When his men came back dragging the second bodyguard, they found Jiang Cheng standing next to the prone man with his hands clenched into fists.

"Pick him up and get him out of my sight." he barked.

He didn't want to tell them he couldn't get the man off the ground. The adrenaline rush from the fight was gone. Without it, he was dead tired and in pain.

"Sir? You need to go to the ER. Your nose is still bleeding pretty heavy. You may have broken it." It was the youngest of the three officers who had followed him. Zheng Fan Xing** was worried. The man before him was swaying slightly but seemed totally unaware of it.

"Let's get you back to your cruiser** and I'll drive you to the hospital, Inspector."

Jiang Cheng just nodded and started to walk back to the front of the building. He hoped no one could tell his muscles were trembling from exhaustion. He had hit the wall. There was nothing left. He no more than slid into the passenger seat and he was asleep.

Startled, Zheng Fan Xing's first thought was Jiang Cheng had passed out.

"Sir? Inspector?"

Jiang Cheng stirred sluggishly. Reaching into his pants pocket he pulled out a set of keys.

Handing Zheng Fan Xing the keys, he mumbled, "You drive." After that he was asleep again.

The officer looked at his Inspector. The handkerchief he had been holding to his nose on the walk back seemed to have done the trick and stopped the active bleeding but, at some point, the blood had been smeared across his cheeks accenting the bruises already showing.

Carefully, he laid the seat back and clicked the seat belt into place. Quietly, he closed the door.

As he walked around the car to the driver's side he pulled out his radio.

"This is Zheng Fan Xing. I'm taking the Inspector into the ER. I think his nose is broken."

The response was someone laughing. "Did you see what he did to the bodyguard? Holy shit! We'll be at the ER in a bit too. This guy just spit out a tooth!"

"Roger**." Zheng Fan Xing got into the car and looked at Jiang Cheng's knuckles. Both hands were raw, oozing blood from torn skin.

"Damn, boss." he muttered impressed.

Concerned the sirens would wake the Inspector, he only turned on the lights and headed for the hospital.
-----

Lan Wangji was watching Wei Ying draw. At his request, the detective had gotten some printer paper and a clipboard from the nurses station. They'd even found a pencil buried in a drawer for him. Now he was happily lost in drawing the people in the room. Nie Huaisang and Yu Bin smiling at each other. His ShiJie snuggled up with A'Yuan. Wangji's quiet still face.

After Jin Zixuan and Jiang Cheng's sudden departure, things had slowed to a concerned calm. Everyone was worried about Yu Bin so conversation was low and soft, hoping he could sleep for at least awhile.

Soon, ShiJie had A'Yuan in his pajamas and tucked in on the sofa. It wasn't long before he was asleep. It had been a tough day for him but he had perked up at the end. Seemed like Yanli's comforting magic worked on everyone.

"Any word?" Wei Ying asked.

"Not yet. I knew he was worried about Meng Yao but it never occurred to me Zixuan's father would actually attack him." Yanli replied fiddling with the bottom of her shirt unconsciously.

"Why haven't I met him? He wasn't at your wedding was he? Or did I just miss him?" Wei Ying questioned.

"He didn't attend. Sent a text saying he was ill but wished us every happiness. I've always wondered if he was pressured not to come. There's not much I would put past Jin Guangshan." Yanli's brows were slightly furrowed. It was as close as she got to showing actual distaste. "I like Meng Yao. He's a smart man. Best thing is, he seems to be kind. A good heart. Hopefully, that hasn't been damaged."

Wei Ying gave a small smile as he continued to draw.

"Hearts can be pretty resilient." He looked at the sleeping A'yuan. "At least I hope so."

Lan Wangji shifted so he could see who Wei Ying was currently drawing. It was an old man. Age creased into his face but his mostly toothless smile was happy.

"I know him!" Lan Wangji exclaimed surprising Wei Ying. "He runs the laundromat. That's how we found you!"

"What?" Wei Ying was dumbfounded. It suddenly occurred to Lan Wangji, he had never told Wei Ying how he happened to be there to save him and A'Yuan.

"I've been looking for you since the night you ran away from the hospital. But cops can't just saunter into the Red Light District and ask for Yiling. Especially when it is clear he is part of Wen Chao's stab-" He glanced at Yanli. "When they are associated with Wen Chao. Since Yu Bin and I were the only ones to see you, we went undercover to find you. I met the uncle who runs the laundromat two days earlier. I was passing myself off as a friend coming to see you but I wrote the address down wrong. We asked the old uncle and he said he didn't know you but there was something in his eyes. Yu Bin and I both felt he at least knew of you so we made a circle on the map based on how far we thought you could reasonably carry laundry. The laundromat was the center point. We had searched the other half the night before."

"Why did you search for me?" Wei Ying asked. He looked anxious.

Lan Wangji took Wei Ying's hand and threaded their fingers together.

"I was hoping you could help us find who killed Mo Xuanyu. And I wanted to help you get out of that life. That's all." His voice was soothing relaxing Wei Ying a little.

"I don't know who killed A'Yu. Wen Chao was mad at him and started giving him to sadists to punish him." Wei Ying wiped at a tear. "Mo Xuanyu saved me. Taught me how to survive. We looked after each other. He was my friend." Another tear wiped away.

"I won't give up trying to find his killer." Lan Wangji was somber. Wei Ying squeezed his fingers.

"Thank You."

Yanli's phone notified her of a text. She quickly read it. "Zixuan is in the ER with Meng Yao. He said he'll keep us updated."

As she was responding, Nie Huaisang's phone rang.

"Wei?"

"What evidence?"

"Okay, I'll look -"

"Why should I bring Detective Lan? What is he showing us?"

"Okay, I'll wait but it better be good. Yu Bin isn't doing well and I don't want to leave him."

"Are you that sure?"

"Send him over. Give him my number and tell him to wait in the lobby. We'll meet him there."

"Not in public? Maybe Lan Xichen will let us use a conference room or office. Will that work?"

"Okay, I'll be waiting for his call."

Nie Huaisang looked slightly puzzled. He looked up at Lan Wangji.

"Nie Mingjue is sending a guy over. Said he has something to show us and it can't wait but he wouldn't tell me what it was. Do you think your brother would let us use a room to see whatever it is? Nie Mingjue said we are under no circumstances to see this in public."

"I can ask." Lan Wangji pulled out his phone and began typing.

Wei Ying had begun another portrait. It was a young man. Dark hair fell over his forehead and into his eyes. Warm eyes and a shining smile. A tiny dimple at the left corner of his mouth. He continued to work on the portrait until he was pleased with it. It made him smile while his eyes held tears.

Lan Wangji had sent his text and was lost in thought. A sniff from Wei Ying brought his attention back.

"Wei Ying?"

"It's Mo Xuanyu. The way I knew him. He didn't deserve what happened to him." He turned the portrait so Wangji and Yanli could see the handsome young man.

"He had a wonderful smile." Yanli soothed as she hugged her little brother.

"He really did."

----
Gao Muchen had waited two hours. He knew Yuxi wasn't asleep either.

"I gotta pee. Come with me." he whispered.

Yuxi whined and nodded. "Now I'm gonna have to pee too." she said annoyed. She shuffled after her brother half awake.

As they neared the bathroom, Yuxi said softly, "Did you see the cameras?"

"Yep. Three IDed in dining hall."

Hidden cameras are usually placed pointing downward. That's where the people are and it kept over head lights from reflecting off the camera lens giving the position away. However, when you are lying in a cot, flashing your phone around to show your brother or sister pictures and game scores, it was perfect for catching a glint off the lens. There were probably more they hadn't seen.

All signs of sleepiness gone, they pulled out their phones to 'light the way' to the bathroom. Two more hidden cameras by the office at the end of the hall.

"Two cameras flanking the office door." Muchen said quietly.

"We might have better luck during the day. More people and we can blend in."

"Agreed."

"Did you see any exterior windows?" Yuxi asked.

"Not that I could say was the office for sure."

Charlie listened to the intel Xin Di and Zizhen were feeding her. She looked at the building schematics. Originally, there were windows. Had they been sealed up? Did they fill in any other windows? If they did, could that be where they held the selected teens before trafficking them out to other locations?

The next question was how fortified were the holding rooms if they had them? Would they be able to get in fast enough to keep the traffickers from hurting the kids?

Charlie rubbed a temple while popping a Lindt chocolate in her mouth.

'Better than ibuprofen.' She sighed. Picking up a burner phone she sent a text to Yuxi and Muchen.

'Originally, office had windows. If they are filling in windows, may have a possible holding room for teens that will be trafficked. Try and locate. Be careful. Read and delete.'

She got a thumbs up emoji from Yuxi. An okay emoji from Muchen.

They turned and headed back to the dining hall. They knew they would most likely be recorded but they hoped there was no one watching the feed this late.

"We get caught, we're stealing, right?" Muchen whispered.

"Right." Yuxi whispered back.

Selecting a corridor that seemed to lead toward the back of the building, they slid into the hallway and disappeared into the shadows.

~♡~♡~♡~

Zheng Fan Xing played Lan Sizhui. ❤️😊❤️

A cruiser is yet another name for a cop car in American slang.

Roger in this case indicates acceptance of the message.

Sorry I'm late but it's still Tuesday! 😁😁🥰

Have a day of smiles!! ❤️

❤️🍫🫖❤️