RLTT CH 2

Chapter 2: Major Crimes Unit – Airport

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Yang Zhen paced back and forth in the office, hands on his hips, frustration evident as he bellowed at Wei Jiaxi, who was sprawled lazily on the sofa. “How many times have I told you? Don’t act impulsively! Don’t go off on your own! Why can’t you just listen for once?”

Wei Jiaxi lounged with a nonchalant air, staring at the ceiling, silent as if nothing had happened.

“It’s always like this! Today, NB came complaining to me again. Seriously, Jiaxi, just focus on handling major crimes like you’re supposed to! Why do you insist on meddling with drug cases?” Yang Zhen rapped his knuckles on the desk, the sharp sound punctuating his words. “You’ve disrupted their entire operation! Catching two or three nobodies—what good does that do? Now you’ve alerted them, and finding their drug labs will be even harder!”

“What do you mean, ‘what good does it do’?” Wei Jiaxi shot him an annoyed look. “You saw that guy last night—he was completely reckless. If I hadn’t stepped in, who knows how many kids would’ve been hurt because of him!”

Yang Zhen let out a heavy sigh. “I get it. I know you’re good at what you do, and I know you care about protecting kids. But we have protocols, Jiaxi. Sure, you’re great at catching criminals, but you keep breaking the rules. If you didn’t, you’d have been promoted long ago!”

“Do you think I care about promotions?” Wei Jiaxi rolled his eyes.

“Well, I care!” Yang Zhen slammed his palms on the desk, leaning closer to emphasize his point. “You may not care, but I’m the one who has to deal with the fallout. I’m the one getting complaints, writing reports, and cleaning up your messes, big guy!”

Wei Jiaxi knew Yang Zhen had been looking out for him ever since they’d both joined the police academy. Without Yang Zhen’s constant support, Wei Jiaxi wouldn’t have even passed his political reviews. Despite his rebellious streak, he sometimes felt guilty for causing trouble for his brother-in-arms. But his nature was unyielding—when a gun needed drawing, he drew it. Rules were rules, but they weren’t always right.

Seeing Wei Jiaxi’s silence, Yang Zhen’s anger cooled slightly. He sat down, his tone softening. “To be honest, the higher-ups considered transferring you to the Organized Crime Unit (OCU) a year ago. But every time you close a big case, you follow it up by stirring up more trouble, so they’ve had no choice but to keep delaying your promotion.”

“What’s so great about the OCU?” Wei Jiaxi dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand, turning his head stubbornly like a child. “If I join them, every time I step out, people will be questioning my background.”

“What do you mean by that?” Yang Zhen furrowed his brow.

Wei Jiaxi tapped his foot against the ground a few times before lowering his voice. “…The blonde guy who got away last night? I knew him.”

Yang Zhen’s eyes narrowed, instantly on alert. “A Red Prosperity member?”

“When I knew him, he wasn’t. But now, it seems he is.” Wei Jiaxi’s expression darkened. “That guy used to run with Uncle Xi.”

Yang Zhen fell silent, contemplating the implications. His frown deepened as his thoughts wandered. After a while, he shook his head, snapping himself back to the moment. “Let’s set that aside for now. The streets haven’t been peaceful lately. Back to you—NB’s had enough. I can’t cover for you this time.”

Wei Jiaxi glanced at him uneasily. “What does that mean…?”

Yang Zhen inhaled deeply, attempting to maintain a calm demeanor. “WPU ^[1]has a case. A witness recently returned from Canada—”

“What? You want me to be a 24-hour bodyguard? No way! I’m not doing it!” Wei Jiaxi shot to his feet, waving his hands in protest. His face twisted in disdain. “I’d rather sit in the office pushing papers than play servant to someone!”

“Will you just let me finish?” Yang Zhen said, coaxing him in a gentler tone. “This witness is about to testify in a murder case. And the suspect? You know him. That’s why they specifically want you on this.”

“Hey, don’t say nonsense! I don’t know any murderers!” Wei Jiaxi still looked repulsed, though a hint of curiosity slipped through. “… Who is it?”
“… ,” Yang Zhen replied, feigning nonchalance.

At the mention of the name, Wei Jiaxi’s expression shifted drastically. His demeanor grew solemn, and a deep, contemplative look settled in his eyes. “… Even if he’s killed someone, what does it have to do with me? Assigning me to protect the witness might not even help. If you’re so worried, just send the entire Flying Tigers team.”
“The witness’s file is here. Take a look.” Yang Zhen picked up a dossier ^[2]from his desk and handed it to Wei Jiaxi. “You’ll need to be mentally prepared.”

Hearing his tone, Wei Jiaxi felt a strange sensation stirring within him. He straightened up, took the file, and opened it carefully. The first thing his eyes landed on was the witness’s name.

With a loud “screech,” he abruptly stood up. His knee hit the small coffee table in front of him, sending it skidding forward, its legs screeching against the floor. His pupils dilated as he stared at the witness’s photograph on the dossier. His mind was thrown into a chaotic whirlpool of illogical memories and unbearable pain.

Fate was toying with him.

“Name: Yun Shaofeng”

Clutching the file, Wei Jiaxi walked back to the Major Crimes Unit office, shoulders drooping. His colleagues immediately surrounded him.

The team consisted of five members, including Wei Jiaxi. There was “Cake”, a mild-mannered, bespectacled young man who had recently joined; “Emperor”, a straightforward, hearty woman with kids at home, earning her nickname for her commanding personality; Confucius, two years Wei Jiaxi’s junior and the top scorer in shooting exams; and Brother Mark, the oldest and most experienced member, who, despite his expertise, refused promotions, claiming he wanted to stay on the front lines instead of being bogged down with desk work.

“Boss, what’s the verdict?” Confucius was the fastest to approach, cautiously asking, “What did Inspector Yang say?”
Wei Jiaxi glanced at her, sighed, and said, “This time, I’m really done for. Yang Zhen said he can’t cover for me anymore.”
“Huh?” Cake adjusted his glasses nervously. “It’s that serious? Can’t you just sign a guarantee or forfeit two months’ salary to settle it?”
“Yeah, Inspector Wei. If it’s that bad, maybe you could just take a step back and admit fault,” Emperor chimed in.
“Keeping your job is the priority,” Brother Mark added, unusually concerned.

Looking around at the four of them, Wei Jiaxi smiled bitterly. “It’s not like I’m about to get fired. Don’t worry too much.”

The team collectively sighed in relief.
“See? Inspector Yang wouldn’t really go that far,” Confucius said, immediately perking up. “I know! Is he transferring you to Narcotics^[3]?”
“Hah! They just filed a complaint about me earlier. If he sent me there, that would really be a punishment!” Wei Jiaxi rolled his eyes and tossed the file onto the table in the break area. He slumped back into his chair. “It’s WPU.”
“What?” The four exclaimed in unison, exchanging confused glances.
“The Witness Protection Unit usually has fewer tasks and plenty of manpower,” Cake said as he sat across from Wei Jiaxi. “Even if they wanted to demote you, sending you there seems odd.”
“Well, Yang Zhen explained why they need me,” Wei Jiaxi murmured, a flicker of melancholy crossing his eyes. “It’s just… a pity. I won’t be your team leader anymore.”

“Don’t say that, Inspector Wei.” Emperor stood behind him, gripping his shoulders firmly. “Even if we’re not in the same office, we’ll still be your comrades, your colleagues, and your friends!”
“Yeah, no matter what happens, we’ve got your back!” Confucius gently bumped his shoulder.

Wei Jiaxi gave them a grateful look and smiled faintly. “Alright, I get it. I know you all have my back. I’m just being reassigned, not disappearing. I won’t forget you guys. A new leader will probably be assigned soon, likely someone younger. Brother Mark, make sure you look out for everyone, okay? It’ll be up to you.”
Brother Mark nodded, hands in his pockets. “Don’t worry. If anything happens, the whole team will be here to support you.”

The witness was scheduled to arrive in the Special Administrative Region next week. Yang Zhen gave Wei Jiaxi a few days off to prepare. Before the witness’s arrival, Wei Jiaxi needed to visit the safe house, familiarize himself with the surroundings, get acquainted with WPU logistics and support colleagues, coordinate with the officers taking over the shift, and plan for potential emergencies. The time left for Wei Jiaxi to prepare was limited.

However, when it came to familiarizing himself with the witness’s personal background, Wei Jiaxi didn’t need to put in much effort. When it came to Yun Shaofeng, no one knew him better than Wei Jiaxi—at least, this was true before he left the city last time.

On the night before Yun Shaofeng’s arrival, Wei Jiaxi lay in his bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Fragmented memories filled his mind.

“Don’t touch him!”
“Mr. Wei, he knows he’s wrong! Please don’t hit him!”
“In school, just call me by name from now on.”
“No matter what it is, I can do it. As long as it’s for you, I’d even die.”
“If I’m Batman, then you must be… Catwoman, right?”
“I just want to be a big shot! I just like him!”
“I’m sorry, A Feng… I’m the one who ruined you…”
“If everything is truly forgotten… maybe that’s better. Then nothing will have anything to do with him anymore.”

The sound of brakes screeching in the night snapped Wei Jiaxi out of his memories. He blinked, returning to reality, staring at the low and dim ceiling of his apartment, shrouded in darkness. Turning on his side, he gazed at a photograph placed on the bedside table. It was a dull, velvet-textured photo developed from an old roll of film, housed in a simple frame. Two boys stood within the picture. One smiled boldly—it was Wei Jiaxi himself. The other had a shy expression, looking only at Wei Jiaxi.

By the moonlight, Wei Jiaxi stared at the room’s sole decoration for a long time. Then, he reached for the drawer of his bedside table, placed the frame inside, face down, and closed it. Returning to bed, he buried his face in his pillow and quietly drifted to sleep. In his dreams were the slender but strong shoulders of that person from back then and the tear-filled eyes that only wept for him.

---

Twelve hours on a plane, crossing sixteen time zones, crammed in a cabin filled with noisy children and shrouded in endless clouds. By the time Yun Shaofeng disembarked, he heaved a long sigh of relief.

The air of the international metropolitan Special Administrative Region was undoubtedly inferior to that of Vancouver^[4]. Yet, Yun Shaofeng felt a familiar sensation surging through his body with each breath. It wasn’t tranquility or relaxation; instead, it was a vague restlessness and turmoil that felt oddly uplifting. The wilderness of a foreign land may have been pleasant, but it had always left him feeling stifled.

Wei Jiaxi stood at the restricted area exit, staring ahead nervously. How long had it been since he felt this tense? He had no idea what to say or do when he saw Yun Shaofeng in a moment. Six years had passed—he didn’t know how Yun Shaofeng had been in Canada. Had he been taking care of himself? Was he bullied? Or… had he found someone new?

Six years ago, it was Wei Jiaxi who had ruined Shaofeng, thinking it would give him a chance to start over. But after all the twists and turns, they ended up back here, though their mindsets could never return to what they once were.

Yun Shaofeng appeared, dragging a small suitcase. Wei Jiaxi spotted him instantly.

Not much had changed. His hair was cut short—once messy, it was now neatly groomed. He’d gained some weight and looked paler. Of course, in a place as cold as Canada, gaining weight was a good thing. His gaze remained the same—cool and distant, yet oddly gentle. How could someone like him manage to balance coldness and warmth in such a way? He had a beautiful smile. Why hadn’t he smiled like that before? He should smile more often. Wait, why is he smiling?

Wei Jiaxi snapped out of his thoughts, realizing Yun Shaofeng was already standing right in front of him.

“Hi,” Yun Shaofeng greeted, setting down his carry-on luggage. He stood no more than an arm’s length away and offered a polite smile.

Wei Jiaxi suddenly felt his mouth go dry, his heart racing as a buzz filled his head. He opened his mouth but struggled to form words. After stammering for a while, he finally managed, “You… you, how… how did you recognize me?”

Yun Shaofeng paused, then pointed to Wei Jiaxi’s hand.

Wei Jiaxi looked down abruptly and realized he was holding up a sign with the words “Mr. Yun Shaofeng” written clearly on it. Cursing himself inwardly, he scratched his head awkwardly before extending his hand. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Mr. Yun Shaofeng, hello. I am Senior Inspector Wei Jiaxi from the Witness Protection Unit (WPU).”

“Hello, Inspector Wei.” Yun Shaofeng smiled faintly, polite yet distant, with no discernible emotion in his eyes. He extended his hand toward Wei Jiaxi, their fingers briefly touching.

Wei Jiaxi’s hand was warm but rough, with calluses from holding guns and working out. Yun Shaofeng’s palm, on the other hand, was delicate and soft, with faint scars on his knuckles, yet it felt as cold as if he had been holding ice.

Wei Jiaxi frowned slightly, holding back the impulse to not let go of Yun Shaofeng’s hand.

To be continued…