi spoke again. “I couldn’t be Hanshan’s informant back then. Now I hand over all intelligence I have on the ‘Floating Light’ dark web to you. The dark web won’t disappear completely, but at least ‘Floating Light’ won’t ravage this land anymore.”

When the interrogation ended and Ji Chenjiao was about to leave, Yan Xi asked, “Captain Ning, is he awake?”

Ji Chenjiao shook his head. “Do you want to see him?”

Yan Xi lowered his head. After a while, he said, “I’d better not.”

The interrogation room door closed. Yan Xi looked at the wall, murmuring, “If there is a day when I serve my sentence and get out, I want to see you, Hanshan.”

---

“Floating Light” was a major case. Yan Xi’s testimony was only a small part of the evidence collection. A large amount of investigation work remained, and the procuratorate had intervened. The Special Action Team’s work finally came to an end. Members injured in L Country received medals and special leave.

Ling Lie had been approved to become a long-term member of the Special Action Team stationed in Xiarong City. Ji Chenjiao’s meritorious service in this major case would add a heavy stroke of color to his career journey. Xie Qing, as an old father figure, was very gratified, hoping every day for these two to come back to work quickly.

Ling Lie also wanted to return to Xiarong City immediately, but unlike Xie Qing’s expectation, he wanted to see Ji Chenjiao show off his might; if asked, it was vanity.

But Ji Chenjiao gave him a blow to the head.

“My ear problem really can’t be cured; stop tossing about!” Dragged by Ji Chenjiao to see a specialist early in the morning, Ling Lie was collapsing inside.

Regarding his hearing problem, their family had already erupted in a dozen debates. He insisted he was fine, having been deaf only this once in so many years. Ji Chenjiao said no; once was too scary. Take advantage of the current leave to cure it quickly to prevent future trouble.

Ling Lie cat-stared. “Is leave for curing illness?”

Ji Chenjiao hugged him. “We can do other things in the middle of curing illness.”

Debate intermission.

Ling Lie was good at capturing clues and also good at handing his own clues to the enemy—the intermission was too sweet, causing him to forget Ji Chenjiao wanted to send him to the hospital. When Ji Chenjiao bad-mouthed him in his ear, he immediately played deaf.

Ji Chenjiao grabbed the back of his neck. “Still say it’s fine?”

Ling Lie: “.”

The debate assembly stumbled. Ling Lie acting shamelessly in the morning didn’t work either; Ji Chenjiao carried him off.

Fortunately, after arriving at the hospital, Ling Lie was still very obedient, listening to whatever the doctor said.

Nervous deafness was indeed a tricky disease. This kind of problem affected by psychology was hard to cure just by saying so. Besides prescribing the right medicine, regulating emotions in life was also important.

The doctor emphasized to Ji Chenjiao to try not to let Ling Lie be afraid in the future.

Ling Lie immediately pointed fingers at Ji Chenjiao.

Ji Chenjiao held his restless hand. Ling Lie hmphed twice.

The treatment course was set. They had to come to the hospital every other day. Back in the car, Ling Lie bit Ji Chenjiao’s neck.

Ling Lie started reasoning again. “Old Man Fu took me to see a doctor back then too, but he didn’t force me to cure it.”

Ji Chenjiao: “Does Old Man Fu know you call him Old Man Fu?”

“Hey! You’re interrupting!”

“Of course Old Man Fu couldn’t force you; wouldn’t that be workplace bullying? But I can.”

Ling Lie thought for a moment. “Then yours is family bullying, domestic violence for short!”

Ji Chenjiao: “Want me to move the police station here for you?”

Ling Lie threw a tantrum. “What did the doctor say just now? Don’t make me angry. You have to please me, coax me, kiss me…”

Ji Chenjiao put it into action immediately.

Ling Lie pursed his wet lips. “Also take me to eat McDonald’s.”

Ji Chenjiao chuckled. “The doctor will sue you for rumors.”

The autumn air in the capital was crisp. Ji Chenjiao parked the car in front of a McDonald’s, bought a big bag, drove Ling Lie to a hillside, and had a picnic in the mild wind.

Ji Chenjiao: “What the doctor said was, don’t let you be afraid.”

Ling Lie ate until he burped, lying on the grass, white clouds drifting in his eyes.

“How did you find me?”

“You actually hid my hair in your tactical vest.”

The two spoke at the same time.

Ji Chenjiao turned his face to look at Ling Lie. Ling Lie tilted his head, looking at him too.

“You said that was a little tail for me. I use it as an amulet; why can’t I put it in the tactical vest?” Ji Chenjiao thought of when his consciousness was blurry, wanting to touch Ling Lie’s face but unable to lift his hand, finally pressing on the hair on his chest.

Ling Lie was a bit smug, sat up, and tugged at his hair. “How about cutting another piece for you?”

Ji Chenjiao went behind him and tied it up for him. “Keep it. It finally doesn’t look like a dog chewed it.”

Ling Lie leaned in Ji Chenjiao’s arms, feeling very comfortable.

“Asleep?” Ji Chenjiao pinched his face. “Haven’t answered my question yet.”

“Ang~” Ling Lie stretched lazily. “How I found you… just found you like that.”

“So perfunctory?”

“Not perfunctory. Wasn’t I unable to hear anything then? So other senses were very developed. The direction of the cold air, and your breathing.”

“Breathing? You could hear that?”

Ling Lie shook his head. “Not hearing, sensing. I ‘saw’ you calling me, Xia Xiaodou, Xia Xiaodou—”

A smile congealed in Ling Lie’s eyes. He raised his hand to touch Ji Chenjiao’s Adam’s apple. “How could I not find you? Honest Xia?”

Ji Chenjiao held Ling Lie’s fingers, lowered his head to kiss them, then gently knocked Ling Lie’s forehead. “Look at you, so capable.”

“Your boyfriend is capable of course!”

Leisurely afternoon, time seemed to stop.

Ji Chenjiao put all the bones Ling Lie left into a bag, patted the grass off his body, and extended his hand to Ling Lie. “Let’s go back.”

Ling Lie played a trick, wanting to pull Ji Chenjiao down.

But Ji Chenjiao had guarded against this move long ago. He didn’t fall and picked him up directly.

Ling Lie: “Yo, steady as an old dog.”

Ji Chenjiao bent down, patting the grass off his back and legs. He shouted, “Where are you touching! Where are you touching! Being a hooligan!”

Ji Chenjiao held his hand. “Since I’m an old dog anyway, what’s wrong with being a hooligan?”

“Then I want to be one too!”

“Come on.”

The autumn wind rolled up the clamor of the lingering summer, blowing passionately past the chasing people.

The last glimpse of floating light faded away in this peaceful autumn intent.