[November 21st, 16:27, Turtle Back Mountain, Nanyi City]
Outside the window, dark clouds rolled, and lightning flashed in the distance. The rain poured down like the Milky Way cascading from the sky, a spectacular downpour.
“…Yi Shi, Yi Shi!”
A hand tapped him on the shoulder, snapping Yi Shi out of his daze. He turned to look at the young man behind him. Ding Ju, startled by Yi Shi’s deep, dark eyes, shivered and pointed upwards, “Can you move over? You’re right under a crack.”
Drops of rainwater were falling rapidly from a gap in the tiles above, landing directly on Yi Shi’s blue uniform. He pressed a hand over his soaked shoulder and turned to look out the window, realizing that the broken-down house they were in faced Pang Daozi’s home.
…What was going on?
He furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze sweeping the room—a dilapidated farmhouse, his familiar teammates, the usual arrest setup. Were they currently trying to capture Pang Daozi? Had the bombing case not ended yet?
The strange memories rushed back to him. He clearly remembered breaking the cycle with Lin Heyu, so how could he still be caught up in this case?
No, there was more to this. Haijing, Linjia Village, Cheng’an Mountain… Similar scenes clashed in his mind, causing a sharp, throbbing pain in his temples.
Ding Ju noticed Yi Shi’s pale complexion, even paler than before, and the subtle contortions in his expression made him look like he was possessed. Despite Yi Shi’s good looks, Ding Ju couldn’t help but feel a chill. What’s going on? Did he get possessed by a ghost to catch a suspect? Scary!
“It’s already this late, and it’s still pouring. Do you think they’ll show up tonight?”
“The old lady’s time is almost up. If he doesn’t hurry back, he won’t make it in time to see her one last time.”
“He definitely won’t make it. The old lady isn’t even at home.”
The colleagues chatted, but Yi Shi remained silent, checking the time on his wristwatch. It was almost time; Zhao Chenghu would be here soon.
Sure enough, after a flash of lightning split the sky, a broad, burly figure emerged from the field and knocked on Pang Nengshui’s door. Everyone rushed out to catch him. Yi Shi was at the back, sprinting towards Pang Nengshui’s house after leaving the farmhouse. He flung open the wooden door and entered. Within seconds, Zhao Chenghu appeared, but he wasn’t there by choice—he had been kicked inside.
Zhao Chenghu, noticing someone else in the house, gasped in shock and then started cursing. Yi Shi grabbed him by the collar, kicked him in the chest, and the man who had kicked him in first twisted Zhao Chenghu’s arm and slapped on handcuffs with a “click.”
The man took off his rain hood and pulled out his walkie-talkie. “We’ve got him. It’s Zhao Chenghu.”
Noticing Yi Shi staring blankly at him, he walked over and ruffled Yi Shi’s hair. “What’s with the dazed look?”
Yi Shi suddenly grabbed his wrist, “Lin Heyu?!”
Lin Heyu cupped Yi Shi’s face, their eyes locking as they gazed at each other. A smile slowly appeared on Lin Heyu’s lips, his eyes full of warmth. “Long time no see.”
———
Two teams arrived one after another. Yi Shi noticed that it wasn’t just his colleagues from Nanyi; there was also a team from Haijing.
Were they working together on this case? In his memory, it was they who had gone to Haijing instead. Zhao Chenghu kept swearing on the side, repeatedly interrupting Yi Shi’s thoughts. Annoyed, Yi Shi kicked him, causing Zhao Chenghu to groan, almost losing his breath.
Seeing his icy demeanor and how ruthless he was, Ding Ju trembled again. Wasn’t Yi Shi supposed to have a pretty mild temper? What part of this was mild?!
Li Changsheng also noticed something was off and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Whoa, Xiao Yi’s temper is explosive today. What’s up? Did he get back up from his brother?”
“Of course! With Captain Lin leading the team, he doesn’t have to worry about Captain Sheng’s nagging. He’s like a seal being lifted.”
“I used to think Captain Lin had the same attitude as Vice-Captain Yu, but it seems they’re completely opposite!”
These side comments didn’t affect the two standing in the corner. Lin Heyu carefully dried Yi Shi’s hair with a towel. Yi Shi asked softly, “What’s happening now? I can’t figure it out.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not what you think.” Lin Heyu pinched his cheek. “It’s just memory updating at the right time. You’ll remember everything soon. Don’t be scared.”
“Oh.” Yi Shi obediently nodded, asking no more.
With Zhao Chenghu captured, the two teams wrapped things up and returned to the station. Yu Xue had just finished a meeting and praised them for their good work, telling everyone to rest.
Everyone stretched lazily, grateful that the back-to-back overtime was over and they could finally sleep. Yi Shi stayed half-hidden behind Lin Heyu, only showing part of his body. He tugged on Lin Heyu’s sleeve. “Aren’t we interrogating him tonight?”
“We’ve got everyone. There’s plenty of time to question him later.” Lin Heyu held his cold hand. “I’ll explain everything to you when we get home.”
As the crowd dispersed, Yu Xue approached with a smile. “Captain Lin, thanks to your help from Haijing, we were able to catch Zhao Chenghu so quickly.”
“It was a joint case between the two places. It’s just part of the job. No need for thanks.”
Yu Xue nodded, glancing at the half-hidden Yi Shi. His eyes flicked to their intertwined hands, and he smiled, “Yi Shi’s transfer order has been stuck for a year. It should be coming soon. I’ll be sad to see him leave Nanyi.”
“His home is in Haijing. It’s time for him to go back.”
“Oh, right, he’s from Haijing.” Yu Xue sighed softly, mumbling to himself, “I don’t know why, but I always think of him as part of Nanyi.”
After leaving the police station, Lin Heyu hailed a cab and took Yi Shi home. But they didn’t go to Changlong Garden or the small rental apartment. Instead, they went to a place Yi Shi had never been before. On the ride, Yi Shi kept looking out the window, which made Lin Heyu laugh. He playfully pinched the back of Yi Shi’s neck. “Why are you so curious? Your neck’s stretched out like a giraffe.”
“This… is this your world?”
“No.” Lin Heyu leaned closer, his breath brushing Yi Shi’s ear. “It’s ours.”
———
The “new home” was also a rental, a two-bedroom apartment. Though it wasn’t large, every corner felt like a space they shared.
Yi Shi wandered around, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar with the place. Two sets of memories tangled in his mind, pulling him in different directions. Lin Heyu led him into the bedroom. “You look pale. Rest for a bit.”
“I have so many questions…”
“Sleep first. We’ll talk after.”
Yi Shi closed his eyes. He hadn’t felt sleepy just moments ago, but as soon as the room quieted down, his eyelids seemed to be glued shut, refusing to open. Lin Heyu tucked him in, gently pinched his smooth cheek, and left the room, closing the door behind him.
This sleep felt long and distant, like watching a movie that spanned years.
The prologue of the movie was when Lin Heyu found Xiao Shitou. The two of them grew up together in Linjia Village. Lin Heyu transferred all the responsibility and affection he once had for Lin Zhizhi onto Xiao Shitou, working and studying to support their small home. Time passed, and the two boys gradually grew into independent men, sharing a professional dream and working tirelessly toward a common goal.
Speaking of work, that was a winding tale as well. After graduating from the police academy, Lin Heyu returned to Haijing and joined the city bureau. Yi Shi was still studying at the Nanyi police academy at the time. After graduation, he also wanted to return to Haijing, but because there were no open positions there, he stayed in Nanyi for the time being. As the saying goes, a gem shines no matter where it is placed. His exceptional abilities quickly earned him the admiration of his superiors in Nanyi. Four years flew by, and just as a position finally opened up in Haijing, Nanyi was unwilling to let him go, withholding his transfer order.
Helpless, they had no choice but to maintain their previous routine. Either Lin Heyu would visit Nanyi when he had time, or Yi Shi would go back to Haijing during vacations. Fortunately, with modern transportation, the trip between Nanyi and Haijing was just a high-speed train away, so it didn’t feel like they were in a long-distance relationship.
After all, it was just two cities apart, which was much simpler than being separated by two worlds.
Yi Shi opened his eyes. The bright moon hung high outside the window. Despite his fatigue, his mind was much clearer. Most of his memories had aligned, leaving only a few details that needed to be pieced together. Maybe in a few more days, everything would seamlessly fall into place.
He got up, feeling sticky all over and eager to take a shower. Lin Heyu was busy in the kitchen. Seeing the door open, he waved Yi Shi over. “Come here, drink the soup first.”
“Okay.” Yi Shi walked into the kitchen, and a bowl of warm ginger soup was handed to him, steam curling up with the distinctive spicy scent of ginger. Lin Heyu handed him a spoon. Yi Shi wrinkled his brow, not liking the taste. “Can I just drink half?”
“No, drink it all,” Lin Heyu said, poking Yi Shi’s forehead with his finger. “You’re not in great shape. If you get sick again, you’ll start acting up.”
Yi Shi’s cheeks burned red, and he instinctively lowered his head. He remembered what he was like when he acted up—rolling around and throwing tantrums when he caught a cold or fever. He couldn’t believe that had been him. Surely, it was because Lin Heyu had always taken care of him, spoiling him without him even realizing it.
He downed the ginger soup in one go. Lin Heyu ruffled his hair in approval, making his face turn even redder.
In the bathroom, Yi Shi slowly unbuttoned his shirt and, seeing his smooth and pale right arm in the mirror, froze. His hand instinctively touched his arm down to his wrist, but there was no uneven texture or unsightly scar—no trace of the injury that had accompanied him for 20 years.
It had truly disappeared.
Yi Shi closed his eyes and let out a long breath, finally feeling the weight of fate lift from his shoulders.
Twenty minutes later, Yi Shi emerged from the bathroom, still damp and only wearing a short-sleeved shirt. Lin Heyu nagged him again, forcing him to go back and change into a thick sweatshirt. There’s a kind of cold that only your family thinks you feel, and although Yi Shi didn’t feel cold, his hands were like blocks of ice, which Lin Heyu rubbed for a long time before they warmed up.
“When did you start remembering?” Yi Shi asked.
“A long time ago.”
“Then why did it take me so long?” Yi Shi sighed softly. “I thought everything had restarted when we caught Zhao Chenghu.”
“I saw Lian Jingyuan when I was studying at the police academy in Shengzhou,” Lin Heyu said, pulling out a few folded A4 papers from his pocket and handing them to Yi Shi. “He said he found these in his office. After I saw them, I remembered everything.”
Yi Shi unfolded the papers and found his own charts—schedules, name lists, and deduction diagrams. But the two mirror worlds had already been completely separated. How could such important things still exist in Lian Jingyuan’s office? Were they still trapped in it?
“Don’t worry,” Lin Heyu said, “Lian Jingyuan is a bit special. He says he has a connection with these strange events, having encountered them before. This is his issue, not ours.”
“Then why didn’t you show me this earlier?” Yi Shi sounded a bit accusatory. “Maybe if I’d seen it sooner, I could’ve remembered sooner too.”
Lin Heyu was silent for a moment before pulling Yi Shi into his arms. “Those experiences weren’t good things. Remembering them would only bring more unresolved sorrow.”
Sorrow… The only person who could bring them sorrow—how were they doing now?
Sadness filled Yi Shi’s eyes. Lin Heyu didn’t want to see that expression, which was why he had let things take their course, letting Yi Shi remember at his own pace. If he remembered, fine; if not, that was fine too. Even though these memories were irreplaceable, and without them their relationship wouldn’t feel complete, what Lin Heyu wanted more than anything was to see Yi Shi smile without a care.
“Even though we can’t see her, I believe Zhizhi is doing well,” Yi Shi said.
Lin Heyu smiled and pinched his cheek. “That’s the right way to think.”
They were standing so close now, just a breath away from kissing. Their breaths intertwined, and a blush spread across Yi Shi’s pale face. His breathing grew more rapid, but Lin Heyu, afraid of scaring him, didn’t make the first move. After a minute of tension, Yi Shi couldn’t resist anymore and hooked his arm around Lin Heyu’s neck, pressing their lips together.
That kiss transcended time. Though they had grown up and lived together like family, like brothers, it wasn’t until this moment that they truly became inseparable lovers.
The blame lay with Lin Heyu, who had been too serious and upright. Yi Shi had grown up beside him, and Lin Heyu’s strong moral compass meant he always saw Yi Shi as a younger brother, never allowing other thoughts to creep in. It wasn’t until he remembered their past that his feelings changed.
But this change had only occurred in Lin Heyu. Yi Shi was still as innocent as a blank page. Lin Heyu continued to treat him as family and a younger brother, never crossing any lines, and even fearing that Yi Shi might be burdened by memories, he refrained from pushing him to remember, content to protect him quietly.
Now that Yi Shi had remembered on his own, it was “fate” that could no longer be stopped.
Yi Shi buried his face in Lin Heyu’s shoulder, his heart overflowing with joy, his breath sweet like honey.
“You’re not my brother; you’re Lin Heyu,” he said.
My lover.
Lin Heyu tightened his embrace and kissed his earlobe. “Yes, and you’re Yi Shi. To me, you’re just Yi Shi.”
———
The next morning, Yi Shi woke up, having recalled all the little details of their life together.
Over the past twenty years, though he and Lin Heyu had lived like brothers, he had never once called Lin Heyu “brother.” Whenever asked, he’d say they were “family,” except when filling out a registration form, where he’d list them as “brothers.”
They grew up in Linjia Village, where Lin Heyu saved up for a long time to buy an entry-level telescope. On warm summer nights, he took Yi Shi to climbCheng’an Mountain to stargaze. They slept in each other’s arms, close but not intimate, surrounded by a gentle warmth.
After their mother passed away, Lin Heyu took Yi Shi away from Linjia Village. When he started working, he bought a house in Haijing City, and both of their names were on the deed. It was truly their home.
Every year on the winter solstice and Qingming, they went to Southern Cheng’an Cemetery to pay their respects to their parents. Among the graves of their family members was an unnamed tombstone, with only the character “Lin” painted in red. At first, they didn’t know who it belonged to. Seeing that no one tended to it, Lin Heyu burned paper offerings each time, feeling a sense of kinship. One day, when his memory returned, he realized it was Lin Zhizhi’s grave.
A person who didn’t exist in this world, but fortunately left behind this place for them to remember.
The alarm rang, and Yi Shi rubbed his eyes. The bed beside him was already empty. From the kitchen came the sounds of cooking. Lin Heyu was making breakfast. When he turned around, he saw Yi Shi peeking through the glass door, only his head visible.
“You’re awake?”
Yi Shi nodded, walked over, and hugged him around the waist. As soon as he nestled into his arms, Lin Heyu kissed his forehead. “Did you sleep well?”
“Mm, I had a long dream.”
“It’s no wonder you slept so soundly.” Lin Heyu turned off the heat, served the fried rice, and pulled him to the living room for breakfast. Today, they still had to go to the detention center to interrogate Zhao Chenghu. Only after handing him over to the prosecution would this case truly come to a close.
Twenty years ago, there had been an accident at the Nanyi Machinery Factory: building number 2 exploded, and a little girl tragically lost her life. The main culprit at that time was Pang Daozi, who confessed that he did it to take revenge on the factory for firing him, not expecting anyone to be inside. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
After he was released, he held a deep grudge against the Nanyi Machinery Factory. He found his good friend Zhao Chenghu and gathered a few younger brothers, planning something big. They had made comprehensive plans, but Yang Wei, who was supposed to provide the materials, turned himself in to the police in advance. Thanks to the police’s thorough preparations, the Nanyi Machinery Factory avoided a major disaster.
Out of humiliation and rage, Pang Daozi then targeted people, and he and Zhao Chenghu killed two innocent factory workers living on Turtle Back Mountain to vent their frustrations. Later, the two escaped to Cheng’an Mountain, and the police from both Haijing and Nanyi worked together, first catching Pang Daozi in the mountains. Hearing that Zhao Chenghu had fled back to Nanyi, they set up surveillance on Turtle Back Mountain, finally capturing all the criminals in one sweep.
The interrogation process went relatively smoothly. At first, Zhao Chenghu was uncooperative and made two batches of pre-interrogation personnel leave in frustration. But later, after Yu Xue and Yi Shi went in for a round and came out, he obediently confessed.
Yu Xue patted Yi Shi on the shoulder and smiled, “It’s still our Yi Shi who has the tricks.”
Yi Shi pressed his lips together, thankful that Lin Heyu had gone to a meeting; otherwise, if he had been there, he wouldn’t have dared to go too far.
Li Changsheng shook his head in disapproval. “Fortunately, this video wasn’t turned on; otherwise, Captain Sheng would definitely have his blood pressure rise.”
Shao Shiqing said, “Exactly, Captain Sheng has a love-hate relationship with Yi Shi. He can’t bear to let him go back to Haijing, yet he’s always worried he’ll cross the line. Every time there’s a meeting, he has to find his deputy to keep an eye on him; it’s like he’s entrusting his family to someone else, haha!”
“That’s right, but it won’t be for long.” Yu Xue adjusted his glasses, “I guess, in half a year, you’ll be sent back to Haijing.”
———
At the Nanyi City Bureau, the meeting had just concluded. Sheng Guoning and Lin Heyu walked out together, repeatedly thanking Captain Lin for his help. Coordinating on the case was secondary; the key was that with him around, Yi Shi wouldn’t cause any trouble.
Lin Heyu smiled, “If he’s so troublesome, you should suggest to the leadership that he be transferred back to Haijing.”
“Hey, hey, hey, troublesome? Did I say it was troublesome? Even if I kicked him out of the criminal investigation team, the public relations department is eager to have him, they’re just short of snatching him away.” Sheng Guoning shook his head. “It’s all your brother’s fault for having such a handsome face. He’s a hot commodity wherever he goes.”
“He’s not my brother.”
“Hmm?” Sheng Guoning was shocked, “Did you two have a falling out? Does that mean he doesn’t have to leave Nanyi anymore?”
“He’s family.”
??? Sheng Guoning was confused: “What’s the difference?”
“Big difference.” Lin Heyu paused, “You’re not married yet?”
Sheng Guoning nodded candidly: “Yeah, why? Are you going to introduce me to someone?”
Lin Heyu patted his shoulder: “Let fate introduce you.”
Sheng Guoning felt speechless; wasn’t that a cliché?! He had all the prerequisites, just waiting for fate to send his soulmate his way.
Before long, the verdict for Zhao Chenghu and Pang Daozi came out: death penalty, deprivation of political rights for life, to be executed immediately. The case concerning the machinery factory was finally closed. The New Year was just around the corner. On New Year’s Eve, Yi Shi took the high-speed train back to Haijing, and Lin Heyu picked him up at the station. Before heading home, they first went to Southern Cheng’an Cemetery.
They bought three bouquets of flowers: two for their parents and one placed in front of the stone tablet at row 15, number 10. Yi Shi squatted down and softly called out, “Zhizhi.”
Lin Heyu smiled and said, “He thought of you. He’s wanted to come back to see you for a long time, but with so much going on at the end of the year, he could only return to Haijing today. You must understand.”
Yi Shi traced the painted characters with his finger: “It’s a new year again. You should have gone to Nanyi for an internship by now. I wonder if you’re married or not, and if that person treats you well. Sheng Guoning still hasn’t gotten married; I always feel like he might be waiting for you.”
If you’re also waiting for him, I hope a miracle can happen soon.
After the New Year, Yi Shi continued working in Nanyi. Half a year quickly passed, and in July, the transfer order that had been stuck for a year and a half finally came through.
Yu Xue held the document, his tone a mix of helplessness and relief: “Not easy, not easy. I can already imagine how the leadership looked when they signed it, grinding their teeth.”
Sheng Guoning waved his hand: “In the Cao camp but the heart is in Han. After being stuck for so long and still not being able to keep him, my heart is cold! The sooner he leaves, the better, so I don’t have to see it here and feel annoyed.”
Everyone stifled their laughter, well aware that Sheng Guoning had worn his mouth raw over this transfer order. Originally, the police force in Nanyi had been short-staffed, and losing such an outstanding officer was something the higher-ups were reluctant to allow. Sheng Guoning brought it up every meeting, day after day, until the leadership finally relented.
With Yi Shi’s “lifelong issue” settled, everyone turned their attention back to Sheng Guoning: “Captain Sheng, when will your lifelong issue be resolved?”
Sheng Guoning leaned back, leisurely: “I’m not in a hurry; there’s still a long way to go in this life. I’m sure I’ll meet someone suitable.”
Yi Shi paused in sorting his files, gently nodding: “Yeah, don’t rush; you’ll definitely meet the right one.”
Li Changsheng and the others were astonished: what was going on? The coldest person in the team had suddenly become a relationship expert? This was strange, too strange.
After work, Sheng Guoning still had an appointment. He felt awkward about not attending the blind date set up by his parents. After having a meal with the girl, neither of them found the other appealing, and they parted ways amicably. Sheng Guoning strolled along the bustling pedestrian street, where a long queue had formed outside the Chongqing hot pot restaurant. He found himself pausing, lost in thought for a moment.
During dinner, the girl from the blind date had said she “couldn’t eat spicy food,” and Sheng Guoning immediately concluded it wouldn’t work out; their tastes were too different for them to live together in the future. In his ideal vision, the girl he imagined would be one who could sit excitedly in front of a spicy pot, her cheeks flushed and her big eyes sparkling with delight as she eagerly reached for the ingredients.
Sheng Guoning shrugged. He had waited so long; when would his destined connection finally arrive?
Near the Magic Cube Youth apartment, a new dessert shop had opened, offering discounts. For some inexplicable reason, Sheng Guoning bought a macaron as he passed by. When he got home and opened the bag to take a bite, his features contorted from the overwhelming sweetness. He shook his head, planning to bring it to the little girl at the bureau the next day.
Early the next morning, he drove to work and passed by the Magic Cube Youth apartment, only to find the main road blocked. A crowd had gathered, with two middle-aged women arguing loudly in the street.
Fruits, vegetables, and various meats were strewn everywhere, while a nearby child cried loudly. The two women exchanged harsh words. Sheng Guoning glanced at the surrounding streets, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
After patiently waiting in his car for a while without the neighborhood officer arriving, and seeing that the roadblock was becoming increasingly severe, he had no choice but to get out of the car himself to separate the two women and clear the road. Finally, the neighborhood officer arrived, mistakenly thinking he was a family member, and Sheng Guoning’s frustration boiled over. He pulled out his ID and gave the officer a lesson too.
After a busy commotion, Sheng Guoning glanced at his watch and cursed under his breath: it was already eight twenty! He still had an early meeting today! He absentmindedly looked back and spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. A girl in sportswear seemed to have just finished a morning jog, standing there with her hands behind her back and a bright smile on her face.
“Officer Sheng, it’s you again.”
Sheng Guoning was taken aback for a moment, and when he blinked, the girl had already vanished. He hurriedly pushed through the crowd, but she was nowhere to be found, making it seem as though that brief moment had just been a figment of his imagination.
On the bustling street, as people brushed past him, Sheng Guoning stood alone, suddenly overwhelmed with tears.
He couldn’t even understand what was happening; tears inexplicably streamed down his face, rushing out uncontrollably as he hurriedly tried to catch them with his hands: “Huh? What’s going on? Why am I…”
Passersby shot him puzzled looks as Sheng Guoning jogged to a corner, using his sleeve to wipe his tears dry. When he looked up, he caught a whiff of a refreshing and delicate fragrance.
Behind him, a gardenia flower was climbing over the wall, blooming brightly on the branches.
—–
Author’s Note:
Even if you have a wall, my love will climb up to the windowsill and bloom.
When I wrote this part in the previous text, I had already envisioned the plot here, so I felt that the sweeter it was before, the more bitter and heart-wrenching it would be here.
