HL 60

Meng Zhao never dreamed that his 38th birthday would be spent in such a desolate, remote wilderness.

While chasing a suspect, they’d raced through a cornfield for half an hour, only to lose the target and break down their car. The area was all dirt roads, remote and out of the way—they’d have a long wait for a tow truck.

But the cicadas in the trees didn’t understand Meng Zhao’s troubles; they kept chirping relentlessly. The noise made his head feel like it was stuffed with a pack of popping candy—crackling, bursting, racing around—and he was tempted to pull out his sidearm and shoot them all dead.

But Meng Zhao quickly calmed down, pinched the bridge of his nose, and scolded himself for taking his anger out on innocent lives.

Just then, the rookie officer Xiao Zhao came running over, shouting from a distance: “Captain Meng, what a coincidence! There’s an auto repair shop not far away! But the boss said if we want it fixed, we’ll have to push it there ourselves!”

“Alright, alright.” Meng Zhao let out a huge sigh of relief.

So Meng Zhao, along with Xiao Zhao and Xiao Jiang, pushed the car together to the repair shop entrance. The owner came out to greet them with a smile.

The owner was a young woman, around twenty-four or twenty-five, small-framed but full of energy.

“You guys must be tired—come on in and rest. I’ve already called Brother Xu; he’ll be here soon.” The owner warmly invited them in.

Meng Zhao tried to decline repeatedly but couldn’t resist the locals’ overwhelming hospitality. So he led the two young officers into the repair shop and downed a few cups of warm tea.

Meng Zhao looked around the small shop. Though it wasn’t big, it had quite a few functions, divided into three areas: phone repair, car washing, and auto repair.

“Boss, is the mechanic your boyfriend?”

“Huh?” At that, the owner’s face immediately flushed red, and she waved her hands frantically. “No, no—Brother Xu just works here.”

The owner was Ye Qiaozi. The shop had been opened by her father. After he passed away unexpectedly, there was no one to inherit his repair skills, and she was about to close it down when a young man showed up and said he knew how to fix cars. So Ye Qiaozi took over the shop and became the boss.

As they were talking, the mechanic arrived.

What arrived before him was a fresh scent of tea-scented body wash, completely out of place in this shop reeking of gasoline and metal.

Before Meng Zhao could turn around, he heard a deep, pleasant voice from behind: “Where’s the car?”

He froze, then spun around to see a man in a black tank top, its fabric stretching over his muscular chest, revealing two beautifully sculpted, pale arms. The faint veins on the backs of his hands rose like winding mountain ridges. He wore a sun hat, its brim pulled low.

“Nanxiao?!”

He never expected that, two years later, he’d run into Xu Nanxiao again in this border town—what a strange twist of fate!

“Oh my god! Where have you been?! Not a word from you for two whole years!”

“What are you doing here? Why haven’t you gone back to Beijing?”

“Don’t just stare at me—say something!”

Xu Nanxiao was taken aback, then clicked his tongue.

“Why are you clicking your tongue at me?!”

“I’m just saying—how is it that I run into you everywhere? Why are you so hauntingly persistent?” Complaining, Xu Nanxiao set down his single-strap sports bag and began pulling out his toolbox.

“So you two know each other?” The owner stepped forward in surprise.

Meng Zhao threw an arm around Xu Nanxiao and said, “Haha, we’ve known each other for years. I’ve watched this kid grow up—”

“What’s wrong with the car? If you don’t tell me, I’m not fixing it.” Xu Nanxiao cut him off, annoyed.

Meng Zhao immediately stopped his chit-chat, walked over to Xu Nanxiao, and explained the situation.

After listening, Xu Nanxiao inspected the car, then climbed into the driver’s seat to try starting it. After that, he popped the hood and leaned into the engine bay.

While working, the thin muscles of Xu Nanxiao’s back rippled beneath the tight tank top, his forearms tightening with every turn of the wrench, like a sleek, powerful leopard.

Faced with such a sexy physique, even those without that particular inclination couldn’t help but take a few extra glances. Meng Zhao noticed the two young officers staring fixedly, probably wondering how to get a body like that.

Meng Zhao casually asked, “You know how to fix cars too?”

“I studied it back when I was into racing. Haven’t done it in years, but after brushing up online, it’s coming back to me.”

Just thinking that these hands—which had once worked on million-dollar race cars—were now servicing his beat-up old clunker made Meng Zhao feel like its value had gone up considerably.

It had to be said—Xu Nanxiao truly excelled at whatever he put his mind to. Soon, the car was fixed.

“Great! Now we can still make it back for dinner at the station.” Meng Zhao was thrilled.

“We still have to eat at the station?” The two young ones groaned in unison.

Just then, Ye Qiaozi stepped forward and said cheerfully, “Since you’re Brother Xu’s friends, please stay for dinner tonight. My uncle runs a home-style restaurant nearby—don’t be shy.”

“We’re not friends…” Xu Nanxiao muttered under his breath.

Meng Zhao actually wanted to catch up with Xu Nanxiao, and since the owner had offered a bridge, he didn’t decline. The group followed the owner to her uncle’s small restaurant.

As soon as they pulled open the glass door, two young men were already sitting inside. The owner introduced them—one handled car washes, the other phone repairs; both were Xu Nanxiao’s coworkers.

Everyone exchanged brief introductions and started eating.

It had to be said—though the place was rundown, the cook had real skill. The sizzling aroma of hot oil with garlic and scallions wafted out, the red meat glistening in soy sauce, full of wok hei.

“What? Officer, you’re a friend of Nanxiao’s from Beijing?”

“Man, so you’re really from Beijing? Then why come back to a small town? That’s a downgrade.”

Xu Nanxiao took an impatient swig of beer. “Didn’t I tell you? I came here for something.”

“You keep saying you came for something, but it’s been two years and we’ve never seen you do anything about it.”

“…It’s not time yet.”

“Tch, tch, tch—I bet you couldn’t make it in Beijing and came here to coast.”

The meal was lively, and the owner even threw in a few extra dishes. After a few rounds of drinks, the younger men got into a heated game of finger-guessing.

Xu Nanxiao didn’t join in; he just watched from the side. After a while, he used smoking as an excuse to step outside for some air.

He stood under a streetlamp and lit a cigarette. As smoke drifted from his lips, he half-closed his eyes, as if not exhaling smoke but shedding some weight.

“Why did you come out here?”

Suddenly, Meng Zhao’s voice came from behind.

He walked up beside Xu Nanxiao and held out his hand. “Give me one.”

Xu Nanxiao pursed his lips, handed over the last one, and—under Meng Zhao’s insistent gaze—reluctantly lit it for him.

Meng Zhao took a deep drag, pinched the cigarette between his fingers, and let out a chuckle. “Alright. Seeing that you’re doing well, I feel at ease.”

Xu Nanxiao shot back, “Why wouldn’t I be doing well?”

“Because… after what he did to you, I was worried you’d have psychological scars and wouldn’t trust anyone again.”

Xu Nanxiao snorted coldly, staring into the vast darkness ahead. “Why would I mess myself up over Ying Yusheng?”

Meng Zhao hadn’t planned to bring up that name, but since Xu Nanxiao said it so casually, he figured Xu Nanxiao was completely over it.

So Meng Zhao lowered his voice and asked, “Have you seen him since?”

“No.”

“Then did you know he resigned?”

Xu Nanxiao’s hand holding the cigarette stopped. Ash fell in tiny specks, like snow.

“No,” he said.

“Because of physical and mental health reasons—he couldn’t continue the job, so he quit. The old dean went to his house personally to try and talk him back, but couldn’t. In the end, they gave him an unpaid leave of absence. But for two years now, not a word.”

“Who cares. Maybe he got tired of work and went home to enjoy life. He’s got shares in his family’s business—he doesn’t live off a fixed salary.” Xu Nanxiao said flatly.

“True.”

Silence settled between the two grown men.

Finally, Meng Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Nanxiao, two years ago, when Ying Yusheng was stabbed and hospitalized—was it you?”

“So what if it was?” Xu Nanxiao didn’t deny it, raising an eyebrow slightly. “Captain Meng going to arrest me?”

“No. Ying Yusheng refused to admit it was you, and it’s been years anyway.” Meng Zhao said. “I just don’t understand—since you were going that far, why didn’t you just leave with us back then? Were you afraid of getting us involved…”

“No.”

“…You didn’t have to deny it that fast. I’m a little hurt, brother.” Meng Zhao let out a long sigh and waved his hand. “Forget it. Then why?”

“Didn’t want to owe you a favor. And…” Xu Nanxiao stared at the cigarette burning down, then said in a low voice, “What happened between him and me—I didn’t want outsiders butting in.”

Meng Zhao was stunned.

The streetlamp cast a small circle of dim yellow light, and the noise from the restaurant came muffled through the glass, like another world.

After eating and drinking their fill, Meng Zhao left with his two young officers. As the car started and slowly pulled away, he stuck his head out the window and waved at Xu Nanxiao. “Bye, Nanxiao. I’ll come see you again when I have time.”

“Don’t come!” Xu Nanxiao waved back, then flipped him off.

Meng Zhao didn’t take it personally and laughed as he pulled his head back into the car.

After Meng Zhao and his group left, it was getting late. Ye Qiaozi announced that everyone should call it a night and head home.

Knowing Xu Nanxiao didn’t have a ride, Ye Qiaozi asked, “Brother Xu, want me to give you a lift on my scooter?”

“No, I’m going to the convenience store to buy smokes.”

“Okay, be careful.”

When Ye Qiaozi first told him to be careful, Xu Nanxiao had been dismissive. Let alone a boxing champion—even an ordinary grown man shouldn’t have any trouble walking a dark road at night.

But soon, he realized he’d been too hasty.

Some roads in town had no streetlights. In pitch-black darkness, you could only use your phone as a light. If someone were hiding in the bushes and jumped out with a club, it would indeed be hard to defend against.

But for some reason, his mind was in turmoil tonight, so he absolutely had to have that cigarette.

After walking for what felt like ages, Xu Nanxiao finally found the nearest convenience store. The auntie was about to go to bed but got called up by Xu Nanxiao. She threw on a jacket, grumbling as she came to open the door.

Xu Nanxiao bought a pack of Xuanhe Gate cigarettes and gave the auntie fifty yuan.

“I’m telling you, you should really quit smoking. Such a handsome young man—stay away from that stuff.” Despite her nagging, she turned and went to the shelf to get his cigarettes.

“If I quit, what would you make?” Xu Nanxiao said. “Keep the change—give me a box of your sleeping pills.”

“Get your sleeping pills from the community clinic.”

“I’ve been too busy to go. I’m out of mine—just give me some of yours for now.”

“What, still can’t sleep?”

Xu Nanxiao rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, haven’t really slept in days.”

“Ah, I’m old—it’s fine if I take pills. But you’re young—what’s got you so wound up?”

[Seeing that you’re doing well, I feel at ease.]

Thinking of Meng Zhao’s words, Xu Nanxiao couldn’t help but wonder—was he doing well?

Of course he was.

The small town had low stress, and his salary was enough. The boss was a laid-back homebody who was easy to deal with, and his coworkers had good personalities—they often went out for BBQ and fishing after work.

So he had nothing to be wound up about.

The auntie slapped the sleeping pills on the glass counter. “Take ’em and go. I was trying to sleep and got woken up twice.”

Twice?

Who else would come to this remote, isolated convenience store in the middle of the night?

Xu Nanxiao unwrapped his cigarettes as he pushed open the iron gate, the old hinges groaning. Suddenly, he noticed someone standing at the other end of the steps—separated by the full width of the storefront.

The yellow bulb above buzzed and flickered, stretching and contracting the person’s shadow in the unsteady light, their face blurred in the wavering glow.

He didn’t move. Neither did the other person.

But the next second, Xu Nanxiao made out who it was. His eyes widened, and he felt his heart ripped open—one half turning into a lifeless, still object, the other half pounding violently out of control.