Unraveling Secrets

The dim light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across Bing Rong’s apartment. She hadn’t slept, not with Xiao Ning lying unconscious on her couch, his face pale and his breathing shallow. She had done everything she could to stabilize him, but something was wrong. This wasn’t just a matter of physical wounds, it was something much deeper, something she couldn’t quite understand.

Sitting beside him, Bing Rong’s mind raced with questions. She replayed the events of the night over and over again in her head....how she had found him, barely conscious, muttering the name Dong Fenro. That alone had been enough to send alarm bells ringing in her mind. Dong Fenro was no ordinary criminal; he was one of the most dangerous men in the city, and yet here was Xiao Ning, somehow tangled up in all of it.

How does Xiao Ning know him?

It didn’t make sense. Xiao Ning was supposed to be just an ordinary man, a software developer, someone with no ties to the darker side of life. But the more Bing Rong thought about it, the less that story seemed to hold up. His mysterious absences, his odd behavior at night… And now, finding him in this condition.

She rose from the couch, her eyes scanning the room, her thoughts turning cold and calculating. If Xiao Ning was hiding something, she was going to find out what it was.

Several hours later, Xiao Ning stirred, his head pounding as consciousness slowly returned. He opened his eyes, squinting against the morning light, his body feeling heavy and drained. For a moment, he couldn’t remember where he was, everything was a blur. But then, as his vision cleared, he recognized Bing Rong’s apartment, and the events of the previous night came flooding back.

He groaned softly, trying to sit up, but the movement sent a wave of dizziness crashing over him. His body was still weak from the poison, and it took all of his strength just to stay upright.

“You shouldn’t be moving.”

Bing Rong’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. She was standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her eyes sharp and questioning. She had changed out of her police uniform, now dressed casually, but her expression was anything but relaxed.

Xiao Ning’s heart sank. He had hoped to slip away before she could start asking questions, but it was clear from her expression that she wasn’t going to let that happen.

“What happened to you?” she asked, her voice firm but laced with concern. “And don’t tell me you’re fine, because you’re clearly not.”

Xiao Ning opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. His mind was racing, trying to find a way to explain his situation without revealing the full truth. But Bing Rong wasn’t someone who could be easily fooled. She was too smart, too perceptive.

“I... I’m sorry,” he said finally, his voice hoarse. “It’s complicated.”

Bing Rong’s expression hardened. “Complicated? That’s all you’ve got for me?” She stepped closer, her eyes locked on his. “I found you half-dead in the street, Xiao Ning. You were muttering the name of one of the most dangerous criminals in the city. And now you’re sitting here, telling me it’s complicated? I think you owe me a little more than that.”

Xiao Ning winced. He could see the frustration in her eyes, the hurt buried beneath it. Bing Rong had always been so sure of herself, so certain of what was right and wrong. But now, he could feel her trust in him beginning to crack.

“I can’t tell you everything,” he said quietly, his voice pained. “Not yet.”

“Why not?” she demanded, her tone rising. “Do you not trust me? After everything?”

“It’s not about trust,” Xiao Ning replied, shaking his head. “It’s about your safety.”

Bing Rong laughed bitterly, shaking her head in disbelief. “My safety? I’m a police captain, Xiao Ning. I’ve dealt with worse than this. Don’t patronize me.”

Xiao Ning looked away, guilt gnawing at him. He wanted to tell her the truth, about his life as Night Owl, about the poison, about everything, but how could he? How could he ask her to stay with him, knowing what he truly was?

Bing Rong studied him for a long moment, her sharp instincts kicking in. “You’re hiding something. Something big.” Her voice softened, but it was laced with a warning. “And I won’t stop until I figure out what it is.”

Xiao Ning tensed at her words. He knew how relentless Bing Rong could be when she set her mind to something. If she started digging, it wouldn’t be long before she uncovered everything.

Before he could respond, Bing Rong sighed, her gaze softening slightly as she knelt beside him. “Look, I’m not here to attack you. I just… I need to know what’s going on. Why was Dong Fenro after you? Why were you so badly hurt?”

For a moment, Xiao Ning considered lying, telling her it was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But he knew Bing Rong wouldn’t believe that. Not anymore. She had already seen too much.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Ning looked into her eyes. “There’s more to me than you know,” he began slowly, choosing his words carefully. “More than I’ve ever let on. But it’s dangerous, Bing Rong. If I tell you everything, you’ll be drawn into something you’re not prepared for.”

Bing Rong’s eyes flashed with defiance. “I can handle myself.”

“I know,” Xiao Ning said softly. “But this is different.”

They stared at each other in silence for a moment, the tension between them thick and palpable. Bing Rong’s gaze was searching, trying to read the man she thought she knew so well. But all she found were more questions.

“I can’t keep living like this, Xiao Ning,” she said quietly. “I can’t keep pretending everything’s normal when clearly it’s not. If you want me to stay, you need to be honest with me. Completely honest.”

Xiao Ning felt a pang of guilt. He wanted to tell her everything, but the fear of what might happen if she knew the full truth held him back. The danger he faced as Night Owl was one thing, but if Bing Rong got involved, Dong Fenro wouldn’t hesitate to use her against him.

But keeping her in the dark would only push her further away.

“I’ll tell you,” he said at last, his voice strained. “But not here. Not now.”

Bing Rong’s brow furrowed. “When?”

Xiao Ning hesitated, knowing that every moment he delayed was another opportunity for Dong Fenro to strike. “Soon. But first, I need to deal with something. Dong Fenro won’t stop until he gets what he wants, and right now, you’re in danger just being around me.”

Bing Rong’s jaw tightened. “I can protect myself.”

Xiao Ning shook his head. “Not from this. You don’t understand how far Dong will go. He knows who I am now, and that puts everyone I care about at risk. Including you.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Bing Rong didn’t respond right away, but her eyes softened slightly as she looked at him, searching for some trace of the man she thought she knew.

“Fine,” she said finally. “I’ll give you time. But don’t make me regret this, Xiao Ning. If you keep pushing me away, I’m going to find out the truth on my own.”

Xiao Ning nodded, grateful for the small reprieve. But deep down, he knew that time was running out. Dong Fenro wasn’t going to wait, and the poison in his body wasn’t going to disappear on its own.

As Bing Rong turned to leave the room, Xiao Ning closed his eyes, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him. He had spent so long hiding who he truly was, even from the people he loved. But now, with Dong Fenro on his trail and Bing Rong growing suspicious, he knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down.

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