Chapter 19

The sound of waves crashing on the shore was exceptionally clear in the dead of night. A salty wind blew through the cracks in the guesthouse window, lifting a corner of the curtain to reveal the deep darkness outside. Chu Xiaoche tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His wounds were still throbbing, and what unsettled him even more was the anonymous text message he had received that afternoon—"You think you're safe just because you're hiding by the sea? The matter with Song Zhenhong isn't over yet."

He quietly got up, not wanting to wake Qi Zihao, who was fast asleep beside him. The boy's brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were having a bad dream, and there were still traces of tears on the corners of his mouth. He must have been too excited when he confessed during the day, or perhaps he was still thinking about the previous incident. Chu Xiaoche reached out and gently smoothed his brows. His fingertips touched something cool, and his heart felt a pang.

He went to the balcony, lit a cigarette, the flame flickering in the night. His phone screen lit up again; it was that same unfamiliar number: "If you want Qi Zihao to be safe, go alone to the abandoned dock to the west, and bring the negatives of that 'Factory Secrets' series you took back then. Remember, don't tell anyone, otherwise..."

Chu Xiaoche's hand tightened suddenly, oblivious to the cigarette burning his fingertips. He had accidentally taken those negatives years ago, evidence of the business alliance's illegal production. He had kept them hidden in a compartment of his camera bag, never telling anyone. The other party had clearly figured out his background, even knowing that Qi Zihao was his weakness.

He looked down at Qi Zihao in the room and made a decision. No matter what schemes the other party had, he couldn't let Qi Zihao get hurt.

As dawn broke, Chu Xiaoche quietly packed his things, leaving a note: "Zihao, I'm going to the beach to take pictures of the sunrise. I'll be back later." He hesitated for a moment, then tucked the set of film negatives into his pocket, gently closed the door, and disappeared into the morning mist.

When Qi Zihao woke up, sunlight was already streaming into the room through the window, and the spot beside him was already cold. He picked up the note, feeling a little uneasy. Chu Xiaoche would never leave without saying goodbye, especially not for something as important as shooting the sunrise. How could he not have invited him?

He immediately picked up his phone and called Chu Xiaoche, but no one answered. Qi Zihao hurriedly put on his clothes and ran to the beach to search everywhere, but he couldn't even see a trace of Chu Xiaoche. "Chu Xiaoche! Chu Xiaoche!" he shouted at the sea, but his voice was swallowed by the waves, leaving only his panic.

Hearing the commotion, Song Mingye and the others rushed over. "What's wrong, Zihao?" Song Mingye's heart skipped a beat when he saw Zihao's anxious expression.

"Chu Xiaoche is missing!" Qi Zihao's voice trembled with tears as he handed the note to Song Mingye. "He said he was going to photograph the sunrise, but I've been looking for him for ages and can't find him. I can't get through on his phone either!"

Song Linchuan immediately took out his phone and tried calling Chu Xiaoche, but no one answered. "Could something have happened?" he asked Song Mingye worriedly.

Song Mingye's face darkened. He took out his phone and activated the location tracking software—he had secretly installed it on Chu Xiaoche's phone out of concern for his safety. The screen showed that Chu Xiaoche's location was at the abandoned dock to the west, and the signal was very unstable.

"Oh no, we have to get to the dock!" Song Mingye grabbed Song Linchuan and ran westward first. Qi Zihao, Mu Nanjin, and Jiang Ziyu followed closely behind, their unease growing stronger.

The abandoned dock had been deserted for years, with rusty cranes standing on the shore like silent giants. The sea wind howled, whipping up sand that stung their faces. "Chu Xiaoche!" Qi Zihao shouted as he ran, his voice filled with despair.

Just then, the sounds of fighting came from not far away. Everyone rushed over and saw Chu Xiaoche surrounded by several men in black. His clothes were torn, and blood seeping from his wounds stained the hems of his clothes. He was tightly protecting his chest, clearly trying to protect the film negatives.

"Chu Xiaoche!" Qi Zihao shouted and rushed over, but was blocked by a man in black. Song Mingye and Jiang Ziyu immediately stepped forward to help, wrestling with the man in black. Mu Nanjin stood protectively beside Qi Zihao, watching their surroundings warily.

When Chu Xiaoche saw Qi Zihao, his eyes were filled with panic: "Zihao, what are you doing here? Let's go!"

"I won't go! I want to go with you!" Qi Zihao cried, trying to rush over, but Mu Nanjin held him back tightly.

In the chaos, a man in black pulled out a dagger and stabbed at Chu Xiaoche's chest. Chu Xiaoche instinctively dodged, but the dagger still sliced ​​through his arm, and blood gushed out instantly. Taking advantage of the man's momentary lapse in attention, he kicked him away, then pulled the film from his pocket and threw it forcefully to Qi Zihao: "Zihao, keep it safe! Don't let them get it!"

Qi Zihao quickly caught the film and held it tightly to his chest. Just then, another man in black attacked from behind. To protect Qi Zihao, Chu Xiaoche took a heavy blow and fell to the ground with a muffled groan.

"Xiao Che!" Qi Zihao rushed over like a madman, knelt beside him, and tears streamed down his face like a broken string of pearls. "How are you? Don't scare me!"

Chu Xiaoche struggled to open his eyes, reached out and stroked his cheek, his voice weak: "Zihao, don't cry... I'm fine..." His vision gradually blurred, and after taking one last look at Qi Zihao, he completely fainted.

Seeing that their goal had not been achieved and fearing the arrival of the police, the man in black hurriedly fled. Song Mingye immediately took out his phone to call the police and dialed an ambulance.

Qi Zihao held Chu Xiaoche tightly, trembling all over. Tears dripped onto his face, mingling with blood, a stark and glaring sight. "Chu Xiaoche, wake up! You can't die!" he cried out repeatedly, his voice hoarse. "We still have to watch the sunrise together, go to the art exhibition together, spend our whole lives together... You can't break your promise!"

Mu Nanjin and Jiang Ziyu stood by, watching this scene with hearts full of heartache. Song Mingye hugged Song Linchuan, his eyes grave. He knew this turmoil was not truly over; the mastermind was still lurking in the shadows, and their future remained fraught with uncertainty and danger.

The sound of the ambulance grew closer, breaking the silence of the dock. Paramedics lifted Chu Xiaoche onto a stretcher, with Qi Zihao following closely behind, still clutching the set of negatives in his hand as if he were holding the most important thing in the world.

As the sun rose higher, it dispelled the morning mist, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in everyone's hearts. The waves continued to pound against the dock, as if mourning this sudden tragedy. Qi Zihao sat in the ambulance, looking at Chu Xiaoche's pale face, and secretly vowed that no matter the cost, he would ensure Chu Xiaoche's safety.

As the evening breeze kissed the old windowsill, Chu Xiaoche was still in the emergency room undergoing treatment. Qi Zihao sat by the door, his eyes vacant, clutching the set of negatives tightly in his hands, as if they were his only hope. Song Mingye and the others stayed by his side in silence, the air thick with despair and unease.

They didn't know how long this battle against the darkness would last; nor did they know if Chu Xiaoche could pull through. But they knew that no matter how great the difficulties, they would stand shoulder to shoulder and face them together. Because they were lovers, family, and the most important people in each other's lives.