"Lin Yi, behind you!" Su Xiaoxi screamed.
Lin Yi barely dodged, but the dagger still grazed his side. Blood immediately welled up, yet he fought on, taking down one attacker. The remaining assailant pulled out a gun.
Time seemed to slow. Su Xiaoxi saw the barrel aimed at Lin Yi, his face pale from blood loss, his body still shielding her from danger. A surge of courage, unlike anything she'd ever felt, flooded through her.
She grabbed a nearby trash can lid and hurled it with all her strength. With a loud *clang*, it struck the gunman square in the head. The gun went off, but the bullet went wild. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Yi launched a flying kick, knocking the weapon away, then followed up with an elbow strike to the temple—the last enemy crumpled to the ground.
"Go!" Lin Yi gasped, grabbing Su Xiaoxi's hand.
They stumbled into the subway station, blending into the crowd. Lin Yi's complexion grew increasingly pale, blood still seeping from the wound at his side. Supporting him, Su Xiaoxi got off at the nearest stop and found a small motel to hide in temporarily.
Once the door was locked, Su Xiaoxi immediately checked Lin Yi's injuries. The knife wound on his side wasn't deep, but coupled with his reopened shoulder injury, the blood loss was severe.
"Why did you follow me?" she choked out, pressing a towel to the wound. "You're already hurt this badly..."
Lin Yi leaned weakly against the headboard, but his gaze was unwavering. "Couldn't… let you face danger alone."
"But this is *your* mission! Now that 002 has taken over, you don't need to—"
"It's not just the mission," Lin Yi interrupted, suddenly gripping her hand. "Not anymore."
Su Xiaoxi froze. Lin Yi's eyes burned with an intensity she had never seen before, filled with emotions she couldn't name.
"I can't follow protocol anymore," he said slowly, his voice hoarse from blood loss but crystal clear. "Because I can't imagine a life without you."
Time seemed to stop. Su Xiaoxi felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest, her ears roaring with the rush of blood. This was the first time Lin Yi had ever laid his feelings bare.