Ning Zhuo’s consciousness felt like it was being scorched by fire—painful, but at least he was awake.
His body, however, refused to move.
Not only could he not move, but his body was also reacting in ways that could only be described as humiliating.
He despised this state. All he could do was grit his teeth in hatred, his anger boiling so fiercely that he felt like he might spit blood.
As his heart raced faster, teetering on the edge of losing control, Shan Feibai hoisted him up with ease.
Ning Zhuo knew the dead weight of an adult man who had completely lost control of his limbs.
The ease with which Shan Feibai lifted and supported him was a far cry from the strength Ning Zhuo remembered him having.
Moreover, if Shan Feibai had this kind of strength, there was no way Ning Zhuo could have so easily pinned him down and forced carrot juice on him earlier that day.
A faint seed of suspicion sprouted in Ning Zhuo’s mind.
But as his body shifted, the fragile dignity he’d been clinging to nearly crumbled.
He struggled to swallow the sounds rising in his throat, choking them back, too overwhelmed to think about anything else. All he could do was focus on enduring the strange, uncomfortable itching sensation.
Exactly how much his body had changed after swapping in a steel spine was something only Shan Feibai himself fully understood.
There were two bathrooms in the suite.
Shan Feibai carried Ning Zhuo to the one in the living room.
Under the stark, snow-white electric light, Shan Feibai’s usual playful smile vanished. He firmly supported Ning Zhuo’s upper body, tearing off his clothes with rough force.
Though his actions were forceful, he handled the clothes with care, neatly folding them and placing them into a silent machine equipped with plasma cleaning and auto-drying functions.
Shan Feibai stripped off his own clothes as well, leaving both of them in nothing but their underwear.
Amid the faint hum of the machine, Shan Feibai’s expression was cold as he turned Ning Zhuo’s body, positioning him to face the massage bathtub with his back to Shan Feibai. He grabbed Ning Zhuo’s curly hair from behind.
His voice was tense. “Ning-ge, bear with it.”
It was early winter, and the season had turned cold unusually early. The water lingering in the pipes was so icy it seemed to carry shards of frost.
Shan Feibai grabbed the showerhead and doused Ning Zhuo head-on.
The shock of the cold water made Ning Zhuo shudder violently.
He knew this was the best approach because the moment the cold water hit, sensation returned to his fingers.
So Ning Zhuo stayed silent, letting Shan Feibai proceed.
To keep Ning Zhuo steady and prevent him from slipping, Shan Feibai knelt down as well, using his strong, straight legs to brace Ning Zhuo’s from behind.
Ning Zhuo’s legs, usually as tough as iron, were now slack, their muscles and tendons soft and warm, gleaming white under the harsh light.
Shan Feibai used the strength of his core to support him, but it still wasn’t enough.
Ning Zhuo’s extreme sensitivity to the drug had reduced his control to its lowest point, and his upper body kept slumping forward involuntarily.
With no other choice, Shan Feibai covered Ning Zhuo’s mouth from behind, pulling him tightly into his arms.
Now they were truly pressed together, in a rather forceful embrace.
The relentless stream of icy water soaked them both.
Shan Feibai rubbed his chin gently against Ning Zhuo’s cold hair, ensuring the water hit him first, carrying his body heat to Ning Zhuo.
It wasn’t much, but he thought it might help.
Under the assault of the cold water, Ning Zhuo struggled to open his mouth to breathe.
Shan Feibai pressed his burning forehead against Ning Zhuo’s back. In a moment of carelessness, his ice-cold fingers slipped along Ning Zhuo’s flushed lips and into his mouth.
Shan Feibai could have pulled his hand out immediately.
The drug didn’t affect him much, nor did it have a strong effect on Motobu Takeshi or Xiao Yazi.
Ning Zhuo was the exception.
But Shan Feibai didn’t pull his hand out.
His fingers, washed clean by the cold water, flexed coldly, pressing against the inner walls of Ning Zhuo’s mouth, preventing him from closing it.
He moved lightly, brushing against Ning Zhuo’s tongue, teeth, and the roof of his mouth, as if he wanted to pull away but couldn’t.
Ning Zhuo, knowing he was useless in this state and unable to demand self-control from Shan Feibai, could only let out frustrated and confused sounds amid the repeated touches.
Static sparks seemed to roll across his skin, itchy and tingling.
In their tightly entwined position, they gradually calmed down together.
Shan Feibai withdrew his hand from Ning Zhuo’s mouth and said softly, “Ning-ge, I’ll dry your hair.”
Ning Zhuo let out a low “mm,” his eyes slanting to watch Shan Feibai stand, dripping wet, his naturally curly hair even more voluminous, sparking an inexplicable urge in Ning Zhuo to rub his head until water splashed everywhere.
Motobu Takeshi loved luxury, and his room was fully equipped, which made things convenient for them.
Warm air silently wove through Ning Zhuo’s hair, gradually relaxing the muscles that had stiffened from the cold water.
Ning Zhuo quietly pondered his thoughts.
His thoughts were simple: he needed Min Min to develop a specific antidote for this situation immediately, something he could carry with him.
A bodily malfunction like this would hold him back.
This unexpected episode, though dangerous, hadn’t reached an irreparable point.
In contrast, Shan Feibai’s thoughts were far more complex.
He thought, Not here.
Ever since Ning Zhuo saved him and he woke up on that hospital bed, he knew his chance had come.
He wanted to get closer to the person in his heart, step by step, to stand firm by his side, to become his one and only, so Ning Zhuo would never have a chance to push him away again.
Given Ning Zhuo’s temperament, if Shan Feibai took advantage of him now, Ning Zhuo wouldn’t kill him afterward, but the fragile trust they’d built would surely vanish.
That wasn’t worth it.
A few days ago, Shan Feibai had told his uncle that he was Ning-ge’s good friend.
…“Good friend”?
He couldn’t quite define what kind of feelings he held for Ning Zhuo or what kind of relationship they had.
Shan Feibai wrapped his arms around Ning Zhuo’s shoulders, lost in thought for a long time.
Back then, he had lied about being “Xiao Bai” to gain Ning Zhuo’s awkward care and warmth.
And now, Ning Zhuo, under the influence of the drug, could stay so obediently in his arms.
Only in these misaligned moments could they be so quietly close.
How strange.
Shan Feibai smiled faintly, leaning into Ning Zhuo, pressing close, sharing his warmth and scent, gently swaying with him.
Ning Zhuo clicked his tongue. “Stop swaying. It’s making me dizzy.”
Shan Feibai stopped moving, sitting lightly on Ning Zhuo’s calves, kissing his spine softly through the cold skin.
Ning Zhuo didn’t notice the kiss, only shivering slightly without trying to break free.
He didn’t push Shan Feibai away, partly because he hadn’t regained his strength and partly because he thought Shan Feibai was still affected by the drug, feeling dizzy.
This incident ended as a secret known only to the two of them.
…
After a chaotic half-night, Motobu Takeshi felt thirsty and stepped out.
On the bedroom bed lay Xiao Yazi, covered in bloodstains, on the verge of death.
Ning Zhuo and Shan Feibai sat in the outer room, fully dressed. Hearing the door, they turned their heads in unison to look at him, as if they’d been waiting for him all along.
Motobu Takeshi, his body aching, commanded, “Pour me a glass of water.”
Ning Zhuo didn’t move. Neither did Shan Feibai.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Motobu Takeshi realized he hadn’t paid for this service.
He couldn’t help but chuckle at himself.
That Ning guy sure acted high and mighty.
But because he was so good-looking, Motobu Takeshi was willing to forgive him time and again.
He waved a hand. “Get out. Call Jin Hu over. I won’t need you two for the rest of the night.”
Ning Zhuo nodded, stood up as instructed, and led Shan Feibai out.
Motobu Takeshi poured himself a glass of lemonade, glancing casually and freezing for a moment.
As Ning Zhuo walked away, his pants shifted, outlining a clear, rounded curve of his hips.
…It looked like he wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
Motobu Takeshi was about to take a closer look when Ning Zhuo disappeared like a gust of wind, denying him the chance to feast his eyes further.
He had planned to go another round, but after seeing the real deal’s stunning figure and then glancing at Xiao Yazi, barely breathing on the bed, Motobu Takeshi lost interest.
…Some things just don’t compare.
Motobu Takeshi ordered Jin Hu to carry the half-dead Xiao Yazi out and had others clean the bed. He lay down, lost in fanciful thoughts, and drifted off to sleep.
…
Lin Qin sat in his office, head slightly bowed, catching a quick nap.
He hadn’t slept for two straight days.
The higher-ups’ stance on the 930 case was ambiguous, setting no deadline but pressuring Lin Qin to crack it no matter what.
Clearly, the 930 task force was just a front.
The “White Shield” leadership only needed to show they were “seriously investigating” while employing a strategy of delay. Then, they could wait for the public to forget the scandal on their own.
The tactic worked.
Over the past month, Silver Hammer City’s entertainment news had flooded the headlines, diverting much of the attention from the 930 incident.
Lin Qin knew this well but kept up appearances while digging deeper, chasing every possible lead.
“Captain Lin!”
A shout snapped Lin Qin awake from his shallow sleep. He stood up.
After a month of working together, his young assistant, Xiao Xu, had become his loyal supporter.
“We found that girl!” Xiao Xu hurried to Lin Qin, panting. “The one… who exposed Motobu Takeshi’s affairs—the ‘Barbie Doll’—”
Not far away, a drowsy face that had been dozing suddenly lifted, a glint flashing briefly in their eyes.
Lin Qin grabbed his coat and strode out, asking in a low voice, “Is she protected?”
Xiao Xu, influenced by his tone, also lowered his voice. “Per your orders, we signed her up for the witness protection program. The key’s in your hands. As long as you… she’ll be safe from now on!”
Lin Qin knew the unspoken half of his sentence.
As long as he didn’t curry favor with certain forces or betray her, she’d stay safe forever.
Lin Qin pressed forward. “Is she willing to cooperate?”
Xiao Xu hurriedly said, “As soon as she heard we could guarantee her safety, she cried and said she’d cooperate fully.”
Lin Qin wanted to hear it from her directly.
In the secret interrogation room, the girl was trembling like a startled bird, warily scanning her surroundings.
When she heard someone enter, she opened her mouth to speak but froze upon seeing Lin Qin’s appearance. Her breath caught, and she coughed violently.
Lin Qin said nothing, waiting for her coughing to subside before handing her a cup of warm water.
The warmth in her palm and the gentle steam rising from the cup brought tears to her eyes.
She didn’t drink, just held the cup tightly. Before Lin Qin could ask about her background, she eagerly began, “I—I was sold by my stepdad. I was born blind in one eye, and my dad spent a fortune to get me a good prosthetic eye. My mom was kind to me back then, but after she got with my stepdad, she stopped being good to me—”
Hot tears streamed down, wetting her lashes.
Lin Qin nodded slightly.
Her prosthetic eye looked and functioned perfectly, with no noticeable difference from her real one, unlike many who chose distinct colors for their prosthetics.
Her eyes were identical, perfectly natural.
No wonder Motobu Takeshi never noticed one was fake.
Tears welled in her eyes as she continued, “My stepdad sold me to an ‘auntie.’”
“The ‘auntie’ asked if I wanted to earn more money. I said yes. I never went to school, couldn’t do much else, and ended up a prostitute. What else could I want? More money meant I could at least live better. Who’d have thought it’d turn out like this—”
She instinctively touched her abdomen, where the unfamiliar hum of machinery kept her in constant fear, day and night.
But she had no choice.
Back then, desperate to make money, she’d signed a contract she couldn’t even read, effectively selling herself entirely to Motobu Takeshi.
Afterward, the “auntie” told her she had only herself to blame for being too greedy, too foolish.
She was only seventeen then, crying endlessly, feeling the “auntie” was right but also sensing something was off.
Seeing her tears fall into the cup, Lin Qin replaced it with a fresh one.
Her throat dry from crying, she took a sip and tasted a faint sweetness of milk candy in the water.
Startled, she looked up to find Lin Qin already seated behind the desk, calmly saying, “Take your time. Drink some water, think it over, and I’ll ask you again.”
The faint sweetness and warmth gave the girl a spark of courage.
She sat up straighter, stifling her sobs, and said softly, “You—you can ask me.”
Lin Qin: “Who took you away?”
He didn’t ask if she’d collaborated with someone to expose Motobu Takeshi.
First, she was too young and inexperienced, clearly a naive kid. Two years ago, she’d have been even more vulnerable, hardly capable of negotiating a deal.
Second, an aggressive question would only spark fresh panic.
Of course, he couldn’t rule out the possibility of her having extraordinary acting skills.
The girl’s emotions steadied somewhat. Hesitantly, she said, “I—I don’t know who it was… They blindfolded me. I didn’t see their face.”
“Where did ‘they’ take you?”
“They locked me in a room…” She nervously fidgeted with her fingers. “Someone came every day with food. Clothes, too. Two sets per season.”
Lin Qin frowned. “They kept you locked up that long? Over two years?”
“Y-Yes… but I didn’t dare leave…” The girl shrank back. “I had nowhere to go. If I went home, I’d just be sold again… If I ran into the ‘auntie,’ I couldn’t explain myself. She’d kill me.”
Plus, she had a small, selfish reason she was too embarrassed to admit.
Though the person had unreasonably taken her from Motobu Takeshi and locked her in a strange place, her living conditions were much better than before.
She had food, clothes, and no beatings or insults. She’d even started to feel reluctant to leave.
On the other hand, Lin Qin felt relieved for her.
Though she’d lost her freedom, at least she had food and shelter.
The “Barbie Dolls” created by Motobu Takeshi rarely survived more than two years once “put to use.”
Lin Qin continued, “Why did they let you go?”
The girl lowered her head. “About a month ago… they told me through the door that it was fine now, I could leave. If I wanted, I could report it to the police.”
Lin Qin: “But you didn’t.”
She mumbled, “No, I didn’t… I was scared and didn’t know what to say if I reported it, or where you’d send me. I thought I’d just find a job somewhere, support myself—”
Over those two years, she’d received not just clothes and food but also books.
Having never been educated, she’d had no prospects before.
During her captivity, with nothing else to do, she’d learned to read at a middle school level.
Finally, someone had hired her for legitimate work.
But before she could even collect her first paycheck, Xiao Xu found her.
She bowed her head in fear, uncertain of her fate.
Lin Qin let out a deep breath. “About the person who took you… what do you know? Anything at all.”
Since she hadn’t seen their face, it meant they’d hidden their identity well.
So Lin Qin didn’t hold much hope for this question.
But after thinking, the girl said softly, “…I—I think I know their name. Is that okay?”
Lin Qin sat up straight, his brows furrowing.
They wouldn’t let her see their face but told her their name?
Suspicion rose in his mind. “How did they tell you?”
The girl said, “They didn’t tell me directly… Once, when they came, I pressed my ear to the door and heard someone outside call their name…”
…
Every interrogation is recorded.
The secret interrogation room was no exception, but since it involved witnesses under protection, faces and voices were blurred.
Normally, entering the secret interrogation room required a clearance card of at least captain level.
A low-ranking task force officer quietly pulled out a card, swiped it to enter the room, and sat before the monitor. Turning the volume to maximum, they gripped a recording device tightly, staring intently at the blurred figure of the girl on the screen.
On the screen, Lin Qin leaned forward slightly and asked, “So, what was the name of the person who took you from Motobu Takeshi?”
