Chapter 320: Breath paused for half a second

The police car drove smoothly along the forest road, the tree shadows outside the window stretched long in the setting sun, Lin Yuan's lips still lightly pressed against the wound at the base of Yin Yirou's thigh, the warm sensation slowly seeping into her cool skin.

A faint gardenia scent mixed with the lingering trace of sweat on Yin Yirou's body quietly slipped into Lin Yuan's nostrils, clear and crisp with a hint of soft sweetness, especially alluring.

Yin Yirou's fingertips clenched the car seat fabric beneath her, her knuckles whitening from the force, and her calves involuntarily tensed slightly.

A faint pain spread from around the wound, making every inch of her muscle tremble minutely.

But Lin Yuan helped stop her bleeding with his saliva and also eased her pain.

She suddenly felt somewhat uncomfortable.

It wasn't a stabbing pain from the wound, but an itch rising from deep within her skin.

She tried to pull back, but Lin Yuan held her down on his knee, unable to move.

Yin Yirou lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes, her beautiful eyes surging with intense, complicated emotion.

Having lived over twenty years, she had seen many who fawned on the powerful, yet this was the first time someone would stand for her, even daring to block a blade coming straight at her.

Moreover, it was the first time a man had touched her thigh at such close range—a place she herself rarely touched, unfamiliar and scorching.

Her cheeks burned fiercely, even the roots of her ears turning red.

Mu Lingxue in the passenger seat had been instructing the driving detective on screening the robbers' accomplices when her peripheral vision unintentionally swept the back row, and her motion froze instantly.

She clearly saw Lin Yuan lower his head and lean toward Yin Yirou's thigh…

At that moment, Mu Lingxue felt her chest clogged as if by something, a surge of sourness welling up from her heart, even the hand holding her notebook clenched tight.

Jealousy mixed with an inexplicable fire burned in her chest; Mu Lingxue could no longer hold back, she snapped her head around to look at the rear seat.

"What are you doing?" Mu Lingxue's voice brimmed with annoyance, her volume unconsciously rising, instantly breaking the quiet in the car.

Hearing the sound, Lin Yuan stopped his action and lifted his head, a faint trace of blood still at the corner of his mouth; he paid no mind to his appearance and calmly explained, "Her wound nicked an artery; the dandelion we used earlier is exhausted, so I can only use saliva to temporarily staunch the bleeding—this is an emergency measure in traditional Chinese medicine that can delay the bleeding."

Mu Lingxue snapped angrily, "You can't do that! Our Forensic Doctor Yin is still an unmarried lady! How could you kiss someone's thigh like that?! Don't you know men and women shouldn't be intimate?!"

Lin Yuan was about to explain, but Yin Yirou spoke first, "It's fine…… Lin Yuan is helping me treat my wound…… it's okay……"

Hearing Yin Yirou say "it's fine," Mu Lingxue froze in place, her eyes wide, unable to recover for a while, and she muttered, "Why are you still speaking up for him? This situation is highly inappropriate, you're an unmarried lady……"

Yin Yirou merely lowered her eyes slightly, her fingertips brushing the hem of her clothing, her voice soft yet firm: "He did that only to help staunch my bleeding, and he even blocked a knife for me—this little thing means nothing."

Mu Lingxue still wanted to say more, but seeing the look Yin Yirou gave Lin Yuan, the words on her lips died, and she could only turn her face away in a huff, arms crossed over her chest.

Her "boyfriend," though fake, was still hers.

Yet at this moment he was kissing another woman's thigh—although he was helping treat the wound, it still made Mu Lingxue very unhappy!

……

Half an hour later, the police car arrived at the Public Security Bureau and drove into the bureau compound.

After coming to a stop, Lin Yuan first opened the car door and stepped out; just as he straightened his body, his abdominal wound tugged painfully, he instinctively pressed it with his hand, his brows slightly furrowed but he made no sound.

Yin Yirou followed closely out of the car, instantly noticing his hand on his abdomen, and hurried forward: "Does the wound hurt? Let's go to the bureau's medical room for treatment before we take the statement."

Lin Yuan waved his hand, tone flat: "No need, let's take the statement first, don't delay things."

Saying that, he walked toward the office building, his steps slow but steady, not letting anyone notice anything odd.

While taking the statement, the police officer saw Lin Yuan's pale face and asked with concern, "Mr. Lin, are you feeling unwell? Would you like to rest a bit and have some water?"

Lin Yuan lifted the warm water on the table and took a sip, saying, "It's fine, I didn't sleep well last night, I'm a bit listless, it won't affect the record."

……

Meanwhile, Mu Lingxue placed each of the four robbers in separate interrogation rooms and began strict interrogation.

But there was no result at all. She drank three cups of water, her voice hoarse.

The first robber glared at her with his neck stiff: "Kill me or chop me up however you like, trying to wring information from my mouth—no way!"

Mu Lingxue placed the crime weapon on the table: "Your fingerprints are on the knife, the victim also identified you—what are you still holding out for?"

The robber snorted, turned his face away: "I know nothing; if you have evidence, arrest me, if not, let me go!"

The second robber went even further, simply lying face-down on the table pretending to sleep; no matter how Mu Lingxue shouted, he remained completely still.

The third and fourth robbers were the same—either staying silent or spouting provocative words, not uttering a single useful syllable.

Mu Lingxue walked out of the interrogation room, leaned against the wall and rubbed her temples, her eyes filled with red veins, her face etched with fatigue.

Lin Yuan finished his statement and happened to run into her; seeing her state, he casually asked, "How's the interrogation going?"

Mu Lingxue gave him an annoyed glance: "Not just unsmooth—these people won't budge, you can't pry their mouths open at all!"

Lin Yuan didn't ask further, walked to the end of the corridor, took out his phone, and dialed Su Monong's number.

The phone connected quickly, Su Monong's gentle voice came through: "Lin Yuan? Aren't you coming to pick me up yet?"

Lin Yuan leaned against the wall, trying to keep his voice natural: "Director Su, I'd like to take the day off today—I accidentally twisted my foot when I went out this morning, walking is inconvenient, I just want to rest at home."

Su Monong immediately grew tense: "You twisted your foot? How serious is it? Should I send you to the hospital? Or have my assistant bring some anti‑swelling medicine over?"

Lin Yuan quickly refused: "No, no, Director Su, it's just a mild twist—spray some medicine and rest a day will do, please don't bother."

He feared that if Su Monong really sent someone, they'd see his abdominal wound and cause trouble, so he added, "I can handle it myself, you can rest easy."

Su Monong hesitated a moment, then urged: "Then rest well, call me anytime you need, don't push yourself."

After hanging up, Lin Yuan put away his phone, turned and walked toward the bureau's gate, just wanting to hurry home to tend to his wound.

He had just stepped outside the gate when a voice called from behind: "Lin Yuan, wait a moment!"

Lin Yuan stopped, turned back, and saw Yin Yirou running up quickly, a small bag of anti‑inflammatory medicine in her hand.

Yin Yirou reached him and handed over the bag: "This is the anti‑inflammatory medicine I took from the medical room; take it, and I ought to take you to the hospital to have your abdominal wound properly examined."

Lin Yuan shook his head, took the bag and slipped it into his pocket: "Really, no need to go to the hospital—I can handle it at home, no trouble for you."

Yin Yirou insisted, frowning: "You blocked a knife for me—how can I let you go home alone? I'll drive you, and on the way pick up some iodine gauze and bandages."

Saying that, she grabbed Lin Yuan's arm and led him toward her car, her fingers lightly brushing his forearm before quickly pulling back, her ears quietly flushing red.

Lin Yuan still wanted to refuse, but seeing Yin Yirou's earnest gaze, the words on his tongue died, and he could only nod: "Then…… sorry to trouble you."

Yin Yirou was driving an Audi off‑road vehicle, an Audi Q8, priced at around one million.

It seems this female forensic doctor's family conditions are very good.

Yin Yirou immediately laughed, opened the passenger car door: "Sit in front, I'll give you a cushion, don't touch the wound."

Lin Yuan sat in the passenger seat, took the cushion Yin Yirou handed over and placed it behind his waist, softly said: "Thank you."

Yin Yirou started the car, the steering wheel steady, her gaze occasionally flicked to Lin Yuan to confirm he wasn't uncomfortable.

The car slowly drove out of the police compound, went forward along the road, the cabin was very quiet.

The roadside trees outside the window flew backward, only the soft hum of the air conditioner inside the cabin.

Yin Yirou's grip on the steering wheel tightened, she turned her head to glance at Lin Yuan leaning in the passenger seat, softly said: "Last night, thank you…… for blocking the knife for me."

Lin Yuan's gaze fell on the shop signs flashing past outside the window, hearing this he lightly shook his head, tone flat: "It's nothing, just a small effort."

Yin Yirou opened her mouth, wanting to say more, like asking if his wound hurt, or expressing her gratitude, but the words got stuck and she swallowed them back, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the phone case.

Having lived this long, she had seen too many self-interested people, yet this was the first time she met someone who unhesitatingly stood in front of her, taking the knife for her; this favor made her heart feel heavy, feeling that "thank you" two words were too light.

She hesitated a few seconds, then took out her phone, unlocked it, opened the WeChat QR code and handed it to Lin Yuan: "Let's add each other on WeChat, so we can stay in touch later..."

Lin Yuan lowered his head to glance at the screen, took out his own phone, scanned the code; after the successful friend-add notification sounded, he put his phone back in his pocket.

Yin Yirou immediately opened the chat with Lin Yuan, her fingers rapidly tapped the screen, entered a not-small amount, just about to click "send", when Lin Yuan reached out and pressed her phone screen: "No need to transfer money, really unnecessary."

Yin Yirou's fingers froze, she lifted her head to look at Lin Yuan, eyes showing a hint of urgency: "But you got hurt because of me, you should at least buy some nutrition supplements..."

Lin Yuan gently shook his head, withdrew his hand: "I can handle my wound myself, take the money back, don't mention it again."

Yin Yirou looked at Lin Yuan's determined gaze, knowing he truly wouldn't accept, she silently deleted the transfer amount, put away her phone, her tone becoming especially solemn: "Then, I owe you my life; from now on, no matter what you need, as long as I can help, just tell me anytime."

Lin Yuan didn't respond, just gave a soft "hmm"; at that moment the car had just arrived downstairs at his building, Yin Yirou parked steadily, released the seatbelt: "Let me walk you upstairs, your abdominal wound makes opening the door inconvenient."

Lin Yuan didn't refuse, opened the car door and got out; Yin Yirou followed behind him, together they entered the residential building, as the elevator rose, the cramped space was so quiet they could hear each other's breathing.

The elevator doors opened, Lin Yuan led Yin Yirou to his own door, just as he was about to reach for his keys, he heard a clear "gurgle" sound from beside him.

Yin Yirou's face instantly reddened, she instinctively covered her stomach with her hand, voice as thin as a mosquito: "I haven't eaten all night, my stomach... my stomach is growling a bit, sorry."

Lin Yuan turned his head to glance at her reddened ears, withdrew his hand from reaching for the keys, tone natural as if stating a mundane fact: "How about coming in to have a bite? I'll quickly cook some noodles, it'll be ready soon."

Yin Yirou thought for a moment, then said: "Right, you haven't had breakfast either, I'll make it, breakfast."

Speaking, she bent over to untie the laces of her sports shoes, fingertips hooked the heel and gave a light tug, the white sports shoes fell onto the entryway mat, the motion revealing an unintentional efficiency.

As the heel touched the floor it lightly tapped the floor, revealing a slender ankle, lines from calf down smooth, no excess flesh, skin white like a peeled egg, even the faint blue of veins faintly visible.

Lin Yuan watched Yin Yirou's back as she lifted her foot to walk into the house, his fingers still on the doorknob, dazed for two seconds before reacting—he had merely made a polite offer, not really expecting this forensic doctor who constantly deals with corpses to actually cook.

Yin Yirou walked to the entryway, lowered her head to glance at the two pairs of men's slippers placed by the door, hesitated a bit, then simply stepped barefoot onto the cool wooden floor, the soles picking up a bit of fine dust brought in from outside, but she didn't mind.

She turned her head and shouted at Lin Yuan still standing at the doorway: "Where's your kitchen? Let me see what ingredients you have, I can't let you rest on an empty stomach, your wound needs something warm and nourishing."

Only then did Lin Yuan close the door and follow her in, his fingers unconsciously pressing on the abdominal gauze, he walked slowly to the center of the living room, raised his hand and pointed to the left-side door: "That's it, there's not much food, just eggs, noodles, and some leftover greens in the fridge."

Yin Yirou quickly walked to the kitchen door, pushing it open while unconsciously brushing aside her stray hair, the motion softer than when she performs autopsies, less cold, more lively.

She opened the fridge, bent over to look inside—the fridge was very tidy, aside from the few items Lin Yuan mentioned, there was only a bottle of milk and half a box of yogurt, clearly the fridge of a single man who rarely cooks.

Yin Yirou took out the eggs and greens and placed them on the countertop, turned to search the cabinets for an apron, finally found a dark gray men's apron; when she put it on the straps were too long, she wrapped them twice before tying them behind her back, making her shoulders look even narrower.

Lin Yuan leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching her awkwardly tie the apron, couldn't help but say: "Maybe I should do it instead; you usually hold a scalpel, you might not be used to a kitchen knife, don't cut yourself."

Yin Yirou turned and glared at him, holding the freshly washed greens, tone serious and not to be refused: "Since you're injured, just stay still; my mom taught me how to make egg noodles before, I'll definitely cook them through, won't let you eat them raw."

As she spoke, she placed the greens on the cutting board and picked up the knife—her hand, usually steady as a rock when holding a scalpel, grew tense when holding a kitchen knife, fingertips whitening, she carefully cut the greens into small pieces, slow as if performing a delicate autopsy on a corpse, afraid of cutting crooked.

Lin Yuan watched her furrowed brow and focused gaze, his mouth unconsciously turned down, yet he couldn't help but let out a soft "hee"—turns out even a formidable forensic doctor shows a moment of weakness when facing a kitchen knife.

Yin Yirou heard the laugh, the knife in her hand paused, she lifted her head to look at Lin Yuan: "What are you laughing at? My slow cutting—what's wrong with that? It's better than you stubbornly cooking and tearing your wound open!"

Lin Yuan immediately composed himself, stepped back two steps: "I wasn't laughing at anything, I'll go sit in the living room, not disturb you."

He walked to the sofa edge and sat down, his gaze still involuntarily drifting to the kitchen, able to see Yin Yirou turn on the gas stove, the blue flame licking the pot's bottom, she was lowering her head to pour water into the pot, her movements earnest as if handling important evidence, even adjusting the water flow carefully.

Soon the kitchen filled with the sounds of water flowing, chopping, and light clatter of pots and pans; these noises echoed in the usually quiet little house, Lin Yuan leaned on the sofa, listening to this long-missed homely atmosphere, suddenly feeling his abdominal wound not as painful, his heart inexplicably warming.

Lin Yuan had just finished wrapping the gauze around his abdomen on the living-room sofa, his fingertips still holding the empty medicine box, when he heard a soft gasp from the kitchen, like being pricked by a needle, mixed with sudden panic.

He sprang to his feet, the abdominal wound tugged painfully, yet he didn't have time to rub it, hurriedly walked to the kitchen, his steps sluggish from the pull but revealing an undisguisable urgency.

As soon as he entered the kitchen, he saw Yin Yirou standing before the cutting board, her right index finger raised in midair, the tip dripping blood, bright red blood droplets falling onto the white porcelain plate, especially striking. Her other hand still gripped the knife, the greens on the board half-cut, scattered with a few leaf fragments.

"What happened?" Lin Yuan stepped forward, without hesitation grabbed her wrist, pulled her injured finger before his eyes, movement gentle so as not to hurt her, "Where did you cut? How deep?"

Yin Yirou was startled by his sudden proximity, warmth from his palm transmitted to her wrist, slightly calloused yet steady, causing her flustered heart to inexplicably settle a bit. She whispered: "I… I just wasn't paying attention while cutting the greens, it shouldn't be deep, just a bit of bleeding."

Lin Yuan lowered his gaze to her fingertip wound—not deep, but the opening rather long, blood still seeping, he instinctively reached into his pocket for the herbal powder, then recalled he'd used it all up when bandaging his own wound earlier, the medicine box still left on the living-room coffee table.

"We're out of hemostatic powder at home." Lin Yuan furrowed his brows, scanned the kitchen, found no first-aid kit, seeing her fingertip still dripping blood, he didn't think twice, lowered his head and sucked her fingertip into his mouth.

The moment the warm sensation enveloped her fingertip, Yin Yirou felt as if shocked, her body jerked rigid, even her breath halted for half a second...