Blacklight KeetoXun (first name) graduated from the police academy at the top of the class when he was barely twenty years old. However, life was not easy as the dark reality crushed a young officer’s youthful and ideal dream of protecting the innocent and punishing the bad. He witnessed the loopholes in the legal system which allowed the evil to walk free, and the bureaucracy which delayed the entire process of catching criminals. Bitterness, anger, and helplessness swallowed Xun, as he became more and more self-destructive and violent.
In less than a year, he had earned himself the worst reputation in the police force, with obnoxious criminals constantly trying to sue him for police brutality, and the authorities threatening to suspend or fire him. On that cold winter night, a very depressed and off duty Xun was wandering around the festive streets aimlessly days before Chinese New Year, reeking of booze and cigarette smoke, with deep dark circles under his eyes. Then, he somehow bumped into Hongfeng (first name), the police detective with the best reputation in the force.
Fifteen years later, Xun could still remember that night vividly. He’d still laugh at Hongfeng’s purple scarf which mismatched the color of his coat very badly. He recalled how he hated everything in the world back then, including himself. So it was not so out of place that he quite disliked the famous and high ranking detective who was merely five years of his senior.
Then, to Xun’s surprise, Hongfeng recognized him immediately, and invited him to dinner. It was a good and sober meal Xun hadn’t had for a long while. Obviously the older detective saw something in the troubled and boyish officer who was ravenously devouring food in front of him.
Maybe it was Xun’s passion of being a justice bringer, or the determination and fearlessness in his eyes, or the perfect scores from the police academy. Maybe Hongfeng thought such a talented young man shouldn’t be caged and beaten down so early. Just as a rough diamond, he needed to be polished in order to shine like a bright star. At the end of the dinner, Hongfeng, with the usual calm and mature tone, said to Xun: “if you still want to become a police detective, report to my office tomorrow morning.”
So Xun did, because it was the only option he had. In the beginning, he still doubted Hongfeng’s ability and intention. But after a few cases, the ferocity in Xun was completely tamed by his superior, because the latter proved how great and resourceful a detective he was. Since then, Xun started to follow Hongfeng like a puppy dog, and became one of the best apprentices Hongfeng ever had. To this date, Xun was still very grateful because on that night, Hongfeng not only saved his career, but also lightened up his life like a beacon of hope, making him learn to love again.
As years passed, Hongfeng and Xun became the best partners in the police force. There were almost no cases that they couldn’t solve, and no criminals that they couldn’t catch. Neither of them got married or even had a life outside of work. To them, work was life, and life was work.
Xun really wished everything would keep going in the same direction, and be filled with little heart-warming moments like these: Hongfeng’s concerning and worrying eyes whenever Xun disregarded his own safety and got injured; Hongfeng’s disapproving but forgiving sighs whenever Xun got hungry and ate random food found at crime scenes (well, he knew not to eat he evidences!); Hongfeng’s shaking head whenever Xun looked in any reflective surfaces as mirrors to tidy his messy and curly hair bangs; Hongfeng’s faint grin whenever Xun couldn’t stop cursing gruffly out of frustration; Hongfeng’s caring smile whenever he added more braised beef into Xun’s steaming bowl of noodle soup.
Xun didn’t know when Hongfeng had became such a huge part of his life, but he sure didn’t want to leave Hongfeng’s side anymore. Once, he even requested a demotion voluntarily so that he could keep working with his mentor and partner.
And then, Hongfeng left the police force and drifted away, being cold, distant, and distrustful. It started when Hongfeng’s identical twin brother Hongyu was wanted for murdering a family of five. Suddenly left alone, Xun realized that he did grow up, especially after being promoted to Hongfeng’s position, the ChangFeng district captain. Under his casual, cheeky, hot-headed, loud, and outspoken appearance, he had indeed become a thoughtful, calculating, and observant leader just like his mentor.
But it didn’t mean that Xun would stop missing or needing Hongfeng. His brain was screaming that he cannot trust anything other than the hard evidence, while his heart was believing in Hongfeng unconditionally. But just as his mentor had taught him, he would never put his personal feelings before justice. He was prepared to keep pursuing and go against his former partner, and If Hongfeng was really involved in the murder case or Hongyu’s escape, he would cuff the man he had known for 15 years himself, although it’d shatter his heart into a million little pieces.
But even as a 35-year-old man, Xun still had his childish and naïve hopes: maybe, just maybe, Hongfeng kept everything to himself because he had his own valid and legitimate reasons. Maybe the truth behind the complex murder case could be uncovered, and both Hongfeng and Hongyu were innocent. Maybe time would stitch up the gaping wounds in his and Hongfeng’s hearts. And then, maybe the two of them can go back to the good old days, solving crimes together until the end of the line.
Have a cheeky, naughty, smiling Xun
(of course he’s smiling at Hongfeng):
Credit: Characters from Day and Night (白夜追凶).
Story, profile by me,
elliot.
