RLTT CH 17

Chapter 17: Confession in the Back Alley · Sunset Kiss

“Hello? Ming? It’s me, Jiaxi. Let’s go grab a meal. Didn’t you say you wanted to meet up before? I’m on vacation now. Oh, you’re out on a business trip? Alright then, let’s plan for next time.”

“Casey, it’s been a while since we’ve hung out. What? You’re in confinement? You had a baby? Why didn’t I know about this? Alright, let’s meet some other time.”

“Xiaojun! Last month, didn’t you ask me out for a drink? I was too busy back then, sorry about that. Oh, you went abroad for further studies? Impressive! No problem, let’s catch up when you’re back. Bye!”

Wei Jiaxi scrolled endlessly through his phone’s contact list but couldn’t find anyone to hang out with.

To be fair, it was partially his fault. He had quite a few friends, but most of them were police officers, and given the current circumstances, it was best to avoid raising suspicion. As for his non-police friends, only a handful of his high school classmates had squeaky-clean records. They used to reach out to him for get-togethers, but being in his line of work, his erratic schedule often meant he had to decline. Over time, they stopped inviting him altogether.

Now that he was finally on an extended vacation—albeit a forced one—he had the time to relax but no one to accompany him.

But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that he still couldn’t stop thinking about Yun Shaofeng.

Stop it already… Wei Jiaxi, how can you be so pathetic?! What happened between you and Yun Shaofeng is over and done with. He doesn’t remember you, nor does he genuinely like you. Why are you still daydreaming?

Frustrated, Wei Jiaxi threw his phone onto the table and sprawled on the bed, arms and legs spread out like a starfish, silently screaming at himself.

Left with no other choice, he stayed at home. During the first week, he re-read all his comics. By the second week, he had watched everything from Iron Man 1 to Avengers: Endgame. He was so bored he felt like he might rot, so he finally ventured out to buy some snacks, his bedhead still unkempt.

He didn’t feel like driving and grabbed his Octopus Card^[1] on the way out. Although there was a large supermarket right downstairs, on a whim, he decided to head into the subway station instead.

Amid the after-work rush of white-collar workers in suits, Wei Jiaxi blended into the crowd with his hands in his pockets and a vacant expression. He didn’t even know what he was doing, but right now, he had all the time in the world.

Somehow, as he wandered, he ended up exiting the station in the old district, unintentionally finding himself near the comic shop.

It was the busiest time of day. Students heading home after school, office workers looking for a place to eat, tourists on free tours, and countless others all moved with purpose. But Wei Jiaxi had none.

For the past six years, he had only one clear goal: to be a good police officer. From the moment he entered the academy, he made up his mind to sever ties with his past self and never look back.

“Uphold justice, fight crime, protect the innocent.” These eight words weren’t something he often said out loud, but they were etched into his heart.

Being a cop wasn’t easy. In the disciplined forces, order came first. There were times when his personal values clashed with orders from higher-ups—like now, for instance. But he firmly believed that in the current climate of increasing unrest in the region, sticking to his duty was the best way to contribute.

From police cadet to uniformed officer to joining the Major Crimes Unit, Wei Jiaxi prided himself on being a dedicated cop despite his impulsive and overly courageous nature. During his four years in the Major Crimes Unit, his case-solving record had always been stellar. In fact, when he graduated, both the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) and the Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) had recruited him, but he turned them down. He didn’t want to take any more risks—some things, once you get close to them, have a way of spiraling out of control.

The only mistake he made was showing even the slightest hint of emotion toward Yun Shaofeng.

Standing at the entrance of the comic shop, Wei Jiaxi gazed at the bustling crowd inside, his heart a mix of emotions.

How did it come to this? How did it reach the point of suspension?

With a sigh, Wei Jiaxi turned to leave. Just then, a bus pulled up to the curb, and a wave of passengers disembarked, brushing past him. He stood still, waiting for the crowd to pass, and was about to step forward when he spotted a familiar figure ahead.

Wei Jiaxi froze.

It was Yun Shaofeng.

Standing alone in the crowd, his brow slightly furrowed, but his eyes were gentle as they looked straight at Wei Jiaxi.

“…Why are you here?” Wei Jiaxi walked over and glanced around but didn’t see Yun’s usual escorts. “Where’s Zhong Zai?”

“I ditched them,” Yun Shaofeng shrugged. “I was out shopping with Zhong Zai earlier, but I saw you near the subway station and thought I’d check on you.”

“You ditched them?” Wei Jiaxi raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Protected witnesses usually had at least three or four officers assigned to them. Even Wei Jiaxi wasn’t confident he could just shake them off. If a witness went missing, it would mobilize the entire standby team. Yun Shaofeng’s casual tone was almost admirable.

“I called you a few times over the past couple of days, but you didn’t answer…” Yun Shaofeng’s voice carried a hint of grievance.

Wei Jiaxi chuckled, but it didn’t sound happy. “Shaofeng, you ditched the team of officers assigned to protect you, ran off on your own to the busiest part of the city, just to ask me why I didn’t pick up your calls?”

“I…”

“Do you need me to remind you again? You’re not in a position to do whatever you want. Do you realize this street is controlled by Hong Sheng? Do you know Wei Jiayi is capable of doing anything to escape punishment. He could hire someone to take you out, even get the hitman caught and imprisoned, while staying completely untouched himself. Can’t you just be a little more sensible?” Wei Jiaxi’s voice grew harsher, and by the end, he was nearly shouting.

“You think I don’t have the ability to protect myself?” Yun Shaofeng wasn’t pleased by the tone, his expression darkening.

“Of course, you can protect yourself—you’re incredibly capable, better than most! But you’ve done such a good job protecting yourself that even I can’t figure you out. I have no idea what you’re thinking!” Wei Jiaxi glared at him.

His frustration reached its peak, and he spun around to leave. He didn’t want to deal with it anymore. If WPU couldn’t find Yun Shaofeng, that was on them. He had already been suspended—why should he keep caring? With Yun Shaofeng’s skills, the man could probably take on ten people at once. Plus, who knew how many secrets he was still hiding? Why was Wei Jiaxi investing so much of himself into this?

He stormed off without looking back, unsure of where he was going, only that he needed to get away from people. Turning into a side street, he headed into a quieter alley, away from the noisy main road. Only then did he notice footsteps following behind him.

Wei Jiaxi turned and saw Yun Shaofeng just a few steps away, trailing him.

“Why are you following me?” Wei Jiaxi stared at him in disbelief.

Yun Shaofeng stopped as soon as Wei Jiaxi did, keeping a small distance between them, as if afraid to come too close.

“I’m not qualified to protect you anymore. If something happens, technically, I can’t do anything,” Wei Jiaxi said irritably. He was angry that Yun Shaofeng didn’t value his own safety and felt like he himself had no right to face him anymore.

“I’m sorry,” Yun Shaofeng said, guilt written all over his face.

“Sorry for what? I don’t need your apology. What… what do you even want me to do?” Wei Jiaxi stomped his foot in frustration. “You’re the one who initiated sleeping with me, then wanted to cut ties after we did it, and now you’re following me around looking all pitiful. What the hell are you thinking?”

“I like you!” Yun Shaofeng shouted suddenly.

Wei Jiaxi froze, as if struck by lightning, standing there, stunned.

“I like you…” Yun Shaofeng took a deep breath. “I know it might sound laughable, considering it’s only been a month, but it feels like I’ve liked you for years. These past six years, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. It’s so familiar… From the first moment I saw you, I felt this unbearable ache in my chest. That’s how I know—I really, really like you.”

“Shaofeng…” Wei Jiaxi took a step forward.

“That night, I truly wanted to… build a relationship with you,” Yun Shaofeng said softly, lowering his head. “But then, I started remembering some things…”

“What did you remember?” Wei Jiaxi asked, his tone serious.

“I don’t know… just fragmented images. I can’t explain it,” Yun Shaofeng said, shaking his head. “But I suddenly realized that I have a past—a past that’s probably not a happy one. And no matter what it is, I can’t get it back now. I’m afraid that if we’re together, someday, those memories will explode like a time bomb. That’s why, the next day, I…”

Wei Jiaxi opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. Shaofeng’s past was indeed unhappy, but it was a past Wei Jiaxi had personally caused. If possible, he almost wished Yun Shaofeng would never remember it.

“But I never thought things would escalate so badly—that it would affect your career as a police officer. I… I just want to keep seeing you, to stay by your side,” Yun Shaofeng said, lifting his eyes slightly to meet Wei Jiaxi’s gaze, his sadness plain to see. “But if you don’t want to see me, I understand. I just wanted to say all this—then I’ll leave.”

Wei Jiaxi listened to Yun Shaofeng’s confession as his voice grew quieter. He saw the tears welling in Yun Shaofeng’s eyes, threatening to spill over. He watched as Yun Shaofeng turned to leave, his movements slow and deliberate, like a scene in a movie. Yun Shaofeng lowered his gaze, shifted his body, and prepared to walk away, his disappointment palpable.

Watching this unfold, Wei Jiaxi felt that if he didn’t reach out now, he would lose him forever.

So, he reached out, grabbing Yun Shaofeng’s wrist and pulling him into his arms. He held him tightly and lowered his head, kissing him deeply.

Yun Shaofeng was startled at first, his hands pressing against Wei Jiaxi’s chest. But soon, the tender yet fervent kiss melted his defenses. He wrapped his arms around Wei Jiaxi and closed his eyes, kissing him back passionately.

Wei Jiaxi’s hand, which had been holding Yun Shaofeng’s wrist, slid upward. Yun Shaofeng understood and intertwined their fingers, holding on tightly.

Their lips and tongues entwined, kissing fervently and completely losing themselves in each other. In the empty alley, beneath the orange glow of the special zone’s setting sun, they kissed as if the world around them no longer existed.

“I’m sorry, Shaofeng,” Wei Jiaxi said. “The truth is, I like you too. I like you so much.”

To be continued…