You Mingxu watched the ascending elevator numbers and suddenly understood some things.
Yin Feng was always by her side.
Whether as You Yingjun or Yin Feng, he was always running around her. Whether he had amnesia, his mind was unstable, injured, unconscious, or taking risks... no matter what happened, she had grown accustomed to it—
He would always be by her side.
But after this incident, You Mingxu suddenly realized that he and she were fundamentally different. He wasn’t a police officer and didn’t have her physical prowess. He might rely on his intellect and cunning to repeatedly identify criminals and accompany her in capturing the culprits. But if an accident occurred—any chance event, even the most ordinary criminal—could injure him or even put his life in danger. Just like today, he had nearly lost his life.
Some things that she took for granted—like the possibility of dying on the mountain yesterday and considering it a worthy death—were not the same for him. He was, after all, a scholar at best, a psychological consultant. He was even a victim of the Punisher Organization. Yet now, after getting to know each other for the second time, he still sacrificed himself for her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Why did he do this?
You Mingxu lowered her eyes, hiding the bitterness within them.
The answer was already in her heart.
She thought she had been stubborn lately, holding onto his temporary amnesia and withdrawal too tightly.
That one sentence—he simply couldn’t remember it no matter what.
But he was already living it.
Did she still need to wait for him to say it? Like he said, wait for thirty years?
At this thought, a strange sweetness unexpectedly welled up amidst the overwhelming bitterness.
The elevator doors opened, revealing two rows of hospital rooms, with the intensive care unit at the far end. It was dinner time, and the hospital was bustling with people coming and going, filled with a lively atmosphere. You Mingxu’s heart suddenly raced uncontrollably as she walked toward the room at the end of the corridor.
After taking just a few steps, she heard someone call from a nearby room: "Mingxu?"
You Mingxu snapped back to reality, paused, and noticed that the room beside her was where Xu Mengshan and Jing Ping were staying. There were only two beds inside, and both were awake, looking at her. You Mingxu hurried in.
Xu Mengshan, whose injuries were lighter, had already sat up, though he still looked somewhat haggard. When he saw You Mingxu, a gentle, steady light flickered in his eyes, just like every time before when he looked at his partner.
Jing Ping was still lying down, with several IV bags hanging by his bedside and his body tightly bandaged, only his face visible. His face was covered in wounds, the swelling around his eyes and cheeks hadn’t subsided, and the sight of it was heartbreaking. He looked at You Mingxu and managed to force a faint smile.
Before attending the memorial service, You Mingxu had taken a quick shower and changed her clothes—the clothes were provided by Chen Feng, who had a knack for pulling things out of thin air. So, even though she hadn’t slept properly for a day and a night, she still appeared neat and tidy, though her complexion was poor. Yet, her eyes now shone with a clear, bright light once more.
Xu Mengshan paid no mind to his own injuries. After studying You Mingxu for a moment, he smiled and asked, "Where have you been? In such a hurry. Is everything alright?"You Mingxu replied, "Everything's fine. Lao Ding has arrived to handle the aftermath for the task force. I just..." She paused, "attended Luo Yu's funeral service."
Xu Mengshan also fell silent, his expression complicated.
The three of them remained quiet for a moment. Then Jing Ping beside them suddenly moved, slowly raising the hand with the IV drip and placing it by his head. He saluted.
Xu Mengshan suddenly felt a sour, uncomfortable emotion welling up in his chest—something he didn't want to confront. After a long moment, he inexplicably felt a sense of release and also raised his hand in salute toward the window.
You Mingxu remained seated without moving.
Both men lowered their hands.
You Mingxu acted as if she hadn't seen anything and asked Jing Ping, "Old Jing, how are you holding up?"
Jing Ping seemed to exert some effort before he could speak: "Fine. Not dead yet." His voice was hoarse and terribly fragile.
You Mingxu stood up and walked to his bedside, taking his hand briefly. "Focus on recovering and get better soon. When you're healed, we'll have a fight."
Jing Ping lifted the corner of his mouth and replied, "Deal."
Xu Mengshan asked, "What about the others? I heard Yin Feng and his team arrived later and encountered the Punisher. They were all injured. How is Teacher Yin?"
You Mingxu answered, "Xiao Yan and Tuya, like you, sustained serious injuries but survived. Yin Feng... I heard he just woke up too." As she said this, a smile appeared on her face.
Xu Mengshan glanced at her twice, his fox-like nature unchanged, and a smile also touched his eyes. "Heard? Alright, since we're both going to survive and you've already checked on us, you should go now. If Teacher Yin doesn't see you soon, he'll be heartbroken."
You Mingxu showed no embarrassment and nodded. "Alright, I'll go check on him. Call me if you need anything." She nodded to Jing Ping as well and walked out.
After she had gone, Xu Mengshan slowly lay back, letting out a couple of breaths before settling completely.
The two men in the room were quiet for a while before Xu Mengshan spoke: "There are plenty of fish in the sea. Actually, she's not that special. I think it's just because we're all police officers—we haven't met many women, right? And her and Yin Feng... they're too deeply entangled. No one could come between them. Seriously, that's an iron wall. Actually, the fact that we survived this time was already a stroke of luck. Being alive is more important than anything. In the future, if we get the chance to find a caring woman, that would be a blessing. Don't you think so, Brother Jing?"
Jing Ping was silent for a moment before replying, "You talk too much."
Xu Mengshan fell silent.
After another pause, Jing Ping's voice sounded again, low and quiet: "I know it's an iron wall. I never thought of kicking it. I'm not that kind of person. I just... can't bear to see anything happen to her."
These words suddenly made Xu Mengshan's chest feel tight, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.
——
You Mingxu paused outside the intensive care unit.
How many times had she stood outside his hospital room now?
Yet each time, she felt this nervous hesitation, and the feeling only seemed to grow stronger.
She knocked on the door, and Chen Feng's voice came from inside: "Come in."
Pushing the door open, she saw Chen Feng standing at the foot of the bed, along with two doctors and two nurses bustling around the patient. Of course, the man still couldn't sit up, lying flat on the bed. Hearing the noise, his expression shifted slightly. He glanced at her, his gaze cool and detached, then quickly looked away.You Mingxu was taken aback for a moment but remained silent as she walked over to Chen Feng's side to listen to the doctor's instructions. Yet her eyes kept scrutinizing him without any attempt to conceal it.
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