*Bai Li*, ---
It was a sumptuous meal; I had to admit. And it tasted even more delicious buying it with the stolen money of those goons. My troubled, hungry stomach was finally at peace. I heard Cocoa also grunt in satisfaction.
I wiped my mouth and asked Xin Lei, "How are we going to find Rong Zhengsheng?"
I heard the familiar tapping sound. "I have dropped him a message. He said to meet in Micro Pub in Dongsi 10th Alley. He has also said to be cautious."
Then I got a jarring question in my mind as I focussed on another point. "Your phone is working? Don't you think your friends can trace you if you use a sim card?"
Silence.
"Big brother Zhen keeps many unused sim cards for his investigation purposes. I grabbed some of them. I already threw my original card away."
I nodded. A sound plan indeed.
"We will throw that card once we meet him and use another if we need to contact."
After two seconds, "Yes, it is safe that way."
I asked, "What else do you know about Xin Zhen? It's strange. His warning rightly fitted in the context of Fu Ting's case. So is he helping Xin Nianzu? Or did he mean in regarding another case altogether?"
Once again, I heard the pitter-patter. "Missions in the Intelligence Service are confidential, so he never tells me about his cases."
I know about how different branches of public service works, so I already had a hunch.
"Alright. We will figure that too. For now, let's have a good night's rest."
I got up and felt my way towards the couch. I had already mapped the room and the general location of the bed, table, couch, bathroom, and the window.
Then I felt a tug at my left arm followed by Xin Lei's robotic message. "You are sleeping on the couch?"
That was a good question with a straightforward answer.
"Yes."
Truth to be told, I didn't suggest the same room only for us to stick together.
I liked the sweet candy smell she gave. It was now really growing on me. I liked her near me. Call me selfish.
"The couch is small."
'Naturally, it is for me with my six feet two inches height. I will have to cramp.'
I said, "I have slept in all kinds of places and on all kinds of things, big and small. Life in the army is all about adjustment and flexibility."
Xin Lei said, "I will sleep there. I'm average, and it won't be a problem for me."
I had kind of forced her to share a room with me. I should man up and sleep on the couch.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm fine. And you are the doctor among us. You need to stay fit for all three of us."
"Arf!" Cocoa agreed.
At least you could have tried to pull my leg towards the bed. You seem to have no problem dumping me on the couch.
Even Xin Lei was more sympathetic than you doggo!
I sensed a long silence and felt that she was thinking about something quite deeply.
Then I heard her message again. "We can share the bed and sleep at the edges. You are here for me. I'm not feeling nice about you sleeping on the couch."
'That will be a big problem. I think your sweet candy smell won't be too nice for my peaceful sleep or my heart.'
I waved my hand. "I'm fine. Like I said, I'm very flexible."
The discussion was over. Xin Lei said that Cocoa could sleep on the bed beside her.
Lucky bastard! He got a nice, fluffy bed and also a woman's company.
I settled on the couch, and as expected, it was a tight fit but couldn't complain. Time ticked by, but I found myself unable to sleep. I was only turning and tossing.
Then I heard Xin Lei's message. "Can't sleep?"
I said, "You can't sleep either?"
I waited.
"No. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good day for us."
"If your friends don't bother us, then it surely will be a good day."
But if they do, then this time I will 'nicely' ask them about their boss who is sending his men one after the other, seemingly crazy about catching Xin Lei.
One shot in between his brows and problem solved.
Then she asked, "If you don't mind, then can I ask you something?"
I figured it must be personal, either related to my blindness or my army discharge. I was hoping for the former.
"Shoot."
"Why did you have to leave the army?"
'I'm not in luck today.'
"I killed a civilian on duty. I failed a mission. I got a dishonorable discharge. Fourteen years in the army but I left with a stain on my uniform."
I didn't know what got over me, but I told her.
What answer was I searching for?
'Will she still want me to help her? Will she still want me beside her?'
There was a long silence.
I heard her typing again. "I know it hasn't been much time since I met you, but my instinct is telling me that you cannot be at fault."
I could finally breathe.
I see. I wanted to hear that answer all along.
Wait, was I holding my breath all this time?
'Cannot be at fault, huh? The army sure didn't think that.'
I laughed, not sure about what. Was it about the irony that an unknown woman trusted me whom I met just a few hours ago more than the army where I gave my fourteen years?
I said, "You shouldn't trust people so easily."
I heard a continuous tapping sound. "I feel safe with you. And a person who can give that feeling will not harm anyone unnecessarily."
"Mistakes happen. Human nature."
"Alright then, tell me. Do 'you' think that it was your fault?"
"What I think doesn't matter. Only evidence does. And evidence said that it was my bullet that hit the man."
"Why shouldn't it matter what you think? Dad says that every defendant has the right to prove himself innocent. Answer me. Do you think that it was your fault?"
I kept quiet. She didn't probe.
"No. It was not my fault."
I heard her again. "Then, you should strive to prove that. Life in the military is about keeping your life on the line to protect the country. It's about sacrifices. And after serving fourteen years in the army, constantly gambling with death, you should leave with pride, not with a stain."
My lips curled into a smile.
"I'm going to do just that," I said.
A few seconds of silence, and she said.
"And this time, I will help you."