BL Ch139

On the way back, Ji Lin and Lu Qing rode in Mu Hao’s police car. Lu Qing, at the wheel, barely dared to breathe, occasionally sneaking glances at the two silent “old classmates” in the backseat through the rearview mirror, anxiety gnawing at her.

Step up, Captain Ji! You’re usually so boisterous with us, why do you turn into a gazelle facing a lion in front of Officer Mu, your face practically screaming “Let me go!”?

It wasn’t entirely Ji Lin’s fault. Mu Hao’s solemn expression was enough to intimidate anyone. Ever since hearing Bai Zhao’s words, his brow hadn’t unfurrowed.

He hadn’t thoroughly investigated the surveillance footage from Yiqing alley since returning to the country. The police should have scrutinized the footage from the crime scene countless times. If there were anything amiss, it should have been discovered long ago. Even if the bureau had overlooked something, how did Bai Zhao know?

His best friend had finally found someone he cared about, and he had no intention of disrupting their relationship. However, if Bai Zhao was truly orchestrating some secret scheme… he would have to prioritize justice.

In the backseat, Ji Lin fidgeted with his fingers to pass the time, cracking his knuckles until they turned red, but the man beside him remained silent.

It hadn’t been like this before. When Mu Hao was first rescued, even with a sore throat, he would make the effort to speak to him.

Why was he so quiet now? Right, back then Mu Hao hadn’t spoken to anyone in so long, and now, having seen the light of day again, he was naturally eager for human interaction.

Now… now he didn’t need him for conversation.

Mu Hao taking Bai Zhao to visit Pei Ming must be case-related. He had rushed over and interrupted them, perhaps upsetting Mu Hao. But because he owed Mu Hao a debt of gratitude, he couldn’t bring himself to criticize him. Ji Lin懊恼地 pinched his own thigh.

Why couldn’t he shake off his impulsive nature?

Lu Qing, unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, racked her brains for a conversation starter, for the sake of her captain’s happiness. “Um… Captain Ji, should we head back to the station first, or drop Officer Mu off at the city bureau?”

Ji Lin shot her a grateful look and turned to Mu Hao. “Brother Mu, where do you want to go? By the way, Pei Zhuo is at our station, insisting on seeing his brother. We can’t get rid of him. Since you just saw Pei Ming, maybe…?”

Maybe you could appease him, so he stops worrying?

With their usual understanding, Mu Hao should grasp his meaning and be willing to help. That way, he could naturally bring Mu Hao back to the station, they could talk calmly, and he could apologize…

“No, I need to return to the city bureau. I have something to do,” Mu Hao declined without hesitation.

Ji Lin froze.

A moment later, he curled his reddened fingers, gripping his pants. He asked softly, “What’s so urgent? Is there a new case? You haven’t fully recovered, don’t overwork yourself…”

Mu Hao was about to tell him about Bai Zhao’s words, but seeing Lu Qing in the front seat, he swallowed them back. He absolutely trusted Ji Lin, but he didn’t know this young woman. If she were to let slip this information, it would be troublesome. Besides, Ji Lin had been running around for months, both physically and mentally exhausted. He deserved some rest.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself,” he finally said.

Ji Lin looked up, dazed. Perhaps due to the lack of proper sleep from working on the case, the skin around his eyes was faintly red. After a few seconds, he nodded slowly. “Mm… I understand.”

Looking at the young man beside him, Mu Hao was suddenly reminded of their university days.

Back then, he was a freshman. It was tradition at the Public Security University for students to run five kilometers around the track every morning. Some freshmen couldn’t keep up and were left far behind. At first, he focused on his own run, not noticing others. Until, after the run, the instructor called out the slower students, making them stand in a line in front of the podium and scolding them one by one.

The instructor was harsh, a believer in Spartan education, convinced that breaking students down completely was the only way for them to be reborn. His words were incredibly harsh, bordering on personal insults.

The freshmen, fresh out of their sheltered lives and suddenly faced with this harsh reality, some burst into tears.

Mu Hao disagreed with this method of criticism and was about to speak up for them when, from the line of “useless weaklings,” a delicate-looking young man stepped forward.

His teary eyes were red, yet he dared to retort in a choked voice, “You can insult me now, but… but you can’t say for sure that I’ll amount to nothing in the future!”

The instructor, already furious, found a convenient target. He unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse at the defiant freshman. “Of course I can! A pretty boy like you with no physical strength or talent, you’re just here to make up the numbers! You think you’ll join the city bureau, solve major cases, save lives? With that small frame of yours, who can you save? You’ll be lucky to survive! I bet you’ll end up a beat cop, directing traffic, and catching a thief will be the highlight of your career!”

The other students, some sympathetic, some secretly amused, watched. Back then, Ji Lin was indeed a pretty boy, thinner than his classmates, and in the strength-worshipping Public Security University, he was the type of weakling easily looked down upon.

The instructor, having vented his anger, let the other students off, but not Ji Lin. He ordered him to run another ten kilometers.

Ji Lin, already drenched in sweat and near collapse, didn’t argue, turning to run.

Mu Hao watched his stubborn figure, thought for a moment, then followed, silently trailing behind the young man who was now slow as a snail.

By the second lap, Ji Lin’s strength gave out, and he stumbled forward. Mu Hao caught him from behind, steadied him, and saw his tear-streaked face.

“Are you alright? If you can’t run, rest for a while.”

Ji Lin’s vision was blurred by tears; he couldn’t see clearly, repeatedly thanking Mu Hao and refusing his help, a pitiful yet amusing sight.

Mu Hao cupped his face, gently wiping away his tears with his sleeve, listening to him say stubbornly, “I have to run… I have to prove to him that even if I’m no good at anything, at least I… I can persevere! I have determination and courage!”

With the tears wiped away, a burning light shone from those red yet clear eyes, startling Mu Hao.

The abstract concept of “conviction” seemed to be etched into the young man’s eyes, so intense it was unforgettable.

Mu Hao came from a comfortable background. His schools were always filled with rich kids who lacked any real conviction, content with drifting through life and enjoying the present.

The most extreme example was the genius he met in high school.

Yu Duqiu wasn’t without conviction, but his conviction was “I want to be a heartless bastard, so no one can hurt me.”

The day they met, the rebellious Yu Duqiu, after years of self-indulgence, was on the verge of going astray. He recklessly galloped through the school grounds on horseback, nearly injuring innocent students and teachers, not caring, even mocking their foolishness.

As everyone fled in panic, he sat high on his horse like a merciless god, coldly looking down at the mortals whose fates he controlled.

One step further, and he would break free from the protective net his family had built, lost in madness and thrill-seeking.

At the last moment, before he could collide with a student, Mu Hao stepped forward, finally making him rein in his horse.

But through later interactions, Mu Hao gradually realized that he could, at most, prevent Yu Duqiu from going astray, but he couldn’t teach him true conviction.

The young master’s genius mind was difficult for ordinary people to understand. The humans he saw were too fragile, like ants, easily crushed.

Even if he tried his best to protect these ants, he couldn’t change their fate.

This gave him a mixture of divine compassion and indifference.

Ji Lin was the opposite.

Ji Lin was the ordinary person in Yu Duqiu’s eyes, the one who couldn’t even cry for help when faced with unstoppable disaster, destined to perish. So weak, so insignificant.

But it was this Ji Lin who would argue with authority as the underdog, and who would prove his determination to fight against fate with his insignificant strength.

Yu Duqiu lacked such an ordinary friend.

If they knew each other, perhaps… Ji Lin could offer Yu Duqiu a different perspective.

Not just Yu Duqiu, but others who were lost, frustrated, desperate, or grieving… they would surely be influenced and saved by the conviction of this young man.

He couldn’t let him fall here.

“Yes, you can. Don’t give up hope.” Mu Hao remembered saying this, reaching out to touch his sweat-soaked hair. “I believe you’ll be amazing someday.”

The eighteen-year-old Ji Lin stared at him with wide, red eyes, and finally, tears streamed down his face again.

The twenty-eight-year-old Ji Lin was no longer the crybaby he once was. His resilience and persistence were worthy of the responsibility he carried. But at this moment, his slightly reddened eyes were just like they were on the day they first met.

Mu Hao instinctively wanted to reach out and touch his hair, ask him what was wrong, but restrained himself because of Lu Qing in the front seat.

Ji Lin was already a capable captain. Being patted on the head in front of his subordinate might make him lose face.

Mu Hao didn’t move or speak, and silence returned to the backseat.

Lu Qing was driven mad by the awkward atmosphere. She threw caution to the wind. “Officer Mu, please, just do us a favor and come to our station. Pei Zhuo is refusing to leave, demanding to know why Bai Zhao can enter the detention center but he, the brother, can’t. I’m afraid he’ll go online and stir up public opinion against us. If you could help explain, we’d be eternally grateful!”

Her exaggerated tone caught Mu Hao’s attention. He turned to the front, offering a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. Pei Zhuo just wants to ask his brother for advice to save the company. Bai Zhao already promised Pei Ming he would help Pei Zhuo.”

Lu Qing, driving, let out a surprised “Ah?” Forgetting her matchmaking attempt, she eagerly asked, “Why would Bai Zhao help Pei Ming? There’s no benefit for him. And where would he get the money?”

Mu Hao patiently answered each question, but vaguely. “Because he made a deal with Pei Ming. Pei Ming is providing him with something he needs. As for the money… Duqiu’s mother called and said she’s on her way back. I imagine she’ll provide the funds.”

Lu Qing, not fully understanding and not close to Mu Hao, simply replied with a couple of “Ohs” and didn’t pry further.

Her interruption pulled Mu Hao’s thoughts from the past, back to the visitation room half an hour ago:

After Bai Zhao raised the question about gemstones, everyone present was unsurprisingly taken aback.

Pei Ming, angered but amused, wanted to see what he was up to, so he generously told Bai Zhao that the best match for pigeon’s blood ruby would be a Kashmir “cornflower” blue sapphire, symbolizing loyalty and fidelity, said to protect kings from harm in ancient times.

But this rare gem ceased production in the 19th century and was now exorbitantly priced and incredibly difficult to find.

Bai Zhao’s eyes lit up slightly at the mention of “protecting kings,” then he wore the same shrewd expression as Yu Duqiu. “Kashmir… I’m sure Mr. Pei must have one at home, then?”

Pei Ming’s face immediately darkened.

The Pei family had started in Southeast Asia. In the early years, when his father was involved in shady dealings, many local drug traffickers used valuable gemstones as currency. This was one of the reasons for the rapid early expansion of Pei’s Jewelry – they didn’t need to mine; the gemstones came to them.

Although he had sold many rare gems when the company nearly went bankrupt, they did have a cornflower blue sapphire tucked away.

Pei Ming sneered, “Even if I do, don’t think I’ll sell it to you.”

Bai Zhao was even more direct. “I’m not buying it. I have no money. I want you to give it to me.”

Even Pei Ming’s composure couldn’t withstand such blatant extortion. His hands trembled, the metal handcuffs rattling. He turned to complain, “Mu Hao, he’s taking advantage of my situation! You’re just going to watch?”

Before Mu Hao could speak, Bai Zhao added, “You’ll gladly give it to me because I’ll help Pei Zhuo manage the business you left behind. When you get out, your company will still be thriving.”

These words hit Pei Ming where it hurt.

He couldn’t turn things around, and his father would likely face a death sentence. His biggest concern now was his younger brother, who had always relied on him, and the family business he had single-handedly revived.

“You’re willing to help me? Why?” Pei Ming was suspicious. “Even if this sapphire is rare, Yu Duqiu can definitely afford it. Why come to me?”

“Because it’s a surprise. He can’t know.”

If Feng Jinmin knew the visitation permit he had specially approved was used for this, he’d probably throw Bai Zhao into Pei Ming’s cell for a few days. This guy was truly lawless…

Mu Hao’s thoughts circled back to the beginning, his mind focused on returning to the bureau to investigate the alley surveillance footage Bai Zhao mentioned. He didn’t notice the man beside him had been stiff for a long time.

Ji Lin’s gaze shifted from Mu Hao’s furrowed brow to his own knees. His worn and faded jeans seemed to mock his poverty, and his curled, hesitant hands seemed to taunt his cowardice.

He had been brave once, that day at the hospital. He had mustered all his courage to confess his feelings, receiving the expected rejection.

Mu Hao knew his feelings.

His reluctance to return to the bureau with him was perhaps to avoid giving him false hope.

He no longer had any hope, he just wanted to apologize for his recklessness today.

But he wasn’t good with words and didn’t have Yu Duqiu’s thick skin. He feared that if he spoke again, they wouldn’t even remain friends.

Lu Qing drove steadily, arriving safely at the Xinjin Branch. She asked Ji Lin to deal with the persistent Pei Zhuo first.

Ji Lin opened the car door, paused, took a deep breath, and mustered his courage once more. Turning back, he offered an awkward smile. “Brother Mu, I’ll go now. If you’re free sometime, let’s have dinner together.”

Lu Qing’s ears perked up: There’s hope!

Mu Hao looked at him with slight surprise, about to say something when his phone rang. It was Yu Duqiu.

“Ah, okay, I’ll contact you later.” Mu Hao answered and picked up the call. After listening for two seconds, his expression changed, a mixture of surprise and delight. “Really? You got an invitation? You’re amazing, Duqiu!”

His invitation was met with a perfunctory response, his hopes dashed like countless times before.

But at least there was a response, which wasn’t the worst outcome.

He had been waiting for this dinner for six years, since graduation night. A little longer wouldn’t hurt.

Ji Lin rubbed his nose and murmured, “Mm, I’ll wait for your call, Brother Mu.”

The backseat door closed softly. Lu Qing watched her captain’s lonely figure walk away, a pang of sympathy in her heart.

“Your Captain Ji…” The man in the backseat, having ended the call, frowned again, pondering a new problem. “Does he still enjoy the same food as before? Where should I take him…”

In the other car speeding in the opposite direction, Yu Duqiu hung up the phone and turned on the music, tapping his fingers to the rhythm, a clear “let’s see who caves first” attitude.

Zhao Feihua had just messaged him, saying he had obtained an invitation to Elder Luo’s birthday celebration. The venue happened to be the same western suburban villa where he held his 18th birthday party before going abroad. So he called Mu Hao.

This matter wasn’t urgent; they could discuss it later. But the silence during the drive was unbearable.

He couldn’t remember the last time they had such a prolonged disagreement.

He used to be carefree, but now he had to consider how to appease this ancestor without losing face.

He could play hardball, ignore him for a week or two, and see if he could stand it. But the problem was, he himself couldn’t stand it either.

Accustomed to someone’s embrace, he couldn’t sleep alone.

“Do you have to go?”

Yu Duqiu paused, then a triumphant fanfare sounded in his heart.

He caved first. He wouldn’t forgive him that easily. “You’re overstepping.” They weren’t even married yet, and he wasn’t allowed to attend a normal social gathering? What freedom would he have left?

“Then fire me, and I won’t interfere anymore.” Bai Zhao’s voice was urgent. “Go to the Luos, the Wangs, the Suns, whoever. I won’t care anymore, okay?”

Yu Duqiu stared at him in shock. “Do I need to remind you who’s in the wrong here? Now you’re throwing a tantrum? I don’t think you want to get enga–”

Bai Zhao endured the scolding but didn’t turn to look at him, his eyelashes lowered, his gaze fixed on his ring.

Yu Duqiu noticed him fiddling with the ring, as if about to take it off.

“What are you doing?” Yu Duqiu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly grabbed his hand.

“Nothing. Didn’t you say that if I left the house without permission, the engagement would be postponed?” Bai Zhao pulled his hand away, quickly removing the ring and placing it in Yu Duqiu’s hand. “I broke the rules today. I accept the punishment. Here’s your ring back.”

Yu Duqiu was bewildered.

The little guy was acting strange lately. He had apologized and tried to make amends just a few days ago when reprimanded. He thought he would quickly surrender, but his personality had changed drastically in the past two days, becoming unreasonably difficult for the first time.

Thinking back, it seemed to have started when he mentioned attending the Luo family’s banquet.

“Why are you against me going to the Luo’s banquet?” Yu Duqiu softened his tone slightly. “I’m not going to party. I have some things to investigate.”

“I’m afraid you’ll find out something… something embarrassing to me. I don’t want you to know. Driver Zhao, pull over,” Bai Zhao called out.

“Don’t stop!” Yu Duqiu yelled back.

“If you don’t stop, I’ll jump out.”

“…Stop the car.”

Driver Zhao, startled by their argument, quickly pulled over.

Bai Zhao got out, leaned against the car door, and bent down to look at him. “According to the punishment, I’ll be staying elsewhere for a few days. You’re about to have your cast removed, so rest well. I’ll see you at the banquet.”

The car door slammed shut. Bai Zhao walked away without looking back.

Driver Zhao cautiously glanced at his boss’s face. “Mr. Yu… should I go after him?”

“No! Let him go. We’re going home.”

“Okay…” Driver Zhao turned to restart the car when something flew from behind, hitting the steering wheel and landing on his lap.

He picked it up and saw a black and gold card.

“Give this to him.” Yu Duqiu gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger. “He left without his phone or wallet. Does he want to sleep on the streets? Tell him: I’m determined to find out what he’s hiding!”