After they arrived at the hospital, Fang Chong accompanied Kang He to get a CT scan, while Luo Tian and Lin Fei took Bai Cheng for an X-ray. Luckily, Bai Cheng didn’t have any fractures, just a sprain, although she also had some bruises and scratches.
Luo Tian stood with his hands on his hips at the doorway of the hospital room, watching Bai Cheng inside. She sat with her leg propped up on a stool, applying an ice pack to her sprained ankle, while Lin Fei was disinfecting and treating her other injuries.
After Lin Fei finished applying medication, she said she would go check on Kang He. Bai Cheng nodded and told her to go ahead.
When Lin Fei left, Bai Cheng called to Luo Tian, “Don’t just stand there. Come in.”
Luo Tian walked into the room, standing silently in front of Bai Cheng and staring at her swollen ankle. After a moment, he bent down, lifted her injured right leg, and placed it on his lap. He took the ice pack from her hand and continued to apply it to her ankle.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Bai Cheng asked him.
“Talking won’t make the pain go away.”
“But staying silent won’t make it hurt any less either.”
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“It’s not that bad. Just a minor sprain.”
“Don’t get too clever next time and put yourself in danger.”
“I wasn’t taking any risks. The sprain was an accident, everything else went smoothly.”
“Thank you, Bai Cheng,” Luo Tian said softly.
Meanwhile, Kang He’s CT results came back showing no internal injuries, only some bruising from the bullet impacts. So Kang He, Fang Chong, and Lin Fei returned to Bai Cheng’s room. As they reached the door, Lin Fei noticed Bai Cheng’s leg was resting on Luo Tian’s lap, with him still icing her ankle.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” Lin Fei said, turning back and shooing the others away.
“What? We’re already at the door. Why not let us in?” Kang He asked loudly, marching toward the room until he saw the scene inside. The moment he felt Luo Tian’s sharp gaze, chills ran down his spine, and he turned to flee.
“Don’t run. Judging by how loud your voice is, you seem perfectly fine. We’re almost done here anyway. Are you waiting for us or heading out?” Luo Tian said, still focused on Bai Cheng’s ankle.
“Should we wait or leave?” Kang He asked, making exaggerated facial expressions.
Luo Tian ignored him and continued icing Bai Cheng’s ankle.
“Alright, we’ll head out first, Captain Luo. Make sure you take Miss Bai home later,” Lin Fei said.
“Got it, don’t worry,” Luo Tian replied.
As they left, Lin Fei waved goodbye to Bai Cheng, and Bai Cheng nodded in return.
Time passed, and when Luo Tian removed the ice pack from Bai Cheng’s ankle, it was still swollen and had turned even redder from the icing.
Luo Tian frowned. He opened the bag on the hospital bed, finding only a tube of anti-inflammatory ointment.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you home.” Without waiting for her to respond, Luo Tian picked Bai Cheng up in his arms.
Surprised by the sudden lift, Bai Cheng exclaimed, “I can walk by myself!”
“Even if you can, you shouldn’t. Don’t aggravate the injury. Hold the medicine.”
Luo Tian carried her out of the hospital and gently placed her in the back seat of the car, resting her legs on the seat.
Bai Cheng soon felt drowsy and drifted off to sleep. After some time, she heard Luo Tian’s gentle voice by her ear, “Bai Cheng, we’re home.”
She opened her eyes to see Luo Tian leaning into the car, lifting her out and carrying her all the way to her front door.
Luo Tian set her down and helped her stand. As Bai Cheng pulled out her keys to open the door, she noticed Luo Tian handing her a bag.
“I stopped by my house and grabbed some medicine,” he said.
“You went home? I didn’t even notice.”
“You were asleep. I didn’t want to wake you. It’s late, go inside and rest. Be careful when you shower tonight, don’t slip. And remember to apply the ointment afterward. Sprains take a hundred days to heal, so take it easy.”
Bai Cheng nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be careful. You should rest too.”
After saying goodbye to Luo Tian, Bai Cheng went into the bathroom to take a hot shower to warm herself up. She turned on the showerhead, letting the water get hot enough to feel almost scalding against her skin. She loved the sensation of warm water enveloping her—it always helped her relax when she was upset. The heat made her feel like she was in the tropics, where all the pain and cold were washed away by the warmth.
After finishing her shower, Bai Cheng dried herself off and noticed a round bruise on her upper right arm. She wiped the steam off the mirror and confirmed that there was indeed a red and purple bruise. She recalled that it must have happened when she fell earlier in the day and hit some exposed rebar, but because she had been wearing long sleeves and was too tense to feel the pain, she hadn’t noticed it until now.
Remembering the medicine Luo Tian had given her, Bai Cheng hopped into the living room, grabbed the bag, and brought it back to the bathroom. Inside were Yunnan Baiyao spray, red flower oil, anti-inflammatory ointment, iodine, cotton swabs, and bandages.
She applied the anti-inflammatory ointment to her bruise, rubbing it in circles with a cotton swab. As she massaged the area, the pain intensified. The lingering warmth in the bathroom and the ache in her shoulder reminded her of Luo Tian’s tight embrace when he thought she had died.
That hug had been so tight, so forceful, that Bai Cheng felt like her upper body might break, and she had trouble breathing. She could hear his frantic heartbeat, fast and erratic, but strong. His breathing was uneven, mixed with sobs.
His arms had wrapped around her like a giant snake, holding her tightly. It hurt, but despite the pain, she didn’t want him to let go. She had pretended to be unconscious for a long time just to stay in his embrace.
That hug, and the way he cried, seemed to scream, “Don’t die. I don’t want you to die. Please don’t die.”
With a hug like that, who would want to die? Bai Cheng thought to herself in his arms.
Looking into the mirror now, Bai Cheng thought she saw Luo Tian behind her. His chin rested on her shoulder, his ear close to her face, radiating his warmth.
She recalled how Luo Tian had stood behind her when he taught her to shoot. His breath would occasionally brush against her face, causing a subtle tickle, but the atmosphere had been too serious for her to move. His stern voice, though strict, had made her feel secure, just like the gun in her hand.
Bai Cheng’s face flushed.
In her imagination, Luo Tian lifted his chin, gently kissing the corner of her mouth, then her cheek, and finally the edge of her eyes. She closed her eyes, feeling his hands slide from her bare shoulders to her collarbone, then slowly wrap around her neck.
Bai Cheng took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, there was no Luo Tian. She was alone in the mirror.
Startled by her own imagination, Bai Cheng froze, letting the cotton swab fall from her hand.
She didn’t even dare apply the medicine to her ankle and quickly jumped into bed, pulling the blanket up to cover half her face, blushing furiously.
Bai Cheng wasn’t sure when she fell asleep, but the next morning, she was woken by a call from Lin Fei.
“Xiao Cheng, are you awake? This morning, me, Ling Xiang, Kang He, and Captain Luo are planning to visit you. Do you have time?”
Hearing Luo Tian’s name, Bai Cheng bolted upright in bed, only for her ankle to throb in pain, reminding her of the injury.
“Xiao Cheng, are you there?”
“I’m here, I’m here. You guys can come over whenever you want. I’m home.”
“Okay, we’ll head over after we pick up Captain Luo. We’ll be there in about 45 minutes.”
“Got it. Call me when you arrive.”
After hanging up, Bai Cheng sat still for a few seconds, then suddenly remembered the intimate fantasy she had about Luo Tian in the bathroom last night. Embarrassed, she tossed her phone aside and buried herself back under the covers.
When the time came, Bai Cheng got up, changed clothes, washed up, and tidied the house a little. She hobbled to the front door and opened it just as her visitors arrived.
It was a beautiful day, with the sun high in the sky. The warm breeze made the air feel pleasant and soft.
“Such a lovely day for late autumn,” Bai Cheng thought as she spotted Lin Fei and the others approaching the gate. Pharaoh, her dog, sensed familiar faces and darted out of his doghouse, sprinting toward Luo Tian. He leaped up, placing his paws on Luo Tian’s legs. Luo Tian petted his head and then picked him up.
“Pharaoh, you’ve gotten heavier. Has Bai Cheng been feeding you too well?” Luo Tian teased, putting the dog down, who then stuck by his side as they entered the yard.
Bai Cheng leaned against the door, waiting for them to come closer.
“You should have waited inside! You’re injured; don’t stand too long,” Lin Fei scolded, moving to help her inside.
“It’s not that bad. The weather’s so nice, I wanted to soak up some sun.”
“If you want to sunbathe, you can do that later. Let’s get you inside first.”
They returned to the house, where Da Liu pulled out a pair of crutches. “Miss Bai, Captain Luo asked me to bring these for you.”
Da Liu also set down a wheelchair, saying, “And this too. Captain Luo insisted.”
Bai Cheng looked at the wheelchair and crutches by the sofa and couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s just a minor sprain. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest. But thank you, anyway.”
“No need to thank us. This was all Captain Luo’s idea. I think he’d trade his own leg for yours if he could,” Lin Fei joked.
Luo Tian shot Lin Fei a look, then turned to Bai Cheng. “Have you applied the ointment yet?”
“Huh?” Bai Cheng froze.
“Your leg. Did you apply the medicine last night and this morning?”
Bai Cheng’s mind flashed back to her embarrassing thoughts from the previous night, and she grew flustered. Her pupils widened as she avoided eye contact.
“Yes,” she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.
Luo Tian saw right through her lie and chuckled in exasperation. “You really think you can lie to five police officers? Did you injure your leg or your brain, Bai Cheng? Why didn’t you apply the medicine? Are you trying to keep that leg?”
Bai Cheng, knowing her lie had been exposed, quickly came up with an excuse. “I was tired last night, so I…”
“Even if you’re tired or sleepy, you still have to—”
“Come on, it’s just one or two missed applications. I’ll remember next time. Why are you being so harsh? You’re scaring her. Look, you’ve made her blush,” Fang Chong cut in.
At the mention of “blushing,” Bai Cheng panicked even more, hastily explaining, “I’m not angry!” Then, realizing her mistake, she added, “Well, actually, I am a little mad.” After speaking, she felt she was making things worse and wished she hadn’t said anything at all.
“Alright, you probably were exhausted last night, and we did show up a bit early today. But next time, make sure you apply the medicine,” Luo Tian said, his tone softer.
Bai Cheng nodded so vigorously it was like a bobblehead.
After chatting for a while, Lin Fei asked what everyone wanted for lunch—whether to cook or order takeout. Bai Cheng, feeling embarrassed to have everyone do the cooking while she couldn’t help, suggested takeout. In the end, Ling Xiang ordered delivery from Haidilao.
While waiting for the delivery, they set up tables and chairs in the courtyard, basking in the sunlight and chatting.
During the conversation, Luo Tian leaned in and whispered, “Let me borrow your phone for a sec.”
Confused, Bai Cheng handed him her unlocked phone. After a few taps, Luo Tian gave it back to her.
“I set two alarms for you, one in the morning and one at night, to remind you to apply the ointment,” he said.
Bai Cheng looked at the two alarms on her phone and smiled. “Thank you.”
Soon after, Haidilao’s famous service lived up to its reputation, and the delivery arrived quickly. Along with the pot from Haidilao, Da Liu fetched a portable stove and pot from Bai Cheng’s house. Once everything was set up, they began adding ingredients to the pot.
Soon, the aroma and steam rose from the pot. Even before they started eating, just watching the bubbling broth and simmering ingredients brought warmth to Bai Cheng.
“Isn’t it ready yet? I’m starving. I want meat, and I want vegetables too,” Kang He said, eyeing the pot hungrily.
“Why are you so hungry? You look like you haven’t eaten in days,” Lin Fei teased.
“Well, after that big scene yesterday, I haven’t had anything to eat. Plus, I have a commercial to shoot in a few days, and my agent’s been strict with my diet. Since she’s not here today, I’m going to take advantage and eat as much as I can.”
“Aww, poor thing. Eat as much as you want today; who knows when your next meal will be.”
“Is it done yet? Let me check,” Kang He said, picking up a piece of beef from the pot, dipping it in sauce, and popping it into his mouth.
“Be careful not to burn yourself.”
After swallowing the beef, Kang He announced, “It’s done! Time to eat!”
Everyone grabbed their chopsticks and eagerly started fishing for their favorite ingredients.
“This shrimp paste is good—so springy! Try some,” Lin Fei said, scooping a ball of shrimp paste into Bai Cheng’s bowl.
“Da Li, pass me that bottle of liquor,” Da Liu called out through the steam.
The weather was perfect, with the sun shining brightly. The courtyard was filled with the golden leaves of the ginkgo tree, making the scene look like a painting. The ground was carpeted with a layer of yellow leaves, adding to the beauty.
As they ate the steaming hotpot, the group chatted noisily, enjoying each other’s company.
Bai Cheng took a piece of meat from the pot and popped it into her mouth, chewing as she said, “This hotpot is really good.”
“Then eat more,” Luo Tian said, scooping another helping of beef into her bowl.
“Captain Luo, you can’t be so biased! You’ve given all the meat to Bai Cheng,” Lin Fei protested, unable to grab any meat for herself.
“There’s plenty left. Just add more to the pot,” Luo Tian replied, dropping an entire plate of meat into the pot.
“You should eat more too. You haven’t had much,” Bai Cheng said to Luo Tian.
Luo Tian’s bowl was almost empty, with only a bit of broth at the bottom. He had barely eaten anything, only picking at a few vegetables and sipping some water. Most of the time, he sat quietly, gazing at the golden ginkgo leaves or looking up at the sky.
“I’m not very hungry,” Luo Tian said. “And with such nice weather, I just want to sit here and take it all in. The warmth in the air makes me feel peaceful. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a day this nice. I want to remember every second of it.”
“There will be plenty more days like this in the future,” Bai Cheng said, looking at Luo Tian.
Luo Tian nodded gently in response.
