In a state of heavy stupor, He Chu San and Lu Guang Ming were dragged out of the dark room with their bodies scraping along the ground. The sharp pain of friction against the stones jolted them back to consciousness. Ignoring their struggles and resistance, several assassins shoved them into a freezing vault. With a heavy thud, the door was locked from the outside.
Within that pitch-black darkness, the air was filled with a marrow-chilling cold. Lu Guang Ming writhed his body until he brushed against He Chu San, nudging him. He Chu San let out a weak, ragged breath; he had lost too much blood, and his throat had been scalded. Even swallowing and breathing were excruciating. Lu Guang Ming struggled to rub the cloth gag out of his own mouth against the other’s body, then used his teeth to pull the gag from He Chu San’s mouth. “A’San, wake up!”
He Chu San’s head rested limply against his shoulder. He was in too much pain and far too cold; he truly could not hold on much longer as his consciousness began to drift from his physical shell. Lu Guang Ming endured the pain to pull up his knees, laboriously looping his handcuffed hands—which were bound behind his back—under his feet and over to the front. With his hands finally somewhat free, he felt for He Chu San’s icy face, patting him gently. “Wake up! Hold on!”
He Chu San sensed his movements and thought dazedly to himself: I couldn’t even loop my hands around before. Mingzi’s waist is so soft; turns out he’s just like Brother Liu Yi—they’re both the ones on the bottom.
He let out a small laugh at his own ill-timed thought. That weak sound of laughter filled Lu Guang Ming with joy. He quickly felt for the other’s trembling eyelashes to confirm his eyes were still open. “You have to hold on! Brother Jia Hua will come to save us. The evidence I left for him is enough for the ICAC to freeze Xie Ying Jie’s accounts. That bastard won’t get his hands on that dirty money; he can’t escape! Brother Jia Hua will definitely find us! You have to believe me!”
He Chu San nodded slightly. He believed in Lu Guang Ming, he believed in Xie Jia Hua, and he believed in Xia Liu Yi most of all. He had left their diamond ring at the scene of the car accident; Brother Liu Yi would surely find him, no matter where he was.
“Listen to me talk, keep your mind clear,” Lu Guang Ming said.
He Chu San slowly lowered his head, touching a small iron chain around Lu Guang Ming’s neck with his nose. Lu Guang Ming was quick-witted: “You want to ask about this necklace?”
He Chu San let out a faint breath from his nose.
“This is Jacky’s spirit tablet. Brother Jia Hua gave it to me a few days ago. This tablet has always protected him, and it will protect us too.”
Lu Guang Ming began to ramble to He Chu San about Tang Jia Qi’s past—how he had been such a withdrawn child after the sudden death of his parents, how patient Tang Jia Qi had been in helping him, and how good Tang Jia Qi had been to him…
As he spoke, Lu Guang Ming’s voice cracked with a sob. Clutching the spirit tablet, he said, “Actually, Brother Jia Hua is very good to me too. He’s completely different from that bastard old man of his. He’s a good person… he looks cold on the outside, but he’s actually very kind, very gentle… I shouldn’t always try to provoke him. I’m such a bastard.”
I’m a bastard too, He Chu San thought. Brother Liu Yi loved me so much, pleading with me so bitterly ‘don’t go,’ willing to give up everything for me. Why was I so cold-hearted as to leave him? Even if it were the ends of the earth, I should have gone with him. Why was I so confident that I could control the situation? Why did I underestimate Xie Ying Jie’s malice and madness? I’m the one who caused everyone’s death.
A few tears fell onto Lu Guang Ming’s shoulder, quickly turning into frost. Lu Guang Ming struggled to wipe He Chu San’s face, fighting back his own tears. “Don’t cry, tears will freeze… Do you miss Xia Liu Yi… Don’t be sad or blame yourself. You love him very much, you are a good person, you haven’t done anything wrong…”
He wrapped his clothes around He Chu San, the two of them huddling together like small animals, shivering violently from the cold. Lu Guang Ming’s tongue gradually grew stiff, and he was nearly unable to speak. His mind began to blur as he murmured to himself, “I can’t die here… Jacky… died in a freezer too… how sad Brother Jia Hua would be…”
He Chu San thought dizzily, Yes, I can’t die. If I die, how sad and lonely Brother Liu Yi would be. And Dad, Xin Xin, and Mom—I can’t make them sad. I can’t let Xie Ying Jie have his way.
One last tear rolled down onto Lu Guang Ming’s shoulder. Lu Guang Ming closed his eyes and shuddered, saying, “Don’t… cry…” His teeth chattered together. With great effort, he fished a small, flattened shark toy out of his pocket and pressed it into He Chu San’s palm, which was handcuffed behind his back. “I… forgot… this was… to make… children… happy… I’ll lend it… to you…”
He Chu San could no longer feel the sensation in his palm. He closed his eyes and smiled faintly. He truly wanted to thank Lu Guang Ming, to tell him that he was a gentle, good person too. That smile froze on his face as his consciousness fell into total darkness.
Crash—!
“A’San?! A’San—!”
Is it you who has come to fetch me? Take me away. My soul will always accompany you; how could I bear to see you grieving?
…
He saw that dream he had had two years ago: a land of a thousand Buddhas with temples standing in clusters. Xia Liu Yi’s silhouette was hidden behind an old, half-ruined stone wall. He wanted to chase after him, but his eyes were clouded by the swirling sandalwood incense. Within the drifting mist, the voices of virtuous men and women could be heard murmuring recitations. A Zen Master, bowing in worship of the Buddha, turned around and asked him with a face full of compassion: You are stubbornly obsessed, mired deep in the swamp—will you still not turn back? Offering your body as charity, cutting your own flesh to feed the eagles—have you achieved this? Without the mud, there is no white lotus; have you entered Hell?
He prostrated himself on the ground, bowing his head deeply.
Do you regret it? the Zen Master asked.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He did not regret. He had walked among men, he had loved and been loved, and he had used all his strength to save a soul wandering in darkness. He had lost himself, but he had also found himself.
He only wanted to ask: Did I save him? Even if I fall forever into the abyss, did I save him?
All things in the world follow the cycle of cause and effect. He has his karmic obstacles to repay, and you have your price to pay.
But you have already saved him.
…
Under the slight jolting of the ambulance, He Chu San slowly opened his eyes. His chaotic vision gradually focused into a human figure. He saw Xia Liu Yi’s anxious and joyful face.
“A’San? A’San? Are you awake?!”
He Chu San parted his lips slightly, a cloud of white mist fogging the oxygen mask as he let out a raspy breath. Xia Liu Yi leaned down gently and pressed a kiss to his cold forehead.
“It’s over, silly boy, it’s over. I’m here.”
He Chu San stared at him fixedly, looking almost dazed. Xia Liu Yi gently caressed his face, looking into He Chu San’s eyes with tender focus, not saying another word. He Chu San slowly saw the pain and reluctance that the other was desperately trying to hide—Xia Liu Yi’s eyes were red, and a tear slid from his eye, landing on He Chu San’s trembling eyelashes.
He Chu San gasped in a panic, more white mist filling the mask. Xia Liu Yi quickly wiped away his own tears, coaxing him softly, “Shh, shh, it’s okay, I’m fine.”
However, He Chu San noticed the handcuffs hidden beneath the jacket wrapped around the other’s arms, and his eyes flew wide. The ambulance came to a stop just then. The doors were pulled open, and several paramedics took He Chu San’s stretcher out of the vehicle. Rolling his eyes toward the side, he saw Lu Guang Ming and Xie Jia Hua on another ambulance, as well as the police cars waiting at the hospital entrance. Several officers were walking toward them.
Xia Liu Yi stepped forward, saying to them in a low voice, “Not here, not in front of him. Please, let me take him in…”
Before he could finish, a startled cry of protest came from the paramedics behind him! He Chu San, whose hands and feet were both frostbitten, had actually used all his strength to roll off the stretcher, struggling to crawl toward him! Xia Liu Yi scrambled back in a panic, helping the paramedics lift He Chu San back onto the stretcher. He Chu San clutched weakly at the hem of his jacket, his eyes red, a raspy sound escaping his torn throat. “Huff… no… huff…”
“I’m not leaving, I’ll stay here with you,” Xia Liu Yi coaxed, but his acting was clearly not even a tenth of Actor He’s. Before his next sentence could leave his mouth, he choked up, unable to make a sound. “I…”
He couldn’t pretend any longer, and He Chu San had clearly guessed what was happening. He lowered his head and fought back his tears, fishing the diamond ring necklace out of his pocket and placing it back around He Chu San’s neck.
“Keep this as a memento… I won’t give the Jade Buddha back to you. Let your father buy another one for his future daughter-in-law…”
He Chu San let out heavy, ragged breaths, staring at him intently! The paramedics used straps to bind He Chu San back to the stretcher and hurried him toward the emergency room. Under the watch of several officers, Xia Liu Yi stepped into the police car, looking back with every step. As the car door slowly closed, Xia Liu Yi turned his head toward the window, and his tears finally surged forth like a spring.
Just as the police car was driving out of the hospital gates, it was stopped by a nurse chasing after them and shouting. The officer in the passenger seat rolled down the window in confusion. The nurse said, out of breath, “The patient refuses to cooperate with treatment! Can you, can you let that gentleman stay a little longer?”
“Can’t you give him an anesthetic?” the officer asked.
“His emotions are out of control; he won’t let anyone near! He won’t even cooperate with basic examinations!”
Xie Jia Hua caught up from behind with great effort, flashing his ID. “I am Inspector Xie Jia Hua. I just spoke with Number One on the phone; Number One has agreed to let him stay in the hospital for a while longer. I guarantee he will not escape.”
The rear door of the car opened, and Xia Liu Yi shot toward the emergency room like an arrow, several officers scrambling to keep up behind him. Xie Jia Hua watched their departing figures, clutching his agonizingly painful chest as he sat down on the ground, exhausted. He looked up at the young nurse and sighed, “Pardon me, please call a stretcher for me too…”
…
When He Chu San woke from his post-surgery coma, his first instinct was to struggle! Xia Liu Yi quickly stood and held him down. “I’m still here, I’m still here.” He gently held He Chu San’s gauze-wrapped palm, soothing him softly.
He Chu San was wrapped in bandages from head to toe like a mummy, even his neck swathed in white cloth; only his eyes could move. He looked around in a panic, realizing he was in a hospital room. Xia Liu Yi was sitting by his bed wearing handcuffs, and two officers were guarding the door—one of whom was Qin Hao.
“Shh, don’t talk. Your throat needs rest,” Xia Liu Yi said.
He Chu San’s gaze shifted toward the hospital room door. His stiff fingers trembled as they touched Xia Liu Yi’s palm. You go, you escape, he mouthed with great effort and panic. Let Qin Hao let you go.
Xia Liu Yi shook his head with a wry smile. “Don’t drag others into this. You know well that I’ve done many wrong things. How can a man do wrong and not face punishment? This is what I deserve. Being able to save you… I am already satisfied.”
He leaned down and gently kissed He Chu San, the scent of fresh soap lingering between their lips.
“Your Father, Mother, and Xin Xin stayed by your side all day yesterday. They’ve gone back now to get your clothes and make some soup; they’ll be back in a while. Lu Guang Ming and Kevin are also out of danger and are still receiving treatment. Xie Jia Hua, however, broke a few ribs and won’t be able to get out of bed for a couple of days. Master Qiao and the advisor tried to flee the territory by boat but were caught at the pier. Xie Ying Jie isn’t dead, but living will be more painful for him than death. He’s become the biggest news story of the last few days, even making it into The Times. He’s ruined and disgraced, his assets have all been seized, and he’ll be taken to open court in a while.”
He paused for a moment before continuing, “I will be going to court as well. I turned the Dragon Head Ledger over to the police. I will testify against him personally.”
He Chu San stared fixedly at Xia Liu Yi, infected by the calm and composure in the other’s eyes. He gradually settled down from his agitated state—reason returned to his mind as he recognized the reality, a reality he could neither struggle against nor overturn. Deep sorrow and reluctance settled within his dark, watery eyes.
With wet, red eyes, he said soundlessly: I will wait for you.
Xia Liu Yi smiled and kissed him again gently. “Don’t wait for me. I’m not worth your waiting. Take good care of yourself, find another good person, and live happily. That is my greatest wish.”
A single tear slid from Xia Liu Yi’s eye, wetting He Chu San’s cheek. He looked at He Chu San with deep affection and reluctance, saying softly but firmly, “Mr. He, let’s break up.”
…
In December 1993, the case of “Deputy Commissioner of Police Xie Ying Jie’s Massive Corruption and Bribery,” which had drawn intense media and public attention—second only to the Godber case—reached its final verdict. Xie Ying Jie was convicted of bribery, possession of unexplained wealth, murder, arson, and other crimes. With all sentences combined, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
As for the leader of the triad organization Xiao Qi Hall, Xia Liu Yi, he was convicted of bribery, drug trafficking, triad membership, organizing prostitution, organizing gambling, and other crimes. However, because he turned himself in voluntarily, cooperated actively with the investigation, and made significant contributions as a star witness in the cases of Xie Ying Jie and the He Yi Society leader Qiao Chun An, he was sentenced to twenty years of imprisonment.
…
Half a year later, Xia Liu Yi received a letter in prison. He opened the thin paper envelope, and a greeting card fell out. On the card was a drawing of an exceptionally ugly birthday cake.
Written upon it with great care were four words: “Happy Liu Yi.”
Futile Devices Scans 
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