Tonight or Never

1.

Lin Qingyan came from a disreputable background and was the notorious mad dog of Wedding Invitation Street.

Alone, he walked down the long street lined with wedding supplies, choosing the brightest midday sun to smash the windows of people who wouldn't keep their mouths shut.

One night in a torrential downpour, a group cornered Lin Qingyan in a dark alley. After a fierce fight, he leaned against the wall, covered in blood and panting heavily.

A beam of light shone from the alley's entrance. Snow-white light glittered, and a sweet, gentle voice called anxiously, "Watch out, they have knives!"

Lin Qingyan kicked the attacker flying and looked toward the voice. Behind her tilted bamboo-paper umbrella, the girl revealed a lovely face. Her round, dark eyes were filled with worry.

She stepped through the puddles toward him and held the umbrella over his head. Reaching out, she asked, "You look like you're good at fighting... Could you protect me from now on?"

The last thing Lin Qingyan saw before losing consciousness was a deity bowing its head.

2.

The Zhuang family's eldest daughter, Zhuang Yumian, was beautiful, dazzling, and spoiled. She was also an outstanding student. No one could understand how she had gotten tangled up with Lin Qingyan, that mad dog.

Someone kindly warned her, "Stay away from Lin Qingyan. He's no good, and he has a terrible temper."

Zhuang Yumian rested her chin in her hand, her dimples faint. "No, he doesn't."

Later, people saw Lin Qingyan, so defiant that he wouldn't bow his head even with broken ribs, kneeling to put shoes on Zhuang Yumian. They caught glimpses of him bending over to cast his shadow around her and shield her from the sun... Everyone was left dumbfounded.

3.

Zhuang Yumian dragged Lin Qingyan into studying.

In the end, one went to Peking University for finance, the other to the People's Public Security University of China.

But their good times didn't last. They went their separate ways, and the fact that they were in the same city meant nothing.

Later, whenever people mentioned the two famous figures from their high school days, they couldn't help sighing over their ill-fated lives.

4.

"...We've got him. Come over." Zhuang Yumian had the suspect's arms twisted behind his back and pressed him hard against the ground. The back of her hand was bright red.

A McLaren pulled up by the roadside. The window rolled down, revealing a handsome face with sharply defined features.

Lin Qingyan raised an eyebrow. His dark eyes were inscrutable, his expression impossible to read.

Zhuang Yumian wore dusty civilian clothes. Lin Qingyan was dressed in a suit.

He tapped the ash from his cigarette and said hoarsely, "Captain Zhuang, would you do me the honor of having dinner after work?"

5.

The West City precinct got flowers on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and coffee or milk tea on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. There was never a night without supper. Every delivery bore Lin Qingyan's name.

A well-meaning colleague tried to persuade Zhuang Yumian. "Lin Qingyan is a promising young man. He's a good catch. You should consider him."

Zhuang Yumian only shook her head without a word, devoted to her work and turning down dates.

Later, Lin Qingyan kissed the scars on her hand, reverent as a worshipper. She ran her fingertips over the old wounds left by knives and axes, and he kissed away her tears.

In the police department's sealed files was an undercover agent's record, hidden away for years.

Lin Qingyan, male, 187 cm, type AB blood...

He crossed mountains and seas, down snow-covered paths. With you there, I never lost hope.

Dazzling, spoiled girl x defiant stray dog

Capable, resilient policewoman x seemingly reckless undercover agent

Two strong, evenly matched leads

The blurb was captured and archived on December 16, 2021.

Theme: Justice.