The hospital waiting room smelled like antiseptic and coffee. Rui sat on a plastic chair, her arm bandaged, as Ye paced back and forth. Dao Feng had been taken to an exam room—dehydrated and weak, but otherwise unharmed.
"You need to sit down," Rui said, patting the chair beside her. "Pacing won't make it go faster."
Ye sighed, sitting. "I just… I'm glad he's back. I thought I'd lost him."
Rui placed a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't. And you never will again."
Ye smiled, looking at her. "Thanks. For everything. I couldn't have done this without you."
Before Rui could respond, a nurse walked out. "Dao Feng's ready to see you. He's asking for Ye Shaoyang."
Ye stood, grinning. "I'll be right back."
He walked into the exam room, and Rui leaned back, closing her eyes. Her arm throbbed, but she didn't care. They'd won. Feng Xinyu was gone, Dao Feng was back, and she had a partner who had her back.
Forty minutes later, Ye and Dao Feng walked out. Dao Feng was wearing a hospital gown, his arm in a sling, but he was smiling.
"How are you feeling?" Rui asked.
"Better," Dao Feng said. "Doctor says I need rest, but I'll be fine. Thanks for saving me, Rui."
Rui nodded, smiling. "Anytime."
They left the hospital, walking to Rui's car. Dao Feng climbed into the backseat, and Ye slid into the passenger seat.
"So," Dao Feng said, grinning. "You two make a good team."
Ye and Rui glanced at each other, their cheeks heating. "We're partners," Ye said, quickly looking away.
Dao Feng laughed. "Right. Partners."
They dropped Dao Feng off at Lao Guo's funeral parlor—Lao Guo had offered to let him stay while he recovered—then drove to a steakhouse in Midtown. It was a small, cozy place, with red booths and dim lighting.
They sat in a booth by the window, and a waiter handed them menus.
"I told you I'd buy you a steak," Ye said, grinning.
Rui laughed, opening her menu. "You did. And I'm holding you to it."
They ordered—ribeye for Ye, filet mignon for Rui—and talked about everything except ghosts. Ye told her about Xuanqing Mountain, about the time he'd snuck out to watch a movie in the nearby town and gotten caught by his master. Rui told him about her childhood, about how her grandmother had taught her to use her medium powers, about how her dad had cried when she joined the SPU.
The steak arrived, and they ate in silence, smiling at each other. When they finished, Ye paid, and they walked outside. The night air was cool, the city lights glowing.
"I had a good time," Rui said, leaning against her car.
Ye nodded, stepping closer. "Me too. Maybe… we could do this again? Not just for cases. For… dinner."
Rui smiled. "I'd like that."
Ye leaned in, and Rui's heart raced. His lips brushed hers, soft and warm. She kissed him back, her hands resting on his shoulders.
When they pulled away, Ye's cheeks were red. "I… I've wanted to do that since we met."
Rui laughed, kissing his cheek. "Me too."
Her phone rang, breaking the moment. It was Mike.
"Rui, we got a case. Los Angeles—Chinatown. Someone's sending 'moving terracotta warrior' packages. The recipients are disappearing. And there's a cross on each package. Same as Feng Xinyu's."
Rui's smile faded. "We'll be there. Tomorrow."
She hung up, looking at Ye. "Looks like our vacation's over."
Ye grinned, taking her hand. "Good. I'm ready for the next adventure. As long as you're with me."
Rui nodded. "Always."
They got in the car, driving back to Chinatown. As they passed the ancestral hall, Rui looked at Ye, who was singing along to a Chinese song on the radio. She knew the road ahead would be hard, but she didn't care. She had Ye. And together, they were unstoppable.