122: very well-behaved

Yan Zhuohua was quite disheartened and slumped back onto the bed in frustration. The hospital room fell quiet again. Jiang Fuyue was busy with her experimental data, while Yan Zhuohua was racking his brains trying to figure out how to save himself.

This harmonious state of each being occupied with their own tasks lasted until after lunch.

"Qinghe!" Yan Zhuohua called Yan Qinghe as soon as he finished eating, "Have you had lunch yet?"

He was clearly rushing to act sweet and ingratiate himself with Qinghe, hoping for another rescue! Jiang Fuyue shot a slightly disdainful look at Yan Zhuohua's overly gentle and submissive demeanor, then went out to wash the dishes, preferring not to watch.

"I have," Yan Qinghe's voice came from the other end of the phone. "Cousin said this morning that once the painkillers wear off, you'll start hurting again. Are you uncomfortable now?"

"Not yet. I just finished eating too, and I'm feeling fine."

"Then you should take a nap while you still can. Otherwise, you won't sleep well tonight when the pain starts."

"Okay, I'll go to sleep right after this call."

Yan Qinghe on the other end suddenly chuckled softly. "Why are you so obedient today?"

Because I need a favor from you!

"I'm always obedient," Yan Zhuohua replied even more gently and submissively. "What time will you be back tonight?"

Yan Qinghe could guess the purpose behind this act of feigned obedience and sweetness, but he chose to gladly accept Yan Zhuohua's affectionate display.

"Not sure. It's quite busy today, I might have to work overtime."

Yan Zhuohua's face stiffened for a moment. *No overtime! If you come late, are you going to leave me alone to face Big Brother?*

"You really shouldn't work overtime. It puts too much pressure on the employees, and it's bad for their physical and mental health!" Yan Zhuohua earnestly advised, putting on a righteous front.

Yan Qinghe was amused by his serious act. "So, should I come back to the hospital early to keep you company?"

Yan Zhuohua feigned shyness. "I'd like that, of course."

Wasn't this taking advantage of the situation while pretending to be innocent? Yan Qinghe shook his head helplessly.

"Alright, I'll come back early. Now go to sleep!"

Having secured Yan Qinghe's promise, Yan Zhuohua happily put down his phone, feeling pleased, and prepared to sleep.

"Finished acting cute with your husband?" Jiang Fuyue finally came back in. "So happy? Did he promise to save you?"

"Mom! Were you eavesdropping on my call?!"

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I guessed it. Why would I need to eavesdrop?" Jiang Fuyue didn't spare his feelings. "Look at you, you even learned to act spoiled after getting married. I never knew you had this side to you before."

"...I got it from a friend." Time to throw a friend under the bus. "A teammate from my pro gaming days was way more spoiled than I am."

"Well, that's none of my business!" Jiang Fuyue poured him a glass of water. "Your cousin just brought this medicine. Take it before your nap."

Yan Zhuohua sat up to drink water and take the medicine.

"Also," Jiang Fuyue handed him a tissue, "the military is sending someone to ask about your situation during the kidnapping. You decide when you want them to come."

This was standard procedure for the investigation. Having been to the police station several times, Yan Zhuohua was used to it.

"Let them come after I wake up then." It was better to cooperate with the investigators as soon as possible and not delay their work.

"Will you be able to handle it then? Zhuoyi said you'll start feeling uncomfortable after you wake up." Jiang Fuyue was still worried about her child. "This case is over twenty years old anyway, there's no rush. Why not wait until you're discharged?"

"It's fine, the sooner..."

"Alright, take your medicine and go to sleep. We'll do this my way."

"Oh."

Not daring to argue further, Yan Zhuohua quickly lay down and closed his eyes.

*This child is so stubborn. He always has to push himself, do everything alone, and do it perfectly.* Jiang Fuyue quietly left the room, closed the door, and then frowned with a sigh. *Zhuoyang really should teach him what it means to have family you can rely on.*

Yan Zhuohua was sleeping relatively well for now, but Wen Hengtang hadn't rested at all since being captured over a day ago.

Whenever he tried to sleep, some bizarre noise would always come from the next cell, preventing him from dozing off. If this wasn't deliberate, he'd eat his own head!

"Wen Hengtang! Out. Interrogation." A soldier at the door called out to Wen Hengtang, who had just seized a moment to close his eyes.

...

In the interrogation room, the exhausted Wen Hengtang was handcuffed to a chair.

"Name, age, nationality."

Wen Hengtang mechanically repeated his answers.

"Anything you want to confess?"

*What kind of interrogation starts like this? You don't even say what I should confess to, and you ask me to confess?*

"Nothing?" Lin Fang nodded curtly after asking, not even waiting a few seconds. "Uncooperative. Take him back. That's it for now."

*Are you crazy? Are you actually crazy?* Wen Hengtang's eyes burned with fury as he screamed internally.

Unfortunately, no one cared about his thoughts. Wen Hengtang was thrown back into his cell.

"How's the interrogation of those small fries going?" Right after questioning Wen Hengtang, Lin Fang asked about the progress with the others.

"A few low-level ones talked, but the information is limited. The one responsible for data decryption was a private detective they hired at a high price. He had no idea what they were actually doing. Until we told him, he thought he was just gathering evidence for a cheating case."

...*With that kind of brain, and he's a detective? What kind of crew did they assemble?*

"What about the Japanese restaurant?"

"It involves a large number of foreign nationals. Both the arrests and interrogations are proving very difficult."

"Report it up the chain. Get the procedures done as soon as possible. Detain those people as spies for now. Don't lose any of them."

After arranging the next steps for the investigation, Lin Fang gave instructions to the guards watching the cells.

"Keep it up with Wen Hengtang. Don't let him get comfortable."

"Yes, sir."

After handling matters here, Lin Fang went to discuss with Yan Zhuoyang about strengthening project confidentiality and the protection of relevant personnel.

"Those small fries confessed. They got their information this time by tricking a journalist who attended the test drive."

"Can't be helped. Too many people, too many mouths. It's impossible to stop all leaks." Yan Zhuoyang pinched the bridge of his nose.

"How's Zhuohua doing?" After discussing work, Lin Fang asked about Yan Zhuohua, whom he had watched grow up.

"Just called Mom. The pain started again after his nap. He's probably tossing and turning in bed, miserable right now."

"Isn't he just bringing this on himself?" Lin Fang shook his head. "So many better methods, and he had to pick this one."

"You know how he is, always been like this since he was a kid." Yan Zhuoyang sighed helplessly. "Come on, let's go see him with me."

A little after 6 PM, as the sky hadn't completely darkened yet, Yan Qinghe finally returned to the hospital, much to Yan Zhuohua's eager anticipation.

"Aren't you uncomfortable? Why are you out here?" Yan Qinghe saw Yan Zhuohua leaning against the wall in the hallway waiting for him as soon as he stepped out of the elevator and hurried over.

"I wanted to see you sooner." Yan Zhuohua's face was somewhat pale, but he still looked at him with a smile.

...Even though he knew this person was lowering himself and acting submissive to seek protection, the feeling of being so flattered and pleased by his lover was indeed wonderful.

Yan Qinghe pinched Yan Zhuohua's nose. "What's the difference in these few steps? Why put yourself through the trouble? Let's go back quickly."

The two walked back to the ward arm-in-arm, leaving Jiang Fuyue, who was tidying up inside, speechless.

"It's only been about ten hours total since you last saw each other, and you talked on the phone in between. Are you already missing each other this much?"

"Mom," Yan Zhuohua replied with a radiant smile, "I'm just following your and Dad's example."

...

*This child is hopeless. Zhuoyang really needs to straighten him out properly!*

The Yan Zhuoyang, upon whom Jiang Fuyue had placed her hopes, finally arrived at the hospital after dinner.