The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

He took a deep breath, trying to dispel this inappropriate emotion from his mind and focus on dealing with the crisis at hand. However, that face seemed to be firmly imprinted in his mind, impossible to erase. It was this deep-seated emotion that always gave Huang Feipeng a subtle strength when facing danger, as if Ye Yao's existence had become the softest support in his heart.

"You're surrounded. You'd better not do anything foolish." Huang Feipeng's voice broke the silence of the alley again. He stared coldly at the people, his gaze sharp as a knife. At this moment, he remained calm and serious on the surface, as if the emotional fluctuations of the previous moment had never existed.

The men seemed to be quickly assessing the situation, their eyes constantly shifting between Huang Feipeng and his gun. The alley was suffocatingly quiet; every sound was amplified. Finally, the man who had first attacked Huang Feipeng slowly raised his hands, signaling that he was giving up.

"Let's go. There's no need to linger," the man said softly to the person beside him, his voice tinged with resentment but tempered with rational restraint. He clearly knew that continuing the fight would only lead them into a more difficult situation.

Huang Feipeng remained vigilant, keeping a close eye on their every move. The men slowly retreated, attempting to leave the scene, but Huang Feipeng's hand remained firmly gripping his gun, giving them no chance to retaliate.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the other end of the alley, and a familiar figure appeared in Huang Feipeng's field of vision. It was his colleague Li Tao, who had arrived at the scene with several police officers.

"Feipeng! Are you alright?" Li Tao asked anxiously as he strode over, his eyes filled with worry. He had clearly received Huang Feipeng's earlier signal and rushed over to provide assistance.

Huang Feipeng nodded slightly, finally letting out a sigh of relief. He knew the situation was gradually stabilizing, and the criminals had nowhere to escape. With the arrival of more police officers, the chaotic fight finally came to an end.

However, just as Huang Feipeng turned to report the situation to Li Tao, Ye Yao's image once again filled his mind. That gentle smile, those deep eyes... Every time he thought of her, Huang Feipeng's heart would ripple with emotion.

"What are you thinking about?" Li Tao walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and asked with concern, "The situation is so complicated today, I thought you would be trapped."

Huang Feipeng smiled slightly, his face showing little change in expression, but his inner emotions were extremely complex. He knew he shouldn't think too much right now, but the power of his longing was like an uncontrollable tide.

"It's nothing, just a little tired," he replied casually, trying to hide his inner turmoil. He didn't mention Ye Yao to anyone, nor did he tell Li Tao about his feelings. He knew that these feelings were his secret, a soft corner he didn't want to share with anyone.

As Li Tao turned to direct the officers to control the situation, Huang Feipeng's thoughts drifted back to Ye Yao. Perhaps, after tonight, he should take some time to see her. Maybe just standing outside her flower shop window, watching her prune flowers with her head down, even without saying a word, would be enough to bring him a sense of comfort.

"Ye Yao..." Huang Feipeng silently murmured her name in his heart. It was a gentle presence, like a warm breeze. Although their relationship had not yet crossed that line, Huang Feipeng already knew that he could no longer extricate himself from this feeling.

In the instant Huang Feipeng recalled Ye Yao, he suddenly realized he had fallen into that tender emotional trap again. He couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly, inwardly scolding himself for being distracted in such a dangerous situation, thinking of that unattainable tenderness. He knew that the distance between Ye Yao and him might never shorten—her world was peaceful, belonging to those tranquil days, while his world was a hail of bullets and flashing swords. He dared not hope, dared not even think too deeply, fearing that once he took that step, all his reason would collapse.

But he also knew that some things could not be suppressed or ignored. Just like now, he knew he should focus on the current situation, but the thought of Ye Yao kept popping up in his mind, like stubborn weeds, impossible to tear apart or untangle.

"Li Tao, how's the situation?" Huang Feipeng tried to calm himself and bring his attention back to the present. He called out to his colleague Li Tao, who was directing other officers not far away, his voice tinged with fatigue.

Li Tao turned around and saw Huang Feipeng's slightly tired expression. He took a step closer and jokingly asked in a lighthearted tone, "Feipeng, what's wrong with you today? You're usually not so absent-minded! Is it because of... your sweetheart?" His tone was flippant and deliberately teasing, clearly trying to ease the tense atmosphere from before.

Huang Feipeng knew Li Tao was joking. It wasn't a secret; at least within their circle, these rumors spread like wildfire. Although he had never explicitly stated it, everyone could see it. No matter how serious and composed he was usually, his eyes would soften unconsciously whenever anything related to Ye Yao came up. How could such an obvious change be hidden from his colleagues?

However, Huang Feipeng did not intend to respond to Li Tao's words. He smiled wryly, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, but still replied in a nonchalant manner: "Stop talking nonsense and focus on dealing with the matter at hand."

Although he tried to downplay it on the surface, he couldn't completely suppress the surging emotions within him. Li Tao's words, though a joke, struck a chord with him. Ye Yao remained an unspeakable secret in his heart. Although there hadn't been any substantial progress between them, Huang Feipeng knew that his feelings for her had already crossed ordinary boundaries.

Li Tao laughed even more unrestrainedly, clearly not intending to let Huang Feipeng's "heartache" off so easily. He glanced at Huang Feipeng, noticing the other's slightly tense face, and immediately teased, "Hey, why are you so serious? Everyone knows you have someone in your heart, and we understand that. Besides, you're not just any ordinary cop; if you wanted to pursue someone, it would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"

Why are you being so serious? Everyone knows you have someone in your heart, and we understand that.