---
The next morning, Zhang Ning closed her call and put her phone aside as she lay on the hospital bed to rest.
She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. As she shut her eyes, the memory of Bai Li carrying her in his arms flashed in her mind. She bent and looked at her ankle that was hurt. She recalled how Bai Li had checked on it as his fingers grazed past her skin.
Suddenly, she felt her heart beating faster and felt a strange warmth coursing through her body.
She couldn't help but constantly think about Bai Li.
He is one amazing man…
First, he saved her from the bullet, then from Yi Xing's harassment, and then once again from Yi Xing and his goons in the port. The more she thought about it, the more she found it unbelievable for a blind person to fight so expertly.
Something tickled her from within as she thought about Bai Li. Then she recalled how Bai Li was sweating when that woman in black was going to shoot.
Zhang Ning frowned.
What happened to him at that time? Why did he suddenly get so afraid? He was sweating so hard.
Zhang Ning refused to believe that he got scared of that woman who could be supposedly Zhang Xiulan. Bai Li was strong and brave. An excellent ex-soldier from the Army.
She was in deep thought. At that time in the port, she had looked at him up close to how he was terrified about something. But it strangely pricked her heart to see him so defenseless.
Wasn't that other doctor with them?
Kang Yuan…A psychologist.
Is it related to Bai Li? How can I help him?
When she thought about how Xin Lei rushed towards him and how his complexion seemed a little better as he collapsed in her arms, somehow Zhang Ning felt that it was strangely…
Annoying?
She tilted her head as she didn't understand the feeling surging in her heart right now.
Why didn't I like it? Aren't they dating? Of course, they would be...close.
Once again, she felt bitter in her heart.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a *clack* from the window side.
Zhang Ning turned her head and widened her eyes in disbelief. She was about to scream, but somebody was quicker in covering her mouth.
The intruder woman removed her mask, and she smiled at Zhang Ning, tightening her grasp on her mouth. She struggled and fought, but it was of no use.
"Tsk, tsk, elder sister. What kind of greeting is this?"
"Mmnn...mmppf!"
"Aren't you happy to meet your beloved younger sister after six years, sis?"
---
*Xin Lei*
I freshened up and quickly took a shower. I headed out to see only a few people working.
Others might be gone to have their breakfast, it seems.
So, the room and the corridor were quieter than usual.
I wonder if Bai Li is up.
I went towards the room where Bai Li and Yuan were staying. Just as I reached, the door opened, and Yuan came outside.
"Hey." He smiled at me. "Good morning."
I typed. "Good morning."
Yuan asked, "How is Liao Huifang? Did she sleep well?"
I nodded and typed. "She cried last night a lot, but I made her go to sleep later. She is still resting."
"Good. She should have a heavy breakfast now since she didn't eat anything last night; otherwise, she will get sick."
I nodded.
I typed again. "Is Bai Li up?"
Yuan hesitated and seemed a bit tense.
Hm? I felt worried now.
I typed. "Did something happen?"
Yuan sighed. "Well…last night, he seemed to have a bad dream."
I quickly typed. "Bad dream? Is he okay? Is it about his PTSD? Did he recall his past?"
"No, it's not about his past. Well, actually quite late in the night, a dog barked from outside. As soon as Bai Li heard it, he jumped up and said 'Cocoa!'"
I froze. Now that I recall, I heard a dog barking too. When I looked outside, I saw that it was a stray dog roaming around.
To be honest, even I thought for a moment that it was Cocoa. My shoulders drooped.
"Bai Li was insisting that it was Cocoa, but I knew he wasn't.
'No, it's Cocoa. Check outside! He is calling for me!'
That's what he was repeating. He was about to rush out from the room, and I panicked that he might hurt himself. I checked outside and saw that it was a stray dog. I told the same to Bai Li. He didn't react much, but as a psychologist, how can he hide his thoughts from me? He seemed disappointed and sad. I knew he was missing Cocoa."
Bai Li…
It felt as if somebody squeezed my heart.
Yuan continued. "I talked to him a little to make him feel better. We then went to rest, but he suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, panting and sweating. He was delirious for a few minutes before I calmed him down. He wasn't ready to say, but I convinced him. He had a bad dream in which he saw Cocoa dead. He had lost him forever."
I trembled and widened my eyes.
"I assured him that it was a dream, and Cocoa is fine wherever he might be." Yuan sighed. "He absent-mindedly nodded. After that, we slept again, but I realized that even after two hours, Bai Li wasn't able to sleep. He was restlessly shifting on the bed. So, I gave him a mild dose of medicine to relieve his stress and anxiety. He was finally able to sleep an hour later. That's why he is still sleeping now. Last night was hard for him."
I bit my lip.
Damn, I couldn't be there for him last night. He was having such a hard time, but…
I typed. "I will check on him." And I quickly rushed inside the room.
I closed the door behind me and sat on Bai Li's bed. His one hand was over his head, and the other rested on the bed. He was breathing evenly.
I bent down and kissed his forehead. He slightly shuffled in his sleep. I brushed my fingers through his hair and patted his head.
Bai Li...I hope you are okay…
I watched him for a while before I started to feel a little tired too.
"Xin Lei?"
Hm?
I rubbed my eyes and woke up to see that Bai Li had already got up. I straightened up and looked around. I think I fell asleep.
I quickly typed. "Bai Li. Are you okay?"
"Huh?" He seemed a bit confused, but then he said, "Oh...Did Kang Yuan say anything about last night?"
I typed. "Yes. Bai Li. Don't worry. It's just a dream. Cocoa is fine. I know it."
He faintly smiled. "En. I...hope so too…"
I puffed my cheeks. I typed. "No hope. He IS alright. We will find him and Chu Jie soon. Now bro and Qi Qiang are with us too! We will crack the case in no time. Nothing will happen to Cocoa, okay?"
Bai Li sighed. "Yes. Sorry. I couldn't help myself. For a moment, I really thought it was Cocoa."
I typed. "You don't have to be sorry. It is natural to think that way. I, too, heard that dog barking, and I also felt that it was Cocoa."
He nodded. I smiled and typed. "Don't think negative. We will not let anything happen to them."
"Time is slipping by, Xin Lei. What if they already did something…"
I hugged him tightly. His hands were slightly shaking, and as I took them in mine, I moved his fingers. "Cocoa and Chu Jie are safe. I feel it. Don't underestimate a woman's intuition."
Bai Li softly chuckled. "En."
I raised my head and pressed my lips on his. Bai Li gently cupped my cheek and moved his lips in tandem with mine. The gentle kiss soon turned ferocious and hungry as he dove in my mouth, already claiming my tongue.
Damn, I wanted more!
I took his hand and slowly lowered it so that his hand touched my breast. I felt him stiffen, and his kiss grew even wilder. I urged him, and he squeezed my breast in his palm. Even though our clothes were on, it sent butterflies in my stomach. I gasped in excitement and pulled his head towards me to kiss harder.
"Xin Lei…"
Bai Li was gently kneading my left breast as he pleased, and I was more than happy to let him. Our lips had already turned wet. In a daze, Bai Li was about to push me back on the bed.
*Knock Knock*
We froze. I sobbed.
Why do people have such wrong timing? We were going to the good part.
"Xin Lei."
I stiffened.
Damn, it was Bro. If he would see us like this, then I am dead.
"My dear younger sister, if you don't open the door in five seconds, then be ready for your fate because I will barge in, and if I found that you were doing anything naughty with that man, then I will beat you up!"