Crimson Instinct

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Through the window into the other room, Chu Jie saw the floor dyed with red. It was lots of blood, and somebody's hand was lying on it.

He was about to stumble, but he quickly caught onto the rail and balanced himself.

From the hand and shoulder, he could make out it was a man who was facing on the other side.

B-blood...so much blood…That uncle...is he d-dead?

His face turned pale and as white as a sheet. The color drained from his face. He covered his mouth and felt as if he would puke when the smell of blood wafted through his nose.

Chu Jie jumped from the cardboard boxes back on the floor. He collapsed on his knees, and that bloody sight was circling in his mind.

No, no, no! Who is that man? Are we going to end up like that too? T-they really want to kill us…

Chu Jie took rapid, short breaths, but even then, he felt breathless.

Cocoa circled around Chu Jie anxiously. He leaped onto his lap and once again licked his face.

"T-that man...Oh no…" Chu Jie hugged Cocoa, his body trembling badly. He was almost about to pee himself when he saw that scene.

It was a lot of blood, and he couldn't see anything more, but it was enough to scare the living daylights out of him. And that man's hand lying on it just made it look even more horrifying.

"Arf."

Cocoa quietly stared at him, and somehow with his gaze or confident posture, Chu Jie didn't know what it was, but it gave him a little confidence.

His gaze teared up, and he sniffled.

"Yes...we are not alone. We-we both will protect each other, okay?" He said, his voice faltering a bit.

"Arf."

Cocoa bumped his head on his.

---

*Xin Lei*

Bai Li and I slowly got up. Liao Huifang was standing outside our room, knocking on our door.

Wasn't she in the hospital?

He said, "Open the door."

I nodded.

I let her in and closed the door.

I typed. "What are you doing here? Weren't you in the hospital?"

She looked at both of us and said, "I was, but I said that I was fine, so I insisted on taking a discharge. I wanted to meet you two."

Bai asked, "Why?"

She paused. "I had one cop sent in my ward by that officer Duan Deming. He said that not to involve in the case anymore and let the cops do their job."

Pretty much the same what Duan Deming told us too.

"But, I know that you are not going to do that, right?"

Silence.

Bai Li said, "Yes."

Liao Huifang nodded. "I knew it, and I understand it too. So I came here to tell you that I also want to join you."

"This isn't a good idea at all."

I nodded in agreement. I typed. "You know what happened in the base today. And we could fall into such situations again. It will be dangerous."

"I know. But I have already decided. I don't know about you, but I don't trust the cops with this case. They have still come up with nothing, and I cannot wait anymore."

I sighed. Bai Li also seemed deep in thought.

I typed. "They are trying too on their side. And the case is really complicated. Just give them some more time."

"But, you are still heading off on your own, right?"

Well...

Liao Huifang urged. "Please don't refuse me. I know the risks and dangers in this task. And I still want to come with you two. Even if I die, it won't be your fault. This is my decision."

Bai Li was about to say something, but she didn't let him. "You must want to know about my sister. I don't know much, but maybe it could help us, and I won't tell you about it if you don't let me in."

She puffed up her cheeks.

"..."

It was as if she was threatening to withhold the information if we don't listen to her.

Well, she was.

Bai Li said, "Alright. But don't rely on us to help you if you are in a pinch." He shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. As if you are really going to do that.

Liao Huifang glared at him and harrumphed. "Fine! I don't need your help. Just ignore me if I ever scream for help."

"..."

Why did you fell for his words?

I sighed.

Liao Huifang and I sat on the bed while Bai Li sat on one of the chairs and pulled it forward.

"So, tell me what you know."

Liao Huifang took a moment and slowly said, "My sister...was always a really quiet person by nature. She didn't like to talk much. We are actually quite opposites in personality, but we got along well enough. She didn't have any friends, and even in her office, she didn't have any colleagues with whom she would spend any time. She would always come home from work. You know, people would sometimes hang out after classes or work to have some fun? But she never did that. And so she didn't have any kind of love life either."

She stopped. I sensed the pain in her eyes. I knew it was difficult to talk about her.

"But then slowly, I noticed that she was starting to smile more often. I was surprised because my sister never smiled or laughed much. Naturally, I was happy for her, but I wanted to know the reason for her sudden change. I asked, and she would just say 'Nothing.' Then I thought that perhaps she liked somebody."

I nodded. It was possible.

"Another weird change was that she was using her phone more often too. She would constantly check her phone and was always typing something on it. And then she would smile. That came as a huge shock to me because she was never into chatting and all. She only used her phone for texting and calling. That's it. She had no accounts on any social media apps. So then I was pretty much sure that she liked a guy."

She continued.

"I was happy, but I couldn't help but get suspicious a little. She had no experience in this stuff. I didn't want her to get fooled. I tried to talk to her, but she always shrugged it off, and I got more worried. So one day, I secretly looked from afar with whom she was chatting."

She turned a little grave.

"And I saw that she was using the same app to chat with somebody that you asked Chu Jie. FriendsChat."