Mountains lay sprawled in the darkness. At the silent foot of the mountain, police and ambulance lights flickered and crossed.

The unconscious Liu Ruyu had already been loaded into an ambulance, his life no longer in danger. Another ambulance waited nearby. Xu Mengshan, Fan Jia, and the others stood silently at the side, wanting to help but unable to do so.

Yin Feng, despite his large frame, had been nestled in You Mingxu’s arms since being found, head lowered, acknowledging no one. You Mingxu was still soaked, wrapped in a blanket, holding him with one arm.

Their voices were only audible to each other.

“Shall we get in the ambulance?”

Yin Feng shook his head firmly and said, “I won’t get in the ambulance, I won’t! I won’t go to the hospital—I won’t be able to see you there. I want to go home! Right now!”

He had made up his mind, holding You Mingxu’s waist and pulling her toward her police car. Unable to break free, You Mingxu looked up to see her colleagues exchanging glances.

She shouted, “What are you all looking at? Mind your own business. It’s fine, I’ll take responsibility for Author Yin.”

Everyone immediately scattered. Fan Jia asked concernedly, “Is Author Yin alright?” Xu Mengshan muttered, “The hospital would be safer.”

You Mingxu looked down at him, still hunched over, arms around her like a startled shrimp. His hair was wet and plastered to his forehead, making his pale face and vacant gaze even more apparent. He looked even more like a child.

She stroked his head and said, “Alright, if you’re okay, we’ll go home. But let go so I can drive.”

He kept his head down without a word but held on tighter. You Mingxu tried to pry his hands away, but he held fast, uttering two words: “Can’t do.”

There was a slight catch in his voice.

You Mingxu thought to herself that he was truly traumatized. He hadn’t cried in so long, except when they first met in Tibet and he was lost and confused. Though he had lost his memory, his pride remained intact. The torture he’d just endured was an extreme humiliation. His heart was still that of a child, and such humiliation stripped away his dignity completely.

Thinking of this, You Mingxu felt a surge of burning anger rises within her, which she forcefully suppressed by gritting her teeth.

Her heart softened further at his current dependence and clinginess.

She called to Xu Mengshan, who was about to leave: “You drive, take us home.”

The police car drove silently through the night. Xu Mengshan remained invisible-like, driving steadily and swiftly without a word.

You Mingxu still held Yin Feng, his head resting on her shoulder, motionless as if lifeless.

But You Mingxu knew she had to comfort him, had to help him through this. Thinking back to their first meeting in Tibet, he had been like a newborn, trembling, barely able to speak coherently. Gradually, his eyes brightened, and he began to act spoiled around her, laughing, running, sulking, and even starting to solve cases… When she closed her eyes, she saw him in his green clothes, standing before her, smiling with the pure radiance of melting snow and blooming flowers.

Almost unconsciously, You Mingxu gently stroked his face with her fingers and asked, “Were you… very scared just now?”

He neither spoke nor moved. He ignored her. But his warm breath still fell on her collar.

You Mingxu paused, then reached out to hold his chin, lifting it to make him look at her. But the sight startled her. His eyes were bloodshot, covered in red vessels from the strain. His expression was unusually quiet, quiet to the point of emptiness.

You Mingxu’s heart suddenly ached. Not knowing what to do, she instinctively lowered her head, gently nuzzling his face. Both their faces were cold, but their breaths were warm. She stayed close to him, her mind in confusion.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. His suffering had been because of her.

After nuzzling for a while, he moved.

Like before, he gently nuzzled her face in return, slowly, repeatedly, just like a small animal. He made no sound, just staying close to her. Strangely, You Mingxu’s mind went completely blank at this moment, unwilling and unable to think of anything.

His face was soft, the lines of his nose bridge, brow bone, and lips distinct, even with her eyes closed. She inexplicably felt her breathing quicken, as did his. It was a feeling of uncertainty, subtle, unfamiliar, and dangerous, yet impossible to stop.

Xu Mengshan glanced at the rearview mirror again and saw You Mingxu still comforting Yin Feng. Even Xu Mengshan’s typically stoic face couldn’t help but flush slightly. He thought to himself: Goodness, Sister You have lost her composure this time.