At one in the morning, after the bar closed, Zoe searched the area for Jill but couldn’t find her, so he sat alone outside waiting. After half an hour with no sign of Jill, Zoe decided to bike home, feeling uneasy and anxious. He wasn’t sure whether he was worried about Jill or the three men who were under an ominous threat.
Upon arriving home, Zoe noticed Neil's room door slightly ajar with the light still on. Zoe peered inside and called softly, "Are you asleep?"
When there was no response, Zoe hesitated but then bravely opened the door and stepped inside. Neil seemed to be asleep, yet there was no reaction from him. As a police officer, Neil was usually very cautious. Zoe walked softly to the bedside, noticing that Neil’s forehead was sweating and his face was flushed.
Zoe touched Neil's forehead and quickly withdrew his hand, "You're so hot. You have a fever."
Panicked, Zoe ran to the kitchen for a towel and warm water, then returned to the room to cool Neil down. Neil seemed to be dreaming, his large hand grabbing the delicate wrist of Zoe holding the towel and pressing it to his face.
“Don’t leave, Zoe. Don’t leave,” Neil mumbled in his sleep.
Zoe, feeling confused but not pulling his hand away, spoke gently, “I won’t. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with you. Don’t worry.”
Even in his deep sleep, Neil held Zoe's arm tightly, not loosening his grip. Zoe watched him for a while, then carefully pried Neil's fingers from his arm and placed the warm towel on Neil's forehead. After repeating this process, Zoe was relieved to see Neil’s temperature stabilize. Exhausted from the night’s vigil, Zoe nestled against Neil's warm chest and fell asleep.
As dawn broke, a sliver of sunlight seeped through the curtain and illuminated the young face resting on Neil’s chest. Neil had awoken early, but seeing Zoe asleep, he hesitated to wake him. Neil lay there for a long time, watching Zoe. Zoe’s long eyelashes fluttered occasionally, his smooth, delicate skin and tousled, wavy hair creating a sense of beauty that stirred Neil’s heart. Neil’s gaze lingered on Zoe’s soft pink lips, and he couldn’t resist the urge to touch them.
Neil, usually easygoing and not one to persist in his desires, found himself inexplicably drawn to Zoe. His feelings had evolved from a simple wish to make amends to a deep and enduring love. Neil wanted their relationship to last forever, to cherish Zoe as he would his own heart, and to protect and nurture their bond like a sprout emerging from the earth after winter. Without Zoe, Neil felt his vitality would wither away, leaving him in loneliness.
As Neil’s fingers gently traced Zoe’s cheek, Zoe stirred, his brows furrowing from the tickling sensation. Neil quickly withdrew his hand, but Zoe’s eyes fluttered open. Their eyes met, and Zoe’s smile dissolved any awkwardness.
“Do you feel better?” Zoe asked softly.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry for making you worry and stay up all night,” Neil replied.
Neil tried to sit up but winced in pain, his hand instinctively clutching his stomach. Zoe, alarmed, asked, “What’s wrong?” He pulled the blanket away and was stunned to see Neil’s abdomen wrapped in a white bandage stained with bright red blood.
“Are you hurt?” Zoe asked in panic, grabbing Neil’s hand.
Neil smiled reassuringly and shook his head. “I’m fine. We were apprehending a criminal who was threatening someone with a knife. I got injured while subduing him. It’s nothing major.”
Neil chuckled as he looked at his wound. “As a man, having a few scars adds to the charm, right? If I can save someone and get a scar, it’s a source of pride.”
Seeing the concern in Zoe’s eyes, Neil held his hand and felt guilty. “Zoe, I…”
Zoe, frustrated, pushed Neil’s hand away. “Do you know how high your fever was last night? I was so worried I couldn’t sleep.”
Zoe’s face was flushed from the kiss, but he continued, “A few scars might look cool, but if you were to lose your life, that’s not worth it.”
Zoe turned to leave, but Neil pulled him back. Zoe stumbled and fell onto the bed. Neil’s warm lips pressed against Zoe’s, and Zoe felt his whole body flush with blood. His vision blurred, and he heard Neil’s deep sigh. Zoe awkwardly opened his mouth, accepting the tender kiss that enveloped his tongue, as if afraid Neil might stop. The kiss was deep and passionate, a blend of sweetness and warmth, but also filled with a bittersweet sting.
When the kiss ended, Neil’s forehead rested against Zoe’s. His breath was warm, and his voice trembled with emotion, “I’m sorry for making you worry. I work in a special unit dealing with serious criminals, where it’s hard to avoid danger. I’ll try to avoid life-threatening situations.”
Zoe, still blushing from the kiss, asked worriedly, “Isn’t your job very dangerous?”
Neil smiled and playfully kissed Zoe’s nose. “Of course, it’s dangerous, but you don’t know how amazing I am yet.” He hugged Zoe tightly, “And I have a gun, not just one but two.”
“Really?” Zoe asked, eyes wide in surprise.
“Really,” Neil said seriously. “One at my side, and the other…” Neil whispered something into Zoe’s ear, making Zoe blush and push him away. “You’re a pervert.”
“It hurts,” Neil whined. “I’m injured.”
Feeling guilty, Zoe sat up and rubbed Neil’s stomach. “Are you okay? Is it better?”
Neil leaned in to kiss him again. “A kiss will make the pain go away.”
Zoe’s face turned red as he quickly covered his mouth. “You should brush your teeth. I’ll go make breakfast.”
Zoe hurriedly left the room. Neil watched him go, smiling at Zoe’s flustered figure. He looked down at his injury, resolved to be more careful in the future. With Zoe now in his life, he felt responsible for protecting and caring for him, and he was determined to avoid any more injuries and worries for Zoe.