【What kind of progress is this? A historic big step for Vanishing CP!】
【Friends, hurry and climb the wall to watch. The husbands I’m shipping are finally hugging!】
【No need to climb the wall. I directly screen-recorded and reposted it to domestic sites.】
【Poor Fang Yama. Even hearing his calm and collected description of those two sentences, you could feel how he had been hanging by a thread back then.】
“What are you doing?” Fang Si Ting asked inappropriately.
Xiao Fen was a dozen centimeters shorter than him. With that tug, his mouth, nose, and cheeks all sank into the soft neck flesh.
It was all Xiao Fen’s scent.
Fang Si Ting’s whole body stiffened. His body bent at the waist unnaturally, head lowered, while one hand firmly pressed the back of his head.
“It must have hurt a lot back then, right?” Xiao Fen said softly.
That heartbroken, trembling tone made Fang Si Ting’s heart shrink involuntarily.
“It was fine. I was in a coma the whole time during that period. By the time I woke up, the injury had mostly healed.”
“Really?”
“I didn’t feel any pain from start to finish.”
Fang Si Ting lifted his head from his embrace and finally saw that Xiao Fen’s eyes were red-rimmed and somewhat moist.
There was also a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.
“Why are your eyes and nose red?” Fang Si Ting’s fingertip brushed his damp, red eye corner. A trace of amusement floated in his eyes. “Worried about me? No need, really.”
Xiao Fen sneered and dodged his hand, saying sarcastically, “No need indeed. What’s there to worry about with you? You don’t even feel pain while comatose. Wake up from one sleep, and you’ve become a big hero.”
He had been tricked into feeling heartbroken for nothing.
“No… that’s not…”
“I was being nosy.” Xiao Fen cut him off. “Why did you tell me this? I asked about the bombing case. Who cares if you live or die?”
“Because of that operation, Qian Ning had nearly a hundred bomb packages ambushed and waiting for us. There was other on-site evidence too, proving without a doubt that he was the culprit.”
“Got it.” Xiao Fen stood up to leave.
“Why are you asking about this?”
“Qian Ning claims he’s innocent. He says someone else was behind the original bombing, and now there’s a similar bombing in M Country with the same method. So everyone’s suspecting you caught the wrong guy back then. Your Live Stream Chat is probably blowing up with curses right now.”
Sometimes, not being able to see the Live Stream Chat barrage was a blessing.
“You’re helping clear my name?” Fang Si Ting’s lips curved slightly.
“Where do you see me trying to clear your name? No evidence, no idea about the process.” Xiao Fen got annoyed seeing him look a bit smug. “I’m chasing the M Country culprit to eliminate harm for the people. If it turns out you really caught the wrong person, you’re dead meat.”
“We didn’t catch the wrong person. You know that.”
“I only know whoever dates you in the future will die of anger.” Xiao Fen, who had been about to leave, turned back and poked his forehead. “With a brain like yours, you really can’t date at all.”
Saying it hurt a little and showing a bit of weakness in front of him—would that kill him?
Couldn’t they just make up and flip the page on the previous argument and awkwardness?
Now it was all messed up, making him look so embarrassing on the live stream.
He had been heartbroken over his pain, nearly tearing up, but the person involved felt no pain at all and even said there was no need!
His concern had been unnecessary!
He had made a big fuss over nothing!
【Done for. We were touched for less than thirty seconds, and now they’re arguing again.】
【Are you two afraid we fans don’t know how bad your relationship is?】
【From what Brother Fen said, he totally looks down on Fang Yama. CP fans, better wash up and sleep.】
【Don’t repost that hug video domestically anymore. People will curse you for scamming them.】
“I…”
“Little Fire Seed, this man was seriously injured. Now you know—he’s just a pretty face, all looks and no substance!” Xiao Fen said vengefully to the camera.
“Don’t you know about my physical condition?” Fang Si Ting raised an eyebrow.
“Who cares to know!”
【Fang Yama, chase him quick! Can’t you see your wife is pissed and leaving? What are you standing there for!】
【He’s so fierce in fights, I don’t buy Brother Fen’s words.】
【What does Fang Yama mean by that? Has Brother Fen used his body or something?】
【Little face suddenly turned yellow.】
【Help me up, I’m good to go again.】
Seeing he was really angry, Fang Si Ting got up and caught up to him in a few steps. He said softly, “That was a few years ago. My body’s long since recovered—better than before I retired, after recuperating.”
“Weren’t you discharged just the year before last?” Xiao Fen suddenly whipped around, nearly colliding with him.
He remembered that when the show started, someone had dug up his info, saying he had retired a year ago.
Fang Si Ting quickly stepped back two paces. “Mm.”
“At most two years ago, and you’re telling me you’re fully recovered?” Xiao Fen said angrily. “You’re just asking for a beating.”
Fang Si Ting took two light, painless hits to his arm. “I really am fine.”
Xiao Fen saw his relaxed expression, with a faint hint of excitement, and realized he had worried for nothing.
“Before the show ends, don’t show up in front of me.”
He looked infuriating.
“And don’t follow me.”
Annoying.
“Xiao Fen.”
He was called twice from behind, but Xiao Fen quickened his pace and soon vanished into the library.
Ou Yu walked over and asked, “Where’s Xiao Fen?”
“He stormed off angry.” Fang Si Ting said flatly.
He had no idea what he had done to upset him.
Ou Yu sighed, put down his book, and left.
Back in the room, sure enough, he saw him lying there sleeping.
Just as he was about to speak, Yevgeny arrived.
“Xiao, I finally found you.” He was a bit anxious. “Can you help me hold off Inspector Fang?”
“Why should I help you?” Xiao Fen irritably opened his eyes. “You got mad at Inspector Fang, so why come curse at Brother Ou Yu?”
“You’re all from H Country.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?” Xiao Fen said. “Apologize.”
Yevgeny scratched his buzz cut, looking awkward but sincere as he apologized to Ou Yu. Then he said, “Qian Ning is starting to suspect my identity because I’ve been hounding him every day about the express bombing case.”
“You have zero interrogation skills.” Ou Yu shook his head.
Yevgeny’s eyes lit up. “Xiao, can you help interrogate him? This concerns Inspector Fang’s reputation too, and the live stream audience is watching.”
Ou Yu looked a bit worried.
If it was proven that Inspector Fang had really screwed up and caught the wrong person—and it was all live-streamed—his reputation would be ruined for life.
“Little Fen, maybe we should just…”
Xiao Fen had already gotten up. “Let’s go see.”
He wasn’t worried about Fang Si Ting being drowned in online spit.
The three of them headed to Qian Ning’s dorm.
Matthew from next door saw them pass his door and followed along.
Qian Ning was a short, brown-skinned man with tight curls plastered to his scalp. His eyes gleamed sharply, making people uncomfortable.
He had just gotten off work from the factory and come out of the bathhouse when he saw the four who had become famous from the earlier fight approaching and surrounding him.
A few nearby inmates whistled lewdly. Some hurried away, while others stopped to watch.
“Here or inside?” Xiao Fen gestured toward the bathhouse.
Qian Ning quickly said here. They all had flying cameras on them, so at least under the lens, his life safety had some guarantee.
“Fine.” Xiao Fen raised his hand and slapped him. The crisp sound immediately left red marks on his cheek.
Yevgeny hadn’t expected him to be so direct, hitting first thing. How could they get anything out of him like this?
Ou Yu pulled him back and whispered, “He’s in a bad mood today. Don’t go up and get beat.”
Yevgeny asked curiously, “Why is he always in a bad mood?”
Ou Yu sighed. “Stuck every day in this 100-decibel noisy pigeon cage—it’s enough to annoy anyone.”
Xiao Fen grabbed his collar with one hand and jabbed a finger at his nose with the other. “Disrespect my companion, and you’re disrespecting me.”
“I didn’t.” Qian Ning looked at them in terror.
“How did you act toward my companion when he was chatting with you?”
“Very friendly. Believe me. Yevgeny, my good cellmate—what do you think?”
“It was pretty good.”
“Let’s chat then.” Xiao Fen said. “What topic made you part on bad terms last time? The express bombings in P Country and Country F—the cases you committed?”
“Right.” Yevgeny said.
“I admit I lied. Those were indeed mine, so Inspector Fang caught me in P Country. But when he asked about the M Country bombing, I really knew nothing.”
“See, friends? My companion tells you everything he knows, but you’re still hiding things. Looks like you don’t take us seriously.” Xiao Fen gripped his neck and slammed him against the wall.
Someone nearby jeered, “Shorties are like that—no beating, no truth. Give him a taste of pain.”
“Your popularity in this prison isn’t great. If you piss me off more, think you have any way out?” Xiao Fen said. “We’re just friendly chatting, and you’re deceiving us here.”
“I know, I know.” Qian Ning’s voice was hoarse. “I’ll speak properly.”
“But I don’t want to give you the chance.”
“We’re an organization.” Qian Ning shouted with his last bit of strength.
Xiao Fen and Yevgeny exchanged a glance before continuing. “You think saying that scares me?”
Qian Ning saw him loosen his grip on his neck and clearly looked a bit intimidated. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
He panted heavily, propping himself against the wall. “I’m a member of the organization. There are others like me in the prison. If you dare hit me, your death isn’t far off.”
Xiao Fen and the others deliberately burst out laughing, mocking him. “Just chatting, and you brag about being in an organization.”
He slapped him across the face again. “What organization? Tell us, let us see.”
Qian Ning knew he had let it slip. He covered his face and let him hit while hurriedly denying, “No, no organization.”
“Now you’re denying it guiltily. I almost believe you.” Xiao Fen speculated. “The current express bombings in M Country aren’t by one of your organization members, right? The methods are so similar.”
“No, don’t talk nonsense.” Qian Ning’s voice grew weaker as he approached slowly.
“I know nothing, and there’s no organization.”
“Really? So the M Country bombings now are by your clone?” Xiao Fen looked down slowly.
Qian Ning quickly clamped his legs together, trembling as he shook his head.
If it was just injury, confinement. But he’d never be a man again for the rest of his life.
Seeing him raise his fist and step back slowly, he hurriedly said, “The organization trained a lot of people like us.”
“You’re talking like you know your stuff.” Xiao Fen didn’t believe him at all. “Lying to us again. So much for true heart for true heart.”
“It’s real.” Qian Ning said urgently. “I know a lot about bomb principles, so they had me teach the techniques to another dozen or so people. Then they gave us addresses to plant bombs in P Country and Country F.”
“Oh, so you’re an officer. One of the little leaders, huh?” Xiao Fen straightened his collar. “Guess I should be polite to you.”
“Xiao, you’re letting him go like this?” Someone nearby jeered. “No matter how big outside, same here. Don’t buy his bullshit.”
“What’s the organization called?”
“Serpent… Serpent Eagle.”
The surrounding inmates glanced at each other before suddenly erupting in laughter.
