See

For every agent of the Special Security Service, the normal procedure for completing a mission is as follows:

Go to the hospital in Te'an for a physical examination.

Provide the necessary treatment.

Submit the task report.

If there is evidence of capture, a closed-door investigation will be conducted to confirm whether there has been any defection or intelligence leak.

Chen Jiu had actually experienced all of this. At the time, he was lying in a special hospital, his wounds still healing, when he was forced to cooperate with the interrogation and repeatedly recall and describe the details of his capture.

He understood the necessity of the procedure, but under those circumstances, each recounting of the experience felt like a knife to the heart, leaving him feeling utterly hopeless.

He didn't want Steve to go through that again.

The flight from Sifies to Nutag takes ten hours. Steve was not fully recovered, but he couldn't sleep on the plane.

I feel apprehensive as I get closer to home.

Amidst immense anticipation and joy, he also felt a slight sense of fear.

He was afraid of his eventual breakdown.

He knew that his heart was now broken and scarred. He knew that although he could maintain a facade of normalcy, he was still in a state of deep stress.

He is far from truly over it.

Everything in Karim's cell haunted his mind like a nightmare every day.

He missed Chen Chao, but he was also afraid to face himself.

He feared that when they actually met, the overwhelming emotions would make him lose control of himself.

He was afraid he would lose control of himself, and he was afraid he would hurt Chen Chao.

"Chen Jiu, can you stay with me for a few days?" Steve asked somewhat uneasily on the plane.

Chen Jiu glanced at Steve and calmly replied, "My brother's villa doesn't have guest rooms, and I plan to return to the southwest after handing you over to him."

"So fast?" Steve exclaimed in surprise.

"The mission is over, isn't it?"

“But…” Steve wanted to say something, but realized he had no official reason to keep Chen Jiu. So he could only sigh and make a personal request:

"Although my body hasn't fully recovered, I'm not that weak anymore. If it's just Chen Chao and me in the villa, I'm afraid I might lose control and hurt him. It'll be better if you're here."

"There's nothing wrong with you beating him up," Chen Jiu replied matter-of-factly.

Steve stared at Chen Jiu in shock, finding it unbelievable.

Chen Jiu smiled indifferently: "I gave him a risk warning, and he accepted the risk, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Can……"

“I won’t get involved in your affairs. I’ve been through this, so I understand even better that you can only have him during this time. And if he can’t keep his promises, even I would want to beat him up. What’s wrong with you beating him up first?”

Steve laughed at Chen Jiu's words: "You weren't like this when I saved you in Siafis."

"Pain makes people grow," Chen Jiu said with a smile.

"But actually I don't want to add to his burden. And you shouldn't always think that he needs to take responsibility. I volunteered for this mission, and I am also responsible for myself. Although it's hard to accept this outcome now, I did consider it before I set off. After all, you did give me a warning."

“Steve, I won’t comment on his performance as a superior officer on this mission. But as your lover, he has to protect you; it’s his responsibility.”

"Your words didn't comfort me at all," Steve said helplessly.

"I know, but I'm not the one who can comfort you right now."

Steve turned to look out the airplane window and took another deep breath. He knew what Chen Jiu wanted to say, but he probably couldn't do it.

After all, regardless of his other identities, he recognized Chen Chao as his superior.

He and Chen Chao were never just lovers.

They returned to China on a civilian flight, but as soon as the plane landed, someone greeted them and led them through a special channel. A car was already waiting at the VIP exit.

It was rush hour, and the roads from the airport to the city center were extremely congested. Their car sped along the emergency lane without stopping.

Steve watched the city silhouettes recede outside the window, his breathing slowing, his heart pounding. He unconsciously forced himself to stay calm, adopting a mission-oriented mindset. He was genuinely afraid of losing control.

Chen Jiu saw all of this, but said nothing.

He knew that some locks on the heart could only be opened by specific people.

The car quickly stopped in front of the villa. Chen Jiu and Steve got out of the car together, and Chen Jiu went forward to open the villa door.

Steve saw Chen Chao, dressed in an impeccable suit, waiting for him in the entryway.

"Boss!" He quickly stepped forward and hugged Chen Chao tightly, almost suffocating Chen Chao.

"It's good that you're back." Chen Chao didn't use any force; he simply stroked Steve's hair gently, his soft voice masking his intense emotions.

Upon witnessing this scene, Chen Jiu exchanged a glance with Chen Chao and silently left the villa, closing the door behind him.

Then he got back into the car and told the driver, "To the airport."

His mission was over, and he was going back to the southwest.

Inside the villa, Steve buried his head in Chen Chao's neck, greedily inhaling Chen Chao's scent.

Chen Chao's scent, Chen Chao's body temperature, Chen Chao's embrace—all these warm and familiar things were like a silkworm's cocoon, gradually seeping into and enveloping him, bringing him boundless peace of mind.

He's back! He's finally back! He's finally back by his side.

He could finally possess himself again, no longer be without support.

"Boss, I miss you so much." Steve's voice was already choked with emotion.

"Lin Yu, I've been missing you so much I'm going crazy." Chen Chao's voice was also trembling. He kissed Steve's lips, forcefully taking everything.

Steve, as always, offered no resistance. He held Chen Chao's back tightly, reveling in Chen Chao's strength.

Everything seemed the same as always, lips entwined, saliva exchanged. The most familiar movements, the ones that best ignited their burning passion. Until Chen Chao kissed Steve's Adam's apple, Steve suddenly trembled and involuntarily raised his leg to knee him.

Chen Chao suddenly felt a burning pain in his stomach. He involuntarily clutched his stomach and bent over, his breathing becoming heavy.

Upon realizing what he had done, Steve's eyes instantly filled with deep panic and fear. He wanted to go forward and check on Chen Chao's injuries, but he was also afraid of himself.

Finally, he hurriedly took two steps back, putting distance between himself and Chen Chao.

"Boss...I..." He wanted to explain, but he felt that he couldn't bring himself to say anything. He couldn't control himself and did the last thing he wanted to do.

He hurt Chen Chao.

Chen Chao endured the initial sharp pain and struggled to regulate his breathing. He straightened up and tried to make his voice firm as he spoke: "Lin Yu, I'm fine. Come here."

Steve hesitated, unsure if he could control himself.

"I called you here!" Chen Chao emphasized.

A deep-seated obedience to Chen Chao's commands caused Steve's body to move involuntarily. He hesitated for a moment before standing back beside Chen Chao, looking at him with guilt.

"I'm fine," Chen Chao repeated. "Go upstairs to take a shower and change your clothes. I've taken the day off and I'll be with you for the time being."

“Boss…” Steve’s eyes reddened.

"Sweetheart, leave everything to me, don't force yourself. Go."

Steve finally nodded, turned and went upstairs.

Chen Chao looked up at Steve's retreating figure as he went upstairs, his heart breaking into pieces. Steve's psychological trauma was more severe than he had imagined; Steve didn't even have the strength to pretend to be perfect in front of him.

He could sense that Steve was trying to bring everything back to normal, but ultimately couldn't control it.

He had read Chen Jiu and Z0007's mission reports and knew roughly what had happened in Karim's territory. He had anticipated all the worst-case scenarios, but when he actually saw it, he still felt the pain.

His heart ached so badly that he wanted to run away.

But he knew he had to hold on; Steve needed him. His Lin Yu needed him now.

He's a gunman; he has to bear the consequences.

He knew what he had to do.

Chen Jiu said that gentleness and love alone are not enough to bring about rebirth from hell.

After showering, Steve habitually went to Chen Chao's dressing room to get some clothes. Only when the familiar scent of grass filled his nostrils again did he finally relax a little from the earlier panic.

Everything about Chen Chao could bring him a stable power without him even realizing it.

He longed to give everything to Chen Chao, and he also hoped to be completely possessed by Chen Chao. But the darkness that Karim had planted in his heart was something he himself dared not face, so he was even more unwilling to show it to Chen Chao.

He knew that Chen Chao loved him.

He also understood Chen Chao's kindness.

Therefore, he understood even more how deep the wound he had inflicted would be in Chen Chao's heart.

He didn't want Chen Chao to suffer with him. It wasn't Chen Chao's fault, it never was.

Steve changed his clothes and went outside, where he saw Chen Chao sitting on the sofa in the bedroom, looking at him with a gentle smile on his face.

“Come here and sit next to me,” Chen Chao said to him.

He obediently sat down next to Chen Chao, looked at Chen Chao, and hesitated before speaking, "Boss, just now..."

“I told you I’m fine.” Chen Chao’s eyes were full of comfort, and his voice was soft. “You should also know that an attack on the stomach is not a big deal, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

Steve knew, of course, that the stomach wasn't a place where serious injury could occur. But being attacked there would be very painful.

When has Chen Chao ever suffered like this?

He still felt guilty.

"Are you alright? Would you like to talk to me?" Chen Chao clearly didn't want to dwell on the previous topic any longer.

Steve lowered his gaze, thought for a while, and hesitated for a long time before finally speaking: "It's okay, boss, I just need some time."

"Really?" Chen Chao didn't believe it.

"real."

"Can I touch you now?"

These words caused Steve's muscles to tense involuntarily. He pursed his lips and the image of Karim touching him involuntarily flashed through his mind.

"Boss, give me some time. I'll get through this." Steve's fingers were starting to tremble.

How long will it take you?

"...one month."

"So how would you like me to help you?"

"Boss, I can handle this myself."

Steve stared at the ground, lacking the courage to meet Chen Chao's gaze. He wasn't lying to Chen Chao; he genuinely believed time healed everything. He trusted himself to get through it. He didn't want to drag Chen Chao down with something he could handle himself.

"Lin Yu, I thought you trusted me enough." Chen Chao's tone seemed to carry a hint of disappointment, and he subtly adjusted his aura as he spoke.

He stripped away his gentleness and tenderness, exuding a ruthless oppression. He sat up straight on the sofa and coldly commanded Steve, "Kneel at my feet!"