Chapter 72

The call was abruptly disconnected. After finishing the call, Lu Siyu experienced another intense wave of pain in his stomach. He curled up, unable to suppress a cry of pain.

The room was shrouded in endless darkness. He hugged a pillow beneath him, but the pain persisted. The phone slipped from his hand to the floor, making a loud thud that startled the little wolf. The dog whined and circled by the bed, but it couldn’t help him.

Lu Siyu continued to gasp, feeling like a living dead lying in bed. He sensed an incessant descent, an uncomfortable feeling of weightlessness. The pain in his stomach seemed endless, spasms that he could touch with his hands. Various chaotic sounds filled his mind.

Hovering on the brink of passing out, his soul seemed to leave his body. Life felt ephemeral, and amid the discomfort and agony, a hand suddenly grasped him. It was as if someone was calling his name; he heard it and weakly responded, regaining consciousness.

Struggling to open his eyes, Lu Siyu looked at the breathless Song Wen. Seeing him, he felt a slight relief from the pain within. “Captain Song… how did you get in?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Song Wen replied, “Top floor, through the window. Where are your medical records and ID?”

Lu Siyu, barely able to keep his eyes open, pointed to a nearby cabinet.

The ordeal continued at the hospital, and Lu Siyu felt his consciousness slipping away.

It seemed like an eternity had passed, yet also just a moment. Lu Siyu finally woke up. Blinding light surrounded him, unfamiliar and noisy sounds filled his ears. He reached out to shield his eyes from the light and realized a needle had been inserted into his hand for an IV. He then noticed he was lying in the emergency room of a hospital.

Separated by a curtain, Lu Siyu could hear the conversation between the doctor and Song Wen, though it felt distant. The doctor’s words reached him intermittently, “He had a previous gastric bleed, and his body is relatively weak. This time it may have recurred. The emergency measures and timely hospitalization should have prevented any bleeding. It seems to be intense spasms caused by gastric ulcers, not bleeding. We used medication to stop the spasms, and his vital signs have stabilized now. He should be fine when he wakes up…”

Song Wen inquired about something, and the doctor’s words came sporadically, “The painkillers have some side effects on cardiac and pulmonary function… shallow breathing, reduced frequency, irregular heart rhythm… Moreover, painkillers themselves are stimulative to the stomach and prolonged usage can lead to decreased effectiveness, forming dependence… Definitely should not be overdosed… I recommend temporarily stopping high-intensity work…”

Lu Siyu struggled to sit up, but his body was still weak. He glanced at the phone placed by Song Wen at the bedside. He took a look; the current time was 5:30 in the morning.

After a while, footsteps approached, and Song Wen walked in. He glanced at the now awake Lu Siyu, “Awake? Do you remember what happened last night?”

Lu Siyu cleared his throat and pulled himself into a sitting position, his face still a bit flushed. “Most of it, I remember,” he replied. He recalled being carried by Song Wen, and the thought embarrassed him to the point of feverish blushing, prompting him to hide beneath the blanket.

Thinking he might still be uncomfortable, Song Wen asked, “Are you still in pain?”

Lu Siyu muffled in the blanket, saying, “It’s okay.”

As they spoke, a message tone interrupted them. Song Wen picked up the phone and checked Lin Xiuran’s group message. It seemed he had worked through the night again. Song Wen directly read the message aloud, “The DNA test results for the skeletal remains are out. The bones belong to Xia Weizhi.”

Lu Siyu anticipated this outcome, but hearing it confirmed sent shivers through his heart. Emerging from the blanket, he gazed at the hospital’s white walls.

This statement, like a stone, dropped into a bottomless pool, seemingly surrounded by countless resentful spirits. In an instant, the wailing of countless ghosts echoed, and tumultuous waves rolled up from below, creating a dense black mist on the water’s surface.

Their earlier conversation at the nursing home had become a prophecy: the hardest person to find in the world is someone who has died, and Xia Weizhi never left this nursing home.

Eighteen years later, the woman who haunted Nancheng’s nightmares for eighteen years was finally discovered to have died in the Wushan Nursing Home. Who could have killed her? Was it that man?

“Now, what do we say?” Lu Siyu asked again. Upon hearing this news, he felt the blood in his body turn cold, and the flush on his face had faded away.

Song Wen looked at the follow-up information Lin Xiuran sent and replied, “I’ve informed Commissioner Gu, and several departments have scheduled a meeting at ten in the morning.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Siyu found strength from somewhere, sat up abruptly from the bed, and checked the remaining IV bag. “Then let’s hurry over later.”

Song Wen stared at him as if he were crazy. “Who had a stomachache and was on the brink of life and death last night? Feeling better now? You’re spirited now? Also, do you remember today is the day you scheduled with Dr. Zhou?”

Lu Siyu hesitated for a moment. “I remember, 8:30 in the morning. We should have time to make it.”

After pausing for a few seconds, Song Wen took a deep breath and leaned forward slightly. “Lu Siyu, I need to talk to you seriously.” This person… how could he be like this? He clearly worried himself into a stomachache, yet he completely disregarded his own well-being.

“Talk about what?” Lu Siyu vaguely knew what he wanted to say. He turned his head, and his white face, under the bright light, seemed a bit stern and sensitive.

“About your health.” Song Wen was a bit helpless, going straight to the point. It hadn’t been half a month since he was last discharged, and Lu Siyu seemed to care nothing about his body, treating it as if this flesh were just a temporary tool.

Lu Siyu lowered his head, weighing his response to Song Wen. “This time, it was an accident.”

Touching the scars on his wrist, Song Wen said, “Do you remember before, when your stomach was hurting, and you wouldn’t let go of my hand? You left some scratch marks on my hand. Do you remember?”

The red marks were somewhat broken, and since Lu Siyu often bit his nails, they were quite short. Nevertheless, he still left visible marks on Song Wen’s hand. One could imagine how much force he had used and how much pain he had endured at that time.

He still had a somewhat blurry impression of the events. Lu Siyu lowered his head a bit, feeling somewhat guilty.

“Also, painkillers are for pain relief and cannot cure illnesses. Overusing them can harm your body, leading to dependence. These are principles even kids know; don’t you understand?” Song Wen looked at him, unsure how to approach the conversation. If he kept it too light, Lu Siyu might not pay attention; if he made it too heavy, he worried Lu Siyu might misunderstand.

“The medication was prescribed by a previous doctor. I’ve tried various painkillers, and only this one is most effective.” Lu Siyu sat on the hospital bed, tilted his head, and spoke softly, “Sometimes, if I don’t take it, the stomach pain becomes unbearable, and I can’t sleep.” He paused for a moment, sounding somewhat pleading, “Captain Song, please don’t tell anyone else. I will try not to let it affect my work…”

This statement made Song Wen lose his anger, and the infusion room fell silent, only the sound of medical instruments ticking.

Song Wen thought for a moment, considering how to express his concerns more tactfully, showing that he wasn’t repulsed by Lu Siyu: “Being a detective is a high-stress job, and some police officers may use medications in moderation, which is acceptable. However, taking as many painkillers as you do is endangering your life.”

Song Wen added, “The doctor just said that technically, you should be hospitalized for observation today.” As he spoke, he covered Lu Siyu with a blanket, “If you insist on returning to work after the IV is done, undergo a physical examination, and then we’ll consult Dr. Zhou to make a decision.”

Frowning, Lu Siyu had a bad premonition, “Captain Song, you just approved my reinstatement report.”

Song Wen replied with four words, “I regret it.”

So, when Zhou Yining arrived at work in the morning, he saw Song Wen and Lu Siyu waiting outside his clinic. Though it had been pre-arranged, the atmosphere between the two was unusual. Zhou Yining greeted them first, then called Song Wen inside.

After Song Wen finished explaining the recent situation, Zhou Yining sighed and spoke, “Actually, if we follow the testing process, I believe he can pass. As the psychological counselor of the police station, I have done what I can and provided you with a friendly reminder. Regarding his physical condition, it’s still necessary to consult a doctor. How about reconsidering the suggestion I made earlier about transferring him?”

Song Wen instantly became upset, “That’s not possible; our team is already short-staffed.”

“But in the current situation…” Zhou Yining was just testing him and didn’t intend to transfer Lu Siyu. He showed a somewhat difficult expression, straightforwardly stating, “Captain Song, you seem to be trying to find someone to bear the responsibility since you can’t stop him. I can help you grant him ten days or half a month off again, but do you think that will solve the fundamental problem?”

Shaking his head, Song Wen’s answer was undoubtedly negative. He said, “I haven’t reported the incident of accompanying him to the hospital late at night yesterday yet.” After a pause, he added, “I’m quite worried about him living alone.”

Zhou Yining felt Song Wen’s dilemma and rotated the pen in his hand, saying, “Well, I understand. As a leader, you don’t know how to handle him. I’ve checked on the matter we discussed earlier. Regarding this subordinate, are you sure there are no issues?”

Looking at Zhou Yining, Song Wen, who was uncertain about how to evaluate or define Lu Siyu at this point, replied, “Still under observation.”

“Alright, I understand. Setting that aside…” Zhou Yining summarized, “The fundamental issue is that he needs rest, to recover physically, quit the painkillers, and only then can he work well and resume duty. He needs someone to take care of him, supervise him. If we talk about a solution, I have one, but it might require Captain Song to make some sacrifices.”

“What?” Song Wen asked.

Zhou Yining didn’t answer him directly but pressed the button, asking the nurse outside to bring Lu Siyu in.

Lu Siyu entered with his head down, unaware of the decision these two leaders had reached.

Clearing his throat, Zhou Yining went straight to the point, “Regarding your reinstatement, Captain Song and I have already discussed it. I think we don’t need to waste everyone’s time with a formal conversation.”

“Your main issue lies in the fact that the previous operation caused physical trauma and left unstable factors. Considering this, after discussing with Captain Song, we believe that you need both physical and mental recovery. Taking care of your body and quitting painkillers require long-term efforts…”

Zhou Yining pointed out, “So, considering your recent physical condition, I suggest that you shouldn’t live alone; find a roommate.”

When this suggestion was made, both Lu Siyu and Song Wen were stunned.

… It seems that the scope of this suggestion has exceeded the evaluation for psychological reinstatement.

However, Zhou Yining paid no attention to the surprised looks from the two and continued, looking at Song Wen, “Captain Song, as you mentioned last time, your lease is about to expire, and you are looking for a suitable place to live, right?” After saying this, he even cast a meaningful glance at Song Wen.

Suddenly, Song Wen was caught off guard by this statement. His home was in Nancheng, and besides the house he lived in, there were a few other properties from demolitions. It wasn’t just residential properties; there were also some commercial properties. All of these were provided by Li Luanfang. Now, thanks to Zhou Yining’s words, he suddenly felt that his net worth had decreased by several figures.

Turning his head, Zhou Yining asked Lu Siyu, “I remember from the previous interview that your family conditions are quite good. Do you have any vacant rooms there? I think if Captain Song lives with you, it can both supervise your behavior and take care of a subordinate. He is currently looking for a suitable place, and this is a win-win solution.”

While Zhou Yining spoke, he twirled the pen in his hand, and the tip of the pen lingered on the reinstatement permit. His eyes were fixed on Lu Siyu, clearly implying that if he didn’t agree, Zhou Yining wouldn’t sign.

Lu Siyu looked towards the somewhat silent and bewildered Song Wen. His long eyelashes fluttered, eyes reflecting contemplation. After weighing the options, he said, “If Captain Song has no objections, I have spare rooms at my place…”

Song Wen cleared his throat quickly, saying, “I have no objections. Give me the key, and I won’t have to climb through the window next time.”

Zhou Yining sighed in relief, feeling quite clever in handling the situation smoothly. He signed on the reinstatement permit, saying, “That’s settled then. If there are any issues or problems during the three-month reinstatement period, we will address them. But for now, you can go back to work…”

TN:

“To all who walk the dark path, and to those who walk in the sunshine but hold out a hand in the darkness to travel beside us: Brighter days are coming. Clearer sight will arrive. And you will arrive too. No, it might not be forever. The bright moments might be for a few days at a time, but hold on for those days. Those days are worth the dark.”