Red Light

Busy Night

When his men came back dragging the second bodyguard, they found Jiang Cheng standing next to the prone man with his hands clenched into fists.

"Pick him up and get him out of my sight." he barked.

He didn't want to tell them he couldn't get the man off the ground. The adrenaline rush from the fight was gone. Without it, he was dead tired and in pain.

"Sir? You need to go to the ER. Your nose is still bleeding pretty heavy. You may have broken it." It was the youngest of the three officers who had followed him. Zheng Fan Xing** was worried. The man before him was swaying slightly but seemed totally unaware of it.

"Let's get you back to your cruiser** and I'll drive you to the hospital, Inspector."

Jiang Cheng just nodded and started to walk back to the front of the building. He hoped no one could tell his muscles were trembling from exhaustion. He had hit the wall. There was nothing left. He no more than slid into the passenger seat and he was asleep.

Startled, Zheng Fan Xing's first thought was Jiang Cheng had passed out.

"Sir? Inspector?"

Jiang Cheng stirred sluggishly. Reaching into his pants pocket he pulled out a set of keys.

Handing Zheng Fan Xing the keys, he mumbled, "You drive." After that he was asleep again.

The officer looked at his Inspector. The handkerchief he had been holding to his nose on the walk back seemed to have done the trick and stopped the active bleeding but, at some point, the blood had been smeared across his cheeks accenting the bruises already showing.

Carefully, he laid the seat back and clicked the seat belt into place. Quietly, he closed the door.

As he walked around the car to the driver's side he pulled out his radio.

"This is Zheng Fan Xing. I'm taking the Inspector into the ER. I think his nose is broken."

The response was someone laughing. "Did you see what he did to the bodyguard? Holy shit! We'll be at the ER in a bit too. This guy just spit out a tooth!"

"Roger**." Zheng Fan Xing got into the car and looked at Jiang Cheng's knuckles. Both hands were raw, oozing blood from torn skin.

"Damn, boss." he muttered impressed.

Concerned the sirens would wake the Inspector, he only turned on the lights and headed for the hospital.
-----

Lan Wangji was watching Wei Ying draw. At his request, the detective had gotten some printer paper and a clipboard from the nurses station. They'd even found a pencil buried in a drawer for him. Now he was happily lost in drawing the people in the room. Nie Huaisang and Yu Bin smiling at each other. His ShiJie snuggled up with A'Yuan. Wangji's quiet still face.

After Jin Zixuan and Jiang Cheng's sudden departure, things had slowed to a concerned calm. Everyone was worried about Yu Bin so conversation was low and soft, hoping he could sleep for at least awhile.

Soon, ShiJie had A'Yuan in his pajamas and tucked in on the sofa. It wasn't long before he was asleep. It had been a tough day for him but he had perked up at the end. Seemed like Yanli's comforting magic worked on everyone.

"Any word?" Wei Ying asked.

"Not yet. I knew he was worried about Meng Yao but it never occurred to me Zixuan's father would actually attack him." Yanli replied fiddling with the bottom of her shirt unconsciously.

"Why haven't I met him? He wasn't at your wedding was he? Or did I just miss him?" Wei Ying questioned.

"He didn't attend. Sent a text saying he was ill but wished us every happiness. I've always wondered if he was pressured not to come. There's not much I would put past Jin Guangshan." Yanli's brows were slightly furrowed. It was as close as she got to showing actual distaste. "I like Meng Yao. He's a smart man. Best thing is, he seems to be kind. A good heart. Hopefully, that hasn't been damaged."