The first time Jiang Yu caught Ye Shenghan, Ye was still holding a piping-hot roasted sweet potato.
Sitting in the interrogation room, Jiang Yu looked down at Ye Shenghan, whose face plainly said he didn't care.
"Did you steal something?"
"Yeah, I did."
"...?"
Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, then looked at the security footage.
Ye Shenghan was leaning over a thief, feeling around on him, and had successfully retrieved the stolen phone.
"...Where are your parents?"
"They're dead."
"...?"
Ye Shenghan smiled at Jiang Yu, who was frowning deeply. "No, really. They're dead."
Jiang Yu turned away, thoroughly exasperated. "Explain the law to him!"
The second time Jiang Yu caught Ye Shenghan, there was a warm corpse lying on Ye's desk.
Jiang Yu pointed at the desk and hesitated for a long time. "...Did you kill him?"
"Oh."
Under Jiang Yu's complicated gaze, Ye Shenghan slowly shook his head. "That wasn't me."
"But..."
"?"
"I know who the killer is."
Ye Shenghan smiled. Standing in front of the corpse, he looked just like a puppet that had crawled out of a swamp.
The third time Jiang Yu caught Ye Shenghan, Ye was standing in a pool of blood, a gleaming silver handcuff clasped around his right wrist.
The other end of the handcuff was attached to Jiang Yu, standing ramrod straight.
"Shall we go?"
Jiang Yu asked softly, his gaze sweeping over Ye Shenghan's bloodstained face.
Ye Shenghan said nothing. His eyes were bloodshot, and his vacant gaze rested somewhere in the distance.
He looked like a puppet with its strings cut, as if he had been run over by a car.
Unable to stop himself, Jiang Yu raised a hand and brushed his fingertip over Ye Shenghan's cracked, bleeding lips.
The next second, Jiang Yu didn't hesitate.
"Let's go."
Jiang Yu gripped Ye Shenghan's hand through the handcuffs and ran forward without looking back.
Skin touched skin.
Warm, yet unfamiliar.
Pulled along, Ye Shenghan let out a soft laugh. His voice was hoarse. "Jiang Yu, are you eloping with me?"
"Yes." Jiang Yu looked back. "Will you come with me?"
Ye Shenghan froze for a moment, then squeezed Jiang Yu's hand firmly. "Of course! Why wouldn't I?"
Reading tips:
01. Straight-laced, upright older top x sharp-tongued, softhearted, tsundere bottom
02. Older top, equally matched, mystery, unconventional crime investigation
03. Neither lead is perfect; both have flaws, especially the bottom, who grows from the ground up
04. The author is not a professional. This is a fictional world, so don't take it as fact, and don't overthink the plot
Theme: Keep living well. There is always hope.
