After a grueling and heroic battle, the criminal organization was finally annihilated under the joint strike of the police and special forces. Countless battles fought through stormy days and nights—every sacrifice and every drop of effort had led to this hard-earned victory. Standing amidst the ruins, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing looked upon the ashes of the dark forces that had once threatened the city's peace. Their hearts felt little joy—only a heavy exhaustion and deep relief.
But there was no time to celebrate. With the fall of the last enemy came a wave of new problems—innumerable casualties, unresolved mysteries, and most urgently, their own physical condition. Both had sustained serious injuries and were in need of immediate medical attention. After the victory, the hospital became their temporary refuge.
In a hospital ward, Su Wanqing lay in bed, her arms and legs tightly wrapped in thick bandages, her complexion still pale. She gazed out at the dimly glowing sky beyond the window, her eyes tracing the sliver of light peeking through the curtain. Though the world outside had returned to calm, the turmoil from the battle still roiled in her heart.
"Why aren't you resting?" Lu Chenzhou's voice came from the doorway. He was wearing a hospital gown, his steps unsteady, yet he insisted on walking to her bedside. His expression was solemn, clearly not having rested properly himself.
Su Wanqing smiled faintly at him. "I've had enough rest. What about you? Why aren't you in bed?"
"Where would I rather be?" Lu Chenzhou sat beside her, lowering his head to look at her. His eyes brimmed with concern. "You know I don't want to be anywhere else. Just sitting here with you—it feels like everything has finally quieted down."
Su Wanqing was silent for a moment before turning her gaze to him. "You know… I've always been afraid. Afraid one day we'd be defeated, that we'd lose each other forever."
Lu Chenzhou's heart clenched. He took her hand gently and said, "That day will never come. I won't let anyone hurt you. No matter who or what we face, I'll never let you carry it alone."
She looked into his deep eyes and felt the fierce determination behind his words. Truthfully, she hadn't said it out of fear. She knew that no matter what came next, the path they had walked together, the battles they had fought side by side, had already become a part of her she could never give up. Lu Chenzhou was not just her colleague—he was her anchor.
"Do you remember how we first met?" Su Wanqing suddenly asked, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
Lu Chenzhou paused, then chuckled. "How could I forget? You looked like someone who didn't want to talk to me at all. Even when I asked a question, you acted like I was invading your personal space."
She laughed softly, a warm glint flashing in her eyes. "Back then, you didn't really seem like a cop. More like a 'tough guy.' You were always so composed, never showing any emotion. I actually admired that calm and decisiveness."
Lu Chenzhou was quiet for a moment, as if recalling his old self. "I wasn't really that calm. I just didn't have the courage to face my own vulnerability. Especially with you—I kept my distance because I was afraid I'd make a choice I'd regret."
"Regret?" Su Wanqing raised an eyebrow and smiled. "And now? Do you regret it?"
"No. Never." Lu Chenzhou's answer was firm and unwavering. "You've taught me so much. You've shown me new possibilities—not just duty or responsibility, but a future built on the bond between us."
A faint shimmer lit Su Wanqing's eyes, her heartbeat quickening. She knew that no matter how chaotic the world became, their bond had grown stronger through every life-or-death ordeal. It had taken root and was now unshakable.
"No matter what challenges come, I think we'll face them together," she said softly.
"Yes," Lu Chenzhou gently tightened his grip on her hand. "No matter what happens, you won't face it alone. We're partners—in battle and in life."
Before the moment could deepen, urgent footsteps echoed in the hallway. A nurse entered the room to check their recovery progress. The two exchanged a knowing smile. In this fleeting moment of peace, the pain and weariness were momentarily forgotten—but in their hearts, they understood: the rebuilding of the city had just begun, and it still needed their protection.
Once recovered, Su Wanqing and Lu Chenzhou, still bearing scars and an ever-vigilant spirit, returned to their posts. The city had regained its normal rhythm, but for them, that meant facing new and tougher challenges.
The time in the hospital had been a rare reprieve. During those days, they had the chance to open up, to confront the emotions they'd long buried deep inside. The tension and conflict that once existed between them had transformed into a profound reliance and trust.
Back at the precinct, standing before a new case, they didn't hesitate. Though the storm had passed, the frontlines of justice awaited. Each time they stepped back into the field, they knew—this long fight wasn't over.
"We've already come so far," Su Wanqing said to Lu Chenzhou, her eyes unwavering. "No matter how complicated the road ahead, we're not turning back."
Lu Chenzhou nodded, his gaze fixed forward. "I know. We'll walk into the unknown together—until the very end."
The city still brimmed with danger and mystery, but for Su Wanqing and Lu Chenzhou, no matter what the future held, they were ready. Hand in hand, side by side, they would continue to protect this land and walk their path toward rebirth from the cocoon.