The room was so quiet that it felt empty, with nothing but two beds and a pot of flowers.

One bed rests against the wall, on which lies an emaciated girl, and the other, near the window, is empty, as if waiting for the arrival of the next patient.

The curtains were drawn, and only a faint ray of sunlight filtered in through the window, reflecting the girl's pale face. The atmosphere in the ward was a little dull, as if it had been stained with a layer of gray by the smell of the room.

The color of the entire ward is somewhat monotonous, almost all white and gray. Ventilators, infusion bottles, and various medical equipment hung from the bedside looked deserted.

At the bedside, a woman in a police uniform sits, seemingly intently asking questions and remembering something. She held a small notebook in her hand, flipping through the pages from time to time.

According to the nurse, she came to visit Zhou Qi, and she may have to be interrogated. In this light-colored ward, her navy blue police uniform is particularly eye-catching.

Xiao Yao remembered that Zhou Qi was a well-proportioned girl, not tall or short, about one meter six or five tall. She used to be a cute-looking girl, but at this moment, she was so thin that even her chin had become a little pointed.

Zhou Qi's face was pale and glowing with a sickly light, her eyes were a little deep-set, but her eyes were still clear and bright, her eyebrows were thick and slightly arched, and she looked very energetic.

At this time, she was wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown, looking very thin. She had a needle stuck in her wrist and was infusing with an unknown amount of fluid.

The female police officer sensed that someone was coming, and glanced back at the door, Xiao Yao and Yu Bo tried to avoid it, but apparently unsuccessfully. The female police officer closed the notebook and stood up, leaned over and whispered a few words in Zhou Qi's ear, walked to the door, and opened the door.

She wears a pair of sunglasses that traffic police usually wear, so she can't see clearly, and a pair of white thin silk gloves — a slightly peculiar outfit indoors.

The female police officer and the nurse said hello, then ignored Xiao Yao and the others, passed by them, and left the ward.

As her figure disappeared around the corner of the hallway, Yu Bo looked back.

My brother Bo is not a disciple like me who will look back at the beautiful women passing by, Xiao Yao thought to himself.

Isn't Bogo's spring coming?

Unfortunately, the priest could not get married.

"Xiao Yao......" After Zhou Qi recognized the comer, his eyes flashed with a strange excited light, and he struggled to sit up.

"Zhou Qi, you lie down." Yu Luying, who was treated as air, stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Qi's arm.

"Xiao Yao." A voice came from behind the boy, "Come with me." ”

Xiao Yao turned his head in confusion and looked at Yu Bo.

"Yingying, you talk to your classmates, and we'll come when we go." Yu Bo gave the order concisely, picked up Xiao Yao's arm and walked towards the door of the ward.

Ya Yan Butterfly Ya Yan Butterfly, what are you doing, let me go......

Xiao Yao followed behind Yu Bo, who was pale, and shuttled through the quiet corridor of the inpatient department. The boy asked Yu Bo what he was going to do, and the latter ignored him, and then the only sound of two people's messy footsteps echoed in the hallway.

The two chased out of the lobby on the first floor of the inpatient department, and the policewoman was no longer visible.

Looking around, I suddenly heard the sound of a motorcycle engine.

The two followed the prestige and saw a man with short hair start a motorcycle—she had taken off her hat and police uniform jacket, revealing an aqua blue long-sleeved shirt underneath.

If it weren't for the conspicuous pair of sunglasses and the unseemly white gloves, Xiao Yao would have almost recognized her as an irrelevant man.

The motorcycle is said to be a motorcycle, but it is not the kind of big motorcycle used by the police, just the kind of 50cc small pedal light riding, and the squad leader Chen Lu has a similar car, riding to and from school every day.

The policewoman's little light rider slowly drove out of the hospital gate, and Yu Bo ran all the way to his car and opened the driver's door.

"Quick." Yu Bo urged, and Xiao Yao got into the passenger seat out of breath.

"Got a crush on someone? It doesn't have to be like this, right? Xiao Yao said, then leaned back sharply and stuck to the back of the chair.

Yu Bo stepped on the accelerator and left the hospital, paid and delayed his work, and when he drove to the main road, the policewoman was gone.

The priest instinctively chose a direction and chased a traffic light—and luckily, the slow, little pedal light bike caught their eyes again.

"You drive the car up, shake down the window on my side, and I'll help you talk to you and ask for a phone." Xiao Yao came up with an idea.

"What's the all about you?" Yu Bo slowed down his driving speed, and finally had the kung fu to explain: "I'm afraid this policeman is impersonating." ”

"Impersonated? How so? Xiao Yao said disapprerovingly: "Just because she came out and took off her police uniform, do the police have to drive police cars?" ”

"There are rules for criminal police handling cases, you don't know," Yu Bo's eyes were fixed on the license plate number of the light horse: "When the public security organs conduct investigations, identifications, inspections, inquests, administrative coercive measures and other investigation and evidence collection work, the people's police must not be less than two. ”

"Oh yes," Xiao Yao recalled the film and television dramas he had watched: "You have to have a partner." ”

"Of course, a police car is not necessary," Yu Bo continued, "but I still have some connections in the criminal police team in Beihong District, and as far as I know, there are few female police officers in the criminal police team who go out on duty, and they are all familiar faces—there is no such person." ”

"Oh?" Xiao Yao also became excited: "This is a bad person, riding a motorcycle, not showing his true face, could it be a motorcycle girl who is active with the Earl of Nottington?" ”

"Very likely," Yu Bo said: "Zhou Qi's case has passed for a month, and the matter has reached an official conclusion, it should have been closed a long time ago, and the police should not pursue it anymore." ”

"Isn't there often a story where a case is closed, but a police officer with a sense of justice can't let the truth be covered up and conduct an independent investigation?" Xiao Yao retorted.

Yu Bo showed an expression of "you won't be serious", and was about to speak, but the "motorcycle girl" pulled over at the entrance of an alley, got out of the car and put down her feet, broke the key to the left, pulled it out, and kicked it into her pocket.

The priest parked the car on the side of the road and hurriedly chased Xiao Yao into the alley.

There is a stone tablet plaque above the entrance of this Shikumen complex, which is engraved with three big characters of "Baohuali" in official script, and it looks like it has been around for decades.

The walls on one side are painted dark green, and the bluestone pavement underneath you is uneven. Adjacent to this shikumen is a supply and marketing service cooperative, with a rusty iron gate at the door, which looks old.

Like all old alleys in the magic capital, the entrance to this "Baohuali" is also an area of public toilets and spittoons, and there is an area on the ground that has been soaked in sewage for thousands of years.

Xiao Yao and the priest pinched their noses and tiptoed through this small section of the "living area" and walked into Baohuali, biting the back of the motorcycle girl tightly.

The motorcycle girl walked into this twisted and mixed Shikumen, and seemed to be very familiar with the residents here.

Skinny old men and fat old ladies in big vests sat on small benches or chaise longues, lined the alleys, and outside their homes, greeting the motorcyclists in dialect.

Naturally, the motorcycle girl also warmly greeted each of them.

Xiao Yao and Yu Bo glanced at each other, the tension in their hearts gradually escalated, and they continued to follow not far behind.

Finally, the motorcyclist turned into a less crowded side road.

The branches of this alley are particularly dilapidated and messy, and there are no people in sight, and the surrounding shikumen gates are closed, and it is not known whether there are any people living there. The bluestone slabs on the ground have also worn out a lot, and they make a creaking sound when walking.

Wait, crunching?

The motorcyclist stopped suddenly.

Xiao Yao's heartbeat skipped a beat - was discovered?

The two of them hurriedly took a few steps back and hid back in the corner they had just come from.

There was no movement for a while, and Yu Bo took a peek out and found that the road was empty, and the motorcycle girl had disappeared without a trace.

"Oops!" Yu Bo was anxious and ran out by himself, wanting to find the trace of the motorcycle girl.

Xiao Yao suddenly had an ominous premonition at this time, and he turned his head sharply, looking at the road where he came, but it was still empty.

Just as he wanted to turn back to find Yu Bo, he was suddenly hit the back of the neck.

Before he lost consciousness, he heard Yu Bo exclaiming his name, and a strange, hoarse voice asked, "Whose subordinates are you?" ”

……

Fortunately, Xiao Yao didn't pass out for long, and when he woke up, he saw Yu Bo putting on a posture and confronting the motorcycle girl with his back to him.

However, judging by the dust on his body and the wounds on his face, the battle situation was not in his favor.

Xiao Yao realized that the motorcycle girl didn't notice him now.

He didn't make a sound, and after exchanging glances with Yu Bo, he first looked around and touched a wooden square.

100% pick up guys when you need to fight, God help me!

However, is it a violation of knighthood to cheat and sneak attack behind your back?

Seeing that Xiao Yao was ready, Yu Bo made a gesture to attack her left side.

Alas, forget it this time.

Xiao Yao burst out and slammed the wood towards her right side.

The motorcycle girl seems to have seen the details of Yu Bo clearly in the previous battle, and her posture is very big, and she did not take any response to Yu Bo's attack.

When Xiao Yao's wooden square was about to hit, she suddenly turned around and blocked with her arm.

Under Xiao Yao's full strength, the wooden square smashed heavily on the right arm of the motorcycle girl, and then exploded at the place of force, shattering into a piece of wood and two short wooden blocks.

You're Astro Boy!

But the motorcycle girl seemed to be fine, and her left fist went straight out to knock Xiao Yao down.

Yu Bo didn't miss a chance, hitting the motorcycle girl in the left rib with an uppercut, and then stabbed her in the face with a straight punch.

The motorcycle woman stumbled on her left rib and tried to adjust her body, but she still couldn't dodge Yu Bo's straight punch.

The punch hit the right corner of the eye, and the sunglasses were shattered, leaving a bloody stain.

She took a few steps back, and with her left hand, she touched her waist and showed a ...... Electric batons?

Yu Bo frowned, not because he was afraid of the baton, but because he saw the appearance of the motorcycle girl clearly.

He exclaimed in disbelief: "Are you, Liang Yanan? You're back? It's me, Yubo?"

"......" The motorcycle girl took out another pair of ordinary glasses from her coat pocket and put them on, took a few steps forward, and suddenly raised her hand and punched Yu Bo in the shoulder, and said angrily: "You stinky boy! My photochromic lenses are expensive! You're attacking the police! ”

"Obviously you ...... first"

-- Dividing line --

When Xiao Yao returned to the door of Zhou Qi's hospital room, the setting sun had already stretched its trail in this steel jungle full of desire.

The entire corridor of the ward was shrouded in a soft orange-yellow glow.

This halo gradually becomes elegant and soft as the light penetrates, and every corner is rendered exceptionally bright by the sunlight along the corridor. In this quiet interweaving of light and shadow, every detail of the walls, floors and ceilings is extremely clear, and every inch of space seems to be dotted with countless subtle highlights.

"Where's my uncle?" Yu Luying walked out of the door of the ward, gently brought the door, and put her index finger on the upper and lower thin lips.

"He and his old man went to eat and drink." Xiao Yao replied.

“？” Yu Luying glared at Xiao Yao fiercely: "Say it well!" ”

"He invited his old acquaintance to dinner and drink." Xiao Yao replied.

"What did you two do just now?" Yu Luying asked again: "Why are you fighting with people outside again?" ”

"The raiders went." Xiao Yao replied.

“？”

Before Yu Luying began to get angry, Xiao Yao told Yu Luying everything just now.

"...... like this" Yu Luying half-clenched her pink fist and smashed her pointed chin: "Do you know that I suddenly fainted just now, and Zhou Qi almost called me a nurse ......"

"I'm sorry." Xiao Yao said distressedly.

"Forget it, it's your uncle who pulled you." Yu Luying pouted.

"How are you chatting with Zhou Qi?" Xiao Yao asked Yu Luying: "How did she get to Lao Yao's palace?" ”

"No, I don't know, I just said some daily greetings." Yu Luying said with some frustration: "She has been pretending to be confused with me, you go and try to see if there is a way to pry her mouth open." ”

“？” Xiao Yao said: "How can I say that I have become a bad person?"

"Who knows, you can talk to her, I'm going to dinner." Yu Luying said, raising her leg to open the road to Mixi.

"Hey, hey," Xiao Yao shouted to her behind her back, "bring me something to eat." ”

"Got it." The girl in the royal blue dress and socks said without replying.

What's the matter with this lonely man and widow?

Although a place like a ward can be considered a semi-public place?

Xiao Yao muttered secretly in his heart, hesitated, but gently pushed open the door of the ward.

His gaze fell on the girl on the hospital bed, who was leaning quietly on a pillow, her eyes staring out the window.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on her soft hair, reflecting her delicate face softly and warmly. She didn't seem to know that someone was coming in next to her, and she was still immersed in her own world, as if she was thinking about something important.

"Ahem, ahem." Xiao Yao coughed twice in embarrassment: "Hello." ”

His gaze did not fall on the girl, but on the fruits and flowers on the bedside table, which had been brought by Yu's uncle and nephew just now.

"Here they are." Zhou Qi looked out the window and said.

“？”

"Xiao Yao, hello." Zhou Qi turned his head and looked at Xiao Yao quietly, as if he had been waiting for him for a long time.

"Uh, hello." Xiao Yao said "hello" again in embarrassment.

Zhou Qi laughed out loud.

What the hell are you doing...... Xiao Yao thought with annoyance.

"You, how are you doing?" Xiao Yao didn't have anything to say.

Nonsense, all lying in the hospital, of course not good.

Without waiting for Zhou Qi to answer, Xiao Yao changed his words and asked, "Have you been feeling better lately?" When did you wake up? ”

"Wake up, maybe a week or so," Zhou Qi raised his knees into two hills under the snow-white quilt: "It feels ...... It's much better, and I should be able to be discharged from the hospital soon, right? ”

"That's good, that's good." Xiao Yao nodded again and again.

There was an awkward silence in the air again.

"I didn't expect you to come to see me before I was discharged from the hospital." After Zhou Qi said this, he immediately added and explained: "I mean, I'm very happy that you can come." ”

"I'm happy too." Xiao Yao's mouth was bald, and he popped out such a sentence.

Really, what the hell are you talking about?

And what the hell is this lingering, damn ambiguous atmosphere?

I must be too careful! Feel too good about yourself, right?

Xiao Yao looked away uncomfortably and looked out the window at dusk.

"That," when he moved his eyes back to the hospital bed again, he was surprised to find the girl kneeling on the bed and bending down, "Thank you, I'm sorry." ”

Xiao Yao subconsciously took two steps forward and reached out to help the other party up, but the girl didn't know whether it was intentional or physically exhausted, and with a "bang", her body became weak, and she fell straight down towards Xiao Yao.

The young man was shocked, only to feel that there was a ball of warm cotton in his arms, and subconsciously wanted to push her away or take three steps back, but Zhou Qi, who was worried about losing support, rolled out of bed directly with his head on the ground, and froze in place for a while, not knowing what to do.

(End of chapter)