Xie Jia Hua visited Lu Guang Ming every day, bringing him breakfast and peeling an apple for him. Lu Guang Ming, however, behaved entirely unlike himself—polite and quiet, offering proper thanks, no longer chattering endlessly to make conversation. He only asked whether Xie Jia Hua could bring him a book to read.
And so the two of them sat together in the hospital room, reading in silence from morning till night—calm, quiet, and peaceful.
That evening, after Xie Jia Hua’s subordinates had just cracked a major case, they all came to visit their Boss, and also threw a small welcome gathering for Qin Hao. Qin Hao had rendered meritorious service in the Xie Ying Jie case by protecting the witness Kevin, and Xie Jia Hua had taken the opportunity to apply for his transfer back to the Major Crimes Unit—approval had come through that very day.
The room was soon filled with noise—champagne corks popping bang! bang! as they celebrated.
“You bunch of idiots! The patient needs rest!” Xie Jia Hua rarely swore, but now he snapped, “If you want to make noise, get out!”
“But Boss, you’re always here—where else can we find you?” the subordinates laughed.
“Yeah, besides, Investigator Lu wouldn’t mind, right?”
Lu Guang Ming smiled faintly. “Have fun. Pour me a glass too.”
“You’re still recovering—you can’t drink.” Xie Jia Hua blocked him.
“Wow, Boss is being protective!”
“Of course—Boss has to ‘take responsibility’!”
They exchanged knowing looks, even dragging the silent Qin Hao into it.
“Hey, Qin Hao, isn’t this practically Sister-in-Law Hua…?”
“Shut up! All of you, get out!” Xie Jia Hua snapped, grabbing a pillow and swatting them away. Laughter erupted as they scattered.
“Let’s go, let’s go—karaoke!”
“We’ve been chasing criminals for three days straight—you still have energy?”
“I’m going home to sleep!”
“Sleep together?”
“Get lost, you pervert!”
They fled before Xie Jia Hua could truly lose his temper. Only Qin Hao remained, awkward and flustered.
“Brother Jia Hua, I didn’t say that… they were just guessing on the way here… they asked me, I didn’t answer, and they said I was agreeing…”
Xie Jia Hua was even more embarrassed. He quickly pushed him out. “I know. Go get some rest.”
After closing the door, he turned back toward Lu Guang Ming. The latter had already fallen silent again, his faint smile gone, eyes lowered to the blanket. The atmosphere became even more awkward.
“You… you should rest too. I’m leaving,” Xie Jia Hua said.
“Wait.”
After another moment of silence, Lu Guang Ming spoke softly, “I want to visit A’San. The nurse said he hasn’t been eating. I’m worried about him. Can you take me there?”
Xie Jia Hua fetched a wheelchair and lifted him into it. Pushing him to He Chu San’s room, Lu Guang Ming turned to him.
“This is fine. Thank you. I’ll go in myself.”
“I’ll wait here.”
“No need. I can handle the wheelchair. Go rest.”
Xie Jia Hua did not insist. He closed the door from outside.
Inside, Lu Guang Ming wheeled himself in—and found, unexpectedly, that He Chu San was sitting up, eating porridge. A teenage girl fed him carefully, wiping his chin with a tissue.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“My name is A’Ming. I’m his friend.”
He Chu San tugged weakly at the girl’s sleeve, rasping, “Water.”
The kettle was empty. “Alright, I’ll go get some hot water. Brother, talk to your friend—but don’t strain your throat.”
“I’ll feed him,” Lu Guang Ming said, taking the bowl.
As soon as the girl left, He Chu San turned pale, gesturing urgently toward the trash bin. Lu Guang Ming rushed to hold it up. He Chu San leaned over and vomited violently, coughing and choking until his face turned red.
They fussed over each other—wiping his face, patting his back—until both were left weakly catching their breath. Then, seeing each other’s miserable state, they both laughed.
“That girl… is my younger sister,” He Chu San said bitterly. “If I don’t eat, she won’t rest easy…”
Seeing his unnatural flush, Lu Guang Ming suddenly wanted to hug him and cry—but he couldn’t. He Chu San looked as if he had withered to skin and bone.
He Chu San placed his bandaged hand over Lu Guang Ming’s pale one, his hoarse voice barely audible. “What’s wrong? Revenge achieved—aren’t you happy?”
Lu Guang Ming could not tell him about their fallen colleagues. “What about you? Why aren’t you eating?”
He Chu San glanced at the IV drip. “I tried… but I can’t…”
“My father used to say, ‘Where there is will, there is a way.’ But he never told me that sometimes… no matter how hard you try, the ending stays the same.”
Lu Guang Ming squeezed his hand. “No. This ending is different. Xia Liu Yi wasn’t arrested or free—he turned himself in. For you, for himself. That’s not the same ending.”
“I know,” He Chu San said calmly. “But he said we should break up… told me to find someone else… he doesn’t want me anymore…”
“I really want to kill him,” he said, utterly calm.
Lu Guang Ming froze.
“Or… when he testifies in court against Xie Ying Jie… I’ll kill Xie Ying Jie in front of him. Then I’ll be sentenced and go to prison with him.”
A chill ran down Lu Guang Ming’s spine—he knew he meant it.
He Chu San suddenly laughed, wiping his eyes. “Don’t worry. I still have my family. I won’t do anything stupid.”
He covered Lu Guang Ming’s hand. “He doesn’t understand… as long as he still wants me, I can endure any night. But if he doesn’t… every day is torment. For some people, there is only one person in a lifetime. If they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”
He gestured to the bedside cabinet. Inside was the little shark.
“Take it back. Thank you, A’Ming. Cherish the one in front of you. He’s waiting outside.”
Lu Guang Ming had come to comfort him—but instead left in a daze, pushing his wheelchair out.
Xie Jia Hua was indeed waiting. Seeing the little shark in his hands, he gave him a faint smile.
It was the first time Lu Guang Ming had ever seen him smile like that. His face flushed uncontrollably. He lowered his eyes as Xie Jia Hua pushed him forward.
Inside the elevator, he suddenly asked, “You were discharged days ago, weren’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“You come every day… what about your rest? Your work?”
“I took medical leave. Reading with you counts as rest.”
Lu Guang Ming lowered his head, gently stroking the little shark.
“…Tomorrow… can you go to the cemetery with me?”
They went to the cemetery.
Most of his fallen colleagues were buried there. On the day of burial, there had been music, flags, even the Governor laying flowers. Back then, Lu Guang Ming had been confined to bed, imagining it all.
Now he came in person, in a wheelchair, holding a large bouquet. At each grave, he bent down with difficulty, placing a carnation.
The grounds were quiet. Seagulls circled overhead. Under the bright sky, only flowers and lingering spirits remained.
As he placed each flower, he introduced them.
“This is Franky. Great singer. Two younger brothers, three sisters—he’s the eldest. Works hard.”
“This is Brother Win. His daughter’s only six months old…”
“Sister Milly, cheerful, loved movie stars…”
“Chief Investigator Xu… he took care of me… his daughter just started university…”
“I’ve only been in the ICAC three years… just became friends with everyone… They never disliked me… Now they’re all gone. Only I’m left.”
“Every time I close my eyes, I see Chief Investigator Xu dying in front of me… I should live on, carry their will… but what right do I have to be happy?”
Xie Jia Hua bent down, pressing his tear-soaked face into his chest.
Clinging tightly, Lu Guang Ming sobbed, “I like you, Xie Jia Hua. I really like you. I want to love you for Brother Jia Qi too. I want to cherish the one before me… to pursue you seriously… but what right do I have to be happy?”
“You do… you do…” Xie Jia Hua whispered, eyes red.
He cupped his face, kissing his tear-wet lips. “They would bless you. They wouldn’t blame you. I like you too, Lu Guang Ming. I want to care for you—for Jacky’s sake too. Alright?”
That night, back in the hospital, Xie Jia Hua helped him into bed, wiped his tear-swollen face, and turned off the lights.
At the door, he hesitated, then returned.
“What book do you want tomorrow?”
After a long silence, Lu Guang Ming replied softly, “Comics. Not classics anymore.”
“Alright. I’ll get you comics.”
Still, he didn’t leave.
“…Have you been sleeping well?”
“Yes.”
“You said you see Chief Investigator Xu when you close your eyes… are you really sleeping well?”
“It’s fine. Chief Investigator Xu wouldn’t harm me.”
A quiet ache stirred in Xie Jia Hua’s chest.
“…Do you want me to stay tonight?”
Silence.
Then, slowly, Lu Guang Ming lifted the blanket and made a small space.
Xie Jia Hua took off his coat and lay beside him, pulling him gently into his arms.
“Sleep.”
He kissed his hair.
He remembered that first night—when Lu Guang Ming had cried himself to sleep in his arms. From then on, he had wanted to take care of him—for Tang Jia Qi’s sake.
His feelings had begun with guilt. With sympathy.
Now… was it love?
He believed it was.
He could no longer tell when it had begun.
But he knew—this night, and every night after—he wanted to hold him like this.
The emptiness left by the same person had once made them walk alone through countless nights of pain, guilt, and longing.
From now on—
the long night would finally break into dawn.
The Story of Xiao Lu — End.
Futile Devices Scans 
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