The trip went without incident and the emergency room was not crowded. As a result, Wenjie's turn came immediately. Xiao Dao could not manage to sit quietly in the waiting room. This was because he was indeed worried, his friend might be right about the poison. Several times he thought about calling Captain Luo. But how should he help them in the worst case scenario? Maybe he should inform Zhuang Yaobai. However, he had to get his phone number first. Thus, he had to wait for Wenjie to come back. Restlessly, walked up and down between the benches. 

The minutes dragged on like chewing gum, which was not surprising given the circumstances. Ding Wei glanced at the wall clock. The clock hand moved in what felt like slow motion. Annoyed, he looked down the hallway that led to the exit. There was no one to be seen. He took a deep breath and leaned against the wall next to the door, Wenjie had disappeared through. Crossing his arms in front of his chest, as if keeping watch, he remained in place. 

Keeping his eyes on the clock, he began to count the seconds until, after what felt like an eternity, the door opened. Immediately, he gave it his full attention. Fatigue was reflected in the younger man's gaze. 

"You were right." 

This came as a surprise. Xiao Dao narrowed his eyes.

"I need help."

The older could only agree. He was about to put his arm around his shoulder, but Wenjie ducked away. 

"I'm fine." There it was again, his stubbornness. "They analyzed my blood right away, ran some tests, and it's all clean. The doctor recommended some of therapists for me." 

So it really was that post-traumatic thingy. Ding Wei couldn't remember the name. He only noticed the pallor in Wenjie's features and the exhaustion in his gaze. He would like to help him, but he didn't know how. This made him angry, which in turn did not seem to escape the younger man. He stared at Xiao Dao's clenched fists. The latter quickly loosened his hands and made his way to the exit. "I'll take you to your father."

Wenjie stopped halfway. His face lost the last bit of color. "I have to go to college tomorrow. My things are at my apartment." 

That was a lame excuse. Ding Wei returned to him. The younger man did not resist as he put his arm around his shoulder. "You really need a few days of rest. Do you think you'll be receptive when you go to classes tomorrow? I wasn't going to say anything, but you've been walking around like a zombie for days now. And your apartment is clearly not doing your psyche any good." Besides, Xiao Dao would have to sleep on the floor there, if he wanted to spend the night at his place. Wenjie certainly wouldn't allow him to join him in bed, certainly not after what Monsieur had done to him.

The younger man chewed on his lower lip. "The university distracts me. Work, too. When I'm with my father, all I can think about is the past. Xu Zhengqing has claimed the entire lower area for himself."

"Your father must have had it all removed by now. Have you visited him since his hearing is over?" probed Ding Wei.

Wenjie shook his head. "We've only met in the city, over the weekend." 

"Then you don't even know if there's anything left of Monsieur. At least, we can go there sometime." He put his hands on his friend's shoulders and pushed him toward the exit. 

"I don't want him to see me like this," Wenjie said.

So that was behind it. "Then I'll just take you to Captain Luo," Xiao Dao decided offhandedly. His friend stopped and swallowed noticeably. "What is it? You obviously don't want to sleep at the campus either. My car is unsuitable and I don't have a place to stay right now." They couldn't use the garage his father had used as a shelter. So the only one left was Captain Luo. 

"Why do you even care how I am? Why do you still want to be my friend?"

Did he still distrust him? Should he take this as a positive sign? After all, it showed that Xu Zhengqing's brainwashing attempts had failed. His friend had apparently not developed a Stockholm Syndrome either. "Do I need to have a reason for this? I thought we were already beyond this topic." 

Reaching the car, he opened the passenger door for the younger man. "So don't change the subject. Do you know, where Captain Luo is staying?"

"He's spending the night at the office." He said that so calmly, as if there was nothing at all wrong with it, but Ding Wei's jaw dropped. Wenjie, meanwhile, got in and pulled the door shut.

Xiao Dao shook his head in bewilderment. Surely his friend wasn't serious? "Don't talk shit," he said as he got in on the driver's side. 

Wenjie's expression remained serious. "You sleep in the car, too."

"That's a whole different thing." 

That even brought a smile to the younger man's face. "If we call him now, he'll pick up just as fast as you did earlier. Ever considered going to the police?"

"What, me? Not a chance." Ding Wei drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. But when he thought of his father's face, he almost grin. It would be quite ironic if, after everything that had happened, he was going down this career path of all things. He let go of the steering wheel again. "They'd never take me," he muttered more to himself. "I don't even have a decent degree."

"You can make that up." Wenjie buckled his seat belt. "Drive me back to the apartment. You can sleep in my bed. I won't get a wink of sleep tonight anyway. Might as well go over the material again." 

"Incorrigible," Xiao Dao grumbled. But then his ears perked up. Wait a minute. "Did you just offer me to spend the night at your place?"

"If you ask again, I might change my mind." 

"I didn't say anything." Ding Wei grinned wryly. Then he started the engine. He still wasn't entirely comfortable, though. Wenjie clearly needed help, which he couldn't give him. But he refused to see a therapist, go to his father, or at least talk to Captain Luo. He was the only one he let get close to him. And he was completely overwhelmed by the whole situation. This could only end in disaster. 

If his friend insisted on going to the university tomorrow, he would just talk to Captain Luo. Maybe he had an idea of what he could do to help Wenjie, or maybe he'd button him up. How that sounded already. Pressing him probably wouldn't help at all, only triggered the younger man's stubbornness all the more. 

Did he have to fold before he realized that it made sense to take up the offered help? Although it was already a small success that he recognized that he needed support, regardless of whether he felt able to accept it.

to be continued...