Yichen walked downstairs, his legs heavy. Everyone looked up as he entered the living room. His face was pale, his hands shaking.
He went straight to the small bar in the corner and poured himself a glass of whiskey. Drank it in one gulp. Poured another.
Dr. Shen approached him slowly. He placed a gentle hand on Yichen's arm.
"How is he?" Dr. Shen asked quietly.
Yichen shook his head. "He finally fell asleep. Cried for hours. Begged me to bring his dad back." His voice cracked. "I've never seen him like that. Never."
Xiao Xue's eyes filled with tears again. Miss Zhang held her tighter.
Guo Lian stepped forward, his face serious. "Yichen. We need to think clearly. Does Zhenlong have any enemies? Anyone recent who might want him dead?"
Yichen let out a bitter laugh. "Enemies? He had so many enemies I can't even choose one. Decades in the underworld. Powerful men he crossed. Families he destroyed. Take your pick."
Guo Lian nodded slowly, thinking.
Dr. Shen spoke up. "What about Ruifen? Could she be behind this? Maybe she asked someone on the outside to do it while she's in jail?"
Miss Zhang shook her head. "That can't be. She's under tight security. No phone calls. No visitors. I checked. There's no way she contacted anyone."
Dr. Shen frowned. "Then who?"
Yichen leaned against the bar, rubbing his face. "Police checked the hospital footage. They saw the nurse go in and out of the room. But here's the strange part they didn't see him enter the hospital at all. Or leave. It's like he just appeared and disappeared."
Guo Lian's eyes narrowed. "That means he knew the cameras. He knew exactly where to hide. Someone inside helped him."
The room went quiet.
Yichen looked up. "You're right. We can't trust the police either. What if someone in the department is involved? What if they're covering it up?"
Guo Lian nodded. "We need to work on our own. Outside of official channels."
Yichen straightened, some of the fire returning to his eyes. "I'll contact my old team.
Miss Zhang nodded. "Good idea. We need our own people looking at this."
Dr. Shen added, "And we need to find that nurse. Someone must have seen something."
The night stretched on as they planned, each taking a piece of the puzzle. The hunt had begun.
Next Morning Raining Heavily
The rain was falling hard. Xiao Xue and Miss Zhang were in the car, driving to the company. Zhiyuan had a high fever and couldn't go. He was too sick, too broken.
Xiao Xue looked out at the rain. "I hope Zhiyuan will be okay. First his dad, now fever. It's too much."
Miss Zhang nodded. "He needs time. We'll handle things at work today."
Suddenly—
POP!
The car jerked. Xiao Xue grabbed the seat.
"What was that?" she asked, scared.
Miss Zhang pulled over. "I think tire got Punctured."
Xiao Xue reached for the door. "I'll go check—"
"Stop." Miss Zhang grabbed her arm. Her voice was serious. "Don't get out....."
Xiao Xue looked confused. "Why? It's just a flat tire—"
"Look around." Miss Zhang pointed. "This road. At this time. It's always busy. Workers going to offices. Cars. Bikes."
Xiao Xue looked. The road was empty. No cars. No people. Only rain.
Too quiet.
Her face went pale. "You're right there's something wrong..."
Miss Zhang took out her phone. "I'll call Yichen." She dialed. Waited. Her face fell. "His phone is off. Why is it off?"
BANG!
Both women jumped. Through the window, they saw men in masks. They held bats and pipes. They surrounded the car.
One man swung his bat at the window.
CRASH!
Xiao Xue screamed and ducked down. The window shook but didn't break. Bulletproof glass. Safe for now.
More men came. More hits. The car rocked side to side.
Miss Zhang called Dr. Shen, hands shaking.
"Dr. Shen! We're under attack! On the road to the company!"
"Where exactly?" Dr. Shen's voice was urgent.
Miss Zhang told him. "They came from nowhere! The road is empty! Please hurry!"
"Stay in the car. Don't get out. We're coming!"
The line went dead.
Xiao Xue cried, hiding in Miss Zhang's arms. "I'm scared..."
"I know, baby. I know. Help is coming."
Then, suddenly, the men stopped. They looked at each other, said something, and got on their bikes. They drove away fast.
Xiao Xue looked up. "They... left?"
Miss Zhang stared at the empty road. Her face was worried. "That's not right. They didn't even try hard to break in. They just... left. Like they wanted something else."
Her phone buzzed. Dr. Shen: Send your location we're coming
Twenty Minutes Later On the Road
Dr. Shen drove fast. Guo Lian sat beside him.
"This road is too empty," Guo Lian said quietly. "Someone planned this."
Dr. Shen nodded. "We just need to get them and leave fast."
They turned a corner—and stopped.
The road was blocked. Big tree branches and things everywhere. They couldn't pass.
Dr. Shen cursed. "They're just past this. I can see the location on phone."
Guo Lian's eyes narrowed. "This feels like a trap. We should—"
CRASH!
A big truck hit them from behind. The car spun.
CRASH! Another hit.
CRASH! Again.
The car flipped over. Once. Twice. Landed upside down.
Dr. Shen hung from his seat belt, head bleeding. Beside him, Guo Lian groaned.
"Guo Lian... you okay?" Dr. Shen asked weakly.
"I'm fine." Guo Lian freed himself and dropped to the roof. He helped Dr. Shen down. "Can you walk?"
"I think so."
They crawled out through a broken window. Rain hit them hard. Cold.
And then the men were there. Many men. Bats in their hands.
Guo Lian moved fast. He grabbed a bat from one man and hit him. Another came. He hit him too.
But there were too many.
Dr. Shen grabbed a pipe, swinging. But he was a doctor, not a fighter. He was slow. Weak.
A man ran at Dr. Shen with a knife.
Guo Lian saw. He jumped in front. The knife went into his stomach.
Guo Lian gasped. Pain exploded in his body.
"GUO LIAN!" Dr. Shen screamed.
Guo Lian grabbed the man's hand, twisted hard, and pushed him away. Blood was coming from his stomach, mixing with rain.
"Run," Guo Lian said, voice weak. "The bike. Take the bike and GO!"
"I won't leave you!"
"I'm right behind you! GO!"
Dr. Shen ran. Tears and rain on his face. He jumped on one of the attacker's bikes. It still had keys.
Guo Lian hit one last man with the bat, then ran. He jumped on the bike behind Dr. Shen.
Dr Shen twisted the throttle. They sped away into the forest.
The trees hid them.
Dr. Shen felt Guo Lian's arms around him getting weak. He felt blood soaking into his own clothes.
"Stay with me," Dr. Shen begged. "Guo Lian, please. Stay with me."
Guo Lian's head rested on his shoulder. His voice was faint. "Always... Doctor... always..."
The bike disappeared into the rain and trees, leaving behind the road, the attackers, and a trail of blood in the mud.
Guo Lian tighten his grip around Dr. Shen waist as the bike bumped through the woods. His arms were weak, but he held on. Blood kept coming from his wound.
He chuckled softly, his voice rough. "You know... I'm feeling so lucky."
Dr. Shen focused on the path ahead, heart pounding. "Lucky? You're bleeding to death and you say you're lucky?"
"I get to hold you." Guo Lian's voice was fading. "Like this. Close. I've wanted... for so long."
Dr. Shen bit his lip hard. Hard enough to taste blood. He couldn't cry. Not now. He had to find help. Had to keep going.
Then he saw it. A small hut made of wood, hidden among the trees. Probably someone's storage shed for cutting wood.
He stopped the bike and turned to Guo Lian. "We're stopping here. Can you walk?"
Guo Lian nodded weakly. Dr. Shen helped him off the bike. Guo Lian was heavy, almost falling. Dr. Shen carried most of his weight, struggling to the hut door.
It was locked but after few kicks it opened. Inside was small and dusty. A few old tools. Some blankets in the corner. A small table. Enough.
Dr. Shen helped Guo Lian down onto the floor, against the wall. Guo Lian's face was pale, sweat mixing with rain.
"Stay awake," Dr. Shen ordered. "Look at me. Stay awake."
He pulled Guo Lian's shirt off. The wound was bad. Deep. Bleeding too much.
Dr. Shen grabbed Guo Lian's shirt and pressed it hard against the cut.
Guo Lian hissed in pain, his body tensing.
"I know, I know. Sorry." Dr. Shen's hands were shaking. He pressed harder. "This is going to hurt more."
He pulled his own shirt off, ignoring the cold rain on his skin. He ripped the fabric with his teeth, tearing long strips.
He tied the strips tightly around Guo Lian's stomach, over the shirt pressing on the wound. Pulled hard. Guo Lian groaned.
"I need to stop the bleeding," Dr. Shen explained, working fast. "This will help until we get you to hospital Just hold on."
Guo Lian watched him. Through the pain, through the fading vision, he watched Dr. Shen work. Watched his focused face. His trembling hands that kept working anyway. His bare skin in the cold hut.
A small smile touched Guo Lian's pale lips.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
Dr. Shen's hands paused for just a second. He didn't look up. "Stop playing around"
"No." Guo Lian's hand reached up weakly, touching Dr. Shen's cheek. "I mean it. Always thought so. Since Xiapu. Watching you... make tea. Read books. Argue with Zhenlong."
Tears finally spilled from Dr. Shen's eyes. He couldn't stop them anymore.
"Don't talk," he said, voice breaking. "Save your strength."
"I need to say it." Guo Lian's thumb wiped a tear from Dr. Shen's cheek. "In case..."
"No." Dr. Shen grabbed his hand, held it tight. "No in case. You're going to be fine. I won't let you die. Not you. Not after everything."
Guo Lian smiled softly. "Bossy."
"Shut up."
They sat there in the small hut, rain pounding on the roof. Dr. Shen kept pressure on the wound with one hand, held Guo Lian's hand with the other. Guo Lian's eyes stayed on him, never looking away.
"I'm cold," Guo Lian murmured.
Dr. Shen looked around. The blankets in the corner. He pulled one with his foot, wrapped it around Guo Lian's shoulders.
"Better?"
Guo Lian nodded. "Yeah just stay close"
Dr. Shen moved closer, leaning against him, still keeping pressure on the wound. Guo Lian's head rested against his.
"Thank you," Guo Lian whispered.
"For what?"
"For everything"
Dr. Shen closed his eyes, tears falling. "Just don't leave me. That's all I ask."
"I don't know" Guo Lian's voice was barely there. "Took me too long... to find someone like you I don't wanna leave"
Outside, the rain continued. Inside, two men held onto each other, fighting against time, against death, against everything that tried to tear them apart.
Meanwhile Inside the Car
Xiao Xue and Miss Zhang sat in the car, waiting. Minutes passed. Then more minutes. No one came.
Xiao Xue gripped Miss Zhang's hand tightly. "Where are they? Dr. Shen said they were coming. That was so long ago."
Miss Zhang's face was worried, but she tried to stay calm. "Maybe they got stuck somewhere"
"What if something happened to them too?" Xiao Xue's voice shook. "First Uncle Zhenlong, then Zhiyuan gets sick, now this. I'm scared."
Miss Zhang pulled her close. "I know, baby. I know."
Just then, Miss Zhang's phone rang. Yichen.
"Yichen!" she answered quickly. "Where have you been? We've been waiting!"
Yichen's voice came through, tired and worried. "I'm so sorry. My phone was off. I just turned it on and saw all your calls. What happened?"
Miss Zhang told him everything. The attack. The men with bats. Dr. Shen and Guo Lian coming to help. Then nothing.
Yichen was quiet for a moment. "Stay where you are. I'm sending my men to pick you up right now. I would come myself but I can't leave Zhiyuan. He's burning with fever and... he's not in a good place."
"We understand," Miss Zhang said. "Just send help. Please."
Minutes later, two cars arrived. Yichen's men, loyal and trusted. They helped Xiao Xue and Miss Zhang into one car and drove them safely away.
But as they left, Xiao Xue looked back at the empty road. "Where are Dr. Shen and Guo Lian? Why didn't they come?"
No one had an answer.
Meanwhile – At the Small Hut in the Woods
Guo Lian's eyes kept closing. His face was too pale. The bleeding had slowed but not stopped completely.
"No, no, no." Dr. Shen shook him gently. "Stay awake. You have to stay awake."
Guo Lian's eyes fluttered open. "But I'm so tired."
"I know. But you can't sleep. Not yet." Dr. Shen held his face, making him look. "Talk to me. Keep talking."
Guo Lian smiled weakly. "Talk about what?"
"Anything. I don't care. Just keep your eyes open."
Guo Lian was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, voice soft.
"Dr. Shen?"
"Yes?"
"Will you... fulfill one wish for me?"
Dr. Shen looked at him, confused. "What wish?"
Guo Lian hesitated. His eyes searched Dr. Shen's face, scared and hopeful at the same time.
"Can I... kiss you?"
Dr. Shen's heart stopped. Then started again, pounding hard.
He stared at Guo Lian. This man who had been his enemy. Who became his friend. Who stayed in Xiapu. Who made tea for him every morning. Who looked at him like he was something precious.
The rain kept falling outside. The hut was cold. Guo Lian was bleeding, maybe dying.
Dr. Shen leaned forward.
He pressed his lips against Guo Lian's.
Soft. Gentle. Careful not to hurt him.
Guo Lian kissed back, weak but real. His hand came up, touching Dr. Shen's neck, fingers in his hair. Pulling him closer, just a little.
The kiss said everything words couldn't. All the waiting. All the wanting. All the fear of being too old, too broken, too late.
When they pulled apart, Guo Lian's eyes were brighter. More awake.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Dr. Shen's forehead rested against his. "Don't thank me. Just stay alive. We have so much to talk about."
Guo Lian smiled. "Deal."
Outside, the rain began to slow. Inside, two hearts beat together, hoping for more time.
Dr. Shen held Guo Lian's hand tightly, not letting go. He could feel Guo Lian's fingers getting colder. He had to keep him awake.
"Hey," Dr. Shen said, squeezing his hand. "Remember that first morning in Xiapu? When you woke up before me and made tea?"
Guo Lian nodded weakly, a small smile on his lips. "Mm."
"You put too much sugar in it." Dr. Shen chuckled softly. "It was so sweet I could barely drink it. But I did. I drank every drop."
"It wasn't that bad," Guo Lian mumbled. "Just right."
"Liar." Dr. Shen smiled, tears in his eyes. "You had no idea how to make tea properly. But you tried. Every morning. You tried."
Guo Lian's thumb moved slightly, rubbing Dr. Shen's hand. "I had to learn."
"You did." Dr. Shen brought Guo Lian's hand to his lips, kissing his cold fingers. "You got so much better. Now your tea is perfect. Almost as perfect as you."
Guo Lian's eyes opened a little wider. "Perfect? Me?"
"Yes, you idiot." Dr. Shen laughed softly, crying at the same time. "You're perfect. The way you chop vegetables. The way you sit on the porch watching the sea. The way you look at me when you think I'm not watching."
"You... noticed that?"
"Every time."
Guo Lian smiled, a real smile. "Thought I was being sneaky."
"You were so obvious." Dr. Shen squeezed his hand again. "Remember when you fixed my bookshelf? The one that was broken for months?"
Guo Lian nodded slowly. "Easy fix."
"It wasn't easy for me. I don't know how to fix things. But you did. You just... took care of it. Took care of me." Dr. Shen's voice cracked. "No one ever took care of me before. Not like that."
Guo Lian's eyes were soft. "I Want to... always take care of you."
"Then you have to stay alive." Dr. Shen leaned closer. "You promised. You said you'd stay."
"I'm trying."
"I know." Dr. Shen kissed his forehead. "I know you are. Just keep trying. Keep fighting."
Guo Lian's breathing was getting slower. Dr. Shen panicked.
"Hey, hey, no." He shook Guo Lian gently. "Stay with me. Tell me something. Tell me your favorite thing about Xiapu."
Guo Lian blinked, focusing. "The... quiet."
"The quiet?"
"Mm. Always noise in city. Guns. Shouting. Orders." Guo Lian's voice was faint but clear. "Xiapu quiet. Peaceful. Could hear... birds. Wind. Your voice."
Dr. Shen smiled through tears. "My voice?"
"Like music." Guo Lian's fingers moved weakly, touching Dr. Shen's face. "Could listen... forever."
"Then you have to stay. So you can listen more."
Guo Lian nodded slightly. "Okay."
"Remember the old dog that used to visit? The brown one?"
Guo Lian's lips twitched. "The one that stole my shoe."
"Yes! Stole your shoe and ran away with it. You chased him around the yard." Dr. Shen laughed at the memory. "You looked so ridiculous. Big scary man running after a little dog in your socks."
"Got my shoe back."
"You did. And then you fed him anyway. Gave him your breakfast."
Guo Lian shrugged weakly. "He was hungry."
"You're so soft inside." Dr. Shen touched his cheek. "All that hard outside, but inside you're just... soft. Kind. Good."
Guo Lian turned his head, kissing Dr. Shen's palm. "Only with you."
"I know." Dr. Shen held his face. "I know, baby. And I love it. I love you."
The words hung in the air. Dr. Shen hadn't planned to say them. They just came out.
Guo Lian's eyes widened. Then filled with tears.
"You... love me?"
"Yes." Dr. Shen nodded, crying openly now. "I love you. I've loved you for a while. I was just too scared to say it. Too scared of the age, of the past, of everything."
Guo Lian pulled him closer, weak but determined. "Say it again."
"I love you, Guo Lian."
Guo Lian smiled, the most beautiful smile Dr. Shen had ever seen. "Worth it... almost dying... to hear that."
"Don't say that." Dr. Shen held him tight. "Don't you dare say that. You're not dying. You're staying with me. We're going to grow old together in Xiapu. Walk on the beach every morning. Drink tea. Argue about nothing. I'll cook for you. You'll fix things around the house. We'll adopt that stupid dog."
Guo Lian laughed weakly. "Stupid dog?"
"Yes. The shoe thief. We'll give him a name. Make him fat."
"I'd like that."
"Then fight." Dr. Shen looked into his eyes, fierce and desperate. "Fight for that. Fight for us."
Guo Lian nodded, holding his hand tighter. "For us."
Outside, the rain finally stopped. A bird sang somewhere in the trees. Inside the small hut, two men held onto each other, holding onto hope, holding onto love finally spoken.