In front of him was a row of corpses. Some of them he didn't recognize but some were awfully familiar; Xu Binchen, Wang Chengbing, Qin Weizhe, his comrades both in SCI Squad and General Crime Division. And on top of that...he also saw Ru Meiqi's face.

The woman's pallor was deathly blue. Blood poured out of her mouth, nose and ears. Her eyes bulged out abnormally, staring straight into Jin Renguang's eyes with fear and disbelief. As if struck by lightning, his body was unable to move, nailed in place and was helplessly forced to witness the death of those around him.

"How about it?" A voice echoed in his mind. Soft, bewitching and tempting, just like the devil. "See, we are the same kind of person."

His eyes lowered and landed onto the knife in his hand, still with blood dripping down from the tip of it.

And the same knife was stuck into Ru Meiqi's chest.

Jin Renguang's eyes snapped open and he gasped, his heart galloping furiously. The bloody scene vanished and was replaced with the familiar sight of his white ceiling. Sitting up, he rubbed his face roughly and raked his fingers through his dampened hair.

It's that dream again, he thought in frustration.

The hour hand of the clock had only pointed to two and the sky outside his window was pitch black. He got off the bed and sauntered to the pantry to get a glass of water, yawning.

He indeed felt a lot better after moistening his throat, but sleep had left him thoroughly. Once again, he sighed and went to the balcony to smoke.

"Don't let yourself be affected by his words." That was what his therapist said in his latest counseling session. He understood that, but what should he do if his subconscious still hadn't moved on?

The case had clearly been solved and he had thrown all of the criminals in jail, but somehow his mind kept drifting toward the memory of that day; Si Zhening's words, the way that man looked into his eyes with glee and ridicule.

It was as if he had found another one of the same species as him in the world.

Jin Renguang inhaled deeply, letting the tobacco fill his senses and the smoke blurred his sight. It wasn't the first time he had heard this kind of advice from his therapist. In almost every mission he returned to, he needed to seek counseling to calm his mind.

It was disconcerting to find that a Captain could be so weak minded. If the others were to find out about this, how could they possibly entrust their lives into his hands?

Well, fortunately he had thrown that responsibility to Xu Binchen. Now, he wasn't a Captain anymore and he hated to admit that it made his shoulders lighten, like a burden was finally lifted off him.

He sighed and snuffed out the cigarette, sliding the door closed behind him. The phone screen on top of the table lit up and he reached for it to find a new message.

[Ru Meiqi]: Are you asleep?

Jin Renguang was suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to see her. Right now. Right at this second.

Thus, that was exactly what he did. Racing his Jeep through the desolate street at two something in the morning to her apartment.

Dingdong dingdong!

Jin Renguang's eyes were half lidded as he waited. Only God and he knew how fast his heart was beating at the moment. For God's sake, he was already in his thirties, not the same teenager who would sing a love song and play guitar below her balcony anymore. He took a deep breath at the same time when the door opened, revealing a foul mood Ru Meiqi.

The woman donned only a one piece satin dress with her long hair slightly messy, clearly looking like she was already sleeping or at least, laying on the bed.

"Do you know what time is it—oof!"

Jin Renguang pounced forward and smothered her into a bear hug, pushing the woman in and closing the door behind them. "Qiqi.." He inhaled her scent deeply, only then did his heart begin to calm down. "Qiqi, I have a nightmare.."

Ru Meiqi paused, her hands that were ready to push Jin Renguang away halted in midair. In the end, she opted to put them on his back instead, patting gingerly. Sighing, she was ready to offer some comfort when the man continued,

"I dreamt you turned into a cat. Well, you're still cute and beautiful in every way and I can directly bring you home but—ow!" His waist was pinched brutally in the next moment. He grimaced and loosened his embrace, grumbling. "So heartless.."

Ru Meiqi glared. "Get out if you want to keep joking around."

"No." Jin Renguang held her slim waist, feeling the smooth fabric of her dress under his palm as well as the curve of her hips. Like a puppy that was banned from food, he said in a dejected tone. "But I am not kidding.."

Ru Meiqi resisted the urge to rub her ears. She was unsure whether it was the night working its wonder or something was wrong with her hearing, but Jin Renguang's voice sounded lower and deeper than usual, its magnetic force was even more soul hooking. When he hummed softly like that, it was enough to make her knees weaken. She cleared her throat and took his misbehaving hands off her body. "Well, come in first. Did you see my message?"

Jin Renguang changed into the slippers and strode in, slumping himself on the couch as if he owned the place. "Yes, that's why I'm here. Why are you still not asleep yet? It's almost three."

Ru Meiqi came out from the kitchen with a glass of warm honey water, glaring in accusation. "Whose fault do you think that is? I was already ready to sleep when you suddenly rang the doorbell!"historical

He let out a chuckle, not feeling guilty in the slightest. "Well, it's also your fault for messaging me like that. It's very...inviting, you know." He reached out and twirled the loose thread from the hem of her dress, smirking. "Your dress that is. Do you always wear this to sleep?"

Ru Meiqi slapped his paw away and proceeded to take out a few candles. After she lit them up, the soft scent of lavender wafted across the living room. The flame flickered and illuminated her side profiles. Adding on to the darkness, an ambiguous atmosphere started to form between them.

Jin Renguang's eyes deepened and he lowered his sight, pondering.

"What are you thinking of?" Ru Meiqi sat on the other end of the couch and patted her thigh. "Come on, lay down here."

"Don't tell me," Jin Renguang complied obediently and made himself comfortable. Hmm, her thigh was softer than he had expected. "Are you going to give me a massage?"

Ru Meiqi scoffed at his rhetorical question and put her fingers on both sides of his temples then started to knead on it gently in a circular gesture. "You have always been an overthinker. I told you many times not to let it get into your head but you never listened. Hmph, serve you right."

Her words were sharp yet her movement was careful and gentle. Exactly how could someone as endearing as her exist in the world? Jin Renguang slowly closed his eyes and chuckled, his body relaxing from head to toe. "You know me so well."

"You should take a few days off work and go for a vacation somewhere. A hot spring in the mountains, maybe. It will be very relaxing. You haven't stopped working ever since you accepted the serial murder case, have you? Have you forgotten that you're not a Captain anymore?" She grumbled incessantly, each word seeping into his body like a warm spring water, very refreshing and cozy.

To be honest, he needed no vacation because being with her was the best medication there was. Only she could make him feel this way. A way that no one had ever could before, both physically and spiritually.

"Does the wound in your back still hurt? Do you need to change your position?"

"Nope. I'm all healed already." Jin Renguang suddenly opened his eyes and said in a teasing tone. "You know what, actually there's another method that can definitely cure me."

"What is it?"

"Making love." He smiled. "I swear, I will definitely get a good night's sleep after that."

Ru Meiqi stiffened. That reaction was just as he expected. How adorable. Jin Renguang let out a low chuckle and was ready to say that he was only joking when the woman suddenly leaned down and captured his lips, taking him off guard.

Jin Renguang blinked a few times yet the scene in front of him didn't change. Ru Meiqi's sweet breath brushed against his cheek and her curly eyelashes tickled him. She was looking down at him with a sultry gaze, taunting and challenging.

"What's wrong with that romantic phrase? It's so unlike you." She whispered into his mouth and caressed his jaw with her fingertips, teasing him back. "Just say that you want to fuck me."

Jin Renguang's lips curled into a thrilling smile. Seriously, this woman was going to be the death of him. He pressed his arm on the couch to lift his upper body up and bit on her lower lip, his eyes darkening to the point where the light couldn't even pierce through them. "Well, I do. What about you?"

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A/N: Hiii I'm back with the side story! First couple; my fav after Jiang Jinyan x Shi Nian! Enjoy~

Release rate for extra stories will be slower. It will often be one per day but if I can, I will still update two. Thank you for still sticking with me up to here *kiss*

And Happy New Year everyone! Wish you a good year ahead.