SDT 49

Chapter 49 In the Mist

Two years ago.

That day, Lu Qifeng dragged Gao Yuting, who had secretly run off to Jiang City, back to Manjing in a rush. From the airport, he went straight to Haoran Cemetery. It was already dark. Lu Kongyun was still clutching a gun, standing motionless in front of a nameless gravestone. He looked more like a monument than the stone itself. The cemetery director didn’t dare go near him, afraid this lunatic’s gun ceremony wasn’t over yet and that he might suddenly lift the weapon and shoot him too. When Lu Qifeng arrived, he unloaded the empty gun from his brother’s hand, then, with Dr. Gao, dragged him straight to Gao Yuting’s clinic.

Lu Qifeng sat on the sofa in the ward, taking the file and cassette tape from the soldier.

He glanced at them. “Lu Kongyun, that idiot, went to Haoran Cemetery because of this?”

“Yes, sir.”

He waved his hand. The soldier saluted and left the room.

Lu Qifeng opened the interrogation record.

Because the “transnational biochemical smuggling case” involved both S country’s military and collusion from within and abroad, a joint investigation team was formed by the police, the military, and the National Security Bureau to identify who was responsible. They focused on the missing officer and the case of the disappearing medical kit. Lu Qifeng hadn’t been in Manjing, so he didn’t attend. Lu Kongyun, however, applied to join the hearing as an observer.

Lu Qifeng read carefully.

Those interrogated included the only two subordinates of Ding Qi who had survived after taking part in disposing of Yu Xiaowen’s body. Yu Xiaowen’s partner, Detective Xu Jie’s descriptions of the death scene were vivid and precise, easy to trigger emotional reactions, but the military interrogators present believed their accounts lacked solid proof. So they questioned Yu Xiaowen’s true position and identity.

After reading, Lu Qifeng agreed.

First, the ones who “disposed of the body” claimed Yu Xiaowen had disguised his appearance, so they weren’t even sure what he looked like. Xu Jie only saw “an arm falling down the valley.”

Second, if the man really had fallen from that confirmed location, then how could both the military and the police, who immediately launched a carpet search of the entire valley, still fail to find the body? Was that scientifically possible?

Most importantly, the mysterious black case that should have been in Ding Qi’s car disappeared together with Yu Xiaowen. Out of all the bodies and evidence at the scene, those two things vanished as a pair. Coincidence?

That was such an obvious clue even a pig could figure it out.

But of course, Lu Kongyun’s brain didn’t work like that.

Lu Qifeng looked at his brother lying on the hospital bed, eyes blank and fixed on the window.

Under the watchful eye of the secret service chief, Dr. Gao tried every possible treatment to stabilize the Alpha who had lost control for the second time.

“If I lose my brother, who should I blame?” Lu Qifeng asked as he stared at the man surrounded by machines.

“…You won’t! I’ll do my best, sir.” Gao Yuting wiped the sweat from his forehead and reported, “The sensory-blocking treatment must continue. It’s currently the only method that can fundamentally stop pheromone breakdown. Once his lab results come back, I’ll adjust the medication and inhibitors accordingly. I swear I’ll give it everything.”

“Still need to keep his senses sealed? His vision hasn’t even fully recovered since last time. Keep this up and won’t he go blind?”

“He shouldn’t—” Gao Yuting froze under Lu Qifeng’s cold stare and quickly corrected himself. “He won’t, absolutely won’t. Not while I’m here.”

He said carefully, “A top Alpha’s pheromone intensity naturally comes with a strong suppression function. Once that self-control collapses, regular treatments hardly work… this is the only choice left.”

As an experienced interrogator, Lu Qifeng knew that depriving someone of all sensory input could be far more damaging than any physical torture. Many who could endure pain would break down under that method, confess, lose their minds, or suffer permanent damage.

“In short, if he dies, you die. If he’s left with side effects, you’ll share them.” Lu Qifeng stared him down.

Gao Yuting froze. “…Yes, sir.”

Lu Qifeng then pulled out a stack of medical files from the evidence bag and said, “Take a look at this.”

Gao Yuting took them and began reading.

“You’re a doctor, you’ve seen plenty. Can someone with this condition survive?”

Gao Yuting looked at the document, unsure if it was appropriate to speak.

It was written clearly enough for anyone to understand, Yu Xiaowen was terminally ill, not long for this world. Judging by the dates, even if some miracle project abroad existed, it would need a long trial phase. But this person had obviously been receiving standard treatment domestically, and given the disease’s progression, he would already be dead by now.

“I’ve never heard of anyone surviving this,” Gao Yuting said, not just to Lu Qifeng, but to Lu Kongyun too. “I’m sorry.”

He glanced at Lu Kongyun. Someone like him would know the truth better than anyone, and Gao Yuting felt the weight of having to say something that would hurt him.

Then Lu Qifeng asked, “What about the records themselves, could they be fake?”

Gao Yuting hesitated. “There’s nothing in this world that can’t be faked. But this one looks complete, it doesn’t seem—”

“So if this file is real,” Lu Qifeng interrupted, “then that man’s definitely dead. Right?”

Gao Yuting nodded. “Yes.”

“Lu Kongyun.” Lu Qifeng glanced at his brother’s lifeless form on the bed and let out a cold, disappointed laugh.

The man on the bed said nothing, lost in thought.

Gao Yuting knew this madman could order him to heal his brother one moment and stab him the next. He looked at Lu Qifeng, but the man ignored it.

“No one’s finding that body because he’s not dead,” Lu Qifeng said flatly. “That little stray faked the medical file. It’s just his backup plan. His love for you is fake too, it’s revenge for rejection. If you ever find him alive, you’ll see I’m right. Don’t let him talk you into excuses. If he tells you some crap about secret missions or tragic reasons, show him the manpower and money wasted on his fake death and his so-called illness. Then put a bullet in his head. That’ll make up for everything you suffered. Got it?”

Gao Yuting felt his chest tighten. Looking at Lu Kongyun’s ghost-pale face, he could only walk over, sit beside him, and gently pat his arm. “…You know better than I do. You said you’d cooperate with treatment, remember? Stop torturing yourself.”

The patient still didn’t move.

After a long time, he finally spoke in a weak, strained voice.

“If I’d gone to Jiang City back then, he wouldn’t have had to prove his innocence. Even without Haoran Cemetery, that would’ve been fine.”

…

That night, Lu Kongyun lay on the bed in a luxury cruise cabin, half-awake, half-dreaming, sensations flickering between real and unreal. The balcony door was half-open, the night wind stirring the curtains.

He couldn’t sleep. Sitting up, he went to his suitcase, took a framed photo, and lay back down, staring at it. It showed a bridge. He thought for a long time.

He’d wondered before, maybe that person wasn’t found because he was still alive, just like Lu Qifeng said.

But then how did that illness make sense? And everything that happened after? If Yu Xiaowen were alive, he’d never let his colleagues suffer in grief and confusion. He’d search for the truth. He’d come back.

And also.

Lu Kongyun looked again at the picture in the frame, at the words written below it:

This city is so beautiful. I really love it. I’m so happy I got to come here with the person I love most ><

His eyes fixed on those last words.

How could he have left him behind…

How could he possibly have left him behind?

(Lu Qifeng: The file’s fake… His love’s fake too… Put a bullet in him… Got it?)

(Yu Xiaowen: Lu Kongyun, I miss you so much.)

“…” Lu Kongyun’s mind flashed with Dai Lanshan’s words from earlier that evening.

(Dai Lanshan: He’s very close with that Alpha.)

Another Alpha.

Close.

…

Yu Xiaowen: I want you.

Yu Xiaowen: …You’re the best.

Kiss me. That’s an order.

(It’s fake…)

!

Lu Kongyun felt terrible. It was like his illness was flaring up again. He inhaled, sat up, and looked at the clock by the bed. It wasn’t that late yet. He put on his clothes and left the room.

Under the hesitant stares of the staff, he asked for Hao Dali’s room number, went down to the lower deck, found the dorm, and knocked.

After a moment, a sleepy unfamiliar voice called out, “I didn’t lock the door, brother.”

Lu Kongyun froze for a second, checked the number, pressed his lips together, and knocked again.

“Man, I said—” The door opened. Da Guang stood there in nothing but sleep shorts, yawning. When he saw the unfamiliar guest, he stopped mid-yawn. But he’d already heard the rumors that Dali had bad luck today, got tangled with some rich guest. The guest fainted, yet somehow blamed Dali for taking advantage.

Could this be that entitled jerk, here to pick a fight with Dali?

Lu Kongyun was also surprised to see the young Alpha. “Is this Hao Dali’s room?”

Da Guang instinctively leaned back behind the door, wary of this Alpha radiating unpleasant pheromones.

“Yeah. But he’s out on patrol. Not back yet.”

Lu Kongyun glanced inside, and Da Guang quickly closed the door a bit. “Do you need something from him? You can tell me. I’m his roommate, I’ll pass it on.”

Lu Kongyun looked at him. “You’re an Alpha. Why are you sharing a room with an Omega?”

“There aren’t enough rooms for all of us guards,” Da Guang said. “Besides, we M Country folks aren’t that fussy about it. Back home we never separated that strictly. Not enough space or money for that.”

He gave the noble guest a quick once-over, then deliberately tried to speak up for Dali. “So, if my brother did anything that offended you, please don’t take it personally. He really didn’t mean it. Probably just cultural differences.”

The guest thought for a moment, then asked, “You know him well? How long have you two known each other?”

Da Guang’s brain spun fast, and he answered smoothly, “For years. He’s never messed with a guest before. We’re even from the same province.”

The first part was exaggerated, just to sound convincing, but the second part was true, according to Dali himself, they both came from the same province to find work.

The guest hesitated. “…For years? Same hometown?”

“Yeah.” Dagang yawned again. “Or you could ask anyone else. Everyone knows Dali’s a good guy.”

“….”

Lu Kongyun turned and walked away.

Da Guang stood there, confused for a moment, then shut the door. He immediately sent a message to Hao Dali: That pissed-off guest came looking for you! You weren’t here so he left!!

When Yu Xiaowen saw the message, he felt anxious. Lu Kongyun actually came looking for him.

And worse, he’d thought that as long as he avoided Lu Kongyun, things might blow over. But Lu Kongyun actually knew that annoying idiot Dai Lanshan.

Dai Lanshan was the persistent type. Ever since Ye Yisan returned from S country, Dai Lanshak had been showing up, poking around, investigating. Ye Yisan’s identity wasn’t simple, it was already a headache dealing with him. If Dai Lanshan knew Lu Kongyun, and Yu Xiaowen’s real identity got exposed, then not only him but Ye Yisan, and even Dai Lanshak’scunlucky older brother, would all be dragged into danger. And both of those men had once saved his life.

He grew more and more distressed thinking about whether Dai Lanshan would question Lu Kongyun about him, or if he already knew something. The more he thought, the tighter the wire in his mind pulled, cold sweat sliding down his back.

But what could he do that wouldn’t raise suspicion?

By the time he finished patrol and returned to his dorm that night, he still had no idea.

…

Lu Kongyun stood on the deck, staring at the sea. The night ocean was a vast, endless darkness that seemed to swallow everything.

When a female attendant passed by, Lu Kongyun turned his head and asked, “You’re from Mr. Ye’s estate too, right?”

“Yes, sir.” She immediately straightened up. “How may I assist you?”

“Do you know Hao Dali?”

“Yes.” She smiled lightly. “Captain of security. Dali’s a really good guy.”

“How long has he worked at the estate?”

She thought for a moment. “I joined later, so I’m not too sure. But anyone who’s a captain or supervisor usually has years of experience. If you have any complaints or concerns about his service, we’ll make sure it’s handled. Would you like me to help you find him so you can ask personally?”

The guest stayed silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“No need.”

When Lu Kongyun returned to his room, it was already past midnight.

Lying back down, he felt his emotions cooling, replaced by guilt and self-reproach. Just because he’d seen someone who resembled Yu Xiaowen, he’d immediately leaned toward Lu Qifeng’s cruel theory.

Regret wrapped around his heart again.