Roses in Flames

After saying goodbye, Ye Yuntang walked out of the ward without looking back.

The moment the door closed, the man with his eyes downcast suddenly glanced towards the doorway.

In his dark, deep eyes, emotions could no longer remain calm; instead, a heart-wrenching restraint and pain surged forth.

Her hands, resting on the blanket, were clenched into fists.

On the back of his hand, the veins bulged out.

After a long while, he finally let out a low murmur from deep in his throat.

"sorry."

As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes, hiding all his emotions deep in his heart.

After Ye Yuntang left the ward, her legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Huan reacted quickly and caught Ye Yuntang.

Seeing Ye Yuntang's expression, Xiao Huan's heart clenched.

"Second sister-in-law, I don't know why second brother turned out like this. After he came back, I mentioned you to him, and he said he didn't want to see you. Later, he had other women with him. I really didn't expect that second brother would be the kind of scumbag who doesn't keep his word..."

Looking at Xiao Huan, who was trembling with anger and tears streaming down her face, Ye Yuntang gently patted the back of Xiao Huan's hand. "Huanhuan, don't call me 'Second Sister-in-law' anymore. Your second brother and Miss Ji are comrades-in-arms who have gone through thick and thin together. They came back from the brink of death together. I can't compare to that kind of relationship. It's normal for him to change his mind."

In fact, she should have realized long ago that there are no unchanging feelings in this world.

Wasn't Fu Shili the same way back then? When they first got together, they were all sweet and loving, but later he met Bai Chuwei and cheated on her.

She thought Xiao Lin was different, but it seems she was too naive.

This isn't the first time she's experienced hurt; she'll get through it.

"Huanhuan, don't worry about me, I'll adjust myself."

Ye Yuntang took the elevator downstairs.

Xiao Huan caught up with her. "Second Sister-in-law, let me take you to the hotel!"

Ye Yuntang shook her head, "No need, my best friend will come to pick me up."

After picking up Ye Yuntang, Xia Wan took her to the airport at Ye Yuntang's request.

Ye Yuntang didn't tell Xia Wan about Xiao Lin's infidelity; she only said that the two had been separated for two years and their feelings had faded.

Xia Wan saw Ye Yuntang's red and swollen eyes, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly. "For the past two years, you've been waiting for him to come back. You finally got back, and then you suddenly broke up. Did he hurt you?"

"Wanwan, I can only say that we were destined to be apart."

Ye Yuntang took out her phone, found Xiao Lin's WeChat, stared at it for a long time, and then blocked and deleted him.

Then, his phone number was processed in the same way.

That's just her personality; when she's in love, she can disregard everything else.

If she no longer loves him, or if he hurts her feelings, she can turn away without hesitation.

She thought she would recover quickly, but she overlooked her feelings for Xiao Lin and the immense emotional damage she had suffered this time.

She tried to numb herself with work, but she couldn't muster any enthusiasm at all.

I feel out of sorts every day and can't focus.

No matter what I do, I will think of him.

How far have things progressed between him and Ji Shu?

Did they kiss, hug, and go to bed?

Will he treat another woman the same way he once treated her?

Whenever she thinks about how his tenderness and care would be given to another woman, her heart feels as if it's about to break.

Separating from Xiao Lin was a thousand times more painful than her divorce from Fu Shili.

She couldn't adjust herself in a short time.

Every day after get off work, she would wander aimlessly past the places where they used to go on dates.

She would sometimes giggle like an idiot, and sometimes shed tears.

She was truly afraid that if things continued like this, she would go insane.

During the two years he was working undercover, she didn't take any annual leave. Recently, she was in such a bad state that she took half a month of annual leave.

Xia Wan knew she wasn't feeling well, so she accompanied her on a trip.

Instead of heading to bustling cities, the two traveled westward.

A clear blue sky, white clouds floating overhead, and rolling sand dunes.

Ye Yuntang and Xia Wan rode camels, accompanied by the sound of camel bells, slowly walking one after the other through the endless yellow sand.

The wind blew past my ears, carrying a free and dry scent.

Ye Yuntang raised her long eyelashes and looked into the distance.

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if the pent-up feelings of depression, discomfort, grievance, and bitterness in her heart were being diluted little by little in this vast天地 (heaven and earth).

With a full itinerary every day and Xia Wan by her side chatting and laughing, Ye Yuntang felt like she was slowly coming back to life.

The world is vast, vast enough to hold all her sorrows.

"Tangtang, don't confine yourself to the same place. We are modern women. Men are nothing. If you're not happy, just move on. The next one will be better."

The two sat on the desert, and Xia Wan pressed Ye Yuntang's head onto her shoulder. "When we get back, I'll treat you to some male models at the newly opened bar."

Ye Yuntang was amused by Xia Wan's words.

When she thinks of Xiao Lin, her heart still clenches slightly, a subtle ache rising within her.

But this time, she didn't shed tears from the pain.

"Okay, let's all look forward."

He's just a man.

It's okay if they broke up, it's not a big deal.

……

The two-week trip to Northwest China eventually helped to soothe the sharp pain in Ye Yuntang's heart.

Upon returning to Yecheng, the emptiness in her eyes faded considerably, and her face finally regained its former radiance and glow.

After returning to work at the police station, her condition improved significantly.

At least I'm no longer in a daze, absent-minded and disoriented.

When she arrived at the forensic room, she had just put down her bag when Cheng Lei ran over.

"Sister Yuntang, good news! I heard from Director Shao that the boss is coming over later."

Cheng Lei has performed well in the past two years and has been promoted to deputy captain of the criminal investigation team.

He originally thought Ye Yuntang would be very happy to hear the news, but to his surprise, she just nodded lightly.

"Lei Zi, you've forgotten that hug between your boss and me at the airport two years ago, haven't you?"

Cheng Lei was taken aback, scratched his head, and asked, somewhat confused, "Huh? What's wrong?"

"I have nothing to do with your boss anymore."

Cheng Lei's doubts deepened. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, when he suddenly received a notification in the work group.

Xiao Lin successfully completed his undercover mission and was awarded a great merit. All personnel gathered at the main gate to welcome him.

After glancing at the message, Ye Yuntang followed the crowd to the very back of the welcoming line.

Cheng Lei looked at Ye Yuntang several times, as if he wanted to say something, but then hesitated and stopped.

Did Sister Yuntang and the eldest brother have a falling out?

He has seen how worried Sister Yuntang was about her eldest brother and how much she wanted him to return safely over the past two years.

Sister Yuntang definitely wouldn't break up on her own initiative, so the reason must lie with the eldest brother.

Why?

The eldest brother doesn't seem like the type to be promiscuous.

Cheng Lei felt like his CPU was about to burn out.

Before long, Xiao Lin got out of the car.

Compared to two years ago, he is more composed and reserved. His police uniform makes him look slender and upright, with cold and sharp eyes. His temperament after experiencing life and death is even more fierce and intimidating.

He successfully completed his undercover mission; he is a hero and the pride of their police station.

Director Shao stepped forward, excitedly shook Xiao Lin's hand, and then patted his arm a few times. "Good, good, good, we've finally waited for you to come back."

Xiao Lin nodded to Director Shao, and after exchanging a few words, Xiao Lin shook hands with each of his colleagues who came to greet him.

He walked forward and eventually reached Ye Yuntang.

Ye Yuntang lowered her eyes and saw the man's crisp, tailored police uniform trousers and shiny, thin-soled leather shoes.

She slowly raised her long eyelashes, meeting his dark eyes.

His eyes remained deep, yet revealed no superfluous emotions, as calm as a bottomless lake.

She didn't try to avoid him anymore, nor did she lose her composure. She reached out and lightly shook his hand.

However, the moment their fingertips touched, the familiar yet unfamiliar sensation still made her heart tremble uncontrollably.

But she remained calm on the surface.

In just a few seconds, she withdrew her hand and looked away.

It was as if, to her, he was just an ordinary colleague, nothing more.

There was a sense of politeness, distance, and unfamiliarity between them.

She was thankful that she had a strong heart, which allowed her to keep her composure in this situation and maintain her dignity.

Cheng Lei stood not far away watching this scene, his brows furrowed.

He could see the intimacy and deep affection between the two from that hug at the airport two years ago.

He even secretly became a fan of the two as a couple.

Cheng Lei felt that he was in a bad mood.

……

noon.

After finishing her work, Ye Yuntang went to the cafeteria for lunch with Xiao Wei.

"Sister Yuntang, when I went to the Criminal Investigation Team to deliver some documents, I heard from Leizi and the others that Captain Xiao came back to process his transfer procedures."

Ye Yuntang paused slightly in her hand holding the chopsticks.

Xiao Wei didn't notice Ye Yuntang's unusual expression. She continued, "I heard he's being transferred to Jingbei. He probably won't be staying here anymore. After all, he's a hero who made great contributions, so he's bound to be promoted. The prospects for development in Jingbei are much better than here."

Ye Yuntang's long eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the fleeting emotion in her eyes. She nodded, her voice so calm that no emotion could be detected. "Yes, it's normal."

He never belonged to this city.

Moreover, he and Ji Shu are together, and Ji Shu also works at the Jingbei Police Station. The two of them will definitely be working together in the same city.

Spending every day together is only natural.

Ye Yuntang looked down and picked at the food on her plate, suddenly finding it tasteless.

"How come you've lost so much weight since you went on your recent trip? Your face looks so much smaller!" Suddenly, a young male voice came from above.

Ye Yuntang looked up and met a pair of smiling, sunny eyes.

The person speaking to her was a forensic doctor who had been parachuted in a year ago. He was a rich second-generation, but he had no airs at all. He was sunny and clean-cut, and still had a youthful spirit.

Ye Yuntang smiled and said, "It's probably because I walk 20,000 to 30,000 steps every day."

Xiao Lin, Cheng Lei, Song Che and the others arrived at the cafeteria.

"Boss, did you see that young man talking to Sister Yuntang? His family is very rich. After he was transferred to our unit and became Sister Yuntang's subordinate, he openly pursued her. Sister Yuntang has rejected him several times, but that guy still hasn't given up. He says that as long as Sister Yuntang isn't married, he won't give up."

Song Che nodded, "Yes, Lu Yu is five years younger than Sister Yun Tang, but he never calls her 'sister.' Isn't there a saying online that goes something like, 'If a younger man doesn't call you 'sister,' he's got a wild side?'"

Cheng Lei nodded, his eyes constantly observing Xiao Lin.

He couldn't believe that his favorite couple had ended like this.

There must be some reason.

But now the boss is too good at keeping things to himself. His cold and handsome face showed no emotion. He simply replied, "Don't gossip about your colleagues' private affairs."

Cheng Lei, "..."

Xiao Lin needs a few days to complete the transfer procedures, and he will stay in Ye City during these days.

After getting off work, Ye Yuntang returned home and carried a large cardboard box out of her room.

She opened the door, picked up the cardboard box, and walked to the apartment across the street.

He should be coming back to stay here in the next few days.

The cardboard box contained various gifts he had given her during their relationship.

Including the gift her older brother gave her upon meeting him—a million-dollar check, which had long since expired, but she had never cashed it at the bank.

When she was with him, she always valued feelings, not material things.

She herself is not short of money.

After placing the cardboard box at the entrance of the apartment across the street, Ye Yuntang prepared to go back to her own apartment to pack her luggage and stay at her mother's house for a few days.

Just as I turned around, I heard a "ding" sound.

The elevator doors opened.

The man came out from inside.

He was tall and upright, but also appeared thin and frail, exuding a cold aura.

Their eyes met unexpectedly.

The air felt like it was about to freeze.

Ye Yuntang never expected to run into him at this time.

She took a deep breath, her hands hanging at her sides tightening slightly. "I've put all the gifts you gave me into the box. Please check them and see if anything is missing. I can make it up to you."

The man lowered his eyes, glancing at the cardboard box she had placed outside his apartment. He pursed his thin lips and said in a low, husky voice, "What's given to you is yours."

Ye Yuntang shook her head. "I don't need it."

She answered decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

He lowered his eyes, and she couldn't see the emotions in them. She didn't want to say anything more, so she walked past him and moved forward.

As she approached her apartment, she heard his voice from behind, "I still have some of your things in my apartment. Do you want to take them?"

His simple words almost broke Ye Yuntang's defenses again.

My nose suddenly stung, my eyes swelled, and warm tears streamed down my face without warning.

She cursed herself in her heart for being useless.

I've clearly made up my mind to cut ties completely, and I've clearly returned everything, so why am I still so pathetic?

How could he make you lose control of your emotions with just one simple sentence from him?

She raised her hand and hastily wiped away the tears on her face, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

She took several deep breaths before managing to steady her voice, "No need, just throw them all away after you've collected them!"

After saying that, she walked quickly to the door of her apartment, entered the password, went in, and slammed the door shut.

……

Hey everyone, don't worry, I'll explain why the male lead is like this soon! I'm almost afraid to read your comments, I'm worried about getting yelled at!