Xia Hang followed Han Huaixiao out of the elevator and down a short corridor. Han Huaixiao stopped in front of a door, knocked three times perfunctorily, then pushed it open.
Inside, Xiang Kaicheng was yawning, just about to take off his white coat and head home. The moment he saw Han Huaixiao, his face fell.
“Damn it!” he swore, “can you not show up every single time right when I’m getting off work?!”
“Cut the crap,” Han Huaixiao said flatly. “Get to work.”
Xiang Kaicheng shot him a death glare for a full thirty seconds, then resigned himself to fate. “Where’s the injury? Take your clothes off.”
“Not me.” With that, Han Huaixiao gestured with his eyes toward Xia Hang, who stood behind him. Xia Hang stepped inside. Only then did he understand why Han Huaixiao had brought him here.
To deal with the injury on his lower back.
Xiang Kaicheng looked at Xia Hang, surprise flickering briefly in his eyes, then turned and shot Han Huaixiao a teasing grin.
Han Huaixiao gave him a warning look, ordering, “Work!”
Only then did Xiang Kaicheng turn his attention to Xia Hang. He pulled on sterile gloves and broke into a bright smile, saying, “Handsome, where are you hurt? Let me take a look.”
Xia Hang smiled back, sat down, and, without hesitation, lifted his arms and took off his shirt, turning his back toward him and exposing it fully. But the moment Xiang Kaicheng saw the injuries on Xia Hang’s back, his smile vanished, as he turned sharply to Han Huaixiao, completely furious.
“For this?!” he raged. “Just some abrasions?! You could grab any random nurse with your eyes closed to deal with this! Was it really necessary to drag me up here?!”
“Are all doctors as talkative as you?” Han Huaixiao replied coolly.
Xiang Kaicheng snorted. “I’m an associate chief physician, you know! You stopped me from clocking out over a few scrapes… I didn’t kick you out the door, so you should be grateful!”
“Oh?” Han Huaixiao said. “Associate chief feels it’s beneath him to handle abrasions? Want me to have the director demote you to an intern?”
Xia Hang quietly cut in, “Um… I can just go to the ER.” But Han Huaixiao glanced at the injuries on his back, demanding, “Associate chief Xiang, can you work now?”
Xiang Kaicheng tugged his mask up and walked toward Xia Hang, his brilliant smile instantly restored. “Handsome, there’s no ER here. All our patients get one-on-one VIP service. Next, I will personally take care of you. Please follow me.”
The vibe in Xia Hang’s mind abruptly shifted, from a high-end private hospital to a northeastern public bathhouse. His mouth twitched slightly as he followed Xiang Kaicheng to a bed and lay face down.
As Xiang Kaicheng cleaned the wounds, he chatted with Han Huaixiao. “I’m a Columbia University MD, for god’s sake! I must’ve had water in my brain to listen to you and come work at your family’s hospital… helping your dad and serving as your personal physician.”
“My family’s hospital is one of the top private hospitals in the country,” Han Huaixiao replied calmly. “If it weren’t for me, a freshly graduated Columbia PhD like you might not have gotten in.”
Xiang Kaicheng lost that verbal round. To delight himself, he waved the tweezers over Xia Hang’s back, saying, “I advise you not to provoke me. I’m holding a hostage right now. If I accidentally use a little too much force…”
Han Huaixiao followed the motion of his hand and glanced at Xia Hang’s back. This time, he didn’t retort. He wasn’t a doctor, but after years in the field, he could tell at a glance what kind of injuries those were.
Knife wounds. Gunshot wounds. Extremely severe.
What had this man been through?
How had he gotten them?
Meanwhile, Xiang Kaicheng removed the dust and tiny shards of glass, disinfected the wounds, and applied medication. “All done. Don’t let it get wet for the next few days.”
Xia Hang put his shirt back on.
“Thank you.”
Xiang Kaicheng pulled off his gloves and took out his phone. “No need to thank me,” he said. “Just add me on WeChat.”
Xia Hang paused mid-motion, momentarily thrown by the sudden leap in logic. He looked at Han Huaixiao, who had his arms crossed, apparently lost in thought and not paying attention to his glance.
From their interaction, Xia Hang could tell that this doctor and Han Huaixiao were close. Friends, most likely. Once he confirmed Xiang Kaicheng wasn’t a threat, he took out his phone and scanned the QR code.
Xiang Kaicheng grinned as he added a note. “Wait a bit, I’ll send you some dirt on Han Huaixiao.”
Seeing his own name correctly entered in the contact field, Xia Hang thought back. From the moment he’d entered until now, Han Huaixiao hadn’t introduced him at all.
Surprised, he asked, “You know me?”
Xiang Kaicheng shot Han Huaixiao a sideways glance, then gave Xia Hang a thumbs-up. “Of course,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re the one who dumped Han Huaixiao. Dumped him well.”
Well… that confirmed it completely. Only someone extremely close to Han Huaixiao would know about that. Regardless, Xia Hang felt a bit awkward having his identity as the ex exposed, so he rubbed his nose.
Next to them, Han Huaixiao finally snapped out of his daze and said casually to Xiang Kaicheng, “We’re leaving.” However, Xiang Kaicheng quickly took two steps forward and blocked the door, saying, “I helped you out! You owe me breakfast!”
Han Huaixiao took out his phone and tapped it a few times as he answered, “Transferred. Buy it yourself.” In front of him, Xiang Kaicheng shook his phone, grinning shamelessly.
“I’m WeChat friends with your Xia Hang now,” he said.
Han Huaixiao turned to Xia Hang.
“Who told you to add him?!”
Xia Hang: “…”
After Xiang Kaicheng successfully achieved his goal, he quickly stripped off his white coat and slung an arm around Xia Hang’s shoulders as they walked out together. “Xia Hang,” he asked, “are you in Lang City for work, or just here to play?”
“For work,” Xia Hang replied. Unused to such close physical contact, he subtly shifted aside, but Xiang Kaicheng immediately leaned back in again.
“Oh? So you’re working in Lang City now… does that mean you’ll be here long-term?” Xiang Kaicheng continued. “Where do you work? I’ll come find you when I’m free.”
“At the Municipal Bureau.”
Xiang Kaicheng raised a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re on Han Huaixiao’s team?”
“…Yeah.”
“Why would you do that to yourself?!” Xiang Kaicheng clicked his tongue. “That mouth of his could piss the dead back to life! Working under a venomous-tongued leader like that, how suffocating!”
“Uh…”
“Got it,” Xiang Kaicheng said knowingly. “Orders. Can’t disclose.”
Xia Hang: “…”
“How long have you been in Lang City?”
“Not long.”
“Then you’re probably not familiar with the place yet,” Xiang Kaicheng spoke enthusiastically. “Come on, I’ll take you to the best breakfast in Lang City!”
“Not really familiar, no.”
“Lang City has tons of good food. If you ever want recommendations, just ask me. I won’t steer you wrong.”
Xia Hang wasn’t particularly interested in food; if it was edible, that was enough for him, but he still nodded politely.
While watching the two figures ahead walking with arms slung around each other, Han Huaixiao took out his phone and sent a message. By the time they reached Han Huaixiao’s car, Xiang Kaicheng’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, released Xia Hang, and answered, his tone turning serious in an instant.
“Director!”
Xia Hang rolled his shoulders slightly and got into the car with Han Huaixiao to wait, but the moment he sat down, Han Huaixiao drove off. Through the window, Xia Hang saw Xiang Kaicheng grind his teeth, wave his phone angrily, and flip Han Huaixiao the middle finger.
Han Huaixiao ignored him completely and even stepped on the gas as he passed by.
“…Aren’t we waiting for Doctor Xiang?” Xia Hang asked, but Han Huaixiao shot him a sideways glance, leaving him with just one word: “Seatbelt.”
Han Huaixiao had started driving the moment Xia Hang got in. Only then did Xia Hang realize he hadn’t buckled up and hurriedly fastened it. However, not long after leaving the hospital, Han Huaixiao suddenly shook his head, pulled over to the side of the road, and took out a cigarette.
Xia Hang glanced at the dark circles under his eyes. Xia Hang himself hadn’t slept all night, but Han Huaixiao hadn’t slept for two nights. The fatigue was probably hitting him now, and driving any longer would be dangerous.
“I’ll drive,” Xia Hang said.
Han Huaixiao took a deep drag and looked at him, apparently noting that he still seemed alert. Without a word, he stubbed out the cigarette, got out, and lay down in the back seat, yielding the driver’s seat to him.
“Wake me when we get to your place.”
After driving for a while, they hit a red light. Xia Hang stopped and glanced into the back seat.
Han Huaixiao was already asleep.
Those long legs had nowhere to go, hanging awkwardly down onto the floor mat. Perhaps bothered by the sunlight, one arm was draped across his eyes, the other resting on his abdomen. Only half his face was visible: sharp jawline, handsome even in sleep, thin lips pressed together, his presence still imposing.
When the light turned green, Xia Hang turned the steering wheel at the next intersection, veering off the original route onto another road.
………………
When Han Huaixiao woke up and opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Xia Hang in the driver’s seat.
Xia Hang had fallen asleep too, slumped into the angle between the window and the seat. Han Huaixiao glanced out the window, seeing that it wasn’t fully closed this time. Then he looked outside.
Familiar scenery.
Maple Grove No. 1, his usual residence. He frowned.
Why did they come here?
Checking the time, he saw it was already 3 p.m. No wonder he’d woken up hungry. Then, he looked again at Xia Hang, still sleeping soundly in the front seat.
Maybe because he hadn’t slept last night, Xia Hang’s already pale complexion looked even paler now, like someone just recovering from a serious illness. His refined features were gaunt, his whole face barely bigger than Han Huaixiao’s palm.
Irritated, Han Huaixiao slapped the back of the seat, saying, “Xia Hang!”
Xia Hang woke immediately.
Han Huaixiao didn’t miss the flash of vigilance and lethal sharpness that flickered through Xia Hang’s half-lidded eyes before he recognized him. However, Xia Hang quickly covered it up, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry. I fell asleep,” he murmured.
Han Huaixiao didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked, “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You were sleeping pretty deeply.” Xia Hang pushed the door open. “Go upstairs. I’m leaving.”
Han Huaixiao was about to call out to ask him to eat together, but just then, a taxi passed by. By the time he got out, Xia Hang had already opened the taxi door and gotten in.
………………..
However, Xia Hang was starving, too. Back in his neighborhood, he randomly picked a restaurant and ordered a double rice combo. The place looked unremarkable, but the food was surprisingly good: the clear soup was sweet and fragrant, the roast duck’s skin was crisp, and the meat was tender. Dipped in plum sauce, it was extremely appetizing, so he cleared the plate and ordered another serving to go, planning to put it in the fridge and have it again for dinner.
Back home, he noticed the basin on the balcony and suddenly remembered he still had two living creatures at home. He went over to check, but…
The basin was empty.
Living creatures don’t just vanish into thin air. The only possibility was jailbreak. Rubbing his face, Xia Hang felt a twinge of regret. Someone who could kill even a pothos plant1… Where had he gotten the confidence to keep pets?!
Back when he was dating Han Huaixiao, there had been a period when his eyes weren’t feeling well, so Han Huaixiao had given him a pot of pothos, telling him to look at more greenery. He’d placed it on his dorm desk and carefully looked up care instructions online: pothos liked water and shade. He even set calendar reminders to water it every two days.
But soon enough, it still died.
Even though he’d napped in Han Huaixiao’s car and wasn’t that sleepy anymore, once he was fed and home, all Xia Hang wanted was to lie down and become a salted fish, unwilling to move a single finger.
But too bad… Now he still had to find those two escapees. Therefore, broom in hand, Xia Hang poked around under the sofa. Nothing. He then checked the bathroom and kitchen.
Still nothing.
Seeing the bedroom door ajar, he went in and swept under the bed.
Nothing again.
In the end, he even looked up at the ceiling, still…
No turtles!
Xia Hang really didn’t want to move anymore. Deciding to look later, he showered, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep again. When night fell, a faint rustling sound woke him. He snapped his eyes open.
The sound stopped.
He closed his eyes.
The rustling started again.
This time, he caught it. It was coming from behind the curtains.
Xia Hang yanked them open and…
The two turtles he’d been searching for all day finally appeared.
With a sigh, Xia Hang put them back into the basin on the balcony, changed the water, and added turtle feed. In the end, he made a mental note to buy a bigger, deeper basin when he had time.
No more jailbreaks will be allowed!
……………….
After a day of rest, Xia Hang returned to the Municipal Bureau the next day. However, as soon as he set foot into the office, Wen Yu excitedly waved him over to her computer.
“Brother Hang,” she said.
“You’re famous now!”
- Pothos, also known as devil’s vine, golden pothos, and devil’s ivy, is a popular indoor houseplant grown for the vining habit and heart-shaped leaves that occur in an array of colors and variegated patterns. One of the easiest houseplants to grow, they are forgiving of a range of growing conditions, making them suitable for beginner houseplant growers. ↩︎
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