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11.

"I must say your dad is quite knowledgeable. May I ask-" Jongin was about to ask more about his father, but stopped when Jaehyun signaled him not to. "Uh, may I ask what is your name again, young man? Excuse me, I'm not good with names."

Renjun raised his eyes and looked at Jongin, looking at him expectantly. He then looked at Jieun, who instantly gave him a small smile. 

"It's Huang Renjun, sir." He said looking into Jieun's eyes. Jieun too, silently looked back into his eyes. 

Jieun wanted to say something. She wanted to know why he always looked so lonely and in pain.  But she did not know what to say. Looking into Renjun's eyes, she felt that he understood what she wanted to say. No that can't be. Stop being delusional Jieun! It's just your mind playing tricks on you. 

Renjun on the other hand felt mysteriously drawn to her eyes. He could somehow sense that Jieun wanted to say something... ask something... Me. She wants to know more about me.

So he looked away; towards Jongin, who gave him a nod of approval. "I'll remember you from now on... Renjun." Jongin glanced at Jieun and smiled. "And no need to call me sir. Call me uncle Jongin, like Bomin and Jisoo do."

Jongin turned towards the other 3 boys. "Jaemin... Jeno... Haechan.... if I'm not wrong?" The boys nodded their heads. "You all can also call me Uncle Jongin."

Just then someone burst into the room. "Teach! The results are here!" His shirt displayed the logo of Neo City Police, so everyone immediately understood that he was an officer.

"Ah Winwin, nice timing. I was just telling them about the details of the case. Everyone, this is Winwin." Jongin said with a warm smile.

Winwin bowed and smiled brightly. "Hello everyone, I'm Detective Dong Sicheng. Forensic expert for Missing Persons Unit. Call me Winwin."

Everyone nodded their heads. Jisoo leaned over and whispered to Jieun. "Eun-ah, he's so handsome and cute!!"

Jongin chuckled. "Now now young ladies, my students are strictly off limits." Jieun groaned and playfully hit her dad. Jongin playfully winked and then shifted his attention to Winwin who stood smiling awkwardly.

"Go ahead Winwin."

Winwin nodded and looked down at the reports in his hand. The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned serious as everyone anticipated Winwin to speak.

"It was chronic arsenic poisoning. Chronic exposure to arsenic usually results in vitamin A deficiency, causing night blindness and heart diseases. The autopsy confirms that she had night blindness. We believe that it was her night blindness which caused the accident. The reports also state that she suffered from a cardiac arrest before she died."

Jongin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Hmm, that explains the froth near her mouth. And... did you say chronic arsenic poisoning?"

"Yes Teach. And night blindness."

Jisung's face scrunched up in confusion. "I don't understand...." Jaemin further added. "So the cause of death is cardiac arrest or car accident?"

Jongin let out a heavy sigh and looked at Taeyong knowingly. He stood up and patted Jieun's head lovingly.

"I think that's enough for today."

"What-"

"Let's talk tomorrow after you get discharged."

"I can get discharged already?" Jieun asked surprised.

"Why, you want to keep staying here?" Renjun commented.

"Of course not! In fact I want to run back to my house this instant!" Jieun said pouting slightly.

"Who's stopping you." Renjun muttered, his eyes back on his phone.

Jongin  smiled softly and made his way to the door. Before walking out, he glanced back one last time, looking at his children and their friends. He took in the cheerful atmosphere of the room before turning around and walking off. I just hope, this isn't him..... if it is... then I promise, I wouldn't let him get what he wants.

~~~ 

"Bomin, put me down. My feet are perfectly fine, I can walk by myself." Jieun said trying to get out of Bomin's arms as he carried her out of the car and towards her house.

Jieun had been discharged from the hospital around noon and everybody had insisted on accompanying her from the hospital to the house. Doyoung had headed over to the police station, after being called over for some urgent matter. 

"No can do. You have a fracture and you need to rest to let it heal completely."

"She needs legs to walk, not her arms." Renjun said leaning on the van. "Put her down."

Bomin narrowed his eyes at him but still carefully put Jieun down. He crossed his arms, watching Renjun follow Jisung and others into Jieun's home. "Why does he act like that?"

Jieun shrugged and then smiled, pulling the pouty Bomin along with her to inside her home.  

Everyone was seated in the living room but it was dead silent. No one knew what to say. Jaemin and Jisoo were silently glaring at each other. Bomin was staring at Renjun, who was conveniently busy with his phone. Chenle was busy helping Jieun prepare snacks and drinks in the kitchen. Jeno and Jisung were feeling awkward with all the silence.

"We are back!!!" Chenle screamed excitedly, carrying over a tray of drinks and Jieun followed while balancing bowls of snacks in her arms as her left arm was still in a cast.

"Let me get that." Jisung rushed to help his sister as others attacked the drinks.

Just the mere sight of drinks and snacks, brightened up the atmosphere and naturally everybody started talking, teasing and fooling around, except Renjun.

He sat their, talking as little as possible and occasionally glancing at Jieun. His eyes took in how her eyes were sparkling with joy, her lips in a smile as her melodious laugh filled his ears. She looked genuinely happy at the moment and that relieved him for some reason. 

He stood up and headed over to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Jieun noticed him leaving and followed him.

"Do you need help?" 

Renjun flinched at the voice, not expecting the girl to be behind him but when he turned out his face remained blank. "No."

Jieun shook her head. "You were trying to find a glass to drink water right? Let me get it for you." She smiled and walked past him, their shoulders touching briefly. Renjun reeled inside at the sudden contact, as his eyes followed her moments.

"I did not say anything."

"You didn't, but I knew it anyway."

"Your guess could have been wrong."

"But it isn't. Here." Jieun said offering him a glass of water. Renjun stared at her for a few seconds before taking the glass and gulping the water down. 

"You didn't have to."

 Jieun took the glass and turned around to wash it. "You are welcome."

"I never-"

"You are thankful. I can see it in your eyes. You just can't bring yourself to express it. It's okay. I understand-"

Renjun stared at her back, feeling the urge to say something to the girl. "T-thanks." He mumbled.

Jieun turned to face him with a bright smile. She was about to say something but just then Chenle barged in, whining about how everyone was calling for the two. 

"Okay, okay we get it Lele. We are coming."

Giving Renjun a quick glimpse, Jieun walked off with Chenle pulling at her hand to hurry up. Renjun silently followed behind.