Injured

Ji Huaijin stood three meters away, his dark eyes sweeping over Cheng Yue inch by inch. His gaze lingered briefly on the torn trouser leg before he looked up and asked softly.

"Are you hurt?"

They had not seen each other for over ten days since that last "warning." Cheng Yue blinked blankly, unsure whether he was so tired that he was hallucinating.

"Cheng Yue?"

Ji Huaijin stepped forward and crouched down, a flash of sharpness crossing his tightly furrowed brow. He reached out and took hold of Cheng Yue's arm, making him cry out at once.

"Ow, ow, ow! Be gentle, will you!"

Footsteps sounded behind him, one after another, but Ji Huaijin paid them no mind. He unfastened Cheng Yue's cuff and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a raw red patch of scrapes.

Some areas had already swollen with the passage of time.

"Mr. Ji?"

The precinct's deputy chief crowded into the tiny waiting room with a whole group of subordinates.

Ji Huaijin seemed not to hear him. His expression grave, he lowered his head and gently blew on the wound. "Does it hurt badly?"

Of course it hurt, but with several pairs of eyes fixed intently on him, Cheng Yue was too embarrassed to say so. He could only shift his arm awkwardly and, when the man looked at him, signal with his eyes that there were people behind him.

Ji Huaijin gently pulled his sleeve down and studied him for a moment before slowly rising to his feet.

"Hello, Mr. Ji."

Ji Huaijin offered a brief handshake, then let go. "Sorry for the trouble."

The deputy chief hurriedly led the others in offering the usual official pleasantries. "Not at all. Serving the people is our duty."

If the young master of the Ji Family wanted someone found, they would naturally spare no effort.

Cheng Yue could not decipher their shoulder insignia, but he could read the situation. The men before him had the unmistakable air of officials; they were clearly high-ranking.

He stood quietly to one side, watching Ji Huaijin converse with them with perfect ease and marveling to himself.

He knew Ji Huaijin was rich and a university professor, but he had never imagined the man had such powerful connections.

For senior officials he would normally never have access to to address him as Young Master Ji, his background had to be anything but ordinary.

"Can you walk?"

While his thoughts wandered, Ji Huaijin had already finished the conversation, a faint, cool smile returning to his lips.

Cheng Yue stepped forward to stand beside him. "I can."

After making sure he was not putting on a brave face, Ji Huaijin turned and nodded in farewell. "I'll take him with me, then. Thank you for today."

The deputy chief stepped aside with a warm smile. "You're too kind."

Cheng Yue nearly laughed aloud and hastily lowered his head. You're both being so deferential, so which one of you is actually more important?

His knee was injured too, so walking inevitably hurt. Cheng Yue kept his leg as straight as possible to avoid bending it.

Ji Huaijin had kept his eyes on him the whole time. Seeing this, he disregarded the others' gazes and slipped an arm around his shoulders, half supporting and half holding him as they headed out.

But after only two steps, he stopped again.

"Deputy Chief Xin, I think your department's procedures still need some streamlining."

Cheng Yue was only a witness. Even if they needed his cooperation, they should have let him get his wounds treated first.

The deputy chief had been all smiles, waiting to see this formidable guest out. He had never expected the conversation to turn back to him.

After a second's pause, he nodded hastily. "Yes, yes, that was our mistake. We'll hold a meeting to discuss it again."

His subordinates looked at him in astonishment. Since when had this seasoned old hand, who could drag anything out forever, become so obliging?

The deputy chief was smiling on the outside and weeping on the inside.

Ji Huaijin might not hold a government post, but the Ji Family had connections that reached the very top.

Old Master Ji's favorite student had now entered the center of power and held veto authority over any proposal.

Admitting fault now still gave them a chance to put things right. If this really reached that man, they might all be stripped of their posts, from top to bottom.

Ji Huaijin continued forward, supporting Cheng Yue, his expression calm, as though he had merely made an offhand remark.

The black Mercedes-Benz was still parked across the entrance to the Police Station. Cheng Yue limped down the steps when Zhao Li's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Leaving?"

"Captain Zhao?"

Cheng Yue turned sideways and looked in surprise toward the shadows at the corner. He had thought Zhao Li had left long ago.

Zhao Li's gaze was deep and unreadable. The two men beside the car stood close together, their shoulders touching. Cheng Yue even leaned naturally against the other man for support.

After several seconds of silence, he slowly spoke. "Go home and rest. Come back to work once your injuries have healed."

Cheng Yue was pleased to get paid leave. He smiled gratefully at him and was about to say something more when the hand on his arm tightened.

Ji Huaijin's voice was mild. "You're still injured."

Cheng Yue glared at him, then turned and waved to Zhao Li. "Thanks, Captain. I'll get going, then."

Ji Huaijin helped him into the car, shut the door, and politely bade the deputy chief farewell. After a pause, he glanced sideways and met a pair of dark, brooding eyes.

The night was dim, and a breeze had sprung up at some point. After just a second, Ji Huaijin looked away, calmly got into the car, and started off.

The black sedan glided steadily into the bustle and noise like a dragon slipping into the depths. Holding a cigarette between his fingers, Zhao Li silently watched it disappear into the distance.

A long while later, his phone suddenly rang.

He rejected the call without hesitation.

Halfway through the drive, Cheng Yue realized this was not the way home. He hurriedly reached out and patted the driver's seat. "Where are we going?"

Ji Huaijin did not answer. His long fingers held the steering wheel as he shifted gears with unruffled ease, faint veins showing over his raised knuckles.

After asking repeatedly and getting no answer, Cheng Yue gave up. It was not as though the man would sell him off.

The back seat fell quiet. Ji Huaijin glanced into the rearview mirror. Dusty and disheveled, Cheng Yue was curled up comfortably in his seat, playing on his phone. Whatever he had seen brought little glimmers of amusement into his eyes.

The red light dragged on. Ji Huaijin rested a hand on the center console, tapping his fingertips against it intermittently.

Camel.

A long-established American cigarette brand, with a rich cocoa flavor and a strong tar content, favored by some veteran smokers.

Especially American soldiers, or mercenaries.

Ji Huaijin had never served in the military, but he knew plenty of people who had. Physical habits lingered; even after discharge, some men still gave themselves away in small details.

Their stance, for instance, and their eagle-like eyes.

They soon reached their destination. Looking at the familiar surroundings, Cheng Yue realized they had returned to Blue Sky No. 1.

"Why did you bring me here?"

A fine drizzle began to fall. Ji Huaijin took off his jacket and draped it over him. "Come on. The doctor's already waiting."

His injuries were not serious, but their locations made movement inconvenient. His right arm also had a mild strain.

Once the medicine had been applied, Ji Huaijin handed him a towel wrapped around some ice and told him to hold it against the injured area.

Before leaving, the doctor specifically reminded him not to get the wounds wet until they had scabbed over.

He would have been fine if the doctor had said nothing, but that reminder made Cheng Yue feel unbearably filthy. He had rolled around in the sand several times that afternoon, and his trouser leg was still torn.

Ji Huaijin sensed what he was thinking and spoke before he could voice it. "I wouldn't feel comfortable letting you go home alone. Stay here while you recover."