Chapter 148: Sharing Life and Death, Close as Brothers!

Chapter 148 Through Thick and Thin, Brothers to the End!

Guan Yingjun cradled Jian Ruochen's face, his breathing ragged. After a long moment, he responded in a low voice.

The Police Force's Special Duties Unit arrived at the gold shop entrance, cuffing the suspects and securing the scene.

Fang Kaichang glanced at Guan Yingjun, then at Jian Ruochen, before his eyes flicked over to Chen Yunchuan.

This… this relationship seems a bit off…

Who knows how Director Le's family will react.

He stepped forward with a hearty laugh to smooth things over: "Impressive, truly impressive. You all from the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit really are in it together, thick as thieves!"

Guan Yingjun gently rubbed Jian Ruochen's face, which was cool from sweat and wind, suppressing the urge to kiss him right then. He said quietly, "Mr. Fang, I'm taking him to get patched up."

"Okay," Fang Kaichang replied.

Only after Jian Ruochen was led away, an arm around his shoulder, did the team who had cuffed the robbers and the others seem to fully grasp what had just transpired.

It was too harrowing, too perilous.

Even Fang Kaichang was still shaken. These robbers were seasoned criminals, and their snipers had been completely blocked, with no chance to take a shot and save anyone.

If Guan Yingjun hadn't taken that unexpected shot from the building, eliminating the robber, Jian Ruochen would likely have been in grave danger.

The two media teams on-site were also stunned into silence.

Chen Zhuyao, known as STN's "Golden Tongue," was the first to react. She asked her junior colleague, "Tang Tang, did you get that shot on camera?"

Tang Shiyao, her eyes fixed on the robber's corpse, nodded blankly.

Chen Zhuyao instructed, "Take it back to the tech department for editing. This will be the lead story on tonight's prime-time news."

"Okay," Tang Shiyao replied, then turned to look for Jian Ruochen. "Where's the boss? Should we go interview him?"

"No need," Chen Zhuyao said softly, recalling Detective Guan's embrace as he pushed through the crowd. "Good thing this wasn't live..."

Tang Shiyao didn't catch it clearly: "What?"

"Nothing. Just interview the other officers. As for Detective Guan and Mr. Jian… let's give them some time to rest."

"After interviewing the other officers, just film the police wrapping things up."

Tang Shiyao nodded and set up the camera next to Lin Yazhi.

By then, Lin Yazhi had already had her wounds treated and was giving a detailed statement.

She recounted everything that had happened inside the old gold shop from beginning to end.

Fang Kaichang's expression grew even more astonished. "So… Jian Ruochen saved the shop assistants and other civilians inside by using the dead robber's walkie-talkie to communicate with the others, diverting their attention?"

Lin Yazhi said, "You could say that."

Fang Kaichang praised, "That young man is remarkable."

So young, yet he remained calm in such a situation, made quick decisions and judgments, and didn't flinch when he took down the criminals.

During negotiations with the robbers, he was fearless and resolute.

This time, there were no casualties.

The three members of the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit inside the gold shop and ICAC's Inspector Liu were crucial.

But ultimately, it was Jian Ruochen's courage, meticulousness, decisiveness, and trust in his comrades that made the difference.

Jian Ruochen diverted the robbers to rescue the hostages, Lin Yazhi escorted the hostages, and Liu Qishang provided machine gun cover.

When they realized they were running low on bullets, Jian Ruochen immediately shot a robber to force a negotiation, followed by Guan Yingjun's final, fatal shot.

Each step seamlessly connected, creating a textbook-perfect, golden response!

The calm brought by adrenaline gradually faded.

All the Police Force officers began to sink into a feeling of delayed fear.

If Jian Ruochen had been harmed by these robbers in Hong Kong, given his importance, the entire group would have been held accountable. Fang Kaichang would have been the first in line, possibly even losing his job!

Fang Kaichang wiped his face and leaned in to say to Lin Yazhi, "From now on, security in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Tsim Mong, and the Central Avenue area near Hong Kong University will be handled by our Police Force. I'll deploy more PTU patrols on motorcycles, providing 24-hour coverage."

That was too close.

Almost lost my job right there!

Lin Yazhi was happy to take it easy: "Perfect. The funding for West Kowloon isn't even enough for solving cases anyway."

Fang Kaichang gave an awkward chuckle.

The officer taking the report finished with Lin Yazhi and Liu Qishang, then looked around with his pen.

Huh? Where did Consultant Jian and Detective Guan go?

·

Jian Ruochen was having the wound on his hand treated in the medical van.

The medical officer carefully used tweezers to remove the glass shards embedded in the wound, cleaned it, and sprinkled it with medicinal powder.

Jian Ruochen didn't make a sound, only letting out a soft hiss when the pain became too much to bear.

Guan Yingjun's heart ached with a dull pain as he stared at Jian Ruochen's injury, wishing he could take the pain himself.

The medical van was so quiet that only the faint sounds of medical instruments clinking against dishes could be heard.

"All done," the medical officer said. "Don't get it wet when you go home. This glass shard went in pretty deep, and getting it wet could leave a scar. Reapply the powder every three hours to keep the wound surface dry and avoid sticking to the gauze."

Guan Yingjun spoke up: "Got it."

The medical officer paused slightly, glancing at Guan Yingjun's hand resting on Jian Ruochen's shoulder, then ventured to add a bit more. "Stick to bland food for a while. It'll help with the healing. Avoid things like chili and soy sauce."

Jian Ruochen's cool, composed expression, maintained since the treatment began, began to crack.

He protested, "I think—"

"Understood," Guan Yingjun cut in. "Thank you."

The medical officer watched the scene unfold, silently marveling to himself.

If you live long enough, you really get to see everything!

The genius who returned to the country at 18, ventured alone into the drug trade at 22, and didn't even care about his only uncle, now actually has someone he holds dear in his heart.

How strange.

That old Le Jinwen is still kept in the dark.

Heh! That old man couldn't stand him showing off about his granddaughter a few years ago, dreamed of being the honorary grandfather of Guan Yingjun’s child.

Now that's all out the window!

The medic thought, as if having uncovered a huge secret, a weirdly excited and oddly tender smile curled at the corners of their mouths, making Jian Ruochen beat a quick retreat from the ambulance.

The ambulance was parked at the very end of the police motorcade, with its blue and white body, pretty inconspicuous.

This fleet separated the battlefield ahead from the already deserted shops in the rear, forming a natural barrier.

They didn't head back right away.

Jian Ruochen noticed that Guan Yingjun’s mood was a bit off.

He stopped and pulled Guan Yingjun with his good hand, "I’m fine, look at me."

Guan Yingjun held onto him, but his hands were still shaking, as if all the panic and fear in his heart were concentrated in these hands.

"I know," Guan Yingjun turned around and pulled him into a tight hug.

He pressed his forehead to the side of Jian Ruochen’s neck, his back bent over, "Nothing can happen to you."

Actually, once his uncle got married, he knew he no longer had anyone in this world whom he could get close to without holding back.

No matter how close Le Jinwen and Chen Yunchuan were to him, they were still from different families.

Le Jinwen always saw him as a responsibility, and Chen Yunchuan, influenced by him, still hadn't started a family.

But that didn’t mean they didn’t want to.

Jian Ruochen was the only person in this world that he could call home.

Guan Yingjun’s trembling breath was hot against the side of his neck.

Jian Ruochen raised his hand and gently patted his back. After a while, he felt a slight dampness on his shoulder.

He went still for a second.

He's… crying?

So even someone like Guan Yingjun could shed tears.

Jian Ruochen didn't know what to do, his hand pausing for a moment on Guan Yingjun’s back.

The next moment, Guan Yingjun pulled back, and a wet, desperate kiss landed on him.

His lips touched Jian Ruochen’s forehead, the corners of his eyes, eyebrows, the tip of his nose, and his cheeks, as if confirming his existence.

Jian Ruochen was too stunned to react.

The afternoon sunlight fell, making him feel lightheaded.

Just on the other side of the vehicle.

Behind them were the busy police officers of the Police Force.

Jian Ruochen thought for a moment, then grabbed the front of Guan Yingjun's shirt and kissed him back.

Their lips met.

The kiss was pretty intense, like they were fighting, with neither backing down. Jian Ruochen leaned against the vehicle, his tongue sliding against Guan Yingjun’s.

Guan Yingjun let him, only pulling away after a while, saying softly, "Don’t provoke me. When we go back tonight…"

Jian Ruochen panted, interrupting hoarsely, "Enough, we've still got statements to give."

His tongue was almost swollen from kissing.

Guan Yingjun framed his face, "Next time something like this happens…"

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Everyone knew that if it happened again, Jian Ruochen would make the exact same decision.

Guan Yingjun let it go and said instead, "Forget it, let’s go give our statements."

The two went to the officers of the Special Duties Unit of the Police Force, gave their statements about the incident, and together analyzed the route and motives.

Nearby, the Public Relations Section eased up on the restrictions.

The media waiting outside immediately swarmed forward.

"Were there any civilian casualties in this incident? It’s reported that when the shootout started, there were at least 13 civilians inside the gold shop. Is this true?"

"If there were civilian casualties, should the Hong Kong Police Department be held responsible?"

"It’s said that the robbers took a hostage on-site, attempting to exchange for an escape vehicle but failed. What is the current condition of that hostage?"

"Was the Police Force’s response not timely enough? It’s reported that there were casualties among the patrol officers in Kowloon. May I ask…"

The officers of the Public Relations Section spread their arms to maintain order. Fang Kaichang, seeing this, rubbed his temples and turned to praise Jian Ruochen, "Your family’s media is much more sensible. They cut the live feed right away when told not to broadcast, cooperating very well with the police work."

Jian Ruochen smiled, "Mr. Gu’s Mei Dou News also did a very good job."

Fang Kaichang chuckled, "Alright, you and Detective Guan should leave quickly. Once the media surrounds you, it’ll be hard to get away."

He then stepped forward and said, "In this incident, there were no civilian casualties. The West Kowloon patrol officers were injured to varying degrees while bravely fighting the criminals, but none of the injuries were life-threatening."

"This is all thanks to the three West Kowloon officers and one ICAC officer who were on vacation near the old gold shop."

Fang Kaichang said, his chest puffed up with pride, "Among them, Consultant Jian of the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit acted decisively and bravely. At the critical moment, he stepped forward, diverted the enemy’s attention, rescued the hostage, and even took down one of the robbers. He also negotiated and saved two colleagues who were running low on ammunition."

"It’s said that he intends to join the Police Force after graduating from university. Our Police Force is exactly in need of such young talent! He…"

Fang Kaichang kept going, making Jian Ruochen, who was sitting in the car ready to go home, feel a headache building, "When did I say I was going straight to the Police Force?"

Guan Yingjun chuckled softly, "That’s just how he is. All the people in the Special Duties Unit were poached by Fang Kaichang from various departments."

He paused, then added, "Since you’re injured this time, the department will give us a long break. Don’t go to school recently either, wait until the security arrangements from the Police Force are in place."