TTS Chapter 23

Han Huaixiao paused mid-motion as he flicked ash from his cigarette. Once he understood what Xia Hang was referring to, he replied simply, “Yes.”

 

Xia Hang looked at him. “Why?”

 

Han Huaixiao turned his head to meet his gaze, asking, “You didn’t want it deleted?”

 

“No,” Xia Hang said. “I did want it deleted. Thank you.”

 

Han Huaixiao raised his hand and took a drag from the cigarette. He didn’t inhale, and a thin stream of smoke slipped slowly from his lips. Throughout the entire motion, his eyes never left Xia Hang’s face, sharp and probing, as a hawk’s gaze locked onto prey.

 

“Xia Hang,” he said quietly, “I’ll ask you one more time. Why did you transfer to the Major Crimes Unit?”

 

The intensity of his stare scorched Xia Hang. His fingers tightened around his phone, and a sudden, reckless impulse surged up from his chest.

 

To hell with rules. 

 

To hell with restraint. He didn’t want to be bound by them anymore, didn’t want to keep guarding secrets. He wanted to tell Han Huaixiao why he’d left back then. Tell him about the bone-deep longing that had eaten at him for eight years. Tell him that he’d come to Lang City because of him…

 

The words were right at the edge of his lips. But the last shred of reason in his mind crushed the impulse. He remembered what the old man had just told him.

 

Sheng Jun was still looking for him.

 

The state’s undercover protection system was airtight. No one had anticipated that he’d be filmed, let alone that the footage would spread online. Sheng Jun was a madman. If Sheng Jun found him, there would be countless ways to make him wish for death but be unable to die. And yet, Xia Hang wasn’t afraid. The day he agreed to the old man’s plan, he’d already prepared himself for that outcome.

 

But he couldn’t drag Han Huaixiao into it.

 

Sheng Jun was violent by nature, and now cornered like a trapped beast. If he lashed out, it would be with absolute madness, and Han Huaixiao would be in grave danger. So Xia Hang broke eye contact and said softly, “It was arranged by my superiors.”

 

The hope in Han Huaixiao’s eyes drained away, replaced by disappointment. He gave a self-mocking chuckle, pressed the cigarette out against the railing, crushed the butt between his fingers, and turned to head downstairs.

 

The person Tang Gaoxiong had arranged had arrived.

 

Xia Hang closed his eyes briefly, then followed, his legs heavy with each step.

……………

Somewhere on an island in North America.

 

Sheng Jun sat on a beach chair in swim trunks, an amused smile playing on his lips as he stared at the tablet resting on the table beside him. On the screen, a video looped.

 

Xia Hang was sprinting across car roofs, leaping through traffic to save someone.

 

“Interesting,” Sheng Jun said lightly. “More and more interesting.”

 

Standing behind him was his trusted aide, Raven. He ventured, “Should we have him brought over here?”

 

Sheng Jun was still smiling. “What fun is there in something that’s forced? Voluntary is where the pleasure is.”

 

Raven hesitated. “But…”

 

Sheng Jun cut him off. “He’s in the Lang City Municipal Bureau’s Major Crimes Unit now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Sheng Jun swirled the wine in his glass. After a moment, he asked, “How’s Boss He’s business in Lang City been lately?”

 

The boss he referred to was another figure in the Golden Triangle who gave law enforcement worldwide a headache. Beyond drugs, the Golden Triangle was rife with casinos and all kinds of dark entertainment industries, and Boss He controlled seventy to eighty percent of the casinos and entertainment venues there.

 

“Pretty good,” Raven replied.

 

“Call Boss He,” Sheng Jun said calmly. “Tell him I have a piece of business I want to cooperate on.”

……………

Tang Gaoxiong quickly found a suitable escort: Fang Dewei, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Bureau.

 

Fang Dewei was nearing fifty, a smooth-talking old hand. Once the three met up, Han Huaixiao briefly introduced himself and Xia Hang. Fang Dewei was warm and enthusiastic, smiling broadly as he shook hands with them.

 

“Captain Han, Officer Xia.”

 

Han Huaixiao shook his hand. Beside them, Tang Gaoxiong said to Xia Hang, “Officer Xia, the road to Lingshan Village is mostly mountain roads. You’re not used to driving those, be sure to take it slow and be careful…”

 

With Han Huaixiao and Fang Dewei both being leaders, Tang Gaoxiong naturally assumed Xia Hang would be the one driving. Xia Hang nodded, took the keys, and said, “Don’t worry, Captain Tang. I’ll be careful.”

 

The car pulled out of the county police bureau. Fang Dewei sat in the seat next to Han Huaixiao. Already aware that they were heading to Lingshan Village to investigate a case, he tactfully struck up a conversation.

 

“Captain Han,” Fang Dewei said, “I brought a document with me when I left. Once we’re there, I’ll say we’re conducting a rural inspection on farmland development and agricultural technology promotion. Will that work?”

 

Han Huaixiao took the document from his hand and flipped through it. “That’ll do.”

 

“Then how should I introduce you and Officer Xia?” Fang Dewei asked.

 

“Just say we’re your subordinates,” Han Huaixiao replied.

 

“Understood,” Fang Dewei said with a nod. “Captain Han, what case are you investigating this time? Is it Guo Zhengqi’s case?”

 

“Sorry,” Han Huaixiao said flatly. “That’s not something I can disclose.”

 

Fang Dewei laughed awkwardly. “Right, right. Confidentiality rules. Captain Han, the Major Crimes Unit handles serious cases. Have you ever faced threats to your life while working cases?”

 

“Yes.” Han Huaixiao answered vaguely.

 

“Captain Han is so young and capable,” Fang Dewei continued. “It’s really an honor to have the chance to work alongside you.”

 

Lang City was one of the country’s top-tier cities. For someone of Han Huaixiao’s age to already hold the position of Deputy Captain of the Municipal Criminal Investigation Division and Captain of the Major Crimes Unit meant limitless prospects. The leaders he usually dealt with were all high-ranking officials.

 

In fact, Fang Dewei hadn’t planned on coming at first.

 

But once he heard that he’d be going down to the village with Han Huaixiao from the Lang City Municipal Bureau, he immediately agreed. He was quietly calculating. If he could use this opportunity to build some rapport, maybe Han Huaixiao would put in a good word for him up the chain. Perhaps he could squeeze out one more promotion before retirement.

 

With a single glance at Fang Dewei, Xia Hang felt a flicker of pity. Han Huaixiao hated bureaucratic flattery, so that was a textbook case of kissing the wrong hoof.

 

“Pull over.”

 

The sudden command came from the back. Xia Hang steered the car to the side, and Fang Dewei immediately asked, “Captain Han, are you…”

 

“I’m fine,” Han Huaixiao said as he exited the car, shutting the door behind him.

 

Xia Hang glanced at him, frowning slightly. Was he feeling unwell?

 

“Officer Xia,” Fang Dewei asked, his tone noticeably cooler than when speaking to Han Huaixiao, already slipping into a superior’s posture. “Is your Captain Han married?”

 

People meeting Han Huaixiao and Xia Hang for the first time almost always noticed Han Huaixiao first and overlooked Xia Hang entirely. After all, Han Huaixiao’s presence was simply too strong. As for Xia Hang, if he didn’t deliberately draw attention to himself, many would assume he was just another faceless subordinate.

 

Fang Dewei was exactly that sort of person. Seeing Xia Hang quiet and unobtrusive, he immediately filed him away as an insignificant underling at Han Huaixiao’s side.

 

Xia Hang had encountered people like that plenty of times and usually couldn’t be bothered to engage. But the calculation in Fang Dewei’s eyes was too obvious. If he said Han Huaixiao was unmarried, Fang Dewei would definitely try to play matchmaker… or worse, secretly send someone to Han Huaixiao’s bed.

 

The conversation with Han Huaixiao earlier had already left Xia Hang in a sour mood. Now, seeing Fang Dewei putting on airs, he couldn’t resist needling him.

 

“What, Assistant Director Fang,” Xia Hang said coolly, “are you planning to introduce someone to our Captain Han?”

 

Fang Dewei shot him a cold sidelong glance, thinking: Just a green kid fresh out in society, couldn’t even get forms of address right!

 

“That’s none of your business,” he said, his tone turning icier. “Just answer the question.”

 

“Alright, Assistant Director Fang,” Xia Hang said evenly. “Our Captain Han isn’t married, but he does have a partner. Their relationship is very good, and they’re getting married soon.”

 

Fang Dewei was so irritated by the repeated ‘Assistant Director Fang’ that he snorted through his nose and barked, “Little Xia, there’s mineral water in the trunk! Go get some for Captain Han and me. Young man, when you’re out, you need to learn to read the room!”

 

“Assistant Director Fang,” Xia Hang replied calmly, “there’s bottled water right by your car door. Do you need me to help you twist the cap open?”

 

Fang Dewei choked on his words and immediately snapped, “What kind of attitude is that?!”

 

“What attitude?” Han Huaixiao opened the car door.

 

Fang Dewei instantly reined in the anger on his face. Scolding Xia Hang in front of Han Huaixiao would be tantamount to slapping Han Huaixiao himself in the face, so he laughed awkwardly.

 

“Nothing at all. I was praising Officer Xia for his good attitude… Very thoughtful, already preparing water for us.”

 

Han Huaixiao ignored the fake smile. Instead, he tossed a medicine box to Xia Hang. Xia Hang lowered his head and saw that it was motion sickness medication.

 

He used to get carsick. Usually, it was manageable, but on mountain roads, it became severe. Looking at the box, a complicated ache welled up in his chest. After all these years, Han Huaixiao still remembered that he got motion sickness.

 

Back when they were together, one weekend Han Huaixiao had driven him out to hike in the suburbs of B City. Xia Hang had never been to that mountain before and had been genuinely excited when they set out. But once they passed the scenic area entrance, the road ahead wound endlessly around the mountain base. Curve after curve. After six or seven sharp turns, Xia Hang’s face had gone pale, his stomach churning violently.

 

He’d tried to endure it, but motion sickness only worsened the more you fought it. After another seven or eight turns, he told Han Huaixiao to stop the car. Before it had even fully halted, he pushed the door open, stumbled a couple of steps toward the roadside, and crouched down to vomit. At the time, Han Huaixiao had handed him water and tissues while blaming himself. “I should’ve asked if you got carsick before we left. I was so focused on the road just now that I forgot to watch your reaction.”

 

The smell of vomit was so sharp that even Xia Hang couldn’t stand it, yet Han Huaixiao remained unfazed. Instead, he unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, soaked a tissue, and carefully wiped Xia Hang’s mouth and face, then helped him rinse. After throwing up, Xia Hang felt much better. He reached out and squeezed Han Huaixiao’s palm, saying, “I’m fine. I always feel better once I throw up.”

 

The road inward was narrow. Their car was parked by the roadside, and with vehicles coming and going, traffic quickly backed up. Before long, they had no choice but to get back into the car. Once inside, they hit several sharp bends in a row, and Xia Hang’s stomach twisted again. By the time they reached the parking lot, he threw up a second time, this time until bitter yellow bile came up.

 

He slumped down on the mountain path beside the parking area. Han Huaixiao sat next to him and looped an arm around his shoulders. A young woman passed by holding a cup of lemon water she hadn’t finished drinking, and Han Huaixiao stopped her. “Excuse me, miss,” he said. “My boyfriend gets carsick. He’s thrown up pretty badly. Could I buy your lemon water?”

 

The woman looked from Han Huaixiao to Xia Hang, then handed the cup over without hesitation, smiling. “No need to pay. Here, drink it.”

 

Xia Hang drank about half the cup. The sourness settled his stomach, easing the nausea.

 

After they finished hiking and returned to the parking lot, Xia Hang looked at the winding road they’d driven earlier, lingering fear still in his chest. He said to Han Huaixiao, “How about I run down from the parking lot, and you drive the car out yourself?”

 

However, Han Huaixiao didn’t feel comfortable letting him go alone, nor did he want him to suffer through motion sickness again. In fact, he’d already made arrangements while up on the mountain.

 

“I called someone to come and drive the car out,” he said. “I’ll walk down slowly with you.”

 

Xia Hang hadn’t expected him to have planned ahead. He felt both touched and quietly happy, and took Han Huaixiao’s hand on his own initiative.

 

Beside the road ran a small stream flowing down the mountain. Smooth stones dotted its center, water rushing over them with a constant, murmuring sound. The road itself was busy with vehicles coming in and out, so walking there wasn’t safe. Instead, they stepped onto the stones and followed the stream outward.

 

Halfway along, Xia Hang stepped on a loose rock. His body pitched sideways, about to fall. Han Huaixiao reached out instinctively to grab him, but both of them tumbled straight into the stream. The water was shallow, only knee-deep, but the way they clutched at each other dragged them both down. More than half their bodies hit the water, clothes soaked through. Luckily, it was summer. Otherwise, they would have frozen.

 

For a brief moment after the fall, both of them were stunned. Then Xia Hang started laughing.

 

He didn’t know why; he just wanted to laugh. He lay there in the stream, not getting up, laughing as he looked at Han Huaixiao.

 

Han Huaixiao wiped the water from his face, asking with evident concern: “Did you hit anything?”

 

Xia Hang shook his head, still smiling. Han Huaixiao looked at that smile, leaned in suddenly, and kissed him. Xia Hang froze for a beat. Then he came back to himself, wrapped his arms around Han Huaixiao’s neck, and kissed him back eagerly. What was meant to be a brief touch turned into something much deeper.

 

The mountain stream was cold, but their bodies were burning.

 

Afterward, they climbed back onto the bank and found a large rock to hide behind. Completely shielded from the road and the cars going in and out of the mountain, they stripped off their wet clothes and wrung them dry. That was the first time Xia Hang had seen Han Huaixiao naked: broad shoulders, a narrow waist, defined abs that were strong without being excessive.

 

Almost without thinking, Xia Hang reached out and tested the feel.

 

The heat from their kiss in the stream hadn’t faded yet. That single touch was enough to reignite it, and Han Huaixiao bent down to kiss him again. Even now, Xia Hang could still vividly remember their ragged breathing, the warmth of Han Huaixiao’s arms around him, and the sight of his back as he crouched by the stream to wash his hands. To avoid falling into the stream again, they returned to the road. Xia Hang’s legs were weak, and Han Huaixiao carried him on his back for the last stretch.

 

“Little Xia? Little Xia? Why are you spacing out? Time to go.”

 

Fang Dewei’s voice broke through his thoughts, feigning concern.

 

Xia Hang snapped back to the present and quickly placed the medicine box into the storage compartment.

 

He didn’t get carsick anymore.

 

After years of driving through jungles, he’d grown used to rough terrain, so the motion sickness had long since faded. Seeing that Xia Hang hadn’t taken the medicine, Han Huaixiao said coldly, “Are you planning to stop every few minutes and throw up all the way into the mountains?”

 

Not wanting to provoke him after their earlier tension, Xia Hang picked up the medicine box, broke off a pill according to the instructions, and swallowed it with mineral water.

 

Sensing Han Huaixiao’s sour mood, Fang Dewei assumed it was directed at Xia Hang and tried to smooth things over with a laugh. “Young people these days really aren’t that physically resilient.” But Han Huaixiao had already pegged Fang Dewei’s character the moment they met, so he replied calmly, “That’s true. Gets carsick just driving through the mountains. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with these roads. Assistant Director Fang, why don’t you drive?”

 

Fang Dewei waved it off. “…I haven’t driven in years. For safety, it’s better to let Little Xia drive. People who get carsick do better behind the wheel.”

 

Xia Hang suddenly recalled a small detail from earlier. Before setting off, Han Huaixiao’s hand had already touched the driver’s door, but for some reason, he’d ended up opening the back door instead.

 

Once they were back on the road, Fang Dewei started fishing for attention again. “Captain Han, I heard you’re getting married soon? When’s the date? I’ll definitely come to Lang City for your wedding banquet.”

 

Xia Hang glanced nervously at Han Huaixiao through the rearview mirror.

 

Han Huaixiao was far too sharp not to understand where that comment came from. One look at Xia Hang’s guilty expression was enough for him to reconstruct exactly what had been said while he was gone.

 

He gave Xia Hang a look whose meaning was hard to read, then replied calmly, “Thank you in advance, Assistant Director Fang. But as you said earlier, the cases we handle are major ones. We deal with vicious criminals every day. Who knows, one day we might die in the line of duty. If I’m lucky enough to live to get married, I’ll personally send you an invitation.”

 

“…Heh heh,” Fang Dewei laughed stiffly. “Captain Han is so capable. You’ll definitely stay safe and live a long life.”

 

“Thank you for the kind words,” Han Huaixiao said.

 

After that exchange, each sentence punctuated with ‘Assistant Director Fang’, Fang Dewei stopped probing. Not long into the drive, snoring came from the back seat.

 

Han Huaixiao suddenly spoke. “When did I get a partner? And how did I end up about to be married? This is news to me.”

 

Xia Hang had thought the matter was over. He hadn’t expected Han Huaixiao to bring it up again, so he cleared his throat, checked the rearview mirror to confirm Fang Dewei was asleep, and replied, “I was blocking trouble for you.”

 

“How do you know it’s trouble?” Han Huaixiao asked.

 

Xia Hang fell silent for a moment. “Then should I explain it to this Little Director Fang?”

 

Han Huaixiao looked at him steadily, his gaze cooling inch by inch. “Xia Hang,” he finally said. “Since you stated your transfer to the Major Crimes Unit was arranged from above, then focus on completing the task you were given. Don’t interfere in my personal affairs or gossip about them. Otherwise, I’ll assume you came to the municipal bureau because you still have feelings for me.”

 

“…Understood,” Xia Hang said.

 

By the time they arrived in Lingshan Village, it was already past five in the afternoon.

 

Lingshan was a small village, just over twenty households, fewer than a hundred people in total. Excluding those who worked outside or had moved to the county or other cities after buying homes, the permanent population was over fifty, mostly elderly people and children.

 

A cement road led from the town to the village entrance. Each household had built a one-story house at a minimum; some had gone up to three stories. Several homes even had cars parked out front.

 

“This isn’t a poverty-stricken village, is it?” Han Huaixiao asked.

 

“No,” Fang Dewei replied. “Mountain villagers live off the mountains. Life’s generally decent.”

 

“What are their main sources of income?”

 

“It’s diversified,” Fang Dewei said. “Rice, timber, fruit, and dried goods… bamboo shoots, dried sweet potatoes, star anise, cinnamon bark. As long as you’re not lazy and you can endure hardship, the income’s quite respectable.”

 

As they spoke, they reached the village entrance. The roads inside were rough, and outsiders rarely came through. While their car was still some distance away, villagers had already noticed it. By the time they drove in, quite a few people were openly watching them with curiosity.

 

Since they were posing as Fang Dewei’s subordinates, it fell to Xia Hang to ask for directions. He approached an elderly man with a kind face. “Uncle, we’re from the county agricultural bureau,” Xia Hang said. “We’re here to inspect farmland development and agricultural technology promotion. May I ask where Village Head Liu is?”

 

At the mention of county officials, the onlookers’ expressions shifted from casual curiosity to nervous politeness. Their gazes averted, no longer daring to stare so openly.

 

The old man straightened slowly and pointed toward the tallest building in the village, answering, “The three-story house, that’s the village head’s place.”

 

“Thank you, Uncle,” Xia Hang said.

 

……………..

T.N: about all that “Assistant Director Fang” – Fang Dewei is a Deputy Director. I don’t know the levels of bureaucracy in China, but from my understanding, a Deputy Director is sort of a Vice President, the second in rank, and the one that’s right below the big boss. An Assistant Director should be one level below the Deputy Director. So when Xia Hang refers to him using the wrong title, he’s just jabbing at the older man; he’s acting innocent, while still technically showing respect, but in fact, he’s mocking him. What’s funny is that Han Huaixiao also calls Fang Dewei “Assistant Director Fang” the second he pisses him off, without knowing Xia Hang had also been calling him like that. So that shows their brains work the same way; both of them have the same type of humor and they use the same tactics to mess with people they dislike.

……………..

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