EIP 85

Ming Qi and Zhong Qing had speculated about the relationship between Mr. Zhou and Major Yong before. They’d considered all kinds of possibilities, some reasonable, some far-fetched. With Major Yong heading to the battlefield, leaving the two of them behind to watch over Zhao Jun, Zhong Qing once told Ming Qi that maybe they were lovers. Ming Qi neither confirmed nor denied his guess at the time.

Now, seeing Zhou Jun lying in bed, his face deathly pale from excessive blood loss, Ming Qi knew Zhou Jun had clearly heard the news. He was sure of it. Yet Zhou Jun looked dazed, quietly leaning against the bed without saying a word for a long time.

The two of them had stayed behind due to the secrecy of their mission. Now that their commanding officer was dead, would the mission continue? Would they be called back? If they were, what then? All their efforts over these past days would amount to nothing.

Xiao Fu who suddenly cried out, rushing over to pry open Zhou Jun’s right hand. The IV needle there had punctured his thin skin, blood spilling out as he clenched his fist too tightly. Zhong Qing took a step forward, but Ming Qi stopped him, shaking his head. The two quietly left the room.

Zhou Jun seemed utterly numb, as if he couldn’t feel any pain. No matter how Xiao Fu tried, he wouldn’t loosen his grip. Zhou Jun thought, What’s the matter? I just want to think for a moment. At that moment, nothing from the outside world could reach him. After hearing the news about Yong Jin, his mind had sunk into a fog.

It didn’t feel real. It was probably just a false report. Then he thought of his dream: the pocket watch broken in two, Yong Jin hesitating to speak. How could he possibly be dead? The last time they met, Yong Jin had said he wanted to stay in his heart forever. Zhou Jun stared blankly for a long time before reality finally pierced through, flooding his senses.

He heard Xiao Fu and the doctor’s voices, smelled the medicine, and felt the pain. But the pain wasn’t from his hand. It was the suffocating ache in his chest, the same one he’d felt before being admitted to the hospital. He looked at Xiao Fu and asked softly, “It’s false, isn’t it? They always get things wrong. How could no one survive? What really happened?”

Ming Qi and the others weren’t sure of the details. They weren’t on the frontlines, and the telegram had been brief and to the point. Zhou Jun nodded. “That’s what I thought. Just a message, I don’t believe it. Unless they’ve turned over every body, he’s not dead.” He sounded calm, his tone firm. “In the chaos of war, it’s normal for news to be inaccurate. And besides, this is Yong Jin. How could he be dead?”

His attitude was almost convincing enough to sway Ming Qi and Zhong Qing, who began to wonder if Zhou Jun might be right. Zhou Jun turned to Ming Qi. “I may need a favor from you.” Ming Qi lowered his head. “Please, go ahead.” Zhou Jun said quietly, “I don’t know what department you’re from, but if you hear anything after you go back, please let me know. I will find a way to repay you.”

Then he sat on the bed and slowly bent forward. “I’m begging you.” Ming Qi hurried to support him. “Mr. Zhou, there’s no need to say that. We understand. Please take care of yourself.”

After they left, Xiao Fu stood by with a complicated expression. “How are you going to repay those two officers? And who even are they?”

Zhou Jun gave a weak smile. “Yong Jin’s people.”

Xiao Fu fell silent for a moment before Zhou Jun spoke again. “Why did you stop them?” Xiao Fu shifted uncomfortably, about to answer when Zhou Jun continued, “Afraid I’ll recklessly go looking for him and forget I’ve taken two bullets? Fu-ge, I’m not that far gone.” Xiao Fu sighed. “Well, now both you brothers are in the hospital. What’s going to happen to the business?”

Zhou Jun stayed silent after Xiao Fu left a pack of cigarettes for him, suggesting he take some time to calm down. Xiao Fu needed to call Zhou Yan anyway. After all, Zhou Yan had received the same news. However, he wasn’t allowed to leave the ward, and his anxiety must have been unbearable. When the call connected, Xiao Fu quickly reported Zhou Jun’s condition.

“Is he alone now?” Zhou Yan asked.“Yes,” Xiao Fu replied. “He seems calm enough. There shouldn’t be any major problems.”

The other end of the line went quiet for a moment before Zhou Yan said, “My brother… If he really loses it, you won’t even notice.” Xiao Fu didn’t understand what he meant until he returned to the hospital room.

The room was empty. The bed was in disarray, with the patient gown carelessly draped over it. Xiao Fu rushed to check the wardrobe, only to find all of Zhou Jun’s belongings gone. He had run away!

Cursing under his breath, Xiao Fu bolted out of the room, determined to catch up to Zhou Jun. At Zhou Jun’s current speed, he thought he’d surely catch him. But as he dashed out, the bathroom door in the hospital room quietly opened.

Zhou Jun stepped out, draped in the black coat Xiao Fu had left behind, leaning on a crutch. Calmly, he turned away from Xiao Fu’s direction and made his way out of the room, stealing a wheelchair on the way.

Using the wheelchair felt surprisingly easy for Zhou Jun. He hadn’t thought about what to do next. He only knew he couldn’t stay in the hospital. He had to leave. Yong Jin was still waiting for him, maybe injured somewhere, waiting for someone to find him. He needed to move faster. What if he was too late?

As he approached the hospital exit, hurried footsteps came from behind. A hand gripped the wheelchair’s handle tightly, forcing Zhou Jun to lean forward. He tried to walk, but his injuries made it impossible to stay upright, let alone break free from Xiao Fu and the doctor’s grip.

They dragged him back to the room. The doctor attempted to administer a sedative, but Zhou Jun grabbed Xiao Fu’s arm. “I’m fine. Don’t sedate me.” Xiao Fu’s face was ashen. “You’re not fine!” Zhou Jun snapped, struggling against them. “I said I’m fine! Let go! Don’t touch me!”

The needle pierced his skin, and the medication slowly took effect. Zhou Jun’s body went limp, his wild anger fading. His gaze grew unfocused, but his voice remained stubborn. “He’s waiting for me… waiting for me to find him.”

Xiao Fu sighed heavily and turned to the doctor. “Can your hospital enforce stricter measures? He’ll try to escape again… No, he’ll keep trying until he succeeds.”

From that point on, Zhou Jun was under strict supervision. Two weeks passed, and he made no further attempts to leave. Instead, he sat silently by the window every day, staring out at nothing in particular. Xiao Fu visited twice during this time but was too busy to stay long.

Unable to watch over him personally, Xiao Fu hired two tall attendants—nominally caregivers but effectively guards. Then Ming Qi came by again with news. Governor Yong had sent people to search for Yong Jin’s remains. The good news was they hadn’t found him yet. The bad news was that the battlefield had been heavily bombarded, leaving few intact bodies. Yong Jin’s chances of survival were slim.

A week later, Ming Qi returned with a tattered pouch. The pouch was scorched, with only half remaining, and it was stained dark red with blood. The embroidery on it read “Zhou.” Zhou Jun held the pouch in his hands, staring blankly at it.

Ming Qi hesitated before speaking. “They found this… on him. The Governor wanted it cremated with the body, but I thought… you might want it.”