The doctor carefully examined Jun Wei's injured shoulder while Jun Wei sat stiffly on the bed.His fingers were curled tightly around the edge of the blanket,and every time the doctor touched the bruised area,his shoulders tensed."Does this hurt?"the doctor asked gently.Jun Wei pressed his lips together and nodded."A little."The doctor gave him a reassuring smile."You're doing well.Just relax your shoulder for me."
Jun Wei tried,but the moment the doctor's fingers moved closer to the injured area,his eyes immediately filled with tears.He quickly turned his face away,trying to hide them.Suo Ran noticed and stepped closer to the bed. He gently placed a hand over Jun Wei's. "Don't hold it in if it hurts."Jun Wei shook his head quickly."I'm not crying."Suo Ran's expression softened."I didn't say you were." Jun Wei looked at him suspiciously,then lowered his eyes."But you were looking.""Of course I was looking."Suo Ran gently brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead."I'm right here."
The doctor continued examining the shoulder,checking the movement carefully. Jun Wei winced once and instinctively tightened his grip around Suo Ran's fingers. Suo Ran didn't pull away.Instead,he let Jun Wei hold on as tightly as he needed."Almost done."the doctor said."Just a little longer." Jun Wei took a shaky breath and nodded.He tried to focus on Suo Ran instead of the doctor's hands."Gege..."His voice was quiet."Hmm?""Are we really safe now?"Suo Ran looked directly into his eyes.
For a moment,he could still remember the room they had escaped from,the sound of fighting,the fear in Jun Wei's voice,and the moment he had heard him cry his name.But he didn't let any of that show on his face. "Yes,"he said."You're safe now."Jun Wei looked at him for seconds."They can't find us here?""No."Suo Ran squeezed his hand gently."They can't reach you here."Jun Wei swallowed."Really?""Really."
Suo Ran leaned slightly closer."No one is going to take you away again."Jun Wei's eyes became wet again,but this time he didn't turn away.He stared at Suo Ran for several seconds before quietly asking,"You won't let them?"Suo Ran's expression softened even more."I won't."Lian Ziho,who had been standing beside the bed,folded his arms and looked at Jun Wei. "And what about me?"Jun Wei blinked and looked at him."You too?"Lian Ziho raised an eyebrow. "Of course.Me too."
Jun Wei thought for a moment before giving him a tiny smile."Then you have to stay close."Lian Ziho pretended to consider it. "That's a difficult request."Jun Wei's eyes widened."Why?"Lian Ziho leaned closer and lowered his voice."Because you might order me around all night."Jun Wei immediately shook his head."I won't."Lian Ziho smiled. "You already are."Jun Wei puffed his cheeks slightly."I'm not."Suo Ran couldn't help smiling at their exchange."Don't tease him." Lian Ziho glanced at him."I'm helping him relax."Jun Wei nodded seriously."He's helping."Lian Ziho pointed at him."See?He agrees with me."Jun Wei laughed.
The doctor glanced at them but continued working without interrupting.Jun Wei slowly relaxed against the pillow.His fingers were still wrapped around Suo Ran's hand,but they were no longer trembling as badly as before."Gege..."He hesitated."What is it?" "Don't leave."Suo Ran looked at the small hand holding his and then back at Jun Wei. "I'm not going anywhere." "Promise?" Suo ran nodded. "Promise."Jun Wei studied him for another moment."Even if I fall asleep?"
Suo Ran smiled faintly."Even if you fall asleep."
Jun Wei's shoulders finally loosened. "Then...I'll sleep for a little.""You can."Suo Ran gently touched his hair."I'll still be here when you wake up."Jun Wei slowly closed his eyes,but after a few seconds he opened them again."Gege?""Yes?""You're hurt too."Suo Ran paused."I'm fine."Jun Wei frowned immediately."You are lying.You always do that." Suo Ran couldn't help the small change in his expression."Do I?" "Yes." Jun Wei's voice was quiet,but very serious. "You said you were fine when you weren't."
Suo Ran's gaze lowered for a moment. "Maybe I wasn't very convincing."Jun Wei gave him a tired little smile."No."The doctor finished checking the shoulder and carefully adjusted the bandage."There.That's done." Jun Wei opened his eyes fully."Finished?" "Finished,"the doctor confirmed."Your shoulder needs rest,but there's no need to be frightened.You'll need to avoid putting pressure on it for a while."Jun Wei nodded obediently.
The doctor then looked at Suo Ran and explained the instructions carefully."He has a soft-tissue injury around the shoulder,so for the next few days he needs to keep the arm supported and avoid lifting,throwing,or putting weight on it.Don't let him sleep directly on that side either."Suo Ran listened carefully."How long should he rest?""At least several days without strenuous activity.If the pain decreases normally,he can gradually start using the arm again,but don't force the movement."
The doctor pointed toward the bandaged shoulder."Keep this dressing clean and dry.If it becomes loose,wet,or soaked with blood,it needs to be changed."Suo Ran nodded. "And the pain?""He may have some soreness tonight.That is expected.Use the prescribed pain medicine exactly as directed and don't give him anything extra unless a doctor approves it."Jun Wei looked between them."Do I really have to stay still?"The doctor smiled."For a little while,yes."Jun Wei sighed softly."That's boring."
Lian Ziho raised an eyebrow."Boring is better than another trip to the hospital."Jun Wei immediately looked at him."But I'm already in the hospital."Lian Ziho paused,then nodded."Fair point."Suo Ran glanced at them with a faint smile."Don't encourage him."Jun Wei smiled a little."He's funny."Lian Ziho looked pleased."See?Someone appreciates me."Suo Ran shook his head."Don't get too proud."Jun Wei quietly giggled.The doctor continued,"If he develops worsening pain,severe swelling, numbness or weakness in the arm,fingers that become cold or discolored,or if he becomes unusually dizzy or unwell,you should bring him back immediately."
Suo Ran's expression became serious. "We'll watch for that.""And he should have a follow-up examination in a few days,"the doctor added."We'll check how the shoulder is healing and make sure his movement is returning normally."Suo Ran quietly nodded."Thank you."The doctor stepped away to prepare the next instructions.Jun Wei looked down at his bandaged shoulder, then back at Suo Ran. "Does it look bad?" "No.""You're sure?""I'm sure."Jun Wei looked unconvinced."You're making the same face."Suo Ran raised an eyebrow. "What face?""The worried one."
Suo Ran stared at him for a second before quietly saying,"Maybe I have a worried face."Jun Wei gave a tiny laugh.Suo Ran's expression softened when he heard it. "There."Jun Wei blinked."What?""That's better."Jun Wei smiled faintly and leaned back against the pillow."I was scared before."Suo Ran's hand gently moved through his hair."I know.""I thought nobody would find me." Suo Ran's fingers paused for a moment. "But we did."
Suo Ran gently touched his hair."Now stop watching us and get some sleep."Jun Wei gave a sleepy little smile."Okay."His eyes finally closed again.His fingers remained loosely curled around Suo Ran's hand,and his breathing slowly became deeper.The tension that had held his small body rigid since the rescue gradually disappeared.His shoulders relaxed against the pillow,and the frightened expression that had remained on his face for hours finally faded.
Lian Ziho watched him quietly for a moment. "He's finally asleep."Suo Ran nodded."He needed to."Lian Ziho's gaze moved toward Suo Ran's injured leg."Now you."Suo Ran looked at him."What?"He pointed at his leg."Treatment."Suo Ran frowned."I'm fine." Lian Ziho gave him a flat look."Don't start." Suo Ran glanced at Jun Wei."I should stay here.""He's asleep." Suo Ran looked at him, "So what?!" Lian Ziho stood and moved closer."Go get your leg checked properly.I'll stay with him."Suo Ran looked at Jun Wei again.Jun Wei was sleeping peacefully now."You'll stay?""I said I would."Lian Ziho nodded toward the door."Go."
Suo Ran hesitated before slowly standing. He immediately winced when he put weight on his injured leg.Lian Ziho caught his arm. "See?""It's nothing.""Of course it is."Lian Ziho shook his head."You people really need to stop saying that."Suo Ran gave him a tired look,but there was no strength left to argue.He allowed Lian Ziho to support him as they moved toward the door.Before leaving,Suo Ran looked back at Jun Wei one more time.Suo Ran's expression softened. "I'll be back."Lian Ziho followed his gaze and quietly answered,"He knows."They stepped out of the room, leaving Jun Wei to rest.
Han Yi sat in one of the chairs near the wall while a nurse finished wrapping a bandage around his forearm.There was shallow cut ran along his cheek,and there was still dried blood near his collar.Qin Yue sat a few seats away while another nurse checked the bruising along his ribs."Hold still."the nurse said.Qin Yue glanced down at the bandage being secured around his side."I'm holding still."The nurse gave him a look."You were moving."Qin Yue sighed.Han Yi glanced at him."You haven't changed."
Qin Yue looked over."Neither have you."The nurse finished securing Han Yi's bandage and stepped back."Try not to strain your arm tonight."Han Yi nodded."Understood."The nurse then turned toward Qin Yue."And you should avoid anything strenuous for the next few days."Qin Yue gave a small nod."Got it."The nurse collected the medical supplies and walked away.A moment later,a police officer approached from the end of the corridor.He was carrying a small notebook and stopped in front of them.His eyes moved briefly over their injuries before settling on Han Yi."Han Yi?"Han Yi stood carefully."Yes.""I'm Officer Chen.I need to ask you both some questions about what happened tonight."
Han Yi looked toward the closed door of Jun Wei's room before answering."Go ahead." Officer Chen opened his notebook."Let's start from the beginning.We received reports of a kidnapping,and then we were told the child was found inside this building.Can you explain how you located him?"Han Yi's expression hardened."We followed the trail left by the kidnappers.They were moving through areas that weren't listed on the public building plans."Officer Chen raised his eyes."You mean the service corridor?" "Yes."Han Yi nodded."There was a concealed entrance leading from the lower level.The corridor wasn't marked properly,and several sections appeared to have been deliberately abandoned."
Qin Yue leaned forward slightly."It wasn't just abandoned.Someone had been using it." Officer Chen looked at him."What makes you say that?"Qin Yue's expression became serious."There were signs that equipment had been moved recently."He paused."More importantly,we found evidence that the surveillance system around that area had been interfered with."
Officer Chen wrote something down. "Interfered with how?"Qin Yue folded his arms carefully."The footage wasn't simply missing.There was a gap.""How long?" "Long enough to hide movement through the building."Officer Chen looked up."Can you be more specific?""Approximately thirty minutes."Han Yi's eyes narrowed slightly. "And that gap appeared exactly where we needed the footage most."Officer Chen's pen stopped."You believe the footage was deliberately deleted?"Qin Yue gave a humorless smile."A technical malfunction doesn't erase only the useful part of a recording."
Officer Chen looked between them."Could it have been a system failure?""Possible,"Qin Yue said."But unlikely."He leaned back against the chair."The system was functioning before and after the missing section.The cameras weren't damaged,and the recording resumed normally afterward. "Officer Chen's expression became more focused."So someone accessed the system?"Qin Yue nodded."That's what it looks like."Han Yi continued."The attackers also knew exactly where the cameras couldn't see them.They moved through blind spots and avoided the main routes."
Officer Chen wrote quickly."How many attackers?""Several."Han Yi answered.Qin Yue's gaze hardened."They knew where they were going before they entered."Officer Chen looked up again."Did you recognize any of them?""No,"Han Yi said."Their faces were covered.""Any distinctive clothing, vehicles,or weapons?"Han Yi thought for a moment."One group arrived through the underground access route.Another was already inside."Officer Chen's brow furrowed."Already inside?""We believe so."Han Yi replied."The timing doesn't make sense otherwise."Qin Yue nodded."We encountered resistance in areas that shouldn't have been known to outsiders.If someone hadn't provided information,the attackers would have had to search the building blindly."
Officer Chen closed his notebook halfway. "And Jun Wei?"Han Yi's expression changed slightly at the boy's name."We found him after pushing through the hidden corridor.He was being held there.""Was he injured?""Yes."Han Yi answered."But he's receiving treatment now."Officer Chen looked at Han Yi."What about Suo Ran?" Han Yi glanced toward Jun Wei's room again."He's with the boy.He was injured while trying to protect him."The officer closed his notebook for a moment and studied them."There's something I need to ask you directly."Han Yi waited."Do you believe someone inside the building helped the kidnappers?"
Han Yi's expression became colder as he looked down the corridor."We need to assume that until we prove otherwise."The officer's face hardened."You think they're monitoring the hospital too?""I think we shouldn't assume they aren't."Han Yi immediately looked toward the nurses' station.The corridor seemed normal.A nurse pushed a medication cart past them. Another staff member disappeared around the corner.Nothing appeared suspicious,yet Han Yi's eyes remained watchful."Then we need to limit who knows where Jun Wei is,"he said."And we need to secure every entrance to this floor."Officer Chen nodded. "I'll speak with hospital security."Han Yi shook his head slightly. "Don't tell them everything."Officer Chen's expression became grim."Understood.I'll keep the information restricted."Han Yi finally relaxed his injured arm against his side."Good."
Officer Chen slipped his notebook into his pocket."I'll arrange additional officers for the floor and have our technical team examine the surveillance system."Qin Yue nodded. "Check the access logs too.""We will.""And don't just look for deleted footage,"Qin Yue added."Look for who accessed the system before and after the gap."Officer Chen gave him a questioning look. "You think that will tell us who helped them?" Qin Yue's eyes sharpened."Maybe not who. But it might tell us who opened the door." Han Yi stood silently beside him,his gaze fixed on the corridor ahead.
Cai Lang walked slowly through the hospital corridor.His dark shirt was torn near the shoulder,and there was dried blood on his sleeve and a small cut on his cheek.One hand rested against his injured shoulder as he walked.He stopped near a window and looked outside for a moment.Then he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and glanced at it.He moved his shoulder slightly.The pain made his brows tighten for a second,but he quickly ignored it.He lowered his hand and continued walking.The corridor was busy with nurses, doctors,and police officers,but Cai Lang kept to himself.After turning into a quieter part of the hospital,he stopped for a moment.
His phone suddenly rang.Cai Lang looked at the screen before answering."Speak."A familiar voice came from the other end. "Boss,we found something."Cai Lang's expression changed slightly."What?""It's connected to Lu Zhen's death."Cai Lang straightened."Go on."His man's voice lowered."We went through the evidence from Lu Zhen's case again.There was something we initially overlooked."
Cai Lang's eyes narrowed."What did you find?""A series of records and transactions linked to people who were involved around the time Lu Zhen died.Some of those same names,companies,and contact points have appeared in the information we've collected about Jun Wei's disappearance."Cai Lang became completely still."You're saying the two cases are connected?""We're saying they may be."The man paused."The pattern is too similar to ignore."
Cai Lang's fingers tightened around his phone."Are you certain?""Not completely. But there's enough to make the connection impossible to ignore."Cai Lang looked down the empty corridor.His expression became serious."How far does it go?""We haven't confirmed the entire network yet,but the people connected to Lu Zhen's death seem to have crossed paths with the same group we're tracking in Jun Wei's kidnapping. There are overlapping locations, contacts, and financial movements."
Cai Lang's jaw tightened."And you only discovered this now?""We didn't have enough information before tonight.After the rescue,we were able to compare the records properly."Cai Lang was silent for a moment. "Does anyone else know?""Only our people."Cai Lang's voice became firm. "Keep it that way.No one outside the group is to hear about this until I say so." "Understood." "Send me everything." "Okay boss!"
Cai Lang looked toward the end of the corridor."And don't let anyone know you're investigating this connection." "Understood, Boss."There was a short silence then his man spoke again."There's another detail." Cai Lang's eyes narrowed."What detail?""Lu Zhen may have known something about Jun Wei before he died."Cai Lang stopped.His expression immediately darkened. "What does that mean?!""We found a reference in one of the records.It doesn't directly name Jun Wei,but the timing matches.And the person who recorded it had contact with Lu Zhen shortly before his death."Cai Lang's eyes became colder."What exactly did Lu Zhen know?""We don't know yet."
The man's voice became quieter."But it looks like he was looking into something connected to Jun Wei before he was killed." Cai Lang said nothing.He slowly lowered his phone."Send me that file first.""Yes,Boss." The call ended.Cai Lang stood alone in the corridor.
Cai Lang entered Jun Wei's room after ending the call.He closed the door quietly behind him and looked toward the bed.Jun Wei was awake now,and the moment he saw him,his face immediately brightened."Cai-ge,you came."Cai Lang walked closer and stopped beside the bed."How are you feeling?"Jun Wei moved his injured shoulder slightly before making a small face."My shoulder hurts a little."Cai Lang's eyes went to the bandage."Then don't move it too much."Jun Wei nodded."The doctor said I have to rest.""Listen to the doctor."
Jun Wei looked at him for a moment,then asked quietly,"Are you leaving again?"Cai Lang paused before answering."Not yet."A small smile appeared on Jun Wei's face. "Good."Cai Lang pulled the chair closer and sat beside the bed."You should sleep."Jun Wei shook his head."I want to talk to you first."Cai Lang looked at him."About what?" Jun Wei's fingers moved slightly over the blanket."About earlier."Cai Lang remained silent.Jun Wei looked at him seriously. "Thank you for coming to save me."
Cai Lang's expression softened a little."You don't need to thank me.""I do."Jun Wei smiled."You came even though it was dangerous."Cai Lang looked away for a moment."I wasn't going to leave you there." Jun Wei watched him carefully."Were you scared?"Cai Lang looked back at him. "Scared?""When you saw me being held there."Jun Wei's voice became quieter. "Were you scared that something would happen to me?"Cai Lang paused.His eyes rested on Jun Wei for a few seconds before he answered calmly."I was more worried about getting you out."
Jun Wei smiled."That's the same thing."Cai Lang raised an eyebrow."Is it?""Yes."Jun Wei nodded with complete confidence. "Because you were worried about me."Cai Lang didn't argue with him.Jun Wei's smile grew a little wider."I knew you would come." Cai Lang looked at him quietly."You did?" Jun Wei nodded.