21st Break: Poisoned

Xu family restaurant, the next day.

Meng Xing coldly looked at Lin Ze who was sitting across from him. "Why did second young master Lin ask me to meet up with him?" he asked and frowned. "If you want to dine with someone, there are many women, as well as men, who will gladly accompany you." He said and glanced at the next table where some women were throwing glances at Lin Ze.

"Don't call me 'second young master Lin'." Lin Ze said and immediately lowered his hat to cover his face. "I came here to tell you that I will be going to continue investigating the other people on the list whose boats passed by the river where your friend was last seen." He answered.

"Oh." Meng Xing indifferently said.

"What's with you?" Lin Ze asked when he saw Meng Xing's poor expression. "Are you ill?" he asked when he saw that Meng Xing's face was slightly pale.

"It is none of your concern, right?" Meng Xing asked and called a waiter to order.

Lin Ze frowned and stared at him. Then, suddenly, he recalled what Meng Xing told him before they parted that dawn in the floating brothel. "You… why are you so petty?" he asked. "Didn't I already apologize to you for doubting you before?" he said. "And it was you who refused to trust me that I could pull you up, causing both of us to fall in the water. I still haven't settled an account with you for that!" he told Meng Xing.

"Oh?" Meng Xing coldly smiled as he looked at Lin Ze with an indifferent gaze. "Then let's settle the other accounts, too." He said and handed Lin Ze a pouch containing silver.

Lin Ze's brows knitted when he saw it. "I don't need that. I already told you that I won't accept any money – " he said.

Meng Xing cut him off. "Oh? But what should I do, I don't want to owe you for anything, either." He said. Then, in front of Lin Ze, he threw the pouch containing silver outside.

The pouch landed in front of the beggars.

"I will take that as this debt was written off." Meng Xing said. "For another account, you didn't clarify to that servant in the floating brothel that I am not a couple with you." He said.

Lin Ze's expression changed. "That's because I don't want our covers to be blown off!" he answered. "What do you want to say, that we came there to investigate? They would definitely kick us out." He told him. "And, weren't you fine when we arrived there before? Why did you suddenly become thin-skinned?" he asked as he stared at Meng Xing's veiled face.

Well, mn… Meng Xing's fair skin is really thin that it would turn red just after poking.

Lin Ze moved his gaze away from Meng Xing's face. "Did you actually think that aside from investigating, we also came there to sightsee?" he added.

Meng Xing laughed due to anger. "Very well, Officer Lin." He said as his gaze turned cold. "You don't trust me, and I won't trust you again." He said as he rose from his seat and placed the money for his bill without even eating the food that was yet to arrive. "Take this meal as the last debt I owe you. Goodbye." He said and left, huffing out in anger.

"You…!" Lin Ze's eyes widened. "Wait, Meng Xing!" he called and was about to follow Meng Xing when, suddenly, he saw that Meng Xing's figure wobbled. "Meng Xing!" he called when the other was about to fall on the floor. He immediately ran to catch the other before the other's sleeve could even touch the floor. "Meng Xing, you… you're burning up!" he exclaimed in surprise after he felt that Meng Xing's body was very hot.

"Sir, what hap…" Qiu Liu, who has sharp hearing, heard someone shout and went to check when, suddenly, he saw that it was Lin Ze who shouted and that Lin Ze was holding Meng Xing, their boss, in his embrace. "…" should I say, 'I am sorry to disturb you'? He thought. Then, he saw that Meng Xing's eyes were closed. He wanted to say that their boss is really good at acting, but then he inadvertently touched the back of Meng Xing's hand, which is very hot.

His expression changed. Their boss has a fever!

"You." Lin Ze called when he saw the waiter. "Give the food that we ordered to the beggars outside." He said before he carried Meng Xing out of the Xu family's restaurant.

Qiu Liu, who was too stunned to speak after seeing Lin Ze carry their boss in bridal style. "…" should I say, 'happy marriage'? he thought and shook his head before he cleaned up the room where Meng Xing and Lin Ze were.

Meanwhile, Lin Ze who used the restaurant's back door to avoid attention, went to a familiar alley with Meng Xing in his arms until they arrived in a clinic that Lin Ze is very familiar with. "Old Ji." He called after he used his foot to push the door open.

"Lin Ze?" old Ji, the doctor, was surprised to see Lin Ze. But, he became even more surprised when he saw that Lin Ze was carrying someone in his arms. "This is…?" he asked as Lin Ze carefully placed Meng Xing down the bed.

"A friend." Lin Ze said and sighed. "Please treat him. He has a fever." He told old Ji.

Old Ji nodded and immediately checked Meng Xing's pulse, only for his expression to suddenly change. "This…" he muttered. "Didn't you say that he has a fever?" he asked and looked at Lin Ze.

"Yes. Why?" Lin Ze asked, feeling puzzled by old Ji's expression. "We fell on the water at dawn the other day." He explained, feeling ashamed.

But, Old Ji doesn't care about his explanation. His brows are knitted. "How can it be just a mere fever…" he muttered.

"Old Ji?" Lin Ze felt bewildered by old Ji's reaction. Isn't it just a fever?

"He was poisoned!" Old Ji told Lin Ze.

Lin Ze froze. "… what?! 'poisoned'?!" he exclaimed and looked at Meng Xing's pale face.