Chapter Nineteen: High Class

Although he was in the hospital, his injuries only required disinfecting and bandaging—they didn’t warrant a painkiller injection. He could only grit his teeth and bear it.

Outside, the sunlight gradually dipped lower, and the sky shifted from a glaring brightness to a dim ochre. Yan Xuan felt his stomach start to rumble. He’d had lunch with Gu Ming, but they’d eaten early and he hadn’t eaten much. The afternoon had been a whirlwind of running, fighting, and even killing a man—his energy was utterly depleted. Once his nerves relaxed, his fatigue and hunger hit him all at once.

The hospital food was infamously bad, and since they’d come in late, tonight’s meals were long gone. Yan Xuan pulled out his phone, its screen already shattered, and squinted to select a restaurant. Reluctantly, he abandoned his favorite spicy dishes and settled for something milder. Glancing at the young policeman who’d been guarding him all along, Yan Xuan felt a warmth in his chest and doubled his order.

About half an hour later, as the clock edged toward half past five, the young policeman suddenly pushed open the door. “Hey, how are you holding up?”

Yan Xuan looked at him with his uninjured eye. “I’m alright—what’s up?”

“I just asked around. Turns out you have to order hospital meals a day in advance. I’ll go buy us something. What do you want?” The officer lowered his head, waiting for an answer.

“I’ve already ordered food. Let’s eat together—I got enough for two.” Yan Xuan waved his phone. “Consider it your ‘protection fee’?”

The policeman grinned. “When did you order?”

“Earlier. It should be here any minute—” As he spoke, Yan Xuan’s phone rang. “It’s here. Can you grab it for me?”

“No problem.” The young officer took Yan Xuan’s phone and soon returned with the takeout.

Back in the ward, he placed the bags by the bedside table. “Are you sure you ordered right? There’s so much food!” As he laid out the dishes, Yan Xuan couldn’t help but swallow. He’d only noticed the price was a bit steep when ordering, but having just won five million in the lottery and now owning a sports car, he hadn’t dwelled on it. Now, seeing the generous portions, he found the price justified.

In the center was a sweet-and-sour tomato fish, flanked by stir-fried eggs with vinegar, spicy dried tofu with peppers, sautéed potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers, plus a house specialty Sichuan-style pickled appetizer and two boxes of rice. The restaurant even threw in two bottles of cola.

Clearly, the restaurant assumed the order was for at least two people.

Yan Xuan chuckled awkwardly. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

The young policeman pulled up a chair across from Yan Xuan and helped him unwrap a pair of chopsticks. “Man, you’re really living it up in here. I’ll transfer you the money later.”

Yan Xuan waved him off. “No need—call it a thank you for guarding me all afternoon. Let me show my gratitude.”

The meal cost nearly two hundred, but Yan Xuan had no intention of taking the money back.

“In that case, thank you. By the way, I heard you’re an interior designer? When I buy a place, I’ll have you design it for me.”

“Deal! Cheers!” Yan Xuan raised his cola.

Men’s friendships often begin quickly; by the end of the meal, the two were already friends. Yan Xuan learned the young policeman’s name was Han Xin.

“When can I leave the hospital? Are you going to watch over me the whole time?” Now fully sated and relaxed, Yan Xuan felt his whole body at ease—perhaps the pain was ebbing, too.

“It’s hard to say,” Han Xin replied quietly, glancing at the door. “Your case isn’t simple.”

Yan Xuan tensed and lowered his own voice. “What do you mean?”

“At first glance, it looks like a robbery, but your injuries aren’t minor. We’ve checked—your clothes are ordinary, you don’t look like someone wealthy.”

Yan Xuan flushed.

He really was rather poor, though fortune had smiled on him these past days. Still, when he’d gone out that afternoon with Little Black to devour things, he’d dressed plainly in his older clothes.

“Exactly. Those men asked my name before attacking me. Any idea what their motive was?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I have my suspicions about who they are. I think they might be part of a criminal gang we’re currently pursuing.” Han Xin spoke in a conspiratorial whisper.

“What?” Yan Xuan was genuinely startled.

He was just an ordinary man, and yet he’d managed to clash with a criminal gang—and even kill one of them in self-defense?

“Don’t worry, I’m here to protect you.” Han Xin patted his chest reassuringly.

“Then I’ll treat you to dinner every day,” Yan Xuan said, his survival instincts strong. “Just don’t leave me.”

That night, Han Xin set up a folding bed right in Yan Xuan’s hospital room to keep watch.

Fortunately, Yan Xuan’s injuries weren’t too severe. After two days in the hospital, apart from the bruises that made him look rather alarming, his eye swelling had subsided and the concussion was no longer an issue.

The female officer who’d visited earlier returned to have him help with a composite sketch.

But Yan Xuan could only recall the driver who’d asked his name and the one he’d killed in self-defense. The third assailant he couldn’t picture at all.

“Officer, can I go home now?” Yan Xuan asked.

“You’re renting right now, correct?”

“Yes,” Yan Xuan explained his situation.

She considered for a moment. “Have you thought about moving? It would make it easier for us to provide protection. The threat against you isn’t over yet.”

“So the people after me are really wanted criminals?” Yan Xuan blurted.

The officer’s expression darkened. “Who told you that? Was it Han?”

“No, no, just my own guess. They looked like bad people. And yes, I’m fine with moving.” Although his address might not be known, his general whereabouts were likely exposed, so moving was necessary.

“Alright, pack your things and come with me. Han Xin will stay with you for a while longer—how does that sound?”

Yan Xuan didn’t own much, especially since Little Black had devoured all his useless belongings a few days prior. He packed his clothes into a single suitcase, stored anything valuable in his system’s inventory, and let Little Black devour the rest.

Leaving a note on the door to say farewell to neighbors he’d lived alongside for over half a year, Yan Xuan wheeled his suitcase downstairs.

“That’s all you have?”

“Yeah, I’m a man—don’t need much.” Yan Xuan smiled and climbed into the backseat with Han Xin.

“Good.” The female officer, Yuan Shanshan, was Han Xin’s superior and the deputy captain of the criminal investigation team.

The apartment she’d arranged for Yan Xuan was her own. Not only did she feel safer having him live there, but the complex itself was upscale and well-secured—ordinary people couldn’t get in.

Moreover, Han Xin already lived there, so Yan Xuan’s safety was assured and he could share the rent with Han Xin.

Yan Xuan cheerfully agreed, but when the car entered the residential compound, he was stunned.

This place was far too luxurious!