Roses in Flames

Ye Yuntang's mind was in complete chaos.

She wouldn't listen to a single word he said.

She remembered her sister lying in a pool of blood, sacrificing herself, and not daring to have her name engraved on a tombstone, only a bare, nameless monument without any words could be erected.

Even going to worship requires caution and secrecy.

She couldn't imagine what she would do if Xiao Lin went undercover and something happened to him.

She wanted to avenge her sister herself.

She had long been prepared to make a sacrifice.

She has no regrets in this life; the money she received in the divorce settlement is enough for her mother and younger brother to live on for the rest of their lives.

My younger brother can talk now, and he will be able to take good care of our mother in the future.

Although she was divorced and hurt by her previous relationship, she met Xiao Lin.

He healed her.

He gave her a very beautiful relationship.

During their time together, she enjoyed being loved.

He comes from a good family, is good-looking, and has a good job. If he doesn't have her, he will meet an even better woman in the future.

Just as she told him when they started dating, just enjoy the moment.

She knew from the beginning that she was going to go undercover, and she didn't dare to think about their future together.

What she feared most was that one day she wouldn't be able to come back.

She had prepared for the worst, but she never expected that he would volunteer to go undercover in her place.

Is he crazy?

Ye Yuntang trembled violently. She didn't want to talk to men and wanted to rush out to find Director Shao again.

But before she could take more than a few steps, the man caught up from behind and bound her tightly with his arms like iron chains.

Ye Yuntang instinctively tried to pry his hands off, "Let go! Don't hug me! I won't let you go undercover!"

The man was much stronger than her, and when he refused to let go, she couldn't pry his arms off at all.

Her nails dug deep into the man's hand as she relentlessly scratched him.

Even after scratching his hand until it bled deeply, he still wouldn't let go.

Upon seeing this, Ye Yuntang burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably, "Xiao Lin, why didn't you discuss this with me before making your decision? Go find Director Shao right now, and if you can't replace me, I'm breaking up with you!"

The man pursed his thin lips. "It's irreversible. If you want to break up, then break up."

Ye Yuntang turned around, her eyes wide, staring at the man in disbelief.

He...would rather break up than withdraw his undercover application?

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked like she was on the verge of collapse.

Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Her whole body was stiff, and even breathing was painful.

It was as if an invisible hand had ripped a hole in my heart.

He looked at her with tears welling up in her eyes, his heart aching. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he lowered his voice, "This mission has already been approved from above. The official documents have been issued, and all the deployments, support, and arrangements are in place. It can't be changed just because you want to. We're all part of the system, and you know better than anyone that once the approval is given, it can't be easily changed."

His words were like a blunt knife, cutting away her last glimmer of hope.

She stood frozen in place, tears falling silently once more.

The previous hysterical struggles turned into a deathly silence of despair.

Xiao Lin raised his hand, wanting to wipe away the tears on her face, but before he could touch her, she pushed him away forcefully.

"Didn't you already agree to break up? Don't touch me again!"

She turned and left without looking back.

Xiao Lin watched her retreating figure, pinching his brow with a mix of headache and helplessness.

After Ye Yuntang left, she went to find Director Shao again.

She repeatedly expressed her determination, but Director Shao's opinion was the same as Xiao Lin's, and there was no way to change it.

"Once the mission approval is granted, changing personnel at the last minute will have far-reaching consequences. Xiao Ye, you know your stuff; this level of undercover agent can't be replaced so easily."

Ye Yuntang closed his eyes, his face ashen.

She took the afternoon off. After leaving the police station, she sat in her car, feeling utterly powerless.

Xiao Lin was worried about her condition, so he went to the forensic room to find her. He learned that she had taken leave and sent her a few messages.

But all of them disappeared without a trace.

She did not reply.

Ye Yuntang drove to the suburban cemetery.

Along the way, I bought flowers and fruit.

The cemetery was large and desolate.

Holding flowers and carrying fruit, she arrived at a secluded corner.

That row consisted of solitary, unmarked bluestone tablets.

She found one of the tombstones and placed flowers and fruit in front of it.

"Sister," she said, her eyes red and her voice choked with emotion, "last time I came to tell you, I met a wonderful man, I'm in love, he treats me very well, he likes me a lot, and I'm very happy with him... But I'm not happy today. He secretly applied to go undercover, even though that danger and responsibility should be mine, he wants to go in my place. Don't you think he's stupid?"

"I couldn't stop him. I pleaded with the higher-ups, but it was no use. Rules are rules; once the document is issued, there's no going back."

"I'm so scared and worried. I used to think you were a hero. But now I realize that I'd rather you weren't a hero, and I'd rather he didn't have to be one."

"He said he'd agree to break up for the sake of the mission." She gave a bitter laugh, her voice filled with endless grievance and heartache. "Don't you think he's heartless?"

"But I know that he is just like you, the kind of person who, once he's made up his mind, will go all the way down that path."

"Sister, I'm so scared." She said, tears streaming down her face, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees like a lost child. "He went undercover. You're in heaven, can you watch over him for me? Can you bless him and make sure he comes back safe and sound?"

Ye Yuntang stayed in front of the tombstone for a long time before leaving.

When I got back to the apartment, it was already dark.

She pushed open the door and walked inside with a heavy heart.

The aroma of vegetables wafts to my nose.

Perhaps hearing the door open, the man came out of the kitchen.

He took off his crisp police uniform jacket, leaving only his navy blue shirt underneath. He loosened the collar by two buttons and rolled up the sleeves, revealing his well-defined and muscular forearms.

He was holding a spatula in his hand, and there were several bloody scratches on the back of his hand from where she had grabbed him.

The two locked eyes.

A slight smile played on his lips. "You're back? Dinner's ready."

Those few words brought tears to her eyes and made her nose sting.