Suspicion (First Update)

Had Chi Li known that one careless remark had nearly kept him from getting out of the hatch, he never would have mentioned it.

Not until the spacecraft landed did knocking sound outside the hatch, only to stop tactfully moments later.

The trip to the research institute had not taken much time. Si Jinyan had taken care of Chi Li's body, watching Chi Li's expressions and movements at all times, so it was still far from over.

The hatch was well soundproofed, yet Chi Li seemed to hear voices outside. Everyone inside and outside understood what was happening in the cabin, and Chi Li's cheeks grew hot.

Getting Si Jinyan to stop immediately was impossible. Si Jinyan did not care what anyone else thought.

Gritting his teeth, Chi Li hooked an arm around Si Jinyan and whispered some shamelessly suggestive words.

The desire in Si Jinyan's eyes surged even more fiercely, and he indeed finished early.

Afterward, Si Jinyan tidied Chi Li up and wanted to carry him out.

Chi Li refused, but the moment his feet touched the ground, his legs went weak and he nearly fell. Fortunately, Si Jinyan had kept his eyes on him and caught him in time.

Si Jinyan frowned slightly. "I'll carry you."

Chi Li could still walk after taking a bullet. There was no reason he should be unable to walk after getting out of Si Jinyan's bed. Stubbornly, he said, "It's fine. I can walk on my own."

As expected, many people had gathered outside the spacecraft. Most of Si Jinyan's trusted subordinates were there, along with several unfamiliar faces, presumably research institute personnel.

Outside the research institute.

Chi Li followed Si Jinyan off the spacecraft.

Lu Jiu stepped forward. Si Jinyan was visibly in far better condition than before boarding, and the scent of their pheromones had thoroughly mingled together.

Lu Jiu said, "You really are doing much better, but you still need the necessary tests. You can come with me now, right?"

Si Jinyan placed a hand on Chi Li's shoulder and said to Lu Jiu, "Give him an examination too."

Lu Jiu looked at Chi Li. "Of course." He immediately summoned two staff members, and Chi Li was led toward one of the rooms.

When Chi Li finished his examination, Si Jinyan had not yet come out. In the research institute lobby, Chi Li spotted Geng Ji standing by the entrance.

Geng Ji greeted Chi Li and waved him over. "You're out? Nothing wrong, I hope?"

Chi Li walked over. "Nothing serious. I'll be fine once the wound heals. Sorry for the trouble this time."

Geng Ji smiled, but his expression suddenly turned more serious. "You should thank Si Jinyan. He nearly went berserk and killed the Emperor."

Geng Ji was exaggerating somewhat.

Chi Li knew he was referring to Si Jinyan losing control. Thinking back to Si Jinyan's earlier emotions, his heart abruptly skipped a beat.

When they had met, Si Jinyan's condition had already made Chi Li uneasy. Now his eyelid twitched. "What happened?"

Geng Ji shrugged. As he told Chi Li about what had happened, he wore his usual flippant manner. Yet back then, Si Jinyan had truly scared Geng Ji into breaking out in a cold sweat.

Geng Ji said, "We tracked down that mercenary group and suspected Yao Di was the one who hired them, but Yao Di adamantly denied it."

Then Geng Ji suddenly changed the subject. "That mercenary group used to do every kind of evil—robbery, murder, any job that made money. Si Jinyan has already signed the military order, and now the whole lot of them is going to be wiped out."

Chi Li knew that when it came to such international organizations, the government generally would not intervene unless major interests were involved.

Si Jinyan had actually gone that far.

Put nicely, Si Jinyan had actually taken revenge for him.

But on deeper thought, Si Jinyan had done this because they were still on the same side. If Chi Li's identity were exposed, it was hard to imagine what his fate would be.

An inexplicable chill ran down Chi Li's spine.

Thinking Chi Li was frightened, Geng Ji patted his shoulder. "It's fine. No matter what, Si Jinyan would never hurt you. Put your mind at ease. Still, you really were lucky this time."

Geng Ji asked a few more questions about what had happened, and Chi Li told him the same things he had told Si Jinyan.

Geng Ji did not tell Chi Li that although the Emperor adamantly denied hiring people to kill him, when they found that mercenary group, they learned that the group had suffered severe losses during a transaction, losing six men.

For an internationally renowned mercenary group, losing six people in one operation was no small matter. Yet Chi Li had returned without a scratch.

Were those six deaths connected to Chi Li?

After finishing his conversation with Geng Ji, Chi Li sat alone on a nearby bench, failing to notice Geng Ji's deep, appraising gaze fixed on him.

Geng Ji remembered that a torrential rainstorm had struck the coast that night.

While they had all been searching for traces of Chi Li, Si Jinyan had seemed to realize something in a sudden flash of insight and headed straight for the southwestern coastline.

Along the coast, a faint smell of blood hung in the air. Other than that, no trace had been left behind.

Geng Ji lit a cigarette. Before Chi Li noticed his gaze and turned around, Geng Ji casually looked away.