Shi Wang leaned back slightly in his ergonomic chair, as he addressed his secretary.
"So, you are saying that Li Hao is now actively investigating the matter of the convenience store? After two years of silence, no less", he found the situation more intriguing than alarming.
Secretary Liu, stood beside the control panel. He gave a firm nod, using a laser pointer to highlight a grainy photograph displayed on the wall-sized screen.
"Precisely, Mr. Shi. Look at this man. He was the one who was shot by Mr. Li that night, two years ago. Wang Yuxi."
Shi Wang scoffed lightly, a sound that held no warmth. "Ah, great. That's wonderfully rich." His face remained devoid of any overt emotion.
Liu clicked to the next slide, his professional demeanor darkening as he continued.
"He's also the individual whom Mr. Li blamed for leaking his company's confidential information—information that was supposed to ended up in your hands," Liu subtly implied the connection.
"He was shot inside Yu Han's convenience store. Mr. Li abducted Yu Han immediately after the shooting, yet now... observe their current relationship. They have become inexplicably close."
Shi Wang straightened slightly, resting his elbows on the desk, his hands forming a steeple to support his chin. His gaze was sharp, cutting through Liu's detailed reporting to the core mystery.
"I know Li Hao, Liu. He never shoots anyone without a profound reason. And if he does shoot someone, he usually doesn't give a damn about them afterward. Yet, here he is, resurrecting a cold case and cultivating this bizarre relationship with Wang Yuxi. What leverage does this man possess? Furthermore, he even involved Officer Zhang in this cleanup—that suggests official risk management, not a simple personal vendetta."
Shi Wang's focus shifted to Yu Han "And that Yu Han. How can he become so close with Li Hao, considering the stories we've heard about the torture and fear he endured in the beginning? It defies all logic."
Liu immediately pulled a heavy leather chair closer to the desk and sat beside Shi Wang, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Sir, is it not possible that Mr. Li is merely using Yu Han? Yu Han was the only one who was present at the scene that night two years ago. He is a primary witness, or perhaps a component of the original cover-up."
Shi Wang let out a soft chuckle at Liu's overly pragmatic suggestion. "Li Hao is utterly devoted to Yu Han, Liu. Head to toe. Haven't you seen the videos taken by our surveillance team? The way he looks at him is not the look of a man extracting information; it's the look of a man protecting his most valued asset."
Liu scratched his chin , confusion knitting his brow. "Then what could be the reason, Mr. Shi? Why is Li Hao investigating his own past actions so secretly, compromising the very stability he worked to achieve?"
Shi Wang sighed.
Then a sudden, piercing ringtone of Shi Wang's customized mobile phone violently cut through the tense ambience of the meeting room.
Shi Wang glanced at the screen, his eyebrows furrowing in genuine surprise. It was an unfamiliar number, it was "Gang Zi."
"Why is Li Hao's secretary calling me?" he muttered. He pressed the answer button.
"Yes... Gang Zi?"
On the other side of the line, Gang Zi's voice was strained and breathless.
"Mr. Shi... Mr. Shi, I need help! We are at the Hospital. Yu Han... he's in the operating room right now, they rushed him in. And Mr. Li, he... he just collapsed here in the waiting area, Mr. Shi. I have no idea what to do, everything is chaos! Please, you need to come; I can't handle Mr. Li in this state!"
Shi Wang snapped up from his chair, scattering the printed reports resting on his lap. His prior detachment was instantly replaced by sharp alarm.
"What?! What happened to Yu Han?"
"Uh... he was attacked, Mr. Shi. Someone hit him, and his head... his head was bleeding badly."
Shi Wang's heart skipped a beat, a cold dread seizing him. "Does Yang Zi know about Yu Han? Has he been contacted?"
Gang Zi stammered out a denial. "No. No one knows yet."
"Okay. Listen to me, Gang Zi. Stay right there with Li Hao. Do not let him be alone. Keep everyone away. I am on the way immediately."
He slammed the phone down and looked urgently at Liu, who was already rising from his chair, sensing the shift in gravity.
"Get the car ready, Liu. Now. We are leaving."
____
On the way to the hospital, Shi Wang remembered the moment when Li Hao's mother lay on her deathbed. No one was there but him. In a feeble voice she clutched the young boy's hand and whispered,
"Shi Shi, I only trust you. You must protect your brother at any cost. I'm leaving him with you… you are my son."
Shi Wang sobbed, "I… I promise, Mom… I'll always protect him."
He glanced down at his shoes and recalled how, as a child, he and Li Hao's mother had polished shoes together. The memory made his heart ache; he felt he was failing the promise he had made to her. Though his own mother had long been dead, Li Hao's mother had never let him feel motherless. Now, he feared he had failed to care for Li Hao.
When the car pulled up to the hospital, he snapped out of the vehicle and bolted toward the entrance. Secretary Liu followed him.
"Yu Han's room, please," he demanded at the reception desk.
The young woman at the desk pointed him toward the VIP ward.
Shi Wang didn't bother waiting for the lift. He took the stairs to the sixth floor, his lungs burning with each gasp. The image of Li Hao's face filled his mind, a weight pressing on his chest. He didn't stop until he reached the landing, breathless and trembling.
There, Gang Zi paced back and forth, his expression equally distressed.
In the corner of the room lay a figure collapsed on the floor, his skin pallid, his coat twisted over a chest slick with blood.
Li Hao's body was a stark contrast to the vibrant man Shi Wang had known. The words of Li Hao's mother rang in his ears once more: "Protect your brother at any cost."
Shi Wang loomed over the fallen man. Li Hao lay unresponsive, his gaze fixed on the floor, his knees drawn up. Shi Wang knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. The touch seemed to do nothing; Li Hao did not stir. The boy he had once loathed sat motionless, silent.
He wanted to hear a curse, a scolding—anything. But nothing came.
"Li Hao," Shi Wang called, his voice thick with sympathy and pain.
A single tear slipped from Li Hao's eye and traced a line down his cheek.
Shi Wang brushed the tear away with the back of his hand, then pulled the younger man into a tight embrace.
Li Hao did not resist. He had been yearning for emotional support, convinced that without Yu Han he would be utterly alone. He had forgotten, however, that another person cared for him, too. In that instant, all animosity fell away.
Broken, Li Hao sobbed against Shi Wang's chest, his voice ragged.
"I can't… live… without him," he choked out.
The five words that tumbled from Li Hao's lips were raw, a testament to the depth of his love for Yu Han.
Shi Wang could only offer a comforting hand, stroking his brother's head. In this moment of profound vulnerability, their usual selves faded; the rivalry, the hatred, the constant barbs—all became distant memories.
Li Hao lacked the strength to lift his eyelids, which were already heavy with warm tears.
It was only the second time in his life Shi Wang had witnessed such a breakdown from him. The first had been the day their mother died.
Gang Zi, watching from the periphery, felt a sliver of relief seeing Shi Wang offer support and solace to Li Hao during this critical juncture.
The operation stretched through the entire night, leaving those waiting outside in a state of agonizing distress.
Finally, as the clock struck four in the morning, a doctor emerged from the operating room, his brow furrowed, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead.
Upon seeing the doctor, Li Hao jolted upright, his voice a desperate plea. "Yu Han... Yu Han... is he okay? I need to see him... please, just let me see him!" he sobbed, his words catching in his throat. Shi Wang held him firmly.
However, the doctor's expression was clouded with concern. "Mr. Li... Mr. Yu... is out of danger, but... he's in a coma. We don't know when he'll wake up. His recovery will take time."
Hearing this, Li Hao lunged forward, gripping the doctor's collar with a furious intensity. "What the hell are you saying? You're a doctor! Save him! You want money? Fine! Just tell me your price... but save him!"
His eyes welled up again, his rage dissolving into desperate pleading.
The doctor responded with a tone of helplessness. "I'm sorry, Mr. Li. There's nothing more we can do except wait for him to wake up. You can see him now, but he won't be able to hear you."
Li Hao stormed into the room, his heart plummeting at the sight of Yu Han's still, lifeless form lying on the bed.