What the hell is the "kill line" when you're in America?

Unbeknownst to him, Li Ang's footsteps led him to a familiar street corner.

A bitter, burnt aroma wafts from the over-roasted, cheap coffee beans.

The coffee shop where he had "bumped into" Alex is still located in an inconspicuous spot.

The worn-out signboard and the glass windows covered with "GG" stickers were exactly the same as he remembered.

He stopped and glanced at the creaking wooden door.

Then, as if possessed, he pushed open the door and went inside.

The coffee shop wasn't crowded; a few students and office workers were scattered around.

Li Ang's gaze swept around the store, and right by the window, he saw that familiar figure again.

Alex.

He was still wearing his faded plaid shirt and a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

In front of him lay several documents that looked like case files.

He was intently looking at the documents in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, occasionally scribbling something with his pen.

A cup of the cheapest Americano, half-finished, was placed beside him.

Li Ang walked over, pulled out the chair opposite Alex, and sat down.

Hearing the noise, Alex looked up from his documents.

When he recognized the person as Li Ang, a hint of surprise flashed in his tired eyes.

"Hey, look who this is."

Alex took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.

He leaned back in his chair and spoke in a teasing tone.

"Li, right?"

"I thought you'd found a big deal and wouldn't need to patronize such cheap places anymore."

His gaze swept over the high-quality jacket Li Ang was wearing.

Li Ang's demeanor had undergone a complete transformation since the last time they met.

Last time, he kept his sharp edge hidden.

Now he is calm and profound, making him unfathomable.

Even the biggest business deals need coffee.

Li Ang leaned back in his chair and responded in the same relaxed tone.

"That's right."

Alex smiled and waved to the bar.

"Two Americanos, the cheapest kind."

"As usual, it's on me, provided you don't mind."

He half-jokingly mocked his own tight financial situation.

He also mentioned that he remembered Li Ang treating him to dinner last time.

This composed and unassuming demeanor made Li Ang look at him with even greater respect.

Soon, the waiter brought over two steaming cups of coffee.

Alex pushed a glass towards Leon, then picked up the glass himself and took a big gulp.

He let out a satisfied sigh.

"Ah... I'm alive again."

He put down his cup and looked at Li Ang again.

"Seriously, what brings you here?"

"I thought someone like you should be hanging out in those private clubs by now."

"Sometimes you need to change things up."

Li Ang picked up his coffee and took a sip.

The taste was still not great, but it gave him a strange sense of relaxation.

"And you, are you still working as a forensic pathologist?"

Li Ang asked casually.

"Otherwise what?"

Alex shrugged, looking utterly dejected.

"Every day I deal with a bunch of 'customers' who can't speak."

"I feel like I'm about to rot in the smell of formaldehyde."

Although he was complaining, Li Ang could hear his passion for his work.

"Any strange cases lately?"

"Don't even mention it."

Alex waved his hand.

"The city has been in chaos lately, with gangs fighting and gun battles in the streets."

"The morgue is almost overflowing with bodies being brought in every day."

"But the higher-ups are suppressing the investigation, preventing us from going deeper, and closing all the cases as gang feuds."

"The rules of this country..."

He uttered that classic line once again.

"It only works on us little bugs."

Li Ang smiled but didn't reply.

He suddenly remembered something and asked, seemingly casually.

"Do you still live near the University of Washington?"

This question surprised Alex.

He looked at Li Ang with some confusion.

How did you know I lived in that area?

A friend mentioned it to me.

"friend?"

"Um."

Alex's eyes became somewhat playful, as if he was trying to guess who this "friend" was.

He sighed, looked out the window, and fell into some kind of memory.

"Speaking of the area near the university, I used to have a friend named Mike who lived in that area."

His voice carried a subtle hint of tenderness and melancholy.

"A very hardworking young Black man, working at the docks and still attending night school every night."

"I was preparing for the forensic qualification exam at the time, so I taught him math and let him stay with me temporarily."

Upon hearing the name "Mike," Li Ang's hand holding the coffee cup paused almost imperceptibly.

But the expression on his face remained calm and serene.

"Michael Williams?"

He asked softly.

Alex turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with shock.

He leaned forward, placed his hands on the table, and stared intently at Li Ang.

"You know Mike?!"

His voice rose with excitement, drawing the attention of the other guests.

Alex ignored those gazes; he simply scrutinized Li Ang carefully, inch by inch.

He seemed to be trying to find some clue on Li Ang's face.

"etc......"

A detail he had overlooked suddenly exploded in his mind like lightning.

"Mike mentioned before that he met a Chinese friend at the gym, a really nice guy, also named Li..."

His pupils suddenly contracted at that moment.

"No way... it's you?"

Li Ang looked at him, at his face filled with shock, confusion, and anticipation.

Finally, he slowly nodded.

"it's me."

These two words were like a boulder thrown into Alex's heart.

"Oh My God!"

Alex gasped and slumped back in his chair.

He gripped his hair tightly, as if trying to process the fact.

"This world...this world is too small!"

After a brief moment of shock, his emotions were quickly replaced by immense worry.

"What happened to Mike after that?"

Alex leaned forward again, his voice filled with urgency.

"He then suddenly moved away, to live with his girlfriend, Catherine."

They only left me a note thanking me, but didn't leave a new address.

"I tried looking for him, to the docks, to the gym, but I couldn't find him."

"I'm worried about him; he got into some trouble before..."

He was referring to the chase involving Marcus and the Street Jackals.

"I'm afraid of him... afraid something might have happened to him..."

"After all... he was the first friend I made when I came here."

Looking into Alex's worried eyes, a warm feeling washed over Li Ang.

In this cold city, such pure friendship is all the more precious.

"Mike is alright."

Li Ang spoke up, interrupting his wild thoughts.

He looked into Alex's eyes and said, word by word.

"He and Catherine have left."

"They went to a safer place, and a place that suited them better."

"I helped out in a small way."

Alex stared at him blankly, as if trying to confirm the truth of his words.

A few seconds later, his tense shoulders finally slumped.

He let out a long sigh of relief and leaned heavily back in his chair.

"Thank God..."

His eyes were a little red.

"I knew it, he's not the kind of person who would easily give in."

He raised his head and looked at Li Ang with sincere eyes.

"Thank you too, Li."

"Although I don't know exactly what you did, but..."

"Thanks."

This gratitude comes from the bottom of my heart.

Through this conversation, Alex's image became more three-dimensional in Li Ang's mind than ever before.

He is kind and responsible, and even when he is in financial straits, he is still willing to take in friends.

He was sharp and intelligent, able to quickly connect two seemingly unrelated clues.

He was loyal and devoted to his friends, and even after witnessing countless dark events, he still cared about them.

Despite his financial difficulties, he maintained his dignity and insisted on getting his coffee back.

Such a person is practically an anomaly in this world.

But perhaps it is precisely because of the existence of such people that this cold world has not been completely reduced to scorched earth.