Archive of Our Own

Loud music was blaring from all sides, neon lights of all colors were blinking and flashing within the dark enclosed space commonly referred to as a “bar.” Various smells filled the air; the fragrance of wine, the smell of cigarettes and smoke, the sour breaths of drunkards, perfumes of all brands and types. A DJ was hyping the crowd from the booth at the front, dozens of people — men and women alike — were moving along to the loud beat on the dance floor. Some others preferred to relax on the couch while sipping their drinks, another group hung around by the bar counter while chatting with the bartenders and the person next to them.

Of course, among the numerous party-goers commonly found in this establishment, there would always be several oddballs, those who didn’t seem to enjoy the lively atmosphere yet still put themselves in this situation. An example would be the few brooding men sitting all by themselves at the counter, ordering a glass of something then nothing else, not even sharing a conversation or two with those around them.

Another example would be those who placed themselves in the dark corners, away from everything and everyone for unknown reasons, with their eyes constantly watching from the shadows like a hunter waiting for their prey. The kind of people others always find suspicious, they were, and the ones surely to be approached by the bouncers for questioning should their presence come to be noticed.

Gong Jun disliked drawing attention to himself the most. Part of it was due to his job as an investigator of the law enforcement agency, which often required him to conceal his identity while in search of leads on the field. Couldn’t properly look for clues when the whole vicinity knew that he was a police officer, could he? But the larger part was simply because he found it too troublesome to deal with the attention given. It was his job to observe and question people, after all, not the other way around, regardless of how trivial the cause of their interest to him was. As such, while hiding himself in the shadows, Gong Jun did nothing else but watch from the corner how the frolicking crowds danced about and drank themselves silly.

It was unclear what kind of lead he was searching for in the bar tonight. Alas, even though he thought he had done his best trying not to stand out, the young investigator still ended up drawing quite some attention to himself. The reason for this, ironically, was that he had little awareness of how “attention-drawing” his appearance was to others.

At 30 years old, Gong Jun’s youthful visage was nothing less than eye-catching to the opposite sex in particular. He was considerably taller than the average man, with a pair of long legs and a well-proportioned build shaped by consistent exercise over the years. His complexion was light; he had a pair of charming dark eyes bearing a sharp gaze within them beneath his long eyelashes. The features of his face were distinct, his nose bridge was high. In fact, strangers who had no idea who he was would likely think that he was more of a model than a police officer.

Try as he might to lay low, his face alone was enough to pull the girls to him like a magnet. Every 10 minutes or so, there would be a chick sauntering his way, offering him a drink or a dance. The bold ones even directly asked for his contact information. Gong Jun simply didn’t understand what he’d done wrong that he couldn’t even keep his presence a secret in this crowded place and refusing the girls’ advances had been one hell of a struggle. He absolutely had no wish to be involved with them but at the same time, directly chasing them away wasn’t an option either. If he’d been too rude or forceful with his conduct, he might draw even more attention to himself, which was the last thing he needed.

So the young officer stood his ground for a while. After rejecting the sixth or so girls, however, his patience finally ran thin.

“ Tsk , how much longer is he going to make me wait?”

Gong Jun clicked his tongue and checked his wristwatch. It had been more than an hour since he first arrived in this noisy place, but the informant he’d made an appointment with hadn’t yet shown his face. As someone who made a livelihood from investigating, which frequently involved a lot of poking around, stalking, interviewing, and digging for information even in the unlikeliest of places, Gong Jun was actually confident in his tenacity. Unfortunately, the constant “disturbances” from some eager maidens proved to be too great of a challenge for the young officer. Truly, he’d rather brawl to the death with an escaping criminal than handle these thirsty girls.

Just as this thought passed his mind, all of a sudden someone jumped at him from the dark corner and stuck to his side.

Gong Jun’s instinct flared up at once. Working in the law enforcement agency meant that he’d been constantly in contact with all sorts of dangerous people and every individual in his team knew better than to allow these criminals to get too close to them. Without wasting another second, Gong Jun grabbed the assailant’s arms and forcefully flipped them around. One of his hands clasped both of the person’s wrists firmly on their lower back while his other hand pushed that person to the wall by the back of their neck. Everything took less than five seconds to accomplish. Within such a short time, he had subdued the unknown person completely.

But a strange premonition crept into his heart then.

“Why didn’t they try to fight back?”

It had been too easy of a feat to accomplish that it was way too suspicious. And as if to confirm his intuition, the mysterious individual he was pressing against the wall suddenly chuckled amidst the blaring music.

“As expected of my favorite officer. Your strength is truly ferocious.”

The voice carried with it a trace of amusement. Both husky and sweet, it sent shivers down Gong Jun's spine for an indescribable reason. The officer inadvertently loosened his grip on that person. This allowed the other party to turn his body slightly.

A pair of captivating eyes, bright and alluring, met Gong Jun's gaze while accompanied by a subtle smile.

"Not that I mind, though. I love this wild side of yours."

When this last sentence reached his ears, Gong Jun felt as though he'd been electrocuted to the bones. He let go of the other person; finally, the latter could flip around and look at him face-to-face.

This individual who sneaked to his side and caught him off-guard was also a young man of approximately the same age as Gong Jun. He had a mature air surrounding him, yet at the same time, a seductive appeal was blending with it, giving others a mixed impression of both composure and sultriness. His complexion was warm and his handsome face carried with it a natural elegance, perfected by his dark brown hair of medium length. The black cotton trousers on his person emphasized the pair of long legs he possessed, while the combination of dark gray turtleneck and black overcoat accentuated the fine shape of his body, particularly his slim waist.

In summary, he was an extremely attractive man, one that could charm not only the opposite sex but his fellow men, as well.

Whenever Gong Jun saw him, a burst of unexplainable impatience always started itching in the pit of his stomach that he couldn’t help but frown, not knowing whether he wanted to run away or swallow this person whole so he'd stop itching.

Unfortunately, neither was a choice for him.

"You're late," Gong Jun complained at once, "You told me to meet you here at nine. It's already past ten."

"My sincerest apologies to the officer. Something came up just before I left and I couldn’t leave it," replied the other person, "Thanks to this, however, I had the opportunity to see Officer Gong's terrific effort in chasing away young ladies with a flustered face."

"Zhang Zhehan, you — !"

"Sssh … " the other man promptly placed his index finger on Gong Jun's lips, "Not too loud, Mr. Officer. An honorable law enforcer like yourself wouldn’t want to be discovered hanging out with an outlaw like me, would he?"

Gong Jun had the urge to bite that finger off, but he exercised restraint on himself.

Just like there is yin and yang , there is always an opposite to everything. There were the rich and the poor, the old and the young, males and females. Likewise, where there was a lawful society, underneath that peace and conformity would always be the outlaws and rebels who made breaking every rule in existence their way of living.

And this man, Zhang Zhehan, was a leading figure among these rebels, the elusive head of a notorious criminal gang.

As for how the two of them could come to know one another despite having a difference as far as heaven and earth, it would be a story too long to tell at the moment, one that started from the then inexperienced officer's "mistake" when chasing down a case during the early years of his career.

"You came to me for information, didn't you?" Zhang Zhehan withdrew his hand, "Come. Let's not talk about it here."

"Where are we going?"

"Are you scared that I may kidnap you and lock you up somewhere? Don't worry. Like I said before, I'd rather you kidnap me and lock me up instead."

The more he talked, the more nonsense he spouted. Gong Jun was here for work; he had no intention of listening to a mafia boss’ ludicrous chatter. Therefore, even though he was a bit annoyed, he still followed the other man obediently to a private room on the second floor of the bar. He could admonish Zhang Zhehan to his heart’s content later. For now, he needed to talk to him properly and obtain the information he wanted.

Crimes were an inseparable part of any society in existence. A city might have high or low crime rates, but what matters at the end of the day was that it still exists, despite how many or few. Among the most prevalent crimes the law enforcers frequently came into contact with was the misuse and illegal distribution of drugs. The latter was considered as mid to high-profile cases, depending on the type and amount of drugs being illegally sold. It was exactly the type of case Gong Jun was dealing with right now.

Since half a year ago, a new type of drug began to spread in the city. The most common users discovered were teenagers as young as secondary school students to adults up until those in their early 30s. It had been a tough job for the government and the law enforcement agency to fully unravel this drug’s distribution chain. It spread fast; it could be found in the most commonly found snacks and drinks, which means everyone had easy access to it. Even identifying the users was challenging as they wouldn’t show obvious symptoms until they had been consuming the drug consistently for at least a month. And most of the time, they wouldn’t even realize they’d been consuming said drugs, for the side effect did not show up to the surface all at once but slowly and gradually, until they destroyed said person to the very core, all the way so they could no longer live without it.

Gong Jun was the investigator assigned to the special force tasked to track the distribution chain of this drug. For the past three months, he’d been scouring the city day and night, using every single legal means in existence that he could possibly get his hand on to turn up leads. There had been some results, but they weren’t yet enough to help him uncover the most crucial point in this whole supply channel.

Thus, the young officer had no choice. If he couldn’t get his hands on any more leads through legal means, then it was about time he employed the not-so-legal means — even though he wasn’t very fond of it. And who’d be better suited to provide information on the dark side of society than one who ruled over it?

The bar’s private room which Zhang Zhehan brought him into was spacious and posh. Had the lighting not been faint and dim, as typical of a nightclub, it would’ve passed as the lounge of a high-class hotel or executive office building. Gong Jun was quite familiar with this bar; he knew that the private rooms here were split into several categories from the smallest to the largest. Naturally, the larger it was, the more expensive the minimum order would be. Gong Jun had a feeling this was one of the VVIP rooms, the largest of all. How much money this man spent on booking this room just for the sake of their meeting tonight, Gong Jun didn’t know and didn’t want to know, nor did he want to think about why this mafia leader would be willing to spend so much money for him.

Having dismissed his “bodyguards” — who bowed in unison while muttering a respectful “Boss” before leaving the private room — Zhang Zhehan made himself comfortable on the wide black leather couch. He first poured a glass of wine for them both, an expensive brand that he seemed to have ordered beforehand. One glass he lightly pushed in Gong Jun’s direction, who had no wish to touch anything in this place other than the couch he was sitting on. This cold reaction didn’t baffle Zhang Zhehan at all, however, for he casually took the other glass for himself, leaning against the sofa’s backrest while crossing his long legs elegantly. From the angle where Gong Jun was sitting across from him, this man looked like a professional model about to enter a photoshoot session.

“So, what was it again that you said you were looking for?” Zhang Zhehan turned the wine glass in his hand, “The new meth currently popular in the market, is it?"

"You're familiar with the drug's original form," Gong Jun frowned slightly, "It's only known to the relevant divisions within the national police agency. The media and general public commonly refer to it as the 'Red Dream.'"

“My dearest Junjun is relying on me for information. How can I let myself lose face in front of you? Of course, I need to do my homework properly,” the man gave him a sweet smile, “Not only do I know of its original form, but I also have a sample of the real ‘Red Dream’ before it is mixed in with other substances for concealment purpose. Would you like to see it?”

He asked a question, but Zhang Zhehan didn’t wait for the young officer to respond. Before Gong Jun’s stunned expression, he reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small, transparent reclosable poly bag. Inside was a reddish translucent object no larger than half of a man’s thumb. Under the dim light of the room, the tiny object appeared to glimmer like a small red crystal.

“May I present you with the pure ‘Red Dream’, officer?” Zhang Zhehan held out his hand holding the container.

There was nothing but composure in both his face and voice, as though he was giving out a mere bag of candies. Gong Jun, however, was not too pleased with the fact that the person sitting across from him was holding the so-called pure “Red Dream” with ease.

“Where did you get it?” the officer did not mince his words.

“I have my channels. Couldn’t share too many details with you, but I can guarantee that this is the real thing.”

He let Gong Jun take the drug from him, watching in amusement as the other man was scrutinizing the plastic bag’s content like a scientist would study a strange organism under a microscope. Gong Jun flipped the poly bag over several times while examining it; he even took out a disposable glove to place the shiny little crystal on his hand before returning it inside the bag once more.

“ … It’s the real thing,” he said after a long while.

“Isn’t it? I told you as much,” Zhang Zhehan sipped his drink.

“All of the ‘Red Dream’ we found spreading among the citizens have been either made into sweets or mixed with drinks for easy consumption. It also serves as a way to deceive the targets, so that the people who consume it wouldn’t know that it is a type of drug. The only sample of the meth in its original form that we’ve ever discovered came from the residence of a heavy user who died from an overdose. Even then, the amount in the victim’s possession was not even a fifth of what you have. I’m going to ask you once again, Zhehan. Where did you get this? ”

“No need to make that scary face. It's not like I'll force it down your throat.” Even though he was being faced with a glare so piercing it could penetrate flesh and bones, Zhang Zhehan remained unperturbed. “As I said before, I have my channels. There are a lot of … ‘things’ that you can get in the underworld as long as you can offer a fair exchange. Our meeting tonight is an easy example, no? But other than a fair exchange, there’s also ‘trust.’ If I betray my sources’ trust by selling them out to the law enforcers, won’t they lose faith in me? Not that I’m afraid that they might bring me harm, but it would certainly make things difficult for my ‘business’ in the future. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Of course, Gong Jun understood what he meant. In the first place, he himself was already breaking a good dozen of laws and regulations by cooperating with an underworld gang leader to further his investigation. He had made a lot of compromises. But this one … Just this one, he couldn’t let go.

“You would forgive me for being direct,” he put the small bag of meth back on the table, “Zhehan, you’re not involved in all this, are you?”

“I’m the kind of person who, if I want to sell something, will try out the final product myself before releasing it to the public. How am I planning to market it well otherwise?” Zhang Zhehan was unfazed, “If I’m selling clothes, I’ll put them on me and see whether it looks good and feels comfortable. If I’m selling food, I’ll have a taste and judge for myself whether it’s delicious enough or needs more refinement. Now then, Officer Gong, you’ve been investigating this case for some time. You’re familiar with the symptoms of one who consumes the ‘Red Dream.’ Well, do I look like one?”

Gong Jun didn’t say anything in return.

Of course, it was obvious that Zhang Zhehan had never tried the drug in any way. The ‘Red Dream’ was extremely potent and a single consumption, no matter how little, would deem the user completely dependent on it. In a society full of mounting pressure and expectation for every individual, who wouldn’t get hooked on a “magic candy” or a “magic drink” that could evidently blow all of their worries away and pump their body full of energy? But after the temporary bliss passed, then came the setback. Light users would soon find the discomfort too much to handle and ended up seeking more and more of this forbidden crystal. Heavy users would, in a word, simply succumb to the excruciating relapse that many even turned violent.

In contrast, the Zhang Zhehan he was meeting now was no different than the one he’d met in all those times in the past prior to the drug’s emergence. His composure was indomitable and his mind was as clear as spring water. There was no way he could be a user and as skeptical as he was towards this person, Gong Jun at least knew that this fact was irrefutable.

“What about your subordinates?” he asked again.

“I like my men to be healthy and sound of mind, otherwise I’d have no use of them. The ‘Red Dream’ clearly destroys one’s mind and body. Do you think I will let them anywhere near it?”

This, too, was understandable. But the thing that Gong Jun doubted the most was …

“I was just asking to make sure,” he replied, in the end, “Fine, I won’t ask any more about your sources.”

“You don’t have to look that worried. I’m not angry with you. There’s no way I can be angry with my beloved Junjun,” Zhang Zhehan smiled at him as though they were in the middle of a romantic candlelight dinner, “So then … We’ve confirmed that this substance is indeed the one you’re looking for. Now that we’re on the same page, what would you like to ask me about this?”

“Our team received intel that one of the major labs producing the ‘Red Dream’ is actually located in this city and that a transaction with a huge buyer will take place there ten days from now. However, we have yet to exactly pinpoint its location. Do you have any idea of where it is?”

“The former sugar cube factory in the southern district.”

“Are you sure?” Gong Jun frowned at the speedy and nonchalant way the other man gave him an answer. “How long have you known about it?”

“Would you be happier if I say I’ve known about it since the beginning or I’ve just heard about it yesterday?”

“Zhehan, I’m being serious.”

“So am I,” the mafia leader threw him yet another smile; his sitting posture remained relaxed, “Officer Gong, you said your team received intel about the laboratory’s existence in this city. Do you truly want me to believe that the capable investigators in your team have not even the slightest idea of its possible location, not even a candidate or two?”

His dark eyes met Gong Jun’s, bearing a disquietingly inexplicable look in them.

“My dear officer, you want me to speak first to confirm whether your findings are accurate or not, is this not the case?”

That was indeed the case. He shouldn’t have underestimated this man’s wits, Gong Jun scolded himself inwardly. Still, Zhang Zhehan’s demeanor didn’t change. There was no displeasure on his face; the tiny curls at the corners of his lips were like a painting perpetuated on a canvas. This personality of his had been a lasting question taking its root deep in Gong Jun’s mind. Was it a trait shared by all prominent leaders of the underworld? Was it shaped by the ruthlessness of the lawless? He was the leader of a notorious gang known for its countless transgressions against public order, but at the same time, he was the very definition of peace and tranquility.

The only time when that serene expression on his face would crumble was …

“ … We have narrowed our searches to two places,” eventually, the young officer confessed, “One was the abandoned sugar cube factory that you mentioned just now. In fact, it was actually the first place we suspected, as it has been empty for a long time since the company that used to own it went bankrupt two years ago. However, there are several considerations that make us think otherwise, one of those is because this place sticks out like a sore thumb. It is way too obvious as if they are shoving themselves straight into our noses and asking to be investigated. We suspect that it may be a cover, or worse, a trap.”

“I see. Then, where is the other place?” asked Zhang Zhehan.

“Last year, there was a local garment manufacturer whose company was acquired by an international entity. Half of their operation was subsequently moved to another city, resulting in most of their assets here being sold to the public. There’s this small warehouse in the western district that used to belong to them. Our leads show that it was purchased by a dubious client in the second month of this year, which is also the time when the first few ‘Red Dream’ cases were discovered.”

“So both places are buildings that have been abandoned by their previous owners. What makes you believe that the ‘Red Dream’ lab is located in the second place rather than the first?”

“Why are you the one interrogating me now?” Gong Jun frowned.

“It is called exchanging analysis. I told you a place, you said you doubt it is the right one and suspect a different place. Isn’t it only normal that I ask why you would think so?”

“ … Very well. The reason why we suspect the old warehouse to be the ‘Red Dream’ lab is, as I’ve said just now, because the timing of the purchase by this suspicious buyer coincided with the first emergence of the ‘Red Dream’ in the market. Unlike the abandoned factory’s existence which is known to most members of the general public due to the media coverage of the company’s bankruptcy, the small warehouse is largely unknown. Based on these considerations, our team decided that the latter appears to be the more likely place to be used as the drugs’ lab.”

“It makes sense,” Zhang Zhehan replied, “But has it ever crossed your mind, Junjun, that the enemy may be hiding in broad daylight exactly to avoid suspicion?”

“You mean to say the small warehouse is just a bait?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“Then what if we don’t fall for the bait and decide to raid the factory instead? Won’t their efforts be in vain then?”

“But you did fall for the bait, didn’t you? You’ve just told me that after much consideration, your team has decided that the small warehouse is more likely to be the right place.”

He was right, again.

“The minds of those who live in the underworld are different from those like you who live in the light, Officer Gong,” Zhang Zhehan stared at the dark red liquid in his glass, looking at the reflection of his own face mirrored on the surface, “Sometimes, they will act according to what common sense dictates. Other times, they will do the most unthinkable that not even the most skeptical person in the world would expect. It is best to be careful when dealing with them.”

“ … What do you intend to say by telling me this?” Gong Jun stared at him.

“Nothing. I just don’t want to see my beloved Junjun getting hurt,” replied the other man with a smile.

It was impossible, truly, to read this person’s mind. Both professionally and personally, Gong Jun disliked being unable to see through someone’s hidden intentions the most. It made him feel vulnerable, like a defenseless lamb in the middle of an open field, not knowing if there were wolves hiding in the bushes around him. How was it fair that Zhang Zhehan could always seem to read him while he couldn’t do the same? This man gave him nothing but sweet words from the first time they met and had been helpful so many more times than Gong Jun could count, but if one day he decided to turn his back, the young officer knew that he wouldn’t be the only one who’d be in danger.

“In any case … “ he decided to ignore the gang leader’s last words, “So you are sure that the former sugar cube factory is where the ‘Red Dream’ lab is located?”

“I wouldn’t share this information with you otherwise. As I said, since it’s for my dearest Junjun, I will do my homework properly so I won’t lose face in front of you.”

“Do you have proof?” Gong Jun pressed him, “I may believe you because we know each other, but I still need to convince my teammates. What evidence do you have that the old factory is indeed the place used by the drug dealers to produce the ‘Red Dream.’”

“Monday and Thursday — These are the time they hand over the finished ‘Red Dream’ to the ‘buyers.’ You can check the CCTVs on the streets east of the factory. There will be a small group of cars, about five to six of them, with their plate numbers blurred going in and out of the factory via the back gate around midnight on those two days every week. I suggest checking the records of CCTV No. V0043, V0051, V0052, and V0059,” Zhang Zhehan recited everything smoothly as though he was reading a text on the back of his hand, “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but security is tight when the transaction is underway. They have the entire factory surrounded by armed men.”

He had the actual item in his hands, he’d provided them with a location, and he had proof to back his claims. Gong Jun couldn’t think of any other reason why he should not believe this man. If the result of the CCTV check was just as described, then undoubtedly, it was the right place.

There was no need to prolong this meeting.

“I will relay this information to my team,” the young officer rose from his seat, “We’ll check the street cameras as you suggested, as well. Thank you for your help.”

“Oh, is that all?” Zhang Zhehan raised his brow, “You don’t need anything else from me?”

“For now, this will suffice. We should be able to obtain most of the leads we need … “

Gong Jun’s voice trailed off little by little. He looked at Zhang Zhehan, who was still sitting on the wide couch with a half-drunk wine in his hand. The latter returned his stare with a casual smile.

“Yes? Is there anything else?” he asked.

“Zhehan, you … “ The young officer was unable to find the right words to convey what he wanted to say. “You really … aren’t involved in this, are you?”

He was prepared for the other man to finally lose his patience, having been doubted over and over again. But to his surprise, Zhang Zhehan only placed his wine glass on the table and stood up. The smile on his face didn’t fade. Just like that, he walked over to where Gong Jun was standing and leaned close to him.

“What is this? Is Junjun worried about me?” he asked sweetly.

“That’s not what I–”

“I know. You can’t help but wonder if I am also one of those people, right?” Zhang Zhehan patted him lightly on the chest, “There’s no need to worry about that. I am someone who values my life dearly. I won’t risk hurting myself by getting involved with something as deranged as this drug.”

He shifted forward, even closer than before that Gong Jun unconsciously took a step back.

“Now then, my dear officer … I’ve fulfilled my duty as promised. Isn’t it about time I receive my payment?”

***

The door was barely closed when Gong Jun found himself pushed against the wall of the corridor. It was dark all around as few of the lights within the hotel room had been turned on, but he could see Zhang Zhehan’s distinct silhouette closing in on him. A pair of arms reached out to circle around his neck; the pleasant fragrance of an expensive cologne surrounded his sense of smell. Gong Jun could feel the other man’s weight slowly pressing on him. Just like that, a pair of soft lips subsequently met his and sealed every word of protest he wanted to say.

Zhang Zhehan’s kiss was slow and gentle. There was no rush, no attempt at coercion, yet it was extremely passionate nonetheless. The taste of the fine red wine he drank in the bar still lingered as his tongue teased and stirred inside. He stood on tip-toe; his slightly shorter build cut a strangely adorable figure like a pampered lover asking to be held.

Gong Jun knew what was coming for him from the moment the word “payment” was uttered. It wasn’t as if this was the first time they did this kind of thing, as bizarre as it looked, but he was still caught off guard anyway at the bold approach. He had his back against the wall; his hands, for some time, were lost and confused, not knowing where they should land. In the end, he unconsciously placed them on Zhang Zhehan’s waist; the man’s beautiful curve was evident despite the cover of his clothes.

“Take off your shirt … “ Zhang Zhehan whispered, nibbling at his ear.

His sultry voice sent shivers down Gong Jun’s spine. The room was cold, but sweat had formed under his clothes. Gong Jun swallowed down the burning itch now threatening to claw his flesh raw from the inside. Maintaining a quiet glare, he returned the request to the other person.

“I will if you do it first.”

“ … Gladly,” Zhang Zhehan gave him a smile.

The man thus took a step back and consequently put some distance between them. He took off his coat, pulling the fabric off his body to reveal the fit turtleneck beneath. Gong Jun — just like everybody else who saw him — had thought that the mafia boss was wearing a regular turtleneck suit. Not even in his wildest imagination did he expect that the rayon shirt this man was wearing under his coat had been sleeveless all along, perfectly emphasizing the fine lines of his arms. The officer gulped down without realizing it, a small reaction that Zhang Zhehan seemed to notice but didn’t comment on. Then, as if to land the final blow, Zhang Zhehan turned around, looking as though he wanted to put his coat in the closet behind him, yet his true intention couldn’t be any more obvious.

The back side of his shirt was wide open, presenting his smooth and delicate back in full view.

“Is something the matter?” he asked in an innocent tone, as if he hadn’t the slightest idea just how much damage he’d caused to the young officer’s self-control, “I’ve undressed myself as you asked. What else do you want me to do?”

“ … What kind of clothes are you wearing?”

“Ah, this?” Zhang Zhehan half-turned and gave himself a look over, “I recall that the last time we met, you seemed to like my back so much that you left most of your marks there compared to other places. So I thought, since we’re going to see each other again tonight, why don’t I just show it to you from the start?”

He didn’t wait for Gong Jun to answer. In slow steps, he approached the officer once more, slowly pressing his weight on Gong Jun’s chest so that the latter was completely cornered against the wall.

“Well, do you like it?” Zhang Zhehan teased him, placing his index finger on Gong Jun’s chin, “If Junjun likes it, I’ll happily wear this for you whenever you want.”

He kissed the side of the officer’s jaw.

“Or do you prefer that I don’t wear anything? That’ll be fine, too.”

That bit of itching impatience in the pit of Gong Jun’s stomach had been growing more and more unbearable the longer he stayed near this person. He had been trying to push it down, pretending that he didn’t notice, but that one last kiss — after all the provocations being sent his way — was the final straw. Gong Jun no longer thought of running away. Instead, he decided to throw all his bets for the other option.

He’d swallow this person whole to stop the itch completely.

For the second time today, their position was reversed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Zhehan found himself pressed against the wall once more, except this time, he wasn’t being flipped around but allowed to face the young officer who now stood towering in front of him. Gong Jun forced a biting kiss on him, completely different from the teasing yet gentle kiss Zhang Zhehan had performed earlier. It was as if he wanted to take the other person’s breath away in the literal sense; his fervent attack gradually made Zhang Zhehan breathless as he couldn’t help but let out muffled whines while clutching onto Gong Jun’s arms.

Their heat mingled with one another; one devouring and the other being devoured. Even so, the latter showed no sign of being flustered, but expressed his enjoyment instead. The intimate distance between them made their figures overlap in the shadow; the continuous friction of their bodies lit a fire in them both. Zhang Zhehan swung his hips slowly. He rubbed his front against the other’s, purposely inciting the caged beast that had yet to be let out. This time, however, Gong Jun refused to be a toy played between this person’s fingers. Zhang Zhehan might know how to provoke him after their multiple “encounters,” but by that same logic, the opposite was also true.

“Ah–”

Gong Jun’s large palm squeezed the firm muscle of his chest under his shirt. Zhang Zhehan’s hips briefly snapped at this sudden assault; his head was thrown back with a gasp, breaking their persistent kisses. The young officer did not stop only there. He started kneading and massaging that area stubbornly, at the same time pulling the other person for another kiss. Before long, he could feel something small and hard perking up beneath his palm.

“Junjun already knows me so well … “ Zhang Zhehan smiled amidst their passionate exchange, “I’m so happy. This is more than I could ask for.”

“If this is already more than you could ask for, does that mean it’s alright to stop now?”

“No, don’t stop,” the smaller man clung to him and peppered him with needy kisses, “Touch me more. I want you to play with me some more.”

Thus Gong Jun flipped him over and pressed him against the wall. He slipped his hands into that open turtleneck shirt from the sides, wasting no time in finding the identical buds poking from those firm chest muscles. Zhang Zhehan gasped and moaned upon feeling these two spots of his being fondled. He had both of his hands on the wall; his completely exposed back made a beautiful arch as he pushed his ample breasts further into Gong Jun’s scorching hot palms. The officer thus left his marks on that smooth and flawless back, painting an illustration of scattered red petals on that warm-colored skin. He grunted and bit wherever he could, realizing that Zhang Zhehan was deliberately swinging his hips and pushing them against the part below his stomach. The two of them were still half-clothed at the very least, but Gong Jun could already imagine vividly how it would look — and feel — if he were to drop all self-restraint and bury his lust between that pair of round mounds.

As though he was capable of reading the other’s mind, Zhang Zhehan turned his face around and bit Gong Jun’s jaw, licking the small red mark he made.

“You can go as wild as you want,” he said, blowing hot breath at the other man, “I personally prefer to shower first, but if you don’t want to wait, you can take me right here and now. I don’t mi–”

Gong Jun pinched his nipple, ultimately cutting short his sentence. Try as he might to put up a front, his body couldn’t lie. Zhang Zhehan’s legs trembled under him. He wanted to touch himself, but every time he attempted to do so, Gong Jun would seize his hand and put it back on the wall. Soon, he had to rest his head against the concrete partition, no longer able to utter any more flirts and jests.

“Nnn … Junjun, you … You’re bullying me … “ he complained.

“You said you want me to touch you,” Gong Jun’s voice was deep and low, “I’m touching you right now. Shouldn’t you be happy?”

“Not enough–!” Zhang Zhehan’s breath hitched with another pinch, “Not just there … Here … and here, too … ”

He raised his hips and pushed them against Gong Jun’s heat, drawing out a dangerous growl from the other man. All of his previous actions had been done on purpose to seduce him, but it was unclear whether this one was also another form of seduction or if Zhang Zhehan was really that desperate.

Would it matter either way, though, Gong Jun thought to himself. Regardless if it was a temptation or not, he already knew what kind of “payment” was required from him, so why not do it properly all the way?

Clothes were dropped and discarded carelessly on the floor. From the dark corridor, they kissed and stripped each other off while stumbling toward the bathroom. The sound of pouring water soon echoed from within. Mist-like steam began to waft into the air; through the dripping shower glass, one could see a pair of hands pressed against the transparent surface while two blurry figures were overlapping behind it, one towering behind the other.

Zhang Zhehan’s cries blended with the pouring shower as the young officer pounded vigorously into him. Vivid love marks decorated his body at the front and back; his own member was already begging for release, even though the main act had just started. Tears fell from the reddened corners of his eyes. Unable to run, unable to fight, he could only surrender to the other man’s mercy.

Who would’ve thought that a law enforcer faithful to the well-being of society was involved in an illicit relationship with one of the most notorious lords of the underworld? It was an engagement that the general public not only would frown upon but severely denounced, as well. Being the one breaking the law he was supposed to uphold, Gong Jun was naturally aware of this, but despite the internal conflict in his heart, he simply couldn’t just walk away and erase this man’s existence from his mind. Their relationship was as befuddling as it was unacceptable.

There had been many times when Gong Jun told himself it was about time he stopped. Yet in the end, he always succumbed to that itching impatience and swallowed the bait dangling in front of him.

It had been a while since they last threw themselves into this situation completely bereft of restraints. Nevertheless, Zhang Zhehan’s body remembered his partner well. It didn’t take long for him to get accustomed to this, for his inner walls to wrap perfectly around Gong Jun’s heat as it ravished him like a beast. He was melting inside and out; his fingers curled on the glass wall and his toes on the floor, while his body was dripping with droplets of warm water from the shower. His wet hair stuck to the transparent partition while he pressed his head to the shower glass in desperation; every time that particular object pushed deep into him, the front of his body rubbed against the cold glass, extracting a luscious gasp from his half-parted lips.

“J…unjun…” whimpering through his tears, Zhang Zhehan nuzzled against his neck; his voice was small and shaky, “Kiss … I want … a kiss …”

He started peppering Gong Jun’s chin and jaws with little pecks; each was longer and wetter than the last. In the meantime, his insides were clenching and loosening. No one could tell if he did it on purpose or unconsciously; it was already driving the officer crazy enough that this man was crying and moaning through the raining shower, he wouldn’t be able to survive any more than this.

So Gong Jun grabbed his throat and pulled him back, pushing a biting kiss to those lascivious lips. Zhang Zhehan’s sobs were silenced by this interruption; his body jerked and his hips snapped in Gong Jun’s clutch while his inner walls constricted against the other man’s member. His legs trembled like a newborn fawn. As the two were engaged in this fervent exchange, the glass wall at the front was tainted in splatters of white before the pouring shower washed it away into the drain.

Still, it didn’t make Gong Jun want to stop. Instead, he pulled out completely and turned the other around to face him. He lifted one of Zhang Zhehan’s legs high, exposing the red and swollen entrance below. This time, his fingers went in instead of his shaft. The opening clenched around his knuckles at once. As he curled and straightened his long fingers repeatedly inside, his touches prodded against a certain part that made the beauty in front of him gasped.

Zhang Zhehan had just climaxed not long ago, but the merciless waves of pleasure easily turned him on again. He threw his arms around Gong Jun’s neck, moaning against his ears while moving his hips below.

“Again … “ he whimpered, “Put it in again. Junjun–”

He didn’t need to beg for it. His thirst yet to be quenched, the young officer thus pulled out his fingers and slammed his lust inside once more, receiving an indecent cry in return as the familiar warmth enveloped him.

Gong Jun, too, remembered this body well. Weeks and months might have passed, but the taste of this pleasure never changed. The smell of cologne, the twitches and spasms of muscles beneath his palms, the warmth of this bare skin, the titillating whimpers drawn out by his thrusts, and the tightness that felt like it wanted to wring him dry every single time. Tried as he might to resist, deep down in his heart, he knew there was no other way to quell that agonizing impatience itching in the pit of his stomach. He was addicted to this from the beginning; from the first time he let himself fall into this pit of sin, there was already no turning back.

To him, Zhang Zhehan was a “Red Dream” of his own.

***

The clock on the wall continued to tick at a steady pace. The minute hand had just struck twelve; though the city was as bustling as a bees nest during the day, right now, it was quiet and calm. Perhaps the townspeople had all decided to sleep, perhaps the hotel room simply had a good soundproofing system that blocked all noises from outside and vice versa. Either way, it didn’t matter.

Now fully dressed once more, Gong Jun was seated on the side of the bed. Zhang Zhehan was sleeping soundly beside him; the sight of his exposed shoulders suggested just how little he was wearing under the blanket. He was laying down on his stomach; his index finger feebly entwining with Gong Jun’s hand.

It was impossible to tell that this person was the leader of an underworld gang. His expression was peaceful; his long eyelashes cast a shadow on his face in the dim light. He looked no different than a young person who fell into slumber in contentment, having just gone through a romantic, intimate moment with his lover. Had it not been for his knowledge of this man’s true identity, Gong Jun thought that he also wouldn’t believe if others were to tell him that this person was a notorious mafia boss feared and despised by many.

“Stay with me until I fall asleep” — Zhang Zhehan had asked this of him, knowing that Gong Jun would refuse to sleep together until dawn arrived. He did not ask for anything else, and neither did he tease Gong Jun anymore. He only crooked one of his fingers around Gong Jun’s, smiling subtly at the sight of their barely joined hands, and fell asleep just like that.

Gong Jun was … conflicted. While gazing upon the beautiful face beside him, his heart felt as though it was pulled in two different directions.

Must he doubt him? Must he believe him? Would this person deceive him or was he guiding him to the right place?

It would be easy, so easy for Gong Jun to either stroke those soft dark brown hair now or yanked them forcefully while trying to squeeze the truth out of this person’s mouth. Zhang Zhehan would never fight back or hold a grudge against him — somehow, Gong Jun was confident of this. Because if one were to look back at their relationship from the beginning, other than those absurd requests of fucking one another like animals in heat in exchange for information, Zhang Zhehan had actually never restricted him from saying and doing anything he wanted, on top of always giving him the correct leads that he needed. His patience and understanding were bottomless. When it came to Gong Jun, it was as though his heart was a vast expanse of a calm sea with no end in sight.

“ … What do you actually want from me?”

The young officer muttered these words under his breath. There was no answer; the only sound he heard in this quiet room was Zhang Zhehan’s soft breathing grazing against the pillow where half of his face was buried in. Gong Jun watched him for a little while longer. At last, he rose from the bed, slowly pulling back his finger from the other’s clutch. He pulled the blanket a bit higher, ensuring that this inexplicable sleeping beauty was safely covered. Just like that, he grabbed his coat and walked out of the room silently.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhang Zhehan was watching his departing back from beneath the blanket.

And he did not close his eyes again, even though the door already swung shut.

***

Nothing in this world was certain, much like something as feeble as human relationships. A person could say “yes” at one point then say “no” at another; one’s thoughts, decisions, and opinions could change as easily as snapping their fingers.

For someone like Gong Jun, who’d met and spoken with innumerable kinds of people on a daily basis, from the most ordinary to the most twisted ones, this was something he knew all too well. He should’ve understood human nature better than others; he shouldn’t have been so prone to manipulation and deceit for it was his job to “suspect.”

And yet against his better judgment, this time, he allowed himself to be deceived.

The sound of police sirens blaring across the highway shattered the serenity of the night. Few cars were passing as the day was nearing its end and the streets were supposed to be peaceful until lines of red and blue lights came barging from the south and sped up straight toward the western district. Among the typical black and white cars emblazoned with the law enforcers’ insignia, there were common vehicles mixed in whose purpose was to blend in with the traffic during the investigation. Now, these common vehicles were also carrying the same red and blue light and sounding the same sirens as they were racing in the same direction.

“All units to the western district! The target is in the former garment factory warehouse in Block 27. Tell all patrolling units to secure the area, but do not engage with the target until we arrive!”

Gong Jun barked his instruction into the radio while stepping hard on the pedal. The black SUV he was driving dashed ahead of the pack and sped through the highway far above the allowed speed limit. Angry horns resounded from his left and right amidst the blaring siren; though the street was not as crowded as it was during the day, his dangerous maneuver nevertheless took the passing cars by surprise.

“Fuck it … “

He cursed under his breath. Gripping on the steering wheel, his knuckles had turned white.

“Fuck it all!”

Following all leads the team had gathered and the CCTV footage in the area, they had concluded that the “Red Dream” transaction tonight would indeed take place in the southern district’s abandoned sugar cube factory. This conclusion was made from everyone’s investigation results, but it went without saying that Gong Jun’s information was the decisive factor that drove the team to make this move. They staged a raid and carefully closed in on the target. However, upon arriving at the deserted factory, what they discovered was a small-scale smuggling operation of imported goods, mainly for the purpose of avoiding tax and customs.

Was it a crime that they discovered? Yes. But it wasn’t the one they were looking for. And for Gong Jun, in particular, it didn’t only mean that they had been following the wrong lead or making the wrong conclusion.

It meant that Zhang Zhehan had lied to him.

“The minds of those who live in the underworld are different from those who live in the light” — Zhang Zhehan said this to him that night. It was naive of Gong Jun to not consider the possibility that there could be other meanings behind those words. He’d been blinded by the fact that Zhang Zhehan had always given him the right information throughout the years they knew one another. At some point, he had forgotten that this man, no matter how sincere he looked, was still one of the most infamous underworld gang leaders with countless offenses behind his name. Because of his carelessness, he put his entire team in danger of failing to fulfill their one and only task: Stopping the distribution of the “Red Dream” in this city and identifying the culprits.

Though, for the latter, he felt like he now had a good idea of who was the one responsible for this drug.

After racing through the quiet night streets and possibly waking up half of the district’s inhabitants with the sound of sirens and roaring engines, the dilapidated building of the warehouse eventually appeared not far ahead. Gong Jun saw the patrolling units’ cars lining up nearby, having just finished clearing the vicinity from any unrelated parties. His comrades, too, arrived not long after. A regroup and urgent briefing was supposed to take place as soon as possible, and yet neither Gong Jun nor his peers would have imagined that the moment they met up with the patrolling units, they would immediately be greeted by the news that a cross-fire was already taking place within those crumbling walls, far before the police arrive.

“We’ve sent some men to scout the area and they reported that there are two different groups involved in this crossfire,” the captain of the patrolling units said, “We couldn’t identify to which gang they belong, but our current assumption is that one is the ‘Red Dream’ dealers while the other party’s intention remains unknown.”

“How do you know the ‘Red Dream’ is related to all this?” asked Gong Jun.

“The lab is indeed inside this warehouse. They build an entire production facility in the basement and the scouts even saw the undelivered stocks of the drug, but we can’t infiltrate any further due to the tight security and the clash currently taking place inside.”

“I’m going in,” without beating around the bush, Gong Jun made his decision at once, “Unit One, follow me to infiltrate the warehouse. The rest of you, stay here and wait for our signal. We’re going to raid this place and arrest every single person inside.”

And so the team proceeded according to his instruction. The unit that Gong Jun brought with him was small and made up of only five people plus himself. They made their way into the backyard of the warehouse, slipping past the old gates under the cover of the night. The sound of gunfire grew louder the closer they approached the main building and they could see armed men standing guard at every door on all sides.

“Split up and find a way to enter,” the officer whispered to the unit’s members, “Avoid alerting the enemy at all costs. We’re going to find an opportunity to catch them all off guard, so the reinforcements can immediately break through their defenses and take over the situation.”

With that said, they went their separate ways, crawling right under the enemy’s nose from the shadows.

Gong Jun found a broken window on the eastern side of the building. It was large enough for a grown man to climb in and out, but he needed to first see where this entrance would lead him to. Furthermore, he spotted two men walking around the area while carrying an automatic rifle. It was impossible to reach that window without being spotted by them, so the officer had no choice but to subdue them both.

From the bushes where he was hiding in, Gong Jun waited until the first man walked close enough for him to reach. He jumped at him from behind, hitting the man hard at his vital point that his target crumbled to the ground before having the opportunity to put up a fight. The dull thud caused the other guard to turn around, however. Upon seeing his friend lying unconscious, he came over at once to check on him — a chance that Gong Jun would not let go to waste. In lightning speed, he pulled out his gun and struck the back of the man’s head with the butt, effectively incapacitating him.

Finally, he was free to make a run for that window which, by some luck, led him straight to a small corridor just before the stairs to the basement where the laboratory was said to be located.

This part of the building appeared less guarded than he expected. The gunfire seemed to come from the other side of the warehouse and while a few armed men were patrolling around, at the same time, there was an abundance of crates and large equipment laying around that he could use for cover. Gong Jun steadily made his way past the security. He hadn’t received any reports so far from members of Unit One who went with him and didn’t know whether they could make it in or not. Nevertheless, the end of the corridor was already within arm’s reach from him and he couldn’t wait too long for the others to arrive.

Therefore, he decided to move on ahead and headed for the stairs … when a shadow suddenly emerged from his blind spot and made a grab for him.

Gong Jun’s instinct kicked in at this critical moment. He turned his body around to avoid the ambush and quickly return the attack. To his astonishment, his opponent did not put up even the smallest attempt to fight back. Gong Jun’s hand easily grasped that person’s arms. As he pushed his attacker against the wall to keep him in check, an extremely familiar voice drifted into his ears.

“As expected of Officer Gong. Your strength remains as ferocious as ever.”

Dark brown hair grazing against the fine material of his black coat, the sweet and seductive voice, the slight curl of lips on that warm complexion … No matter in which universe he was thrown into, there was no way Gong Jun would mistake this person. His heart plummeted at the realization of who it was he had caught. But in the next moment, the hollow left by his sinking heart turned into burning anger.

“Zhang Zhehan, you–” his grip tightened on the other’s arms, “You bastard, you lied to me!”

“ … So I did,” despite the brief pause at the beginning, Zhang Zhehan’s calm smile didn’t waver, “But you didn’t come back empty-handed from there, right? Found a little smuggler den to clean up, didn’t you?”

“You–”

“Junjun, you shouldn’t have come here,” all of a sudden, Zhang Zhehan’s voice chilled, “I’ve set you up to go elsewhere so that you won’t see what happened here tonight. But here you are … You’re really …“

Without warning, Zhang Zhehan yanked his wrists that had been clasped tight in the officer’s palms. Never, not even once had he ever put up a fight no matter what Gong Jun said or did to him, so this unexpected move caught the officer unprepared. Once he managed to break free, Zhang Zhehan flipped his body and shoved Gong Jun to the side, away from the stairs leading to the laboratory in the basement.

Of course, there was no way the young officer would give up just like that. It didn’t take long for him to recover and rush toward the gang leader, intending to take him down like he would to other criminals. But this man didn’t become a lord of the underworld simply for being good-looking. He had never shown it to Gong Jun before, but now that the two of them were pulling and pushing each other, the officer, for the first time, had a taste of just how strong and capable this man was.

In fact, he was actually so much better than Gong Jun in martial arts that after exchanging several moves, Zhang Zhehan managed to force him back to the side of the corridor. At the same time, he pulled out his gun and turned the muzzle in Gong Jun’s direction. The latter had no time to react. Following the distinct click , there was a flash and a loud bang .

Then, there was silence.

Gong Jun shut his eyes. He waited, but the pain he expected never came. Instead, not far behind him, there was a heavy thud and loud clatter. A man armed with a rifle had fallen face-first to the dusty floor with blood pooling beneath him. Soon after, a clamor came from the other end of the corridor, accompanied by dozens of rushing footsteps.

“Looks like they found us,” Zhang Zhehan clicked his tongue, “Junjun, run.”

“What?”

“Run,” the mafia leader repeated, “My men are still fighting on the other side. If you have reinforcement, call them in right this second.”

Before Gong Jun could ask anything else, Zhang Zhehan had tugged at his arm and pulled him into a full-speed run across the corridor. Gunshots and angry yells followed them closely behind. As they turned in a corner, the officer could briefly see a large group of thugs chasing after them with guns and rifles in their hands.

“What the hell is going on?!” Gong Jun shouted as they fled, “What do you mean your men are fighting on the other side? Who are these people?!”

“I thought you already knew?” replied Zhang Zhehan; the composure in his voice didn’t change despite his racing breaths, “They’re the ones responsible for the ‘Red Dreams’ in this town, of course.”

“Huh? It’s not your doing?”

“You break my heart, Officer Gong. Haven’t I told you already that I’m not involved in this?”

Just after he said this, he lifted his gun to the right side and opened fire. Two armed guards fell victim to his bullets, but the third one pulled back to avoid the shot. Now, he emerged once more while aiming his rifle toward them.

This time, Gong Jun was the one who pulled his gun and took them down.

“You have a wonderful aim,” Zhang Zhehan praised him in his usual teasing tone.

“Cut it off,” Gong Jun pulled him to hide behind a stack of large crates, “Explain yourself in human language so I can understand. If you’re not involved in this, then why are you here? Why are your men fighting against the drug syndicate?”

“It’s nothing, really. After committing so many crimes, we simply feel like contributing to society for a little bit.”

“Bullshit. What kind of reason is that?”

“But it’s true. Since there’s such a huge syndicate behind the ‘Red Dream,’ I feel like the police force alone won’t be enough to handle them, so we step in. Now, Officer Gong, have you called your reinforcement in yet?”

The mafia boss rose to his feet and shot at the incoming attackers. Tugging at Gong Jun’s arm, he brought the young officer with him as they broke into another run toward the other side of the warehouse.

“You’ve lied to me once,” Gong Jun wrenched his arm free, “Why should I believe you now? What if you're leading my colleagues into another trap?"

"I've only lied to you this once. It's not even harmful, is it?"

"Well, you almost made us lose sight of our target! Or was it your intention all along? To give a chance for the drug syndicate to flee?!"

“What leads you to that conclusion?”

“Why else did you deceive me? Do you think it’s funny seeing us raiding the wrong place? To think that I’ve put my trust in someone like you all this time. I’m such a fool!”

"Junjun, this is not the time. Just call your team and–"

Zhang Zhehan’s pupils suddenly shrank. He did not finish his words. Instead, he shoved Gong Jun to the side without warning, causing the latter to crash into a heap of dusty cardboard. Two loud bangs then resounded almost at the same time; one far and one near. There was a scream of pain from the other end of the room, followed by a dull thud and a clatter.

After that, there was another clatter right next to Gong Jun’s side.

“What the hell are you … ?”

Gong Jun couldn’t speak the rest of his question.

Zhang Zhehan’s gun fell to the floor. Crimson droplets started dripping onto the dark, dirty ground. The man himself remained standing where he was; his expression was unreadable for it was obscured in the gloomy light. But his tall stature did not stay for long. Not even three seconds later, Zhang Zhehan collapsed and fell sideways, right at Gong Jun’s feet. As soon as his body touched the floor, a pool of blood began to spread from where he lay.

“ … Zhehan?”

There was a weak cough, then nothing else.

At this moment, Gong Jun felt as though his brain was suddenly turning and working at incredible speed while going into a trance at the same time. He felt like he had shouted into the radio, ordering the reinforcement waiting outside to storm into the building. It felt like he had scrambled to pull his own gun and fire at all of the approaching assailants, whoever they were. But it wasn’t until he had taken Zhang Zhehan’s body into his arms did he feel his consciousness fully returning.

However, no matter what he thought, no matter what he wanted to say, the trigger had been pulled and the bullet had left the muzzle, piercing straight into its intended target.

“Zhehan?” he stared at that paper-white face, “Zhehan, what … what are you doing? Why … ?”

He wasn’t able to find any more words to say. Again, Zhang Zhehan coughed weakly; blood was dripping from his mouth. There was a small hole in his chest; the entire front of his expensive clothes had been stained completely in deep red. Gong Jun had never seen him in such a wretched state before. He didn’t dare move him too much. All his anger and disappointment evaporated into thin air. Now, in his heart, only two emotions were running amok.

Confusion.

And fear.

“Why?” this was the only thing he could mutter, “Why, Zhehan?”

To his question, the man in his arms only smiled. When he spoke, his voice was softer than the sound of the wind.

“I just … don’t want … “

“What?” Gong Jun held him closer, “What are you trying to say?”

There was another cough. Blood sprayed from Zhang Zhehan’s trembling lips. Even so, his smile didn’t waver and he slowly lifted his hand, tracing the fine lines of Gong Jun’s face.

“I just … don’t want to see my beloved Junjun getting hurt … ”

***

The national news told only one story for several weeks in a row.

“The base of a massive drug syndicate responsible for the production and distribution of the dangerous ‘Red Dream’ had been uncovered by the police’s special force. Many of the major figures in the gang were arrested following a fatal crossfire taking place in an old warehouse in the western district.”

It was usually accompanied by more details and information on the “Red Dream” itself, what it was made of, the symptoms it caused, the painful relapse, how it was distributed among the people, and so forth. The educational purpose of this news received far less attention from the public than the actual news itself, however. Obviously, people were more interested to hear about all the fighting and shooting compared to a scientific explanation of a chemical substance.

Gong Jun was driving his black SUV along the highway. It was the same road he was racing through on that chaotic night, but now that everything had settled down, there was no rush, no shouting and screaming at the radio as he drove peacefully among the other cars on this warm, sunny day.

There was a bouquet of flowers sitting on his back seat, full of vibrant blossoms of all kinds. It was as beautiful as it was so out of character for the young officer to carry such a thing around. But if one were to find out the destination of his drive today, it would all come to make sense at once.

The city’s Central Hospital was as busy as always. It took a while for Gong Jun to find an empty parking spot for his car, and even then, he had to walk for quite some distance until he arrived at the main building. The nurses in charge of the reception were already familiar with who he was and his purpose for coming here. They didn’t ask him much when he put down his name in the guest registry and let him head toward the east wing where the VVIP rooms were located.

At the very end of the long, white corridor, one particular door stood out among the rest with two towering bodyguards standing side by side in front of it.

“I’m here to visit your boss,” Gong Jun told them as soon as they came face to face, “Would you please let me in?”

“The boss is not here at the moment,” one of the guards replied flatly, “You won’t find him inside.”

“Well, where is he now?”

Because he tried to protect Gong Jun, Zhang Zhehan was shot in the chest that night and almost didn’t make it if they were just a little bit late getting him to the hospital. The gang members weren’t too fond of Gong Jun due to this incident, putting aside the fact that they were thugs and he was a law enforcer. Nevertheless, no one dared to stop him from visiting their precious boss because which gang member didn’t know how fond the boss was of this particular officer?

In the end, the guards could only — reluctantly — point him to the hospital’s inner garden that was accessible only to the VVIP patients and their visitors.

Gong Jun pushed the glass door open and stepped onto the white pavement. This garden was very well tended to, and despite how busy the hospital was, this particular place had few visitors due to its limited access. Sunlight poured down onto the lush green lawn and the cool breeze brushed against the trees surrounding the garden, rustling the leaves on their branches. Amidst this peaceful sight, the officer found the man he was looking for sitting on a bench near a flower patch with his back to him, drinking tea from a small insulated bottle.

“You shouldn’t be wandering around like this,” the officer said; sending no greeting whatsoever as he jumped straight to the point.

Zhang Zhehan turned to look at him. He was dressed in the hospital’s plain white and blue pajamas, a stark contrast to the elegant and expensive attire he usually wore. In this appearance, the air of both sultriness and mystery usually surrounding his presence was nowhere to be seen. His complexion was sickly and pale. Even so, the smile on his face when he looked at Gong Jun remained gentle and indulging as ever. 

“I’ve been lying on the bed for two whole weeks,” replied him, “Most of the wounds are already mended, so the doctor suggested that I do some light exercise. Besides, don’t you think it’s boring, being cooped up in the room all the time?”

Slowly, he put aside his drinking bottle and moved to make space for Gong Jun. The latter didn’t say another word as he settled down on the bench. While doing so, he dropped the flower bouquet on Zhang Zhehan’s lap.

“Is this for me?”

There was an obvious surprise in his voice that Zhang Zhehan failed to hide.

“Who else do you think it’s for? Do you see any other sick person around here but you?” Gong Jun scoffed, but his tone wasn’t stern, “If you don’t want it, you can throw it away.”

“How could I? To think that the day would come when Junjun brings me flowers … I’m … very happy.”

From the corner of his eyes, Gong Jun could see Zhang Zhehan holding the bouquet close to his heart. That subtle smile of his didn’t fade but grew slightly bigger. Perhaps it was just Gong Jun’s imagination, but Zhang Zhehan looked like a child who had just received a toy that he wanted for the very first time.

“Oh, dear, where are my manners?” after a while, the injured man appeared like he had just snapped out of his momentary trance, “You’ve come all the way here to visit me and I don’t even serve you anything to drink. Wait for a moment, I’ll call my men to–”

“No need,” Gong Jun made him sit down again, “You’re a patient. Stay still.”

“But won’t you be thirsty?”

“Then I’ll have that.”

Gong Jun held out his hand. With a cock of his chin, he pointed at the small insulated bottle sitting at Zhang Zhehan’s side. The latter didn’t understand his intention at first. Half confused, half in doubt, Zhang Zhehan put the bottle in the other man’s hand while staring at him.

“What about this?” he asked.

Instead of an answer, what he received was the sight of Gong Jun drinking straight from his bottle without asking. The mafia leader known for his wits and charm, for once, was so stunned he couldn’t say a word.

“You should’ve just told me if you wanted to help catch those guys,” Gong Jun scolded him after taking a few gulps of the lukewarm tea, “Why so secretive? We could’ve come up with a better plan had you told me the truth.”

Zhang Zhehan shook his head with a smile.

“But would you agree to it if I told you?”

“ … I guess not.”

Even if he agreed, the rest of his team obviously wouldn’t. How could law enforcers cooperate with a bunch of criminals in the open?

“But you still could’ve told me,” the officer insisted, “At the very least, I could’ve, well, adjusted our plan accordingly. It didn’t have to turn out like that and you didn’t have to … to … “

His eyes fell on a small part of white bandages visible from the V-cut of Zhang Zhehan’s pajamas. The sight of this man lying drenched in blood in his arms had continued to haunt his nightmares from that day onwards. It wasn’t until he heard the news that Zhang Zhehan’s condition had stabilized did his heart feel at ease.

However, just because the worst had passed didn’t mean it never happened.

“I don’t want to put you in a difficult situation,” Zhang Zhehan still held the bouquet dearly, “If we were to cooperate, you would’ve had to lie to your superiors and friends. If, somehow, it didn’t go according to plan, you would’ve gotten into huge trouble. It would be better if you don’t know what I … what someone like me was thinking. That way, you don’t have to make any more compromises than you’ve already made.”

The minds of those who live in the underworld are different — once again, Gong Jun recalled these words. What Zhang Zhehan did for him that night was truly unthinkable. Had the fight not turned out so bloody and Zhang Zhehan didn’t get shot to save his life, today, he might still think that this person had betrayed him.

Just then, he felt Zhang Zhehan leaning to rest against his shoulder.

“Are you tired? Want to go back to your room?” he asked.

“No, it’s alright,” Zhang Zhehan shook his head, “I just want to stay like this for a while, if you don’t mind.”

He said that, but Gong Jun could clearly see his eyelids growing heavy. On the bench, he felt Zhang Zhehan’s fingers grazing against his, but this usually bold and daring man didn’t dare touch him any more than this. Gong Jun took a deep breath. Deep down in his heart, he already knew what this person wanted, what he himself wanted.

But if he really decided to walk in that direction, would he still be able to turn back later?

“ … Ah, damn it. Who cares about turning back now?”

“Junjun?”

There was a small, but evident surprise in that call. Zhang Zhehan looked up at him, not understanding what he was doing.

On the bench, Gong Jun had taken his hand into his own, entwining their fingers together.

“Sleep,” the officer quietly said, “Stop tiring yourself with all this overthinking. I’m not going anywhere.”

He murmured another word under his breath. No one else was able to hear it, not even if they had stood right next to the bench where the strange pair was. Nevertheless, it was enough for Zhang Zhehan to hear. His dark pupils dilated briefly upon receiving that personal message. Soon after, the corners of his eyes appeared to redden if just for a little bit.

Zhang Zhehan smiled, but he didn’t say another word. All he did was hid his face on the shoulder of the man sitting beside him. In the meantime, his own shoulders seemed to tremble slightly.

“This time, when you wake up, I will still be here by your side.”